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Test your basic knowledge |
Complete Advanced Sentences
Start Test
Study First
Subjects
:
english
,
grammar
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. Flat prose and flat ginger are equally _____; both lack sparkle.
laconic
insipid
colloquial
volatile
2. It is _____ that his success came when he least wanted it.
concise
astute
ironic
succinct
3. Although defeat appeared inevitable - the general was _____ in his refusal to surrender.
recluse
obdurate
arbitrary
reprimand
4. Despite airing her clothes for several hours - she could not rid them of the _____ odor of mothballs that clung to them.
relegate
hierarchy
pervasive
cryptic
5. Historically - traders and missionaries often proved themselves to be _____ explorers - bravely venturing into new territories despite the dangers involved.
notoriety
meticulous
adversity
interpid
6. Seeking the end of slavery - the abolitionists _____ freedom for the slaves.
innocuous
interpid
disdain
advocate
7. Shrewdly purchasing valuable plots of land for small sums - John Jacob Astor gained a reputation as an _____ investor.
astute
satirical
meticulous
insipid
8. When Amanda said to the ticket scalper - 'One hundred bucks? What do you want - a pound of flesh?' she was making an _____ to Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice.
detachment
allusion
skeptic
conciliatory
9. The reviewers heaped _____ on the novice playwright - ridiculing his pretentious dialogue - flat characters - and simple-minded plot.
relegate
derision
rectify
credulity
10. The mayor was unwilling to _____ the plan until she was sure it had the governor's backing.
implement
heresy
inadvertently
insipid
11. My Uncle Henry can out-talk any three people I know. he is the most _____ man in Cayuga County.
reserve
repudiate
garrulous
surreptitious
12. The recent corruption scandals have _____ many people's faith in the city government.
undermine
extol
enhance
refute
13. Although the University of California at Berkeley is just one part of the state university system - in many ways - Cal Berkeley is _____ - for it runs several programs that are not subject to state control.
renounce
inadvertently
autonomous
exemplary
14. Con artists take advantage of the _____ of inexperienced Internet users to gain access to their credit card information.
disparity
credulity
predilection
delineate
15. Although Alfred _____ in fulfilling his duties at work - he is less conscientious about meeting his obligations at home.
extraneous
hyperbole
extricate
scrupulous
16. The airline customer service agent tried to _____ the angry passenger by offering her a seat in first class.
mollify
decorum
alleviate
zealot
17. Disappointed in love - Miss Emily became a _____; she shut herself away in her empty mansion and refused to see another living soul.
belie
recluse
gregarious
soporific
18. I was bowled over by the _____ of Amy's welcome. What an enthusiastic greeting!
malicious
emulate
exuberance
endorse
19. The senator was _____ for behavior inappropriate to a member of Congress.
prolific
censure
adulation
ambivalence
20. An occasional glass of wine with dinner is relatively _____ and should have no ill effect on you.
divergent
proximity
impede
innocuous
21. When Johnny came down with a bad case of poison oak - the doctor recommended calamine lotion to _____ the itching.
resigned
alleviate
expedient
mundane
22. Noticing the _____ glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter - the clerk wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter in the store.
adulation
dogmatic
apathy
furtive
23. Galileo's assertion that the earth moved around the sun directly contradicted the religious teachings of his day; as a result - he was tried for _____.
adversity
heresy
discerning
guile
24. Although Georgia O'Keeffe painted many subjects over the years - she had a definite _____ for painting flowers.
hyperbole
dogmatic
quandary
predilection
25. There's no point to what you're saying. Why are you bothering to make such _____ remarks?
inane
resolution
inherent
coercion
26. Although Georgia O'Keeffe painted subjects over the years - she had a definite _____ for painting flowers.
disseminate
disdain
anarchy
predilection
27. Though Aunt Bea at times had to _____ Opie for inattention in church - she believed he was at heart a God-fearing lad.
reprove
malicious
condone
satirical
28. Jealous of Cinderella's beauty - her _____ stepsisters expressed their spite by forcing her to do menial tasks.
predilection
repudiate
malicious
abridge
29. Although her early poetry was clearly _____ in nature - the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.
impair
derivative
eulogy
gregarious
30. Instead of delivering a spoken _____ at Genny's memorial service - Jeff sang a song he had written in her honor.
eulogy
elusive
erudite
capricious
31. The reviewers praised the new restaurant's _____ selection of dishes - which ranged from Asian stir fries to French ragouts and stews.
fallacious
eclectic
ostentatious
oblivion
32. Uncertain which suitor she ought to accept - the princess _____ - first favoring one and then the other.
instigate
rebuttal
inherent
vacillate
33. In a fiery speech - Mario _____ his fellow students to go out on strike to protest the university's anti-affirmative action stand.
terse
incite
reticent
pragmatic
34. Although her _____ smile and gentle bearing made Miss Marple seem to be a sweet little old lady - in reality she was a tough-minded - shrewd observer of human nature.
instigate
peripheral
benign
mundane
35. Though Widow Douglas had hopes of reforming Huck - Miss Watson considered him _____ and swore he would come to no good end.
guile
retract
contentious
incorrigible
36. Although Eric knew the boss had no sense of humor - he couldn't resist making one _____ remark.
jocular
emulate
scrutiny
anarchy
37. The uncrowned queen of the fashion industry - Diana was famous for her _____ taste.
garrulous
impeccable
recount
contentious
38. His coarse - hard-bitten exterior _____ his inner sensitivity.
belie
immutable
soporific
derision
39. Although Nancy enjoyed Bill's _____ - lighthearted companionship - she sometimes wondered whether he could ever be serious.
frivolous
vacillate
cryptic
adversity
40. The headmaster's _____ demeanor tended to care off the more timid students - who never visited his study willingly.
austere
renounce
guile
levity
41. Looking for any inconsistency in the testimony that might exonerate his client - the defense lawyer pounced on a _____ between the two witnesses' versions of what had occurred.
discrepancy
incongruous
ambivalence
contentious
42. Because Webster's dictionary had grown so large and unwieldy - the publishers decided to _____ it and bring out a condensed version.
autonomous
reserve
endorse
abridge
43. Even the best-mannered students have trouble behaving with _____ on the last day of school.
decorum
transient
altruistic
meticulous
44. When Elizabeth realized that Darcy considered himself too good to dance with his inferiors - she took great offense at his _____.
haughtiness
extol
strident
predilection
45. This alleged fiscal crisis is no crisis at all. it is based on _____ claims about financial institutions and on scare stories about impending economic ruin.
eclectic
exacerbate
discerning
specious
46. According to Sherlock Homes - the very point that appears to complicate a case - when duly considered and scientifically handled - is the one most likely to _____ it.
elucidate
refute
apathy
mitigate
47. Because Sal once had fallen asleep while reading War and Peace - he thought that all Russian novels were _____.
soporific
peripheral
colloquial
prevalent
48. At evening block inspection - the recruits' bunk room - washroom - and gear come under the inspecting officer's close _____.
divergent
scrutiny
opulence
verbose
49. To John - who had never missed a meal - hunger was an _____ concept - one he understood only in theory.
abstract
disparage
taciturn
transient
50. The museum curator placed the Eskimo-carved wooden totem pole in _____ with two contemporary stone masks from Africa - creating a stunning effect.
disdain
taciturn
indifferent
juxtaposition