501
Vocabulary Questions
501 Vocabulary
Questions
NEW YORK
®
Copyright ©2003 LearningExpress, LLC.
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions.
Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:
Chesla, Elizabeth L.
501 vocabulary questions / Liz Chesla.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 1-57685-465-5 (pbk.)
1. Vocabulary—Examinations, questions, etc. I. Title: Five hundred one
vocabulary questions. II. Title: Five hundred and one vocabulary questions.
III. Title.
PE1449.C47 2003
428.1'076—dc21
2003001224
Printed in the United States of America
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
First Edition
ISBN 1-57685-465-5
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Lara Bohlke
Middle School Math Teacher, Grade 8
Dodd Middle School
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Elizabeth Chesla
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Coordinator of Technical & Professional Communication
Program
Polytechnic University, Brooklyn
South Orange, New Jersey
Brigit Dermott
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Noah Kravitz
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Kerry McLean
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Math Tutor
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William Recco
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Colleen Schultz
Middle School Math Teacher, Grade 8
Vestal Central School District
Math Tutor
Vestal, New York
Contents
Introduction ix
1 It’s Not What You Say, But How You Say it 1
2 Word Pairs I 11
3 Personality Traits and Attitudes I 19
4 One-Syllable Wonder Words 27
5 Lights, Camera, Action—Vivid Verbs 35
6 Crime and Punishment 43
7 To Be or Not To Be 51
8 Word Pairs II 61
9 What’s It Like? Appearances and Conditions 69
10 Person, Place, or Thing? Nouns I 75
11 Words about Work and Play, Food and Drink, 81
and Time
12 Opposites Attract—Antonyms I 89
13 Describing Ideas and Arguments 97
14 Things to Do—More Useful Verbs 103
15 Word Pairs III 113
16 Personality Traits and Attitudes II 121
17 Government and Politics 131
18 Person, Place, or Thing? Nouns II 141
19 What’s It Like? More Words to Describe Things 149
20 Word Pairs IV 157
21 Love and Hate, War and Peace 165
22 Opposites Attract—Antonyms II 175
23 Words about Religion and Words from 183
Stories and Myths
24 Ways of Being—More Words to Describe 191
People and Their Behavior
25 Vocabulary Grab Bag 199
Introduction
A rich vocabulary is both a great asset and a great joy. When you have an
extensive vocabulary, you can provide precise, vivid descriptions; you can
speak more fluently and with more confidence; you can understand more
of what you read; and you can read more sophisticated texts. A good vocabulary
can enrich your personal life, help you achieve academic success, and
give you an edge over others in the workplace.
Whether you want to improve your vocabulary for a standardized test,
learn more effective communication skills to use in the workplace, or be
more articulate in social situations, the 501 questions in this book will help
you achieve your goal.
How to Use This Book
Each chapter begins with a list of words and their definitions. These are
words you can expect to find in newspapers and magazines, in business documents,
in textbooks, and on standardized tests like the SAT. The 501
words are divided by theme into 25 chapters. Each chapter has 20 questions
to test your knowledge of the words in that chapter. The questions may be
501 Vocabulary Questions
multiple-choice, matching, fill in the blank, synonym/antonym, or analogy.
In addition, the four “Word Pairs” chapters ask you to complete a crossword
puzzle with the chapter’s vocabulary words. Answers to each question
are provided at the end of each chapter.
The questions increase slightly in difficulty towards the end of the book,
but you can complete the chapters in any order you wish. If you prefer one
theme over another, you can skip ahead to that chapter. Just be sure to come
back and complete each section.
When you are ready to begin, review the word list at the beginning of
each chapter. Read each definition carefully. You may find that you do not
know the exact meaning of words that you thought were familiar, even if
you know the context in which the word is often used. For instance, the
phrase moot point has come to mean a point not worth discussing because it
has no value or relevance. This is a non-standard use of the word but one
that has come to be accepted. Moot actually means debatable or undecided.
You may also find that some words have secondary meanings that you do
not know.
To help seal the words and their meanings in your memory, try these
general vocabulary-building strategies:
1.
Create flashcards. Use index cards to create an easy and effective
study tool. Put the vocabulary word on one side and its meaning and
a sample sentence on the other. You can copy the sample sentence
from the word list, but you will learn the word faster and remember
it better if you create a sentence of your own.
2.
Use the words as you learn them. The best way to remember what
a word means is to use it. Make it an active part of your vocabulary
as soon as possible. Use the word in a letter to a friend, as you write
in your journal, or in your next conversation with a coworker. Share
your new words with your best friend, your siblings, or your spouse.
3.
Keep it manageable. You can’t learn 501 new words overnight, and
you will only get frustrated if you try to memorize them all at once.
x
501 Vocabulary Questions
4.
Review, review, review. After you learn a set of words, remember
to review those words regularly. If you simply keep moving forward
with new words without stopping to review everything you have
already learned, much of your effort will be in vain. Repetition is the
key to mastery, especially with vocabulary. The more you review the
words and their meanings and the more you use them, the more
quickly and permanently they will become part of your vocabulary.
You can use this book to review as often as you like. Review the word list
periodically, and give yourself the opportunity to answer each question
more than once. Instead of writing in this book, write all of your answers
on a separate piece of paper. If you prefer to write in the book, mark your
answers lightly in pencil so that you can erase your answers and use the 501
questions for review a few months or years down the road.
Congratulations on taking these very important steps toward building a
better vocabulary. Enjoy!
xi
501
Vocabulary Questions
1
It’s Not What
You Say, But
How You Say It
Have you ever been severely remonstrated by an authority figure for
doing something you shouldn’t have? Have you ever embarrassed yourself
by committing a solecism during a formal occasion? As we communicate with
one another, we use words as a means of expression. The words in this
chapter describe different things we might say and how we might say them.
You can find the answers to each question in this section at the end of the
chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
bombastic (bom· bas·tik) adj. speaking pompously, with inflated self-
importance. Ahmed was shocked that a renowned and admired humanitarian
could give such a bombastic keynote address.
censure ( sen·shu.r) n. an expression of strong criticism or disapproval; a
rebuke or condemnation. After the Senator was found guilty of taking bribes,
Congress unanimously agreed to censure him.
derisive (di· r ¯·siv) adj. scornful, expressing ridicule; mocking, jeering. In
order to ensure a positive environment, derisive comments were forbidden in the
classroom.
disparage (di· spar·ij) v. to speak of in a slighting or derogatory way; to
belittle. Comedians often disparage politicians as part of their comedic routines.
effusive (i· fyoo·siv) adj. expressing emotions in an unrestrained or excessive
way; profuse, overflowing, gushy. Anne’s unexpected effusive greeting made
Tammy uncomfortable.
eloquent ( el·o.·kwe.nt) adj. expressing strong emotions or arguments in
a powerful, fluent, and persuasive manner. Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg
Address is considered one of the most eloquent speeches ever given by a U.S.
president.
gainsay ( ayn·say) v. to deny, contradict, or declare false; to oppose. Petra
would gainsay all accusations made against her.
harangue (ha· ran ) n. a long, often scolding or bombastic speech; a tirade.
Members of the audience began to get restless during the senator’s political
harangue.
importune (im·por· toon) v. 1. to ask incessantly, make continuous requests.
2. to beg persistently and urgently. Children can’t help but importune during
the holidays, constantly nagging for the irresistible toys they see advertised on television.
malapropism ( mal·a.·prop·iz·e.m) n. comical misuse of words, especially
those that are similar in sound. The politician’s malapropisms may make us
laugh, but they will not win our votes.
mince (mins) v. 1. to cut into very small pieces. 2. to walk or speak affectedly,
as with studied refinement. 3. to say something more delicately or
indirectly for the sake of politeness or decorum. Please don’t mince your
words—just tell me what you want to say.
2
501 Vocabulary Questions
opprobrious (o.· proh·bri·u.s) adj. 1. expressing contempt or reproach;
scornful, abusive. 2. bringing shame or disgrace. It was inappropriate to make
such opprobrious remarks in front of everybody.
oxymoron (oks·i· moh·ro.n) n. a figure of speech containing a seemingly
contradictory combination of expressions, such as friendly fire. The term
“non-working mother” is a contemptible oxymoron.
platitude ( plat·i·tood) n. a trite or banal statement, especially one uttered
as if it were new. Matthew offered me several platitudes but no real advice.
remonstrate (ri· mon·strayt) v. 1. to say or plead in protest, objection, or
opposition. 2. to scold or reprove. The children remonstrated loudly when their
mother told them they couldn’t watch that movie.
repartee (rep·a
.r· tee) n. 1. a quick, witty reply. 2. the ability to make witty
replies. He wasn’t expecting such a sharp repartee from someone who was normally
so quiet.
sardonic (sahr· don·ik) adj. sarcastic; mocking scornfully. I was hurt by his
sardonic reply.
sententious (sen· ten·shu.s) adj. 1. expressing oneself tersely; pithy. 2. full
of maxims and proverbs offered in a self-righteous manner. I was looking for
your honest opinion, not a sententious reply.
solecism ( sol·e.·siz·e.m) n. 1. a mistake in the use of language. 2. violation
of good manners or etiquette; impropriety. Frank’s solecism caused his debate
team much embarrassment.
voluble ( vol·yu.·be.l) adj. 1. talking a great deal and with great ease; language
marked by great fluency; rapid, nimble speech. 2. turning or rotating easily
on an axis. Your new spokesperson is very voluble and clearly comfortable speaking
in front of large audiences.
3
501 Vocabulary Questions
Read the following sentences carefully. Decide which word best
describes what is being said and circle the letter of the correct answer.
(If you do not own this book, please write your answers on a separate
piece of paper.)
1.
“Bundle up,” said Aunt Margaret. “I don’t want you getting sick
and coming down with ammonia.”
The underlined word is a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. solecism.
c. oxymoron.
d. harangue.
2.
Jack pleaded, “Can I go on the rollercoaster one more time, Mom?
Please? I really, really want to. Pretty please? I’ll do extra chores
this week. Please?”
This little boy is
a. gainsaying his mother.
b. importuning his mother.
c. disparaging his mother.
d. censuring his mother.
3.
“You are hopeless! I cannot believe your files are in such disorder,”
the irritable supervisor shouted.
This remark is
a. effusive.
b. sententious.
c. bombastic.
d. opprobrious.
4.
“Come on, Mom! You’re not being fair! Why can’t I stay out until
midnight just like my friends? I’m old enough,” stated Marissa
emphatically.
This teenager is
a. remonstrating her mother.
b. importuning her mother.
c. gainsaying her mother.
d. being sententious.
4
501 Vocabulary Questions
5.
“Oh, wow! I just can’t believe it! I’m so excited! This is the best
thing ever! I am very, very happy,” the new homeowner declared.
This remark is
a. bombastic.
b. eloquent.
c. effusive.
d. sardonic.
6.
The cranky old coach yelled, “You call that a pitch? I’ve seen
rookies with better aim.”
This remark is
a. derisive.
b. sententious.
c. voluble.
d. effusive.
7.
“We’d only just met the host when Kenny told her that her house
desperately needed a makeover,” Janine said. “I was so
embarrassed!”
Kenny’s comment was a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. solecism.
c. oxymoron.
d. platitude.
8.
“Well, son, I’ve got news for you: You win some, you lose some.
Besides, it’s not whether you win or lose that counts. It’s how you
play the game,” my old-fashioned dad said.
This remark is
a. sententious.
b. sardonic.
c. eloquent.
d. derisive.
5
501 Vocabulary Questions
9.
“They’ve labeled the poster an authentic reproduction,” the
antique dealer said. “That’s like calling a book on the bestseller list
a new classic.”
The underlined words are examples of a(n)
a. malapropism.
b. oxymoron.
c. platitude.
d. repartee.
10.
“No, that’s not how it happened,” the honor student said. “Julianna
is lying. Winston didn’t steal her idea; she took it from him.”
This speaker is
a. censuring.
b. disparaging.
c. gainsaying.
d. mincing.
Read the following sentences carefully. Decide which of the words
from the following list best fills the blank in the sentence. Write your
answer in the blank. (If you do not own this book, please write your
answer on a separate piece of paper.)
bombastic
mince
censure
platitude
disparage
repartee
eloquent
sardonic
harangue
voluble
11.
Darlene found that Jonathan’s remarks ________(ed) her so much
that their relationship was at stake. His critical comments were
unkind.
12.
When he discovered the error, Chesterton lashed out at Watkins.
His ________ lasted for several minutes and shocked everyone in
my department!
6
501 Vocabulary Questions
13.
ABC Paper has been polluting our river for the last 20 years and
has been keeping it from the public. This is not just wrong, it’s
criminal. ABC Paper is guilty of unforgivable sins against the
environment and against the people of our state and deserves the
most severe ________.
14.
Because she is so ________, she has no trouble meeting new people
or talking in front of a crowd.
15.
I wish Edna would be more straightforward. She’s always
________(ing) her words, as if she is afraid she will hurt my
feelings.
16.
What a(n) ________ essay! It is forceful and fluent with powerful
and precise word choice throughout the text.
17.
Caleb’s reply was ________, as usual. He can’t seem to say anything
without mockery.
18.
Titus tried to insult Isabel, but she tactfully deflected the insult
with a witty ________.
19.
She thought she was offering some real advice, but all she could
give me was some ________(s) like “tomorrow’s another day” and
“good things come to those who wait.”
20.
How could our humble, soft-spoken president make such a
________ statement to the newcomer in the group?
7
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
1.
a. A malapropism is the comical misuse of words, especially those
similar in sound. Here, the speaker says, “ammonia” instead of
“pneumonia.”
2. b.
To importune is to ask incessantly or beg persistently.
3.
d. An opprobrious remark is one that is scornful and expresses
contempt.
4.
a. To remonstrate is to say or plead in protest or objection.
Remonstrate can also mean to scold or reprove.
5.
c. An effusive remark expresses emotions in an unrestrained or
excessive way.
6.
a. A derisive comment expresses scorn and ridicules or mocks
something or someone.
7.
b. A solecism is a mistake in the use of language or a violation of
good manners or etiquette.
8.
a. A sententious reply is one that is full of maxims and proverbs
offered in a self-righteous manner. Sententious can also mean
expressing oneself tersely.
9.
b. An oxymoron is a figure of speech containing a seemingly
contradictory combination of words. Authentic reproduction and
new classic are oxymorons.
10.
c. To gainsay is to deny, contradict, or declare false; to oppose.
11.
To disparage is to belittle, to speak of in a derogatory way.
12.
A harangue is a tirade; a long, scolding or bombastic speech.
13.
A censure is a rebuke or expression of strong criticism and
disapproval.
14.
A voluble person talks a great deal and with immense ease.
8
501 Vocabulary Questions
15.
To mince means to say something more delicately or indirectly for
the sake of politeness or decorum. It can also mean to chop into
very small pieces or to walk or speak affectedly.
16.
Eloquent means expressing strong emotions or arguments in a
powerful, fluent, and persuasive manner.
17.
Sardonic means sarcastic, mocking scornfully.
18.
A repartee is a quick, witty reply or the ability to make such replies.
19.
A platitude is a trite or banal statement, especially one uttered as if
it were new.
20.
Bombastic means speaking pompously, with inflated self-
importance.
9
2
Word Pairs I
Have you ever felt ambivalent or irresolute? Did you ever smell something
noisome or noxious? These words are almost exactly the same in meaning,
and they are called word pairs. This is the first of four chapters of word
pairs. Each word pair chapter contains ten sets of synonyms.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
ambivalent (am· biv·a.·le.nt) adj. having mixed or conflicting feelings about
a person, thing, or situation; uncertain. She was ambivalent about the proposal
for the shopping center because she understood the arguments both for and against
its construction.
ephemeral (i· fem·e.·ra.l) adj. lasting only a very short time; transitory.
Numerous ephemeral ponds and pools can be found in the desert during the rainy
season.
garrulous ( ar·u.·lu.s) adj. talkative. Andrew had the unfortunate luck of being
seated next to a garrulous young woman for his 12-hour flight.
inchoate (in· koh·it) adj. 1. just begun; in an initial or early stage of development;
incipient. 2. not yet fully formed; undeveloped, incomplete. During
the inchoate stage of fetal growth, it is difficult to distinguish between a cow, a
frog, and a human; it is not until they mature that the developing embryos take
on the characteristics of their own particular species.
irk (urk) v. to annoy, irritate, or vex. Teenagers are continually irked by their
parents—and vice versa.
irresolute (i· rez·o.·loot) adj. feeling or showing uncertainty; hesitant, indecisive.
Sandra is still irresolute, so if you talk to her, you might help her make up
her mind.
loquacious (loh· kway·shu.s) adj. talkative, garrulous. The loquacious woman
sitting next to me on the six-hour flight talked the entire time.
mitigate ( mit·. · ayt) v. 1. to make less intense or severe. 2. to moderate the
force or intensity of, soften; diminish, alleviate. The unusual extenuating circumstances
mitigated her punishment.
nascent ( nas·e.nt) adj. coming into existence, emerging. The nascent movement
gathered strength quickly and soon became a nationwide call to action.
noisome ( noi·so.m) adj. 1. offensive, foul, especially in odor; putrid. 2.
harmful, noxious. What a noisome odor is coming from that garbage can!
noxious ( nok·shu.s) adj. unpleasant and harmful, unwholesome. The noxious
smell drove everyone from the room.
palliate ( pal·i·ayt) v. 1. to make something less intense or severe; mitigate,
alleviate; to gloss over, put a positive spin on. 2. to provide relief from pain,
relieve the symptoms of a disease or disorder. The governor tried to palliate
12
501 Vocabulary Questions
his malfeasance, but it soon became clear that he would not be able to prevent a
scandal.
rapacious (ra.· pay·shu.s) adj. excessively greedy and grasping (especially for
money); voracious, plundering. The rapacious general ordered his soldiers to pillage
the town.
sordid ( sor·did) adj. 1. dirty, wretched, squalid. 2. morally degraded. This
sordid establishment should be shut down immediately.
squalid ( skwol·id) adj. 1. filthy and wretched. 2. morally repulsive, sordid.
The housing inspectors noted such deplorable and squalid living conditions in the
decrepit building on Water Street that they were forced to evacuate the tenants.
stoical ( stoh·i·ka.l) adj. seemingly unaffected by pleasure or pain; indifferent,
impassive. He remained stoical as his wife told him she was leaving.
stolid ( stol·id) adj. not feeling or showing emotion, impassive; not easily
aroused or excited. Maxine is a very stolid person, so it is very difficult to tell how
she feels.
transient ( tran·zhe.nt) adj. lasting only a very short time; fleeting, transitory,
brief. Their relationship was transient, but profound.
vex (veks) v. 1. to annoy, irritate. 2. to cause worry to. I was completely vexed
by his puerile behavior.
voracious (voh· ray·shu.s) adj. excessively greedy, rapacious; having a great
appetite for something, devouring greedily. I have always been a voracious
reader, consuming dozens of books every month.
13
Crossword Puzzle Directions
In this puzzle, each clue is offered twice, once for each word in the word
pair. Read the definition provided in the clue and determine which two
words share that meaning. Then, determine which of those synonyms fits
in the designated crossword squares.
Word Pairs I Crossword Puzzle
14
501 Vocabulary Questions
25222321243029272631352833343732384039362522232124302927263135283334373238403936
501 Vocabulary Questions
ACROSS
22. to annoy, irritate (paired with 30 down)
23. not showing emotion (paired with 38 down)
26. talkative, chatty (paired with 24 down)
29. excessively greedy (paired with 31 down)
32. unsure, undecided (paired with 25 down)
33. dirty, filthy, wretched (paired with 27 down)
34. brief, lasting only a short time (paired with 28 down)
37. to make less intense or severe (paired with 40 across)
39. foul, unhealthy (paired with 21 down)
40. to make less intense or severe (paired with 37 across)
DOWN
21. foul, unhealthy (paired with 39 across)
24. talkative, chatty (paired with 26 across)
25. unsure, undecided (paired with 32 across)
27. dirty, filthy, wretched (paired with 33 across)
28. brief, lasting only a short time (paired with 34 across)
30. to annoy, irritate (paired with 22 across)
31. excessively greedy (paired with 29 across)
35. just beginning, in its earliest stages (paired with 36 down)
36. just beginning, in its earliest stages (paired with 35 down)
38. not showing emotion (paired with 23 across)
15
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
The following words are word pairs:
ambivalent, irresolute
ephemeral, transient
garrulous, loquacious
inchoate, nascent
irk, vex
mitigate, palliate
noisome, noxious
rapacious, voracious
sordid, squalid
stoical, stolid
Across
22.
To vex means to annoy or irritate; irk.
23.
Stoical means seemingly unaffected by pleasure or pain; indifferent
or impassive. A stoical person, like a stolid person, would not show
emotion.
26.
Garrulous means talkative, chatty; loquacious.
29.
Rapacious means excessively greedy and grasping, voracious.
32.
Irresolute means feeling or showing uncertainty; hesitant,
indecisive, or ambivalent.
33.
Sordid means dirty, wretched, squalid; it can also mean morally
degraded.
34.
Transient means lasting only a very short time; fleeting, transitory,
brief; ephemeral.
37.
To palliate means to make something less intense or severe, to
mitigate or alleviate; to put a positive spin on. It can also mean to
provide relief from pain or from symptoms of a disease.
39.
Noisome means offensive, foul, especially in odor; harmful or
noxious.
40.
To mitigate is to make less intense or severe; to moderate the force
or intensity of something; alleviate, palliate.
Down
21.
Noxious means unpleasant and harmful; unwholesome, noisome.
24.
Loquacious means talkative; garrulous.
25.
Ambivalent means having mixed or conflicting feelings about
something; uncertain, irresolute.
27.
Squalid means filthy, wretched; morally repulsive, sordid.
16
501 Vocabulary Questions
28.
Ephemeral means lasting only a very short time; transient.
30.
Irk means to annoy, irritate; vex.
31.
Voracious means excessively greedy, having a great appetite for
something, rapacious.
35.
Inchoate means just begun, in an initial or early stage of
development; nascent.
36.
Nascent means just coming into existence, emerging; inchoate.
38.
Stolid means not feeling or showing emotion; impassive, stoical.
21
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3
Personality Traits
and Attitudes I
Are you personable or petulant? Perfidious or punctilious? The 20 words in
this chapter identify some of the characteristics that describe who we are
and how we behave.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
blithe (bl ¯th) adj. lighthearted, casual, and carefree. Rachel’s blithe attitude
toward spending money left her penniless and in debt.
bumptious ( bump·shu.s) adj. arrogant, conceited. The bumptious man could
not stop talking about himself or looking in the mirror.
capricious (ka.· prish·u.s) adj. impulsive, whimsical, and unpredictable. Robin
Williams, the comedian, demonstrates a most capricious nature even when he is not
performing.
churlish ( chur·l .sh) adj. ill-mannered, boorish, rude. Angelo’s churlish
remarks made everyone at the table uncomfortable and ill at ease.
circumspect ( sur·ku.m·spekt) adj. cautious, wary, watchful. The captain was
circumspect as he guided the boat through the fog.
craven ( kray·ve.n) adj. cowardly. “This craven act of violence will not go unpunished,”
remarked the police chief.
diffident ( dif·i·de.nt) adj. lacking self-confidence; shy and timid. Alan’s diffident
nature is often misinterpreted as arrogance.
gregarious ( re.· air·i·u.s) adj. 1. seeking and enjoying the company of others;
sociable. 2. tending to form a group with others of the same kind. John
was a gregarious fellow who always had fun at social events.
irascible (i· ras·. ·be.l) adj. irritable, easily aroused to anger; hot tempered.
Her irascible temperament caused many problems with the staff at the office.
overweening (oh·ve.r· wee·nin ) adj. 1. presumptuously arrogant, overbearing.
2. excessive, immoderate. I quit because I couldn’t stand to work for
such an overweening boss.
perfidious (pe.r· fid·i·u.s) adj. treacherous, dishonest; violating good faith,
disloyal. The perfidious knight betrayed his king.
personable ( pur·so.·na.·be.l) adj. pleasing in appearance or manner; attractive.
Sandra is personable and well-liked by her peers.
petulant ( pech·u·la.nt) adj. peevish; unreasonably or easily irritated or
annoyed. The pouting and sulking child could only be described as petulant.
pretentious (pri· ten·shu.s) adj. showy, pompous, putting on airs. Hannah
thinks that being pretentious will make people like her, but she is sorely mistaken.
20
501 Vocabulary Questions
puerile ( pyoo·e.·r .l) adj. 1. childish, immature. 2. suitable only for children;
belonging to or of childhood. Andrew is a remarkably successful businessman
for someone so puerile.
punctilious (pun k· til·i·u.s) adj. very conscientious and precise; paying
great attention to details or trivialities, especially in regard to etiquette. Kira
is as punctilious in her personal affairs as she is in the workplace.
sagacious (sa.· ay·shu.s) adj. having or showing sound judgment; perceptive,
wise. My sagacious uncle always gives me good, sound advice.
sanguine ( san · win) adj. 1. confidently cheerful, optimistic. 2. of the color
of blood; red. People are drawn to her because of her sanguine and pleasant
nature.
saturnine ( sat·u.r·n ¯n) adj. gloomy, dark, or sullen. The saturnine child sulked
for hours.
surly ( sur·lee) adj. bad-tempered, gruff, or unfriendly in a way that suggests
menace. Emily received a surly greeting from the normally cheerful receptionist.
21
501 Vocabulary Questions
Choose the answer that is the best response for each question below.
If you do not own this book, please write your answers on a separate
piece of paper.
41.
Which of the following traits is most desirable in a roommate?
a. bumptious
b. personable
c. pretentious
d. puerile
42.
Which of the following traits is least desirable in a roommate?
a. diffident
b. gregarious
c. sanguine
d. surly
43. Which kind of person would most likely make the best waiter?
a. someone who is blithe
b. someone who is overweening
c. someone who is perfidious
d. someone who is punctilious
44.
