Level H Unit 13 Choosing the Right Word

Critics who bestow their ___ too easily may gain some quick popularity, but they will soon lose their credibility and influence

accolades

Beneath the ___ of their criticism, we recognized a sincere desire to help us solve our problems

acerbity

The distinctive ___ of the choke cherries did not prevent the girl from eating at least one for every two she placed in her pail

acerbity

Because the difficulty of the subject matter increases rapidly a the term proceeds, mathematics and physics courses have a high rate of student ___

attrition

Although he saw himself as a wit, bon vivant, and a man-about-town, everyone else regarded him as a hopeless____

bromide

Your ___ neither assure me nor enlighten me, and, in fact, I would like you to keep your hackneyed advice to yourself

bromides

"My country, right or wrong" expresses ___ in its most common form

chauvinism

It was not until she entered the workforce in her small town in the 1950s that she realized the preponderance of male___ in positions of power

chauvinists

My brother's ___ tardiness is perpetually getting him into trouble at school

chronic

We spent most of the evening listening to her ___ on her views on all sorts of interesting subjects

expound

Our party can resist the attacks of its enemies from the outside, but it may fall victim to the erosion of ___ from within

factionalism

George Washington's ___ reputation as a dedicated patriot has been an inspiration to many generations of Americans

immaculate

His talents and ___ leave me unimpressed because I know that your words will not be followed by deeds

imprecations

Your threats and ___ leave me unimpressed because I know that your words will not be followed by deeds

imprecations

Letting the grim facts speak for themselves, the doctor explained quietly the ___ tragedy that results from drug abuse

ineluctable

Though they are twins, one of them has a highly ___ temperament, while the other one is stolid and reserved

mercurial

We sought desperately for some new forms of amusement to ___ the boredom of those endless summer afternoon

palliate

The computer technician configured configured a revised ___ to access new mail

protocol

They preceded her to the table, not because ___ required it, but because they were eager to get at the food

protocol

We are all eager to avoid the ___ of prejudiced and, perhaps, simultaneously unwilling to purge ourselves of our biases

stigma

In the light of the lessons of history, I am skeptical about the value of any diplomatic conferences held ___

sub rosa

My supervisor was uncomfortable with the ___ meetings held in order to determine which departments would be dissolved

sub rosa

His claim to be the "greatest pole-vaulter in the world" would indeed have outrageously ___ if it were not for the fact that he went ahead and proved it

vainglorious

The small bone at the base of the spinal column in humans is thought by biologists to be the ____ of a tail

vestige

Although she emphasizes that she was the helpless victim of bad luck, one can recognize the effects of her own ___ in bringing about her downfall

volition