Vocabulary Booster 1

The designer window treatments in her house, installed 17 years ago, were outdated.

• unnecessary

• pointless

• out-of-date

• worthless

Answer explanation

To be outmoded is to be old-fashioned or out-of-date. The designer window treatments may also be unnecessary, pointless, or even worthless. However, the key to the meaning is the context—that is, the phrase installed 17 years ago.

His neighbor's superficial remarks trivialized the property line dispute and infuriated Malcolm.

• enraged

• petty

• insulting

• misleading

Answer explanation

A superficial remark is insignificant and shallow, or petty. The key here is the word trivialized.

The spies conducted a covert operation.

• dangerous

• foreign

• hidden

• illegal

Answer explanation

Something that is covert is hidden. It is related to the word cover; something covert is covered from view.

The baseball player's malice toward the referee was spiteful remarks to the media, which almost ruined the referee's career.

• vindictive

• crazy

• rude

• unpleasant

Answer explanation

To be spiteful is to be vengeful or vindictive. The keys here are the word malice and the phrase almost ruined the referee’s career.

Although Zachary is much too inexperienced for the managerial position, he is a willful young man and abdurately refuses to withdraw his application.

• foolishly

• reluctantly

• constantly

• stubbornly

Answer explanation

When something is done obdurately, it is done in an inflexible or intractable manner, or stubbornly. The key here is the words willful young man.

She showed a blatant disregard for the rules.

• obvious

• hidden

• last-minute

• rebellious

Answer explanation

Something blatant is done openly and boldly; it is obvious, out in the open, undisguised.

Her fashion sense was usually described as flamboyant, but on the night of the party, tanya's outfit was uncharacteristically modest.

• impeccable

• showy

• sloppy

• unassuming

Answer explanation

Something that is flamboyant is flashy or showy. The keys here are the words usually described as flamboyant and but . . . uncharacteristically modest.

Mr. Powers was so gullible that he believed even the most outlandish excuses of his insincere employees.

• intelligent

• naive

• dishonest

• critical

Answer explanation

To be gullible means to be easy to fool or naïve. The keys here are the words outlandish excuses and insincere employees.

You cannot become a certified teacher without completing the prerequisite student-teaching assignment.

• required

• optional

• preferred

• advisable

Answer explanation

A prerequisite is something that is necessary or required. The fact that you can’t become a certified teacher without completing the student teaching assignment means it is required. The other choices do not imply a hard and fast rule.

Charles, aware of his susceptibility to gum disease, is diligent about flosssing.

• uncomfortable

• excited

• thorough

• ambivalent

Answer explanation

To be diligent is to be painstaking or thorough.