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. Brilliant/glowing






2. Book - usually large and academic






3. To add ornamental or fictitious details - adorn - bedeck - elaborate






4. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






5. Deep hole






6. A compact or close knit body of people or animals or things - legion






7. Set fire/excite






8. Frolicsome/ playful






9. Clever - deceptive






10. To calm down or moderate - to temperate - quench - satisfy






11. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






12. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






13. Perceptive/sharp






14. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






15. Fluctuate between choices - to dither - vacillate - oscillate






16. A song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person






17. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






18. To disavow/reject validity of/deny/disown






19. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






20. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






21. Finely sensitive to feelings or in perception. Ex - ... of the danger posed by the approaching hurricane






22. Innocent - simple - frank - sincere - naiive - credulous - gullible






23. Theft of property






24. Bourgeois/ vulgarian/ boor/ materialistic not appreciating artistic or intellectual value






25. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






26. Truthfulness






27. Self-evident truth - adage - maxim - apothegm






28. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency






29. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






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






31. Meal or mealtime - feast - banquet






32. An expert in matters of culture - food - or wine






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






34. Courageous; brave; valiant; valorous - audacious - intrepid






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






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






37. Self contradictory






38. An investigation or inquiry






39. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






40. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






41. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






42. To choose not to do something






43. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






44. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






45. Fearless - intrepid - venturesome - valiant - valorous - game - gallant - plucky






46. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






47. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






48. Lacking energy or enthusiasm - lethargic - indolent - languid - like ready in spanish






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






50. Relaxation - tranquility