Vocabulary Unit One

Question 1

banal

Answer 1

(adj) hackneyed, trite, commonplace

Question 2

arrogate

Answer 2

(v) to claim or take without right

Question 3

substantiate

Answer 3

(v) to establish by evidence, prove; to give concrete or substantial form to

Question 4

coherent

Answer 4

(adj) holding or sticking together, making a logical whole; comprehensible, meaningful

Question 5

encomium

Answer 5

(n) a formal expression of praise, a lavish tribute

Question 6

reconnaissance

Answer 6

(n) a survey made for military purposes; any kind of preliminary inspection or examination

Question 7

germane

Answer 7

(adj) relevant, appropriate, apropos, fitting

Question 8

temporize

Answer 8

(v) to stall or act evasively in order to gain more time avoid a confrontation, or postpone a decision; to compromise

Question 9

emulate

Answer 9

(v) to imitate with the intent of equaling or surpassing the model

Question 10

intransigent

Answer 10

(adj) refusing to compromise, irreconcilable

Question 11

carping

Answer 11

(adj) tending to find fault, especially in a petty, nasty, or hairsplitting way; (n) petty, nagging criticism

Question 12

largesse

Answer 12

(n) generosity in giving; lavish or bountiful contributions

Question 13

taciturn

Answer 13

(adj) habitually silent or quiet, inclined to talk very little

Question 14

tenable

Answer 14

(adj) capable of being held or defended

Question 15

acquisitive

Answer 15

(adj) able to get and retain ideas or information; concerned with acquiring wealth or property

Question 16

invidious

Answer 16

(adj) offensive, hateful; tending to cause bitterness and resentment

Question 17

insatiable

Answer 17

(adj) so great or demanding as not to be satisfied

Question 18

belabor

Answer 18

(v) to work excessively; to thrash soundly

Question 19

congeal

Answer 19

(v) to change from liquid to solid, thicken; to make inflexible or rigid

Question 20

eschew

Answer 20

(v) to avoid, shun, keep away from