August Thread

1. Inkling - A slight hint or indication; a slight understanding or

vague idea or notion; a subtle quality underlying or felt to underlie
a situation, action, or person
2. Gleam - A point of shining light, especially in darkness;
brightness, sparkle; a sudden quick light; to shine brightly and
steadily but without a flame; a brief or dim indication; a trace
3. Glare - To stare fixedly and angrily; to shine intensely and
blindingly; to be conspicuous; stand out obtrusively; a focus of
public attention; a sheet or surface of glassy and very slippery ice;
be sharply reflected
4. Innuendo - An indirect or subtle, usually derogatory implication
in expression; an insinuation; an artful, indirect, often derogatory
hint; suggestion 5. Disbelief - Refusal or reluctance to believe; doubt,
skepticism; to doubt the truth about something
6. Insinuation - An artful, indirect, often derogatory hint; the act of
gaining acceptance or affection for yourself by persuasive and
subtle blandishments; an indirect (and usually malicious)
implication
7. Cruet - A small glass bottle for holding a condiment, such as
vinegar or oil; a small vessel for holy water or for water or wine
used in the consecration of the Eucharist
8. Misconstruction - An inaccurate explanation, interpretation, or
report; a misunderstanding
9. Evasive - Intentionally vague or ambiguous; equivocal; inclined
or intended to evade; deceitful, tricky; trying to avoid; skillful at
eluding capture
10. Seldom - Not often; infrequently or rarely
11. Obliterate - To do away with completely so as to leave no trace; to
wipe out, rub off, or erase; to remove completely (a body organ or
part), as by surgery, disease, or radiation
12. Hillock - A small hill; a small natural hill; a small projection or
elevation, as from an organ, tissue, or structure
13. Complement - Something that completes, makes up a whole, or
brings to perfection; quantity or number needed to make up a
whole; either of two parts that complete the whole or mutually
complete each other; complete
14. Flicker - To move waveringly; flutter; to burn unsteadily or
fitfully; to shine with intermittent gleams; a sudden quick light;
glimmer; brief or slight sensation; any of various large North
American woodpeckers of the genus Colaptes, especially C. auratus,
the common flicker, having a brown back, spotted breast, and white
rump
15. Eulogy - A laudatory speech or written tribute, especially one
praising someone who has died; high praise or commendation;
praise, acclamation
16. Quiescent - Being quiet, still, or at rest; inactive
17. Exuberant - Full of unrestrained enthusiasm or joy; energetic,
enthusiastic; profuse; plentiful; extreme in degree, size, or extent
18. Crutch - A means or device that keeps something erect, stable, or
secure; a support used under the arm by an injured person to help in
walking; a staff or support used by the physically injured or
disabled as an aid in walking, usually designed to fit under the
armpit and often used in pairs
19. Fraternity - A group of people united in a relationship and
having some interest, activity, or purpose in common; brotherhood;
group united in interest
20. Catalyze - To modify, especially to increase, the rate of (a
chemical reaction) by catalysis; to bring about; initiate; to produce
fundamental change in; transform
21. Refute - To prove to be false or erroneous; overthrow by
argument or proof; to deny the accuracy or truth of; prove false;
discredit
22. Reinforcement - The act or process of reinforcing or the state of
being reinforced; an event, a circumstance, or a condition that
increases the likelihood that a given response will recur in a
situation like that in which the reinforcing condition originally
occurred; additional personnel or equipment sent to support a
military action
23. Renege - To fail to carry out a promise or commitment;
to fail to follow suit in cards when able and required by the rules to
do so; to renounce; disown; default on
24. Sunder - To break or wrench apart; sever; a division or
separation; to crack or split into two or more fragments by means of
or as a result of force, a blow, or strain
25. Remorseful - Feeling or expressing regret for one's sins or
misdeeds; guilty, ashamed
26. Sate - To satisfy (an appetite) fully; to satisfy to excess; fill to
satisfaction
27. Devious - Marked by treachery or deceit; not taking a direct or
straight line or course; without a fixed or regular course; crooked;
indirect; dishonest, crafty
28. Egregious - Conspicuously bad or offensive; outstandingly bad;
outrageous
29. Malady - An unwholesome condition; a disease, a disorder, or an
ailment
30. Aggrieve - To distress; afflict; to inflict an injury or injuries on;
to cause suffering or painful sorrow to; feeling burdened
31. Dab - To spread with a greasy, sticky, or dirty substance; a tiny
amount; a person with a high degree of knowledge or skill in a
particular field
