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. Fearless - adventurous - audacious - plucky - gallant






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






3. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






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






5. Impossible to see through - preventing the passage of light - obscure






6. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






7. Fundamentally distinct or dissimilar






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






9. Point of culmination/ pinnacle/ acme






10. Clever - deceptive






11. Excess






12. Sociable; fond of the company of others






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






14. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






15. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






16. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






17. Deep hole






18. Make impure/debase






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






20. To perceive or recognize






21. Imbue - permeate - penetrate - suffuse






22. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






23. Rebellion - mutiny






24. Elaborated to excess: overdone - extremely excited: agitated - hectic - frenzied - heated Ex - She became ... when she heard that her child was missing






25. Absolute - certain - explicit - categorical






26. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






27. Unsettled - swaying - fluctuate - vacillate - wandering from one place to another - waver






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






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






30. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






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






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






33. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






34. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






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






36. An orator who appeals to the passions and prejudices of his audience - false leader






37. Express grieve - deplore - bewail






38. Funeral bell/ omen of death






39. Perceptive/sharp






40. Assuage - relieve - to make more bearable - placate






41. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






42. Cooperation - mutual helpfulness - interdependence






43. Growing in number quickly/spawn






44. Impossible to penetrate - impregnable






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






46. Influence or domination over






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






48. To polish






49. To choose not to do something






50. Unclear or doubtful in meaning