Which kind of person would most likely make the best spy?
a. someone who is capricious
b. someone who is craven
c. someone who is perfidious
d. someone who is sagacious
45.
Which kind of person would most likely make the best judge?
a. someone who is diffident
b. someone who is sagacious
c. someone who is sanguine
d. someone who is saturnine
46.
Which kind of person would most likely make the best security
guard?
a. someone who is bumptious
b. someone who is circumspect
c. someone who is gregarious
d. someone who is perfidious
22
501 Vocabulary Questions
47.
Which kind of person would most likely be the best companion
when you are feeling sad?
a. someone who is bumptious
b. someone who is irascible
c. someone who is puerile
d. someone who is sanguine
48.
Which character trait would you least like to see in a soldier?
a. craven
b. overweening
c. pretentious
d. surly
49.
Which character trait would you least like to see in a judge?
a. capricious
b. circumspect
c. personable
d. punctilious
50. Which character trait would you least like to see in a supervisor?
a. blithe
b. bumptious
c. overweening
d. petulant
For the following questions, choose the person who would most likely
have the characteristic or attitude noted in italics.
51.
blithe
a. a soldier in combat
b. a young child in a playground
c. the mother of a very sick child
d. a surgeon during an operation
52.
petulant
a. someone who throws a tantrum because his or her soup was not
warm enough
b. someone who is going on an important job interview
c. someone who needs to earn a little extra money
d. someone who doesn’t like being with other people
23
501 Vocabulary Questions
53. puerile
a.
an infant
b.
a ten year old who has never been given responsibility
c.
a thirty-four year old with too much responsibility
d.
an elderly woman
54. irascible
a.
someone who just found out he has a rare disease
b.
someone who just inherited a farm with 200 acres
c. someone who has just bumped into an old acquaintance, whom
she would rather not have seen, from high school
d. someone waiting for his airplane to take off, only to be told four
hours later that his flight has been canceled and his luggage has
been lost
55. saturnine
a.
someone who just won the lottery
b.
someone who has just fallen in love
c.
someone who has just had a loved one end a relationship
d.
someone who is sleeping
Match the personality traits and attitudes listed in Column A to the
descriptions in Column B.
Column A
Column B
At a party, a ________ person would most likely be:
56. bumptious a.
sitting alone in a corner.
b.
talking comfortably with a
57. churlish
large group of people.
c.
trying to impress others by
58. diffident
telling them everything he or
she knows about any given
59. gregarious
subject.
60.
pretentious d. making ill-mannered and rude
remarks.
e.
talking condescendingly to
others.
24
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
41.
b. Personable means pleasing in appearance or manner; this is a
desirable quality in a roommate.
42.
d. Surly means bad-tempered or unfriendly in a way that suggests
menace; this is a very undesirable quality in a roommate.
43.
d. A punctilious person is conscientious and precise, and pays great
attention to details, especially in matters of etiquette.
44. c.
A perfidious person is treacherous and dishonest.
45. b.
A sagacious person shows good judgment and is wise.
46. b.
A circumspect person is cautious and watchful.
47. d.
A sanguine person is cheerful and optimistic.
48. a.
Craven means cowardly.
49.
a. Capricious means impulsive and unpredictable; a judge should be
consistent in interpreting and applying the law.
50.
c. An overweening supervisor would be presumptuously arrogant
and overbearing.
51.
b. Blithe means light-hearted and carefree. Only a young child in a
playground is likely to be blithe.
52.
a. Someone who throws a tantrum because his or her soup was not
warm enough is likely to be petulant; unreasonably or easily
irritated.
53.
b. A ten year old who has never been given responsibility is likely
to be puerile; childish and immature.
54.
d. Someone who has been waiting hours for a flight that is
eventually canceled and whose luggage is lost is likely to be
irascible; irritable and hot-tempered.
25
501 Vocabulary Questions
55.
c. Saturnine means gloomy and sullen. Choice c is the only choice
that presents circumstances that would cause someone to be
gloomy.
56.
e. A bumptious person would most likely be talking
condescendingly to others.
57. d.
A churlish person would make ill-mannered and rude remarks.
58.
a. A diffident person would be shy and would most likely be sitting
alone in a corner.
59.
b. A gregarious person would be seeking and enjoying the company
of others, and would most likely be talking comfortably with a
large group of people.
60.
c. A pretentious person would be showy and would most likely be
trying to impress others by telling them everything he or she
knows about any given subject.
26
4
One-Syllable
Wonder Words
Have you ever aroused someone’s ire or enjoyed a day full of mirth?
These 20 one-syllable wonders prove that words don’t have to be long to
be interesting or powerful.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
bane (bayn) n. 1. cause of trouble, misery, distress, or harm. 2. poison. The
bane of the oak tree is the Asian beetle.
blight (bl ¯t) n. 1. a plant disease that causes the affected parts to wilt and die.
2. something that causes this condition, such as air pollution. 3. something
that impairs or destroys. 4. an unsightly object or area. They still do not know
what caused the blight that destroyed half of the trees in the orchard.
broach (brohch) v. 1. to bring up, introduce, in order to begin a discussion
of. 2. to tap or pierce, as in to draw off liquid. It was hard for Sarah to broach
the subject of her mother’s weight gain.
cadge (kaj) v. to beg, to obtain by begging. Their dog Cleo would cadge at my
feet, hoping I would throw him some table scraps.
caste (kast) n. a distinct social class or system. While visiting India, Michael
was fascinated to learn the particulars of each caste and the way they related to each
other.
daunt (dawnt) v. to intimidate, to make afraid or discourage. Members of the
opposing team were trying to daunt the home team by yelling loudly and beating
their chests.
deign (dayn) v. to condescend; to unwillingly do something thought to be
beneath one’s dignity; to lower oneself. Salvatore deigned to accept money from
his father to pay his rent; he had been unemployed for two months.
dross (draws) n. 1. waste product, sludge. 2. something worthless, commonplace,
or trivial. Work crews immediately began the task of cleaning the dross
at the abandoned plastics factory.
eke (eek) v. to get or supplement with great effort or strain; to earn or
accomplish laboriously. Working two jobs enabled Quincy to eke out a living
wage for his family.
feign (fayn) v. to pretend; to give the false appearance of. Walter feigned illness
to avoid attending the meeting.
flout (flowt) v. to disobey openly and scornfully; to reject, mock, go against
(as in a tradition or convention). Flappers in the early twentieth century would
flout convention by bobbing their hair and wearing short skirts.
guile ( ¯l) n. treacherous cunning; shrewd, crafty deceit. The most infamous
pirates displayed tremendous guile.
28
501 Vocabulary Questions
ire ( ¯r) n. anger, wrath. I was filled with ire when Vladimir tried to take credit
for my work.
mete (meet) v. to distribute, allot, apportion. The punishments were meted out
fairly to everyone involved in the plot.
mirth (murth) n. great merriment, joyous laughter. The joyous wedding celebration
filled the reception hall with mirth throughout the evening.
moot (moot) adj. debatable, undecided. The students continued to discuss the
moot point, even after class was over.
pith (pith) n. 1. the essential or central part; the heart or essence (of the matter,
idea, experience, etc.). 2. (in biology) the soft, sponge-like central cylinder
of the stems of most flowering plants. Her brief, but concise, statement went
right to the pith of the argument and covered the most important issues.
quail (kwayl) v. to draw back in fear; flinch, cower. Mona quailed as soon as
Otto, the class bully, entered the room.
roil (roil) v. 1. to make a liquid cloudy or muddy. 2. to stir up or agitate. 3.
to anger or annoy. How could you even think such a thing roils me?
teem (teem) v. to be full of; to be present in large numbers. The city is teeming
with tourists this summer.
29
501 Vocabulary Questions
Read sentences 61–70 carefully. Choose a word from the list below
that best fills the blank in each sentence.
Word List
bane daunt
blight feign
broach pith
cadge roil
caste
teem
61.
Jane was terribly bored, but she ________(ed) interest so as not to
hurt her friend’s feelings.
62.
At first I felt ________(ed) by the assignment, but then I realized
that the problem wasn’t as complex as it first seemed.
63.
Young Carl’s obsession with fire was a ________ for the whole
neighborhood.
64.
The ________ of my argument is that all life is sacred.
65.
He thinks that if he just ________(s) enough, she’ll agree to a date.
66.
The abandoned building is the only ________ in an otherwise
beautiful neighborhood.
67.
Their society divides people into several different ________(s)
based on their lineage and economic status.
68.
The fish tank was ________(ing) with tadpoles.
69.
She didn’t know how to ________ such a sensitive topic.
70.
He is planning a speech that should really ________ the crowd.
30
501 Vocabulary Questions
Choose the word from the list below that best matches the situation
described in each question.
deign ire
dross mete
eke mirth
flout moot
guile quail
________ 71. students purposely coming to class in clothes forbidden
by the dress code
________ 72. a corporate spy infiltrating another company to steal
proprietary secrets
________ 73. what Wanda felt when a competitor opened up a store
right across the street from her shop
________ 74. something bound to be plentiful in a comedy club
________ 75. to make a living in a sweatshop, for example
________ 76. a renowned, arrogant singer grudgingly agreeing to tutor
a student who lacks talent
________ 77. what you might do if you saw a ghost
________ 78. what might pollute a river near an industrial site
________ 79. giving out rations of food and water at an emergency
shelter
________ 80. whether or not we should encourage research into the
cloning of human beings
31
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
61.
To feign is to pretend or give a false appearance.
62.
To be daunted is to be intimidated or discouraged.
63.
A bane is a cause of trouble, misery, or harm.
64.
The pith is the essential part or essence (of an idea, argument, etc.).
65.
To cadge is to beg or obtain by begging.
66.
Blight, in this context, means an unsightly object or area.
67.
A caste is a distinct social class, system, or group.
68.
To teem is to be full of or present in large numbers.
69.
To broach is to bring up or introduce in order to begin a discussion
of a topic or issue.
70.
To roil in this context means to stir up or agitate; to anger or
annoy. Roil can also mean to make (a liquid) cloudy or muddy.
71.
To flout is to disobey openly or scornfully; to reject, mock, or go
against (a tradition or convention).
72.
Guile means treacherous cunning or shrewd; crafty deceit.
73.
Ire means anger or wrath.
74.
Mirth means great merriment or joyous laughter.
75.
To eke is to get with great effort or strain; to earn or accomplish
laboriously.
76.
To deign is to condescend; to do something thought to be beneath
one’s dignity.
77.
To quail is to draw back in fear; to cower.
32
501 Vocabulary Questions
78.
Dross means waste product or sludge. It can also mean something
worthless, commonplace, or trivial.
79.
To mete is to distribute, allot, or apportion.
80.
A moot issue is something that is debatable or undecided.
Note: The phrase moot point has come to mean a point not worth
discussing because it has no value or relevance. This is a nonstandard
use of the word, but one that has come to be accepted. Be
sure your meaning is clear when you use this word.
33
5
Lights, Camera,
Action—Vivid Verbs
Have you ever been upbraided or stultified? The 20 verbs in this chapter
describe actions that are powerful or invoke vivid images.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abrogate ( ab·ro.· ayt) v. to abolish, do away with, or annul by authority. It
was unclear if the judge would abrogate the lower court’s ruling.
beguile (bi· ¯l) v. to deceive or cheat through cunning; to distract the
attention of, divert; to pass time in a pleasant manner, to amuse or charm.
Violet was able to beguile the spy, causing him to miss his secret meeting.
bolster ( bohl·ste.r) v. 1. to support or prop up. 2. to buoy or hearten. Coach
Edmond’s speech bolstered the team’s confidence.
burgeon ( bur·jo.n) v. to begin to grow and flourish; to begin to sprout,
grow new buds, blossom. The tulip bulbs beneath the soil would burgeon in early
spring, providing there was no late frost.
burnish ( bur·nish) v. to polish, rub to a shine. When Kathryn began to burnish
the old metal teapot, she realized that it was, in fact, solid silver.
careen (ka.· reen) v. 1. to lurch from side to side while in motion. 2. to rush
carelessly or headlong. Watching the car in front of us careen down the road was
very frightening.
decimate ( des·. ·mayt) v. to destroy a large portion of. An extended period
of neglect would eventually decimate much of the housing in the inner cities.
deprecate ( dep·re.·kayt) v. to express disapproval of; to belittle, depreciate.
Grandpa’s tendency to deprecate the children’s friends was a frequent source of family
strife.
fetter ( fet·e.r) v. 1. to shackle, put in chains. 2. to impede or restrict. The
presence of two security guards fettered the teenagers’ plans to get backstage.
forestall (fohr· stawl) v. to prevent by taking action first; preempt. The diplomat
was able to forestall a conflict by holding secret meetings with both parties.
fulminate ( ful·m .·nayt) v. 1. to issue a thunderous verbal attack; berate. 2.
to explode or detonate. The senator was prone to fulminate when other legislators
questioned her ideology.
immolate ( im·o.·layt) v. 1. to kill, as a sacrifice. 2. to ruin by fire. 3. to
destroy (one thing for another). In a desperate attempt to make a point about
what she considered an inappropriate book, Sophia decided to immolate the book in
public.
interdict (in·te.r· dikt) v. to prohibit, forbid. Carlos argued that the agriculture
department should interdict plans to produce genetically modified foods.
36
501 Vocabulary Questions
inveigle (in· vay· e.l) v. to influence or persuade through gentle coaxing or
flattery; to entice. Vanessa inveigled her way into a promotion that should have
gone to Maxon.
petrify ( pet·r .·f ¯) v. 1. to make hard or stiff like a stone. 2. to stun or paralyze
with fear, astonishment, or dread. I was petrified when I heard the door
open in the middle of the night.
pique (peek) v. to wound (someone’s) pride, to offend; to arouse or provoke.
The article really piqued my interest in wildlife preservation.
stultify ( stul·t .·f ¯) v. 1. to impair or make ineffective; to cripple. 2. to make
(someone) look foolish or incompetent. Of course I’m angry! You stultified me
at that meeting!
subvert (sub· vurt) v. 1. to overthrow. 2. to ruin, destroy completely. 3. to
undermine. She quietly subverted his authority by sharing internal information
with outside agents.
truncate ( trun ·kayt) v. to shorten or terminate by (or as if by) cutting the
top or end off. The glitch in the software program truncated the lines of a very
important document I was typing.
upbraid (up· brayd) v. to reprove, reproach sharply, condemn; admonish.
The child was upbraided for misbehaving during the ceremony.
37
501 Vocabulary Questions
Match the person or thing in Column A with the action he, she, or it
might perform in Column B.
Column A
81.
slaveholder, to a slave
82.
a rosebush in spring
83.
a lawmaking authority, to its
constituents
84.
a tornado or earthquake, to a
city
85.
a car out of control
86.
a mother, to a misbehaving
child
87.
a ghost in a horror movie
88.
a desperate political candidate,
against his opponent
89.
a small-time swindler
90.
a group of rebels, to a
government
Column B
beguile
burgeon
careen
decimate
fetter
fulminate
interdict
petrify
subvert
upbraid
Read sentences 91–100 carefully. Choose the verb from the list below
that best completes each sentence.
abrogate immolate
bolster inveigle
burnish pique
deprecate stultify
forestall truncated
91.
I can’t believe Charlie would try to ________ me in front of my
boss like that!
92.
He thinks he can just ________ everyone he meets, but not
everyone falls for that kind of flattery.
93.
His flagging spirits were ________(ed) by the news that a publisher
had accepted his manuscript.
38
501 Vocabulary Questions
94.
Once a month, I spend a Saturday afternoon ________(ing) my
silverware.
95.
Saul ________(ed) every remark that Bernadette made, and she
grew weary of his interruptions.
96.
Her career as a dancer was ________(ed) because of a skiing
accident.
97.
The strike was ________(ed) by last-minute concessions by
management.
98.
At the end of Frankenstein, the creature ________(s) himself in a
giant funeral pyre.
99.
The new president rashly ________(ed) all of the laws passed by
his predecessor.
100.
Listening to the lecture has really ________(ed) my interest in
science fiction.
39
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
81.
To fetter is to shackle or put in chains. It can also mean to impede
or restrict.
82.
To burgeon is to begin to grow and flourish; to begin to sprout,
grow new buds, blossom.
83.
To interdict means to prohibit or forbid.
84.
To decimate something is to destroy a large portion of it.
85.
To careen is to lurch from side to side while in motion or to rush
carelessly or headlong.
86.
To upbraid is to reprove or reproach sharply; to admonish or
condemn.
87.
To petrify in this context is to stun or paralyze with fear,
astonishment, or dread. Petrify can also mean to make hard or stiff
like a stone.
88.
To fulminate is to issue a thunderous verbal attack, to berate. It can
also mean to explode or detonate.
89.
To beguile is to deceive or cheat through cunning. It can also mean
to distract the attention of or to pass time in a pleasant manner.
90.
To subvert means to overthrow, to ruin completely, or to
undermine.
91.
To stultify in this context means to make someone look foolish or
incompetent. It can also mean to impair or make ineffective; to
cripple.
92.
To inveigle means to influence or persuade through gentle coaxing
or flattery; to entice.
93.
To bolster means to buoy or hearten. It can also mean to support or
prop up.
94.
To burnish is to polish; to rub to a shine.
40
501 Vocabulary Questions
95.
To deprecate is to express disapproval of; to belittle.
96.
To truncate is to shorten or terminate by (or as if by) cutting the
top or end off.
97.
To forestall is to preempt; to prevent by taking action first.
98.
To immolate is to kill oneself by fire. It can also mean to kill as a
sacrifice or to destroy (one thing for another).
99.
To abrogate is to abolish or annul by authority.
100.
To pique is to arouse or provoke; it can also mean to wound someone’s
pride or offend.
41
6
Crime and
Punishment
Have you ever been guilty of a peccadillo or been exculpated for something
you didn’t do? These 20 words are all associated with crimes and their
punishments.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abscond (ab· skond) v. to run away secretly and hide, often in order to avoid
arrest or prosecution. Criminals will often head south and abscond with stolen
goods to Mexico.
absolution (ab·so.· loo·sho.n) n. 1. an absolving or clearing from blame or
guilt. 2. a formal declaration of forgiveness; redemption. The jury granted
Anna the absolution she deserved.
bilk (bilk) v. to deceive or defraud; to swindle or cheat, especially to evade
paying one’s debts. The stockbroker was led away in handcuffs, accused of trying
to bilk senior citizens out of their investment dollars.
castigate ( kas·t .· ayt) v. to inflict a severe punishment on; to chastise
severely. When she was caught stealing for the second time, Maya knew her
mother would castigate her.
chastise (chas· t ¯z) v. to punish severely; to criticize harshly, rebuke. Charles
knew that his wife would chastise him after he inadvertently told the room full of
guests that she had just had a face-lift.
collusion (ko.· loo·zho.n) n. a secret agreement between two or more people
for a deceitful or fraudulent purpose; conspiracy. The discovery of the
e-mail proved that collusion existed between the CEO and CFO to defraud the
shareholders.
enormity (i· nor·mi·tee) n. 1. excessive wickedness. 2. a monstrous offense
or evil act; atrocity. The enormity of Jeffrey Dahmer’s crimes will never be
forgotten.
Note: Enormity is often used to indicate something of great size (e.g., the
enormity of the task), but this is considered an incorrect use of the word.
exculpate (eks· kul·payt) v. to free from blame, to clear from a charge of
guilt. When Anthony admitted to committing the crime, it served to exculpate
Marcus.
malfeasance (ma.l· fee·za.ns) n. misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a
public official; improper professional conduct. The city comptroller was found
guilty of malfeasance and removed from office.
miscreant ( mis·kree·a
.nt) n. a villain, criminal; evil person. The miscreant
had eluded the police for months, but today he was finally captured.
peccadillo (pek·a.· dil·oh) n. a trivial offense; a small sin or fault. Don’t make
such a big deal out of a little peccadillo.
44
501 Vocabulary Questions
perjury ( pur·ju.·ree) n. the deliberate willful giving of false, misleading, or
incomplete testimony while under oath. William was convicted of perjury for
lying about his whereabouts on the night of the crime.
purloin (pu.r· loin) v. to steal. The thief purloined a sculpture worth thousands
of dollars.
recalcitrant (ri· kal·si·tra.nt) adj. disobedient, unruly; refusing to obey
authority. The recalcitrant child was sent to the principal’s office for the third time
in a week.
recidivism (ri· sid·. ·vizm) n. a relapse or backslide, especially into antisocial
or criminal behavior after conviction and punishment. Allowing prisoners
to earn their GED or a college degree has been shown to greatly reduce
recidivism.
reprehensible (rep·ri· hen·s .·be.l) adj. deserving rebuke or censure. The rep
rehensible behavior of the neighborhood bully angered everyone on the block.
reprieve (ri· preev) n. 1. postponement or cancellation of punishment,
especially of the death sentence. 2. temporary relief from danger or discomfort.
The court granted him a reprieve at the last moment because of DNA
evidence that absolved him.
tribunal (tr ¯· byoo·na.l) n. a court of justice. He will be sentenced for his war
crimes by an international tribunal.
turpitude ( tur·pi·tood) n. 1. wickedness. 2. a corrupt or depraved act. Such
turpitude deserves the most severe punishment.
venal ( vee·na.l) adj. easily bribed or corrupted; unprincipled. The venal judge
was removed and disbarred.
45
501 Vocabulary Questions
Match the action described in Column A with the name of the crime
or criminal nature in Column B.
Column A
101.
lying under oath
102.
conspiring to rig a local
election
103.
a politician using public
funds to buy gifts for his or
her family
104.
telling a white lie
105.
committing armed robbery
after serving time for auto
theft
106.
a defendant trying to leave
the state before his or her
case goes to trial: attempting
to ________
107.
frequently accepting bribes
while in office: a ________
public official
108.
taking something that
belongs to someone else
109.
swindling a rich divorcee:
________(ing) an innocent
woman
110.
executing the entire population
of a village during a civil
war
Column B
abscond
bilk
collusion
enormity
malfeasance
peccadillo
perjury
purloin
recidivism
venal
46
501 Vocabulary Questions
Using the words from the list below, choose the best word to complete
each of the following sentences.
absolution recalcitrant
castigate reprehensible
chastise reprieve
exculpate tribunal
miscreant turpitude
111.
The international ________ will hear more testimony today
regarding the general’s wartime atrocities.
112.
The evidence was sufficient to ________ her from the crime.
113.
The new district attorney refused to condone the mayor’s
________ behavior.
114.
Catholics believe that going to confession gives them ________
from their sins.
115.
The Athenian lawmaker Draco was known to ________ citizens for
the most minor offenses.
116.
The ________ students were given two-week suspensions and
required to complete 20 hours of community service.
117.
Edna ________ (ed) the children for not doing their homework.
118.
The ________ of the crime shocked even the most hardened
detectives.
119.
The judge granted Mason a ________ when another man
confessed to the crime.
120.
The worst ________ (s) are often those who appear to lead normal,
law-abiding lives.
47
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
101.
To commit perjury is to deliberately give false, misleading, or
incomplete testimony while under oath.
102.
Collusion is a conspiracy; a secret agreement between two or more
people for a fraudulent purpose.
103.
Malfeasance is misconduct or wrongdoing, especially by a public
official.
104.
A peccadillo is a small sin or fault; a trivial offense.
105.
Recidivism means a relapse or backslide into criminal behavior after
conviction and punishment.
106.
To abscond is to run away secretly and hide, usually in order to
avoid arrest or prosecution.
107.
Venal means easily bribed or corrupted; unprincipled.
108.
To purloin means to steal.
109.
To bilk means to deceive or defraud; to swindle or cheat, especially
to evade paying one’s debts.
110.
Enormity means excessive wickedness or a monstrous offense or
evil act; an atrocity.
111.
A tribunal is a court of justice.
112.
To exculpate means to free from blame or clear from a charge of
guilt.
113.
Reprehensible means deserving rebuke or censure; deserving of
strong criticism or disapproval.
114.
Absolution is an absolving or clearing from blame or guilt; a formal
declaration of forgiveness or redemption.
48
501 Vocabulary Questions
115.
To castigate means to inflict a severe punishment on; to chastise
severely. Castigate implies a harsher punishment than chastise,
which also means to punish severely but can also mean to criticize
harshly. Castigate is therefore more appropriate in the context of
this sentence.
116.
Recalcitrant means disobedient; unruly, refusing to obey authority.
117.
To chastise means to punish severely or to criticize harshly. Here,
the context suggests harsh criticism rather than severe punishment.
118.
Turpitude means wickedness. It also means a corrupt or depraved
act.
119.
A reprieve is a postponement or cancellation of punishment,
especially of the death sentence. It can also mean temporary relief
from danger or discomfort.
120.
A miscreant is a villain, criminal, or evil person.
49
7
To Be or Not To Be
Have you ever been offended by a boor or charmed by someone with a
very genteel nature? The 20 words in this chapter describe many different
kinds of people—some you might like to have as family and friends, and
many you would not. You can find the answers to each question in this section
at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
boor (boor) n. a crude, offensive, ill-mannered person. Seeing Chuck wipe his
mouth with his sleeve, Maribel realized she was attending her senior prom with a
classic boor.
bourgeois (boor· zhwah) adj. typical of the middle class; conforming to the
standards and conventions of the middle class. A house in the suburbs, two
children, two cars, and three TVs are key indicators of a bourgeois lifestyle.
chauvinist ( shoh·v .n·ist) n. a person who believes in the superiority of his
or her own kind; an extreme nationalist. Male chauvinists believe that women
are mentally and physically inferior to men.
erudite ( er·yu.·d ¯t) adj. having or showing great learning; profoundly educated,
scholarly. The scholarly work of nonfiction was obviously written by an erudite
young student.
fatuous ( fach·oo·u.s) adj. complacently stupid; feeble-minded and silly.
