Vocabulary in Context Flashcards

In the excerpt, a scientist is described as 'meticulous in her record-keeping, double-checking every measurement.' What does meticulous mean?

Answer: showing great attention to detail

Meticulous means very careful and precise, paying great attention to detail.

The author writes: 'His ostentatious display of wealth — gold watches, designer suits — made his coworkers uncomfortable.' What does ostentatious mean?

Answer: showy and designed to impress

Ostentatious means characterized by a vulgar or pretentious display intended to impress others.

In a historical text, the author describes a famine that 'decimated the population of the region.' In modern usage, what does decimated most likely mean?

Answer: severely reduced or destroyed a large portion of

In modern usage, decimated means severely reduced in number or strength.

Read this line from a story: 'She was pragmatic about the situation, focusing on what could be done rather than lamenting what was lost.' What does pragmatic mean?

Answer: practical and focused on results

Pragmatic means dealing with things sensibly and realistically based on practical considerations.

A passage uses the word 'ambivalent' in this sentence: 'She felt ambivalent about moving away — excited for the new opportunity but sad to leave her home.' What does ambivalent mean?

Answer: having mixed feelings

Ambivalent means having mixed or contradictory feelings about something.

In the text, a character is called 'pedantic' by her colleagues because she 'constantly corrected minor grammatical errors in casual conversation.' What does pedantic mean?

Answer: overly focused on minor rules or details

Pedantic means excessively concerned with minor details or rules, especially in teaching.

The passage describes a settlement reached after 'protracted negotiations lasting over two years.' What does protracted mean?

Answer: lasting longer than expected

Protracted means lasting for a long time or longer than expected.