Select the meaning of the word 'spurious' in the sentence: 'The researcher's spurious argument confused even the experts.'

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The word 'spurious' in this sentence means something that is false or not genuine. In this context, the researcher's argument was misleading or deceitful, confusing even the experts. 'Bogus' means not genuine or false, which aligns closely with the intended meaning of 'spurious.' The other choices, 'obscure,' 'baffling,' and 'outrageous,' do not capture the essence of being false or deceitful, making them incorrect in this context.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The term 'flaccid' is commonly used to describe something that is limp, soft, or lacking firmness. It suggests a lack of stiffness or rigidity, often used to describe plants, muscles, or other objects that are in a drooping or loose state. Choice A 'Light-colored' is incorrect as it does not convey the meaning of flaccid. Choice C 'Uncontaminated' and Choice D 'Unusually aggressive' are also incorrect as they do not relate to the definition of flaccid.

Correct Answer: D

Rationale: The correct answer is D: 'Stoutness.' The word 'corpulence' refers to the state of being excessively fat or overweight, indicating the patient's stoutness or large size due to excess body weight. Choice A, 'Belligerence,' is incorrect as it means aggressive or hostile behavior, which does not fit the context of the sentence. Choice B, 'Gassiness,' is incorrect as it refers to the state of having excessive gas in the digestive system, which is unrelated to the patient's physical size. Choice C, 'Wariness,' is incorrect as it means cautiousness or being alert, which is not relevant to the patient's physical appearance described in the sentence.

Correct Answer: C

Rationale: Bifurcate means to divide into two forks or branches. It comes from the Latin word "bi" meaning two and "furca" meaning fork. So, when something bifurcates, it splits into two separate paths or divisions. Choice A, "Fold twice," is incorrect as bifurcate doesn't involve folding. Choice B, "Flower biannually," is unrelated to the meaning of bifurcate. Choice D, "Pierce two openings," is also incorrect as it does not capture the true essence of bifurcate, which is about dividing into two forks or branches.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: In this context, 'dilute' means to make the medicine less concentrated by adding water or another liquid. It is important to dilute certain medicines to ensure they are safe and effective for a patient's use. Choice B, 'Reduce by half,' is incorrect as diluting does not necessarily mean reducing by half; it means to make less concentrated. Choice C, 'Warm up,' is unrelated to the meaning of dilute. Choice D, 'Decontaminate,' is also incorrect as dilute refers to reducing the concentration of a substance, not removing contaminants.