Since Sam was such an intellectually accomplished student, Mr. Britt was surprised
to discover that Sam’s well-meaning but fatuous parents were not at all like him.
feckless ( fek·lis) adj. 1. lacking purpose or vitality; feeble, weak. 2. incompetent
and ineffective, careless. Jake’s feckless performance led to his termination
from the team.
genteel (jen· teel) adj. elegantly polite, well-bred; refined. The genteel host
made sure that each entrée was cooked to each guest’s specifications.
iconoclast (¯ · kon·oh·klast) n. 1. a person who attacks and seeks to overthrow
traditional ideas, beliefs, or institutions. 2. someone who opposes and
destroys idols used in worship. Using words as weapons, the well-spoken iconoclast
challenged religious hypocrisy wherever she found it.
ignoble (i · noh·be.l) adj. 1. lacking nobility in character or purpose; dishonorable.
2. not of the nobility, common. Mark was an ignoble successor to
such a well-respected leader, so many members of the organization resigned.
libertine ( lib·e.r·teen) n. one who lives or acts in an immoral or irresponsible
way; one who acts according to his or her own impulses and desires;
unrestrained by conventions or morals. They claim to be avant-garde, but in
my opinion, they’re just a bunch of libertines.
maladroit (mal·a.· droit) adj. clumsy, bungling; inept. The maladroit waiter
broke a dozen plates and spilled coffee on two customers.
52
501 Vocabulary Questions
maverick ( mav·e.r·ik) n. rebel, nonconformist; one who acts independently.
Madonna has always been a maverick in the music industry.
obtuse (o.b· toos) adj. 1. stupid and slow to understand. 2. blunt, not sharp
or pointed. Please don’t be so obtuse; you know what I mean.
philistine ( fil·i·steen) n. a smug, ignorant person; someone who is uncultured
and commonplace. Richards thinks he is cosmopolitan, but he’s really just
a philistine.
poseur (poh· zur) n. someone who puts on airs to impress others; a phony.
My first impression of the arrogant newcomer was that he was a poseur; I just had
a hunch that he wasn’t what he seemed to be.
renegade ( ren·e.· ayd) n. 1. a deserter; one who rejects a cause, group, etc.
2. a person who rebels and becomes an outlaw. The renegade soldier decided
to join the guerilla fighters.
reprobate ( rep·ro.·bayt) n. an immoral or unprincipled person; one without
scruples. Edgar deemed himself a reprobate, a criminal, and a traitor in his
written confession.
rogue (roh ) n. 1. a dishonest, unprincipled person. 2. a pleasantly mischievous
person. 3. a vicious and solitary animal living apart from the herd.
Yesterday, that rogue hid all of my cooking utensils; today he’s switched everything
around in the cupboards!
sycophant ( sik·o.·fa.nt) n. a person who tries to win the favor of influential
or powerful people through flattery; a fawning parasite. The president is surrounded
by sycophants, so how will he really know if his ideas have merit?
urbane (ur· bayn) adj. elegant, highly refined in manners; extremely tactful
and polite. Christopher thinks he’s so urbane, but he’s really quite pedestrian.
53
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 121–130, read the following sentences carefully. Decide
which answer best describes the italicized vocabulary word and circle
the letter of the correct answer. If you do not own this book, please
write your answers on a separate piece of paper.
121. A boor would be likely to
a. interrupt everyone’s conversation at the dinner table.
b. be a gracious host or hostess.
c. be the life of the party.
d. be quiet and reserved.
122. If you had a rogue for a roommate, you might expect him to
a. work diligently to keep his grades up.
b. keep his room sparkling clean.
b. steal your homework and turn it in as his own.
b. be very religious.
123. A renegade soldier would likely
a. be recognized for bravery.
b. suffer from debilitating injuries.
c. desert his unit.
d. be admired by his fellow soldiers.
124. If you were a libertine, you might
a. become a freedom fighter defending the principles of
democracy.
b. intentionally drive the wrong way down a one-way street.
c. adhere to the rules and laws governing the liberty you enjoy.
d. not drink anything containing alcohol.
125. If your English professor was very erudite, she would be
a. scholarly and highly educated.
b. a little absentminded.
c. very young and inexperienced.
d. very elderly and set in her ways.
126. A feckless teammate would likely
a. come in first place in most races.
b. attend every practice.
c. show no enthusiasm for the sport or competition.
d. be the team captain.
54
501 Vocabulary Questions
127.
A maladroit juggler would likely
a. be able to juggle ten or more balls at a time.
b. drop the balls as frequently as he caught them.
c. be a beginning juggler.
d. juggle very heavy objects.
128.
If you were urbane, you would
a. have highly refined manners and etiquette.
b. live in a city or urban area.
c. be caustic and unpleasant.
d. have a false pretense.
129.
If your banker were a reprobate, he or she would likely
a. ensure that your money was turned over to your heirs in the
event of your death.
b. make careful documentation of every transaction and payment.
c. misappropriate funds.
d. have a sloppy, unprofessional appearance.
130.
If a family were described as being bourgeois, you would probably
find them
a. living in France.
b. living in poverty.
c. living a middle-class lifestyle.
d. living a wealthy lifestyle.
55
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 131–140, read the following sentences carefully. Decide
which vocabulary word best matches the character described in the
sentence and circle the letter of the correct answer. If you do not own
this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.
131.
If you are someone who puts on airs to impress others, you are a(n)
a. philistine.
b. poseur.
c. boor.
d. iconoclast.
132.
A film director who defies convention and pursues his or her own
vision is a
a. rogue.
b. maverick.
c. sycophant.
d. chauvinist.
133.
Someone who fails to understand simple directions even when they
are explained repeatedly would be called
a. ignoble.
b. bourgeois.
c. maladroit.
d. obtuse.
134.
Martin Luther, who during the sixteenth century publicly
criticized the practices and leadership of the Roman Catholic
Church, would rightfully be called a(n)
a. ignoble.
b. iconoclast.
c. philistine.
d. chauvinist.
135.
If an authority figure was often seen drunk and disorderly, his or
her behavior would be referred to as
a. erudite.
b. urbane.
c. genteel.
d. ignoble.
56
501 Vocabulary Questions
136.
If your roommate has no interest in developing his or her own
intelligence, your roommate could be described as
a. erudite.
b. urbane.
c. fatuous.
d. maladroit.
137.
Someone who believes himself to be fabulously cultured and smart
but in truth is really very commonplace could be described as a(n)
a. maverick.
b. sycophant.
c. philistine.
d. iconoclast.
138.
A man who opens doors for women and rises from his seat when a
woman arrives at or leaves the table would be called
a. genteel.
b. urbane.
c. feckless.
d. maladroit.
139.
A woman who believes that women are superior to men is a(n)
a. sycophant.
b. chauvinist.
c. philistine.
d. iconoclast.
140.
Someone who works for a powerful leader and repeatedly offers
the leader praise and flattery even when it is undeserved would be a
a. sycophant.
b. chauvinist.
c. boor.
d. philistine.
57
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
121.
a. A boor is a crude and offensive person; someone who is ill-
mannered.
122.
c. A rogue is a dishonest, unprincipled person.
123.
c. A renegade is one who deserts a group or cause.
124.
b. A libertine is someone who acts in an immoral or irresponsible
way.
125.
a. To be erudite is to be scholarly and exceptionally educated.
126.
c. To be feckless is to demonstrate a lack of purpose or vitality.
127.
b. To be maladroit is to be clumsy and inept.
128.
a. To be urbane is to have highly refined manners; extremely
tactful and polite.
129.
c. A reprobate is an immoral and unprincipled person.
130.
c. Bourgeois means characterized by or typical of the middle class.
131.
b. A poseur is someone who puts on airs, or is phony in order to
impress others.
132.
b. A maverick is a nonconformist, someone who acts
independently.
133.
d. Someone who is obtuse is stupid and slow to understand.
134.
b. An iconoclast attacks and may even seek to overthrow traditional
ideas, beliefs, or institutions.
135.
d. Someone who is ignoble lacks nobility in their character.
136.
c. To be fatuous is to be complacently stupid.
137.
c. A philistine is a smug, ignorant person who is actually
uncultured and commonplace.
58
501 Vocabulary Questions
138.
a. To be genteel is to be elegantly polite, well-bred, and refined.
139.
b. A chauvinist is a person who believes in the superiority of his or
her own gender.
140.
a. A sycophant is a person who tries to win the favor of influential
or powerful people by flattering them.
59
8
Word Pairs II
Do dulcet or mellifluous sounds please you? Or would you prefer to
listen to music that is banal or pedestrian? This is the second of four chapters
of word pairs—pairs of words that are almost exactly the same in meaning.
Each word pair chapter contains ten sets of synonyms. You can find the
answers to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
aberration (.ba·e.· ray·sho.n) n. deviation from what is normal; distortion. His
new scientific theory was deemed an aberration by his very conservative colleagues.
abstruse (ab· stroos) adj. difficult to comprehend; obscure. Albert Einstein’s
abstruse calculations can be understood by only a few people.
anomaly (a.· nom·a.·lee) n. something that deviates from the general rule or
usual form; irregular, peculiar, or abnormal. Winning millions of dollars from
a slot machine would be considered an anomaly.
assiduous (a.· sij·oo·u.s) adj. diligent, persevering, unremitting; constant in
application or attention. The nurses in the intensive care unit are known for providing
assiduous care to their patients.
august (aw· ust) adj. majestic, venerable; inspiring admiration or reverence.
Jackie Kennedy’s august dignity in the days following her husband’s assassination
set a tone for the rest of the nation as it mourned.
banal (ba¯· nal) adj. commonplace, trite; obvious and uninteresting. Though
Tom and Susan had hoped for an adventure, they found that driving cross-country
on the interstate offered mostly banal sites, restaurants, and attractions.
boisterous ( boi·ste.·ru.s) adj. 1. loud, noisy, and lacking restraint or discipline.
2. stormy and rough. The boisterous crowd began throwing cups onto the
field during the football game.
dulcet ( dul·sit) adj. melodious, harmonious, sweet-sounding. The chamber
orchestra’s dulcet tunes were a perfect ending to a great evening.
epitome (i· pit·o.·mee) n. 1. something or someone that embodies a particular
quality or characteristic; a representative example or a typical model.
2. a brief summary or abstract. With his ten-gallon hat, western shirt, and
rugged jeans, Alex was the epitome of the American cowboy.
impudent ( im·pyu.·de.nt) adj. 1. boldly showing a lack of respect, insolent.
2. shamelessly forward, immodest. Thumbing his nose at the principal was an
impudent act.
insolent ( in·so.·le.nt) adj. haughty and contemptuous; brazen, disrespectful,
impertinent. Parents of teenagers often observe the insolent behavior that typically
accompanies adolescence.
mellifluous (me· lif·loo·u.s) adj. sounding sweet and flowing; honeyed. Her
mellifluous voice floated in through the windows and made everyone smile.
62
501 Vocabulary Questions
ostensible (o· sten·s .·be.l) adj. seeming, appearing as such, put forward (as
of a reason) but not necessarily so; pretended. The ostensible reason for the
meeting is to discuss the candidates, but I believe they have already made their
decision.
pedestrian (pe.· des·tri·a
.n) adj. commonplace, trite; unremarkable, unimaginative;
dull. Although the film received critical acclaim, its pedestrian plot has
been overused by screenwriters for decades.
purport ( pur·pohrt) v. 1. to be intended to seem, to have the appearance
of being. 2. propose or intend. The letter purports to express your opinion on the
matter.
quintessence (kwin· tes·e.ns) n. 1. the essence of a substance. 2. the perfect
example or embodiment of something. Maura is the quintessence of kindness.
raucous ( raw· ku.s) adj. 1. unpleasantly loud and harsh. 2. boisterous, disorderly;
disturbing the peace. The raucous music kept us awake all night.
recondite ( rek·o.n·d ¯t) adj. 1. not easily understood; obscure and abstruse.
2. dealing with abstruse or profound matters. He loves the challenge of grasping
a recondite subject.
sedulous ( sej·u.·lu.s) adj. diligent, persevering; hardworking. After years of
sedulous research, the researchers discovered a cure.
venerable ( ven·e.·ra.· be.l) adj. worthy of reverence or respect because of
age, dignity, character, or position. The venerable Jimmy Carter has just won
the Nobel Peace Prize.
63
501 Vocabulary Questions
Crossword Puzzle Directions
In this puzzle, there is one clue for each set of synonyms, so each clue is
offered twice. Read the definition provided in the clue and determine which
two words share that meaning. Then, determine which of those synonyms
fits in the designated crossword squares. (Note: All pairs are the same part
of speech except one pair which contains a verb and a noun.)
Word Pairs II Crossword Puzzle
141
142
143/4
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
64
501 Vocabulary Questions
ACROSS
143.
commonplace, trite, uninteresting (paired with 156 across)
147.
a representative or perfect example (paired with 157 down)
148.
not easily understood, obscure (paired with 159 down)
149.
to be intended to seem (verb); seeming one way but not necessarily
so (adjective) (paired with 141 down)
150.
diligent, hard-working, persevering (paired with 151 down)
153.
something that deviates from what is normal or standard (paired
with 145 down)
155.
inspiring admiration or respect; majestic (paired with 154 down)
156.
commonplace, trite, uninteresting (paired with 143 across)
160.
brazenly disrespectful (paired with 152 down)
DOWN
141.
to be intended to seem (verb); seeming one way but not necessarily
so (adjective) (paired with 149 across)
142.
sweet-sounding, harmonious (paired with 146 down)
144.
excessively loud, unrestrained (paired with 158 down)
146.
sweet-sounding, harmonious (paired with 142 down)
151.
diligent, hard working, persevering (paired with 150 across)
152.
brazenly disrespectful (paired with 160 across)
154.
inspiring admiration or respect, majestic (paired with 155 across)
157.
a representative or perfect example (paired with 147 across)
158.
excessively loud, unrestrained (paired with 143 down)
159.
not easily understood, obscure (paired with 148 across)
65
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
The following words are word pairs:
aberration, anomaly
dulcet, mellifluous
impudent, insolent
august, venerable
assiduous, sedulous
boisterous, raucous
quintessence, epitome
banal, pedestrian
recondite, abstruse
purport, ostensible
Across
143.
Something banal is very common, uninteresting, and trite;
pedestrian.
147.
Quintessence is the essence of something; a perfect example or
embodiment; epitome.
148.
If something is recondite, it is difficult to understand; obscure and
abstruse.
149.
To purport is to be intended to seem, to have the appearance of
being; to be ostensible. (Purport is a verb; ostensible is an adjective.)
150.
To do something in an assiduous manner is to be diligent and
unremitting; sedulous.
153.
An anomaly is something that is irregular, a deviation from the
norm; an aberration.
155.
To be august is to inspire reverence or admiration; venerable.
156.
Something pedestrian is commonplace, unimaginative, or dull;
banal.
160.
To be insolent is to be brazenly disrespectful; contemptuous,
impudent.
66
501 Vocabulary Questions
Down
141.
Something ostensible seems one way but is not necessarily so;
pretended or purported. (Ostensible is an adjective; purport is a verb,
with purported as its adjective form.)
142.
Dulcet means very sweet, especially sweet sounding; mellifluous.
144.
To be boisterous is to be unpleasantly loud and unrestrained; raucous.
145.
An aberration is a deviation from the norm, an anomaly.
146.
To be mellifluous is to be sweet-sounding and flowing; dulcet.
151.
To be sedulous is to be diligent and hardworking; assiduous.
152.
To be impudent is to boldly show a lack of respect; to be insolent.
154.
To be venerable is to be worthy of admiration or respect; august.
157.
An epitome is a perfect example of something; quintessence.
158.
To be raucous is to be unpleasantly loud and harsh; boisterous.
159.
Something abstruse is difficult to understand; obscure, recondite.
67
501 Vocabulary Questions
141
O
143/144
142
145
D
B
A
N
A
L
S
146
U
O
B
T
M
147
L
Q
U
I
N
T
E
SS
E
N
C
E
C
S
R
N
L
148
R
E
C
O
N
D
I
T
E
R
S
L
T
E
A
I
I
149
P
U
R
P
O
R
T
T
B
F
O
I
L
L
150
151
152
A
SS
I
D
U
O
U
S
O
E
U
153
E
M
S
N
A
N
O
M
A
L
Y
154
D
P
V
U
155
156
157
158
159
A
U
G
U
S
T
P
E
D
E
S
T
R
I
A
N
L
D
N
P
A
B
160
I
N
S
O
L
E
N
T
E
I
U
S
U
N
R
T
C
T
S
T
A
O
O
R
B
M
U
U
L
E
S
S
E
E
68
9
What’s It Like?
Appearances and
Conditions
Have you ever been bored by a mundane task or looked over the edge
of a precipitous cliff? The 20 vocabulary words in this chapter offer more precise
and elegant descriptions of conditions and appearances. You can find
the answers to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abysmal (a.· biz·ma.l) adj. 1. extreme, very profound, limitless. 2. extremely
bad. Tom’s last place finish in the race was an abysmal turn of events for the team.
ad hoc (ad hok) adj. for a specific, often temporary, purpose; for this case
only. She acted as the ad hoc scout leader while Mr. Davis—the official leader—
was ill.
amorphous (a.· mor·fu.s) adj. having no definite shape or form; shapeless.
The amorphous cloud of steam drifted over her head.
askew (a.· skyoo) adj. & adv. crooked, not straight or level; to one side. Even
the pictures on the wall stood askew after my five-year-old son’s birthday party.
fecund ( fek·u.nd) adj. fertile. The fecund soil in the valley was able to sustain the
growing community.
flaccid ( fla·sid) adj. hanging loose or wrinkled; weak, flabby, not firm. The
skin of cadavers becomes flaccid in a matter of hours.
florid ( flor·id) adj. 1. elaborate, ornate. 2. (of complexion) ruddy, rosy. The
florid architecture in Venice does not appeal to me; I prefer buildings without so
much ornamentation.
hermetic (hur· met·ik) adj. having an airtight closure; protected from outside
influences. Astronauts go for space walks only when wearing hermetic space
suits.
malleable ( mal·i·a.·be.l) adj. 1. easily molded or pressed into shape. 2. easily
controlled or influenced. 3. easily adaptable to changing circumstances.
You should be able to convince Xiu quickly; she’s quite a malleable person.
mundane (mun· dayn) adj. 1. dull, routine; commonplace, ordinary. 2.
worldly as opposed to spiritual. My job may be mundane, but it is secure and it
pays well.
precarious (pri· kair·i·u.s) adj. 1. fraught with danger. 2. dangerously
unsteady or insecure. Steve, the “Crocodile Hunter,” is constantly placing himself
in very precarious positions.
precipitous (pri· sip·i·tu.s) adj. 1. extremely steep, dropping sharply. 2. hasty,
rash; foolhardy. Driving through the state park, we spotted a grizzly bear on a
precipitous cliff and wondered if he would fall.
pristine ( pris·teen) adj. 1. in its original and unspoiled condition, unadulterated.
2. clean, pure; free from contamination. We were awed by the beauty
of the pristine forest in northern Canada.
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501 Vocabulary Questions
quiescent (kwi· es·e.nt) adj. inactive, quiet, at rest; dormant, latent. The volcano
is quiescent at the moment, but who knows when it will erupt again.
rakish ( ray·kish) adj. 1. debonair; smartly dressed or mannered; jaunty in
appearance or manner. 2. unconventional and disreputable; dissolute or
debauched. The rakish young woman charmed everyone at the table.
replete (ri· pleet) adj. 1. well-stocked or abundantly supplied. 2. full,
gorged. The house was replete with expensive antiques.
salutary ( sal·yu.·ter·ee) adj. producing a beneficial or wholesome effect;
remedial. To promote better health, I’ve decided to move to a more salutary climate.
sinuous ( sin·yoo·u.s) adj. winding, undulating; serpentine. It is dangerous to
drive fast on such a sinuous road.
sodden ( sod·e.n) adj. 1. thoroughly saturated, soaked. 2. expressionless or
dull, unimaginative. Caught in an unexpected rainstorm, I was sodden by the
time I reached the bus stop.
tenuous ( ten·yoo·u.s) adj. 1. unsubstantial, flimsy. 2. having little substance
or validity. Though the connection between the two crimes seemed tenuous at first,
a thorough investigation showed they were committed by the same person.
71
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 161–180, choose the vocabulary word that best fills the
blank in the sentence. Write the correct answer in the blank. (If you
do not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece
of paper.)
161. The dry modeling clay was no longer ________ after the young
boys left it uncovered overnight.
162. The tutoring Shelia received had a(n) ________ effect on her grade
point average.
163. The ________ ceiling of the palace contained a very colorful and
detailed painting that was surrounded by gold leaf moldings.
164. Carl realized he had hit the jackpot when he opened his
grandfather’s safe deposit box and found a 1921 era baseball card in
________ condition.
165. Running out of gas in the middle of the desert in August was a(n)
________ turn of events.
166. The CIA agent put herself in a very ________ situation by
sneaking into the embassy.
167. Being a toll collector on the highway was a very ________ job for
Vladimir, an engineer by trade.
168. Because Pasquale had only a(n) ________ understanding of the
subject matter, he failed the test.
169. The minor earthquake left everything in my house ________.
170. The movie star’s ________ appearance captured the attention of
everyone in the room.
171. The dry cleaner said that putting the antique wedding dress in a
________ container would protect it from the elements.
172. Don’t expect young children to act in a(n) ________ manner when
attending a birthday party; they will be much too excited.
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501 Vocabulary Questions
173.
The galley of the ship was ________ with food for the long
journey.
174.
Matthew’s sneakers were ________ after jumping in every puddle
on the block.
175.
The mist rising off the lake was ________ and therefore difficult
for the artist to capture on the canvas.
176.
“If you want ________ soil,” said the farmer, “you must add
fertilizer in the spring.”
177.
When the power went out, Tim acted as a(n) ________ traffic cop
until the police arrived.
178.
Old-fashioned rollercoasters don’t have upside down loops, but
they do have very ________ tracks that rock riders back and forth.
179.
As a novice mountain climber, Maria wasn’t prepared for the
________ face of El Capitan.
180.
She decided that a rigid exercise regimen would firm her ________
arms and legs.
73
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
161.
Malleable means easily molded, controlled, or pressed into shape.
162.
Salutary means having or producing a beneficial effect.
163.
Florid means elaborate or ornate.
164.
Pristine means in its original and unspoiled condition.
165.
Abysmal means extremely bad.
166.
Something precarious is fraught with danger.
167.
Something mundane is dull or routine; without excitement.
168.
Tenuous means unsubstantial or flimsy.
169.
Askew means crooked; not straight or level.
170.
Rakish means debonair; smartly dressed or mannered.
171.
Hermetic means having an airtight closure; protected from outside
influences.
172.
Quiescent means inactive, quiet, or at rest.
173.
Replete means well-stocked or abundantly supplied.
174.
Sodden means thoroughly saturated; soaked.
175.
Amorphous objects have no definite shape or form.
176.
Fecund means fertile.
177.
Ad hoc means for a specific, often temporary, purpose.
178.
Something sinuous is winding or serpentine.
179.
Precipitous means extremely steep.
180.
Flaccid means hanging loose; weak, flabby, not firm.
74
10
Person, Place, or
Thing? Nouns I
Do you often find yourself waiting in a long queue? Would time pass
faster if you were waiting next to someone who had a great deal of élan? The
20 words in this chapter describe interesting people, places, things, or ideas.
You can find the answers to each question in this section at the end of the
chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
ado (a.· doo) n. fuss, trouble, bother. Without much ado, she completed her book
report.
amulet ( am·yu.·lit) n. something worn around the neck as a charm against
evil. The princess wore an amulet after being cursed by a wizard.
aperture ( ap·e.r) n. an opening or gap, especially one that lets in light.
.r·chuThe aperture setting on a camera has to be set perfectly to ensure that pictures will
have enough light.
archetype ( ahr·ki·t ¯p) n. an original model from which others are copied;
original pattern or prototype. Elvis Presley served as the archetype for rock and
roll performers in the 1950s.
bravado (bra.· vah·doh) n. false courage; a show of pretended bravery. Kyle’s
bravado often got him in trouble with other kids in the neighborhood.
conclave ( kon·klav) n. a private or secret meeting. The double agent had a
conclave with the spy he was supposed to be observing.
countenance ( kown·te.·na.ns) n. the appearance of a person’s face, facial features,
and expression. As she walked down the aisle, Julia’s countenance was
absolutely radiant.
dichotomy (d ¯· kot·o.·mee) n. division into two usually contradictory parts
or kinds. The dichotomy between vanilla ice cream lovers and chocolate ice cream
lovers was clear.
élan (ay· lahn) n. 1. vivacity, enthusiasm, vigor. 2. distinctive style or flair.
The new designer’s élan and originality was sure to help him succeed in the highly
competitive fashion industry.
ethos ( ee·thos) n. the spirit, attitude, disposition, or beliefs characteristic
of a community, epoch, region, etc. The ethos of their group included a commitment
to pacifism.
harbinger ( hahr·bin·je.r) n. a person, thing, or event that foreshadows or
indicates what is to come; a forerunner or precursor. The arrival of the robins
is a harbinger of spring.
impasse ( im·pas) n. a deadlock, stalemate; a difficulty without a solution.
The labor negotiations with management reached an impasse, and a strike seemed
imminent.
mélange (may· lahnzh) n. a mixture or assortment. There was a very interesting
mélange of people at the party.
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501 Vocabulary Questions
nexus ( nek·su.s) n. 1. a means of connection; a link or tie between a series
of things 2. a connected series or group 3. the core or center. The nexus
between the lobbyists and the recent policy changes is clear.
non sequitur (non· sek·wi·tu.r) n. a conclusion that does not logically follow
from the evidence. Marcus’s argument started off strong, but it degenerated
into a series of non sequiturs.
pallor ( pal·o.r) n. paleness, lack of color. The fever subsided, but her pallor
remained for several weeks.
paradigm ( par·a.·d ¯m) n. 1. something that serves as a model or example.
