Week 27 Vocabulary

askew

• belonging to an early stage of technical development

• turned or twisted to one side

• be unstable

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

Answer explanation

He looked terrible—his clothes disheveled, his glasses bent and askew. Schooled

contemporary

• be unstable

• belonging to an early stage of technical development

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• belonging to the present time

Answer explanation

The prize showcases new work submitted by contemporary photographers. BBC (Aug 26, 2021)

crude

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• belonging to an early stage of technical development

• totally unlikely

• belonging to the present time

Answer explanation

I myself had found ancient stone tools, very crude and primitive, that had probably been used as hammers. My Life with the Chimpanzees

defiant

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• be unstable

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• totally unlikely

Answer explanation

“I’m not letting them stop me either,” Kaisha said, and she marched up to the stairs, defiant. Anger Is a Gift

fluctuate

• be unstable

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• laugh at with contempt and derision

Answer explanation

Sixteen percent of American workers’ schedules fluctuate based on their employers’ needs. New York Times (Jul 20, 2021)

haphazard

• boldly resisting authority or an opposing force

• augh at with contempt and derision

• dependent upon or characterized by chance

• be unstable

Answer explanation

Brown and black splotches are scattered across the canvas in a haphazard design. You Bring the Distant Near

inconceivable

• laugh at with contempt and derision

• do away with completely, without leaving a trace

• totally unlikely

• characterized by tolerance and mercy

Answer explanation

Will and Lyra were both trembling and weak with fear, exhaustion, nausea, and pain, but giving up was inconceivable. The Amber Spyglass

jeer

• an unpleasant or difficult situation

• laugh at with contempt and derision

• the ability to recover readily from adversity or change

• characterized by tolerance and mercy

Answer explanation

She only lost control for an instant, but it was enough to make the crowd jeer and cry out, “Coward!” The Strangers

lenient

• totally unlikely

• sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

• characterized by tolerance and mercy

• an unpleasant or difficult situation

Answer explanation

"I ask the court to be lenient, in consideration of his age," says the attorney.The Boy Who Dared

obliterate

• do away with completely, without leaving a trace

• the ability to recover readily from adversity or change

• sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

• an unpleasant or difficult situation

Answer explanation

She had tried to tear him to pieces, to wreck him, to obliterate him. Go Set a Watchman: A Novel