Week 22

Question 1

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Empty or bleak, causing a feeling of loneliness or sadness; Original Sentence: “About half way between West Egg and New York the motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain ~~~ area of land.”; Additional Example: After the factory closed, the once-busy street became completely ~~~.

Answer 1

desolate

Question 2

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Oddly or disturbingly distorted in appearance, often in a way that is shocking or exaggerated; Original Sentence: “This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and ~~~ gardens…”; Additional Example: The horror movie was filled with ~~~ creatures that gave me nightmares.

Answer 2

grotesque

Question 3

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Serious or grave in manner; deeply earnest; Original Sentence: “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the ~~~ dumping ground.”; Additional Example: The funeral service was ~~~, with everyone speaking in hushed tones.

Answer 3

solemn

Question 4

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Depressing or dreary; Original Sentence: “The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and, when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the ~~~ scene for as long as half an hour.”; Additional Example: The abandoned cabin looked ~~~ in the pouring rain.

Answer 4

dismal

Question 5

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Haughtily disdainful; displaying arrogant pride; Original Sentence: “The ~~~ assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do.”; Additional Example: The ~~~ waiter sneered at anyone who asked simple questions about the menu.

Answer 5

supercilious

Question 6

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Not successful or thriving; lacking financial success; Original Sentence: “The interior was ~~~ and bare; the only car visible was the dust-covered wreck of a Ford…”; Additional Example: After years of drought, the farm became ~~~, barely producing any crops.

Answer 6

unprosperous

Question 7

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Continuing without pause or interruption; Original Sentence: “When she moved about there was an ~~~ clicking as innumerable pottery bracelets jingled up and down upon her arms.”; Additional Example: The ~~~ beeping of the alarm clock finally woke me up.

Answer 7

incessant

Question 8

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Quick and skillful; Original Sentence: “Making a short ~~~ movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.”; Additional Example: The dancer’s ~~~ footwork amazed the audience.

Answer 8

deft

Question 9

Part of Speech: Noun; Definition: An indirect or subtle reference or suggestion, often of something discreditable or disparaging; Original Sentence: “…until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual ~~~ and introductions forgotten on the spot…”; Additional Example: The article was full of ~~~ about the politician’s past.

Answer 9

innuendo

Question 10

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Loud, excited, emotional, or chaotic; Original Sentence: “…illuminated a bizarre and ~~~ scene.”; Additional Example: The concert crowd grew ~~~ as the band took the stage.

Answer 10

tumultuous

Question 11

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Having a limited or narrow outlook, often due to being from a small area; lacking sophistication; Original Sentence: “…at least in my ~~~ inexperience I believed they didn’t—drift coolly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island Sound.”; Additional Example: His ~~~ mindset prevented him from appreciating the diverse culture of the city.

Answer 11

provincial

Question 12

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical; Original Sentence: “With an effort I managed to restrain my ~~~ laughter.”; Additional Example: She gave an ~~~ look when she heard that he had won the lottery twice in one year.

Answer 12

incredulous

Question 13

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen; Original Sentence: “…I wondered if there wasn’t something a little ~~~ about him, after all.”; Additional Example: The old house seemed ~~~, with broken windows and creaking doors.

Answer 13

sinister

Question 14

Part of Speech: Noun; Definition: Doubtful or questioning attitude toward something; Original Sentence: “…who dealt in universal ~~~, and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm.”; Additional Example: He eyed the salesman’s claims with ~~~, unsure if the product could live up to the hype.

Answer 14

skepticism

Question 15

desolate

Answer 15

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Empty or bleak, causing a feeling of loneliness or sadness; Original Sentence: “About half way between West Egg and New York the motor road hastily joins the railroad and runs beside it for a quarter of a mile, so as to shrink away from a certain ~~~ area of land.”; Additional Example: After the factory closed, the once-busy street became completely ~~~.

Question 16

grotesque

Answer 16

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Oddly or disturbingly distorted in appearance, often in a way that is shocking or exaggerated; Original Sentence: “This is a valley of ashes—a fantastic farm where ashes grow like wheat into ridges and hills and ~~~ gardens…”; Additional Example: The horror movie was filled with ~~~ creatures that gave me nightmares.

Question 17

solemn

Answer 17

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Serious or grave in manner; deeply earnest; Original Sentence: “But his eyes, dimmed a little by many paintless days, under sun and rain, brood on over the ~~~ dumping ground.”; Additional Example: The funeral service was ~~~, with everyone speaking in hushed tones.

Question 18

dismal

Answer 18

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Depressing or dreary; Original Sentence: “The valley of ashes is bounded on one side by a small foul river, and, when the drawbridge is up to let barges through, the passengers on waiting trains can stare at the ~~~ scene for as long as half an hour.”; Additional Example: The abandoned cabin looked ~~~ in the pouring rain.

Question 19

supercilious

Answer 19

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Haughtily disdainful; displaying arrogant pride; Original Sentence: “The ~~~ assumption was that on Sunday afternoon I had nothing better to do.”; Additional Example: The ~~~ waiter sneered at anyone who asked simple questions about the menu.

Question 20

unprosperous

Answer 20

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Not successful or thriving; lacking financial success; Original Sentence: “The interior was ~~~ and bare; the only car visible was the dust-covered wreck of a Ford…”; Additional Example: After years of drought, the farm became ~~~, barely producing any crops.

Question 21

incessant

Answer 21

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Continuing without pause or interruption; Original Sentence: “When she moved about there was an ~~~ clicking as innumerable pottery bracelets jingled up and down upon her arms.”; Additional Example: The ~~~ beeping of the alarm clock finally woke me up.

Question 22

deft

Answer 22

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Quick and skillful; Original Sentence: “Making a short ~~~ movement, Tom Buchanan broke her nose with his open hand.”; Additional Example: The dancer’s ~~~ footwork amazed the audience.

Question 23

innuendo

Answer 23

Part of Speech: Noun; Definition: An indirect or subtle reference or suggestion, often of something discreditable or disparaging; Original Sentence: “…until the air is alive with chatter and laughter, and casual ~~~ and introductions forgotten on the spot…”; Additional Example: The article was full of ~~~ about the politician’s past.

Question 24

tumultuous

Answer 24

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Loud, excited, emotional, or chaotic; Original Sentence: “…illuminated a bizarre and ~~~ scene.”; Additional Example: The concert crowd grew ~~~ as the band took the stage.

Question 25

provincial

Answer 25

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Having a limited or narrow outlook, often due to being from a small area; lacking sophistication; Original Sentence: “…at least in my ~~~ inexperience I believed they didn’t—drift coolly out of nowhere and buy a palace on Long Island Sound.”; Additional Example: His ~~~ mindset prevented him from appreciating the diverse culture of the city.

Question 26

incredulous

Answer 26

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Unwilling or unable to believe something; skeptical; Original Sentence: “With an effort I managed to restrain my ~~~ laughter.”; Additional Example: She gave an ~~~ look when she heard that he had won the lottery twice in one year.

Question 27

sinister

Answer 27

Part of Speech: Adjective; Definition: Giving the impression that something harmful or evil is happening or will happen; Original Sentence: “…I wondered if there wasn’t something a little ~~~ about him, after all.”; Additional Example: The old house seemed ~~~, with broken windows and creaking doors.

Question 28

skepticism

Answer 28

Part of Speech: Noun; Definition: Doubtful or questioning attitude toward something; Original Sentence: “…who dealt in universal ~~~, and who leaned back jauntily just within the circle of my arm.”; Additional Example: He eyed the salesman’s claims with ~~~, unsure if the product could live up to the hype.