Level D, Unit 11 sent

quavered

"I'm not afraid of anyone!" the boy piped up bravely, but we noticed that his voice _??_ as he said it.

forestall

A President will often try to _??_ the defeat of a legislative program by appealing for the public's support on TV.

enlightened

A(n) _??_ public opinion, said Jefferson, is essential to a democratic society.

rivulet

As it wound its way through the desert, the might river became a mere _??_ that travelers could easily wade across.

deteriorate

Despite the creature comforts we now enjoy, I feel that the quality of life has somehow _??_ in recent years.

depreciation

Economists will tell you that inflation results in an increase in the supply of money and a (n) _??_ in its value.

relentless

How often have we heard candidates for public office promise that they will be tough and _??_ in fighting organized crime!

staccato

In a passage that a composer has marked _??_, every note should sound like the quick thrust of a knife.

brevity

In saying that "_??_ is the soul of wit," Shakespear was reminding comedians to keep their jokes short and snappy.

comport

Leaders are judged by how well they _??_ themselves in times of crisis.

recoup

Now that the storm has damaged the crops, it's up to us to work twice as hard to _??_ our losses.

concise

Since you are charged for every word you use in a telegram, it pays to be as _??_ as possible.

squander

Since you worked so long and hard for the money you earned, it's doubly foolish to _??_ it on things you don't really want or need.

demure

The assertive heroines portrayed in many TV programs are a far cry from the _??_ young ladies depicted in nineteenth-century novels.

recoiled

The child _??_ in fear and disgust as the harmless water snake slithered over the floor.

proponents

The program featured a debate between _??_ of gun control and critics of legislation restricting ownership of firearms.

reek

The telltale _??_ of gas reminded us that someone had left a burner open on the stove.

divulge

The witnesses have testified at great length, but how much really valuable information have they _??_ to the investigating committee?

garbled

To the district attorney's dismay, the witness _??_ all the facts and mislead the jury.

statute

What we need is not a lot of new legislation, but tough enforcement of the _??_ already on the books.