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. agile climber: (a) lively, (b) tired, (c) skillful, (d) careful, (e) stubborn

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. a good oculist: (a) eye doctor, (b) skin doctor, (c) foot doctor, (d) heart

doctor, (e) bone doctor

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

(e) pleasant

15. a confirmed atheist: (a) bachelor, (b) disbeliever in God, (c) believer in

religion, (d) believer in science, (e) priest

16. a loquacious woman: (a) tall, (b) beautiful, (c) homely, (d) sweet, (e)

talkative

17. a glib talker: (a) smooth, (b) awkward, (c) loud, (d) friendly, (e) boring

18. to philander: (a) work hard, (b) make love triflingly, (c) save money, (d)

be in doubt, (e) try unsuccessfully

19. an ocular difficulty: (a) unexpected, (b) insurmountable, (c) pertaining

to the eye, (d) real, (e) imaginary

20. questionable paternity: (a) fatherhood, (b) truthfulness, (c) value, (d)

knowledge, (e) wisdom

21. a naive attitude: (a) unwise, (b) hostile, (c) unsophisticated, (d) friendly,

(e) contemptuous

22. living in affluence: (a) dirt, (b) countrified surroundings, (c) fear, (d)

wealth, (e) poverty

23. more pleasant in retrospect: (a) back view, (b) freedom, (c) acceptance,

(d) leisure, (e) anticipation

24. a real gourmet: (a) teacher, (b) greedy eater, (c) vegetarian, (d)

connoisseur of good food, (e) antique

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) periodical

28. the apathetic populace: (a) made up of various national stocks, (b)

keenly vigilant of their rights, (c) densely packed (d) indifferent,

uninterested, (e) prehistoric

29. to placate his wife: (a) divorce, (b) make a gift to, (c) make

arrangements for, (d) help, (e) change hostility to friendliness

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 campaigner: (a) fearless, (b) eloquent, (c) popular, (d)

experienced, (e) famous

35. diaphanous material: (a) strong, (b) sheer and gauzy, (c) colorful, (d)

expensive, (e) sleazy

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 financially, (c) disbelieve, (d)

slander, (e) discard

38. a congenital deformity: (a) horrible, (b) crippling, (c) slight, (d)

incurable, (e) occurring at or during birth

39. a definite neurosis: (a) plan, (b) emotional maladjustment, (c) mental

derangement, (d) feeling of fear, (e) physical reaction

40. took an unequivocal stand: (a) indecisive, (b) well-intentioned, (c)

unexpected, (d) definite, (e) dangerous

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) caused by the

emotions, (d) intestinal, (e) imaginary

43. an anachronous attitude: (a) unexplainable, (b) religious, (c) belonging

to a different time, (d) out-of-place, (e) unusual

44. his iconoclastic phase: (a) artistic, (b) sneering at tradition, (c) troubled,

(d) difficult, (e) religious

45. a tyro: (a) dominating personality, (b) beginner, (c) accomplished

46. a laconic reply: (a) immediate, (b) assured, (c) terse and meaningful, (d)

unintelligible, (e) angry

47. semantic confusion: (a) relating to the meanings of words, (b) pertaining

to money, (c) having to do with the emotions, (d) relating to

mathematics, (e) scientific

48. cavalier treatment: (a) courteous, (b) high-handed, (c) negligent, (d)

incomplete, (e) expensive

49. an anomalous situation: (a) dangerous, (b) intriguing, (c) unusual, (d)

pleasant, (e) unhappy

50. posthumous child: (a) cranky, (b) brilliant beyond his years, (c)

physically weak, (d) illegitimate, (e) born after the death of his father

51. feels enervated: (a) full of ambition, (b) full of strength, (c) completely

exhausted, (d) troubled, (e) weak

52. shows true perspicacity: (a) sincerity, (b) mental keenness, (c) love, (d)

faithfulness, (e) longing

53. a sycophantic attitude: (a) sneering, (b) unbelieving, (c) bootlicking, (d)

surprising, (e) contemptible

54. gregarious person: (a) calm, (b) company-loving, (c) untrustworthy, (d)

vicious, (e) self-sacrificing

55. sufficiently phlegmatic: (a) satisfied, (b) annoyed, (c) high-strung, (d)

emotionally calm, (e) irritating

56. consummate scoundrel: (a) repentant, (b) punished, (c) perfect, (d)

vicious, (e) unreformable

57. an egregious blunder: (a) outstandingly bad, (b) slight, (c) irreparable,

(d) unnecessary, (e) humorous

58. cacophony of the city: (a) political administration, (b) crowded living

conditions, (c) cultural advantages, (d) harsh sounds, (e) foul odors

59. a prurient adolescent: (a) tall and gangling, (b) sexually longing, (c)

clumsy and awkward, (d) pimply faced, (e) soft-spoken

60. uxorious husband: (a) henpecked, (b) suspicious, (c) guilty of infidelity,
(d) fondly and foolishly doting on his wife, (e) lovesick

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, 59—b, 60—d