Vocabulary and Synonyms

A Termagant refers to a woman who is noisy, scolding, and abusive in her speech or behavior. The word comes from a character in medieval mystery plays who was depicted as loud and quarrelsome. Option A correctly identifies this specific personality type.

A microscope uses lenses to magnify tiny objects that are invisible to the naked eye. 'Micro-' means small and '-scope' means viewing instrument. Telescopes view distant objects, periscopes see around barriers (submarines, trenches), and prisms refract light into spectra.

Cambium is the meristematic tissue layer between wood (xylem) and bark (phloem) responsible for secondary growth. Sepals are flower parts, style connects stigma to ovary, and filament supports anther.

A slough is the dead skin that reptiles and amphibians shed as they grow. Gangrene refers to tissue death, radicle is a plant root part, and sphacelus is gangrenous tissue.

A tendril is a slender spiraling stem that climbs by attaching to supports. Pistil is female flower part, bark is tree covering, and twig is small branch.

'Ample evidence' is a common collocation in English that means sufficient, plentiful, or adequate evidence. When you say there is 'ample evidence' to support a view, you're emphasizing that there is more than enough proof. 'Apt' means suitable, 'amiss' means wrong or problematic, 'apparent' means clear or obvious, and 'appalled' means shocked or horrified - none of which fit as naturally as 'ample' in this context.

'Apt to' is a phrase that means 'having a tendency to' or 'likely to'. When you say something is 'apt to leak', you mean it has a tendency or inclination to leak - it's likely to happen. This is similar to saying 'prone to leak'. 'Amiss' means wrong or out of place, 'ample' means plentiful, 'apparent' means obvious, and 'appalled' means shocked - none of which fit this grammatical structure or meaning.

'Avid' means showing keen interest, enthusiasm, or eagerness. An 'avid collector' is someone who collects with great passion, enthusiasm, and dedication - they're deeply committed to their hobby. 'Assertive' means confident and self-assured, 'attentive' means observant and paying attention, and 'averse' means opposed or disinclined - none of which capture the enthusiasm and dedication implied by 'avid'.

'Amenable' means open to persuasion, responsive to advice, or agreeable. When you say someone is 'amenable to reason', you mean they're willing to listen to logical arguments and can be persuaded through rational discussion - they're reasonable and flexible. 'Ambiguous' means unclear (also misspelled as 'ambigous'), 'ambivalent' means having mixed feelings, 'afoot' means in progress or happening, and 'aghast' means shocked - none of which fit being open to reasoned argument.

'Attentive' means observant, paying close attention, or showing care and consideration. A good hostess being 'attentive to the needs of her guests' means she watches carefully for what they might need and responds thoughtfully - she's considerate and aware. 'Assertive' means confident and bold, 'avid' means enthusiastic, and 'averse' means opposed - none of which capture the quality of caring awareness and consideration that 'attentive' does.

When words are 'deliberately ambiguous', it means the speaker intentionally chose words that are unclear, vague, or open to multiple interpretations - they did this on purpose rather than accidentally. The word is 'ambiguous' (misspelled as 'ambigous' in option A). 'Amenable' means agreeable, 'ambivalent' means having mixed feelings, 'afoot' means in progress, and 'aghast' means shocked - none of which describe unclear or vague language.

The phrase 'come amiss' means to go wrong or be unfortunate/inappropriate. In this context, the speaker is saying that a little luck wouldn't be inappropriate or unwelcome at this critical stage. 'Amiss' is the only word that fits this idiomatic expression correctly.

'Appreciative' means showing gratitude or thankful recognition. The sentence expresses gratitude for someone's generosity, making 'appreciative' the correct choice. 'Anxious' suggests worry, 'apprehensive' means fearful, 'appreciable' means noticeable or significant, and 'alert' means attentive - none fit the context of thanking someone.

'Attached' means emotionally connected or fond of something/someone. The sentence describes feeling emotionally connected to their house, which is why they wouldn't want to move. The other words don't fit: 'astute' means shrewd, 'atrocious' means very bad, 'awkward' means uncomfortable, and 'arguable' means debatable.

'Afoot' means in progress, happening, or being planned. When someone 'senses that something was afoot,' they detect that something is happening or being arranged secretly. The context suggests sensing activity or plans. 'Ambivalent' means having mixed feelings, 'amenable' means agreeable, 'aghast' means shocked, and 'ambiguous' means unclear (also misspelled in the option).