In each of the following questions, out of the given alternatives,choose the one which best expresses the meaning of the given word.
Obscene
Answer: D
It is indecent.
Obscene means offensive to accepted standards of decency, especially in sexual matters. Nice and friendly are its opposites, and dirty is a colloquial near-miss.
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Bovine
Answer: A
It is like an ox.
Bovine means of cattle, from the Latin bos, and figuratively slow and dull. Dim-witted is that second sense, but the word's primary meaning is the literal one.
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Arcane
Answer: D
It is secret.
Arcane means known only to a few, from the Latin arca, a chest - the same root as ark. Commonplace and normal are its opposites.
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Exacerbate
Answer: C
It is to aggravate.
To exacerbate is to make something worse, from the Latin for embittering. Placate and appease are its opposites.
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Habitat
Answer: B
It is dwelling place.
A habitat is the natural home of a plant or animal. Routine belongs to habit, the similar-looking word from the same Latin root of having and holding.
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Redundant
Answer: D
It is superfluous.
Redundant means more than is needed. Necessary is its opposite; plentiful describes a supply without implying it is excessive.
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Reverberate
Answer: D
It is resound.
To reverberate is to echo repeatedly, from the Latin for beating back. Uncover and regain merely share the prefix.
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Stealthy
Answer: B
It is sly.
Stealthy means acting quietly so as not to be noticed. Sly adds the element of cunning; slender, which it resembles, describes shape.
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Opulent
Answer: C
It is rich.
Opulent means wealthy, and by extension lavishly rich in appearance, from the Latin ops, wealth - the same root as opulence and copious. Poor is its opposite.
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Explicit
Answer: D
It is definite.
Explicit means stated clearly and in detail, leaving nothing implied - its opposite is implicit. Incomplete and lengthy describe other qualities of a statement.
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