Answers

1. verbatim – [C] word for word. If you don’t repeat the magic spell verbatim, the cave door won’t open. 2. mea culpa – [B] acknowledgment of fault. Whenever Ryan misses a crucial catch, he says, “Mea culpa!” 3. bona fide – [A] genuine. I was waiting for a bona fide apology after my argument with customer service. 4. non sequitur – [B] comment that doesn’t follow logically. We were discussing the film when Taylor threw in a non sequitur about her new cat. 5. ad infinitum – [B] without end. Don’t get my sister started on politics, or she’ll start hurling her opinions ad infinitum. 6. status quo – [B] current state of affairs. The new CEO’s structural moves have really changed the status quo for the better. 7. magnum opus – [A] masterpiece. I think of ‘Good Vibrations’ as Brian Wilson’s magnum opus. 8. per capita – [C] for each person. Ever the economist, Mum said, “Just one lollipop per capita, kids.” 9. ergo – [B] therefore. The groom was late; ergo, the crowd – and the bride – appeared unsettled. 10. circa – [A] about or around. It was circa 1978 that Juliana first started collecting Peanuts memorabilia. 11. persona non grata – [C] unwelcome. After I dropped the ball and didn’t call my friend for years, he declared me persona non grata. 12. semper fidelis – [C] always loyal. Jack typically shortens the US Marines motto to a yell of “Semper fi!” 13. carpe diem – [B] seize the day! Don’t sit around procrastinating, you sluggard – carpe diem! 14. quasi – [B] having some resemblance. With a broom handle and three wires, I invented a quasi guitar. 15. quid pro quo – [A] something given or received for something else. Offer me trading advice, and I’ll chip in some tech help; it’s a quid pro quo.