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by Erin Billy

What does “moot” mean? (With a quiz question!)

January 5, 2011 in Vocab

Entry to a moot court

Moot Court

moot

What does “moot” mean?

Part of Speech: adj
noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /mut/ Glossary-style: [moot]

Definition: adj: having no practical importance; being only a mental exercise (Ex: a moot discussion). open to debate; arguable. noun: (Law) a mock trial used for students to get practice participating in trials.

Example: Because Stella and Stanley had missed the bus, they would be late getting home. Their arguing about whose fault it was was really a moot point since they could not travel back in time and get to the bus stop earlier.

Practice vocab question for “moot”

A moot point is
(A) extenuating circumstances, or events or occurrences that lessen the severity of, say, a crime
(B) an observation that may be valid but will not change a situation or an outcome
(C) an implausible hypothesis assumed to be valid solely for the purposes of participating in a debate
(D) the sharp tip of a projectile
(E) an imagined situation that could not logically occur

Answer:

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by Erin Billy

What does “squalor” mean? (With a quiz question!)

December 29, 2010 in Vocab

squalor

What does “squalor” mean?

Capsule Hotel Capsule in Akihabara, Japan

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /’skwa.lər/ Glossary-style: [SKWAH-lur]

Definition: filth; extreme dirtiness.

Example: Life in the shantytown was not all bad; yes, there was the poverty and squalor that usually accompanies it, but there was also great life and character, and always something fun to do.

Practice vocab quiz for “squalor”

1. Of the following, which would best be most likely to be referred to as squalor?
(A) A five-star hotel in Monaco
(B) An abandoned building that is inhabited by squatters in New York City and is not tended to by the city or the people who sleep there
(C) A capsule hotel in Tokyo, in which guests have only enough space to sleep, but not to walk around
(D) A “dude ranch” in Texas, where paying guests work as ranchers (or “cowboys”) as a vacation
(E) A youth hostel in Europe, which provides inexpensive accommodations to travelers

2. squalor most nearly means
(A) squeals, especially cacophonous ones
(B) squid ink
(C) squalidity or really, really bad dirtiness
(D) squeaky cleanliness
(E) squinting

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by Erin Billy

What does “ursine” mean? (With a quiz question!)

December 29, 2010 in Vocab

Ursa Major, the famed constellation that some think resembles the shape of a bear.


ursine

What does “ursine” mean?

Part of Speech: adj
noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /ˈər.saɪn/ Glossary-style: [UR-syn]

Definition: adj: relating to bears or like a bear. noun: a bear.

Example: A big ursine man, Harry was often chosen to kick out obnoxious or unruly party guests.

Practice vocab question for “ursine”

Of the following, which is most ursine?
(A) Lions with fiery manes
(B) Sheepish people who walk ploddingly
(C) A big, strong, hairy person
(D) A person with a pointy nose
(E) A tall, slender man

Answer:

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by Erin Billy

What does “pundit” mean? (With a quiz question!)

December 26, 2010 in Vocab

pundit

What does “pundit” mean?

Part of Speech: noun

Pronunciations: IPA: /ˈpən.dɪt/ Glossary-style: [PUN-dit]

Definition: a highly educated person; an expert. an expert who gives her opinion to the media (Ex: a talk show with several pundits debating current political issues). a highly educated person in India.

Example: The political candidate had great popular appeal, but the pundits roundly criticized his proposed tax breaks.

Practice vocab question for “pundit”

Which of the following would a pundit be most likely to do?
(A) Trick people into giving up their life savings
(B) Invest his fortunes in inventing a cure for the common cold
(C) Look down on people
(D) Give out his opinions on politics on national television, week after week
(E) Make a show of his knowledge

Answer:

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