2. set of assumptions, beliefs, values, or practices that constitutes a way of
understanding or doing things. Elected “Employee of the Month,” Winona is a
paradigm of efficiency.
pundit ( pun·dit) n. a learned person or scholar; one who is an authority on
a subject. The journalist consulted several legal pundits before drafting the article.
queue (kyoo) n. 1. a line of people or vehicles waiting their turn. 2. a pigtail.
Look how long the queue is! We’ll be waiting for hours.
surrogate ( sur·o.· it) n. a substitute; one who takes the place of another.
Martha agreed to be a surrogate mother for her sister, who could not carry her own
child to term.
77
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 181–190, select the best synonym in Column B for each
vocabulary word in Column A. Circle the correct answer. (If you do
not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of
paper.)
Column A Column B
181. harbinger a. forerunner b. harbor c. convert
182. amulet a. potion b. charm c. anklet
183. pundit a. expert b. politician c. kicker
184. paradigm a. example b. timely c. law
185. archetype a. copy b. ancient c. original
186. ethos a. ancient b. spirit c. height
187. queue a. soft b. line c. quick
188. élan a. spirited b. speed c. effective
189. non sequitur a. secret b. clarity c. illogic
190. countenance a.value b. expression c. royal
For numbers 191–200, select the best antonym in Column B for each
vocabulary word in Column A. Circle the correct answer. (If you do
not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of
paper.)
Column A Column B
191. aperture a. opening b. closure c. huge
192. surrogate a. copy b. survivor c. original
193. conclave a. cave b. secretive c. public meeting
194. bravado a. courage b. cowardice c. scorn
195. pallor a. sick b. color c. bland
196. nexus a. discord b. disconnect c. empty
197. dichotomy a. unity b. division c. dissection
198. mélange a. mix b. dessert c. sameness
199. ado a. trouble b. calm c. language
200. impasse a. resolution b. stalemate c. dangerous
78
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
181.
a. forerunner. A harbinger is a person or thing that foreshadows a
coming event; a precursor.
182.
b. charm. An amulet is a charm worn around the neck to ward off
evil.
183.
a. expert. A pundit is a person who is an authority or expert on a
given subject.
184.
a. example. A paradigm is a recognized example or model; a
standard.
185.
c. original. An archetype is an original from which other things are
copied.
186.
b. spirit. Ethos is a distinguishing spirit, attitude, disposition, or set
of beliefs held by a particular person, community, or culture.
187. b.
line. A queue is a line, usually of people or vehicles.
188.
a. spirited. Élan means vivacity, enthusiasm; it can also mean
distinct style or flair.
189.
c. illogic. A non sequitur is a conclusion that does not follow a
logical path.
190.
b. expression. Countenance refers to a person’s facial features or
expression.
191. b.
closure. An aperture is an opening or gap.
192.
c. original. A surrogate is something that takes the place of another;
a substitute for the original.
193. c.
public meeting. A conclave is a secretive meeting.
194. a.
courage. Bravado is false courage or pride.
195. b.
color. Pallor is paleness or lack of color.
79
501 Vocabulary Questions
196. b.
disconnect. Nexus is a link or tie between a series of things.
197.
a. unity. A dichotomy is a division into two parts, usually
contradictory.
198. c.
sameness. A mélange is a mixture or assortment of things.
199. b.
calm. Ado is trouble, fuss, or bother.
200.
a. resolution. An impasse is a deadlock or stalemate; a resolution
would dissolve an impasse.
80
11
Words about Work
and Play, Food and
Drink, and Time
Do you prefer food that is bland or food that is pungent? Do you have
any quotidian habits, such as a daily walk? The 20 words in this chapter have
to do with work and play, food and drink, and matters of time. You can find
the answers to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
anachronism (a.· nak·ro.·niz·e.m) n. 1. something that is placed into an
incorrect historical period. 2. a person, custom, or idea that is out of date.
The authenticity and credibility of the 1920s movie was damaged by the many
anachronisms that appeared throughout the scenes.
archaic (ahr· kay·ik) adj. belonging to former or ancient times; characteristic
of the past. Samantha laughed at her grandfather’s archaic views of dating
and relationships.
arduous ( ahr·joo·u.s) adj. 1. very difficult, laborious; requiring great effort.
2. difficult to traverse or surmount. Commander Shackleton’s arduous journey
through the Arctic has become the subject of many books and movies.
coeval (koh· ee·va.l) adj. of the same time period; contemporary. The growth
of personal computers and CD players was coeval during the twentieth century.
cornucopia (kor·nyu.· koh·pi·a.) n. abundance; a horn of plenty. The first-
graders made cornucopias for Thanksgiving by placing papier-mâché vegetables
into a hollowed-out horn.
dilatory ( dil·a.·tohr·ee) adj. slow or late in doing something; intended to
delay, especially to gain time. Resentful for having to work the holiday, Miguel’s
dilatory approach to getting himself up and dressed was his own small act of passive
resistance.
epicurean (ep·i· kyoor·i·a
.n) n. a person devoted to the pursuit of pleasure
and luxury, especially the enjoyment of good food and comfort. While on
vacation at a posh resort hotel, Joan became a true epicurean.
lucrative ( loo·kra.·tiv) adj. profitable, producing much money. Teaching is
a very rewarding career, but unfortunately it is not very lucrative.
malinger (ma.· lin · e.r) v. to pretend to be injured or ill in order to avoid
work. Stop malingering and give me a hand with this job.
onus ( oh·nu.s) n. duty or responsibility of doing something; task, burden.
It was Clark’s idea, so the onus is on him to show us that it will work.
perfunctory (pe.r· fun k·to.·ree) adj. done out of a sense of duty or routine
but without much care or interest; superficial, not thorough. We were not
satisfied with his perfunctory work; we felt a more thorough job could have been
done.
primeval (pr ¯· mee·va.l) adj. ancient, original; belonging to the earliest ages.
The primeval art found in the caves was discovered by accident.
82
501 Vocabulary Questions
proletariat (proh·le.· tair·i·a
.t) n. the working class; those who do manual
labor to earn a living. The proletariats demanded fewer hours and better wages.
pungent ( pun·je.nt) adj. 1. having a strong, sharp taste or smell. 2. penetrating,
caustic; stinging. I love the pungent taste of a good, strong curry.
quaff (kwahf) v. to drink hurriedly or heartily; to swallow in large draughts.
He quickly quaffed three glasses of water.
quotidian (kwoh· tid·i·a.n) adj. 1. daily. 2. commonplace, pedestrian. Pru
dence took her quotidian dose of medicine.
regale (ri· ayl) v. to delight or entertain with a splendid feast or pleasant
amusement. The king regaled his guests until the early morning hours.
repose (ri· pohz) n. 1. resting or being at rest. 2. calmness, tranquility; peace
of mind. The wail of a police siren disturbed my repose.
slake (slayk) v. 1. to satisfy, quench. 2. to reduce the intensity of, moderate,
allay. The deer slaked its thirst at the river.
toil (toil) 1. n. exhausting labor or effort; difficult or laborious work. 2. v.
to work laboriously, labor strenuously. Evan toiled for hours before solving the
problem.
83
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 201–220, read the sentences below carefully. Choose the
word from the word list above that best completes the sentence.
Write the correct answer in the blank. (If you do not own this book,
please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
201.
With 11 children to care for, Mrs. Higgins had to ________ for
many hours just to keep up with the laundry.
202.
Suzanne’s boss suspected that she was ________ (ing) when she
called in sick on Monday morning.
203.
Maude’s Internet business was so ________ that she was able to
retire at the age of 45.
204.
Observing Malik sleeping in his hammock by the river on a
beautiful summer day, I envied his ________.
205.
Boot camp for a U.S. Marine requires ________ training.
206.
Since Matthew was the one who wanted the dog, the ________ was
on him to walk the dog every morning.
207.
The cashier’s ________ comment, “Have a nice day,” lacked
sincerity.
208.
Because everyone in Peter’s family was a ________, Peter felt both
proud and unique because he was the first in his family to go to
college.
209.
The woman on the corner wearing love beads, a headband, and a
jacket with a huge peace symbol on the back is a(n) ________ in
the new millennium.
210.
Every autumn, Deborah’s great-grandmother spends days
performing the ________ act of canning fruits for winter, even
though she can buy them in the supermarket.
211.
The Museum of Natural History has a broad array of archeological
displays from contemporary society to ________ artifacts from the
age of the caveman.
84
501 Vocabulary Questions
212.
The doctor said that grandpa’s ________ walks in the woods were a
factor in his living to be 110 years old.
213.
Doug was ________ in cleaning up the sports equipment on the
field so that he would be there when the cheerleaders came out to
practice.
214.
The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving dinner table was a beautiful
________ overflowing with fruits and vegetables.
215.
Human beings and dinosaurs did not exist during the same time
periods; therefore, they were not ________.
216.
When Maria finished the marathon, she immediately began to
________ large amounts of water.
217.
Miriam was quite a hostess and would ________ her dinner party
guests with sumptuous feasts.
218.
Mario is a true ________: He is always shopping in the local
gourmet food store, sampling new items and stocking his pantry
with exquisite foods.
219.
In the early 1900s, the Lower East Side in New York City was
famous for pickle shops and the ________ odor they gave the
neighborhood.
220.
According to the legend, the vampire needed to ________ his thirst
for blood every night with a new victim.
85
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
201.
To toil is to do exhausting or very difficult labor.
202.
To malinger is to pretend to be sick or injured to avoid work.
203.
Something lucrative produces a lot of money.
204.
To be in a state of repose is to be at rest and tranquil.
205.
Something arduous is very difficult and requires tremendous effort.
206.
An onus is a responsibility or obligation to do something.
207.
Something done in a perfunctory manner is done in a superficial
way, without much care or sincerity.
208.
Proletariat refers to the working class (e.g. manual laborers).
209.
An anachronism is something or someone that seems out of place
because it seems to be from another era.
210.
Something archaic belongs to a former or ancient time period.
211.
Something primeval belongs to or is from the earliest ages.
212.
Quotidian refers to a daily occurrence or activity.
213.
To be dilatory is to be slow in doing something, usually to cause a
delay or gain time for another purpose.
214.
A cornucopia (also called horn of plenty) is a hollow, horn-shaped
decorative item filled with fruits and vegetables used to symbolize
abundance.
215.
To be coeval means to have existed at the same time; to be
contemporaries.
216.
To quaff means to drink both hurriedly and heartily.
217.
To regale means to delight or entertain with a splendid feast or
pleasant amusement.
86
501 Vocabulary Questions
218.
An epicurean is a person devoted to the pursuit of pleasure and
luxury, especially the enjoyment of good food and comfort.
219.
Something pungent has a very strong smell or taste.
220.
To slake means to satisfy or quench.
87
12
Opposites Attract—
Antonyms I
Are you a laconic person of few words, or do you tend to be verbose and
talk a lot? The 20 words in this chapter include ten pairs of antonyms. You
can find the answers to each question in this section at the end of the
chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
allay (a.· lay) v. 1. to reduce the intensity of; alleviate. 2. to calm, put to rest.
The CEO’s remarks did not allay the concerns of the employees.
belie (bi· l ¯) v. 1. to give a false impression; misrepresent. 2. to show to be
false, to contradict. By wearing an expensive suit and watch, Alan hoped to belie
his lack of success to everyone at the reunion.
buoyant ( boi·a.nt) adj. 1. able to float. 2. lighthearted, cheerful. In science
class, the children tried to identify which objects on the table would be buoyant.
credulous ( krej·u.·lu.s) adj. gullible, too willing to believe things. Elle’s credulous
teacher believed her when she told him that the dog ate her homework.
disabuse (dis·a.· byooz) v. to undeceive, to correct a false impression or
erroneous belief. Natalie needed to disabuse Chin of his belief that she was in love
with him.
disconsolate (dis· kon·so.·lit) adj. 1. sad, dejected, disappointed. 2. inconsolable,
hopelessly unhappy. The disconsolate look on Peter’s face revealed that
the letter contained bad news.
disingenuous (dis·in· jen·yoo·u.s) adj. 1. insincere, calculating; not straightforward
or frank. 2. falsely pretending to be unaware. Carl’s disingenuous
comments were not taken seriously by anyone in the room.
exacerbate (i · zas·e.r·bayt) v. to make worse; to increase the severity, violence,
or bitterness of. We should have known that splashing salt water on Dan’s
wound would exacerbate his pain.
incredulous (in· krej·u.·lu.s) adj. skeptical, unwilling to believe. The members
of the jury were incredulous when they heard the defendant’s far-fetched explanation
of the crime. Note: Do not confuse with incredible, meaning “implausible
or beyond belief.”
ingenuous (in· jen·yoo·u.s) adj. 1. not cunning or deceitful; unable to mask
feelings; artless, frank, sincere. 2. lacking sophistication or worldliness.
Donald’s expression of regret was ingenuous, for even though he didn’t know her
well, he felt a deep sadness when Mary died. Note: Do not confuse with ingenious,
meaning “remarkably clever.”
intrepid (in· trep·id) adj. fearless, brave, undaunted. The intrepid nature and
fortitude of the U.S. Marines is legendary.
jocund ( jok·u.nd) adj. merry, cheerful; sprightly and lighthearted. Alex’s jocund
nature makes it a pleasure to be near her.
90
501 Vocabulary Questions
laconic (la.· kon·ik) adj. brief, to the point; terse. A man of few words, Morrison
gave a ten-minute commencement address that was everything we could have
asked for: laconic, powerful, and inspirational.
lugubrious (luu· oo·bri·u.s) adj. excessively dismal or mournful, often exaggeratedly
or ridiculously so. Billy looks like a fool, acting so lugubrious over losing
a silly bet.
nadir ( nay·d .r) n. the very bottom, the lowest point. When he felt he was at
the nadir of his life, Robert began to practice mediation to elevate his spirits.
spurious ( spyoor·i·u.s) adj. false, counterfeit; not genuine or authentic. The
expert confirmed that the Willie Mays autograph was spurious.
timorous ( tim·o.·ru.s) adj. fearful, timid, afraid. The stray dog was timorous,
and it took a great deal of coaxing to get him to come near the car.
verbose (ve.r· bohs) adj. using more words than necessary; wordy, long-
winded. Her verbose letter rambled so much that it didn’t seem to have a point.
veritable ( ver·i·ta.·be.l) adj. real, true, genuine. Einstein was a veritable genius.
zenith ( zee·nith) n. 1. the highest point; top, peak. 2. the point in the sky
directly above the observer. She is at the zenith of her legal career, having won
every case this year.
91
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 221–230, you will find two antonyms paired together at
the beginning of each analogy. Choose the set of antonyms that best
defines the two vocabulary words and completes the analogy. Circle
the letter of the correct answer. (If you do not own this book, please
write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
221. zenith : nadir ::
a. future : past
b. inside : outside
c. wisdom : ignorance
d. top : bottom
222. disingenuous : ingenuous ::
a. smart : stupid
b. deceptive : sincere
c. banal : avant-garde
d. effusive : reserved
223. credulous : incredulous ::
a. real : fake
b. moral : immoral
c. gullible : skeptical
d. plain : exceptional
224. intrepid : timorous ::
a. large : small
b. coastal : landlocked
c. brave : timid
d. strong : weak
225. disconsolate : buoyant ::
a. miserable : happy
b. unconnected : connected
c. difficult : easy
d. broken : repaired
226.
227.
228.
229.
230.
disabuse : belie ::
a. aid : attack
b. immoral : moral
c. undeceive : deceive
d. remove : attach
veritable : spurious ::
a. authentic : fake
b. assembled : scattered
c. well-known : obscure
d. meaningful : meaningless
allay : exacerbate ::
a. near : far
b. right : wrong
c. even : askew
d. calm : agitate
jocund : lugubrious ::
a. ignorant : wise
b. shy : outgoing
c. sober : drunk
d. joyous : miserable
laconic : verbose ::
a. slow : fast
b. concise : long-winded
c. healthy : ill
d. discordant : harmonious
92
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 231–240, choose the definition that is most nearly the
opposite of the selected vocabulary word. The correct answer will be
both the vocabulary word’s antonym and the definition for another
word from this chapter. (If you do not own this book, please write
your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
231. incredulous 236. nadir
a. faithful
b. trustworthy
c. naive
d. incredible
a. highest honor
b. median
c. peak
d. bottomless pit
232.
233.
234.
disabuse
a. hide the truth
b. reveal the truth
c. speak in an abusive
manner
d. praise
laconic
a. lazy
b. energetic
c. fleeting
d. wordy
timorous
237.
238.
239.
allay
a. postpone
b. intensify
c. relieve
d. deny
jocund
a. chubby
b. polite
c. rude
d. dismal
disingenuous
a. false
a. shy
b. fearless
b. genius
c. reliable
235.
c. trembling
d. enraged
spurious
a. genuine
b. antique
c. not believable
d. pleasant
240.
d. honest
buoyant
a. very sad
b. comfortable in water
c. peaceful
d. joyful
93
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
221. d. Zenith is the highest point, top. Nadir is the very bottom.
222. b. Disingenuous means insincere. Ingenuous means sincere, free of
deceit.
223. c. Credulous means too willing to believe, gullible. Incredulous
means skeptical.
224. c. Intrepid means brave, fearless. Timorous means timid and fearful.
225. a. Disconsolate means sad, disappointed. Buoyant means
lighthearted and cheerful.
226. c. Disabuse means to correct a false impression. Belie means to
mislead or misrepresent.
227. a. Veritable means real, true, and genuine. Spurious means false,
counterfeit.
228. d. Allay means to calm or reassure. Exacerbate means to make
worse or intensify.
229. d. Jocund means merry and joyous. Lugubrious means excessively
miserable.
230. b. Laconic means concise, brief, and to the point. Verbose means
long-winded, wordy.
231. c. Incredulous means skeptical. Its antonym is credulous, which
means gullible, too willing to believe; naive.
232. a. Disabuse means to correct a false impression. Its antonym is
belie, which means to mislead or misrepresent.
233. d. Laconic means concise, brief, to the point. Its antonym is verbose,
which means long-winded, wordy.
234. b. Timorous means timid, fearful. Its antonym is intrepid, which
means fearless, brave.
94
501 Vocabulary Questions
235.
a. Spurious means false, counterfeit, or fake. Its antonym is
veritable, which means real, true, or genuine.
236.
c. Nadir means the lowest point or very bottom. Its antonym is
zenith, which means the absolute top or peak.
237.
b. Allay means to calm, reassure; to alleviate or reduce in intensity.
Its antonym is exacerbate, which means to intensify, make worse.
238.
d. Jocund means merry and happy, joyous. Its antonym is
lugubrious, which means excessively dismal, miserable.
239.
d. Disingenuous means insincere, deceitful. Its antonym is
ingenuous, which means sincere, not cunning; free of deceit.
240.
a. Buoyant means light-hearted, joyful. Its antonym is disconsolate,
which means sad, dejected.
95
13
Describing Ideas
and Arguments
Have you ever faced an inscrutable problem that you just could not seem
to solve? Have you recently enjoyed a particularly poignant book or film?
The vocabulary words in this chapter will help you better describe ideas and
arguments. You can find the answers to each question in this section at the
end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
avant-garde (a·vahnt· ahrd) adj. using or favoring an ultramodern or
experimental style; innovative, cutting-edge, especially in the arts or literature.
Though it seems conventional now, in the 1950s, Andy Warhol’s art was
viewed as avant-garde.
cogent ( koh·je.nt) adj. convincing, persuasive; compelling belief. Ella’s
cogent arguments helped the debate team win the state championship.
conciliatory (ko.n· sil·i·a.·tohr·ee) adj. making or willing to make concessions
to reconcile, soothe, or comfort; mollifying, appeasing. Abraham Lincoln
made conciliatory gestures toward the South at the end of the Civil War.
derivative (di· riv·a.·tiv) adj. derived from another source; unoriginal. The
word “atomic” is a derivative of the word “atom.”
desultory ( des·u.l·tohr·ee) adj. aimless, haphazard; moving from one subject
to another without logical connection. The family became concerned listening
to their grandmother’s desultory ramblings.
dogmatic (daw · mat·ik) adj. 1. asserting something in a positive, absolute,
arrogant way. 2. of or relating to dogma. The professor’s dogmatic style of conversation
was not very popular with his young students.
edifying ( ed·. ·f ¯·in ) adj. enlightening or uplifting with the aim of improving
intellectual or moral development; instructing, improving. His edifying
sermon challenged the congregation to devote more time to charitable causes.
efficacious (ef·. · kay·shu.s) adj. acting effectively, producing the desired
effect or result. Margaret’s efficacious approach to her job in the collections department
made her a favorite with the CFO.
incendiary (in· sen·di·er·ee) adj. 1. causing or capable of causing fire; burning
readily. 2. of or involving arson. 3. tending to incite or inflame; inflammatory.
Fire marshals checked for incendiary devices in the theater after they
received an anonymous warning.
inscrutable (in· scroo·ta.·be.l) adj. baffling, unfathomable; incapable of being
understood. It was completely inscrutable how the escape artist got out of the
trunk.
involute ( in·vo.·loot) adj. intricate, complex. The tax reform committee faces
an extremely involute problem if it wants to distribute the tax burden equally.
98
501 Vocabulary Questions
lucid ( loo·sid) adj. 1. very clear, easy to understand; intelligible 2. sane or
rational. Andrea presented a very lucid argument that proved her point beyond a
shadow of a doubt.
pedantic (pi· da.n·tik) adj. marked by a narrow, tiresome focus on or display
of learning, especially of rules or trivial matters. Her lessons were so pedantic
that I found I was easily bored.
pellucid (pe.· loo·sid) adj. 1. translucent, able to be seen through with clarity.
2. (e.g., of writing) very clear, easy to understand. Senator Waterson’s pellucid
argument made me change my vote.
poignant ( poin·ya.nt) adj. 1. arousing emotion; deeply moving, touching. 2.
keenly distressing; piercing or incisive. They captured the poignant reunion on
film.
polemical (po.· lem·ik·a
.l) adj. controversial, argumentative. The analyst presented
a highly polemical view of the economic situation.
prosaic (proh· zay·ik) adj. unimaginative, ordinary; dull. The prosaic novel
was rejected by the publisher.
specious ( spee·shu.s) adj. 1. seemingly plausible but false. 2. deceptively
pleasing in appearance. Vinnie did not fool me with his specious argument.
tangible ( tan·j .·be.l) adj. able to be perceived by touch; palpable; real or
concrete. There is no tangible evidence of misconduct; it’s all hearsay.
vacuous ( vak·yoo·u.s) adj. empty, purposeless; senseless, stupid, or inane.
This TV show is yet another vacuous sitcom.
99
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 241–250, select the best synonym in Column B for each
vocabulary word in Column A. Circle the correct answer. (If you do
not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of
paper.)
Column A Column B
241. specious a. special b. misleading c. wide open
242. tangible a. perceptible b. soft c. weak
243. poignant a. good b. exceptional c. moving
244. incendiary a. specific b. flammable c. amazing
245. prosaic a. profound b. banal c. vulgar
246. cogent a. audible b. tasty c. convincing
247. desultory a. focused b. boring c. aimless
248. efficacious a. tidy b. small c. effective
249. inscrutable a. small b. unfathomable c. annoying
250. conciliatory a. appeasing b. advising c. pleasant
For numbers 251–260, select the best antonym in Column B for each
vocabulary word in Column A. Circle the correct answer. (If you do
not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece of
paper.)
Column A Column B
251. polemical a. agreeable b. controversial c. political
252. avant-garde a. different b. conventional c. unguarded
253. derivative a. component b. copy c. original
254. involute a. simple b. complex c. painful
255. pellucid a. opaque b. strange c. conventional
256. vacuous a. open b. closed c. meaningful
257. pedantic a. nonstudious b. childlike c. mature
258. edifying a. corrupting b. helping c. enlightening
259. lucid a. awake b. easy c. unclear
260. dogmatic a. unsure b. passionless c. loud
100
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
241. b.
misleading. To be specious is to be seemingly plausible but false.
242.
a. perceptible. To be tangible is to be perceptible, especially by
touch.
243. c.
moving. To be poignant is to be deeply moving or emotional.
244. b.
flammable. Incendiary means burning readily or inflammatory.
245. b.
banal. To be prosaic is to be unimaginative, ordinary, or dull.
246. c.
convincing. Cogent means convincing or persuasive.
247. c.
aimless. Desultory means aimless, haphazard.
248. c.
effective. To be efficacious is to produce a desired effect or result.
249.
b. unfathomable. Something inscrutable is baffling; incapable of
being understood.
250.
a. appeasing. Conciliatory means willing to make concessions to
reconcile; mollifying, appeasing.
251. a.
agreeable. To be polemical is to be controversial or argumentative.
252.
b. conventional. Avant-garde means experimental in style;
innovative, or cutting-edge.
253.
c. original. A derivative comes from another source; it is
unoriginal.
254. a.
simple. Involute means complex, intricate.
255.
a. opaque. Pellucid means translucent; able to be seen through with
clarity.
256.
c. meaningful. To be vacuous is to be purposeless, senseless, or
stupid.
101
501 Vocabulary Questions
257.
a. nonstudious. Pedantic means focusing rigidly on learning,
especially regarding rules or trivial matters.
258.
a. corrupting. Edifying means to inspire with the goal of improving
intellectual or moral development.
259. c.
unclear. Lucid means easily understood, rational.
260.
a. unsure. Dogmatic means asserting something in a positive,
absolute, or arrogant way.
102
14
Things to Do—More
Useful Verbs
Did you ever forswear a bad habit only to find you couldn’t break it?
