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