32. Irk - To be irritating, wearisome, or vexing to
33. Preclude - To make impossible, as by action taken in advance;
prevent; to exclude or prevent (someone) from a given condition or
activity
34. Metaphysical - Having no body, form, or substance; of, coming
from, or relating to forces or beings that exist outside the natural
world; not physical; without physical presence; ideal
35. Forlorn - Appearing sad or lonely because deserted or
abandoned; forsaken or deprived; wretched or pitiful in appearance
or condition; nearly hopeless; desperate
36. Bunion - A bunion is an abnormal enlargement of the joint; a
painful, inflamed swelling of the bursa at the first joint of the big
toe, characterized by enlargement of the joint and lateral
displacement of the toe
37. Hospice - A shelter or lodging for travelers, pilgrims, foundlings,
or the destitute; a program that provides palliative care and attends
to the emotional and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients at an
inpatient facility or at the patient's home; an institution that
provides care and shelter; resort for travelers which includes
lodging and entertainment
38. Tardy - Occurring, arriving, acting, or done after the scheduled,
expected, or usual time; late; moving slowly; sluggish
39. Lackadaisical - Lacking spirit, liveliness, or interest; languid;
lacking energy and vitality or showing such a lack; careless,
indifferent
40. Jerry - A German, especially a German soldier; offensive terms
for a person of German descent
41. Glean - To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect
(something) bit by bit; gather facts in small quantities
42. Inane - One that lacks sense or substance
43. Canvas - A piece of such fabric on which a painting, especially an
oil painting, is executed
44. Hamstring - To restrict the activity or free movement of;
handicap; to destroy or hinder the efficiency of; frustrate; any of the
tendons at the rear hollow of the human knee
45. Palliated - To relieve the symptoms of a disease or disorder; to
make less severe or intense; mitigate; to make (an offense or crime)
seem less serious; extenuate
46. Sycophant - A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by
flattering influential people; one who flatters another excessively
47. Fawn - To seek favor or attention by flattery and obsequious
behavior; to support slavishly every opinion or suggestion of a
superior; a young deer, less than one year old; a grayish yellow-
brown to moderate reddish brown
48. Myriad - Constituting a very large, indefinite number;
innumerable; composed of numerous diverse elements or facets
49. Vault - An arched ceiling or roof. Also: A room for keeping money
or valuable papers safe; a burial place or receptacle for human
remains; move off the ground by a muscular effort of the legs and
feet; act of jumping
50. Gruffness - A throaty harshness; an abrupt discourteous manner
51. Mortar - A vessel in which substances are crushed or ground with
a pestle; a machine in which materials are ground and blended or
crushed; an ancient field weapon that fires a projectile in a high
arch to reach an impact point; plastic material to bond stones and
bricks together
52. Deleterious - Having a harmful effect; injurious
53. License - To give or yield permission to or for; official or legal
permission to do or own a specified thing
54. Ragged - Tattered, frayed, or torn; worn-out; in shreds
55. Leviathan - One that is extraordinarily large and powerful; any
large animal, as a whale; a monstrous sea creature mentioned in the
Bible; something unusually large of its kind, especially a ship
56. Repletion - The condition of being fully supplied or completely
filled; a state of excessive fullness
57. Orc - A mythical monster of varying descriptions; any of several
cetaceans especialy the grampus of the dolphin family
58. Maroon - To put ashore on a deserted island or coast and
intentionally abandon; to abandon or isolate with little hope of
ready rescue or escape; a fugitive Black slave in the West Indies in
the 17th and 18th centuries; a dark reddish brown to dark purplish
red
59. Sham - A fraudulent imitation; a display of insincere behavior; to
behave affectedly or insincerely or take on a false or misleading
appearance of; to assume a false appearance or character;
dissemble; a decorative cover made to simulate an article of
household linen and used over or in place of it
60. Modicum - A small, moderate, or token amount
61. Fiesta - A festival or religious holiday, especially a saint's day
celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries
62. Gaily - In a joyful, cheerful, or happy manner; merrily; with
bright colors or trimmings; showily
63. Fealty - The fidelity owed by a vassal to his feudal lord. The oath
of such fidelity
64. Laryngitis - Inflammation of the larynx; laryngitis is caused by
inflammation of the larynx, often resulting in a temporary loss of
voice
65. Ensconce - To settle (oneself) securely or comfortably; to place or
