Q1. Exempt most nearly means
- A. empty.
- B. exit.
- C. excuse.
- D. anoint.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
Exempt means “to free someone from a rule or requirement.” The words empty, exit, and anoint do not seem related to the definition. The only word that comes close to this is C, excuse.
Q2. Recruit most nearly means
- A. react.
- B. enlist.
- C. permit.
- D. recur.
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
To recruit means “to take on, sign up, or enlist members into an organization or club.” The words react, permit, and recur do not relate to
the definition. So B, enlist, is the correct answer.
Q3. The decision was unanimous.
- A. Questioned
- B. Undisputed
- C. Selective
- D. Trivial
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Unanimous uses the prefix “uni-,” or “one,” as unity or unify. The only word that relates to the concept of one or unity is undisputed, suggesting that everyone agrees. Choice B is the correct answer. The words questioned, selective, and trivial do not relate to the definition.
Q4. Temperamental most nearly means
- A. benevolent.
- B. lazy.
- C. volatile.
- D. demure.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
Temperamental most nearly means “volatile.” Think of temperament or having a temper. Choice C is the correct answer.
Q5. He chose the economical solution.
- A. Costly
- B. Logical
- C. Comical
- D. Thrifty
View Correct Answer
Answer: D
Economical has to do with finances or the economy. The words logical and comical have no relation to finances, so they can be eliminated as
possibilities. This leaves costly and thrifty as the two possible answers. Since being economical means not wasting money, time, or other resources, choice D, thrifty, is the correct answer.
Q6. The promotion made Darrell happy.
- A. Notice
- B. Gift
- C. Elevation
- D. Letter
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
The prefix pro- means “forward.” Motion has to do with moving. Combining the two gives you “moving forward.” The only word related to this is elevation, meaning “to move forward or higher up in the ranks.” Choice C is the correct answer
Q7. Her behavior was unpredictable.
- A. Consistent
- B. Random
- C. Dependable
- D. Regular
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
The prefix un- means “not.” So the word means “not predictable.” If something cannot be predicted, it is not consistent, dependable, or regular, as these words are somewhat the opposite of the definition. So the correct answer has to be choice B, random.
Q8. Deny most nearly means
- A. state.
- B. avoid.
- C. refuse.
- D. open.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
To deny means “to refuse to accept as correct or not to grant or give something.” State, avoid, and openly do not relate to the definition. Refuse is the closest word to that meaning, so choice C is the correct answer
Q9. Making that decision at that time was irresponsible.
- A. Hapless
- B. Giddy
- C. Easy
- D. Reckless
View Correct Answer
Answer: D
The prefix ir- means “not.” Irresponsible, then, means “not responsible.” Hapless, giddy, and easy do not relate to the definition. Reckless
is the only word that reflects the correct meaning, so choice D is the correct answer.
Q10. Persistent most nearly means
- A. gentle.
- B. unrelenting.
- C. resigned.
- D. manageable.
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Persistent means “refusing to give up.” Gentle, resigned, and manageable does not relate to this idea. Unrelenting, choice B, is the correct answer.
Q11. The opponent was more dominant.
- A. Helpful
- B. Overriding
- C. Understanding
- D. Joyous
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Dominant means “being overpowering or prevailing” or “ruling by a superior power.” The words joyous, understanding, and helpful do not match the definition. The word most closely related to the definition is overriding, so choice B is the correct answer.
Q12. Mark was more conscientious than his friend.
- A. Painstaking
- B. Popular
- C. Friendly
- D. Handsome
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
Conscientious has to do with doing what is correct. Knowing that, you can eliminate the words popular, friendly, and handsome.
The word painstaking is most closely related to the meaning of conscientious, so choice A is the correct answer.
Q13. Diversion most nearly means
- A. distraction.
- B. containment.
- C. pressure.
- D. supply.
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
A diversion is something that makes you turn aside or distract your attention. The words containment, pressure, and supply do not match
the definition. So, distraction, choice A, is the correct answer.
Q14. The assumption was that she was correct.
- A. Belief
- B. Decision
- C. Rumor
- D. Guess
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
To assume means “to take for granted or to presume that something is true.” So assumption has to do with taking something to be true or
correct. The words decision, rumor, and guess do not match the definition. The word belief most closely relates to this idea. The correct answer is choice A.
Q15. Profess most nearly means
- A. work.
- B. claim.
- C. disguise.
- D. accuse.
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
To profess means “to proclaim, state, or declare.” The words work, disguise, and accuse do not match the definition. The word most nearly resembles this idea is claim, so choice B is the correct answer.
Q16. The substance of their argument was trivial.
- A. Sinister
- B. Inconsequential
- C. Sad
- D. Demanding
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Trivial means “unimportant or insignificant.” The words sinister, sad, and demanding do not match the definition. Inconsequential, choice B,
is the correct answer.
Q17. His attitude was optimistic.
- A. Grouchy
- B. Angry
- C. Unusual
- D. Positive
View Correct Answer
Answer: D
Optimistic means “having a hopeful view of the world,” so the words grouchy, angry, and unusual can be eliminated. Positive, choice D, is the correct answer.
Q18. Variable most nearly means
- A. different.
- B. gloomy.
- C. changeable.
