Word Definitions Practice Problems

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Name________________
Date________________
• Word Definition 1 Level 7
Directions: Choose the answer choice that best defines the word in capital letters.
1) COUNTERFEIT 6) RECORD
A. fake A. to set down in permanent form

B. appropriate B. to tell someone about something
C. improved C. to throw away or dispose of something
D. bright D. to invent something original
2) ACCELERATE 7) PRESUME
A. to climb down A. to lift

B. to learn B. to rest
C. to speed up C. to expect
D. to watch D. to burn
3) FEUD 8) IMPEDE
A. a loud sound A. to commit

B. an error B. to review
C. a regret C. to purchase
D. a dispute D. to prevent
4) DICTATOR 9) CLUTCH
A. a young genius A. to cry softly

B. a powerful leader B. to rhyme with
C. a skilled expert C. to hold tight
D. a poet or writer D. to untie
5) DEVOUR 10) ACQUIRE
A. to eat up A. to stop
B. to shrink down B. to ask
C. to wander around C. to deny
D. to oversee D. to get
© Copyright Read Theory LLC, 2012. All rights reserved. 1

Answers and Explanations
1) A
counterfeit (adjective): fake: It is illegal to make or use counterfeit money, because the only real, legal cash is printed by the
government.
2) C
accelerate (verb): to speed up: If you want to accelerate while driving in your car, put more pressure on the gas pedal, but be
careful not to go too fast and get a speeding ticket!
3) D
feud (noun): a prolonged and bitter dispute or argument: One of the most famous feuds in history is that of the Hatfield and McCoys;
the two families fought for generations.
4) B
dictator (noun): a powerful leader: The dictator rose to power through an election, but then he closed the parliament and took all the
power for himself.
5) A
devour (verb): to eat up: Mary usually hates vegetables, but she was so hungry tonight that she devoured all her broccoli.
6) A
record (verb): to set down in writing or another permanent form for later reference: Many people still keep diaries to record their
daily thoughts, but millions of people are now putting such diaries online for the entire world to see.
7) C
presume (verb): to expect: Julia didn’t say why she wasn’t in class on Tuesday, but I presume that she was sick.
8) D
impede (verb): to delay or prevent someone from doing something by blocking or hindering progress: The purpose of homework is
to help you practice your skills, so if you refuse to do the homework, you are impeding your own learning progress and making it
more difficult to learn.
9) C
clutch (verb): to hold tight: When walking through a high-crime neighborhood, Livia clutches her purse so that no one can grab it
from her.
10) D
acquire (verb): to get: Thomas went to the grocery store to acquire milk, cereal, and eggs; he came home with all he needed for
breakfast.

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1) ENDURE 6) WRATH
A. to debate A. greed or envy

B. to last B. laziness or uselessness
C. to hold C. anger or revenge
D. to begin D. pride or confidence
2) PERMANENT 7) COMPETENT
A. speeding up A. absent or missing

B. feeling confident B. decorated or polished
C. moving away C. smooth or soft
D. lasting forever D. skilled or able
3) INITIATE 8) CORRESPONDING
A. to investigate A. frightening
B. to begin B. matching
C. to shine C. soothing
D. to wake D. reflecting
4) THROB 9) SLAUGHTER
A. to feel pain in a rhythm A. to make

B. to give unasked-for advice B. to involve
C. to research something in depth C. to be funny
D. to have a casual interest in something D. to kill
5) PLAGUE 10) LAVISH
A. a work of art A. abundant or luxurious

B. a terrible sickness B. dangerous or unsafe
C. a secret C. fancy or high-quality
D. a sharp piece of glass D. unsure or uncertain

1) B
endure (verb): to last: Most people dropped out of the difficult computer class within two weeks, but some hardworking students
endured until the end.
2) D
permanent (adjective): lasting forever: My mother cried for hours when she found out I got a tattoo, but when I told her it was a
temporary one, rather than a permanent one, she breathed a sigh of relief.
3) B
initiate (verb): to begin: I initiated a discussion with the executives at the company, and the conversation we began today will
continue tomorrow.
4) A
throb (verb): to feel pain in a series of regular beats: My headache throbbed all day, and, even after I took some medication, it
continued to pulsate.
5) B
plague (noun): a terrible sickness: The Black Death was a horrific plague that killed one third of Europe’s population in the 1300’s.
6) C
wrath (noun): anger or revenge: Whenever a disaster struck that no one could explain, many ancient people used to believe it was
simply the wrath of the gods and that they were being punished for making the gods so angry.
7) D
competent (adjective): skilled or able: Greg is a competent piano player who should easily be able to provide the background music
for the school play.
8) B
corresponding (verb): matching: On this worksheet, you are match the vocabulary word above with its corresponding definition
below.
9) D
slaughter (verb): to kill for food: If you want to eat pork for dinner, you must first slaughter a pig.
10) A
lavish (adjective): abundant or luxurious: The honor society threw a lavish banquet with enough food to feed two hundred people,
even though the club only had fifty members.

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1) SOLITUDE 6) LURK
A. a state of loneliness A. to look away

B. a state of hunger B. to prepare
C. a state of suffering C. to cause someone harm
D. a state of happiness D. to wait in hiding
2) BLATANT 7) VICIOUS
A. sharp A. extravagantly showy

B. common B. completely useless
C. obvious C. deliberately cruel
D. unimportant D. incredibly large
3) ENSUE 8) EASYGOING
A. to annoy A. not strict

B. to fall B. not quick
C. to decrease C. not difficult
D. to result D. not moving
4) ESTIMATE 9) OVERWHELM
A. a victory A. to capture or arrest

B. a thing of value B. to block or make impossible
C. a work of art C. to tremble or shake
D. a guess D. to swamp or give too much
5) CONSULT 10) NEGLIGENT
A. to break up A. confident
B. to discuss B. careless
C. to soothe C. original
D. to wake up D. successful

1) A
solitude (noun): a state of loneliness: Ji-Yi went to the mountains by herself to spend some time in solitude.
2) C
blatant (adjective): obvious: Sometimes students try to be sneaky about cheating on tests, but your dishonesty was totally blatant.
3) D
ensue (verb): to result: When the king died without an heir, confusion over who would take over the throne ensued in the kingdom.
4) D
estimate (noun): a guess: The gardener looked around my yard and gave me an estimate about how much it might cost to plant
four new trees.
5) B
consult (verb): to have a discussion with someone or seek information or advice from them: I usually consult with my parents before
making any major life decisions because their advice is usually valuable.
6) D
lurk (verb): to wait in hiding: The criminal lurked in the bushes, waiting for people to walk by so he could rob them.
7) C
vulnerable (adjective): deliberately cruel or violent: While most dog breeds are kind and friendly, pit bulls have a reputation for
being vicious and attacking their owners and other dogs.
8) A
easygoing (adjective): not strict: The substitute teacher was more lax and easygoing about the rules than our regular teacher, but
our teacher tends to be too strict.
9) D
overwhelm (verb): to give too much of a thing to someone or something: The website was overwhelmed by tens of thousands of
new visitors, and it crashed within a short time because it was not built for that kind of traffic.
10) B
negligent (adjective): careless: The negligent driver didn’t notice the red stoplight and sped through the intersection, causing an
accident.