Have you ever dissuaded someone from doing something dangerous? The
20 verbs in this chapter offer more expressive ways to describe actions. You
can find the answers to each question in this section at the end of the
chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abstain (ab· stayn) v. to choose to refrain from doing something, especially
to refrain from voting. I have decided to abstain from drinking alcohol.
ameliorate (a.· meel·yo.·rayt) v. to make or become better; to improve. The
diplomat was able to ameliorate the tense situation between the two nations.
appease (a.· peez) v. to make calm or quiet, soothe; to still or pacify. His ability
to appease his constituents helped him become reelected.
apprise (a.· pr ¯z) v. to inform, give notice to. Part of Susan’s job as a public
defender was to apprise people of their legal rights.
appropriate (a.· proh·pree·ayt) v. to take for one’s own use, often without
permission; to set aside for a special purpose. The state legislature will appropriate
two million dollars from the annual budget to build a new bridge on the
interstate highway.
assay (a.· say) v. 1. to try, put to a test. 2. to examine. 3. to judge critically,
evaluate after an analysis. The chief engineer wanted a laboratory to assay the
steel before using it in the construction project.
delineate (di· lin·i·ayt) v. to draw or outline, sketch; to portray, depict, or
describe. The survey will clearly delineate where their property ends.
demur (di· mur) v. to raise objections, hesitate. Polly hated to demur, but she
didn’t think adding ten cloves of garlic to the recipe was a good idea.
disconcert (dis·ko.n· surt) v. 1. to upset the composure of, ruffle. 2. to frustrate
plans by throwing into disorder. The arrival of her ex-husband and his
new wife managed to disconcert the typically unflappable Miriam.
dissemble (di· sem·be.l) v. to disguise or conceal one’s true feelings or
motives behind a false appearance. Tom needed to dissemble his goal of taking
his boss’s job by acting supportive of his boss’s planned job change.
dissuade (di· swayd) v. to discourage from, or persuade against, a course of
action. I tried to dissuade them from painting their house purple, but they didn’t
listen.
dither ( dith·e.r) v. 1. to hesitate; to be indecisive and uncertain. 2. to shake
or quiver. During a crisis, it is important to have a leader who will not dither.
divulge (d ¯· vulj) v. to disclose; to make something known that may have
been private or secret. The reporter refused to divulge her source.
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501 Vocabulary Questions
evince (i· vins) v. to show or demonstrate clearly; to make evident. The algebra
teacher tried to evince the complexity of the material to be covered on the
midterm.
extenuate (iks· ten·yoo·ayt) v. to reduce the strength or lessen the seriousness
of; to try to partially excuse. Fred claimed that extenuating circumstances
forced him to commit forgery.
forswear (for· swair) v. 1. to give up, renounce. 2. to deny under oath.
Natasha had to forswear her allegiance to her homeland in order to become a citizen
of the new country.
impute (im· pyoot) v. to attribute to a cause or source, ascribe; credit. Doctors
impute the reduction in cancer deaths to the nationwide decrease in cigarette
smoking.
obfuscate (ob· fus·kayt) v. 1. to make obscure or unclear; to muddle or
make difficult to understand. 2. to dim or darken. Instead of clarifying the
matter, Walter only obfuscated it further.
rescind (ri· sind) v. to repeal or cancel; to void or annul. They have rescinded
their offer, so we must find another buyer.
stymie ( st ¯·mee) v. to hinder, obstruct, or thwart; to prevent the accomplishment
of something. The negotiations were stymied by yet another attack.
105
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 261–270, read the following sentences carefully. Decide
which answer best describes the italicized vocabulary word in the
prompt. Circle the letter of the correct answer. If you do not own this
book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.
261. If you abstain from something, you
a. run from it.
b. choose not to do it.
c. come from it.
d. have an allergic reaction to it.
262. If you rescind an offer, you
a. make the offer.
b. revise the offer.
c. cancel the offer.
d. increase the offer.
263. If you forswear eating chocolate, you
a. stop eating chocolate.
b. love eating chocolate.
c. depend on chocolate.
d. get sick if you eat chocolate.
264. If you appease someone, you
a. anger that person.
b. annoy that person.
c. calm that person.
d. please that person.
265. If you delineate something, you
a. divide it in two.
b. draw or describe it.
c. reverse it.
d. count or mark it.
266. If you demur during a discussion, you
a. raise an objection.
b. make a good point.
c. make an embarrassing remark.
d. say something that insults someone.
106
501 Vocabulary Questions
267.
If you disconcert someone, you
a. make that person late for something.
b. make that person happy.
c. upset that person’s composure.
d. recognize that person.
268.
If you dissuade someone, you
a. discourage that person from doing something.
b. deceive that person.
c. reveal a secret to that person.
d. disappoint that person.
269.
If you stymie someone’s plans, you
a. copy those plans.
b. change those plans.
c. cancel those plans.
d. obstruct those plans.
270.
If you assay something, you
a. buy it.
b. examine it.
c. declare it.
d. borrow it.
For questions 271–280, read the sentences below carefully. Decide
which vocabulary word best matches the action described in the sentence.
Circle the letter of the correct answer. (If you do not own this
book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
271.
Tammy drastically improved the situation.
a. evince
b. demur
c. ameliorate
d. rescind
272.
Ryan hid his plans to steal Jason’s girlfriend behind a mask of false
friendship.
a. obfuscate
b. appropriate
c. dissemble
d. disconcert
107
501 Vocabulary Questions
273.
Ian attributed the rent increase to the new sports complex
downtown.
a. impute
b. ameliorate
c. extenuate
d. divulge
274.
Darlene’s lack of serious injury made the benefits of using a
seatbelt very clear.
a. apprise
b. evince
c. dissuade
d. dither
275.
Carson’s problems at home made his boss overlook his sloppy
work.
a. appropriate
b. divulge
c. rescind
d. extenuate
276.
The general informed the president of the latest events.
a. obfuscate
b. apprise
c. ameliorate
d. impute
277.
The funds were put aside to build a computer laboratory for the
students.
a. dither
b. abstain
c. appropriate
d. evince
278.
Casey’s version of the story only made it even more unclear how
the accident happened.
a. obfuscate
b. extenuate
c. stymie
d. dissemble
108
501 Vocabulary Questions
279.
Carmella told the entire office about the boss’s scandalous affair.
a. dissuade
b. divulge
c. apprise
d. appease
280.
Dina wasn’t sure which class to register for and caused a delay for
others waiting in line.
a. abstain
b. divulge
c. obfuscate
d. dither
109
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
261. b.
To abstain means to choose to refrain from doing something.
262. c.
To rescind means to repeal or cancel; to void or annul.
263.
a. To forswear means to stop, give up, or renounce. It can also
mean to deny under oath.
264.
c. To appease means to make calm or quiet; to soothe, still, or
pacify.
265. b.
To delineate means to draw or outline; to portray or describe.
266. a.
To demur means to raise an objection.
267.
c. To disconcert means to upset the composure of; to frustrate plans
by throwing into disorder.
268.
a. To dissuade means to discourage from or persuade against a
course of action.
269.
d. To stymie means to hinder, obstruct, or thwart; to prevent the
accomplishment of something.
270. b.
To assay means to test or try; to examine; or to judge critically.
271. c.
To ameliorate means to make or become better; to improve.
272.
c. To dissemble means to disguise or conceal one’s true feelings or
motives behind a false appearance.
273.
a. To impute means to attribute to a cause or source; to ascribe or
credit.
274.
b. To evince means to show or demonstrate clearly; to make
evident.
275.
d. To extenuate means to reduce the strength or lessen the
seriousness of; to try to partially excuse.
276. b.
To apprise means to inform; to give notice to.
110
501 Vocabulary Questions
277.
c. To appropriate means to set aside for a special purpose. It can
also mean to take for one’s own use, often without permission.
278.
a. To obfuscate means to make obscure or unclear, to muddle or
make difficult to understand. It can also mean to dim or darken.
279. b.
To divulge means to make known; to make public.
280.
d. To dither means to hesitate, to be indecisive or uncertain. It can
also mean to shake or quiver.
111
15
Word Pairs III
Were you ever given a gift that you would never wear because it was too
garish or tawdry? Do you avoid pugnacious or belligerent people because you
do not like to fight? This is the third of four chapters of word pairs—pairs
of words that are almost exactly the same in meaning. Each word pair chapter
contains ten sets of synonyms. You can find the answers to each question
in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
antipathy (an· tip·a.·thee) n. 1. a strong aversion or dislike. 2. an object of
aversion. The seven year old had a great antipathy toward green vegetables.
apropos (ap·ro.· poh) adj. appropriate to the situation; suitable to what is
being said or done. The chairman’s remarks referring to the founding fathers
were apropos, since it was the Fourth of July.
assuage (a.· swayj) v. to make something less severe, to soothe; to satisfy (as
hunger or thirst). The small cups of water offered to the marathon runners helped
to assuage their thirst.
attenuate (a.· ten·yoo·ayt) v. 1. to make thin or slender. 2. to weaken; to
reduce in force, value, or degree. The Russian army was able to attenuate the
strength and number of the German forces by leading them inland during winter.
auspicious (aw· spish·u.s) adj. favorable, showing signs of promise success;
propitious. Valerie believed it an auspicious beginning when it rained on the day
that she opened her umbrella store.
aversion (a.· vur·zho.n) n. 1. a strong, intense dislike; repugnance. 2. the
object of this feeling. Todd has an aversion to arugula and picks it out of his
salads.
belligerent (bi· lij·e.r·e.nt) adj. hostile and aggressive, showing an eagerness
to fight. Mrs. Rivera always kept an eye on Daniel during recess because his belligerent
attitude often caused problems with other children.
enervate ( en·e.r·vayt) v. to weaken; deprive of strength or vitality; to make
feeble or impotent. Stephanie’s cutting remarks managed to enervate Hasaan.
equanimity (ee·kwa.· nim·i·tee) n. calmness of temperament, even-temperedness;
patience and composure, especially under stressful circumstances.
The hostage negotiator’s equanimity during the standoff was remarkable.
eradicate (i· rad·. ·kayt) v. to root out and utterly destroy; to annihilate,
exterminate. The exterminator said he would eradicate the vermin from the
house.
expunge (ik· spunj) v. to wipe or rub out, delete; to eliminate completely,
annihilate. After finishing probation, juveniles can petition the courts to expunge
their criminal records.
felicitous (fi· lis·i·tu.s) adj. 1. apt, suitably expressed; apropos. 2. marked by
good fortune. The felicitous turn of events during her promotional tour propelled
Susan’s book to the best-seller list.
114
501 Vocabulary Questions
garish ( air·ish) adj. excessively bright or overdecorated; gaudy; tastelessly
showy. Though Susan thought Las Vegas was garish, Emily thought it was perfectly
beautiful.
mollify ( mol·. ·f ¯) v. 1. to soothe the anger of, to calm. 2. to lessen in intensity.
3. to soften, make less rigid. The crying child was quickly mollified by her
mother.
ostracize ( os·tra.·s ¯z) v. to reject, cast out from a group or from society.
Kendall was ostracized after he repeatedly stole from his friends.
pariah (pa.· r ¯·a.) n. an outcast; a rejected and despised person. After he told
a sexist joke, Jason was treated like a pariah by all of the women in the office.
propitious (proh· pish·u.s) adj. auspicious, presenting favorable circumstances.
These are propitious omens indeed and foretell a good journey.
pugnacious (pu · nay·shu.s) adj. contentious, quarrelsome; eager to fight,
belligerent. Don’t be so pugnacious—I don’t want to fight.
sangfroid (sahn· frwah) n. composure, especially in dangerous or difficult
circumstances. I wish I had Jane’s sangfroid when I find myself in a confrontational
situation.
tawdry ( taw·dree) adj. gaudy or showy but without any real value; flashy
and tasteless. I’ve never seen such a tawdry outfit as the three-tiered taffeta prom
gown that the singer wore to the awards ceremony!
115
501 Vocabulary Questions
Crossword Puzzle Directions
In this puzzle, there is one clue for each set of synonyms, so each clue is
offered twice. Read the definition provided in the clue and determine which
two words share that meaning. Then, determine which of those synonyms
fits the designated crossword squares. (Note: All pairs are the same part of
speech, except one pair which is a verb and a noun.)
Word Pairs III Crossword Puzzle
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
116
501 Vocabulary Questions
ACROSS
283.
calmness and composure, especially under stress (paired with 292
down)
285.
to weaken; reduce in strength or force (paired with 282 down)
287.
intense dislike (paired with 281 down)
288.
appropriate, suitable for the situation (paired with 284 down)
291.
hostile, eager to fight (paired with 295 across)
295.
hostile, eager to fight (paired with 291 across)
296.
an outcast or rejected person (noun); to reject or cast out from
society (verb) (paired with 300 across)
298.
to soothe; to lessen in intensity (paired with 294 down)
299.
to destroy completely; annihilate (paired with 293 down)
300.
to reject or cast out from society (verb); an outcast or rejected
person (noun) (paired with 296 across)
DOWN
281.
intense dislike (paired with 287 across)
282.
to weaken; reduce in strength or force (paired with 285 across)
284.
appropriate, suitable for the situation (paired with 288 across)
286.
favorable; presenting favorable circumstances (paired with 289
down)
289.
favorable; presenting favorable circumstances (paired with 286
down)
290.
extremely showy; flashy and tasteless (paired with 297 down)
292.
calmness and composure, especially under stress (paired with 283
across)
293.
to destroy completely; annihilate (paired with 299 across)
294.
to soothe; to lessen in intensity (paired with 298 across)
297.
extremely showy; flashy and tasteless (paired with 290 down)
117
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
The following words are word pairs:
antipathy, aversion
apropos, felicitous
assuage, mollify
attenuate, enervate
belligerent, pugnacious
equanimity, sangfroid
eradicate, expunge
garish, tawdry
ostracize, pariah
propitious, auspicious
Across
283.
Sangfroid means composure, especially in dangerous or difficult
circumstances; equanimity.
285.
To attenuate means to weaken; to reduce in force, value, or degree;
enervate. It also means to make thin or slender.
287.
Antipathy is a strong aversion or dislike.
288.
Apropos means appropriate to the situation, suitable to what is
being said or done; felicitous.
291.
Belligerent means hostile and aggressive, showing an eagerness to
fight; pugnacious.
295.
Pugnacious means contentious, quarrelsome, eager to fight;
belligerent.
296.
A pariah (noun) is an outcast, a rejected, and despised person;
someone who has been ostracized (verb).
298.
To mollify is to soothe the anger of, calm, assuage; to lessen in
intensity; or to soften, make less rigid.
299.
To eradicate means to root out and utterly destroy, to annihilate; to
expunge.
300.
To ostracize (verb) is to reject, to cast out from a group or from
society; someone who has been ostracized is a pariah (noun).
118
501 Vocabulary Questions
Down
281.
An aversion is a strong, intense dislike; repugnance, antipathy.
282.
To enervate is to weaken, to deprive of strength or vitality, to
attenuate; to make feeble or impotent.
284.
Felicitous means apt, suitably expressed; apropos. It also means
marked by good fortune.
286.
Auspicious means favorable; showing signs that promise success,
propitious.
289.
Propitious means auspicious, presenting favorable circumstances.
290.
Garish means excessively bright or over-decorated, gaudy;
tastelessly showy, tawdry.
292.
Equanimity means calmness of temperament, even-temperedness;
patience and composure, especially under stressful circumstances;
sangfroid.
293.
To expunge is to wipe or rub out, delete; to eliminate completely,
annihilate, eradicate.
294.
To assuage is to make something less severe, to soothe, mollify; to
satisfy.
297.
Tawdry means gaudy or showy but without any real value; flashy
and tasteless, garish.
119
501 Vocabulary Questions
281
A
282
E
V
N
E
E
R
R
S
V
I
283
284
A
S
A
N
G
F
R
O
I
D
T
E
N
285
286
A
TT
E
N
U
A
TE
L
287
U
A
N
T
I
P
A
T
H
Y
288
A
P
R
O
P
O
S
C
289
290
P
P
I
G
291
292
B
E
LL
I
G
E
R
E
N
T
A
293
294
E
Q
C
O
O
R
A
295
X
U
I
P
P
U
G
N
A
C
I
O
U
S
296
P
A
R
I
A
H
O
I
S
S
S
U
N
U
T
H
U
N
I
S
I
A
297
298
G
T
M
M
O
LL
I
F
Y
G
299
E
R
A
D
I
C
A
T
E
U
E
300
W
T
O
S
T
R
A
C
I
Z
E
D
Y
R
Y
120
16
Personality Traits
and Attitudes II
Do you often make people laugh with your facetious remarks? Have you
ever been flippant when you should have been more serious? Here are 20
more words that describe who we are and how we behave. You can find the
answers to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
adamant ( ad·a.·ma.nt) adj. 1. unyielding to requests, appeals, or reason. 2.
firm, inflexible. The senator was adamant that no changes would be made to the
defense budget.
apathetic (ap·a.· thet·ik) adj. feeling or showing a lack of interest, concern,
or emotion; indifferent, unresponsive. Mrs. Brownstone was distressed by how
apathetic her eighth grade students were about world history.
ascetic (a.· set·ik) adj. practicing self-denial, not allowing oneself pleasures
or luxuries; austere. Some religions require their leaders to lead an ascetic lifestyle
as an example to their followers.
audacious (aw· day·shu.s) adj. fearlessly or recklessly daring or bold; unrestrained
by convention or propriety. Detective Malloy’s methods were considered
bold and audacious by his superiors, and they often achieved results.
complaisant (ko.m· play·sa.nt) adj. tending to comply; obliging, willing to do
what pleases others. To preserve family peace and harmony, Lenny became very
complaisant when his in-laws came to visit.
ebullient (i· bul·ye.nt) adj. bubbling over with enthusiasm, exuberant. The
ebullient children were waiting to stick their hands into the grab bag and pull out
a toy.
facetious (fa.· see·shu.s) adj. humorous and witty, cleverly amusing; jocular,
sportive. Mr. Weston’s facetious remarks always made people laugh.
flippant ( flip·a
.nt) adj. not showing proper seriousness; disrespectful, saucy.
Ursula’s flippant remarks in front of her fiancé’s parents were an embarrassment
to us all.
impassive (im· pas·iv) adj. not showing or feeling emotion or pain. It was
hard to know what she was feeling by looking at the impassive expression on her
face.
imperious (im· peer·i·u.s) adj. overbearing, bossy, domineering. Stella was
relieved with her new job transfer because she would no longer be under the control
of such an imperious boss.
impetuous (im· pech·oo·u.s) adj. 1. characterized by sudden, forceful energy
or emotion; impulsive, unduly hasty and without thought. 2. marked by violent
force. It was an impetuous decision to run off to Las Vegas and get married
after a one-week courtship.
122
501 Vocabulary Questions
insouciant (in· soo·si·a
.nt) adj. unconcerned, carefree, indifferent. Wendy’s
insouciant attitude toward her future concerned her father, who expected her to go
to college.
mettlesome ( met·e.l·so.m) adj. courageous, high-spirited. Alice’s mettlesome
attitude was infectious and inspired us all to press on. Note: Do not confuse with
meddlesome, meaning inclined to interfere.
morose (mo· rohs) adj. gloomy, sullen; melancholy. My daughter has been
morose ever since our dog ran away.
nonchalant (non·sha.· lant) adj. indifferent or cool, not showing anxiety or
excitement. Franco tried to be nonchalant, but I could tell he was nervous.
officious (o.· fish·u.s) adj. meddlesome, bossy; eagerly offering unnecessary
or unwanted advice. My officious Aunt Midge is coming to the party, so be prepared
for lots of questions and advice.
peremptory (pe.· remp·to.·ree) adj. 1. offensively self-assured, dictatorial. 2.
commanding, imperative, not allowing contradiction or refusal. 3. putting
an end to debate or action. The mother’s peremptory tone ended the children’s
bickering.
querulous ( kwer·u.·lu.s) adj. complaining, peevish; discontented. He’s a picky
and querulous old man, but I still love him.
sanctimonious (san k·t .· moh·nee·u.s) adj. hypocritically pious or devout;
excessively self-righteous. The thief’s sanctimonious remark that “a fool and his
money are soon parted” only made the jury more eager to convict him.
vitriolic (vit·ri· ol·ik) adj. savagely hostile or bitter; caustic. Her vitriolic
attack on her opponent was so hostile that it may cost her the election.
123
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 301–310, you will find sentences that describe a personality
type or character trait. Read each sentence carefully and then
circle the vocabulary word that best describes the person or character
trait. (If you do not own this book, please write your answers on
a separate piece of paper.)
301.
To please her boyfriend, Charlotte changed the way she dressed to
a style that he preferred.
Charlotte is being
a. apathetic.
b. flippant.
c. complaisant.
d. impetuous.
302.
Although he failed another exam, Ivan didn’t seem to care.
Ivan is being
a. adamant.
b. apathetic.
c. querulous.
d. imperious.
303.
“It’s my way or the highway!” said George.
George is being
a. impassive.
b. facetious.
c. morose.
d. peremptory.
304.
“My future mother-in-law continually gives me suggestions on
planning my wedding. She even ordered the flowers without
consulting me first.”
The mother-in-law is being
a. officious.
b. flippant.
c. ebullient.
d. complaisant.
124
501 Vocabulary Questions
305.
When working at the scene of an accident, rescue workers often
hide their emotions and maintain a professional countenance.
The rescue workers are being
a. audacious.
b. morose.
c. apathetic.
d. impassive.
306.
Mistakenly believing his boss was speaking ill of him, Angelo burst
through the door and yelled: “I quit!” to his boss.
Angelo was being
a. imperious.
b. ebullient.
c. impetuous.
d. querulous.
307.
At the end of his life, the reclusive billionaire lived in a small
apartment with a bed and a bible as his only possessions, even
though he could have had almost any luxury.
The billionaire chose a lifestyle that was
a. insouciant.
b. morose.
c. ascetic.
d. facetious.
308.
Susan absolutely insisted that we come along; she wouldn’t take no
for an answer.
Susan was being
a. adamant.
b. querulous.
c. peremptory.
d. audacious.
309.
Raj was someone who, no matter how perfect the day, would
always find something to complain about.
Raj is very
a. nonchalant.
b. vitriolic.
c. officious.
d. querulous.
125
501 Vocabulary Questions
310.
“You fatuous boor! You’ve ruined my life! I never want to see you
again!”
This statement is
a. morose.
b. vitriolic.
c. insouciant.
d. apathetic.
For numbers 311–320, you will find sentences describing a personality
trait or attitude followed by a fill in the blank exercise. Read each
sentence carefully and choose the vocabulary word from the list below
that best completes the second sentence. Write the correct answer in
the blank. (If you do not own this book, please write your answers on
a separate piece of paper.)
audacious insouciant
ebullient mettlesome
facetious morose
flippant nonchalant
imperious sanctimonious
311.
Even after the rain began, Latisha continued to push forward and
finish the marathon. Latisha is a ________ person.
312.
Though the hurricane was approaching, the surfers thought it
would be a great time to go surfing regardless of the risk. The
surfers are being ________.
313.
When friends came to play, Rachel would only let them play the
games she selected; she even dictated where her friends would sit
and what they could eat. Rachel is being ________.
314.
At work, Tom boasted that he and his family never missed church
on Sunday mornings; he did not mention that they always left
services without saying hello to any of their friends or neighbors.
Tom’s boastful statements are ________.
126
501 Vocabulary Questions
315.
Having already won two awards, the movie director coolly and
calmly walked up to the podium to collect his third award of the
evening. The director’s manner is very ________.
316.
Chang has been sulking in her room after learning she wasn’t
accepted by the college of her choice. She is even saying that she
may not go to college at all. Chang is feeling ________.
317.
Tom shocked the jurors when he stuck his tongue out at the judge
during the court proceedings. Tom is being ________ toward the
judge.
318.
Reynaldo was a popular guest at dinner parties because of his
ability to turn a phrase and to make funny, witty remarks.
Reynaldo is very ________.
319.
Though she was only an office assistant, Adele marched boldly into
the vice president’s office and calmly told him she would someday
be his boss. Adele is being ________.
320.
The teenage girls were jumping up and down in the aisles as their
favorite band took the stage. The girls are acting in a(n) ________
manner.
127
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
301.
To be complaisant is to comply with others and be willing to do
what pleases others.
302.
To be apathetic is to show a lack of interest or concern; to be
indifferent.
303.
To be peremptory is to be dictatorial, not allowing contradiction, or
putting an end to debate or action.
304.
To be officious is to be meddlesome, bossy, and eagerly offering
unwanted advice.
305.
An impassive person does not show his or her feelings, emotions, or
pain.
306.
To be impetuous is to display sudden, forceful energy or emotion,
especially without thought or consideration of consequences.
307.
Someone who is ascetic practices self-denial and does not allow him
or herself pleasures or luxuries.
308.
Someone who is adamant is unyielding to requests, appeals, or
reason.
309.
To be querulous is to complain and be generally discontented.
310.
Something or someone who is vitriolic is savagely hostile or bitter.
311.
Someone who is mettlesome is courageous and high-spirited.
312.
To be insouciant is to be unconcerned, carefree, and indifferent.
313.
Someone who is imperious is overbearing, bossy; domineering.
314.
To be sanctimonious is to be hypocritically pious or devout;
excessively self-righteous.
315.
To be nonchalant is to be indifferent or cool; not showing anxiety or
excitement.
128
501 Vocabulary Questions
316.
To be morose is to be gloomy, sullen, or melancholy.
317.
To be flippant is to not show proper seriousness or to be
disrespectful.
318.
To be facetious is to be humorous and witty; cleverly amusing.
319.
To be audacious is to be fearlessly or recklessly daring; bold.
320.
To be ebullient is to be bubbling over with enthusiasm, exuberant.
