Vocab Unit 1

Question 1

Adulterate

Answer 1

Verb- to corrupt, make worse by the addition of something of lesser value.
Hospitals take strict precautions to assure that nothing _______ the blood supply.

Question 2

Ambidextrous

Answer 2

Adjective- Ability to use both hands equally well; very skillful; deceitful; hypocritical.
Occasionally a teacher will come across a child who displays ___________ abilities when taught to write.

Question 3

Augment

Answer 3

Verb- to make larger, increase.

Many couples have to _______ their income in order to pay the mortgage on their new home.

Question 4

Bereft

Answer 4

Adjective; Particle- deprived of; made unhappy through a lose.
Individuals who live to be very old may eventually find themselves completely ______ of friends and family.

Question 5

Deploy

Answer 5

Verb- to position or arrange; to utilize; to form up.

A bugle call is a signal used to _______ troops for inspection, parade, or battle.

Question 6

Dour

Answer 6

Adjective-stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored.

Dickens’s Mr. Gradgrind in the novel Hard Times is an example of a character with a _____ and sullen disposition.

Question 7

Fortitude

Answer 7

Noun- courage in facing difficulties.
The residents of the Mississippi delta showed remarkable ________ during and after the flood that destroyed their homes and businesses.

Question 8

Gape

Answer 8

Verb- to stare with an open mouth; to open the mouth wide; to open wide.
The crowd ______ as the acrobat did a double backflip from standing on the ground.

Question 9

Gibe

Answer 9

Verb- to utter taunting words
Noun- and expression of words
The recruits rushed into battle so that no one could _______ at them for cowardice.
Voters may reject a candidate who resorts to personal _____ instead of discussing the issues.

Question 10

Guise

Answer 10

Noun- an external appearance, cover, mask.

The thieves snuck into the bank under the _____ of police officers.

Question 11

Insidious

Answer 11

Adjective- intended to deceive or entrap; sly, treacherous.

The robbers had an _________ scheme to rob the building.

Question 12

Intimation

Answer 12

Noun- a hint, indirect suggestions

They were too proud to give any _______ of their financial difficulties.

Question 13

Opulent

Answer 13

Adjective- wealthy, luxurious; ample; grandiose.

The men had to wear ________ clothing for the knighting ceremony.

Question 14

Pliable

Answer 14

Adjective- easily bent, flexible; easily influenced.

The ________ wire was easy to use for the art project that required lots of twists and turns.

Question 15

Reiterate

Answer 15

Verb- to say again, repeat.

The professor had to _________ the quote for the students.

Question 16

Stolid

Answer 16

Adjective- not easily moved or mentally or emotionally; dull, unresponsive.
_______ people can generally be expected to take most things in stride.

Question 17

Tentative

Answer 17

Adjective- experimental in nature; uncertain, hesitant.

The ________ children were not as outgoing as the others.

Question 18

Unkempt

Answer 18

Adjective- not combed; untidy; not properly maintained; unpolished, rude.
An ______ look is not one someone should wear to a job interview.

Question 19

Verbatim

Answer 19

Adjective, Adverb- word for word; exactly as written or spoken.
Newspapers often publish the _________ text of an important political speech.
At the swearing-in ceremony, the Chief Justice reads each line of the Oath of Office, and the new President repeats the oath ______.

Question 20

Warily

Answer 20

Adjective- Cautiously, with great care.

The mountain bikers ______ made their way across the slippery rocks.