Regents English 11th Grade Vocabulary 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 'polemic' is best described as:
- a balanced and objective analysis of both sides
- a strong written or spoken attack on an opinion or policy (Correct answer)
- a formal celebration of a person's achievements
- a systematic classification of scientific knowledge
Correct answer: a strong written or spoken attack on an opinion or policy
A polemic is a strongly worded argument strongly opposed to a specific opinion, doctrine, or policy.
Question 2: What does it mean when a character is described as 'impassive'?
- The character shows extreme, uncontrolled emotion.
- The character displays no emotion; remains calm and expressionless. (Correct answer)
- The character is passionate about a single cause.
- The character moves rapidly from one feeling to another.
Correct answer: The character displays no emotion; remains calm and expressionless.
Impassive means not showing or feeling emotion; having a calm, expressionless demeanor.
Question 3: Which word from the list is most closely related to the idea of 'wordiness' or excessive talking?
- succinct
- verbose (Correct answer)
- reticent
- terse
Correct answer: verbose
Verbose means using more words than necessary; long-winded in speech or writing.
Question 4: The literary term 'juxtaposition' refers to:
- the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a phrase
- placing two contrasting elements side by side for effect (Correct answer)
- the use of symbolic objects to represent abstract ideas
- a narrator who participates in the story's events
Correct answer: placing two contrasting elements side by side for effect
Juxtaposition places contrasting ideas, characters, or images side by side to highlight their differences.
Question 5: In the phrase 'the protagonist's hubris led to her downfall,' hubris means:
- exceptional physical courage in battle
- excessive pride or self-confidence that invites disaster (Correct answer)
- a tragic flaw related to cowardice
- deep sorrow for a past mistake
Correct answer: excessive pride or self-confidence that invites disaster
Hubris is excessive pride or self-confidence, especially the kind that angers the gods and leads to ruin in Greek tragedy.
Question 6: Which word best describes a situation or statement that seems contradictory but may actually reveal a truth?
- paradox (Correct answer)
- fallacy
- hyperbole
- allegory
Correct answer: paradox
A paradox is a statement that seems self-contradictory but may express a deeper truth upon reflection.
Question 7: A student reads: 'The tenuous evidence barely supported the prosecution's case.' The word 'tenuous' most likely means:
- overwhelming and conclusive
- thin, weak, or insubstantial (Correct answer)
- recently gathered and fresh
- contradictory and confusing
Correct answer: thin, weak, or insubstantial
Tenuous means very weak, slight, or insubstantial, as context clues like 'barely supported' suggest.
Regents English 11th Grade Vocabulary 5
A 'polemic' is best described as: