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






2. Plastic/phony/pretentious






3. Flamboyant/verve/dash






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






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






6. Long harsh speech or verbal attack - diatribe - fulmination - harangue - vilification - obloquy






7. Respected because of age






8. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






9. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






10. The trait of lacking enthusiasm for or interest in things generally






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






12. Dormant - unused - unseeded - idle






13. Sociable; fond of the company of others






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






15. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






16. Earthbound - commonplace - down-to-earth - tellurian - quotidian






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






18. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






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






20. Nonsensical talk - specialized language - argot - cant - slang






21. A woman making a debut in high society/lady






22. Make impure/debase






23. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






24. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






25. Self contradictory






26. Tending to be thrifty or cheap - prudence - sparing - parsimony






27. Temporary suppression or suspension - remission - delay






28. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






29. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






30. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






31. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






32. Beliefs or character of a group - ethics - philosophy






33. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






34. Old/antique/bygone/stale






35. Controversy - argument - verbal attack - refutation






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






37. Commute/replace/superceded






38. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






39. Differing in kind; dissimilar; varied






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






41. Rude and bad-tempered - grumpy






42. Easily aroused






43. Extremely careful; particular about details - scrupulous - picky - finicky - similar to articulate






44. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






45. To choose not to do something






46. Something bringing change to something else indirectly - impetus - goad - stimulant






47. To perceive or recognize






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






49. 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 ...






50. High secluded place - a nest built high in the air; an elevated - often secluded - dwelling