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1) INFINITE 6) ADMIRABLE
A. never-ending A. honorable or worthy

B. appropriate B. colorful or bright
C. improved C. authentic or real
D. very small D. humorous or funny
2) MODIFY 7) EXCEPTIONAL
A. to correct A. extremely generous

B. to observe B. not included
C. to change C. unusually good
D. to pronounce D. very friendly
3) MANUAL 8) DECREE
A. by foot A. to hinder
B. by force B. to consider
C. by memory C. to purchase
D. by hand D. to command
4) RESIDENT 9) EXOTIC
A. someone who works for a company A. boring because of familiarity

B. someone who lives somewhere B. on the outside of something
C. someone with power over others C. unusual in an attractive way
D. someone who educates children D. unnecessary because of having too
much already
5) WAGE
10) JUSTIFY
A. payment for work
B. a bet made on a game A. to extract something small from
C. something that is hand-sewn something large
D. something with end points B. to criticize someone
C. to take something for a short time
D. to explain the reasons for something

1) A
infinite (adjective): never-ending: The universe is infinite: it is the largest thing we can imagine and it has no end.
2) C
modify (verb): to change: Kat’s knee injury prevents her from doing the same exercises as the rest of the team, so she modifies
them in order to stay in shape without hurting herself.
3) D
manual (adjective): by hand: There were no sewing machines in the 1500s, so all clothes were sewn by manual labor.
4) B
resident (noun): someone who lives somewhere: I used to live in the United States, but I am now a resident of Germany.
5) A
wage (noun): a fixed regular payment for doing work: My hourly wage is $10, but the manager says he might increase it to $11 per
hour if I keep up my good work.
6) A
admirable (adjective): honorable or worthy: The senator’s dedication to justice and liberty is admirable.
7) C
exceptional (adjective): unusually good or outstanding: Mr. Gentry said that good work would earn an A, but, since my work was
exceptional, I would earn an A+.
8) D
decree (verb): to command: When the British Parliament decreed that there would be new taxes on many goods in the colonies,
some colonists decided to rebel, as they did not feel that Parliament should have such power over them.
9) C
exotic (adjective): attractively or strikingly unusual or strange in appearance: The tea had an exotic flavor; it was delicious, but it
was like nothing I’d ever tasted before.
10) D
justify (verb): to explain the reasons for something: Ilsa could not justify her unhealthy actions; there was no good excuse for why
she ate the entire pint of ice cream all at once.

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1) DUB 6) SAGA
A. to delay intentionally A. a dishonest man

B. to name unofficially B. a successful book
C. to contrast starkly C. a long tale
D. to collide forcefully D. a well-kept secret
2) ADJACENT 7) IMPULSIVE
A. slowing something down A. missing due to illness

B. above something B. following a command
C. moving away from something C. making many demands
D. next to something D. acting without thinking
3) REVERE 8) TRIVIAL
A. to align A. powerful
B. to honor B. unimportant
C. to shine C. sarcastic
D. to suspect D. burning
4) EMBARK 9) ERA
A. to begin A. a short-lived event or thing

B. to applaud B. an attempt to completely destroy
C. to research something
D. to enclose C. a thing that makes loud sounds
D. a long and distinct period of time
5) VICE
10) MINIMIZE
A. pressure
B. greed A. to reduce something to the smallest
C. immorality possible size
D. secrets B. to cut or grind something into small
pieces
C. to satisfy a desire or thirst for something
D. to make sure a place remains
completely unoccupied

1) B
dub (verb): to give an unofficial name or nickname to someone or something: Mononucleosis has been dubbed “the kissing
disease,” but this name is not accurate: mono can be caught even without kissing an infected person.
2) D
adjacent (adjective): next to something: Your next-door neighbor lives in the house that is adjacent to yours.
3) B
revere (verb): to honor: The Founding Fathers of the United States are revered with special holidays and monuments, and other
countries similarly honor their former leaders.
4) A
embark (verb): to begin: When my youngest daughter entered kindergarten, I decided to stop being a stay-at-home mom and
embarked on a new career path.
5) C
vice (noun): immorality: My grandfather thinks that Las Vegas is a city of vice, since so much of its economy depends on gambling
and immodesty, which he thinks are sins.
6) C
saga (noun): a long tale: Sturluson wrote many famous Viking sagas, which are long tales about the Viking conquerors and their
mythical gods.
7) D
impulsive (adjective): acting without thinking: Shyla is an impulsive girl who often makes quick decisions she later regrets.
8) B
trivial (verb): unimportant: Mother and Father never have big fights, but they do have lots of little arguments about trivial things like
TV shows and coffee brands.
9) D
era (noun): a long and distinct period of history with particular features or characteristics: The Era of Good Feelings was so called
because it describes the decades in which the United States had a new sense of national purpose and a lack of hostility in politics.
10) A
minimize (verb): to reduce something to the smallest possible size, amount, or degree: Surgeons make sure everything they touch
is completely clean of bacteria and other harmful substances in order to minimize the risk of infection for the patient.

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1) DOCTRINE 6) CONFISCATE
A. a belief A. to stare at
B. a desire B. to begin again
C. a path C. to speed up
D. a medicine D. to take away
2) ENVIOUS 7) SERVILE
A. common A. excessively aggressive toward others

B. jealous B. excessively tense or awkward around
C. cheerful others
D. honest C. excessively willing to please others
D. excessively devoted to religious faith
3) TEDIOUS
8) DECEPTIVE
A. original and creative
B. beautiful and elegant A. misleading
C. firm and persevering B. strict
D. tiresome and dull C. regretful
D. missing
4) STANCE
9) INSTITUTE
A. a victory
B. a vision A. to capture
C. a text B. to immigrate
D. a position C. to establish
D. to block
5) GROPE
10) SLEEK
A. to twist around
B. to feel for A. sharp
C. to decrease B. smooth
D. to result in C. obvious
D. successful

1) A
doctrine (noun): a belief: The Catholic Church teaches the doctrine of papal infallibility, the belief that the Pope’s decrees can never
be wrong.
2) B
envious (adjective): jealous: Christina starts feeling very envious whenever her friends have new clothes or hairstyles; she wants to
look as good as them, or even better.
3) D
tedious (adjective): too long, slow, dull, tiresome, and monotonous: The professor kept rambling on, making for a very tedious class
that each of us could not wait to leave.
4) D
stance (noun): a position: The Republican candidate said he’d consider a military strike against Iran, but the Democrat remained
devoted to his more anti-war stance.
5) B
grope (verb): to feel for: I couldn’t see anything, so I groped for the light switch until I found it.
6) D
confiscate (verb): to take away: Ms. Mills confiscated my cell phone when she noticed that I was secretly using it in class, and she
did not give it back to me until the end of the school day.
7) C
servile (adjective): having an excessive to serve or please others: He has a very servile attitude whenever he interacts with his
boss; even though he dislikes her, he does everything she says without question.
8) A
deceptive (adjective): misleading: The company is very deceptive: it says you can make $500 a week as a salesman, but what it
doesn’t tell you is that you have to buy all the company’s products upfront and then resell them on your own.
9) C
institute (verb): to set in motion or establish something: When the city instituted the new law banning smoking indoors, it became
illegal to consume most tobacco products indoors.
10) B
sleek (adjective): smooth: Although Hanna’s hair was usually a frizzy mess, the stylist made it look sleek and beautiful.

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1) SUAVE 6) NUMEROUS
A. charming A. many
B. upsetting B. large
C. uncivilized C. small
D. memorable D. few
2) MAR 7) NURTURE
A. to silence A. to be critical of
B. to imagine B. to be devoted to
C. to punish C. to take care of
D. to disfigure D. to believe in
3) ECCENTRIC 8) REFUTE
A. chilling A. to awaken from sleep

B. spoken B. to consider carefully
C. clever C. to submit for inspection
D. odd D. to prove wrong
4) GUILE 9) ADVOCATE
A. honesty A. to demand
B. slyness B. to sell
C. speed C. to deface
D. intelligence D. to support
5) IMPAIR 10) DEEM
A. to worsen A. to insert
B. to accelerate B. to lend
C. to disconnect C. to deny
D. to organize D. to consider

1) A
suave (adjective): charming, confident, and elegant: James Bond is usually portrayed as a suave, sophisticated man.
2) D
mar (verb): to damage in appearance or to disfigure: His expensive suit was marred by the cat’s scratches, which left tiny rips and
tears all over the fabric.
3) D
eccentric (adjective): odd: Belle’s father was an eccentric old man who devoted most of his time to developing his unusual
inventions.
4) B
guile (noun): slyness: I detected a certain guile in the salesman’s tone of voice, so I decided not to buy the car from him and instead
try to find an honest salesman.
5) A
impair (verb): to worsen: Smoking and drinking have harmful effects that can greatly impair one’s health.
6) A
numerous (adjective): many: The children gave their parents an extensive list detailing the numerous reasons why they deserve to
have a puppy as a pet.
7) C
nurture (verb): to take care of: I left my job for two months in order to nurture my newborn baby; fortunately, my boss knew how
important it is to take care of an infant, so he was happy to hold my job for me in my absence.
8) D
refute (verb): to prove wrong: Although Bohr’s model of the atom is still taught in schools as an example of how electrons move, it
was actually refuted many decades ago and is no longer used by scientists.
9) D
advocate (verb): to support: The congressman advocates stricter gun laws, but his opponent instead supports existing laws.
10) D
deem (verb): to consider: I didn’t deem it wise to sneak out of my parents’ house after midnight—I could have gotten into way too
much trouble if I’d been caught—yet I foolishly did not take my own advice and am now grounded.

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1) INFER 6) ADAGE
A. to fight a battle A. a popular song

B. to reach a conclusion B. a short poem
C. to postpone C. an old saying
D. to mention someone D. an original composition
2) QUIRKY 7) OBLIGATORY
A. united A. absent
B. poisonous B. pointless
C. stolen C. rude
D. peculiar D. required
3) COMPLY 8) SORDID
A. to follow a rule A. powerful or mighty

B. to make a demand B. dirty or disgusting
C. to suspect someone C. imaginary or unreal
D. to criticize something D. burning or on fire
4) REPRESS 9) AVENGE
A. to hold back A. to look up

B. to dig up B. to applaud
C. to lift C. to make softer
D. to question D. to take vengeance
5) GURU 10) VAGUE
A. a wise person A. unclear

B. an influential teacher B. fashionable
C. a young child C. wealthy
D. a disobedient person D. rural

1) B
infer (verb): to reach a conclusion from evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements: Using the clues he’d already found
plus the statements from the witness, Sherlock Holmes was able to infer who the criminal was.
2) D
quirky (adjective): peculiar: The movie’s main character is a quirky young woman whose comically odd ways lift the spirits of her
romantic interest.
3) A
comply (verb): to follow a rule: Research shows that most US teenagers do not fully comply with laws that set the legal drinking age
at 21.
4) A
repress (verb): to hold back: Many psychologists used to believe that people repressed unpleasant memories in order to
intentionally forget them, but current research shows this is not true.
5) B
guru (noun): an influential teacher or popular expert: Many people consider Alan Greenspan to be an economic guru, and they
listen closely to all of his financial advice.
6) C
adage (noun): an old saying: “Better to be safe than sorry” is an old adage that encourages people to be cautious and prudent.
7) D
obligatory (adjective): required: In order to graduate, students at my school must complete an obligatory class in computer skills;
anyone who doesn’t complete the class doesn’t graduate.
8) B
sordid (verb): dirty or disgusting: Disgusting stories of the politician’s sordid sexual affairs were all over the news for weeks.
9) D
avenge (verb): to take vengeance: Inigo Montoya sought to avenge his father’s death by killing the man who murdered his dad.
10) A
vague (adjective): unclear: Stefano is certain about which college he wants to attend, but he only has vague ideas about what he
wants to study when he gets there.