- D. bifurcate.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
To vary means “to change,” so variable means changeable. Choice C is the correct answer.
Q19. His words needed clarification.
- A. Expansion
- B. Explanation
- C. Elimination
- D. Recognition
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
A clarification makes information clearer or more explicit, so the elimination and recognition of the word are wrong. The word expansion could have to do with providing more information to clarify something, but an explanation, choice B, is the best answer.
Q20. The view was panoramic.
- A. Beautiful
- B. Unrealistic
- C. Stylistic
- D. Expansive
View Correct Answer
Answer: D
Panoramic means “providing a wide view.” So beautiful, unrealistic, and stylistic are not related to the word. The best answer is choice D,
expansive.
Q21. Compassionate most nearly means
- A. unwieldy.
- B. modern.
- C. concerned.
- D. restrictive.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
The prefix com- means “to bring together.” Passionate has to do with strong, caring feelings. Combining those ideas suggests that compassion has to do with bringing strong or deep feelings together. The words unwieldy, modern, and restrictive do not match the definition. The only word that deals with feelings is concerned. Choice C is the correct answer.
Q22. Contingent most nearly means
- A. rapid.
- B. dependent.
- C. difficult.
- D. mysterious.
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
One event is contingent upon another if it will happen only if the second event occurs. The best synonym is choice B, dependent.
Q23. Velocity most nearly means
- A. variety.
- B. veracity.
- C. swiftness.
- D. overflow.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
Velocity has to do with quickness or speediness. The words variety, veracity, and overflow do not match the definition. So swiftness, choice
C, is the correct answer
Q24. Her house was immaculate.
- A. Cleaned
- B. Spotless
- C. Large
- D. Fancy
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Immaculate means “without flaws or errors.” The words large and fancy do not match the definition. A house that has been cleaned may
be immaculate, but spotless is the closest word to “without flaws or errors.” Choice B is the best answer.
Q25. The visibility that day was very poor.
- A. Clarity
- B. Test
- C. Observation
- D. Dichotomy
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
Visible relates to “being able to see something” or “vision,” so visibility must have to do with being able to see. Test and dichotomy do not match the definition. A view may be an observation, but that is not the best answer. Clarity is the only word that relates to the definition of “being able to see.” Choice A is the best answer.
Q26. The wind was so strong that the boat capsized.
- A. Overturned
- B. Accelerated
- C. Tilted
- D. Docked
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
Capsized means “turned over.” The words accelerated, tilted, and docked do not match the definition. Choice A, overturned, is the correct
answer
Q27. The elected official abdicated responsibility for the situation.
- A. Welcomed
- B. Cheered
- C. Transitioned
- D. Abandoned
View Correct Answer
Answer: D
Abdicated means “gave up or surrendered.” Welcomed, cheered, and transitioned are unrelated to this concept. Abandoned is most closely
related to the word abdicated. Choice D is the correct answer.
Q28. Her skills made her eligible for the position.
- A. Qualified
- B. Eager
- C. Adequate
- D. Thankful
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
Eligible means “fit to be chosen.” The words eager, adequate, and thankful are unrelated to this concept. Choice A, qualified, fits most closely
and is the best answer.
Q29. Buoyant most nearly means
- A. floating.
- B. happy.
- C. significant.
- D. acrobatic.
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
To be buoyant means “to be able to float.” The words happy, significant, and acrobatic do not match the definition. Choice A, floating, is the
correct answer. You can remember this by thinking of a buoy floating in the water.
Q30. The pond was teeming with fish.
- A. Empty
- B. Opaque
- C. Crowded
- D. Vigorous
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
Teeming means “swarming, abounding, or being full.” Empty is the opposite of this concept. Opaque means “dense or thick,” and vigorous
means “energetic, strong, or active.” These words don’t relate to being full or swarming, but crowded does. Choice C is the correct answer.
Q31. Bestow most nearly means
- A. remove.
- B. have.
- C. give.
- D. question.
View Correct Answer
Answer: C
Bestow means “to give,” as in giving a gift or an award. The words remove, have, and question do not match the definition. Give choice C as the correct answer.
Q32. Meander most nearly means
- A. twist.
- B. reverse.
- C. exceed.
- D. renew.
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
A river that meanders winds and turns as it flows. The best synonym is choice A, twist.
Q33. Infiltrate most nearly means
- A. interfere.
- B. seek.
- C. enter.
- D. penetrate.
View Correct Answer
Answer: A
Infiltrate means “to pass into” or “to seize control from within.” The words interfere and seek are not related to the definition. Enter is similar in meaning, but the word penetrate is the closest to the stated meaning. Choice D is the correct answer
Q34. His science grade plummeted after that difficult exam.
- A. Soared
- B. Plunged
- C. Increased
- D. Failed
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Plummeted means “fell.” Soared has somewhat the opposite meaning. The words increased and failed are not related. Choice B, plunged, is
the correct answer
Q35. The monument was defiled by the visitors.
- A. Honored
- B. Desecrated
- C. Cleaned
- D. Respected
View Correct Answer
Answer: B
Defiled means “contaminated or dishonored.” Honored is the opposite of this idea. The words cleaned and respected are not related. Desecrated, choice B, is the correct answer.