25 questions. Try each one, then open the answer to check yourself and read the explanation.
Choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The professor tried to obfuscate the issue by giving vague explanations.
Answer: B (confuse)
To obfuscate is to make something unclear on purpose, so it means to confuse.
Choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The beauty of the rainbow was ephemeral.
Answer: C (short-lived)
Ephemeral describes something that lasts only a very short time.
Choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics: Mobile phones have become ubiquitous in modern society.
Answer: B (everywhere)
Ubiquitous means found everywhere.
Choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics: The classroom was filled with a cacophony of voices during the break.
Answer: C (harsh noise)
A cacophony is a harsh, unpleasant mixture of sounds.
Choose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the word in italics: Chinua Achebe is regarded as the quintessential African novelist.
Answer: A (typical)
Quintessential means the most typical or perfect example of something.
Choose the word or group of words that is opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The lecturer's explanation was esoteric. The students would have understood it better if it had been ________
Answer: C (exoteric)
Esoteric means understood only by a few insiders; exoteric means simple enough for the general public, its opposite.
Choose the word or group of words that is opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The bride looked pulchritudinous in her elegant gown.
Answer: A (ugly)
Pulchritudinous means very beautiful, so its opposite is ugly.
Choose the word or group of words that is opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The manager remained intransigent despite repeated appeals from the staff.
Answer: B (flexible)
Intransigent means refusing to change one's position; the opposite is flexible. The other options are synonyms.
Choose the word or group of words that is opposite in meaning to the word in italics: Smoking has pernicious effects on human health.
Answer: B (beneficial)
Pernicious means harmful, so the opposite is beneficial.
Choose the word or group of words that is opposite in meaning to the word in italics: The magnanimous winner chose to forgive his opponent.
Answer: C (selfish)
Magnanimous means generous and forgiving; selfish is the opposite.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The officer was punished for gross ________ during the parade.
Answer: D (misconduct)
'Gross misconduct' is the fixed expression for seriously improper behaviour at work.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The prison recorded a rise in ________ among released inmates.
Answer: B (recidivism)
Recidivism is the tendency of released offenders to commit crimes again.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The teacher found it difficult to manage the ________ student who refused all instructions.
Answer: C (recalcitrant)
Recalcitrant describes someone who stubbornly refuses to obey authority or instructions.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The judge described the accused as ________ in his refusal to show remorse.
Answer: A (obdurate)
Only an adjective fits after 'as', and obdurate means stubbornly hard-hearted, refusing to feel sorry.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The soldier's open ________ of authority led to his dismissal.
Answer: A (defiance)
'Defiance of authority' means openly resisting or challenging it.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The boy was labelled ________ after repeatedly violating school rules.
Answer: A (incorrigible)
Incorrigible describes someone whose bad behaviour cannot be corrected.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: Stealing from a colleague is a serious ________ of company rules.
Answer: A (transgression)
A transgression is an act that breaks a rule or law.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The rise in youth ________ has become a concern for the community.
Answer: A (delinquency)
'Youth (juvenile) delinquency' is minor crime and antisocial behaviour by young people.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The committee condemned the politician's ________ behaviour during the debate.
Answer: B (reprehensible)
An adjective is needed before 'behaviour', and something condemned is reprehensible (deserving blame).
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The witness gave a ________ account of what happened at the scene.
Answer: B (coherent)
A coherent account is clear and logical, which is what a useful witness gives.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The judge praised the lawyer for his ________ argument in court.
Answer: B (persuasive)
Only a positive word fits 'praised'; a persuasive argument convinces people.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: Neither the teachers nor the principal ________ present at the meeting yesterday.
Answer: A (was)
With 'neither…nor' the verb agrees with the nearer subject, 'the principal' (singular), and 'yesterday' needs the past: was.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The committee ________ divided in its opinion about the new policy.
Answer: B (is)
The pronoun 'its' shows the committee is treated as a single body, so the verb must be singular: 'The committee is divided in its opinion'. 'Are' and 'were' are plural and 'have' does not fit.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: A number of students ________ absent from class yesterday.
Answer: B (were)
'A number of' means 'several' and takes a plural verb; 'yesterday' needs the past: were.
Choose the word that best completes the sentence: The news ________ spread quickly across the community.
Answer: C (is)
'News' is an uncountable noun and always takes a singular verb.