Before the town council met, the chair circulated a short brief meant to (prevent, avoid)
confusion about the proposal. Still, a few members voiced open (disagreement, opposition)
when the mayor tried to (absorb, include)
their objections under a single “minor concerns” label. One councilor refused to (humiliate, degrade)
herself by offering an insincere apology, even after the speaker demanded she (withdraw, take back)
her remarks. The chamber’s (decorative, showy)
moldings and gilded plaques looked impressive, but they couldn’t hide the lingering (bitterness, resentment)
from last year’s budget fight. A visiting politician tried to win the room with (grandiose language, inflated speech)
,
but most attendees responded with quiet (respect, submission)
to the rules of procedure, careful not to (restrain, hinder)
a fair vote.