SAT #31-43

perpetuate

perpetuate

V. make something last; preserve from extinction

perpetuate

Some critics attack The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because they believe Twain’s book ___ a false image of blacks in this country

perpetuate

In environments where resources are unstable, large numbers of organisms are produced quickly on the chance that some will survive to ___ the species.

prodigious

ADJ. marvelous; enormous.

prodigious

Watching the champion weight lifter heave the weighty barbell to shoulder height and then boost it overhead, we marveled at his ___ strength.

predecessor

N. former occupant of a post.

predecessor

I hope I can live up to the fine example set by my late ___ in this office.

propitiate

V. appease.

propitiate

The natives offered sacrifices to ___ the gods.

qualms

N. misgivings; uneasy fears, especially about matters of conscience.

qualms

I have no ___ about giving this assignment to Helen; I know she will handle it admirably

unimpeachable

ADJ. blameless and exemplary.

unimpeachable

Her conduct in office was ___ and her record is spotless.

vilify

V. slander.

vilify

Waging a highly negative campaign, the candidate attempted to ___ his opponent’s reputation.

temperate

ADJ. restrained; self-controlled; moderate in respect to temperature.

temperate

Try to be ___ in your eating this holiday season; if you control your appetite, you won’t gain too much weight.

transmute

V. change; convert to something different.

transmute

He was unable to ___ his dreams into actualities.

residue

N. remainder; balance.

residue

In his will, he requested that after payment of debts, taxes, and funeral expenses, the ___ be given to his wife.

somber

ADJ. (1) gloomy, depressing; (2) dark, drab.

somber

From the doctor’s grim expression, I could tell he had ___ news.

somber

Dull brown and charcoal gray are pretty ___ colors; can’t you wear something bright?

replete

ADJ. filled to the brim or to the point of being stuffed; abundantly supplied.

replete

The movie star’s memoir was ___ with juicy details about the love life of half of Hollywood.

solicitous

ADJ. worried; concerned.

solicitous

Dora was delicate, David knew, and he was very ___ about her health during her pregnancy.

savor

V. enjoy; have a distinctive flavor, smell, or quality.

savor

Relishing his triumph, the actor especially ___ the chagrin of the critics who had predicted his failure.

superimpose

V. place over something else.

superimpose

The filmmakers ___ the credits over the movie’s opening scene.

venerable

ADJ. deserving high respect.

venerable

We do not mean to be disrespectful when we refuse to follow the advice of our ___ leader.

traduce

V. expose to slander.

traduce

His opponents tried to ___ the candidate’s reputation by spreading rumors about his past.

unobtrusive

ADJ. inconspicuous; not blatant.

unobtrusive

Reluctant to attract notice, the governess took a chair in a far corner of the room and tried to be as ___ as possible.

servitude

N. slavery; compulsory labor.

servitude

Born a slave, Frederick Douglass resented his life of ___ and plotted to escape to the North.

penitent

ADJ. repentant.

penitent

When he realized the enormity of his crime, he became remorseful and ___.

reminiscence

N. recollection.

reminiscence

Her ___ of her experiences are so fascinating that she ought to write a book.

squander

V. waste.

squander

If you ___ your allowance on candy and comic books, you won’t have any money left to buy the new box of crayons you want.