'Freya found the thought of speaking in front of the whole school daunting, but she kept practising her speech until she felt ready.' What does 'daunting' mean here?
A) exciting and enjoyable
B) intimidating and likely to lower one's confidence
C) simple and effortless
D) boring and tedious
E) reassuring and comforting
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
'The market stallholder's prices were exorbitant, far higher than anywhere else in town.' What does 'exorbitant' mean here?
A) reasonable and fair
B) hidden and secretive
C) old-fashioned
D) roughly estimated
E) unfairly or excessively high
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
'Kwame's handwriting was so illegible that even the teacher struggled to read it.' What does 'illegible' mean here?
A) neat and tidy
B) colourful and decorative
C) impossible or very difficult to read clearly
D) quick and rushed
E) small and cramped
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
'The instructions for the board game were so convoluted that nobody in the class could follow them.' What does 'convoluted' mean here?
A) extremely complicated and hard to follow
B) simple and clear
C) short and brief
D) exciting and fun
E) quiet and calm
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
'Yusuf's tireless efforts to raise money for the local hospice impressed everyone in the village.' What does 'tireless' mean here?
A) lazy and half-hearted
B) never stopping despite great effort, showing constant energy
C) careless and disorganised
D) quiet and unnoticed
E) selfish and self-interested
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
'After three hours of talks, the negotiations reached an impasse, with neither side willing to compromise.' What does 'impasse' mean here?
A) a happy agreement reached by both sides
B) a joyful celebration
C) an argument that is quickly resolved
D) a situation where no further progress can be made; a deadlock
E) a formal written announcement
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
Which suffix means 'a person who does or practises something', as in the word 'scientist'?
A) -ist
B) -ology
C) -phobia
D) -ward
E) -ify
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
The prefix 'inter-' in the word 'international' most nearly means:
A) within a single place
B) beyond or exceeding
C) between or among
D) below or under
E) after or later
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
The root 'photo', found in words such as 'photograph' and 'photosynthesis', relates to which idea?
A) sound
B) light
C) water
D) time
E) writing
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
Adding the prefix 'mis-' to the word 'understand' creates a word meaning:
A) to understand wrongly
B) to understand very well
C) to understand again
D) to refuse to understand
E) to help someone understand
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
The root 'bene-', found in words such as 'benevolent' and 'benefit', relates to which idea?
A) bad
B) large
C) good or well
D) new
E) hidden
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
The prefix 'omni-' in the word 'omnivore' most nearly means:
A) none
B) one
C) many but not all
D) half
E) all
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
LIBRARY is to BOOKS as GALLERY is to ___?
A) paintings
B) museum
C) artist
D) frame
E) opening hours
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
PEN is to WRITE as SCISSORS is to ___?
A) draw
B) cut
C) sew
D) fold
E) glue
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
CANDLE is to WAX as LOAF is to ___?
A) oven
B) bread
C) knife
D) crumb
E) flour
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
SCULPTOR is to STATUE as ARCHITECT is to ___?
A) hammer
B) brick
C) blueprint
D) building
E) construction site
(Total for Question 27 is 1 mark)
28
MISER is to WEALTH as GLUTTON is to ___?
A) food
B) hunger
C) sleep
D) money
E) fame
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'After years of conflict, the two nations finally signed a ___ treaty.'
A) piece
B) peice
C) peace
D) peece
E) piese
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The cyclist had to ___ suddenly to avoid the pothole in the road.'
A) break
B) braek
C) breik
D) brakke
E) brake
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Nadia could not decide ___ to take the train or the bus into Manchester.'
A) weather
B) whether
C) wether
D) whither
E) wither
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The strong ___ swept the raft further down the river.'
A) currant
B) curant
C) curent
D) current
E) currunt
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
In this group of five words, four share a similar meaning and one does not belong. Identify the odd one out: miserable, gloomy, downcast, glum, ecstatic.
A) ecstatic
B) miserable
C) gloomy
D) downcast
E) glum
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
In this group of five words, four share a similar meaning and one does not belong. Identify the odd one out: intelligent, clever, brilliant, bright, foolish.
A) intelligent
B) clever
C) foolish
D) brilliant
E) bright
(Total for Question 34 is 1 mark)
35
In this group of five words, four share a similar meaning and one does not belong. Identify the odd one out: zealous, keen, avid, passionate, indifferent.
A) zealous
B) keen
C) avid
D) passionate
E) indifferent
(Total for Question 35 is 1 mark)
36
In this group of five words, four share a similar meaning and one does not belong. Identify the odd one out: gullible, naive, credulous, trusting, shrewd.
