1. Vocabulary 12B

2. Inveterate (adj.) firmly established, long-standing; habitual
S: persisting, chronic
A: sporadic, intermittent, occasional
It has been claimed that many writers and artists have an inveterate hostility to criticism.

3. Irrelevant (adj.) not to the point, not applicable or pertinent
S: inapplicable, immaterial, beside the point
A: pertinent, material, apropos, germane
When you take notes, it’s best to record only the main ideas and eliminate all irrelevant details.

4. Nocturnal (adj.) of or occurring in the night; under cover of darkness
S: nighttime
A: daytime, diurnal
Most nocturnal creatures have keen eyesight and acute hearing.

5. Platitude (n.) a commonplace, stale, or trite remark
S: cliché, truism, bromide
A: epigram, quip, witticism, bon mot
The sentiments expressed in most greeting cards seldom rise above the level of timeworn platitudes.

6. Quell (v.) to subdue, put down forcibly
S: suppress, pacify, squelch, quash, crush
A: incite, provoke, arouse, foment, stir up
The English poet John Dryden believed that music has the power either to arouse or to quell strong emotions.

7. Quiescent (adj.) inactive; at rest
S: still, inert, motionless, dormant, tranquil
A: active, thriving, lively, bustling, volatile
Although some volcanoes are believed to be truly extinct, many are merely quiescent.

8. Ruminate (v.) to meditate, think about at length; to chew the cud
S: ponder, reflect, mull over, muse
In old age many people sadly ruminate on mistakes made and opportunities missed.

9. Tacit (adj.) unspoken, silent; implied, inferred
S: unexpressed, unvoiced, understood, implicit
A: explicit, express, specific
The neighbors had a tacit understanding that they would help each other in an emergency.

10. Tangible (adj.) capable of being touched; real, concrete
S: perceptible, actual, evident, palpable
A: immaterial, imperceptible, insubstantial
After months of intensive negotiation, diplomats reported that they had made tangible progress toward reaching a settlement of the bitter dispute.

11. Trenchant
(adj.) incisive, keen; forceful, effective; cutting, caustic; distinct, clear-cut
S: penetrating, cutting, telling, acute
A: dull, bland, insipid, vapid, imperceptive
Scholars consider the trenchant satires of Jonathan Swift to be the greatest works of their kind in the English language.