English 11: Practice 5

English 11: Practice 5

​ameliorate

(v.) to improve, make better, correct a flaw or shortcoming

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synonyms: amend, better

antonyms: ​worsen, aggravate, excavate, exacerbate

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A hot meal can ameliorate the discomforts of even the coldest day. ​

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​aplomb

(n.) poise, assurance, great self-confidence; perpendicularity

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synonyms: composure, self-possession, level headedness

antonyms: ​confusion, embarrassment, abashment

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Considering the family's tense mood, you handled the situation with aplomb. ​

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​bombastic

(adj.) pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas

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synonyms: inflated, highfalutin, pretentious

antonyms: ​unadorned, simple, plain, austere

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He delivered a bombastic speech that did not even address our problems. ​

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​callow

(adj.) without experience; immature, not fully developed; lacking sophistication and poise; without feathers

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synonyms: green, raw, unfledged, inexperienced

antonyms: ​mature, grown-up, polished, sophisticated

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They entered the army as callow recruits and left as seasoned veterans. ​

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​drivel

(n.) saliva or mucus flowing from the mouth or nose; foolish, aimless talk or thinking; nonsense; (v.) to let saliva flow from the mouth; to utter nonsense or childish twaddle; to waste or fritter away foolishly

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synonyms: (n.) balderdash

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Knowing that his time was nearly up, we kept silent and let him drivel on. ​

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Multiple Choice

One way to ________ your fears of giving a speech is to put your audience at ease with a personal anecdote.

• ameliorate

• aplomb

• bombastic

• callow

• drivel

Multiple Choice

I can usually forgive a(n) __________ display of feeble jokes and showing off- but not by someone who has passed his fortieth birthday!

• ameliorate

• aplomb

• bombastic

• callow

• drivel

Multiple Choice

Although the position was not familiar to him, he was able to fill in at safety and played the game with great ___________.

• ameliorate

• aplomb

• bombastic

• callow

• drivel

Multiple Choice

After the speaker had droned on pointlessly for half and hour, an angry man in the front row stood up and said, " Must we continue to listen to all this childish ________?"

• ameliorate

• aplomb

• bombastic

• callow

• drivel

Multiple Choice

His message may seem _________, but there is a solid framework of practical ideas underlying the rather pompous language.

• ameliorate

• aplomb

• bombastic

• callow

• drivel