| A | B |
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| accolade | noun: An expression of praise; an award or laurel Ang Lee's exceptional film, "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," was wildly popular both in the United States and abroad, receiving extensive _accolades_ at a host of international film festivals. |
| adroit | adj: Skillfull and quick, even in pressing circumstances; adept; dexterous Sentence: an _adroit_ seamstress has the ability to transform raw fabric into stunning, fashionable outfits. |
| assiduous | adj: Constant in application or attention; unceasing Sentence: Steiger's success on the exam was due in part to the _assiduous_ practice exercises his teacher introduced in class. |
| callow | adj: Lacking experience in life; immature; green Sentence: It seemed impossible for a _callow_ youth from the Arctic to rise through the ranks of German high soceity, but Neil was a very special individual. |
| conscientious | adj: Scrupulous; painstaking; guided by conscience Sentence: Eunice's parents would have been prouder of her _conscientious_ efforts if she had applied them to her homework instead of her blog. |
| dilettante | noun: A dabbler; one who takes up an activity in a superficial way Sentence: Everyone raised an eye when Wu-yen dismissed a Nobel Prize winning writer as a literary _dilettante_. |
| diligence | noun: Conscientious and persistent effort to accomplish what is undertaken Sentence: Ignacio's pugilistic _diligence_ culminated in his winning most boxing matches in the first round. |
| eminent | adj: Towering or standing above all others in rank, reputation, or accomplishment; outstanding; prominent or well-known; noteworthy Sentence: Despite the fact that he was an _eminent_ historian and a Pulitzer Prize winner, the noted professor told lies about his past in order to seem more impressive. |
| exemplify | adj: To show by example; to serve as an example Sentence: The New York Giants' victory over the heavily favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII _exemplifies_ the importance of team chemistry and momentum in football. |
| indiscriminate | adj: Haphazard; not making distinctions; unrestrained Sentence: After painting rooms in saffron, mustard, and ecru, Bjorn was declared _indiscriminate_ in his use of yellow. |
| knack | noun: Aptitude; a clever way to do something; a special talent Sentence: Dairy farmers from around the world offered employment to Jake because of his bovine _knack_. |
| lapse | noun: A break in continuity; a pause; an accidental or temporary failure Sentence: A _lapse_ in nautical judgment may lead to disaster on the high seas. |
| mediocre | adj: Of moderate or poor quality; inferior Sentence: Zubaida's new washing machine, despite its high price tag, did only a _mediocre_ job on her laundry. |
| mentor | noun: A wise and trusted guide or teacher; a sponsor or supporter Sentence: Because of their seminal influence and original styles, Delta bluesmen were often cast in the role of _mentor_ by early rock and rollers. |
| meticulous | adj: Extremely careful and precise; highly concerned with details Sentence: Trying to perfectly represent the Do-wop era, he was _meticulous_ in his attention to 50's fashion. |
| negligent | adj: careless; characterized by neglect Sentence: In a Presidential election, a challenger will often try to characterize the incumbent as _negligent_. |
| prodigy | noun: A person with exceptional talents or intellect, usually a child Sentence: Felix Mendelssohn was a child _prodigy_ who started composing and performing music early in life. |
| proficiency | noun: competence; skillfulness as a result of practice Sentence: When Julius prepared his first resume, he realized his only true _proficiency_ was in text messaging. |
| shirk | verb: To evade, avoid, or neglect Sentence: Absentee slumlords often _shirk_ custodial and managerial responsibilities because they might lower profits. |
| virtuoso | noun: A person who excels in or has a special knowledge of a field or activity Sentence: Because Jerge spent only a modicum of time working on his bowing, he never became the _virtuoso_ that his early successes promised. |
