Test your basic knowledge |

Challenging Words

Subjects : english, vocabulary
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






2. Rebellion - mutiny






3. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






4. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






5. A subtle expression of meaning or quality - gradation - tone






6. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






7. Point of culmination/ pinnacle/ acme






8. To polish






9. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






10. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






11. Theft of property






12. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






13. An investigation or inquiry






14. To please someone so as to gain an advantage. Ex - ... themselves with the leaders.






15. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






16. Sharp and irritating to the senses - acrid - acrimonious - piquant - caustic - poignant






17. Commonplace - everyday occurrence - banal






18. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






19. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






20. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






21. Blocked path - dilemma with no solution - cul-de-sac - deadlock - stalemate






22. Characterized by severe suffering or sorrow - serious or grave






23. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






24. Peripheral - irrelevant - digressive - extraneous diverting - inconsequential






25. Deep hole






26. Sociable; fond of the company of others






27. Fresh and clean; uncorrupted ex - A ... beach






28. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






29. Coalesce - fuse






30. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






31. Bell tower - room where bell is hung - steeple - spire






32. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






33. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






34. Know or understood by only a few - abstruse - arcane






35. Mark of disgrace






36. A gradual increase or the peak of a gradual increase. Ex - complaints about stifling smog conditions reached a ...






37. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






38. Stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising - adamant - intransigent - intractable






39. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






40. To judge a dispute - adjudge - adjudicate - intervene - referee - rule






41. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






42. Suffused with light: luminous - clear to the understanding: intelligible - sane. Ex - His ... history of this grim subject is scrupulously accurate - so far as I am able to judge ...






43. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






44. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






45. Not apparent/dormant/quiescent/inert like hidden energy






46. To anger - to provoke - incite - vex - or pester






47. Pertaining to beauty






48. Growth process from conception to birth - pregnancy - gravidity






49. To inspire; to permeate; to fill with a mood or tone - to pervade






50. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian