Vocabulary 15 test

Directions: select the word that best completes the sentence.

1. He pretended to be speechless with anger, but we recognized this as a (subterfuge, harangue) to avoid answering the charges against him.

2. I think that we can settle this dispute in a friendly way, without either of us becoming a defendant or a (quarry, plaintiff).

3. It is written in the Bible that “whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted, and he that shall exalt himself shall be (dormant, abased).”

4. For many years after the Civil War, thousands of (combatants, legions) in the great battle of Gettysburg met in annual reunions.

5. The detective story was so cleverly constructed that the character whom we took to be the pursuer turned out to be the (quarry, brunt).

6. We demand that the committee be made up of legislators who will (actuate, probe) fearlessly into the causes of the energy crisis.

7. A pack of reporters (averted, harried) the Senator with pointed and persistent questions even as he was being whisked into his limousine.

8. A new popular singing idol will often (actuate, abase) changes in clothing fashions.

9. How can that heartless beauty (combat, spurn) my offers of devotion!

10. Since the prisoner remained defiantly (impenitent, boorish), the review panel saw no reason for granting him parole.

11. Since his absurd scheme was never really intended to harm us, we regard him as more of a fool than a (quarry, knave).

12. When the referee called back a touchdown by the home team, he had to bear the (probe, brunt) of the crowd’s anger.

13. After World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union became locked in a(n) (protracted, actuated) struggle known as the Cold War.

14. Your (liberality, subterfuge) is to be admired, but it must be controlled so that it is not out of proportion to your means.

15. Let us not (spurn, avert) our attention from the sufferings of the people living in the slums of our community.

16. We began with confidence in his success in the election, but as he made one mistake after another, we grew more and more (dubious, abased).

17. During the great Depression millions of Americans were out of work as much of the nation’s productive capacity lay (dormant, impenitent).

18. People who think only of themselves, with no concern for the feelings of others, are bound to be (brunt, boorish).

19. At a time when we need good will and cooperation, nothing will be gained by an emotional (quarry, harangue) about old abuses and mistakes.

20. The dinner to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Mrs. Roth’s teaching career was attended by a (legion, probe) of her former students.