English: Word Usage Questions Set 7
Directions: A word is given followed by its usage in options. Find the option in which there is inappropriate usage of word.
- Appease
A) The judge hoped the guilty verdict would appease the victim’s family.
B) If my husband does something wrong, he will try to appease me by buying my favorite flowers.
C) A simple apology will appease my wounded pride and make me feel better.
D) The decision appeased a storm of protest from civil rights organizations
E) Management hopes to appease the unhappy workers by raising their salaries.
- Austere
A) Even though she appeared austere, my teacher was a very kind woman.
B) My mother often spends her monthly pension on austere purchases she never uses.
C) The soft candlelight made the room’s décor less austere.
D) Lacking personal touches, the couple’s formal living room was quite austere.
E) Because the dark house looked austere on Halloween night, most trick-or-treaters avoided it altogether.
- Disparage
A) Because the soldier saved the president, everyone is going to disparage him at a huge event.
B) It is never right to disparage people based on ethnicity.
C) I cannot believe that you belittle and disparage people who have little in common with you.
D) Spreading false rumors about Judy will unfairly disparage her reputation.
E) He had some nerve to disparage the conservative way I dress at the beach.
- Elicit
A) Surprisingly, the gruesome images of the murder did not elicit any feelings of sympathy from the killer.
B) Although I tried, I was unable to elicit any information from my husband about my birthday gift.
C) The charity uses pictures of small children on its website to elicit donations from caring people.
D) She made to open the door, but he elicited her
E) If I can elicit enough support from the other board members, I know I can get the proposal approved.
- Erudite
A) In order to understand this book on nuclear physics, I will have to review it with someone who is erudite in that subject.
B) Many difficult questions were asked by the students, and they were all followed by erudite responses from their knowledgeable teachers.
C) Because some of the scenes in the movie were so erudite, I’m afraid certain images will be imprinted on my mind forever.
D) With his informative presentation, William showed his peers how erudite he truly was.
E) His erudite observation about my childhood caught me off-guard.
- Esoteric
A) Gerald was an eight-year-old genius who had esoteric interests much different from kids of a similar age.
B) Janice loved her country and found it difficult to agree with the esoteric ideas of the terrorists.
C) While the writing appeared simple, its meaning was esoteric in the fact only a number of scholars could comprehend it.
D) This implies that the whole of Western theology has been an aberration or an esoteric veiling of the truth
E) Only a couple of people I know share your esoteric thoughts on those religious principles.
- Vacillate
A) The minority of drivers who vacillated in drinking
B) You will miss a great opportunity if you vacillate instead of accepting the job offer!
C) Sally is beginning to vacillate about whether or not she wants to get married on Christmas Day.
D) Because her opinions rarely waiver, Ann is not one to vacillate on any subject which is important to her.
E) It is not uncommon for people to vacillate when it comes to choosing lottery numbers.
- Strut
A) Proud of her makeover, she would strut in front of the mirror for hours.
B) The economy was strut by rising oil prices
C) The rooster would strut in the yard when trying to impress the hens
D) The groom couldn’t wait to strut onto the dance floor with his new bride.
E) After he won the competition, he began his strut to the winner’s circle.
- Tractable
A) He is tractable that he is not going to resign
B) The dog was more tractable when he wore the vibrating collar.
C) If the project becomes too large, it will no longer be tractable by a single manager.
D) The lab technicians will have no problem conducting the tractable experiments.
E) The rental car company uses tractable vehicles that can automatically be turned off if they are not returned on time.
- Torpor
A) After overeating on Christmas, I fell into a satisfied torpor.
B) Hopefully the stock market will rise from its torpor and reach a year-end high.
C) His torpor and genuine warmth melted more of her resistance.
D) If my husband does not come out of his torpor and get a job, I will divorce him.
E) Many voters are in political torpor and rarely go to the polls.