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1) NOTION 6) CONDONE
A. an idea A. to adapt for one’s own use

B. a district B. to accelerate in pace
C. a career C. to treat as acceptable
D. an emotion D. to worsen in condition
2) INADVERTENT 7) SLOTHFUL
A. organized A. painful
B. uncommon B. useful
C. accidental C. lazy
D. enraged D. relaxing
3) PACIFY 8) BRILLIANT
A. to inspire A. giving off bright light

B. to involve B. becoming aware of
C. to defeat C. giving to a charity
D. to calm D. being in the process of learning
4) DIVERSION 9) PRECEDE
A. a split in something A. to capture

B. a lie B. to come closer
C. a piece of clothing C. to come before
D. a detour D. to quote
5) SOLICIT 10) OVERT
A. to bury A. private
B. to request B. obvious
C. to place C. disloyal
D. to result D. unimportant

1) A
notion (noun): an idea: I don’t know where my girlfriend got the notion that I was didn’t like her mother, because that belief is just
not true.
2) C
inadvertent (adjective): accidental: Breaking the dish was an inadvertent action; I didn’t mean to do it.
3) D
pacify (verb): to claim: In order to pacify his angry critics from the south, the king promised to send extra troops to protect them from
their enemies.
4) D
diversion (noun): an instance of turning something aside from its path or course: I tried to stay focused on my homework and avoid
diversions, but I ended up distracted when my friend texted me.
5) B
solicit (verb): to request: Every Christmas, volunteers for the Salvation Army solicit donations outside the grocery store, and I
always try to give a little money whenever I am asked.
6) C
condone (verb): to treat as acceptable: Since most of the university’s professors are male, students are accusing the university of
condoning sexism; they argue that its policies seem to favor men over women, even if that was not the original intention.
7) C
slothful (adjective): lazy: Slothful students who don’t do their homework tend to have lower grades than the hardworking students
who do every assignment.
8) A
brilliant (adjective): giving off bright light: As a child, I was fascinated by the brilliant fireflies that would flash their lights so brightly
as they flew through the warm summer night.
9) C
precede (verb): to come before: During the talent show, I took the stage to sing my song at 8 PM, and I was preceded at 7:50 by a
girl who danced ballet.
10) B
overt (adjective): obvious: The hidden tension between the two students turned into overt dislike when they found themselves
competing in the student council elections.

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1) CATER 6) VIGOROUS
A. to resist authority A. important and necessary

B. to dig a hole B. shaking and quivering
C. to feast C. alert and watchful
D. to try to satisfy D. harmful and dangerous
E. to carry on wheels E. strong and energetic
2) ACCENTUATE 7) ARISTOCRATIC
A. to make more noticeable A. halted

B. to express approval B. noble
C. to suggest doubt C. lighthearted
D. to elevate in height D. spacious
E. to hit with force E. pompous
3) ILLICIT 8) OBSCENE
A. invisible A. self-evident and apparent

B. lessened B. compulsive and uncontrollable
C. forbidden C. considered offensive and immoral
D. special D. extremely old and out of use
E. unclear E. not clearly expressed or understood
4) COMMOTION 9) PESSIMISTIC
A. a state of authority A. tending to believe that the worst will

B. a state of honoring or praising happen
C. a state of unconsciousness B. tending to only travel in a group of
D. a state of disturbance people
E. a state of discussion or debate C. tending to dwell on or obsess over the
past
D. tending to be overly trustful or gullible
5) COVERT E. tending to accept what happens without
resistance
A. secret
B. protected
C. shifted 10) DRENCH
D. jealous
E. altered A. to clean
B. to disappoint
C. to enliven
D. to weaken
E. to soak

1) D
cater (verb): to try to satisfy a particular need or demand: A good assistant will cater to his or her boss’s every demand, always
attempting to grant any request.
2) A
accentuate (verb): to make more noticeable or prominent: Afraid that the restaurant’s sign was not easy to see, the manager
decided to accentuate it with neon lights.
3) C
eccentric (adjective): odd: Belle’s father was an eccentric old man who devoted most of his time to developing his unusual
inventions.
4) D
commotion (noun): a state of confused and noisy disturbance: A commotion broke out in the hallway, and all the students rushed
out to see what triggered the disturbance.
5) A
covert (adjective): not openly acknowledged or displayed: Spies excel at covert operations, and a good spy can go an entire lifetime
without anyone ever knowing he or she was a secret agent.
6) E
vigorous (adjective): strong, healthy, and full of energy: Like most professional athletes, Muhammad Ali remained vigorous for his
entire career and continues to be strong and active in retirement.
7) B
aristocratic (adjective): distinguished in manners or bearing: Throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the aristocratic
class in France largely dictated fashions, and most in the world sought to dress like the flamboyant French nobility.
8) C
obscene (adjective): considered offensive, disgusting, or indecent by accepted standards of morality and decency: Henry Miller’s
Tropic of Cancer was considered too obscene to be published in the United States, but those who were not easily offended would
often by copies printed in France.
9) A
pessimistic (adjective): tending to see the worst aspect of things or believe that the worst will happen: While no one should be
completely optimistic, no one should ever be completely pessimistic either; it is better to be someplace in the middle, anticipating
both good and bad outcomes.
10) E
drench (verb): to make thoroughly wet or soaked: The rain fell so heavily that everything outside became completely drenched.

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Name________________
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1) FERVOR 6) CRYPTIC
A. an attitude of approval A. sincere

B. a passionate feeling B. argumentative
C. an inflated temperature C. no longer living
D. a disagreement D. buried
E. an extension or elongation E. mysterious
2) SAVAGE 7) CONSTITUENTS
A. needing rescue or aid A. permanent members of a religious

B. hearty and strong organization or group
C. angry and annoyed B. voting members of a community
D. salty or spicy in taste represented by someone
E. cruel and vicious C. people who advise important people
D. educators, especially those who teach in
colleges and universities
3) CHRONIC E. people taking part in a challenge or
competition
A. colorful
B. celebrated
C. constant 8) DEFILE
D. connected
E. concealed A. to store away
B. to deceive
C. to spoil
4) TRAUMA D. to delay
E. to disorganize
A. a sensation of losing control
B. a difficult task to overcome
C. a feeling of certainty 9) CYNICAL
D. a deeply distressing experience
E. a source of minor irritation A. distrustful of humanity
B. kind and pleasant
C. difficult to understand
5) PHILANTHROPY D. free of deceit
E. immoral or wicked
A. charity
B. adultery
C. music 10) ANNIHILATE
D. ambition
E. inventiveness A. to add to something larger
B. to irritate someone
C. to add explanatory notes
D. to completely destroy
E. to damage in appearance

