Here are 60 brief phrases, each containing one underlined word; it is up to you to check the closest definition of each such word. To keep your score valid, refrain, as far as possible, from wild guessing.
1. disheveled appearance:
(a) untidy
(b) fierce
(c) foolish
(d) peculiar
(e) unhappy
Answer – (a)
2. a baffling problem:
(a) difficult
(b) simple
(c) puzzling
(d) long
(e) new
Answer – (c)
3. lenient parent:
(a) tall
(b) not strict
(c) wise
(d) foolish
(e) severe
Answer – (b)
4. repulsive personality:
(a) disgusting
(b) attractive
(c) normal
(d) confused
(e) conceited
Answer – (a)
5. audacious attempt:
(a) useless
(b) bold
(c) foolish
(d) crazy
(e) necessary
Answer – (b)
6. parry a blow:
(a) ward off
(b) fear
(c) expect
(d) invite
(e) ignore
Answer – (a)
7. prevalent disease:
(a) dangerous
(b) catching
(c) childhood
(d) fatal
(e) widespread
Answer – (e)
8. ominous report:
(a) loud
(b) threatening
(c) untrue
(d) serious
(e) unpleasant
Answer – (b)
9. an incredible story:
(a) true
(b) interesting
(c) well-known
(d) unbelievable
(e) unknown
Answer – (d)
10. an ophthalmologist
(a) eye doctor
(b) skin doctor
(c) foot doctor
(d) heart doctor
(e) cancer specialist
Answer – (a)
11. will supersede the old law:
(a) enforce
(b) specify penalties for
(c) take the place of
(d) repeal
(e) continue
Answer – (c)
12. an anonymous donor:
(a) generous
(b) stingy
(c) well-known
(d) one whose name is not known
(e) reluctant
Answer – (d)
13. performed an autopsy:
(a) examination of living tissue
(b) examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death
(c) process in the manufacture of optical lenses
(d) operation to cure an organic disease
(e) series of questions to determine the causes of delinquent behavior
Answer – (b)
14. an indefatigable worker:
(a) well-paid
(b) tired
(c) skillful
(d) tireless
(e) pleasant
Answer – (d)
15. a confirmed atheist
(a) bachelor
(b) disbeliever in God
(c) believer in religion
(d) believer in science
(e) priest
Answer – (b)
16. endless loquacity:
(a) misery
(b) fantasy
(c) repetitiousness
(d) ill health
(e) talkativeness
Answer – (e)
17. a glib talker:
(a) smooth
(b) awkward
(c) loud
(d) friendly
(e) boring
Answer – (a)
18. an incorrigible optimist:
(a) happy
(b) beyond correction or reform
(c) foolish
(d) hopeful
(e) unreasonable
Answer – (b)
19. an ocular problem:
(a) unexpected
(b) insoluble
(c) visual
(d) continual
(e) imaginary
Answer – (c)
20. a notorious demagogue:
(a) rabble-rouser
(b) gambler
(c) perpetrator of financial frauds
(d) liar
(e) spendthrift
Answer – (a)
21. a naive attitude:
(a) unwise
(b) hostile
(c) unsophisticated
(d) friendly
(e) contemptuous
Answer – (c)
22. living in affluence:
(a) difficult circumstances
(b) countrified surroundings
(c) fear
(d) wealth
(e) poverty
Answer – (d)
23. in retrospect
(a) view of the past,
(b) artistic balance,
(c) anticipation,
(d) admiration,
(e) second thoughts
Answer – (a)
24. a gourmet
(a) seasoned traveler
(b) greedy eater
(c) vegetarian
(d) connoisseur of good food
(e) skillful chef
Answer – (d)
25. to simulate interest:
(a) pretend
(b) feel
(c) lose
(d) stir up
(e) ask for
Answer – (a)
26. a magnanimous action:
(a) puzzling
(b) generous
(c) foolish
(d) unnecessary
(e) wise
Answer – (b)
27. a clandestine meeting:
(a) prearranged
(b) hurried
(c) important
(d) secret
(e) public
Answer – (d)
28. the apathetic citizens:
(a) made up of separate ethnic groups
(b) keenly vigilant of their rights
(c) politically conservative
(d) indifferent, uninterested, uninvolved
(e) terrified
Answer – (d)
29. to placate his son:
(a) please
(b) help
(c) find a job for
(d) make arrangements for
(e) change a feeling of hostility to one of friendliness
Answer – (e)
30. to vacillate continually:
(a) avoid
(b) swing back and forth in indecision
(c) inject, (d) treat
(e) scold
Answer – (b)
31. a nostalgic feeling:
(a) nauseated
(b) homesick
(c) sharp
(d) painful
(e) delighted