A) gullible
B) shrewd
C) naive
D) credulous
E) trusting
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.E34 Vocabulary and Word Skills Set 5
Question 1
B1 B) mild and tender - matches the meaning of gentle (kind, mild and not rough or forceful)
Answer: B) mild and tender
Question 2
B1 D) watchful and alert to danger - matches the meaning of vigilant (keeping careful watch for possible danger)
Answer: D) watchful and alert to danger
Question 3
B1 A) odd and unconventional - matches the meaning of eccentric (unusual or slightly strange in behaviour)
Answer: A) odd and unconventional
Question 4
B1 C) compliant and willing to follow instructions - matches the meaning of obedient (doing what one is told)
Answer: C) compliant and willing to follow instructions
Question 5
B1 E) having a strong desire to succeed - matches the meaning of ambitious (having a strong wish to achieve success)
Answer: E) having a strong desire to succeed
Question 6
B1 B) original and inventive - matches the meaning of innovative (introducing new ideas or methods)
Answer: B) original and inventive
Question 7
B1 D) sluggish and lacking energy - is the direct opposite of energetic
Answer: D) sluggish and lacking energy
Question 8
B1 C) rigid and unwilling to change - is the direct opposite of flexible
Answer: C) rigid and unwilling to change
Question 9
B1 A) scarce and hard to find - is the direct opposite of abundant
Answer: A) scarce and hard to find
Question 10
B1 E) plain and simple - is the direct opposite of elaborate
Answer: E) plain and simple
Question 11
B1 C) unkind and wishing harm on others - is the direct opposite of benevolent
Answer: C) unkind and wishing harm on others
Question 12
B1 B) intimidating and likely to lower one's confidence - matches the sense of daunting in context
Answer: B) intimidating and likely to lower one's confidence
Question 13
B1 E) unfairly or excessively high - matches the sense of exorbitant in context
Answer: E) unfairly or excessively high
Question 14
B1 C) impossible or very difficult to read clearly - matches the sense of illegible in context
Answer: C) impossible or very difficult to read clearly
Question 15
B1 A) extremely complicated and hard to follow - matches the sense of convoluted in context
Answer: A) extremely complicated and hard to follow
Question 16
B1 B) never stopping despite great effort, showing constant energy - matches the sense of tireless in context
Answer: B) never stopping despite great effort, showing constant energy
Question 17
B1 D) a situation where no further progress can be made; a deadlock - matches the sense of impasse in context
Answer: D) a situation where no further progress can be made; a deadlock
Question 18
B1 A) -ist - is the suffix meaning 'a person who does or practises something'
Answer: A) -ist
Question 19
B1 C) between or among - is the meaning of the prefix 'inter-'
Answer: C) between or among
Question 20
B1 B) light - is the idea the root 'photo' relates to
Answer: B) light
Question 21
B1 A) to understand wrongly - matches the meaning created by the prefix 'mis-'
Answer: A) to understand wrongly
Question 22
B1 C) good or well - is the idea the root 'bene-' relates to
Answer: C) good or well
Question 23
B1 E) all - is the meaning of the prefix 'omni-'
Answer: E) all
Question 24
B1 A) paintings - completes the place-to-contents relationship shown by library and books
Answer: A) paintings
Question 25
B1 B) cut - completes the tool-to-action relationship shown by pen and write
Answer: B) cut
Question 26
B1 E) flour - completes the object-to-raw-material relationship shown by candle and wax
Answer: E) flour
Question 27
B1 D) building - completes the creator-to-creation relationship shown by sculptor and statue
Answer: D) building
Question 28
B1 A) food - completes the relationship of a person defined by excessive desire for something, shown by miser and wealth
Answer: A) food
Question 29
B1 C) peace - is the correct homophone meaning freedom from conflict
Answer: C) peace
Question 30
B1 E) brake - is the correct homophone meaning to slow down or stop a vehicle
Answer: E) brake
Question 31
B1 B) whether - is the correct homophone used to introduce a choice between alternatives
Answer: B) whether
Question 32
B1 D) current - is the correct homophone meaning a flow of water
Answer: D) current
Question 33
B1 A) ecstatic - is the odd one out, meaning extremely happy rather than sad
Answer: A) ecstatic
Question 34
B1 C) foolish - is the odd one out, meaning lacking sense rather than highly intelligent
Answer: C) foolish
Question 35
B1 E) indifferent - is the odd one out, meaning showing no interest rather than great interest
Answer: E) indifferent
Question 36
B1 B) shrewd - is the odd one out, meaning sharp-witted and hard to deceive rather than easily deceived