129
17
Government and
Politics
Do you prefer the chaos of anarchy or the control of an authoritarian
government? Whether your party is Democrat, Republican, Green, Liberal,
Conservative, Socialist, or Independent, you will find the 20 words in
this chapter helpful in describing and understanding various conditions of
government and politics. You can find the answers to each question in this
section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
anarchy ( an·a
.r·kee) n. 1. the complete absence of government or control
resulting in lawlessness. 2. political disorder and confusion. The days immediately
following the revolution were marked by anarchy.
authoritarian (a.·thor·i· tair·i·a.n) adj. favoring complete, unquestioning
obedience to authority as opposed to individual freedom. The military maintains
an authoritarian environment for its officers and soldiers alike.
demagogue ( dem·a.· aw ) n. a leader who obtains power by appealing to
people’s feelings and prejudices rather than by reasoning. Hitler was the most
infamous demagogue of the twentieth century.
disenfranchise (dis·en· fran·ch ¯z) v. to deprive of the rights of citizenship,
especially the right to vote. The independent monitors were at polling locations
to ensure neither party tried to disenfranchise incoming voters.
egalitarian (i· al·i· tair·i·a
.n) adj. characterized by or affirming the principle
of equal political, social, civil, and economic rights for all persons. Hannah
was moved by the candidate’s egalitarian speech.
enclave ( en·klayv) n. a distinct territory lying wholly within the boundaries
of another, larger territory. The country of Lesotho is an enclave of South Africa.
hegemony (hi· jem·o.·nee) n. predominant influence or leadership, especially
of one government over others. A military takeover in the impoverished
country secured the hegemony of the Centrist Party in its bid for power.
imperialism (im· peer·i·a.·liz·e.m) n. the policy of extending the rule or
authority of a nation or empire by acquiring other territories or dependencies.
Great Britain embraced imperialism, acquiring so many territories that
the sun never set on the British Empire.
laissez-faire (les·ay· fair) adj. hands-off policy; noninterference by the government
in business and economic affairs. I believe a more laissez-faire
approach by management would make everyone more cooperative and productive.
nullify ( nul·. ·f ¯) v. 1. to make null (without legal force), invalidate. 2. to
counteract or neutralize the effect of. The opponents wanted to nullify the bill
before it became a law.
oligarchy ( ol·. · ahr·kee) n. form of government in which the power is in
the hands of a select few. The small governing body calls itself a democracy, but
it is clearly an oligarchy.
132
501 Vocabulary Questions
partisan ( pahr·ti·za.n) n. 1. a person fervently and often uncritically supporting
a group or cause. 2. a guerilla, a member of an organized body of
fighters who attack or harass an enemy. The partisan lobby could not see the
logic of the opposing senator’s argument and did not understand how the proposed
legislation would infringe upon basic constitutional rights.
precept ( pree·sept) n. a rule establishing standards of conduct. The headmaster
reviewed the precepts of the school with the students.
proscribe (proh· skr ¯b) v. 1. to prohibit, forbid; to banish or outlaw. 2. to
denounce or condemn. The king proscribed the worship of idols in his kingdom.
protocol ( proh·to.·kawl) n. 1. etiquette; ceremony or procedure with regard
to people’s rank or status. 2. a first copy of a treaty or document. Jackson was
fired for repeatedly refusing to follow protocol.
proxy ( prok·see) n. 1. a person or agent authorized to represent or act for
another. 2. a document authorizing this substitution. The president appointed
a proxy to handle business matters during his absence.
quid pro quo (kwid proh kwoh) n. a thing given in return for something;
an equal exchange or substitution. Let’s come up with a quid pro quo arrangement
that will create a win-win situation for both sides.
reactionary (ree· ak·sho.·ner·ee) n. a person who favors political conservativism;
one who is opposed to progress or liberalism. It should be an interesting
marriage: he’s a reactionary and she’s as liberal as they come.
tendentious (ten· den·shu.s) adj. biased, not impartial, partisan; supporting
a particular cause or position. The tendentious proposal caused an uproar on the
Senate floor.
totalitarian (toh·tal·i· tair·i·a
.n) adj. of a form of government in which those
in control neither recognize nor tolerate rival parties or loyalties; demanding
total submission of the individual to the needs of the state. The totalitarian
regime fell quickly when the people revolted.
133
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 321–330, read the following descriptions carefully.
Decide which word best describes what is being said and circle the
letter of the correct answer. (If you do not own this book, please write
your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
321.
A government that requires complete, unquestioning obedience to
authority is
a. authoritarian.
b. laissez-faire.
c. partisan.
d. reactionary.
322.
A government that holds power in the hands of a select few is a(n)
a. proxy.
b. hegemony.
c. anarchy.
d. oligarchy.
323.
Someone who holds a firm or perhaps blind commitment to a
cause or party is a(n)
a. precept.
b. partisan.
c. enclave.
d. proxy.
324.
A political candidate who believes in the principles of equal
political, social, civil, and economic rights for all would be referred
to as
a. laissez-faire.
b. totalitarian.
c. egalitarian.
d. tendentious.
325.
An individual who is authorized to represent, speak, or act for
another is referred to as a
a. proxy.
b. precept.
c. partisan.
d. protocol.
134
501 Vocabulary Questions
326.
When one political party dominates over another, it is referred
to as
a. hegemony.
b. protocol.
c. anarchy.
d. quid pro quo.
327.
A leader who appeals to people’s feelings and prejudices rather
than their sense of reason is a(n)
a. enclave.
b. demagogue.
c. reactionary.
d. oligarchy.
328.
An independent country whose borders are completely surrounded
by another country is referred to as a(n)
a. proxy.
b. protocol.
c. enclave.
d. precept.
329.
Something that is biased and not impartial is referred to as
a. tendentious.
b. totalitarian.
c. authoritarian.
d. egalitarian.
330.
The practice of expanding an empire by acquiring other
dependencies or territories is known as
a. quid pro quo.
b. oligarchy.
c. imperialism.
d. anarchy.
135
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 331–340, circle the answer that provides the best definition
for each vocabulary word. (If you do not own this book, please
write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
331. totalitarian
a.
government that encourages openness and freedom of
expression
b. government that demands total submission of the individual to
the needs of the state
c.
government that encourages equal political, social, civil, and
economic rights for all
d.
government that is comprised of freely elected representatives
332. laissez-faire
a.
government that practices noninterference in business/
economic affairs
b. government that practices state control over business/economic
affairs
c.
government that practices principles embraced in France
d. government that practices moderate control over business/
economic affairs
333. anarchy
a.
complete absence of government or control resulting in
lawlessness
b. strict control over a country and its people by governmental
authorities
c.
government that practices noninterference in business and
economic affairs
d. government that encourages equal political, social, civil, and
economic rights for all
334. precept
a.
an official at a judicial hearing
b.
a voting irregularity
c.
a form of government that is represented by freely elected
representatives
d.
a rule or principle establishing standards of conduct
136
501 Vocabulary Questions
335. reactionary
a. a political conservative who opposes liberalism and/or progress
b. a political liberal who opposes traditional and/or conservative
leadership
c. a professional protestor
d. a professional lobbyist
336. proscribe
a. to request in the form of a written document
b. to prohibit, forbid, banish, or outlaw
c. to vote in a secret legislative session
d. to stall a legislative vote
337. protocol
a. a political liberal
b. a vote during a legislative session
c. a ceremony or procedure regarding people’s rank/status
d. an illegal act of Congress
338. nullify
a. to validate
b. to invalidate
c. to elevate in standing
d. to confirm voting results
339. quid pro quo
a. to stop legislative action through the courts
b. to covertly meet with an opposition party
c. to give something in return for something of similar value
d. to acknowledge defeat
340. disenfranchise
a. to embrace into a political system
b. to deprive the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote
c. to break apart from an established political party
d. to vote exclusively for one party’s candidates
137
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
321.
a. An authoritarian government favors complete, unquestioning
obedience to authority as opposed to individual freedom.
322.
d. An oligarchy is a government in which the power is in the hands
of a select few.
323.
b. A partisan is a person who fervently and often uncritically
supports a group or cause.
324.
c. To be egalitarian is to affirm the principles of equal political,
social, civil, and economic rights for all persons.
325.
a. A proxy is a person or agent authorized to represent or act for
another.
326.
a. Hegemony is when there is predominant influence or leadership,
especially of one government over others.
327.
b. A demagogue is a leader who obtains power by appealing to
people’s feelings and prejudices.
328.
c. An enclave is a distinct territory lying wholly within the
boundaries of another, larger territory.
329. a.
To be tendentious is to be biased, not impartial; partisan.
330.
c. Imperialism refers to the policy of extending the rule or
authority of a nation or empire by acquiring other territories or
dependencies.
331.
b. A totalitarian government is one where those in control neither
recognize nor tolerate rival parties or loyalties; they demand
total submission of the individual to the needs of the state.
332.
a. Laissez-faire is the practice by a government of letting its
country’s economic and business affairs function without
government interference or oversight.
138
501 Vocabulary Questions
333.
a. Anarchy refers to a situation where there has been a complete
breakdown of governmental and/or legal authority resulting in
chaos.
334.
d. A precept is a rule that establishes certain standards of behavior
or conduct.
335.
a. A reactionary is someone who favors political conservatism and
opposes liberal ideals and agendas.
336.
b. If something is proscribed, it has been forbidden, outlawed, or
banished.
337.
c. Protocol refers to a form of etiquette or ceremonial procedures
surrounding someone’s rank or status.
338. b.
To nullify something is to counteract it or make it invalid.
339.
c. A quid pro quo is an arrangement where something is given in
return for something of similar value.
340.
b. To disenfranchise is to deprive someone of the rights of
citizenship.
139
18
Person, Place, or
Thing? Nouns II
Have you ever received accolades for a job well done or enjoyed the
catharsis of a good tear-jerker? The 20 nouns in this chapter describe more
interesting things you may have, do, see, or experience. You can find the
answers to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abeyance (a.· bay·a
.ns) n. suspension, being temporarily suspended or set
aside. Construction of the highway is in abeyance until we get agency approval.
accolade ( ak·o.·layd) n. 1. praise or approval. 2. a ceremonial embrace in
greeting. 3. a ceremonious tap on the shoulder with a sword to mark the
conferring of knighthood. He received accolades from his superiors for finding
ways to cut costs and increase productivity.
accretion (a.· kree·sho.n) n. 1. growth or increase by gradual, successive
addition; building up. 2. (in biology) the growing together of parts that are
normally separate. The accretion of sediment in the harbor channel caused boats
to run aground.
alacrity (a.· lak·ri·tee) n. a cheerful willingness; being happily ready and
eager. The alacrity she brought to her job helped her move up the corporate ladder
quickly.
asperity (a.· sper·i·tee) n. harshness, severity; roughness of manner, ill temper,
irritability. The asperity that Marvin, the grumpy accountant, brought to the
weekly meetings usually resulted in an early adjournment.
catharsis (ka.· thahr·sis) n. the act of ridding or cleansing; relieving emotions
via the experiences of others, especially through art. Survivors of war
often experience a catharsis when viewing Picasso’s painting Guernica, which
depicts the bombing of a town during the Spanish civil war.
consternation (kon·ste.r· nay·sho.n) n. a feeling of deep, incapacitating horror
or dismay. The look of consternation on the faces of the students taking the history
exam alarmed the teacher, who thought he had prepared his students for the
test.
decorum (di· kohr·u.m) n. appropriateness of behavior, propriety; decency
in manners and conduct. When questions concerning decorum arise, I always
refer to Emily Post, the etiquette guru.
effrontery (i· frun·te.·ree) n. brazen boldness, impudence, insolence. The
customs officials were infuriated by the effrontery of the illegal alien who nonchalantly
carried drugs into the country in his shirt pocket.
eulogy ( yoo·lo.· ee) n. a formal speech or piece of writing in praise of
someone or something. Richard was asked to give a eulogy for his fallen comrade.
forbearance (for· bair·a
.ns) n. patience, willingness to wait, tolerance. Gustaf
dreaded the security check in the airport, but he faced it with great forbearance
because he knew it was for his own safety.
142
501 Vocabulary Questions
guffaw ( u· faw) n. a noisy, coarse burst of laughter. Michael let out quite a
guffaw when Jamal told him the outlandish joke.
imbroglio (im· brohl·yoh) n. a confused or difficult situation, usually involving
disagreement. An imbroglio developed when the bus drivers went on, leaving
thousands of commuters stranded at the bus station with no way to get home.
minutiae (mi· noo·shi·ee) n., pl. very small details; trivial or trifling matters.
His attention to the minutiae of the process enabled him to make his great discovery.
penury ( pen·yu.·ree) n. extreme poverty, destitution. After ten years of
penury, it’s good to be financially secure again.
rigmarole ( ri ·ma.·rohl) (also rigamarole) n. 1. rambling, confusing, or incoherent
talk. 2. a complicated, petty procedure. We had to go through a great
deal of rigmarole to get this approved.
rubric ( roo·brik) n. 1. a class or category. 2. a heading, title, or note of
explanation or direction. I would put calculus under the rubric of college mathematics,
not high school.
savoir faire ( sav·wahr fair) n. knowledge of the right thing to do or say
in a social situation; graceful tact. Savoir faire is essential if you want to be a
successful diplomat.
umbrage ( um·brij) n. offense, resentment. I took great umbrage at your suggestion
that I twisted the truth.
verisimilitude (ver·i·si· mil·i·tood) n. the appearance of being true or real.
The movie aims for complete verisimilitude and has painstakingly recreated the
details of everyday life in the 1920s.
143
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 341–350, choose the best synonym for each vocabulary
word. Circle the letter of the correct answer. (If you do not own this
book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
341. abeyance
a. obedience
b. reluctance
c. suspension
d. relief
346. forbearance
a. poverty
b. strength
c. patience
d. ancestry
342. accolade 347. minutiae
a. praise
b. disbelief
c. impression
d. happiness
a. microcosm
b. regiment
c. details
d. pattern
343. accretion
a. deletion
b. agreement
c. suspense
d. accumulation
348. penury
a. destitution
b. punishment
c. judgment
d. agony
344. alacrity
a. sadness
b. eagerness
c. bitterness
349. umbrage
a. protection
b. offense
c. transition
d. loneliness d. gathering
345. consternation 350. verisimilitude
a. dismay
b. constellation
a. deceit
b. fanaticism
c. reservation
d. disbelief
c. similarity
d. realism
144
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 351–360, choose the word from the list below that best
completes the sentence. Each word is used only once. Write your
answer in the blank. (If you do not own this book, please write your
answers on a separate piece of paper.)
asperity guffaw
catharsis imbroglio
decorum rigmarole
effrontery rubric
eulogy savoir faire
351.
No matter how many times I see Madame Butterfly, I always
experience a(n) ________ because the opera is such a powerful and
moving tragedy.
352.
The essay was graded using a specific ________ with categories
that a writer needed to address.
353.
The young boy composed a(n) ________ for his recently departed
grandmother that he planned to read at her memorial service.
354.
I am always impressed by Hudson’s ________; no matter what the
situation, he always says the right thing.
355.
Waterford’s ________ in trying to take credit for Vanessa’s work
eventually got him fired.
356.
Vanya, who once had the manners of a boor, now behaves with the
utmost ________, thanks to etiquette lessons from his Aunt Sasha.
357.
Anuj angered everyone in the audience when he let out a great
________ during the violin solo.
358.
Ena’s voice was full of ________ when she talked about the delays,
lost luggage, and overbooking during her last trip abroad.
359.
After Carter’s surgery, he had to go through the ________ of filling
out a myriad of insurance forms.
360.
In the play, Rosalind causes a great ________ when she disguises
herself as a man and another woman falls in love with her.
145
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
341.
c. Abeyance means suspension or being temporarily suspended or
set aside.
342.
a. Accolade means praise or approval. It also means a ceremonial
embrace in greeting or a ceremonial tap on the shoulder to
confer knighthood.
343.
d. Accretion is growth or increase by gradual, successive addition;
building up.
344. b.
Alacrity is cheerful willingness; being happily ready and eager.
345.
a. Consternation is a feeling of deep, incapacitating horror or
dismay.
346. c.
Forbearance means patience; willingness to wait, tolerance.
347. c.
Minutiae are very small details or trivial matters.
348. a.
Penury means extreme poverty; destitution.
349. b.
Umbrage means offense or resentment.
350. d.
Verisimilitude is the appearance of being true or real.
351.
Catharsis is the act of ridding or cleansing; relieving emotions via
the experiences of others, especially through art.
352.
A rubric is a class or category. It also means a heading, title, or note
of explanation.
353.
A eulogy is a formal speech or piece of writing in praise of someone
or something.
354.
Savoir faire is knowledge of the right thing to do or say in a social
situation; graceful tact.
355.
Effrontery means brazen boldness; impudence, insolence.
146
501 Vocabulary Questions
356.
Decorum is appropriateness of behavior; decency in manners and
conduct.
357.
A guffaw is a noisy, coarse burst of laughter.
358.
Asperity means harshness, severity; roughness of manner; ill temper
or irritability.
359.
Rigmarole means a complicated, petty procedure.
360.
An imbroglio is a confused or difficult situation, usually involving
disagreement.
147
19
What’s It Like?
More Words to
Describe Things
Have you ever had a harrowing experience, such as a turbulent airplane
ride? Have you ever paid an exorbitant price for dinner at a fancy restaurant?
In this chapter, you will find 20 more words that will help you in your everyday
life to describe, well . . . your everyday life. You can find the answers to
each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
arcane (ahr· kayn) adj. mysterious, secret, beyond comprehension. A number
of college students in the 1980s became involved in the arcane game known as
“Dungeons and Dragons.”
blatant ( blay·tant) adj. completely obvious, not attempting to conceal
in any way. Samuel’s blatant disregard of the rules earned him a two-week
suspension.
empirical (em· pir·i·kal) adj. based on observation or experience rather than
theory. Frank’s empirical data suggested that mice would climb over the walls of
the maze to get to the cheese rather than navigate the maze itself.
endemic (en· dem·ik) adj. 1. prevalent in or characteristic of a specific area
or group of people. 2. native to a particular region. Kudzu, a hairy, purple-
flowered vine thought to be endemic to the southeastern United States, was actually
imported from Japan.
exigent ( ek·si·je.nt) adj. 1. urgent, requiring immediate action or attention;
critical. 2. requiring much effort or precision, demanding. The late-night call
on Paul’s cell phone concerned matters of an exigent nature.
exorbitant (i · zor·bi·ta.nt) adj. greatly exceeding the bounds of what is normal
or reasonable; inordinate and excessive. Three thousand dollars is an exorbitant
amount of money to pay for a scarf.
expedient (ik· spee·di·e.nt) adj. 1. appropriate for a purpose, a suitable
means to an end. 2. serving to promote one’s own interests rather than principle.
A quick divorce was an expedient end to the couple’s two-month marriage.
fulsome ( fuul·so.m) adj. offensive due to excessiveness, especially excess
flattery or praise. Her new coworker’s fulsome attention bothered Kathryn.
harrowing ( har·oh·in ) adj. distressing, creating great stress or torment.
The turbulent flight proved to be a harrowing experience for Jane.
ineluctable (in·i· luk·ta.·be.l) adj. certain, inevitable; not to be avoided or
overcome. The ineluctable outcome of the two-person race was that there would
be one winner and one loser.
inveterate (in· vet·e.·rit) adj. habitual; deep rooted, firmly established. I am
an inveterate pacifist and unlikely to change my mind.
multifarious (mul·ti· fair·i·u.s) adj. occuring in great variety, diversified;
having many aspects. The job requires the ability to handle multifarious tasks.
150
501 Vocabulary Questions
pernicious (pe.r· nish·u.s) adj. deadly, harmful; very destructive. Nancy’s opponent
started a pernicious rumor that destroyed her chances of winning.
plaintive ( playn·tiv) adj. expressing sorrow; mournful, melancholy. Janice’s
plaintive voice made me decide to stay and comfort her longer.
resonant ( rez·o.·na.nt) adj. echoing, resounding. The new announcer at the
stadium has a wonderfully resonant voice.
stringent ( strin·je.nt) adj. very strict; according to very rigorous rules,
requirements, or standards. The stringent eligibility requirements greatly limited
the number of candidates for the scholarship.
subliminal (sub· lim·. ·na.l) adj. below the threshold of consciousness. Sub
liminal advertising is devious but effective.
sundry ( sun·dree) adj. various, miscellaneous. The sundry items in her backpack
reveal a great deal about her personality.
trenchant ( tren·cha.nt) adj. 1. penetrating, forceful; effective. 2. extremely
perceptive, incisive. 3. clear-cut, sharply defined. It was a trenchant argument,
and it forced me to change my mind about the issue.
tumultuous (too· mul·choo·u.s) adj. 1. creating an uproar; disorderly, noisy.
2. a state of confusion, turbulence, or agitation; tumult. It was another tumultuous
day for the stock market, and fluctuating prices wreaked havoc for investors.
151
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 361–380, circle the answer that best completes the
prompt. (If you do not own this book, please write your answers on a
separate piece of paper.)
361. A multifarious task would
a. have many different components.
b. have very few components.
c. be very complex.
d. be impossible to complete.
362. Plaintive cries would be
a. musical, soothing.
b. plain, uninteresting.
c. loud, jarring.
d. sorrowful, mournful.
363. People with inveterate beliefs
a. can be easily manipulated.
b. have adopted their beliefs from another.
c. hold their beliefs deeply and passionately.
d. change their beliefs frequently.
364. A prosecutor’s trenchant closing statement would be
a. a very effective closing statement.
b. a very offensive closing statement.
c. a very weak closing statement.
d. a very confusing closing statement.
365. A harrowing experience is
a. mundane and boring.
b. distressing and upsetting.
c. sensual and romantic.
d. happy and joyful.
366. An item of clothing that is exorbitant in price is
a. extremely inexpensive.
b. extremely expensive.
c. on sale.
d. a good value.
152
501 Vocabulary Questions
367. An arcane organization is one that
a. actively recruits new members.
b. is very old and outdated.
c. is very secretive and mysterious.
d. is located in a foreign land.
368. A pernicious virus would be
a. acquired in the sub-Saharan desert.
b. deadly and very destructive.
c. contagious and easily transmitted.
d. mild and easily treated.
369. A blatant statement is
a. obvious.
b. secretive.
c. fabricated.
d. loud.
370. Empirical data is data that
a. has been acquired through a detailed study of relevant text.
b. has been acquired from ancient empires.
c. has been gathered through observation and/or experience.
d. has been proven false.
371. “Corn is endemic to South America” means
a. corn was introduced to South America by European settlers.
b. corn is a native plant of South America.
c. corn caused an epidemic in South America.
d. corn is imported into South America.
372. If a boarding school has stringent rules, the rules will be
a. contemporary and forward thinking.
b. outdated and antiquated.
c. loose and liberal.
d. strict and rigorous.
373. An ineluctable consequence
a. cannot be avoided.
b. is not desirable.
c. would not be anticipated.
d. can be avoided.
153
501 Vocabulary Questions
374. A subliminal message
a. is easy to identify.
b. originates from another country.
c. is received at the subconscious level.
d. is written in secret code.
375. A resonant sound
a. echoes through a space.
b. is harsh and piercing.
c. is soft and delicate.
d. cannot be heard by humans.
376. An expedient resolution is
a. slow and cumbersome.
b. inappropriate for the situation.
c. quick and fast-acting.
d. appropriate for the situation.
377. An exigent medical condition would
a. affect the extremities.
b. be slow to develop.
c. be commonplace and of little concern.
d. require immediate attention.
378. Stores that sell sundry items
a. sell items appropriate for long journeys in the sun.
b. sell items expressly for farming and ranching.
c. sell an array of miscellaneous items.
d. sell only food-stuffs.
379. If your boss believes you to be fulsome, you are probably
a. offending your boss by offering him or her excessive praise.
b. irritating your boss by being lazy and uncooperative.
c. pleasing your boss by being an exemplary employee.
d. inspiring your boss by being courageous and bold.
380. A tumultuous crowd at a sporting event would be
a. very rowdy and disorderly.
b. very respectful and honorable.
c. very quiet and indifferent.
d. very loyal and dedicated.
154
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
361.
a. Multifarious means having many different aspects or
components.
362. d.
Plaintive means expressing sorrow; mournful, melancholy.
363. c.
Inveterate beliefs are deep-rooted or firmly established.
364. a.
A trenchant argument is effective, penetrating, or forceful.
365. b.
A harrowing experience is distressing and creates great torment.
366. b.
An exorbitant price greatly exceeds the bounds of normalcy.
367. c.
An arcane organization is secretive and mysterious.
368. b.
Pernicious means deadly and destructive.
369. a.
Blatant means completely obvious and not concealed.
370.
c. Empirical means based on observation and experience rather
than theory.
371.
b. Endemic means characteristic of or native to a specific area or
culture.
372. d.
Stringent means very strict.
373. a.
Ineluctable consequences are certain and unavoidable.
374. c.
Subliminal messages are beyond the threshold of consciousness.
375. a.
A resonant sound echoes through a space.
376. d.
Expedient means correct or appropriate for the situation.
377. d.
An exigent situation requires immediate attention.
378. c.
Sundry means a wide array, or miscellaneous.
379.
a. To be fulsome is to offend due to excessiveness especially with
flattery or praise.
380. a.
Tumultuous crowds are disorderly and noisy.
