Question

1. when the evidence of his misconduct became irrefutable, he saw that his position was not (banal, tenable) and resigned.
2. after the editor read the story, he returned it to the author with only a few (carping, coherent) criticisms of minor faults pencilled in the margin.
3. the constitution is uniquely designed to provide protection against those who might seek to (substantiate, arrogate) undue power to themselves.
4. aerial (reconnaissance, encomium) of the enemys positions provided the general with the information he needed to plan his attack.
5. after i mowed the lawn for an hour, he gave me a whole dollar with the air of a feudal lord bestowing (largesse, intransigence) on a grateful serf.
6. your critical comments about my \lack of social background\ may be true, but they are not (coherent, germane) to my qualifications for office.
7. because this committee has (belabored, emulated) the issue of zoning laws for months, we will not invite public comments on it again in tonights meeting.
8. the historian needed to scrutinize additional handwriting samples before he could (eschew, substantiate) the signature on the document.
9. instead of opening voters minds to new ideas, the debate actually (arrogated, congealed) their previous objections to the proposed legislation.
10. the (carping, largesse) of grateful patients made the clinics expansion possible.

synonyms
choose the word from this unit that is the same or most nearly the same in meaning as the boldface word or expression in the phrase. write that word on the line. use a dictionary if necessary.

1. harp on the same point again and again
2. the grasping real - estate developer
3. tried to usurp control of the finances
4. tends to hedge when confronted by direct questions
5. the puppys voracious hunger
6. led the scouting expedition into the jungle
7. was thanked for her munificence
8. could not verify the alibi
9. received a well - deserved commendation
10. blood that does not coagulate

Explanation:

1. “harp on the same point again and again” means to dwell on or repeat a point, similar to “belabor”.
2. “the grasping real - estate developer” implies a greedy one, and “avaricious” can mean greedy.
3. “tried to usurp control of the finances” is similar to “arrogate” which means to take or claim something without right.
4. “tends to hedge when confronted by direct questions” means to avoid giving a direct answer, similar to “equivocate”.
5. “the puppy’s voracious hunger” means a very large or ravenous hunger, similar to “insatiable”.
6. “led the scouting expedition into the jungle” implies being a leader, similar to “pioneer”.
7. “was thanked for her munificence” means being thanked for generosity, similar to “largesse”.
8. “could not verify the alibi” means not being able to substantiate it, similar to “substantiate”.
9. “received a well - deserved commendation” is similar to “encomium” which is high praise.
10. “blood that does not coagulate” means it does not congeal.

Answer:

1. belabor
2. avaricious
3. arrogate
4. equivocate
5. insatiable
6. pioneer
7. largesse
8. substantiate
9. encomium
10. congeal