1) B
fervor (noun): an intense and passionate feeling: Few people had as much fervor for cooking as Julia Child did, and she shared her
passion with millions of television viewers.
2) E
savage (adjective): aggressively cruel and vicious: The movie depicted savage acts of violence, and critics remarked that these acts
were so vicious that the film was hard to watch.
3) C
chronic (adjective): persisting for a long time or constantly recurring: Ashleigh has had chronic knee pain since tearing her ACL last
month, and even after taking painkillers, her pain has not gone away.
4) D
trauma (noun): a deeply distressing or disturbing experience: The trauma of combat can be too much for many soldiers, and many
come home suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder because of how distressing war is.
5) A
philanthropy (noun): the desire to promote the welfare of others, usually expressed by the generous donation of money to good
causes: At the end of his life, John D. Rockefeller became committed to philanthropy, and he donated most of his considerable
wealth to various charities.
6) E
cryptic (adjective): having a meaning that is mysterious or obscure: The police believed the Zodiac Killer was leaving cryptic clues
for them in the newspaper, but several of the clues so were confusing and mysterious that the police really had no idea what they
meant.
7) B
constituents (noun): voting members of a community or organization who have the power to appoint or elect someone: The senator
promised he would work hard even those who did not vote for him, saying that his constituents were all Oregonians.
8) C
defile (verb): to sully, mar, or spoil: Priscilla was fined for defiling the library book; when she checked it out, it was practically new,
but when she returned it, pages were stained with coffee, and the cover had fallen off.
9) A
cynical (adjective): distrustful of human sincerity or integrity: As he grew older, Edward became increasingly cynical, and as a
senior citizen, he was so mistrustful of humanity that he became something of a recluse.
10) D
annihilate (verb): to destroy completely: The missile annihilated the entire building, leaving only ruins and a cloud of smoke.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) FEASIBLE 6) FLOURISH
A. doable A. to decide or choose

B. stylish B. to decorate or adorn
C. expensive C. to cook or bake
D. unattainable D. to grow or develop
E. breakable E. to damage or spoil
2) PREVALENT 7) COUNTERFEIT
A. warming up A. beneficially neutral

B. undecided B. similarly sized
C. widespread C. deceptively imitation
D. avoidable D. dangerously unbalanced
E. envious E. comparatively inexpensive
3) CUMULATIVE 8) CRUEL
A. decreasing in severity of pain by adding A. made up of a mix of ethnicities

a soothing agent B. willfully causing pain
B. adding an additional building to another C. uncivilized or unworldly
C. floating in air D. stubbornly disobedient
D. causing further burdens or labors E. critically important
E. increasing in degree by successive
additions
9) ZEAL
4) MISANTHROPIC A. habitual honesty

B. tireless effort
A. being extremely old C. a swollen mark
B. disliking humanity D. a rigid principle
C. covering up or concealing E. great enthusiasm
D. being suspicious
E. decreasing in size
10) EXPERT
5) COLLEAGUE A. having great skill or knowledge

B. possessing great wealth
A. a college professor C. needing a great deal of help
B. a contest D. earning money for a task
C. a conference E. existing in idea only
D. a coworker
E. a confession

1) A
feasible (adjective): possible to do easily or conveniently: While some of the millionaire’s bizarre requests were impossible, many of
them were actually quite feasible.
2) C
prevalent (adjective): widespread in a particular area at a particular time: Rumors that Darwin recanted his beliefs on his deathbed
remain prevalent, even though there is no reason to believe them and no proof that the story is true.
3) E
cumulative (adjective): increasing or increased in quantity, degree, or force by successive additions: Though the latest knee sprain
was not in itself disastrous, the cumulative effects of several similar sprains had taken their toll, and the player was forced to retire.
4) B
misanthropic (adjective): disliking humankind and avoiding human society: Rex was as misanthropic as they come, a man so
consumed by hatred of humankind that he could not even stand going to the market for fear of having to see another person.
5) D
colleague (noun): a person with whom one works: Most employers want to hire workers who can cooperate easily, since colleagues
often work together on important projects.
6) D
flourish (verb): to grow or develop in a healthy and vigorous way: Though Lee Ann struggled at her old school, she has absolutely
flourished in her new one, and she grows in confidence each day.
7) C
counterfeit (adjective): made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention of deception and fraud: The
expert was able to determine that the Shakespeare manuscript was counterfeit; though it looked like it was written by Shakespeare,
it was an obvious forgery on closer inspection.
8) B
cruel (adjective): willfully causing pain or suffering to others, or feeling no pain or concern for doing so: It was not until she found his
private diary that she realized how cruel she had been, for he loved her even though she had caused him so much pain.
9) E
zeal (noun): great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective: Few were as passionate about women’s suffrage as
Elizabeth Cady Stanton, whose zeal eventually helped win women the right to vote.
10) A
expert (adjective): having comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of a skill or in a particular subject area: Mr. Suarez was the
best piano player in town; indeed he possessed expert skill.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) AMBIGUITY 6) TENACIOUS
A. amateur or beginner status A. destructive or harmful

B. uncertainty of meaning in language B. stretched tight and rigid
C. the state of being undecided C. occupied as a rental
D. largeness in size or import D. showing gentleness
E. the character and atmosphere of a place E. unwilling to give up
2) PRUDENT 7) IMPUTE
A. intelligent A. to blame or attribute

B. pure B. to seize or take custody
C. lustful C. to share or communicate
D. obedient D. to welcome or host
E. cautious E. to stab or pierce
3) JUDICIOUS 8) HAUGHTY
A. showing good judgment A. mentally anguished

B. having strong feelings B. arrogantly superior
C. practicing the law C. modestly understated
D. being equitable and fair D. charmingly polite
E. acting in haste E. nobly aristocratic
4) SUPERFLUOUS 9) CLAIRVOYANT
A. lubricated or containing enough liquid A. a person who oversees a trek or journey

B. behaving as though one thinks he/she is B. a person who sings songs and lyrical
superior poems for nobility
C. more than is necessary C. a person who enjoys watching other
D. shallow or lacking depth people without their knowledge
E. more important than or taking the place D. a person who claims to be able to
of something else predict the future
E. a person who is known for being
naturally and impressively talented
5) FRUGAL
A. natural 10) ANACHRONISM

B. sugary
C. lively A. something that runs behind schedule
D. economical B. something that lacks a purpose or use
E. exotic C. something that is out of place in time
D. something that serves as an
abbreviation or something else
E. something that is beneficial to consume