155
20
Word Pairs IV
Do you tend to be taciturn, or are you the talkative type? Are you shiftless
on a hot summer afternoon, or are you always checking things off from
your “to do” list? This is the final chapter of word pairs—pairs of words that
are almost exactly the same in meaning. Each word pair chapter contains
ten sets of synonyms. You can find the answers to each question in this section
at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abjure (ab· joor) v. 1. to repudiate, renounce under oath. 2. to give up or
reject. When Joseph became a citizen, he had to abjure his allegiance to his country
of origin.
conundrum (ko.· nun·dru.m) n. a hard riddle, enigma; a puzzling question or
problem. Michelle’s logic professor gave the class a conundrum to work on over the
weekend.
enigma (e.· ni ·ma.) n. 1. something that is puzzling or difficult to understand;
a perplexing occurrence or thing that cannot be explained. 2. a baffling
problem or difficult riddle. How Winston came to be the president of this
organization is a true enigma.
equivocate (i· kwiv·o.·kayt) v. to use unclear or ambiguous language in
order to mislead or conceal the truth. Raj tried to equivocate when explaining
why he came home after his curfew.
haughty ( haw·tee) adj. scornfully arrogant and condescending; acting as
though one is superior and others unworthy; disdainful. Stanley is so often
haughty that he has very few friends.
indolent ( in·do.·le.nt) adj. 1. lazy, lethargic; inclined to avoid labor. 2. causing
little or no pain; slow to grow or heal. Iris’s indolent attitude did not bode
well for her professional future.
iota (¯ · oh·ta.) n. a very small amount; the smallest possible quantity. Professor
Carlton is unpopular because he doesn’t have one iota of respect for his students.
obstreperous (ob· strep·e.·ru.s) adj. noisily and stubbornly defiant; aggressively
boisterous, unruly. The obstreperous child refused to go to bed.
obtrusive (o.b· troo·siv) adj. 1. prominent, undesirably noticeable. 2. projecting,
thrusting out. 3. tending to push one’s self or one’s ideas upon
others; forward, intrusive. Thankfully, Minsun survived the accident, but she
was left with several obtrusive scars.
pertinacious (pur·ti.· nay·shu.s) adj. extremely stubborn or persistent; holding
firmly to a belief, purpose, or course of action. The pertinacious journalist
finally uncovered the truth about the factory’s illegal disposal of toxins.
prevaricate (pri· var·. ·kayt) v. to tell lies; to stray from or evade the truth.
Quit prevaricating and tell me what really happened.
repudiate (ri· pyoo·di·ayt) v. to disown, disavow; reject completely. Mrs.
Tallon has repeatedly repudiated your accusations.
158
501 Vocabulary Questions
reticent ( ret·i·se.nt) adj. tending to keep one’s thoughts and feelings to oneself;
reserved, untalkative; silent. Annette is very reticent, so don’t expect her to
tell you much about herself.
salient ( say·li·e
.nt) adj. 1. conspicuous, prominent, highly noticeable; drawing
attention through a striking quality. 2. moving by leaps or springs; jutting
out. Siobhán’s most salient feature is her stunning auburn hair.
scintilla (sin· til·a.) n. a trace or particle; minute amount, iota. She has not one
scintilla of doubt about his guilt.
shiftless ( shift·lis) adj. lazy and inefficient; lacking ambition, initiative, or
purpose. My shiftless roommate has failed all of his classes.
supercilious (soo·pe.r· sil·i·u.s) adj. haughty, scornful, disdainful. Sunil’s
supercilious attitude and sarcastic remarks annoy me greatly.
taciturn ( tas·i·turn) adj. habitually untalkative, reserved. I’ve always known
him to be taciturn, but yesterday he regaled me with tales of his hiking adventures.
tenacious (te.· nay·shu.s) adj. 1. holding firmly to something, such as a right
or principle; persistent, stubbornly unyielding. 2. holding firmly, cohesive.
3. sticking firmly, adhesive. 4. (of memory) retentive. When it comes to fighting
for equality, she is the most tenacious person I know.
truculent ( truk·yu.·le.nt) adj. 1. defiantly aggressive; 2. fierce, violent. 3. bitterly
expressing opposition. The outspoken congresswoman gave a truculent
speech arguing against the proposal.
159
501 Vocabulary Questions
Crossword Puzzle Directions
In this puzzle, there is one clue for each set of synonyms, so each clue is
offered twice. Read the definition provided in the clue and determine which
two words share that meaning. Then determine which of those synonyms
fits the designated crossword squares.
Word Pairs IV Crossword Puzzle
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
394
395
396
397
398
399
160
501 Vocabulary Questions
ACROSS
383.
renounce, reject completely (paired with 382 down)
390.
stubbornly defiant or aggressive; fiercely unruly, violent (paired
with 393 across)
393.
stubbornly defiant or aggressive; fiercely unruly, violent (paired
with 390 across)
395.
very small amount (paired with 392 down)
396.
lazy, lacking ambition (paired with 389 down)
398.
untalkative, reserved (paired with 400 across)
400.
untalkative, reserved (paired with 398 across)
DOWN
381.
scornfully condescending, disdainful (paired with 397 down)
382.
renounce, reject completely (paired with 383 across)
384.
speak falsely; use unclear language to hide the truth (paired with
391 down)
385.
prominent, highly noticeable; projecting out (paired with 394
down)
386.
baffling riddle; puzzling question or problem (paired with 399
down)
387.
holding firmly, as to a belief; extremely stubborn or persistent
(paired with 388 down)
388.
holding firmly, as to a belief; extremely stubborn or persistent
(paired with 387 down)
389.
lazy, lacking ambition (paired with 396 across)
391.
speak falsely; use unclear language to hide the truth (paired with
384 down)
392.
very small amount (paired with 395 across)
394.
prominent, highly noticeable; projecting out (paired with 385
down)
397.
scornfully condescending, disdainful (paired with 381 down)
399.
baffling riddle; puzzling question or problem (paired with 386
down)
161
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
The following words are word pairs:
abjure, repudiate
conundrum, enigma
equivocate, prevaricate
haughty, supercilious
indolent, shiftless
iota, scintilla
obstreperous, truculent
obtrusive, salient
pertinacious, tenacious
reticent, taciturn
Across
383.
To abjure means to repudiate, renounce under oath; to give up,
reject.
390.
Obstreperous means noisily and stubbornly defiant; aggressively
boisterous, unruly; truculent.
393.
Truculent means defiantly aggressive, obstreperous; fierce, violent;
bitterly expressing opposition.
395.
An iota is a very small amount, a scintilla; the smallest possible
quantity.
396.
Shiftless means lazy and inefficient, indolent; lacking ambition,
initiative, or purpose.
398.
Reticent means tending to keep one’s thoughts and feelings to
oneself; reserved, untalkative, taciturn.
400.
Taciturn means habitually untalkative, reserved; reticent.
Down
381.
Supercilious means haughty; scornful, disdainful.
382.
To repudiate means to disown; disavow, reject completely, abjure.
384.
To equivocate means to use unclear or ambiguous language in order
to mislead or conceal the truth; prevaricate.
385.
Obtrusive means prominent, undesirably noticeable; projecting,
thrusting out; salient. It also means tending to push one’s self or
ideas upon others; intrusive.
386.
A conundrum is a hard riddle, an enigma; a puzzling question or
problem.
162
501 Vocabulary Questions
387.
Pertinacious means extremely stubborn or persistent; holding firmly
to a belief, purpose, or course of action; tenacious.
388.
Tenacious means holding firmly to something such as a belief;
stubbornly unyielding, pertinacious. It also means cohesive, sticking
firmly, adhesive; of memory, retentive.
389.
Indolent means lazy; lethargic, inclined to avoid labor, shiftless. It
also means causing little or no pain; slow to grow or heal.
391.
To prevaricate means to tell lies, to stray from or evade the truth; to
equivocate.
392.
A scintilla is a trace or particle, minute amount; iota.
394.
Salient means conspicuous, prominent, highly noticeable, obtrusive;
drawing attention through a striking quality; jutting out.
397.
Haughty means scornfully arrogant and condescending; acting as
though one is superior; disdainful, supercilious.
399.
An enigma is something that is puzzling or difficult to understand;
a perplexing, inexplicable thing; a baffling problem or difficult
riddle; conundrum.
163
501 Vocabulary Questions
381
S
382
R
U
E
P
P
E
383
384
385
A
B
J
U
R
E
O
U
R
Q
B
D
C
386
C
U
T
I
I
387
O
I
R
P
A
L
388
389
N
T
I
V
U
E
T
I
390
391
392
U
E
N
O
B
S
T
R
E
P
E
R
O
U
S
N
N
D
C
I
T
R
U
C
D
A
O
A
V
I
E
S
I
393
T
R
U
C
U
L
E
N
T
E
N
V
N
U
I
E
E
A
A
T
394
M
O
N
S
C
R
I
U
T
A
I
I
L
S
L
O
C
L
395
I
U
A
I
O
T
A
396
397
S
H
I
F
T
L
E
S
S
T
398
399
A
N
R
E
T
I
C
E
N
T
U
T
N
G
I
H
G
400
T
A
C
I
T
U
R
N
M
Y
A
164
21
Love and Hate,
War and Peace
Are you a contentious person, or do you try to avoid confrontation? Do
you remember the ardor you felt towards your first true love? The 20 words
in this chapter are about our two most basic emotions, love and hate, and
the two basic states of human relationships, war and peace. You can find the
answers to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
abhor (ab· hohr) v. to regard with horror, detest. I abhor such hypocrisy!
aficionado (a.·fish·yo.· nah·doh) n. a fan or devotee, especially of a sport or
pastime. The Jefferson’s attendance at every game proved that they were true aficionados
of baseball.
altercation (awl·te.r· kay·sho.n) n. a heated dispute or quarrel. To prevent an
altercation at social functions, one should avoid discussing politics and religion.
apocalypse (a.· pok·a.·lips) n. a cataclysmic event bringing about total devastation
or the end of the world. Many people feared an apocalypse would immediately
follow the development of nuclear weapons.
ardor ( ahr·do.r) n. fiery intensity of feeling; passionate enthusiasm, zeal. The
ardor Larry brought to the campaign made him a natural campaign spokesperson.
bellicose ( bel·. ·kohs) adj. belligerent, quarrelsome, eager to wage war.
There was little hope for peace following the election of a candidate known for his
bellicose nature.
cabal (ka.· bal) n. 1. a scheme or conspiracy. 2. a small group joined in a
secret plot. With Antonio as their leader, the members of the unit readied themselves
to begin the cabal.
contentious (ko.n· ten·shu.s) adj. 1. quarrelsome, competitive, quick to fight.
2. controversial, causing contention. With two contentious candidates on hand,
it was sure to be a lively debate.
fervent ( fur·ve.nt) adj. 1. having or showing great emotion; ardent, zealous
2. extremely hot, burning. Norman had a fervent belief that aliens had already
landed on earth.
fervor ( fur·vo.r) n. zeal, ardor; intense emotion. The fervor of the fans in the
stands helped propel the team to victory.
incursion (in· kur·zho.n) n. a raid or temporary invasion of someone else’s
territory; the act of entering or running into a territory or domain. There
was an incursion on the western border of their country.
misanthrope (mis· an·throhp) n. one who hates or distrusts humankind. Pay
no mind to his criticism; he’s a real misanthrope, and no one can do anything right
in his eyes.
nemesis ( nem·e.·sis) n. 1. source of harm or ruin; the cause of one’s misery
or downfall; bane. 2. agent of retribution or vengeance. In Frankenstein, the
monster that Victor creates becomes his nemesis.
166
501 Vocabulary Questions
odious ( oh·di·u.s) adj. contemptible, hateful, detestable. This is an odious policy
that will only damage the environment more.
penchant ( pen·cha.nt) n. a strong inclination or liking. I have a real penchant
for science fiction writing and spend hours reading my favorite authors every night.
pillage ( pil·ij) v. to forcibly rob of goods, especially in time of war; to plunder.
The barbarians pillaged the village before destroying it with fire.
placid ( plas·id) adj. calm and peaceful; free from disturbance or tumult.
Lake Placid is as calm and peaceful as its name suggests.
rancor ( ran ·ko.r) n. a bitter feeling of ill will; long-lasting resentment. Greg
is full of rancor towards his brother, and this causes tension at family gatherings.
reprisal (ri· pr ¯·za.l) n. 1. an act of retaliation for an injury with the intent
of inflicting at least as much harm in return. 2. the practice of using political
or military force without actually resorting to war. The president promised
a swift reprisal for the attack.
xenophobia (zen·o.· foh·bi·a.) n. a strong dislike, distrust, or fear of foreigners.
Many atrocities have been committed because of xenophobia.
167
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 401–410, read the sentences below carefully. Decide
which vocabulary word best completes the sentence. Circle the letter
of the correct answer. (If you do not own this book, please write your
answers on a separate piece of paper.)
401.
A person who owns dozens of Mozart CDs and repeatedly goes to
performances of his music is a Mozart
a. penchant.
b. misanthrope.
c. fervor.
d. aficionado.
402.
Something that is hateful or detestable is
a. fervent.
b. full of ardor.
c. odious.
d. an aficionado.
403.
A person who seems to dislike and distrust everyone
a. suffers from xenophobia.
b. is a misanthrope.
c. is full of rancor.
d. is odious.
404.
A person’s passionate love for his or her spouse would be called
a. ardor.
b. rancor.
c. xenophobia.
d. odious.
405.
If you detest or despise something, you
a. are fervent.
b. have a penchant for it.
c. are a misanthrope.
d. abhor it.
406.
If you have a strong liking for something, you
a. abhor it.
b. have a penchant for it.
c. feel rancor toward it.
d. are a misanthrope.
168
501 Vocabulary Questions
407.
If you feel intense passion or zeal for something, you
a. abhor it.
b. feel fervor.
c. feel rancor.
d. have a penchant for it.
408.
A person who fears or dislikes foreigners
a. suffers from xenophobia.
b. is an aficionado.
c. has a penchant for other countries.
d. feels ardor towards foreigners.
409.
If you feel a great deal of resentment or ill will towards someone,
you feel
a. ardor.
b. odious.
c. rancor.
d. xenophobia.
410.
A person who is intensely zealous and emotional about something
a. is fervent about it.
b. feels rancor.
c. is odious.
d. abhors it.
For questions 411–420, read the following sentences carefully. Decide
which answer best describes the vocabulary word in the prompt. Circle
the letter of the correct answer. (If you do not own this book,
please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
411.
If you were involved in an altercation, you
a. had an accident.
b. had a heated argument.
c. served in a war.
d. were part of a conspiracy.
412.
If you are a contentious person, you
a. are usually right.
b. believe in “an eye for an eye.”
c. always try to keep the peace.
d. are very competitive and quarrelsome.
169
501 Vocabulary Questions
413. If you are part of a cabal, you
a. are involved in a secret plot.
b. are participating in a protest.
c. belong to the majority.
d. are fighting against the enemy.
414. If you are a bellicose leader, you
a. do everything in your power to avoid war.
b. are eager to wage war.
c. remain neutral during international conflicts.
d. treat all citizens equally.
415. If an apocalypse is near, you can expect
a. a period of extended peace.
b. a time of anarchy.
c. total devastation and destruction.
d. an invasion.
416. If your country suffers an incursion, your territory
a. has been invaded.
b. is in a depression.
c. has seceded to form a new state.
d. has had a natural disaster.
417. If you meet your nemesis, you meet
a. the leader of your country.
b. your guardian angel.
c. the cause of your misfortunes.
d. the person who decides your fate.
418. If you pillage a village, you
a. set it on fire.
b. destroy it with bombs.
c. negotiate peace between warring tribes.
d. ransack it and steal as much as you can.
170
501 Vocabulary Questions
419. If you are a placid person, you
a. are usually calm and peaceful.
b. are always trying to pick a fight.
c. are disloyal.
d. are not to be trusted.
420. If you plan a reprisal, you
a. plan to surrender.
b. plan to retaliate.
c. hope to negotiate a cease-fire.
d. plan to desert the army.
171
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
401. d. An aficionado is a fan or devotee.
402. c. Something odious is contemptible, hateful, or detestable.
403. b. A misanthrope is someone who hates or distrusts humankind.
404. a. Ardor is a fiery intensity of feeling; passionate enthusiasm, zeal.
405. d. To abhor something is to regard it with horror; to detest it.
406. b. A penchant is a strong inclination or liking.
407. b. Fervor means zeal, ardor, or intense emotion.
408. a. Xenophobia is a strong dislike, distrust, or fear of foreigners.
409. c. Rancor is a bitter feeling of ill will; long-lasting resentment.
410. a. Fervent means having or showing great emotion; ardent,
zealous. It also means extremely hot, burning.
411. b. An altercation is a heated dispute or quarrel.
412. d. A contentious person is quarrelsome, competitive, quick to fight.
Contentious also means controversial, causing contention.
413. a. A cabal is a scheme or conspiracy; a small group joined in a
secret plot.
414. b. A bellicose person is belligerent, quarrelsome; eager to wage war.
415. c. An apocalypse is a cataclysmic event that brings total devastation
or the end of the world.
416. a. An incursion is a raid or temporary invasion of someone else’s
territory.
417. c. A nemesis is a source of harm or ruin; the cause of one’s misery
or downfall, bane; agent of retribution or vengeance.
172
501 Vocabulary Questions
418. d.
To pillage means to forcibly rob of goods; to plunder.
419. a.
Placid means calm and peaceful; free from disturbance.
420.
b. A reprisal is an act of retaliation for an injury. It is also the
practice of using political or military force without actually
resorting to war.
173
22
Opposites Attract—
Antonyms II
Are you frugal with your money, or do you tend to be prodigal and spend
it extravagantly? The 20 words in this chapter include ten pairs of antonyms.
You can find the answers to each question in this section at the end
of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
acrid ( ak·rid) adj. 1. having an unpleasantly bitter, sharp taste or smell. 2.
bitter or caustic in language or manner. The burning tires in the junkyard gave
off an acrid odor.
antithesis (an· tith·e.·sis) n. the direct or exact opposite; opposition or contrast.
Martin’s liberal parenting style is the antithesis of my conservative style.
austere (aw· steer) adj. 1. severe or stern in attitude or appearance. 2. simple,
unadorned, very plain. With its simple but functional furniture and its obvious
lack of decorative elements, the interior of the Shaker meeting hall was
considered austere by many people.
debacle (di· bah·ke.l) n. 1. a sudden disaster or collapse; a total defeat or failure.
2. a sudden breaking up or breaking loose; violent flood waters, often
caused by the breaking up of ice in a river. Putting the bridge’s supporting
beams in loose sand caused a total debacle when the sand shifted and the bridge fell
apart.
éclat (ay· klah) n. conspicuous success; great acclaim or applause; brilliant
performance or achievement. Even the ruinous deceit of the envious Salieri
could not impede the dazzling éclat of the young and gifted Mozart.
euphoria (yoo· fohr·i·a.) n. a feeling of well-being or high spirits. When
falling in love, it is not uncommon to experience feelings of euphoria.
frugal ( froo· a.l) adj. 1. careful and economical; sparing, thrifty. 2. costing
little. My grandparents survived the Great Depression by being very frugal.
impecunious (im·pe.· kyoo·ni·u.s) adj. having little or no money; poor, penniless.
Many impecunious immigrants in the United States eventually were able
to make comfortable lives for themselves.
intractable (in· trak·ta.·be.l) adj. unmanageable, unruly, stubborn. The young
colt was intractable, and training had to be cancelled temporarily.
malaise (ma.· layz) n.a feeling of illness or unease. After his malaise persisted
for more than a week, Nicholas went to see a doctor.
meretricious (mer·e.· trish·u.s) adj. gaudy, tawdry; showily attractive but
false or insincere. With its casinos and attractions, some people consider Las Vegas
the most meretricious city in the country.
opulent ( op·yu.·le.nt) adj. 1. possessing great wealth, affluent. 2. abundant,
luxurious. Lee is very wealthy, but he does not live an opulent lifestyle.
176
501 Vocabulary Questions
paucity ( paw·si·tee) n. scarcity; smallness of supply or quantity. The paucity
of food in the area drove the herd farther and farther to the south.
piquant ( pee·ka.nt) adj. 1. agreeably pungent; sharp or tart in taste. 2. pleasantly
stimulating or provocative. The spicy shrimp salad is wonderfully piquant.
plethora ( pleth·o.·ra.) n. an overabundance, extreme excess. There was a
plethora of food at the reception.
prodigal ( prod·. · a.l) adj. 1. recklessly wasteful or extravagant, especially
with money. 2. given in great abundance; lavish or profuse. The parable of the
prodigal son shows what can happen when money is wasted.
profligate ( prof·l .· it) adj. 1. recklessly wasteful or extravagant; prodigal.
2. lacking moral restraint; dissolute. The profligate man quickly depleted his
fortune.
propinquity (proh· pin ·kwi·tee) n. 1. proximity, nearness. 2. affinity, similarity
in nature. The two scientific elements demonstrate a remarkable propinquity.
provident ( prov·i·de.nt) adj. wisely providing for future needs; frugal, economical.
Because my parents were so provident, I didn’t have to struggle to pay
for college.
tractable ( trak·ta.·be.l) adj. easily managed or controlled; obedient, docile.
In the novel Brave New World, the world controllers use hypnosis and a “happiness
drug” to make everyone tractable.
177
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 421–430, you will find the antonyms paired together in
the form of an analogy. Choose the set of antonyms that best defines
the two vocabulary words and completes the analogy. Circle the letter
of the correct answer. (If you do not own this book, please write
your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
421. acrid : piquant ::
a. unpleasant : pleasant
b. dry : wet
c. stale : fresh
d. heavy : light
422. paucity : plethora ::
a. mighty : frail
b. few : many
c. bravery : cowardice
d. sickness : health
423. meretricious : austere ::
a. kind : wicked
b. flexible : stubborn
c. generous : stingy
d. gaudy : plain
424. frugal : prodigal ::
a. empty : full
b. thrifty : wasteful
c. hungry : satiated
d. lazy : energetic
425. impecunious : opulent ::
a. small : big
b. wild : tame
c. poor : rich
d. beginning : end
426.
427.
428.
429.
430.
antithesis : propinquity ::
a. difference : similarity
b. none : all
c. disapproval : approval
d. rejection : acceptance
debacle : éclat ::
a. disagreement : agreement
b. failure : success
c. bias : objectivity
d. radical : conservative
euphoria : malaise ::
a. uncertainty : certainty
b. acceptance : alienation
c. happiness : misery
d. journey : destination
intractable : tractable ::
a. unmanageable : obedient
b. incapable : capable
c. far-fetched : plausible
d. unusual : common
profligate : provident ::
a. profit : debt
b. ignorant : wise
c. unlikely : likely
d. extravagant : economical
178
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 431–440, choose the definition that is most nearly the
opposite of the selected vocabulary word. The correct answer will be
both the vocabulary word’s antonym and the definition for another
word from this chapter. (If you do not own this book, please write
your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
431. intractable 436. malaise
a. stubborn a. uneasiness
b. willing
c. unbearable
d. manageable
b. health
c. youth
d. reward
432. meretricious 437. acrid
a. malicious
b. unadorned
c. incapable
d. generous
a. frustrating
b. very narrow
c. agreeably sharp
d. unpleasant, brusque
433. prodigal
a. wise
b. expensive
c. thrifty
d. extravagant
438. provident
a. frugal
b. wasteful
c. future
d. past
434. impecunious
a. uncontrollable
b. wealthy
c. reckless
d. middle-class
439. plethora
a. scarcity
b. greatness
c. immensity
d. brevity
435. debacle
a. acclaim
440. propinquity
a. unease
b. approval
c. disappointment
d. disaster
b. purity
c. nearness
d. opposite
179
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
421.
a. Acrid means having an unpleasantly bitter, sharp taste or smell;
bitter or caustic in language or manner. Piquant means
agreeably pungent, sharp or tart in taste; pleasantly stimulating
or provocative.
422.
b. Paucity means scarcity, smallness of supply or quantity. Plethora
means an overabundance, extreme excess.
423.
d. Meretricious means gaudy, tawdry, showily attractive but false or
insincere. Austere means severe or stern in attitude or
appearance; simple, unadorned, plain.
424.
b. Frugal means careful and economical, sparing, thrifty. Prodigal
means recklessly wasteful or extravagant, especially with money.
425.
c. Impecunious means having little or no money; poor, penniless.
Opulent means possessing great wealth; affluent.
426.
a. Antithesis means the direct or exact opposite; contrast.
Propinquity means proximity; affinity, similarity in nature.
427.
b. A debacle is a sudden disaster or total failure. Éclat is conspicuous
success, great acclaim, or brilliant achievement.
428.
c. Euphoria is a feeling of well-being and high spirits. Malaise is a
feeling of illness or unease.
429.
a. Intractable means unmanageable, unruly, or stubborn. Tractable
means easily managed or controlled; obedient, docile.
430.
d. Profligate means recklessly wasteful or extravagant; prodigal,
lacking moral restraint. Provident means wisely providing for
future needs; frugal.
431.
d. Intractable means unmanageable, unruly, or stubborn. Its
antonym is tractable, which means easily managed or controlled;
obedient, docile.
180
501 Vocabulary Questions
432.
b. Meretricious means gaudy, tawdry, and showily attractive but
false or insincere. Its antonym is austere, which means severe or
stern in attitude or appearance; simple, unadorned, plain.
433.
c. Prodigal means recklessly wasteful or extravagant, especially
with money. Its antonym is frugal, which means careful and
economical, sparing, thrifty.
434.
b. Impecunious means having little or no money; poor, penniless.
Its antonym is opulent, which means possessing great wealth,
affluent.
435.
a. A debacle is a sudden disaster or total failure. Its antonym is éclat,
which means conspicuous success, great acclaim, or brilliant
achievement.
436.
b. Malaise is a feeling of illness or unease. Its antonym is euphoria,
which is a feeling of well-being and high spirits.
437.
c. Acrid means having an unpleasantly bitter, sharp taste or smell;
bitter or caustic in language or manner. Its antonym is piquant,
which means agreeably pungent, sharp, or tart in taste;
pleasantly stimulating or provocative.
438.
b. Provident means wisely providing for future needs; frugal. Its
antonym is profligate, which means recklessly wasteful or
extravagant; prodigal. It also means lacking moral restraint.
