Week 1

Question 1

abound

Answer 1

v. exists in large numbers or amounts
“this land abounds with wildlife”

Question 2

amorphous

Answer 2

adj. without a clearly defined shape or form
“an amorphous blob”

Question 3

austere

Answer 3

adj. severe or strict with manner, attitude, or appearance
- having no comforts of luxuries, harsh or ascetic “prison conditions could hardly be more austere”

• extremely plain, simple style, unadorned “cathedral is impressive in austere simplicity”
• designed to reduce a budget deficit

Question 4

Belie

Answer 4

v - fail to give a true notion or impression, disguise or contradict
“his lively, alert manner belied his years”

• fail to fulfil or justify, betray
  “ the notebooks belie Darwin’s later recollection”

Question 5

Capricious

Answer 5

adj. given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood and behavior
“it’s terrible to feel our livelihood hinges on a capricious mother” - me, 15 y/o

Question 6

cerebral

Answer 6

adj - of or relating to the brain or intellect, appealing to intellectual appreciation
- primarily intellectual in nature

Question 7

congenial

Answer 7

adj - pleasant because of personality, qualities or interests that are similar to one’s own
- pleasant or agreeable because suited to one’s taste or inclination
“he went back to a climate more congenial to his cold, stony soul”

Question 8

conspicuous

Answer 8

adj - standing out as to be clearly visible, attracting notice or attention
“he was very thin with a conspicuous Adam’s apple”

Question 9

cursory

Answer 9

adj - hast and therefore not thorough or detailed
“a cursory glance at the figures”

Question 10

daunting

Answer 10

adj - seemingly difficult to deal with in anticipation, intimidating

Question 11

deify

Answer 11

v - worship, regard, or treat (someone/something) as a god
“she was deified by the early Romans as a fertility goddess”

Question 12

Didactic

Answer 12

adj - intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
“a didactic novel that set out to expose social injustice”

in the manner of a teacher, particularly so as to treat someone in a patronizing way

Question 13

disseminate

Answer 13

v - spread widely
“health authorities should foster good practice by disseminating information”

Question 14

feasible

Answer 14

adj - possible to do easily or conveniently
“it is not feasible to put most finds from excavations on public display”

• likely, probably
  “the most feasible explanation”

Question 15

flout

Answer 15

v - openly disregard (a rule, law or convention)
“these same companies still flout basic ethical practices”

Question 16

homogenous

Answer 16

adj - the same or similar kind in nature
- of uniform structure or composition throughout

Question 17

humdrum

Answer 17

adj - lacking excitement or variety; dull; monotonous
“humdrum routine of work”

n - dullness, monotony
“an escape from the humdrum of his life”

Question 18

insipid

Answer 18

adj - lacking flavor
“mugs of insipid coffee”

• lacking vigor or interest
  “many artists continued to churn out insipid, shallow works”

Question 19

Loquacious

Answer 19

adj. tending to talk a great deal; full of excess

“Never loquacious, Sarah was now totally lost for words”

Question 20

Misanthropic

Answer 20

adj. disliking humankind and avoiding human society

“a misanthropic drunken loser”

Question 21

Misnomer

Answer 21

n. a wrong or inaccurate name or designation
- “morning sickness is a misnomer for many women since the nausea can occur at any time during the day”

n. a wrong or inaccurate use of a name or term
- “to call this ‘neighborhood policing’ would be a misnomer”

Question 22

Negligent

Answer 22

adj. failing to take proper care in doing something
“directs have been negligent in the performance of their duties”

Question 23

Obsequious

Answer 23

adj. obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree; fawning attentiveness
“they were serves by obsequious servers”

Question 24

Placate

Answer 24

v. make someone less angry/hostile
“they attempted to placate the students with promises”

Question 25

Proclivity

Answer 25

n. a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination or predisposition toward a particular thing
“a proclivity for hard work”

Question 26

Puerile

Answer 26

adj. childishly silly, immature and trivial
“you’re making puerile excuses”

Question 27

Quixotic

Answer 27

adj. foolishly impractical especially in the pursuit of ideals; especially marked by rash lofty romantic ideas or extravagantly chivalrous action
“in an age of giant chain stores, any attempt at operating an independent bookstore must be regarded as quixotic”

Question 28

Spendthrift

Answer 28

n. a person who spends money in an extravagant, irresponsible way
“Putt was a spendthrift and a heavy gambler”

Question 29

Taciturn

Answer 29

adj. (of a person) reserved or uncommunicative in speech; saying litting
“after such gatherings she would be taciturn and morose”

Question 30

Wary

Answer 30

adj. feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems
“dogs that have been mistreated often remain very wary of strangers”