CHAPTER 3 / BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE VOCABULARY 129
Unit 4 Exercise Set I Answer Key
- B If the soldiers are being commended,they
must have done something good, which means
that the missing word is positive. The phrase re-
fusal to surrendertells us that doggedis the best
choice.
bombastic=pompous
dogged=refusing to surrender
disputatious=argumentative
infamous=famous for evil acts
dexterous=skillful with the hands - B The patient is having a lot of pain and dis-
comfort and wants to get rid of it. Alleviateis a
perfect fit.
exonerate=to clear of blame
alleviate=to lessen
invigorate=to give strength to
perambulate=to move around
scrutinize=to examine closely - A The phrase even for the pretentious family
leads us to believe that these statues must be quite
pretentious. You want to pick words that relate to
pretentiousness and luxury for both blanks.
ornate=overly decorated; ostentatious=showy
opulent=luxurious;nefarious=wicked
insipid=dull;pompous=arrogant
splenetic=irritable;grandiose=pretentious
gaudy=showy;mercurial=changing - B The opponents are bitter,which means that
they are quite unhappy about something. They
have been trying to get a particular law passed,
and finally this President helps them pass the law.
You want a word that means to sootheorplease.
consummate=to make perfect
mollify=to soothe the anger of
vindicate=to clear from blame
purge=to get rid of
invoke=to call into being - E Con artists like to take advantage of people.
Both words should describe a person who is easily
taken advantage of. Gullibleanddupefit the best.
loftiness=excessive pride; chump=a pushover
infallibility=perfection;curmudgeon=
resentful person
pacifism=love of peace; charlatan=a fraud
placidity=calm;ruse=a crafty scheme
gullibility=easily fooled; dupe=a pushover
6. E Despiteimplies that the second half of the
sentence should provide a contrast to the first.
The leader is remembered for his munificence, or
generosity, which is a positive quality. Therefore
the two words should be negative.
abominable=terrible;beneficent=doing good,
kind
repugnant=offensive;magnanimous=generous
obstinate=stubborn;lithe=agile
steadfast=determined;benevolent=kind
odious=worthy of hate; malevolent=evil
7. A The lawyer deftly(skillfully) turns something
that is negative into his advantage. This must
mean that he is quite good at what he does. The
word choice that best fits this is paragon.
paragon=the model of perfection
conviction=strongly held belief
braggart=one who boasts
machination=a crafty scheme
misanthrope=a hater of humankind
8. A The sentence tells us that the resort island is
filled with luxury and splendor.Who would love
that? A sybarite.
sybarite=an individual who seeks luxury
zealot=one who engages passionately in a cause
nihilist=one who does not believe anything
can truly exist
narcissist=a person in love with his or her
own image
ascetic=a person who lives a life of self-denial
9. E The technical foul is called when a player cre-
ates a foul that is obvious and flagrant. Egregious
is a perfect choice.
preeminent=outstanding
peripheral=on the side
masochistic=enjoying one’s own pain
inexorable=relentless
egregious=flagrant, blatant - C A scamp is a mischievous person with a ten-
dency toward crime. The word havingindicates
that the second word should support the first.
equanimity=calmness;filched=stole
bigotry=intolerance towards others; bilked=
stole
aptitude=talent;pilfered=stole
predilection=preference;exculpated = freed
from blame
agility=swiftness;razed=completely
destroyed