Vocabulary 15

Question 1

exhort

Answer 1

v. strongly encourage or urge (someone) to do something

Question 2

spur

Answer 2

n. a thing that prompts or encourages someone; an incentive

Question 3

impoverish

Answer 3

v. make (a person or area) poor

v. exhaust the strength, vitality, or natural fertility of

Question 4

mendacity

Answer 4

n. untruthfulness

Question 5

boast

Answer 5

v. [ reporting verb ] talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities

Question 6

fortuitous

Answer 6

adj. happening by accident or chance rather than design

Question 7

debacle

Answer 7

n. a sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco

Question 8

fiasco

Answer 8

n. a thing that is a complete failure, esp. in a ludicrous or humiliating way

Question 9

understatement

Answer 9

n. the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is

Question 10

perfunctory

Answer 10

adj. (of an action or gesture) carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection

Question 11

austerity

Answer 11

n. sternness or severity of manner or attitude

n. extreme plainness and simplicity of style or appearance

Question 12

indigenous

Answer 12

adj. originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native

Question 13

litany

Answer 13

n. a series of petitions for use in church services or processions, usually recited by the clergy and responded to in a recurring formula by the people
n. a tedious recital or repetitive series

Question 14

rote

Answer 14

n. mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned

Question 15

impasse

Answer 15

n. a situation in which no progress is possible, esp. because of disagreement; a deadlock

Question 16

stalemate

Answer 16

n. a position counting as a draw, in which a player is not in check but cannot move except into check
n. a situation in which further action or progress by opposing or competing parties seems impossible

Question 17

anomaly

Answer 17

n. something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected

Question 18

preclude

Answer 18

v. prevent from happening; make impossible

v. (preclude someone from) (of a situation or condition) prevent someone from doing something

Question 19

forestall

Answer 19

v. prevent or obstruct (an anticipated event or action) by taking action ahead of time

Question 20

posthumous

Answer 20

adj. occurring, awarded, or appearing after the death of the originator

Question 21

impetus

Answer 21

n. the force or energy with which a body moves

n. the force that makes something happen or happen more quickly [FOR]

Question 22

impediment

Answer 22

n. a hindrance or obstruction in doing something

Question 23

hinder

Answer 23

v. create difficulties for (someone or something), resulting in delay or obstruction
adj. (esp. of a bodily part) rear; hind

Question 24

posterior

Answer 24

adj. chiefly Anatomy further back in position; of or nearer the rear or hind end, esp. of the body or a part of it [TO]
adj. coming after in time or order; later