Answer – (b)
32. feel antipathy:
(a) bashfulness
(b) stage fright
(c) friendliness
(d) hostility
(e) suspense
Answer – (d)
33. be more circumspect
(a) restrained
(b) confident
(c) cautious
(d) honest
(e) intelligent
Answer – (c)
34. an intrepid fighter for human rights:
(a) fearless
(b) eloquent
(c) popular
(d) experienced
(e) famous
Answer – (a)
35. diaphanous material:
(a) strong
(b) sheer and gauzy
(c) colorful
(d) expensive
(e) synthetic
Answer – (b)
36. a taciturn host:
(a) stingy
(b) generous
(c) disinclined to conversation
(d) charming
(e) gloomy
Answer – (c)
37. to malign his friend:
(a) accuse
(b) help
(c) disbelieve
(d) slander
(e) introduce
Answer – (d)
38. a congenital deformity:
(a) hereditary
(b) crippling
(c) slight
(d) incurable
(e) occurring at or during birth
Answer – (e)
39. a definite neurosis:
(a) plan
(b) emotional disturbance
(c) physical disease
(d) feeling of fear
(e) allergic reaction
Answer – (b)
40. made an unequivocal statement:
(a) hard to understand
(b) lengthy
(c) politically motivated
(d) clear and forthright
(e) supporting
Answer – (d)
41. vicarious enjoyment:
(a) complete
(b) unspoiled
(c) occurring from a feeling of identification with another
(d) long-continuing
(e) temporary
Answer – (c)
42. psychogenic ailment:
(a) incurable
(b) contagious
(c) originating in the mind
(d) intestinal
(e) imaginary
Answer – (c)
43. an anachronous attitude:
(a) unexplainable
(b) unreasonable
(c) belonging to a different time
(d) out of place
(e) unusual
Answer – (c)
44. her iconoclastic phase:
(a) artistic
(b) sneering at tradition
(c) troubled
(d) difficult
(e) religious
Answer – (b)
45. a tyro:
(a) dominating personality
(b) beginner
(c) accomplished musician
(d) dabbler
(e) serious student
Answer – (b)
46. a laconic reply:
(a) immediate
(b) assured
(c) terse and meaningful
(d) unintelligible
(e) angry
Answer – (c)
47. semantic confusion:
(a) relating to the meaning of words
(b) pertaining to money
(c) having to do with the emotions
(d) relating to mathematics
(e) caused by inner turmoil
Answer – (a)
48. cavalier treatment:
(a) courteous
(b) haughty and highhanded
(c) negligent
(d) affectionate
(e) expensive
Answer – (b)
49. an anomalous situation:
(a) dangerous
(b) intriguing
(c) unusual
(d) pleasant
(e) unhappy
Answer – (c)
50. posthumous child:
(a) cranky
(b) brilliant
(c) physically weak
(d) illegitimate
(e) born after the death of the father
Answer – (e)
51. feels enervated:
(a) full of ambition
(b) full of strength
(c) completely exhausted
(d) troubled
(e) full of renewed energy
Answer – (c)
52. shows perspicacity:
(a) sincerity
(b) mental keenness
(c) love
(d) faithfulness
(e) longing
Answer – (b)
53. an unpopular martinet
(a) candidate
(b) supervisor
(c) strict disciplinarian
(d) military leader
(e) discourteous snob
Answer – (c)
54. gregarious person:
(a) outwardly calm
(b) very sociable
(c) completely untrustworthy
(d) vicious
(e) self-effacing and timid
Answer – (b)
55. generally phlegmatic:
(a) smug, self-satisfied
(b) easily pleased
(c) nervous, high-strung
(d) emotionally unresponsive
(e) lacking in social graces
Answer – (d)
56. an inveterate gambler:
(a) impoverished
(b) successful
(c) habitual
(d) occasional
(e) superstitious
Answer – (c)
57. an egregious error:
(a) outstandingly bad
(b) slight
(c) irreparable
(d) unnecessary
(e) deliberate
Answer – (a)
58. cacophony of a large city:
(a) political administration
(b) crowded living conditions
(c) cultural advantages
(d) unpleasant noises, harsh sounds
(e) busy traffic
Answer – (d)
59. a prurient adolescent:
(a) tall and gangling
(b) sexually longing
(c) clumsy, awkward
(d) sexually attractive
(e) soft-spoken
Answer – (b)
60. uxorious husband:
(a) henpecked
(b) suspicious
(c) guilty of infidelity
(d) fondly and foolishly doting on his wife
(e) tightfisted, penny-pinching
Answer – (d)
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