1. composure /kəmˈpoʊ·ʒər/ n.
the quality of being calm and not emotional:
You may feel nervous but don’t lose your composure in front of the camera.

2. capricious /kəˈprɪʃ·əs/, /-ˈpri·ʃəs/ adj.
likely to change, or reacting to a sudden desire or new idea:
We have had very capricious weather lately.

3. diaphanous /daɪˈæf.ən.əs/ adj.
describes a substance, especially cloth, that is so delicate and thin that you can see through it:
a diaphanous silk veil

4. bland /blænd/ adj.
not having a strong taste or character or not showing any interest or energy:
I find chicken a little bland.

5. tranquility /træŋˈkwɪl·ɪ·t̬i/ n.
calm, quiet, and peaceful:
The tranquility of the forest helps me relax.

6. transparent /trænˈspær·ənt/ adj.
of a substance) allowing light through so that objects can be clearly seen through it: Those transparent plastic boxes are called jewel boxes.
Transparent also means obvious:
The real reason for her leaving was so transparent, no one believed it.

7. contradict /ˌkɑn·trəˈdɪkt/ v.
(of people) to state the opposite of what someone has said, or (of one fact or statement) to be so different from another fact or statement that one of them must be wrong:
Her testimony contradicted the policeman’s testimony, and the jury had to decide who was telling the truth.

8. counterattack /ˈkɑʊnt·ər·əˌtæk/ n.
an attack intended to stop or oppose an attack by an enemy or competitor

9. acrid /ˈæk·rɪd/ adj.
strong, bitter, and unpleasant:
The electrical fire sent thick clouds of acrid smoke through the office.

10. acumen /əˈkju·mən/ n.
the ability to make correct judgments:
Mr. Estavez has real business acumen.

11. diction /ˈdɪk·ʃən/ n.
the manner in which words are pronounced

12. dictation /dɪkˈteɪ·ʃən/ n.
the act of saying something aloud, so that your words can be prepared in writing by someone else:
Can we get someone from the agency who takes dictation?

13. congregation /ˌkɑŋ·grɪˈgeɪ·ʃən/ n.
a group of people gathered together for religious worship:
a congregation of 300 members

14. segregate /ˈseg·rɪˌgeɪt/ v.
to keep one group of people apart from others because of race, religion, sex, etc.: Most people wouldn’t remember that some ballparks were segregated (= black people were kept apart) in the early years.

15. territory /ˈter·əˌtɔr·i/ n.
an area of land, sea, or space, esp. when it belongs to or is connected with a particular country, person, or animal:

Maryland gave up territory to form Washington, DC.

16. terra cotta /ˌter·ə ˈkɑt̬·ə/ n.
hard, baked, red-brown clay:
terra-cotta tiles

17. anthropology /ˌæn·θrəˈpɑl·ə·dʒi/ n.
the study of the human race, its culture and society, and its physical development
 
18. forecast /ˈfɔr·kæst/ n.
a statement of what is likely to happen in the future:
The forecast is heavy rain for tomorrow.

19. foretell /fɔːˈtel/ v.
to say what is going to happen in the future:
He was a 16th-century prophet who foretold how the world would end.

20. secede /sɪˈsid/ v.

to decide not to continue to be part of a larger group or organization:
The American Civil War began when the South seceded from the Union.

21. sophistication /səˌfɪs·tɪˈkeɪ·ʃən/ n.
the quality of having an understanding of the world and its ways, and having an understanding of the way people behave:
his wit and sophistication

22. dictator /ˈdɪk·teɪ·t̬ər/ n.
someone who rules a country with complete power, has complete control over the armed forces, and destroys any political opposition

23. terrace /ˈter·əs/ n.
a flat area outside a building, often with a stone floor, or a narrow, flat strip of land on the slope of a hill that is used for growing crops

24. acclaim /əˈkleɪm/ n.
enthusiastic approval and praise:
Despite critical acclaim, the TV show always ran third in the ratings

25. seclusion /sɪˈklu·ʒən/ n.
She spent her days in the seclusion of her room.