WW12 Lesson 16 (Fifi)

Question 1

apocalyptic

Answer 1

(adj)

Involving or predicting disastrous, uncontrollable events.

• Cyberpunk literature, a form of science fiction, suggests an _apocalyptic_ future of an impersonal world saturated with complex technology.

Question 2

concatenation

Answer 2

(n)

A joining or linking together of elements.

• A _concatenation_ of serendipitous happenings resulted in my best vacation ever.

Question 3

convulse

Answer 3

(v)

To shake or cause to shake suddenly and violently.

• Audiences _convulsed_ with laughter at the entertainer’s unique mixture of comedy and magic.

(n)

convulsion

1. An abnormal, strong, and uncontrollable muscle seizure.
   * The _convulsions_ she once experienced because of epilepsy are now controlled by medication.
2. A violent disturbance.
   * The _convulsions_ that the stock market had experienced for three days were brought under control by closing it early.

Question 4

decree

Answer 4

(n)

An order or decision which, according to its author, must be obeyed.

• The city’s council _decree_ imposing a 10 p.m. curfew is being challenged in court.

(v)

decree

Question 5

expatriate

Answer 5

(n)

One who leaves his or her country to live elsewhere.

• Seattle’s Saigon restaurants are popular with Vietnamese _expatriates_.

(v)

expatriate

Question 6

fetid

Answer 6

(adj)

Smelling very bad; stinking.

• We discovered that the _fetid_ smell was coming from eggs we had forgotten to refrigerate.

Question 7

holocaust

Answer 7

(n)

1. A catastrophic event resulting in widespread loss of life.
   * Many people feared that the world was on the brink of a nuclear _holocaust_ during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis.
2. Widespread destruction caused by fire.
   * Each day, we were dismayed at the news of the _holocaust_ caused by the forest fires of the West.

Question 8

infraction

Answer 8

(n)

A violation or breaking of a rule.

• Police officers normally issue a warning for minor traffic _infractions_.

Question 9

insouciance

Answer 9

(n)

Freedom from concern; lighthearted lack of awareness.

• His _insouciance_ toward criticism was due to his overweening narcissism.

(adj)

insouciant

Question 10

minion

Answer 10

(n)

A slavish follower, attendant, or supporter.

• None of the mayor’s _minions_ were willing to tell him of the secret investigation into his campaign finances.

Question 11

sanguinary

Answer 11

(adj)

1. Involving much bloodshed or killing.
   * Gettysburg was the most _sanguinary_ of all the Civil War battles.
2. Bloodthirsty; cruel.
   * When India was partitioned at independence, both Hindus and Muslims carried out _sanguinary_ attacks on the other.

Question 12

staccato

Answer 12

(adj)

Broken up into short, sharp bursts.

• The _staccato_ tapping of the woodpecker awakened me this morning.

Question 13

sybaritic

Answer 13

(adj)

Marked by extravagant pleasure and luxury.

• Photographs of the _sybaritic_ lifestyles of the rich and famous are hallmarks of this glossy magazine.

Question 14

thespian

Answer 14

(n)

An actor or actress.

• Her compelling desire to become an accomplished _thespian_ led her to apply to the prestigious drama school.

Question 15

verisimilitude

Answer 15

(n)

The quality of appearing true; depicting realism.

• The book’s _verisimilitude_ cannot be questioned by anyone familiar with the events it describes.