NBT Academic Literacy: Vocabulary in Context Flashcards

"The report's conclusions were **predicated** on the assumption that all data had been accurately recorded." In context, 'predicated on' means:

Answer: based on

'Predicated on' means founded upon or based on a particular assumption or condition.

"Her response to the criticism was notably **equivocal**, leaving the audience uncertain about her actual position." 'Equivocal' means:

Answer: deliberately ambiguous

'Equivocal' means open to more than one interpretation; deliberately ambiguous.

"The **proliferation** of misinformation on social media poses a serious threat to democratic discourse." The best replacement for 'proliferation' is:

Answer: rapid spread

'Proliferation' means rapid and often excessive increase or spread.

"The new legislation was **contentious**, dividing parliament along ideological lines." As used here, 'contentious' most nearly means:

Answer: causing disagreement

'Contentious' means causing or likely to cause argument; the context of 'dividing parliament' supports this.

"The defendant's testimony was **inconsistent** with physical evidence recovered from the scene, casting doubt on his credibility." The connotation of 'inconsistent' here is closest to:

Answer: contradictory

'Inconsistent' with evidence means the testimony contradicted the physical facts.

"The study adopted a **holistic** approach, examining not just economic indicators but also social and environmental factors." 'Holistic' most nearly means:

Answer: considering the whole system

'Holistic' means considering all parts together rather than in isolation; a whole-system view.

"The **austere** conditions of the research station — no heating, limited supplies — tested the scientists' resolve." As used here, 'austere' most nearly means:

Answer: severely simple and uncomfortable

'Austere' describes conditions that are severely plain and lacking comfort.