Do not confuse this word with the word “duel,” which means “a fight between two people.” The words are related but not the same. “Dual” merely means “being two in number.” For instance, one can say that someone seems to have “dual personalities,” when they are (for instance) happy at one moment and then nasty and slanderous at another. The word “binary” means “two” and is related to the word “combination,” which means “the bringing together of two things.”

The word “shorn” is the past form of “to shear,” which means “to cut off.” Often, it is used to describe the cutting off (“shearing”) of wool from sheep. It can also mean “to break off.”

When someone is affluent, one could figuratively say that such a person “flows with wealth.” The word “affluent” originally was derived form the Latin for “to flow,” which is clearly detectable in the “-fluent” portion of the word. While such a person might be cultured, overachieving, or even snobby, the best description of “affluence” is the state of having wealth.

"Seditious" is an adjective that means "inciting or causing people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch." So, "patriotic" cannot be the correct answer because it means "having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one's country," so it is an antonym, not a synonym, of "seditious." "Subversive," however, is an adjective that means "seeking or intended to subvert an established system or institution," is the answer choice closest in meaning to "seditious," so it is the correct answer.

"Willful" is an adjective that means "intentional; deliberate" when describing an immoral or illegal act or omission, or "having or showing a stubborn and determined intention to do as one wants, regardless of the consequences or effects." Neither "accidental" nor "meek" can be the correct answer, because they are antonyms of the first and second definition of "willful," respectively. "Deliberate" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "willful," so it is the correct answer.

"Fatal" is an adjective that can mean either "causing death" or "leading to failure or disaster." While "fated" may sound like it is related to "fatal," "fated" means "destined to happen, turn out, or act in a particular way," so it cannot be the correct answer because it does not mean the same thing as "fatal." "Lethal," however, is an adjective that can mean either "sufficient to cause death" or "harmful or destructive." Because "lethal" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "fatal," it is the correct answer.

"Seemly" and "congruous" both mean appropriate or suitable. "Unsuitable" means not proper or inappropriate. "Ebullient" means cheerful or full of energy. "Ephemeral" means passing or transient. "Fractious" means grouchy or cross. 

"Indecorous" and "coarse" both mean improper or rude. "Acerbic" means bitter, sharp, or sour. "Ascetic" means self-denying or austere. "Capricious" means given to sudden behavior changes. "Desiccated" means dry or arid.

"Profane" is a word that when used as an adjective, can mean either "relating or devoted to that which is not sacred or biblical; secular rather than religious" or "not respectful of orthodox religious practice; irreverent" when describing a person or his or her behavior. As a verb, "profane" means "treat something sacred with irreverence or disrespect." However, all of our potential answer choices are adjectives, so we will need to consider "profane" as an adjective. So, "religious" cannot be the correct answer, because "religious" is an antonym of "profane," not a synonym. "Secular," however, is an adjective that means "denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis." So, because "secular" is the answer choice closest in meaning to "profane," it is the correct answer.

Because "incongrous" means out of the ordinary or not in harmony or keeping with the surroundings or other aspects of something, the answer choice that is its closest synonym is "anomalous," or deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected.