Vocabulary and Synonyms

Inimical means hostile or antagonizing - having a harmful or unfriendly effect. When someone performs an inimical act, it creates conflict and negatively affects others' mood. The other options are antonyms or unrelated - jaunty means cheerful, hospitable means welcoming, and comic means funny.

Harangue refers to a lengthy, aggressive, or pompous speech - a discourse that can seem endless. In the context described, it's being used to describe a boring, rambling speech that causes the audience to yawn. The other options don't fit this meaning.

Smart aleck refers to someone who is annoyingly clever or cocky, often showing audacity in their behavior. 'Over smart' correctly captures this meaning of being excessively clever in an obnoxious way. The other options (candid, intellectual) don't capture the annoying/tricky aspect of being an aleck.

Spurious means false, counterfeit, or not genuine. 'Illegitimate' captures the sense of something not being authorized or genuine, which aligns with spurious documents that could mislead or deceive. Critical and confidential refer to importance or secrecy, not authenticity.

The correct terms are 'examined' (past tense of examine) and 'canvas' (the fabric used for painting). The option uses 'canvassed' which means to solicit opinions or votes, which doesn't fit the context of giving marks. The structure of the question and correct answer suggests there may be a language usage issue in the original.

'Intimidated' means to make someone feel frightened or timid, often to make them afraid. The option 'Baby is afraid of sounds' correctly captures this meaning of being made fearful. The other options misinterpret the word as bold, sensitive, or tense.

Yawning increases alertness by cooling the brain and increasing oxygen intake. While often associated with tiredness, its primary physiological function is to wake us up and maintain arousal. Social theories (options A and C) are secondary or incorrect. Option D is misspelled and incorrect.

To abash means to make someone feel embarrassed, ashamed, or disconcerted. When someone is abashed, they experience a sudden feeling of self-consciousness or humiliation, often in response to a social situation or remark.

To abate means to become less intense, severe, or widespread. It describes something that subsides, moderates, or diminishes in strength, such as a storm, pain, controversy, or noise over time.

An aberration is a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected. It can refer to a deviation in pattern, behavior, or thinking, and in some contexts, a mental irregularity or disorder that differs from the norm.

To abhor means to regard with disgust and hatred, to loathe or detest something intensely. It expresses a strong feeling of repugnance or aversion toward something, indicating complete moral or emotional rejection.

To abide has multiple meanings: to dwell or reside in a place, or to tolerate, put up with, or accept something. The word can also mean to remain faithful to or comply with a decision or rule.

To abolish means to formally put an end to a system, practice, or institution. It refers to the act of canceling, repealing, or doing away with something completely, such as laws, customs, or established organizations.

Abrasive means tending to grind down or wear away through friction, like sandpaper roughing a surface. It can describe physical materials or harsh personalities that wear down others over time. Option A ('race') confuses abrasive with 'accelerate' - they sound similar but have unrelated meanings.

Abscond means to depart secretly and hide, often to avoid consequences or legal trouble. The term implies fleeing quickly and covertly. Options A-C are unrelated distractors - 'death' suggests morbid confusion, 'subside' and 'dwell on' are common word mix-ups.