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. Self contradictory






2. To attack or assault - beset






3. Respected because of age






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






5. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






6. Frolicsome/ playful






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






8. Flamboyant/verve/dash






9. Influence or domination over






10. Determined by chance or impulse or whim rather than by necessity or reason






11. To act confusedly or without a purpose - waver - falter - hesitate - vacillate






12. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






13. 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 ...






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






15. Extreme devotion/frenzied/zealous






16. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






17. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






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






19. Temporary; lasting a brief time






20. Turmoil/disorder






21. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






22. Stubborn; hardheaded; uncompromising - adamant - intransigent - intractable






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






24. An investigation or inquiry






25. Plastic/phony/pretentious






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






27. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






28. Wandering and unpredictable






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






30. Clever - deceptive






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






32. Perceptive/sharp






33. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






34. Philistine/bourgeois/superficial/materialistic






35. Purposeful exaggeration for effect - embellishment - inflation






36. Recklessly wasteful; extravagant; profuse; lavish






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






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






39. Commonplace - everyday occurrence - banal






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






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






42. Unclear or doubtful in meaning






43. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






44. Intricate and complicated - byzantine - labyrinthine - tangled






45. Expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language






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






47. Coalesce - fuse






48. Make impure/debase






49. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






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