1. What does “umbrage” mean?
A: resentment
B: bright sunshine
C: utter confusion
2. What does “sobriquet” mean?
A: nickname
B: tight bandage
C: barbecue coal
Answer:
[A] nickname. Say, Paul, how did you get the sobriquet Grumpy?
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3. What does “feckless” mean?
A: bold and daring
B: of clear complexion
C: weak and ineffective
Answer:
[C] weak and ineffective. In formal debate, “Oh yeah?” is a rather feckless rebuttal.
4. What does “bailiwick” mean?
A: special domain
B: holiday candle
C: dugout canoe
Answer:
[A] special domain. “ask me anything about grammar,” the curmudgeonly copy editor said. “That’s my bailiwick.” (That copy editor also wants you to know that you’re using these 70 words and phrases wrong.)
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5. What does “onus” mean?
A: proof of residency or status
B: burden
C: unique entity
Answer:
[B] burden. “The onus, Mr. Peterson barked, “is on your boys to fix my broken window.”
6. What does “ductile” mean?
A: of plumbing
B: easily shaped
C: weak and ineffective
Answer:
[B] easily shaped or influenced. Decisive? No. Tara’s opinions are sometimes as ductile as Play-Doh.
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7. What does “troglodyte” mean?
A: cave dweller or reclusive person
B: bird of prey
C: know-it-all
Answer:
[A] cave dweller or reclusive person. I wouldn’t go so far as to call Jerry a troglodyte,but he’s definitely on the shy side.
8. What does “paean” mean?
A: fervent prayer
B: lowly worker
C: song of praise
Answer:
[C] song of praise. Let us raise a toast and a rousing paean to Jay and Cathy’s wedding!
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9. What does “sangfroid” mean?
A: snooty attitude
B: coolness under pressure
C: French chef
Answer:
[B] coolness under pressure. With unrelenting sangfroid, Andrea remained a pro at the poker table despite the high stakes.
10. What does “redoubtable” mean?
A: bold and daring
B: of clear complexion
C: weak and ineffective
Answer:
[C] formidable. The pitcher shuddered as the redoubtable Albert Pujols strode to the plate.
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11. What does “imprecate” mean?
A: accuse
B: famous
C: pester or distract
Answer:
[B] curse. Before being banished, the witch ominously threatened to imprecate the town for give generations.
12. What does “modicum” mean?
A: small portion
B: middle path
C: daily dosage
Answer:
[A] small portion. All I ask is a modicum of cooperation with the housework.
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13. What does “somnambulist” mean?
A: a sleepwalker
B: hypnotizer
C: historian
Answer:
[A] sleepwalker. For a somnambulist, Lady Macbeth is rather talkative.
14. What does “restive” mean?
A: comfortable
B: leftover
C: fidgety
Answer:
[C] fidgety. Peter got so restive during the SAT, he chewed his pencil almost to the lead.
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Answer:
[C] social instability. Apparently there’s too much anomie in Congress for the bill to be passed.
How did you do? 9 and below: Neophyte; 10-12: Apprentice; 13-15: Mastermind