AP Lit: Word Smart Quiz 25

Pages 245-255 in the Word Smart book. Revisit this set throughout the year to prepare yourself for the exam in May.

Specious (adj.)

something that seems correct or appropriate but that lacks real worth; deceptive; not genuine

That’s ________ reasoning, Olivia; the fact that both roses and blood are red does not mean that roses contain blood.

Spurn (v.)

to reject disdainfully; to scorn

The female peacock _____ed the male’s advances day after day; she took so little notice of him that he might as well have sold his tail feather and tried to make time with the chickens.

Stint (v.) (n.)

to restrict or hold back (skimp)

a brief or restricted period of time

David’s eyes glowed as he beheld his hot fudge sundae; the waiter certainly had not _____ed on the hot fudge, which was flowing out of the bowl and onto the tablecloth.

Stolid (adj.)

not easily roused to emotion; apathetic

Our local veterinarian no longer treats farm animals because the ______ expressions of cows make him feel uneasy and depressed.

Stupor (n.)

a stunned condition; inertia

After Thanksgiving dinner, we were all too full to do anything except lie around on the floor in ______ and watch the dog walk in circles in front of the fireplace.

Subsidize (v.)

to provide financial aid

The professor’s assertion that cigarette smoking can be healthful was discredited when a reporter discovered that the tobacco industry had _________d his research.

Substantiate (v.)

to prove, verify, confirm

The prosecutor did her best to ____________ the charge against the defendant, but it was an uphill job; she couldn’t find a single witness willing to testify against him.

Sumptuous (adj.)

luxurious; splendid; lavish

The walls were covered with _________ silk tapestries, the floors with the finest Eastern rugs, and I felt stupid standing there, because I was wearing cutoffs.

Supersede (v.)

to take the place of; to make something obsolete

Every few minutes, someone introduces a new anti-aging cream that allegedly _________s all the existing anti-aging creams on the market; it’s a wonder we haven’t all turned into babies.

Surmise (v.)

to guess; to conjecture

From the messages the eight-ball has been sending me, I _______ that someone’s going to give me a present soon.