1) B
ambiguity (noun): uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in language: The lawyers carefully crafted the language of the agreement
so as to avoid any ambiguities or misunderstandings.
2) E
prudent (adjective): acting with or showing care and thought for the future: Lisa encouraged both her children to save money and
be prudent about their futures.
3) A
judicious (adjective): with good judgment: Yoda encouraged Luke to be more judicious; he especially cautioned Luke to not do
anything rashly or out of anger.
4) C
superfluous (adjective): unnecessary, especially through being more than is needed or is enough: One way to detect a liar is to
look for superfluous information; liars often falsely believe that adding more information than someone asked for makes a lie seem
more realistic, when in fact it has the opposite effect.
5) D
frugal (adjective): sparing or economical with regard to money or food: During the Great Depression, families had to learn to live
with a much more frugal lifestyle, since so few people had money to spend.
6) E
tenacious (adjective): not readily relinquishing a position, principle, or course of action: Martin Luther King was tenacious on the
subject of civil rights, and he would not give up his fight or change his stance even when jailed.
7) A
impute (verb): to represent something as being done, caused by, or possessed by someone: Many atrocities have been imputed to
the Nazis, and deservedly so: they slaughtered millions of people.
8) B
haughty (adjective): arrogantly superior and disdainful: As a young man, George Amberson is as haughty as they come, but as the
novel progresses, he learns to be less arrogant and snobbish.
9) D
clairvoyant (noun): a person who claims to have a supernatural ability to perceive events in the future or beyond normal sensory
contact: While Nostradamus is probably the most well-known clairvoyant, there are several other famous psychics, including Edgar
Cayce and Derek Acorah.
10) C
anachronism (noun): a thing belonging or appropriate to a period or place other than the one in which it exists, especially
something that appears to be noticeably old-fashioned: The film contained several intentional anachronisms; for instance, even
though the film takes place in 2012 and shows modern conveniences, the children have an old-fashioned record player and wear
clothing that looks to be from the 1920s.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) BENEVOLENT 6) TRANSIENT
A. talkative A. existing in a place between two larger

B. kindly spaces
C. private B. involving a violation of socially accepted
D. favorable boundaries
E. powerful C. staying or working in a place for only a
short time
D. moving or able to moved or carried
2) DIVERGENT E. going beyond the range of known limits
A. becoming less advanced
B. unspoiled or brand new 7) WARY
C. developing in different directions
D. splitting in two or more parts A. tired or fatigued
E. very loving or loyal to a person or cause B. cautious or hesitant
C. gray-haired or aged
D. icy or frigid
3) NONCHALANT E. aggressive or combative
A. calm or indifferent
B. difficult or hard 8) VENERABLE
C. anxious or uncomfortable
D. beautiful or charming A. possibly corrupt or corruptible
E. unintelligent or dimwitted B. certainly true or provable
C. slightly broken or inoperable
D. clearly defined or expressible
4) OSTENTATIOUS E. greatly respected or respectable
A. excluded
B. arty 9) EXEMPLARY
C. hardened
D. showy A. serving as a summary for a text
E. monastic B. representing the best of its kind
C. suggesting a point of exit in the theater
D. free from obligation or liability
5) SUPPRESS E. having the power to put plans into effect
A. to add an extra element to something

B. to absorb something in something else 10) AESTHETIC
C. to forcibly put an end to something
D. to supersede and then replace A. concerned with beauty and appearance
something B. characterized by severe self-discipline
E. to bury a thought and hide it from C. committed to scholarly learning
oneself D. reminiscent of past themes
E. strong, physically fit, and active

1) B
benevolent (adjective): well-meaning, kindly, or charitable: The nightclub manager prided himself on being a benevolent boss, and
he was always willing to listen to any employee complaints and help any way that he could.
2) C
divergent (adjective): tending to de different or develop in different directions: The two brothers had the same upbringing but took
divergent paths at adolescence, one becoming a cop, the other a criminal.
3) A
nonchalant (adjective): feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed, or not displaying interest, enthusiasm, or anxiety: The
student’s lack of interest in the class was evidenced by her nonchalant body language and blasé attitude.
4) D
ostentatious (adjective): characterized by vulgar or pretentious display: While many old palaces such as Versailles were elegantly
gaudy, imitation palaces built by 21st century moguls are typically just ostentatious and lack any elegance or dignity.
5) C
suppress (verb): to forcibly put an end to something: While Charles I’s army was able to suppress rebellions in Scotland and
Ireland, it was unable to put down the large army the Parliament formed, which allowed Oliver Cromwell to take over England.
6) C
transient (adjective): staying or working in a place for only a short time: Restaurants are notorious for having high turnover in their
workforce, as most restaurant workers are transient employees.
7) B
wary (adjective): feeling or showing caution about possible dangers or problems: Ever fearful of snakes, Dr. Jones was wary of
entering the snake-riddled ancient tomb.
8) E
venerable (adjective): accorded or deserving of a great deal of respect because of age, wisdom, or character: Few people are as
venerable as Nobel Peace Prize recipients, for they are among a select few who have truly made the world a better place.
9) B
exemplary (adjective): serving as a desirable model or representing the best of its kind: The valedictorian of a graduating class is
typically the student who has done the most exemplary job in the class; usually, he or she has the highest grade point average.
10) A
aesthetic (adjective): concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty: While there is more to art than its aesthetic qualities, it is
true that most art historically has shown an artist’s appreciation of beauty.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) DEMAGOGUE 6) PRETENTIOUS
A. an antagonist in a work of fiction A. toadyish and fawning

B. a political leader who seeks support by B. snobbish and disdainful
appealing to prejudices C. unwarranted and excessive
C. a social climber or person with a great D. affected and pompous
deal of ambition E. punctual and prompt
D. a person who makes his or her living
through public speaking
E. a being with partial or lesser divine 7) MUNDANE
status than a deity
A. generous
B. dull
2) CORROBORATE C. dirty
D. required
A. to divide an activity into separate E. extraordinary
smaller projects
B. to remove the central part of something
C. to work jointly on an activity 8) DELETERIOUS
D. to make two things accurately align or
become parallel A. harmful
E. to confirm a statement with evidence B. canceled
C. envious
D. censored
3) INTUITIVE E. slowing
A. invisible
B. inside 9) RECLUSIVE
C. instinctive
D. insulting A. enjoying a relaxing or amusing activity
E. ingenious B. becoming less advanced
C. denying other people or things entry
D. opening up previously secret information
4) NOVICE to the public
E. avoiding the company of other people
A. a beginner
B. an original idea
C. a short literary work 10) ENERVATE
D. a religious zealot
E. a numbing agent A. to cause worry
B. to sadden
C. to weaken
5) ORATOR D. to encourage
E. to excite
A. a doctor or surgeon
B. a coach or teacher
C. an opera singer
D. a public speaker
E. a graceful person

