130. ARDUOUS
(A) Boring
(B) Ardent
(C) Ordinary
(D) Difficult
Answer: (D) Difficult
ARDUOUS: Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.
(A) Boring: Not interesting; tedious.
(B) Ardent: Enthusiastic or passionate.
(C) Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.
(D) Difficult: Needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand.
131. Punctilious
(A) careless
(B) apathetic
(C) tardy
(D) meticulous
Answer: (D) meticulous
Punctilious: Showing great attention to detail or correct behavior.
(A) careless: Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.
(B) apathetic: Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.
(C) tardy: Delaying or delayed beyond the right or expected time; late.
(D) meticulous: Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
132. Mendacious
(A) broken
(B) truthful
(C) deceitful
(D) veracity
Answer: (C) deceitful
Mendacious: Not telling the truth; lying.
(A) broken: Having been fractured or damaged and no longer in one piece or in working order.
(B) truthful: Telling or expressing the truth; honest.
(C) deceitful: Guilty of or involving deceit; deceiving or misleading others.
(D) veracity: Conformity to facts; accuracy.
133. Ameliorate
(A) increase
(B) clasp
(C) improve
(D) dissemble
Answer: (C) improve
Ameliorate: To make (something bad or unsatisfactory) better.
(A) increase: To become or make greater in size, amount, intensity, or degree.
(B) clasp: To grasp tightly with one’s hand.
(C) improve: To make or become better.
(D) dissemble: To conceal one’s true motives, feelings, or beliefs.
134. Cursory
(A) casual
(B) careful
(C) degrading
(D) thorough
Answer: (A) casual
Cursory: Hasty and therefore not thorough or detailed.
(A) casual: Relaxed and unconcerned; made or done without much thought or premeditation.
(B) careful: Making sure of avoiding potential danger, mishap, or harm; cautious.
(C) degrading: Causing a loss of self-respect; humiliating.
(D) thorough: Complete with regard to every detail; not superficial or partial.
135. Implicate
(A) involve
(B) exonerate
(C) corrupt
(D) accuse
Answer: (A) involve
Implicate: To show (someone) to be involved in a crime or falsely.
(A) involve: To cause to participate in an activity or situation.
(B) exonerate: To absolve (someone) from blame for a fault or wrongdoing.
(C) corrupt: To cause to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.
(D) accuse: To charge (someone) with an offense or crime.
136. AXIOM
(A) paradox
(B) dictum
(C) absurdity
(D) ambiguity
Answer: (B) dictum
AXIOM: A statement or proposition that is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.
(A) paradox: A seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition.
(B) dictum: A formal pronouncement from an authoritative source; a short statement that expresses a general truth.
(C) absurdity: The state or quality of being ridiculous or wildly unreasonable.
(D) ambiguity: The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness.
137. Adulation
(A) fawning
(B) praise
(C) embarrassment
(D) veneration
Answer: (B) praise
Adulation: Obsequious flattery; excessive admiration or praise.
(A) fawning: Displaying exaggerated flattery or affection.
(B) praise: The expression of approval or admiration for someone or something.
(C) embarrassment: A feeling of self-consciousness, shame, or awkwardness.
(D) veneration: Great respect; reverence.
138. Replenish
(A) to spread around
(B) to fulfil
(C) to refill
(D) spread
Answer: (C) to refill
Replenish: To fill (something) up again.
(A) to spread around: To distribute over a large area.
(B) to fulfil: To achieve or realize (something desired, promised, or predicted).
(C) to refill: To fill (a container) again.
(D) spread: Open out (something) so as to extend its surface area.
139. Obviate
(A) get rid of
(B) frustrate
(C) impede
(D) assure
Answer: (A) get rid of
Obviate: To remove a need or difficulty; to avoid or prevent.
(A) get rid of: To take action so as to be free of (a troublesome or unwanted person or thing).
(B) frustrate: To prevent (a plan or attempted action) from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled.
(C) impede: To delay or prevent (someone or something) by obstructing them; hinder.
(D) assure: To tell someone something positively or confidently to dispel any doubts they may have.
140. Fecund
(A) powerful
(B) fertile
(C) strange
(D) pure
Answer: (B) fertile
Fecund: Producing or capable of producing an abundance of offspring or new growth; fertile.
(A) powerful: Having great power or strength.
(B) fertile: Producing or capable of producing abundant vegetation or crops.
(C) strange: Unusual or surprising in a way that is unsettling or hard to understand.
(D) pure: Not mixed or adulterated with any other substance or material.