The Anthropocene Reviewed Vocabulary Quiz

Vocabulary Notes

• Verbiage: Refers to excessively lengthy or technical speech or writing that can detract from clarity.
• Perpetually: Describes an action occurring constantly, without end or change.
• Anachronistic: Highlights something placed in a time period where it does not belong, often creating a historical inconsistency.
• Prolific: Describes a person, plant, or animal that produces a significant amount of output or offspring.
• Resonant: Pertains to deep and clear sounds that continue to reverberate.
• Unambiguously: Means expressing a thought or idea clearly, without room for multiple interpretations.
• Insistence: Indicates a firm conviction that something is true or should occur.
• Roam: Refers to wandering or traveling aimlessly across a wide area.
• Destabilizing: Describes an act that disrupts stability, potentially causing unrest within a region or system.
• Bouts: Refers to short, intense periods of a specific activity.

Psychological and Physical States

• Vertigo: A condition characterized by a sensation of spinning or dizziness, often linked with looking down from height or inner ear issues.
• Viscerality: Relates to the physical realm, emphasizing tangible experiences rather than abstract or virtual ones.
• Precarious: Indicates an insecure position, suggesting vulnerability to collapse or failure.
• Absurd: Describes ideas or situations that are illogical or unreasonable.
• Omniscient: Suggests knowing everything, often used to describe an all-knowing perspective.
• Abiding: Describes memories or feelings that endure over time.
• Discern: Refers to the ability to recognize or identify something distinctly.
• Ubiquitous: Describes something present or existing everywhere.

Concepts of Existence and Society

• Antecedent: Refers to an event or thing that precedes another logically or chronologically.
• Abound: Indicates the presence of a large quantity of something.
• Trite: Describes remarks or ideas that lack originality due to overuse.
• Strewn: Means to be scattered untidily across an area.

Actions and Processes

• Etch: Refers to the process of engraving on surfaces like metal or glass, utilizing a needle and acid for printing.
• Exaltation: Represents a state of extreme happiness or elevation of spirit.
• Adversity: Describes challenging or unpleasant circumstances.

Communication and Perception

• Assertion: Denotes a confident statement of fact or belief.
• Nebulous: Indicates something vague or unclear in form.
• Enduring: Suggests lasting effects over time.
• Coalesce: Refers to coming together to form one whole entity.
• Agonizing: Describes causing significant physical or mental pain.

Spatial and Temporal Relations

• Sprawled: Describes a position of limbs laid out awkwardly.
• Compelled: Indicates being forced or obliged to do something.
• Contemplation: Refers to the prolonged act of thoughtful observation or consideration.
• Commensurate: Highlights a correspondence in size or degree.

Social and Economic Terms

• Patriotic: Shows devotion and strong support for one's country.
• Entitled: Expresses a belief in deserving privileges or special treatment.
• Capitalism: An economic system where trade and industry are privately controlled for profit.
• Foul: Describes something that offends the senses, usually through odor or taste.

Conditions and Changes

• Abortive: Refers to something failing to achieve its intended result.
• Parse: The act of breaking down a sentence into its grammatical components.
• Oblivious: Refers to being unaware of one's surroundings or situation.
• Inundated: Means being overwhelmed with tasks or responsibilities.

Health and Safety

• Amputation: Surgical removal of a limb.
• Meticulous: Indicates great attention to detail in actions or work.
• Abominable: Describes something that causes moral disgust.
• Virtuous: Highlights possessive qualities of righteousness or moral excellence.

Psychological States and Behavior

• Compulsive: Reflects an obsessive behavior or thought process.
• Susceptible: Indicates vulnerability to being influenced or harmed.
• Akin: Describes being related by blood or sharing similar characteristics.

Processes and Qualities

• Render: The act of making something happen or to deliver formally.
• Mundane: Describes something dull or lacking excitement.
• Mauled: Refers to wounding through scratching or tearing.
• Contingent: Subject to chance or conditions.

Emotional and Reactions

• Redeeming: Refers to compensating for flaws or negatives.
• Exemplified: Describes being a typical example of a particular characteristic.
• Borne: Indicates being carried or transferred by something.

Communication and Response

• Hearken: Refers to the act of listening attentively.
• Wistfully: Describes a lingering sense of regretful longing.
• Berm: A flat strip of land or raised bank near a body of water.
• Cacophony: Describes a harsh mixture of sounds.

Fluid Dynamics and Motion

• Churning: Refers to vigorous motion, particularly of liquids.
• Ceaseless: Indicates something that is constant and never-ending.
• Meander: Describes the winding course of a river or pathway.
• Coalesces: Indicates the act of merging into one whole again.

Common Expressions and Characteristics

• Cliched: Lacking originality due to repetitive phrases or ideas.
• Ostentatious: Describes displays intended to impress others.
• Menace: Refers to something or someone that poses a threat.
• Gauzy: Describes something thin and translucent like gauze.

Other Terms

• Convex: Refers to a surface that curves outward like the exterior of a circle.
• Avert: Means to turn away from something undesirable.
• Lest: Indicates a precaution to prevent undesirable events.
• Presumably: Suggests a likelihood based on reasonable assumptions.
• Assert: A command to state facts confidently.
• Mawkish: Describes exaggerated sentimentality.
• Saccharine: Indicates excessive sweetness, often in an insincere way.
• Earnest: Reflects sincere conviction in belief or action.
• Somehow: Indicates a vague or unspecified means of achieving something.
• Notion: Refers to a concept or belief about a particular subject.
• Devour: Describes consuming something eagerly or quickly.
• Cynicism: Characterized by skepticism toward people’s motives or sincerity.
• Scheme: Refers to a devised plan for achieving something.
• Yearn: Describes having an intense desire for something.
• Reliance: Refers to trust or dependency on someone or something.
• Starry: Describes a sky filled with stars.
• Provocative: Means inciting a strong reaction, often intentionally.
• Harbor: A safe refuge for ships to anchor.
• Regale: To entertain someone in a lively manner.
• Faux: Indicates imitation or artificiality.
• Benevolent: Describes generous or charitable behavior.
• Retrospect: A review or survey of past events.
• Precipice: Refers to a steep cliff or rock face.
• Default: Indicates a failure to meet obligations.
• Unscrupulous: Describes a lack of morals or ethical principles.
• Whereupon: Refers to something happening immediately after another event.
• Endowed: Indicates possessing a quality or attribute.
• Vitriol: Refers to harsh or bitter criticism.
• Pedigree: Refers to an individual’s recorded ancestry or lineage.

Test your knowledge of vocabulary from John Green's 'The Anthropocene Reviewed'. This quiz covers key terms and their definitions that are essential for understanding the text and its themes. Gather insights into the nuanced language Green employs to express his ideas.