1) B
demagogue (noun): a political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using
rational argument: George Wallace was arguably the most successful demagogue in history: he was able to win five states in 1968
largely by appealing to Southern racism.
2) E
corroborate (verb): to confirm or give support to a theory, statement, or argument: The defense attorney found four separate
witnesses who could corroborate her client’s statement, and this firmly proved his alibi in the eyes of the jury.
3) C
intuitive (adjective): using or based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning: I had an intuitive feeling that
something was wrong with my dog, and my instincts paid off when the vet was able to diagnose her with ringworm.
4) A
novice (noun): a person new to or inexperienced in a field or situation: Unlike her brother, who has been playing chess for years,
Dorothy remains a mere novice.
5) D
orator (orator): a skilled and eloquent public speaker: Abraham Lincoln’s greatest asset was his speaking skills; he was such a fine
orator that he could convince almost anyone to agree with his points of view.
6) D
pretentious (adjective): attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, or knowledge than is actually
possessed: Derrick had a tendency to try to mention important works of literature and art in his casual conversation, and such
pretentious airs tended to make others dislike him.
7) B
mundane (adjective): lacking interest or excitement: Many readers seek a temporary escape from their dull, mundane existences by
reading gripping adventure stories.
8) A
deleterious (adjective): causing harm or damage: While exercise is generally beneficial, too much exercise can actually have
deleterious effects on one’s health.
9) E
reclusive (adjective): solitary or avoiding the company of other people: Many, inspired by Thoreau’s life of solitude in the words,
have sought similar reclusive excursions.
10) C
enervate (verb): to cause someone to feel drained of energy or vitality: Just as a vampire drains blood out of its victim, so an energy
vampire enervates its victim, leaving him or her feeling drained of vigor.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) ANCILLARY 6) TIRADE
A. excellent or outstanding A. an autocrat or dictator

B. very old or of the past B. a diatribe or rant
C. still growing or just born C. a battle or fight
D. mischievous or rascally D. a swelling or blister
E. additional or subsidiary E. a lack or dearth
2) PROMULGATE 7) WIZENED
A. to move something forward in time or A. shriveled

development B. smart
B. to take a leisurely walk or drive C. sensible
C. to cause or bring about D. sophisticated
D. to promote or make widely known E. shrunken
E. to put forward for consideration
8) PULCHRITUDINOUS
3) CAPITULATE
A. throbbing
A. to own B. weeping
B. to surrender C. cowardly
C. to decrease D. gorgeous
D. to overturn E. reckless
E. to mimic
9) DISSEMINATE
4) TREPIDATION
A. to cause something to disappear
A. fear or hesitation B. to cut up for scientific study
B. regret or sorrow C. to analyze through conversation
C. ambivalence or uncertainty D. to catch sight of in the distance
D. excitement or anticipation E. to disperse information widely
E. shaking or quivering
10) CLEAVE
5) SOLICITOUS
A. to seclude in a convent
A. tasting of or containing a great deal of B. to free from dirt or stains
salt C. to cut or split
B. forbidden by law rules, or custom D. to pass out or faint
C. characterized by interest or concern E. to exit or flee something that is
D. describing sexual activity in a graphic beneficial to consume
manner
E. showing an attempt to make a sale or
deal

1) E
ancillary (adjective): additional, subsidiary, or less important though related: The English professor suggested I also do some
ancillary writing on the Bloomsbury group, as it was relevant to my main discussion of Virginia Woolf’s work.
2) D
promulgate (verb): to promote or make widely known: Thomas Paine’s pamphlet Common Sense helped promulgate the cause of
the American Revolution, spreading the justifications for the war up and down the colonies.
3) B
capitulate (verb): to cease to resist an opponent or an unwelcome demand: Overwhelmed by the superior size and strength of
Parliament’s army, King Charles I had no choice but to capitulate and give up power to Oliver Cromwell.
4) A
trepidation (noun): a feeling of fear or agitation about something that may happen: Alexia could not shake her trepidation that
something terrible was going to happen on the flight, but fortunately, her fears were unwarranted.
5) C
solicitous (adjective): showing interest or concern: The guidance counselor truly cared about the students she met with and always
was solicitous about their aspirations.
6) B
tirade (noun): a long, angry speech of criticism or accusation: Angered by the repeated acts of vandalism at the school, Principal
Rodriguez launched into a tirade at the school assembly, accusing all of the students of not respecting the school or caring about it.
7) A
wizened (adjective): shriveled or wrinkled with age: As she became older, Mrs. Haverford became more wizened, and the last time I
saw her, her skin was as wrinkled as a prune.
8) D
pulchritudinous (adjective): physically beautiful: Pip found Estella to be the most pulchritudinous girl he had ever seen, and he was
overwhelmed by this beauty throughout his life.
9) E
disseminate (verb): to spread or disperse information or something else widely: The advent of radio allowed for information to be
disseminated more easily; Franklin D. Roosevelt took advantage of the medium to spread information about his administration
throughout America.
10) C
cleave (verb): to split or sever, especially along a natural line or grain: The best way to cleave a fish is to slice it along the line in its
belly.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) EBULLIENT 6) MUNIFICENCE
A. convoluted A. generosity
B. receding B. city government
C. cheerful C. dullness
D. negligent D. finance
E. powerful E. jurisprudence
2) ABJURE 7) NADIR
A. to renounce or give up a belief A. the peak

B. to regard with disgust B. masculinity
C. to give up one’s power or rule C. a good feeling
D. to accept one’s fate begrudgingly D. the lowest point
E. to force or throw something out E. success
3) IMPERIOUS 8) PORTENT
A. noticeable and apparent A. an emblem of something original

B. dangerous and risky B. a window in a submarine
C. mischievous and devilish C. a totem of spiritual significance
D. pious and priggish D. an omen of something important
E. dictatorial and overbearing E. a routine occurrence
4) PARAGON 9) VITUPERATE
A. something that divides a large space A. to harshly spoil

into smaller spaces B. to increase in power
B. something regarded as a perfect model C. to subtly hint
of a trait D. to gently scold
C. a simple story used to illustrate a moral E. to strongly insult
lesson
D. something regarded as socially
unacceptable 10) NEFARIOUS
E. a statement that is seemingly self-
A. wicked
contradictory
B. elaborate
C. careless
5) TRUCULENT D. far-sighted
E. pessimistic
A. at peace
B. impressively large
C. semitransparent
D. aggressively defiant
E. able to be followed

