Vocabulary Workshop Level E - Unit 13-15 Completing the Sentence

complacent

A free people cannot afford to grow ___________ but must remain ever vigilant in safeguarding their liberties.

repress

Although I am afraid of the dentist, I must _______ my fears and go for treatment.

mandatory

Although in America voting is not _________, every qualified citizen has a duty to go to the polls in every election.

explicate

An accountant tried to __________ the new tax legislation to me, but when she had finished, I felt I was even more in the dark than before.

vivacious

At that dull, stodgy party, her ____ personality was like a breath of fresh air.

renounce

Both sons agreed to ___________ their claims to their father's estate in favor of their widowed mother.

appalled

Even the state troopers, who had been hardened by long experience, were _____ when they came on the scene of the automobile accident.

grotesque

For Halloween the children made _________ masks that they were sure would terrorize the neighbors.

phlegmatic

He may appear to be ____, but his friends are aware of the strong emotions simmering beneath his quiet exterior.

zealous

He was just an average player when he first joined the team, but everyone admired his __________ efforts to improve his game.

bellicose

His disposition is so ____ that he is apt to turn a simple difference of opinion into a full-scale donnybrook.

whet

His enthusiastic and colorful description of the new series on public TV has _____ my desire to see it.

antithesis

His idle, pleasure-seeking way of life is the exact _____ of all that his hardworking parents had expected of him.

concur

I have great respect for you knowledge of our government, but I really cannot _________ with your opinion about the role of the judiciary.

magnanimous

I shall never forget your ____ offer to coach me, even though we were competing for the same role in the play.

receptive

I was confident that after Dad had eaten a good meal, he would be more __________ to my request for the use of the car.

loquacious

I would have preferred to enjoy the paintings quietly, without listening to the explanations of the _____ guide.

loll

I'm usually quite energetic, but there are times when I want to do nothing but _____ about and listen to my favorite CDs.

droll

In a time of fast-talking, slam-bang comedians, is there a place for his kind of quiet, _____ humor?

savory

In an amazingly short time and with only the simplest ingredients, I had a _________ stew simmering on the stove.

alacrity

In spite of her inexperience as a programmer, she attacked her new job with _______ and made good progress.

alleviate

Instead of waiting for government help, let's do all we can right now to ____ the sufferings of the flood victims.

nondescript

Is this _____ little house the "magnificent mansion" that you've been telling us about all these weeks?

somnolent

She tried hard to remain awake, but the ___________ atmosphere of the warm and cozy parlor was too much for her.

fracas

Since hockey players often crash into each other at high speed, it's not surprising that occasionally a ________ develops.

voluble

The answers the candidate gave at the press conference were rambling and __________ but contained practically no hard information.

abrasive

The carpenter used an _________ to remove the old finish from the top of the desk before revarnishing it.

reticent

The conceited actor was anything but __________ in discussing his innumerable triumphs on the state, screen, and TV.

defamation

The editorial on city government was so unfair and biased that it amounted to __________ of all the elected officials of this community.

pandemonium

The library became a scene of ______________ when a practical joker released a number of mice.

rescind

The principal finally ________ the unfair school regulation that prevented new students from trying out for the varsity teams.

dissonant

Their sarcastic remarks introduced a ____ note into what had been a harmonious meeting.

laud

Though her friends ______ her many achievements, her enemies ridiculed them.

disparage

Unlike you, I have never lived in France, but is that any reason for you to _________ my efforts to speak French?

vehement

We didn't expect such _________ dislike of country-and-western music from a native of Nashville.

elucidate

When the speaker tried to ______ the statement he had just made, I became more confused than ever.

acclimate

When we reached Mexico City, which is over 7000 feet above sea level, we found it difficult at first to ___________ ourselves to the thinner air.

edict

You can make requests and suggestions if you wish, but please don't issue any _______.

chagrin

You can well imagine my _________ at losing such an important election by so few votes.

raucous

__________ shouts and boos from the stands will have no effect on a good umpire's decisions.

Centuries-old ethnic _____ have more than once led to bloody conflict in the Balkans.

antipathies

The reference material you have given me is interesting, but most of it is not _____ to my term paper.

applicable

Her chief _____ both in business and in social life are her keen intelligent and pleasant matter.

asset

How can you expect them to concern themselves with your problems when they are so _____ with troubles of their own?

beset

Dr. Albert Schweitzer had not only great scientific ability but also a deep sense of _____ for suffering humanity.

compassion

I enjoy his jokes, but he ought to bear in mind that there are certain standards of _____ to be observed at graduation.

decorum

American law prohibits police from arresting and holding suspects in any type of _____ without formally charging them.

duress

How quickly their _____ holiday mood became quiet and sober when they had to return to work on Monday morning!

exuberant

Although the artist's latest work was acclaimed by the critics, it seemed to me to be no more than a(n) _____ of a cardboard cereal box.

facsimilie

During the long summer afternoons, we used to sit on the shaded veranda, _____ iced drinks and talking about life.

imbibing

Her refusal to discuss even the possibility of a compromise convinced me that I was faces with a(n) _____ opponent.

implacable

He has his shortcomings, but compared with his great services to his community and nation, they seem all but _____.

infinitesimal

The "monster" that frightened you so much during the hike last week was just a(n) _____ water snake.

innocuous

The player's chronic shoulder injury _____ against his plan to extend his baseball career for another season.

miltated

I am well on the road to becoming a millionare because I have just been awarded the _____ for an automatic homework machine.

patent

If only he could match his _____ on the playing field with a high level of excellence in the classroom!

prowess

I was amazed to see how a few years had transformed an unruly and mischeievous child into well-bred, _____ young adult.

sedate

We could hear the quarterback's _____ signals even above the roar of the crowd.

stentorian

If the contract is framed by a good lawyer, it will _____ exacly when, where, and how payment is to be made.

stipulate

The landlord's _____ was simple and direct: Pay the rent increase or get out.

ultimatum