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. Growing in number quickly/spawn






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






3. To taint or tarnish - besmirch - defile






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






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






6. Theft of property






7. Set fire/excite






8. Self contradictory






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






10. Effective writing or speaking






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






12. Using an inoffensive word instead of an offensive one






13. Suggest - propose an explanation






14. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






15. A firmly held opinion - especially a religious belief






16. Credulous/ easily deceived/ simple minded/ingenuous/gullible






17. Book - usually large and academic






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






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






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






21. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






22. Clever - deceptive






23. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






24. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






25. Flamboyant/verve/dash






26. Caution/thrift/widom






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






28. Speech in praise of someone - laud - extol - commend






29. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






30. Influence or domination over






31. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






32. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






33. Old/antique/bygone/stale






34. A trace of something that once was present






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






36. To injure or destroy the surface or appearance of; to damage the value - influence - or effect of; to face down - outshine






37. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






38. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






39. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






40. Sociable; fond of the company of others






41. Ungrateful person - cad - churl






42. A ghost of a living person seen just before his or her death - apparition - bogeyman - phantasm






43. The highest point (of something) - zenith - pinnacle






44. Appease/mollify/to soothe or pacify






45. Turmoil/disorder






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






47. Altruism/ charity






48. Tolerant - broad-minded






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






50. Passion - excitement - fervor - ardency