Level F - Unit 2

Ex officio means by virtue of one's position or status. In this context, it means that President Obama automatically assumed the position of Commander and Chief of the military as soon as he was sworn in as the President. This is because the President of the United States is also the highest-ranking officer in the military, and the position of Commander and Chief is inherent to the role of the President.

The word "stringent" means strict or severe. In the given sentence, the speaker is expressing their dislike for strict teachers in the past, but they have come to appreciate the discipline enforced by these teachers when they moved on to the next grade. This suggests that the strictness of the teachers helped the speaker in some way, possibly in terms of academic or personal growth.

The correct answer is "epitome". The word "epitome" means a perfect example or representation of something. In this context, the speaker, Mr. Free, is stating that he embodies or represents the stereotypical image of a black man who is both a rapper and a basketball player.

The coach called timeout to exhort his players to play better defense. This means that the coach wanted to encourage, urge, or motivate his players to improve their defensive performance after falling behind by 15 points.

Californians are currently experiencing a drought, which means there is a lack of water. The word "precipitation" refers to any form of water that falls from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface, such as rain or snow. Therefore, Californians are hoping for precipitation, as it would provide much-needed water and help alleviate the drought.

In 1999, the Y2K scare refers to the widespread concern that when the year 2000 arrived, computer systems would not be able to handle the change from "99" to "00" in their date calculations. This fear was based on the assumption that many computer systems stored dates using only the last two digits of the year. Therefore, when the new millennium began, it was believed that computers would interpret the year as 1900 instead of 2000, leading to potential malfunctions and errors. Thus, the correct answer is "millenium," as it refers to the turning point from 1999 to 2000 that caused the Y2K scare.

The word "callow" means inexperienced or immature. In this context, Mr. Free is saying that he refuses to teach Freshmen because he believes they are too inexperienced or immature to keep up with him.

Michael Jordan revealed that in order for him to become the player he was, he had to spend many late nights attempting to ameliorate his left hand dribble and dunk. This means that he had to work on improving and enhancing his skills with his left hand, specifically his dribbling and dunking abilities. By putting in the effort and practice, he was able to ameliorate or enhance his left hand skills, ultimately becoming the exceptional player he is known for.

The term "interloper" refers to someone who intrudes or interferes in a situation or conversation where they are not welcome or invited. In this context, Mr. Philpot is described as someone who jumps into every conversation in his vicinity, suggesting that he is an interloper who inserts himself into discussions without being invited or wanted.

People's lassitude on Monday mornings refers to their lack of energy or enthusiasm. This can be seen in their tiredness or sluggishness as they start the workweek. The comparison to how they carry themselves on Fridays suggests that on Fridays, people are more energetic and confident, displaying a sense of ease or composure (aplomb). Therefore, lassitude is the correct answer as it accurately describes the contrast in people's behavior between Monday mornings and Fridays.

The correct answer is "ingratiate". Ingratiating oneself means to try to gain favor or approval from someone by doing things that will please them. In this context, the boy knows that if he wants to request new sneakers from his father, he needs to win his father's favor by doing all of his chores without being asked.

The correct answer is "drivel" because it suggests that John and his girlfriend speak in a nonsensical or foolish manner that irritates their friends. This implies that their conversations are pointless or lacking in substance, making it difficult for others to understand or engage with them.

The correct answer is "infringement". This is because the sentence states that gays and lesbians are protesting against the infringement of their rights. The word "infringement" refers to the violation or encroachment upon someone's rights or privileges. Therefore, it is clear that the protests are in response to the infringement of their rights.

When contemplating the vastness of the universe, one has to surmise that there is life on other planets. This means that when thinking about the immense size of the universe, it is reasonable to assume or guess that there might be life on other planets. The word "surmise" implies making an educated guess or inference based on limited evidence or information.

In chaotic situations, it is important to remain calm and composed. The word "aplomb" means self-confidence and composure, even in difficult circumstances. Therefore, Mr. Ledyard presents himself to the school with confidence and peace of mind, regardless of the chaos happening around him.

LeBron James' basketball skills are far from intrinsic, meaning they are not innate or naturally occurring. Instead, he actually put in a great deal of work to achieve the level of success that he's enjoyed. This suggests that his skills are not something he was born with, but rather something he developed through hard work and dedication.

The candidate chose to be as bombastic as possible because he did not truly have a plan in mind. Being bombastic means using exaggerated or boastful language, which can be a way to distract or deceive others. By being bombastic, the candidate may have hoped to create the illusion of having a solid plan to get voters out of debt, while in reality, he had no concrete ideas or strategies.

Given the context of police brutality in Ferguson, it is reasonable to expect that community members would express strong criticism or protest against officers who arrived in riot gear. The word "inveighed" means to angrily or vehemently complain or criticize, which accurately describes the reaction of community members towards the officers.

The word "occult" means secret or hidden, often associated with mystical or supernatural practices. In this context, it suggests that fans of Nirvana are compared to a secret society or group, emphasizing their intense and devoted admiration for Kurt Cobain. The word choice conveys the idea that their dedication goes beyond what is typically seen and is almost mystical in nature.

Ms. Jordan's British accent permeates all that she says, meaning that it is present and noticeable in everything she says, despite her attempts to hide or disguise it.