week 3

Question 1

What is a VESTIGE?

Answer 1

A mark or trace of something lost or vanished.

Example: Do you know if the Mexican tortilla is a vestige of some form of Aztec corn-based flat bread?

Question 2

What does it mean to VEX someone?

Answer 2

To confuse or annoy.

Example: My little brother vexes me by poking me in the ribs for hours on end.

Question 3

What does it mean to VENERATE?

Answer 3

To regard with respect or to honor.

Example: The tribute to John Lennon sought to venerate his music, his words, and his legend.

Question 4

What is VERACITY?

Answer 4

Truthfulness, accuracy.

Example: With several agencies regulating the reports, it was difficult for Latifah to argue against its veracity.

Question 5

What does VERBOSE mean?

Answer 5

Wordy, impaired by wordiness.

Example: It took the verbose teacher two hours to explain the topic, while it should have taken only fifteen minutes.

Question 6

What is a VENEER?

Answer 6

A superficial or deceptively attractive appearance, façade.

Example: Thanks to her Chanel makeup, Shannen was able to maintain a veneer of perfection that hid the flaws underneath.

Question 7

What is a PROTAGONIST?

Answer 7

The central character in a story, the one who initiates or drives the action.

Question 8

What is a PUN?

Answer 8

A ‘play on words’ based on the multiple meanings of a single word or on words that sound alike but mean different things.

Question 9

What is POINT OF VIEW in writing?

Answer 9

The vantage point from which the writer tells the story.

Question 10

What is FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW?

Answer 10

One of the characters tells the story.

Question 11

What is THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW?

Answer 11

An unknown narrator tells the story, focusing on the thoughts and feelings of only one character.

Question 12

What is OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW?

Answer 12

An omniscient narrator tells the story, often revealing information about many characters.

Question 13

What is EXPOSITION in a story?

Answer 13

Introduces characters, situation, and setting.

Question 14

What is RISING ACTION?

Answer 14

Complications in conflict and situations, which may introduce new ones.

Question 15

What is CLIMAX in a plot?

Answer 15

The point that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest; also called ‘turning point.’

Question 16

What is RESOLUTION in a story?

Answer 16

The conclusion when all or most conflicts have been settled; often called the denouement.

Question 17

What is PERSONIFICATION?

Answer 17

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.

Question 18

What is PLOT?

Answer 18

The series of related events in a story or play, sometimes called the storyline.

Question 19

What does it mean to VACILLATE?

Answer 19

To fluctuate, hesitate.

Example: I prefer a definite answer, but my boss kept vacillating between the distinct options available to us.

Question 20

What does VACUOUS mean?

Answer 20

Lack of content or ideas, stupid.

Example: Beyonce realized that the lyrics she had just penned were completely vacuous and tried to add more substance.

Question 21

What does it mean to VALIDATE?

Answer 21

To confirm, support, corroborate.

Example: Yoko’s chemistry lab partner was asleep during the experiment and could not validate the accuracy of her methods.

Question 22

What does VAPID mean?

Answer 22

Lacking liveliness, dull.

Example: The professor’s comments about the poem were surprisingly vapid and dull.

Question 23

What does VARIEGATED mean?

Answer 23

Diversified, distinctly marked.

Example: Each wire in the engineering exam was variegated by color so that the students could figure out which one was which.

Question 24

What does it mean to act VEHEMENTLY?

Answer 24

Marked by intense force or emotion.

Example: The candidate vehemently opposed cutting back on Social Security funding.

Question 25

What is a PARODY?

Answer 25

A work that makes fun of another work by imitating some aspect of the writer’s style.