"blasé" or "bovine"

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Honore

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The audience listened to the boring speech with _____ expressions on their faces.

A) bovine
B) blasé

Source:
Barron's Essential Words for the GRE, Philip Geer, Ed.M., 2007, page 57
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Dear Teacher,

The book gives the answer as A (bovine) in its Answer Key section, and the explanations of both words are given (page 56) as:

bovine: adj. cowlike
blasé: adj. bored because of frequent indulgence; unconcerned

Although there's a third meaning to the word "bovine" as "stolid, dull" provided by Bovine | Define Bovine at Dictionary.com , the book does not refer to it.

Is this answer (bovine) of the book right?

Thanks and regards.
 

Koronas

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Either word could be correct in that sentence. There is no way to be sure.
 

Rover_KE

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I would say 'bovine'.

Cows always look bored.

(Wouldn't you, with a lifestyle like theirs?)

'Blasé' to me means more like 'self-satisfied.'

Rover
 

emsr2d2

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I have to admit that I had never heard "bovine" used to mean "bored", so I've learnt something today.

Given that definition, I would also choose "bovine".

To me, "blasé" means very casually, without concern.

My friend has done 100 parachute jumps so now he's completely blasé about it.
The first time I went on stage, I was terrified but now I've been doing it for such a long time that I'm very blasé about it.
 

philadelphia

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Either word could be correct in that sentence. There is no way to be sure.

I could not agree more; both are correct to me. 'Blasé' is a French colloquial word very common here.
 
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