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 compact or close knit body of people or animals or things - legion






2. Old/antique/bygone/stale






3. Dictatorial in one's opinion - imperious






4. Point of culmination/ pinnacle/ acme






5. Expressing yourself easily or characterized by clear expressive language






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






7. Clear and easily understood - limpid - intelligible






8. Wordy/not succinct/ineloquent






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






10. Pretentious/grandiloquent/pompous






11. Perceptive/sharp






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






13. Hackneyed - trite - commonplace - quotidian






14. Brilliant/glowing






15. Dirge - lament - a sorrowful speech or poem






16. To expand like a woman in labor






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






18. Ductile/easily shaped/pliable/adaptable






19. Set fire/excite






20. An investigation or inquiry






21. Know or understood by only a few - abstruse - arcane






22. 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 ...






23. Speak - plead - or argue in favour of






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






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






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






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






28. Capricious; randomly chosen; tyrannical






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






30. Mark of disgrace






31. Eject/discard like in excess fuel






32. Undecorated - stern in appearance - bleak - grim






33. Characterized by severe suffering or sorrow - serious or grave






34. Extremely generous or extravagant - exuberant - opulent - prodigal - profuse - bombastic






35. Altruism/ charity






36. Pertaining to beauty






37. Funeral bell/ omen of death






38. Sway/dither/flutter/fluctuate






39. Self-evident truth - adage - maxim - apothegm






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






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






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






43. Adamant - stubborn -unruly - obstinate - intransigent






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






45. Deceptive scheme; clever trick






46. Clearly and directly stated - opposite of implicit






47. Mournful speech - funeral hymn - elegy






48. Coming into being; in early developmental stages






49. Caution/thrift/widom






50. (of someone) suspicious; wary; cautious