439.
a. Plethora means an overabundance, extreme excess. Its antonym
is paucity, which means scarcity, smallness of supply or quantity.
440.
d. Propinquity means proximity; affinity, similarity in nature. Its
antonym is antithesis, which means the direct or exact opposite;
contrast.
181
23
Words about
Religion and
Words from Stories
and Myths
Do you know anyone who is mercurial and often changes moods suddenly?
Have you ever been the happy recipient of a gargantuan bonus? The
20 words in this chapter are common words about religion and sacred
things that come from stories or ancient myths. You can find the answers
to each question in this section at the end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
apostate (a.· pos·tayt) n. one who abandons long-held religious or political
convictions. Disillusioned with the religious life due to recent scandals in the
church, Reverend Gift lost his faith and left the ministry, not caring if he’d be seen
as an apostate by colleagues who chose to remain.
apotheosis (a.·poth·i· oh·sis) n. deification; an exalted or glorified ideal.
Lancelot was the apotheosis of chivalry until he met Guinivere.
blasphemy ( blas·fe.·mee) n. contemptuous or irreverent acts, utterances,
attitudes, or writings against God or other things considered sacred; disrespect
of something sacrosanct. If you had committed blasphemy during the
Inquisition, you would have been tortured and killed.
desecrate ( des·e.·krayt) v. to violate the sacredness of, to profane. Someone
desecrated the local cemetery by spray-painting graffiti on tombstones.
dogma ( daw ·ma.) n. a system of principles or beliefs; a prescribed doctrine.
Some find the dogma inherent in religion a comfort, whereas others find it too
restrictive.
draconian (dray· koh·ni·a.n) adj. very harsh, extremely severe (especially of
a law or punishment). Students of international policy are often shocked by the
draconian punishments used by other countries for seemingly minor offences.
gargantuan ( ahr· an·choo·a
.n) adj. gigantic, huge. It was a gargantuan
supermarket for such a small town.
hallow ( hal·oh) v. to make holy, consecrate. The religious leader proclaimed
the new worship hall a hallowed space.
imprecation (im·pre.· kay·sho.n) n. an invocation of evil, a curse. In the book
I’m reading, the gypsy queen levies an imprecation on the lead character.
infidel ( in·fi·de.l) n. 1. a person with no religious beliefs. 2. a non-believer;
one who does not accept a particular religion, doctrine, or system of beliefs.
Because Tom had been raised with strict religious beliefs, it was no surprise that he
was viewed as a heathen and an infidel by his family when he refused to be married
in the church.
lilliputian (lil·i· pyoo·sha.n) adj. 1. very small, tiny. 2. trivial or petty. My
troubles are lilliputian compared to hers, and I am thankful that I do not have such
major issues in my life.
184
501 Vocabulary Questions
mercurial (me.r· kyoor·i·a
.l) adj. 1. liable to change moods suddenly. 2. lively,
changeable, volatile. Fiona is so mercurial that you never know what kind of
reaction to expect.
narcissism ( narh·si·siz·e.m) n. admiration or worship of oneself; excessive
interest in one’s own personal features. Some critics say that movie stars are
guilty of narcissism.
occult (o.· kult) adj. 1. secret, hidden, concealed. 2. involving the realm of
the supernatural. 3. beyond ordinary understanding, incomprehensible. The
rights and beliefs of the occult organization were finally made a matter of public
record after a long investigation.
omnipotent (om· nip·o.·te.nt) adj. having unlimited or universal power or
force. In Greek mythology, Zeus was the most powerful god, but he was not
omnipotent, since even his rule was often held in check by the unchangeable laws
of the Three Fates.
omniscient (om· nish·e.nt) adj. having infinite knowledge; knowing all
things. In a story with an omniscient narrator, we can hear the thoughts and feelings
of all of the characters.
phoenix ( fee·niks) n. 1. a person or thing of unmatched beauty or excellence.
2. a person or thing that has become renewed or restored after suffering
calamity or apparent annihilation (after the mythological bird that
periodically immolated itself and rose from the ashes as a new phoenix). The
phoenix is often used to symbolize something that is indomitable or immortal.
protean ( proh·tee·a
.n) adj. taking many forms, changeable; variable, versatile.
In Native American mythology, the coyote is often called the “shape shifter”
because he is such a protean character.
sacrilegious (sak·r .· leej·u.s) adj. disrespectful or irreverent towards something
regarded as sacred. Her book was criticized by the church for being sacrilegious.
185
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 441–448, in Column A you will find brief descriptions
of the stories or mythological characters that are the source of the
vocabulary words in Column B. Draw a line to match each vocabulary
word to its source. (If you do not own this book, please write your
answers on a separate piece of paper.)
Column A
441.
From Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels,
when Gulliver travels to the land inhabited
by people only six inches tall.
442.
After the god in Greek mythology who
had wings on his feet and moved very
swiftly.
443.
After the character in Greek mythology
who was in love with his own reflection.
444.
From a sixteenth-century tale by Francois
Rabelais about the life of a giant.
445.
After the mythological bird that periodically
ignites itself and arises anew from
the fire.
446.
After the Greek god who had the power
to change his shape at will.
447.
After the chivalrous, romantic, idealistic
knight created by the early seventeenth-
century Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes.
448.
After the Athenian lawmaker who created
a code of laws that punished people
very severely even for minor offenses.
Column B
draconian
gargantuan
lilliputian
mercurial
narcissism
phoenix
protean
quixotic
186
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 449–460, read the sentences below carefully. Choose the
vocabulary word from the list below that best completes the sentence.
Write the correct answer in the blank. (If you do not own this book,
please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
apostate imprecation
apotheosis infidel
blasphemy occult
desecrate omnipotent
dogma omniscient
hallow sacrilegious
449.
In this tale, the young wizard had to battle the evil sorcerer to
destroy his ________ powers and free the world from his total rule.
450.
Although he had been a believer for many years, Anthony became
a(n) ________ after the church scandals shook the foundation of
his faith.
451.
Because Zeus was not a(n) ________ god, he did not know which
of his sons would dethrone him.
452.
Despite common belief, most modern-day witches do not really
believe in the ________; rather, they practice a deep reverence for
the earth and the innate spirit of all living things.
453.
The main goal of Sunday school is to teach children the ________
of the church.
454.
Salman Rushdie’s prize-winning novel The Satanic Verses was
considered so ________ by authorities that he had to leave his
native Iran.
455.
The vandals ________(ed) the holy shrine by covering it with spray
paint.
456.
Long a(n) ________, Joshua decided to give religion a try when he
fell in love with a woman who was deeply faithful.
187
501 Vocabulary Questions
457.
In the fairy tale, the witch’s ________ turned the poor shepherd
into a toad.
458.
In the wedding ceremony, the priest offered a special blessing over
the bride and groom to ________ their union before God.
459.
The sociologist argued that the ________ of film stars and athletes
is to be expected in a culture that is not firmly grounded in
religion.
460.
The church accused Galileo of ________ when he claimed that the
Earth revolved around the sun and that the Earth (and therefore
human beings) was not the center of the universe.
188
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
441.
Lilliputian means very small, tiny; trivial or petty. The land was
called Lilliput.
442.
Mercurial means liable to change moods suddenly; lively,
changeable, volatile. The Greek god was Mercury.
443.
Narcissism is admiration or worship of oneself; excessive interest in
one’s own personal features. The mythological character was
Narcissus.
444.
Gargantuan means gigantic, huge. The gigantic character was
Gargantua.
445.
A phoenix is a person or thing of unmatched beauty or excellence; a
person or thing that has become renewed or restored after
suffering calamity or apparent annihilation.
446.
Protean means taking many forms; changeable, variable. The
Greek god was Proteus.
447.
Quixotic means extravagantly chivalrous and unselfish; romantically
idealistic, impractical. Cervantes’ hero was Don Quixote.
448.
Draconian means very harsh, extremely severe. The lawmaker was
Draco.
449.
Omnipotent means having unlimited or universal power or force.
450.
An apostate is someone who abandons long-held religious or
political beliefs.
451.
Omniscient means having infinite knowledge; knowing all things.
452.
Occult means secret, hidden; involving the realm of the
supernatural; incomprehensible.
453.
Dogma is a system of principles or beliefs; a prescribed doctrine.
454.
Sacrilegious means disrespectful or irreverent towards something
regarded as sacred.
189
501 Vocabulary Questions
455.
To desecrate is to violate the sacredness of something; to profane.
456.
An infidel is a non-believer, a person with no religious beliefs, or
one who does not accept a particular doctrine or system of beliefs.
457.
An imprecation is a curse.
458.
To hallow is to make holy, to consecrate.
459.
An apotheosis is a deification, an exalted or glorified ideal.
460.
Blasphemy is a contemptuous or irreverent act, utterance, attitude,
or writing against God or other things considered sacred.
190
24
Ways of Being—
More Words to
Describe People
and Their Behavior
Are you a pragmatic person who likes to be as practical as possible? Do
you know a hapless person who always seems to be having bad luck? The 20
words in this chapter offer more ways to describe people and the ways they
behave. You can find the answers to each question in this section at the end
of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
baleful ( bayl·fu.l) adj. harmful, menacing, destructive, sinister. Whether it’s
a man, woman, car, or animal, you can be certain to find at least one baleful character
in a Stephen King horror novel.
demure (di· myoor) adj. modest and shy, or pretending to be so. When it was
to her advantage, Sharon could be very demure, but otherwise she was quite outgoing.
eminent ( em·. ·ne.nt) adj. towering above or more prominent than others,
lofty; standing above others in quality, character, reputation, etc.; distinguished.
The chairperson proudly announced that the keynote speaker at the animal
rights convention would be the eminent primatologist Jane Goodall.
erratic (i· rat·ik) adj. 1. moving or behaving in an irregular, uneven, or
inconsistent manner. 2. deviating from the normal or typical course of
action, opinion, etc. During an earthquake, a seismograph’s needle moves in an
erratic manner.
hapless ( hap·lis) adj. unlucky, unfortunate. The hapless circumstances of her
journey resulted in lost luggage, missed connections, and a very late arrival.
ignominious (i ·no.· min·i·u.s) adj. 1. marked by shame or disgrace. 2.
deserving disgrace or shame; despicable. The evidence of plagiarism brought
an ignominious end to what had been a notable career for the talented young
author.
implacable (im· plak·a.·be.l) adj. incapable of being placated or appeased;
inexorable. Some of the people who call the customer service desk for assistance are
implacable, but most are relatively easy to serve.
indefatigable (in·di· fat·. · a.·be.l) adj. not easily exhausted or fatigued; tireless.
The indefatigability of the suffragette movement led to the passage of the
Twentieth Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote.
indomitable (in· dom·i·ta.·be.l) adj. not able to be vanquished or overcome,
unconquerable; not easily discouraged or subdued. The indomitable spirit of
the Olympic athletes was inspirational.
inimitable (i· nim·i·ta.·be.l) adj. defying imitation, unmatchable. His performance
on the tennis court was inimitable, and he won three championships.
intransigent (in· tran·si·je.nt) adj. unwilling to compromise, stubborn.
Young children can be intransigent when it comes to what foods they will eat, insisting
on familiar favorites and rejecting anything new.
192
501 Vocabulary Questions
obdurate ( ob·du.·rit) adj. stubborn and inflexible; hardhearted, not easily
moved to pity. I doubt he will change his mind; he’s the most obdurate person I
know.
pragmatic (pra · mat· ik) adj. practical, matter-of-fact; favoring utility. Since
we don’t have money or time to waste, I think we should take the most pragmatic
approach.
refractory (ri· frak·to.·ree) adj. stubborn, unmanageable; resisting control or
discipline. Elena is a counselor for refractory children in an alternative school
setting.
renowned (ri· nownd) adj. famous; widely known and esteemed. The
renowned historian, Stephen Ambrose, wrote many books that were popular both
with scholars and the general public.
scurvy ( skur·vee) adj. contemptible, mean. That scurvy knave has ruined my
plans again.
sublime (su.· bl ¯m) adj. having noble or majestic qualities; inspiring awe,
adoration, or reverence; lofty, supreme. Beethoven’s music is simply sublime.
svelte (svelt) adj. slender and graceful, suave. The svelte actress glided around
the room in her elegant gown.
untoward (un· tohrd) adj. 1. contrary to one’s best interest or welfare;
inconvenient, troublesome; adverse. 2. improper, unseemly, or perverse.
Jackson’s untoward remarks made Amelia very uncomfortable.
volatile ( vol·a.·til) adj. 1. varying widely; inconstant, changeable, or fickle.
2. unstable, explosive, likely to change suddenly or violently. 3. (in chemistry)
evaporating readily. Dan’s volatile personality has been compared to that
of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
193
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 461–470, read the sentences below carefully. Decide
which vocabulary word best describes the person or behavior
described. Circle the correct answer. (If you do not own this book,
please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
461.
Kayla hasn’t been her usual self since the accident; she often says
and does things she wouldn’t normally say or do.
a. pragmatic
b. erratic
c. sublime
d. baleful
462.
Dr. Nash is the most successful and respected neurologist in the
country.
a. indefatigable
b. obdurate
c. demure
d. eminent
463.
No matter how much his management team begged him, Mr.
Edwards refused to consider Sampson’s proposal.
a. baleful
b. implacable
c. obdurate
d. pragmatic
464.
No matter what Norton did, bad luck seemed to follow him
wherever he went.
a. implacable
b. ignominious
c. scurvy
d. eminent
465.
Godfrey was a liar and a thief, and only time would tell if he could
turn his life around.
a. baleful
b. intransigent
c. indomitable
d. untoward
194
501 Vocabulary Questions
466.
People were careful with what they said to Seymour, for his temper
was likely to flare at the slightest provocation.
a. eminent
b. hapless
c. volatile
d. sublime
467.
Last year’s Woodson High School debate team could not be
beaten, not even by its chief rival, the four-time state champions
from Jacksonville High.
a. indomitable
b. refractory
c. renowned
d. implacable
468.
The composer’s new opera was so beautiful and majestic that it
won the adoration of even the toughest critics.
a. erratic
b. obdurate
c. inimitable
d. sublime
469.
The child refused to listen to the babysitter and insisted that she
would not go to bed until her parents came home.
a. indomitable
b. refractory
c. pragmatic
d. volatile
470.
No matter what his parents said, the spoiled child would not stop
crying because he did not get the gift he wanted.
a. obdurate
b. eminent
c. implacable
d. baleful
195
501 Vocabulary Questions
For questions 471–480, draw a line to match the vocabulary word in
Column A with its synonym in Column B. (If you do not own this
book, please write your answers on a separate piece of paper.)
Column A Column B
471. demure contemptible
472. ignominious despicable
473. indefatigable famous
474. inimitable improper
475. intransigent modest
476. pragmatic practical
477. renowned stubborn
478. scurvy suave
479. svelte tireless
480. untoward unique
196
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
461.
b. Erratic means moving or behaving in an irregular, uneven, or
inconsistent manner; deviating from the normal or typical
course, opinion, etc.
462.
d. Eminent means standing above others in quality, character,
reputation, etc.; distinguished; towering above or more
prominent than others.
463.
c. Obdurate means stubborn and inflexible; hardhearted, not easily
moved to pity.
464. d.
Hapless means unlucky, unfortunate.
465. a.
A baleful person is harmful, menacing, destructive; sinister.
466.
c. Volatile means unstable, explosive, likely to change suddenly or
violently. It also means varying widely; inconsistent, changeable,
fickle.
467. a.
Indomitable means unconquerable, not easily subdued.
468.
d. Something sublime has noble or majestic qualities and inspires
awe, adoration, or reverence.
469.
b. Refractory means stubborn; unmanageable, resisting control or
discipline.
470. c.
Implacable means incapable of being placated or appeased.
471.
modest. Demure means modest and shy, or pretending to be so.
472.
despicable. Ignominious means marked by shame or disgrace;
deserving disgrace or shame, despicable.
473.
tireless. Indefatigable means not easily exhausted or fatigued; tireless.
474.
unique. Inimitable means defying imitation; unmatchable.
475.
stubborn. Intransigent means unwilling to compromise, stubborn.
197
501 Vocabulary Questions
476.
practical. Pragmatic means practical, matter-of-fact, favoring utility.
477.
famous. Renowned means famous; widely known and esteemed.
478.
contemptible. Scurvy means contemptible; mean.
479.
suave. Svelte means slender and graceful; suave.
480.
improper. Untoward means improper, unseemly, perverse. It also
means contrary to one’s best interest or welfare; adverse.
198
25
Vocabulary
Grab Bag
Did you know that Chapter 24 was the penultimate chapter of this book?
Now that you have added a bevy of new words to you vocabulary, you are
ready to tackle the last chapter. These final 21 words offer a grab bag of useful
terms. You can find the answers to each question in this section at the
end of the chapter.
501 Vocabulary Questions
Word List
addle ( ad·e.l) v. 1. to muddle or confuse. 2. to become rotten, as in an egg.
The jury found the defendant addled at the end of the prosecuting attorney’s questions.
apex ( ay·peks) n. 1. the highest point. 2. tip, pointed end. Upon reaching the
apex of the mountain, the climbers placed their flag in the snow.
approbation (ap·ro.· bay·sho.n) n. approval. The local authorities issued an
approbation to close the street for a festival on St. Patrick’s Day.
auspice ( aw·spis) n. 1. protection or support, patronage. 2. a forecast or
omen. The children’s art museum was able to continue operating through the auspices
of an anonymous wealthy benefactor.
bevy ( bev·ee) n. 1. a large group or assemblage. 2. a flock of animals or
birds. There was a lively bevy of eager bingo fans waiting outside the bingo hall
for the game to begin.
de facto (dee fak·toh) in reality or fact; actual. Though there was a ceremonial
head of government, General Ashtononi was the de facto leader of the country.
denouement (day·noo· mahn) n. the resolution or clearing up of the plot
at the end of a narrative; the outcome or solution of an often complex series
of events. The students sat at the edge of their seats as they listened to the denouement
of the story.
elite (i· leet) n. 1. the best or most skilled members of a social group or class.
2. a person or group regarded as superior. Within the student orchestra, there
existed a small group of musical elite who performed around the country.
engender (en· jen·de.r) v. to produce, give rise to; bring into existence. Pro
fessor Sorenson’s support worked to engender Samantha’s desire to pursue a Ph.D.
inured (in· yoord) adj. accustomed to, adapted. Trisha had become inured to
her boss’s criticism, so it no longer bothered her.
mendacity (men· das·i·tee) n. 1. the tendency to be dishonest or untruthful.
2. a falsehood or lie. Carlos’s mendacity has made him very unpopular with
his classmates, who don’t feel they can trust him.
obviate ( ob·vi·ayt) v. to make unnecessary, get rid of. Hiring Magdalena
would obviate the need to hire a music tutor, for she is also a classical pianist.
penultimate (pi· nul·t ¯·mit) adj. next to last. There’s a real surprise for the
audience in the penultimate scene.
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501 Vocabulary Questions
schism ( siz·e.m) n. a separation or division into factions because of a difference
in belief or opinion. The schism between the two parties was forgotten
as they united around a common cause.
semantics (si· man·tiks) n. 1. the study of meaning in language. 2. the
meaning, connotation, or interpretation of words, symbols, or other forms.
3. the study of relationships between signs or symbols and their meanings.
He claims it’s a matter of semantics, but the matter is not open to interpretation.
simian ( sim·i·a.n) adj. of or like an ape or monkey. Creationists do not believe
that humans have simian ancestors.
sophistry ( sof·i·stree) n. clever but faulty reasoning; a plausible but invalid
argument intended to deceive by appearing sound. I was amused by his
sophistry but knew he had a little more research to do before he presented his argument
to the distinguished scholars in his field.
supplicant ( sup·l .·ka.nt) n. a person who asks humbly for something; one
who beseeches or entreats. The supplicants begged for forgiveness.
temerity (te.· mer·i·tee) n. foolish disregard of danger; brashness, audacity.
This is no time for temerity; we must move cautiously to avoid any further damage.
tenet ( ten·it) n. a belief, opinion, doctrine, or principle held to be true by
a person, group, or organization. This pamphlet describes the tenets of Amnesty
International.
undulate ( un·ju.·layt) v. to move in waves or in a wavelike fashion; fluctuate.
The curtains undulated in the breeze.
201
501 Vocabulary Questions
For numbers 481–501, read the sentences or questions below carefully.
Decide which answer best describes the vocabulary word or
answers the question in the prompt. Circle the correct answer. (If you
do not own this book, please write your answers on a separate piece
of paper.)
481. A person who studies semantics studies
a. the history of language.
b. the meaning and interpretation of words and symbols.
c. extinct languages.
d. the use of symbols to solve mathematical problems.
482. The penultimate chapter in a book is
a. the first chapter.
b. the middle chapter.
c. the second to last chapter.
d. the last chapter.
483. If you are at the apex of your career, you are
a. just starting out.
b. about to switch to a new field.
c. just about to quit.
d. at the height of your career.
484. A politician who has a bevy of supporters
a. has only a few supporters.
b. has a large group of supporters.
c. has supporters who contribute large amounts of money.
d. has supporters who are very nice.
485. The denouement of a movie would most likely occur
a. in the first five minutes.
b. in the middle of the film.
c. in the last ten minutes.
d. in advertisements.
486. If you engender mistrust between two coworkers, you
a. create that mistrust.
b. remove that mistrust.
c. worsen that mistrust.
d. understand that mistrust.
202
501 Vocabulary Questions
487. Which of the following is a supplicant?
a. an employee asking for a raise
b. a prisoner of war begging for mercy
c. a person applying for a job
d. a supplier of goods or services
488. An experiment performed on a simian would be performed on
a. a human being.
b. a volunteer.
c. a monkey.
d. rabbit.
489. A person who is known for his mendacity can be expected to
a. always tell the truth.
b. be a great story teller.
c. be very persistent.
d. be dishonest.
490. Which of the following would you expect to undulate?
a. a flag
b. an airplane
c. a dog
d. a teacher
491. If you addle someone while he or she is talking, you
a. listen carefully to that person.
b. confuse that person.
c. ignore that person.
d. look that person in the eye.
492. A person who is under the auspices of someone else is
a. estranged from the other person.
b. a close family member.
c. beyond that person’s comprehension.
d. being protected or supported by that person.
493. If you give someone your approbation, you give them
a. your support.
b. your approval.
c. your love.
d. your notice of resignation.
203
501 Vocabulary Questions
494.
In which case is the assistant the de facto boss?
a. when the assistant is the one who makes all of the decisions
b. when the assistant has been promoted to the boss’s position
c. when the assistant has so much work that he or she has to hire
his or her own assistant
d. when the assistant starts his or her own company
495.
When married couples have become inured to each other, they
have
a. become tired of each other.
b. become indebted to each other.
c. become used to each other.
d. become insensitive to each other.
496.
A schism between two people is a(n)
a. agreement.
b. argument.
c. closeness because of many shared beliefs.
d. separation because of a difference of opinion.
497.
Which of the following is a tenet of the United States of America?
a. Puerto Rico
b. freedom of speech
c. Mexico
d. trial by jury
498.
If you are guilty of temerity, you have done something
a. wasteful.
b. illegal.
c. brash.
d. sacrilegious.
499.
Which of the following would be considered elite in the military?
a. a foot soldier
b. an army medic
c. a Green Beret
d. a platoon leader
204
501 Vocabulary Questions
500. Where are you most likely to find an example of sophistry?
a. during a debate between political candidates
b. during a formal dinner during the holidays
c. during a concert
d. at the end of a mystery novel
501. Which of the following will obviate your need for this book?
a. failing to answer most of the questions correctly
b. loaning it to a friend
c. preparing for a standardized test like the SAT exam
d. incorporating all of these words into your vocabulary
205
501 Vocabulary Questions
Answers
481. b. Semantics is the study of meaning in language; the study of
relationships between signs and symbols and their meanings.
482. c. Penultimate means next to last.
483. d. Apex is the highest point; tip or pointed end.
484. b. A bevy is a large group or assemblage. It also means a flock of
animals or birds.
485. c. The denouement is the resolution or clearing up of the plot at
the end of a narrative.
486. a. To engender is to produce; to give rise to, bring into existence.
487. b. A supplicant is someone who beseeches or entreats; someone
who asks humbly for something.
488. c. Simian is of, or like, an ape or monkey.
489. d. Mendacity is the tendency to be dishonest or untruthful; a
falsehood or lie.
490. a. To undulate is to move in waves or in a wavelike fashion.
491. b. To addle means to muddle or confuse. It also means to become
rotten, as in an egg.
492. d. Auspice means protection or support; patronage. It also means a
forecast or omen.
493. b. Approbation means approval.
494. a. De facto means in reality or fact; actual.
495. c. Inured means accustomed to; adapted.
496. d. A schism is a separation or division into factions because of a
difference in belief or opinion.
206
501 Vocabulary Questions
497.
b. A tenet is a belief, opinion, doctrine, or principle held to be true
by a person, group, or organization.
498. c.
Temerity is the foolish disregard of danger; brashness, audacity.
499.
c. Elite means the best or most skilled members of a social group
or class; a person or group regarded as superior.
500.
a. Sophistry is clever but faulty reasoning; a plausible but invalid
argument intended to deceive by appearing sound.
501. d.
To obviate is to make unnecessary, to get rid of.
Congratulations! You’ve tackled 501 vocabulary questions and added
dozens of new words to your vocabulary. Remember, the best way to keep
these words in your vocabulary is to use them. Start now! Review the vocabulary
list and these lessons periodically to refresh your memory.
Want to expand your vocabulary even more? Start a vocabulary list of
your own. Write down unfamiliar words that you come across throughout
the day. Look up the meanings and pronunciations and copy them down.
Write your own sentences using these words to lock their meaning in your
memory. Once you collect a dozen or so words, create your own exercises
like those in this book. Use your new vocabulary words as often as possible
to keep them fresh in your memory.
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