conceal in a secure place; hide; tuck away; fix firmly
66. Votary - A person bound by vows to live a life of religious
worship or service; a faithful follower; an enthusiast
67. Decrepitude - The quality or condition of being weakened, worn
out, impaired, or broken down by old age, illness, or hard use
68. Hortatory - Marked by exhortation or strong urging; giving
strong encouragement
69. Exponent - One that speaks for, represents, or advocates; one
that expounds or interprets; expository; explanatory; advocate
70. Banister - A handrail, especially on a staircase; a railing at the
side of a staircase or balcony to prevent people from falling
71. Skittish - Feeling or exhibiting nervous tension; very nervous;
lively; shy
72. Hiatus - An interval during which continuity is suspended;
pause, interruption; a separation, aperture, fissure, or short
passage in an organ or body part
73. Fathom - A unit of length equal to 6 feet (1.83 meters), used
principally in the measurement and specification of marine depths;
to perceive and recognize the meaning of; discern, understand
74. Awry - In a position that is turned or twisted toward one side;
askew; away from the correct course; amiss
75. Convivial - Fond of feasting, drinking, and good company;
sociable; fun-loving; merry; festive
76. Debater - One who debates; one given to argument; a disputant;
a controvertist; one who participates in a structured discussion
77. Pedestrian - A person traveling on foot; a walker; lacking
liveliness, charm, or surprise
78. Gratuitous - Costing nothing; not required, necessary, or
warranted by the circumstances of the case; not necessary; free
79. Demurral - The act of demurring, especially a mild, polite, or
considered expression of opposition; a formal objection to an
opponent's pleadings
80. Vouchsafe - To condescend to grant or bestow (a privilege, for
example); deign; to let have as a favor, prerogative, or privilege; to
descend to a level considered inappropriate to one's dignity; ose;
grant
81. Paroles - Key words or signals used to establish mutual
identification
82. Shun - To avoid deliberately; keep away from; avoid; ignore
83. Dapper - Neatly dressed; trim; very stylish in dress; lively and
alert
84. Seraph - A celestial being having three pairs of wings; the first of
the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology
85. Asunder - Into separate parts or pieces; apart from each other
either in position or in direction; widely separated especially in
space
86. Ballon - To curve outward past the normal or usual limit; stand
out, stick out; increase rapidly; swell; a rounded or irregularly
shaped outline containing the words that a character in a cartoon is
represented to be saying; a flexible bag designed to be inflated with
hot air or with a gas, such as helium, that is lighter than the
surrounding air, causing it to rise and float in the atmosphere
87. Fabric - A distinctive, complex underlying pattern or structure; a
material made from fibers or threads by weaving or knitting; the
basic elements making up a building; the carcass without finishings
or decoration
88. Bolt - A large roll of cloth of a definite length, especially as it
comes from the loom; a bar made of wood or metal that slides into a
socket and is used to fasten doors and gates; sudden and
involuntary movement; lock; part of lock; eat very fast; run quickly
away
89. Suppliant - Asking humbly and earnestly; beseeching; one
praying humbly for something
90. Jarring - Disagreeable to the sense of hearing; making or
causing a harsh and irritating sound; characterized by rough
motion
91. Symphony - Pleasing agreement, as of musical sounds; harmony,
especially of sound or color
92. Tirade - A long angry or violent speech, usually of a censorious
or denunciatory nature; a diatribe
93. Glean - To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect
(something) bit by bit
94. Abandon - To give up completely; to desert; careless disregard
for consequences; leave behind, relinquish; leave in troubled state;
careless, often reckless disregard for consequences
95. Rancour - A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
96. Desecrate - To violate the sacredness of; profane; spoil or mar
the sanctity of; abuse, violate
97. Quartet - A group of four musicians or singers; also, a piece of
music for four instruments or voices; composition for four voices or
four instruments or four parts; four performers or singers who
perform together
98. Rickety - Not physically steady or firm; unsound, broken-down;
shaky; likely to fall apart
99. Triad - A group of three; a chord of three tones, especially one
built on a given root tone plus a major or minor third and a perfect
fifth; set of three similar things considered as a unit
100. Preposterous - Contrary to nature, reason, or common sense;
absurd; ridiculous, bizarre; completely devoid of wisdom or good
sense; senseless as to be laughable