1) C
ebullient (adjective): cheerful and full of energy: Most mornings, Katie wakes up feeling ebullient; that positive energy helps start
her day off right.
2) A
abjure (verb): to solemnly renounce a belief or cause: Sir Thomas More refused to abjure the Catholic principle outlawing divorce,
and because of his refusal to support Henry VIII’s remarriage, More was executed.
3) E
imperious (adjective): assuming power or authority without justification; arrogant and domineering: No one liked taking orders from
the domineering Carmen or here equally imperious sister, Carrie.
4) B
paragon (noun): a person or thing regarded or viewed as a perfect example of a certain thing or characteristic: While the Silvestris’
first pug was unruly and intractable as a puppy, their new pug puppy is a paragon of perfect behavior and obedience.
5) D
truculent (adjective): eager to argue or fight; aggressively defiant of authority: The motorcycle outlaw, as popularized by Marlon
Brando, is a truculent figure, one willing to fight any authority figure thrown at him.
6) A
munificence (noun): the quality of being lavishly generous: Michelangelo worked under the patronage of the Medici family; without
their munificence, he would never have been able to create his most brilliant works.
7) D
nadir (noun): the lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization: Just when Petra thought things couldn’t get worse and that
she was at her nadir, her dog died, leaving her at new depths of depression.
8) D
portent (noun): a sign or warning that something, especially something momentous or calamitous, is likely to happen: To the
medieval mind, ravens were often seen as portents of death, so in much literature of the era, a raven’s appearance would
foreshadow a death of a major character.
9) E
vituperate (verb): to blame or insult someone in strong or violent language: The coach was admonished by the parents’ association
because many saw him vituperate the middle-school players, using such abusive language that many of the players were brought to
tears.
10) A
nefarious (adjective): wicked, evil, or criminal: Many conspiracy theorists often incorrectly assume that all secret meetings are
nefarious, but just because people are meeting in secret doesn’t mean they are necessarily planning evil.

READTHEORY
Name________________
Date________________
1) MAELSTROM 6) INDELIBLE
A. a convoluted story A. permanent and unforgettable

B. chaotic turmoil B. untouchable and unknowable
C. a severe flood C. unutterable and breathtaking
D. significant growth D. tasteless and unappetizing
E. a vast selection E. delinquent and not payable
2) ACERBIC 7) PERFIDIOUS
A. harmful or toxic A. dangerous

B. saccharine or sweet B. deceitful
C. cutting or biting C. dashing
D. immaculate or flawless D. daunting
E. small or dainty E. demonic
3) PROCLIVITY 8) FASTIDIOUS
A. a hesitation before doing something due A. dressing or attentive to current trends

to uncertainty B. extremely interesting or engrossing
B. a thing that grows on top of or outside C. very attentive to accuracy and detail
something else D. very celebratory and given to revelry
C. an established or official way of doing E. moving to or able to move at a rapid
something pace
D. a tendency to choose or do something
regularly
E. an ability so pronounced that one could 9) ALACRITY
get paid for it
A. anxious awareness of dangers
B. extreme unwillingness to spend money
4) LICENTIOUS C. brisk and cheerful readiness
D. a union of mutual benefit
A. official E. a lack of fairness or justice
B. promiscuous
C. treacherous
D. disloyal 10) DECRY
E. illegal
A. to give an account in words
B. to publicly denounce
5) ARCANE C. to abandon disloyally
D. to see in the distance
A. occurring in nature E. to provide money
B. curved in shape
C. seldom enjoyable
D. very old or ancient
E. understood by few

1) B
maelstrom(noun): a turbulent situation: The French Revolution created a maelstrom of bloodshed, chaos, and incessant upheavals.
2) C
acerbic (adjective): sharp and forthright: The critic was known for his sardonic and cutting wit; his acerbic jokes punctuated his
harshest reviews.
3) D
proclivity (noun): a tendency to choose or do something regularly; an inclination toward a particular thing: Even as a child, Tucker
showed a proclivity toward reading, and he was rarely seen without a book in hand.
4) B
licentious (adjective): promiscuous and unprincipled in sexual matters: While in Paris, Ben Franklin lived a very licentious lifestyle,
frequenting brothels and keeping several girlfriends.
5) E
arcane (adjective): understood only by a few; mysterious or secret: The professor struggled to make arcane philosophical ideas
easy for students to understand, but, in her defense, there were probably only a dozen people in the world who totally understood
them.
6) A
indelible (adjective): not able to be forgotten or removed: For Juan Carlos, the painful memories of his father’s death were as
indelible as the tattoo he got on his forearm.
7) B
perfidious (adjective): deceitful and untrustworthy: Melville’s title character in The Confidence-Man is perfidious, and the reader
would be wise to take everything said by him with a grain of salt.
8) C
fastidious (adjective): very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail: The magazine editor was fastidious when it came
to the rules of grammar, and she would fire any copy editor who missed an errant punctuation mark or dangling modifier.
9) C
alacrity (noun): brisk and cheerful readiness: Isabella responded to the letter from the college’s dean of admissions with alacrity,
placing the acceptance letter in the mailbox almost instantly.
10) B
decry (verb): to publicly denounce: Though Charles Van Doren was not guilty of any crime, several members of Congress decried
his role in the quiz show scandals, publicly admonishing him during his testimony to Congress.

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READTHEORY

A. fake A. to set down in permanent form

A. to climb down A. to lift

A. a loud sound A. to commit

A. a young genius A. to cry softly

5) DEVOUR 10) ACQUIRE

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A. to debate A. greed or envy

A. speeding up A. absent or missing

A. to feel pain in a rhythm A. to make

5) PLAGUE 10) LAVISH

A. a work of art A. abundant or luxurious

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A. a state of loneliness A. to look away

A. sharp A. extravagantly showy

A. to annoy A. not strict

A. a victory A. to capture or arrest

5) CONSULT 10) NEGLIGENT

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A. never-ending A. honorable or worthy

A. to correct A. extremely generous

A. someone who works for a company A. boring because of familiarity

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A. to delay intentionally A. a dishonest man

A. slowing something down A. missing due to illness

A. to begin A. a short-lived event or thing

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A. common A. excessively aggressive toward others

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A. chilling A. to awaken from sleep

5) IMPAIR 10) DEEM

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A. to fight a battle A. a popular song

A. to follow a rule A. powerful or mighty

A. to hold back A. to look up

5) GURU 10) VAGUE

A. a wise person A. unclear

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A. an idea A. to adapt for one’s own use

A. to inspire A. giving off bright light

A. a split in something A. to capture

5) SOLICIT 10) OVERT

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A. to resist authority A. important and necessary

A. to make more noticeable A. halted

A. invisible A. self-evident and apparent

A. a state of authority A. tending to believe that the worst will

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A. an attitude of approval A. sincere

A. needing rescue or aid A. permanent members of a religious

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A. doable A. to decide or choose