ANSWERS

1. stuporous (c) impaired. I can’t take medicine for my hay fever—just one pill leaves me sleepy and stuporous.

2. wry (a) ironically humorous. Mr. Russo’s students loved his wry sense of humor and unusual lesson plans.

3. purport (c) claim.

Jack purports to be a bad singer, but he always brings down the house at karaoke.

4. tryst (c) lovers’ meeting. Clara and Luis planned a midnight tryst in the garden.

5. wonton (b) Chinese

dumpling. I see you’ve left all the broth and eaten just the wontons.

6. spoor (a) animal tracks. The park ranger followed the fox’s spoor back to the den.

7. yurt (c) circular tent. Hannah teaches meditation workshops in her backyard yurt.

8. usurp (c) seize.

“I left for one minute— and that guy usurped my seat!” exclaimed Alessandro.

9. sop (b) bribe. If you give the doorman a few bucks as a sop, he’ll let you in.

10. tosspot (c) drunkard. I spent a lot of my 20s in bars, but I wasn’t exactly a tosspot.

11. punt (b) flat-bottomed boat. The travelers steered their punt down the Thames.

12. tortuous (b) winding.

The trail is tortuous and steep, but the reward is a spectacular view from the summit.

13. onyx (b) gemstone. Harold gave Esme a black onyx ring for her birthday.

14. tyro (a) rookie.

I’m a tyro when it comes to social media; can you explain again what “tweet” means? 15. ouzo (b) Greek liqueur. “I’d like to propose a toast!” said Nick, lifting his glass of ouzo.