ANALOGIES

1). needle:sew - Ans must be D

A.pencil:papaer
B.radio:electricity
C.picture :color
D.towel:dry
E.book:cover
2). tea:saucer
3). misconstruction:interpretation
4). mountain:hillock
5). complement:complete
6). crutch:walk
7). eulogy:speech
8). fervor:zealot
9). symptom:palliated
10). sycophant:fawn
11). vault:valuables
12). verbal:deleterious
13).mortar:grind
14). license:cultivation
15) cloth:ragged
16). reliable:fail
17). exponent:advocate
18). convivial:gruffness
19). banister:steps
20). jejune:interest
21). libertine:dissolute
22). exodus:departure
23). knoll:hill
24). physique:sturdy
25). bolt:fabric
26). plead:suppliant
27). tractor:vehicle
28). novel:book
29). quartet:singer
30). furniture:rickety
31). triad:group
32). lid:box

ARGUMENT TOPICS

1. The following appeared in a memo from the new vice president of

Sartorian, a company that manufactures men's clothing.

"Five years ago, at a time when we had difficulties in obtaining

reliable supplies of high-quality wool fabric, we discontinued
production of our deluxe alpaca overcoats. Now that we have a new
fabric supplier, we should resume production. This coat should sell
very well: since we have not offered an alpaca overcoat for five
years and since our major competitor no longer makes an alpaca
overcoat, there will be pent-up customer demand. Also, since the
price of most types of clothing has risen in each of the past five
years, customers should be willing to pay significantly higher prices
for alpaca overcoats than they did five years ago, and our company
profits will increase"

2. The following appeared in a memo from a budget planner in

Sophia County.
"Census data indicate that the number of retired couples without
children who are moving into Sophia County is steadily rising;
private schools in our county report substantial increases in
enrollment; and a statewide survey of parents shows that over 10
percent now support the idea of home schooling instead of public
schooling funded by the county government. Such demographic
trends suggest that our county will not have to construct new school
buildings and that we can therefore decrease the budget for county-
funded public schools."

3. The following appeared in a recommendation from the planning

department of the city of Transopolis.

"Ten years ago, as part of a comprehensive urban renewal program,

the city of Transopolis adapted for industrial use a large area of
severely substandard housing near the freeway. Subsequently,
several factories were constructed there, crime rates in the area
declined, and property tax revenues for the entire city increased. To
further revitalize the city, we should now take similar action in a
declining residential area on the opposite side of the city. Since some
houses and apartments in existing nearby neighborhoods are
currently unoccupied, alternate housing for those displaced by this
action will be readily available."

ISSUE TOPICS

1. Tradition and modernization are incompatible. One must choose

between them
2. Many people know how to attain success, but few know how to
make the best use of it
3. In most professions and academic fields, imagination is more
important than knowledge
4. Public figures such as actors, politicians, and athletes should
expect people to be interested in their private lives. When they seek a
public role, they should expect that they will lose at least some of
their privacy
5. The concept of 'individual responsibility' is a necessary fiction.
Although societies must hold individuals accountable for their own
actions, people's behavior is largely determined by forces not of
their own making