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. Inertia/standstill/ stagnation






2. To penetrate through spaces; to spread throughout - imbue - pervade






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






4. Turmoil/disorder






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






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






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






8. A puzzle - a mystery - conundrum - perplexity






9. Ornament against evil/talisman/fetish






10. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






11. Old/antique/bygone/stale






12. To polish






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






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






15. An amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge






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






17. Well-spoken; expressive; articulate - meticulous






18. Equivalent to - alike - parallel






19. Clever - deceptive






20. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






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






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






23. To expand like a woman in labor






24. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






25. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






26. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






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






28. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






29. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






30. Not harmful or injurious; harmless






31. Airtight; secret; obscure; magical; mysterious






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






33. Perceptive/sharp






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






35. Coalesce - fuse






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






37. Social outcast






38. Easily deceived - credulous - naiive - ingenguous






39. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious






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






41. Mark of disgrace






42. Sociable; fond of the company of others






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






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






45. To grow together and form a single whole - amalgamate - fuse - condense






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






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






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






49. Book - usually large and academic






50. Respected because of age