Unit 5 Vocabulary

A judge may be criticized for rulings that appear to be arbitrary and without legal precedent. (adj) Unreasonable; based on one’s wishes or whims without regard for reason or fairness Syn: capricious, high-handed, autocratic

Enzymes are catalysts that aid in the digestion of food. (n) a substance that causes or hastens a chemical reaction; an agent that causes change Syn: Stimulus, spur, instigator

The Federal Reserve Board may lower interest rates in order to facilitate economic growth. (v) to make easier; to assist Synonyms: ease, smooth the way, simplify

Don’t you think it’s sad that many people use only a small fraction of their latent abilities? (adj) Hidden, present but not realized Syn: dormant, undeveloped

IN the struggle for civil rights, Martin Luther King, Jr IN the struggle for civil rights, Martin Luther King, Jr. advocated peaceful rather than militant protest. (adj) given to fighting; active and aggressive in (n) an activist Syn: truculent

Some people can prattle away on the phone for hours. (v) to talk in an aimless, foolish, or simple way; to babble (n) baby talk; babble Syn: gibberish, piffle

It is a defense lawyers job to rebut the charges made by the prosecuter. (v) to offer arguments or evidence that contradict an assertion; to refute Syn: disprove, shoot holes in

In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean is sentenced to many years of servitude for stealing a loaf of bread. (n) slavery; forced labor Syn: bondage

Landlords who routinely make slapdash repairs should be considered negligent. (adj) careless and hasty Syn: cursory, slipshod

Most diets occasionally succumb to a high-calorie dessert. (v) to give way to superior force, yield Syn: submit, die