D) fearless and daring, especially when facing danger
E) shy and reluctant to speak in public
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
Which word is closest in meaning to ASTUTE?
A) shrewd and quick to notice how to gain an advantage
B) careless and easily fooled
C) generous with praise
D) slow to make decisions
E) loud and attention-seeking
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
Which word is closest in meaning to AMENABLE?
A) stubborn and resistant to any suggestion
B) willing to cooperate and open to suggestion
C) forgetful of promises made
D) jealous of others' success
E) impatient and easily irritated
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
Which word is closest in meaning to STOIC?
A) enduring hardship calmly, without complaint
B) complaining loudly about every difficulty
C) avoiding hardship altogether
D) cheerful without any particular reason
E) anxious about small problems
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
Which word is closest in meaning to FASTIDIOUS?
A) careless about detail and accuracy
B) easily satisfied with any standard of work
C) extremely attentive to detail and difficult to please
D) generous in sharing possessions
E) quick to forgive mistakes
(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)
6
Which word is closest in meaning to IRASCIBLE?
A) calm and slow to anger
B) easily made angry, quick-tempered
C) cheerful and easy-going
D) forgetful of small details
E) generous with compliments
(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)
7
Which word means the OPPOSITE of TIMID?
A) fearful and lacking confidence
B) bold and full of confidence
C) quiet and withdrawn
D) forgetful and careless
E) generous and kind
(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)
8
Which word means the OPPOSITE of HUMBLE?
A) modest about one's own achievements
B) arrogant and full of excessive pride
C) shy and easily embarrassed
D) generous with time and money
E) careful and cautious
(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)
9
Which word means the OPPOSITE of TRANSIENT?
A) lasting for only a short time
B) unpredictable and changeable
C) permanent and lasting indefinitely
D) hidden from view
E) expensive and rare
(Total for Question 9 is 1 mark)
10
Which word means the OPPOSITE of COMPLACENT?
A) smugly satisfied with one's own achievements
B) constantly striving to improve, never satisfied with current success
C) forgetful of past achievements
D) generous in praising others
E) nervous about public speaking
(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)
11
Which word means the OPPOSITE of RIGID?
A) fixed and unwilling to change
B) easily bent or adapted to new circumstances
C) careless and disorganised
D) confident and outspoken
E) forgetful of instructions
(Total for Question 11 is 1 mark)
12
Which word means the OPPOSITE of VERBOSE?
A) using far more words than necessary
B) using very few words, brief and to the point
C) confusing and hard to follow
D) loud and impossible to ignore
E) hesitant and unsure of what to say
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
'The tumour was found to be benign, and the doctors reassured Mrs Okafor that no further treatment was needed.' What does 'benign' mean here?
A) not harmful, gentle and not causing danger
B) rapidly spreading and dangerous
C) painful and impossible to treat
D) rare and unusual
E) requiring immediate surgery
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
'At just six years old, Aditi was so precocious that she was already reading novels meant for teenagers.' What does 'precocious' mean here?
A) showing mature ability or understanding much earlier than usual
B) shy and reluctant to try new things
C) forgetful and easily distracted
D) badly behaved and disobedient
E) slow to develop new skills
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
'The ostensible reason for the meeting was to discuss the budget, but everyone suspected the real purpose was to announce redundancies.' What does 'ostensible' mean here?
A) hidden and kept completely secret
B) stated or appearing to be true, though possibly not the real one
C) official and legally binding
D) urgent and requiring immediate action
E) agreed by everyone present
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
'The old house at the end of the lane had an enigmatic reputation, and none of the villagers could agree on its true history.' What does 'enigmatic' mean here?
A) mysterious and difficult to understand or explain
B) famous and widely admired
C) dangerous and structurally unsafe
D) modern and newly built
E) plain and unremarkable
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
'Realising how much he had upset his sister, Marcus offered a contrite apology and promised never to break his promise again.' What does 'contrite' mean here?
A) reluctant and given unwillingly
B) genuinely sorry and showing regret for wrongdoing
C) sarcastic and insincere
D) brief and dismissive
E) confident and unapologetic
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
'Once she started talking about her holiday in Portugal, Grace became voluble, barely pausing for breath as she described every detail.' What does 'voluble' mean here?
A) reluctant to speak in front of others
B) talking fluently and at great length
C) quiet and thoughtful
D) confused and unable to explain clearly
E) angry and raising her voice
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
'The contractor's dilatory approach to the renovation meant the family were still waiting for a finished kitchen six months after the agreed date.' What does 'dilatory' mean here?
A) efficient and completed well ahead of schedule
B) slow to act and inclined to cause delay
C) careless and prone to mistakes
D) expensive and over budget
E) skilled and highly trained
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
Which suffix means 'a distinctive belief, system or practice', as in the word 'heroism'?
A) -ism
B) -ity
C) -ment
D) -tion
E) -age
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
The prefix 'post-' in the word 'postscript' most nearly means:
A) before
B) after
C) within
D) against
E) around
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
The root 'chron', found in words such as 'chronological' and 'synchronise', relates to which idea?
A) sound
B) light
C) time
D) distance
E) colour
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
The prefix 'extra-' in the word 'extracurricular' most nearly means:
A) within the usual range
B) outside or beyond the usual
C) before the usual time
D) equal to the usual amount
E) against the usual rule
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
The root 'graph', found in words such as 'autograph' and 'paragraph', relates to which action?
A) to measure
B) to build
C) to write or draw
D) to travel
E) to calculate
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
The root 'cred', found in words such as 'credible' and 'incredible', relates to which idea?
A) to believe
B) to see
C) to speak
D) to remember
E) to count
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
PACK is to WOLVES as SWARM is to ___?
A) bees
B) cows
C) sheep
D) horses
E) dogs
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
THIMBLE is to FINGER as HELMET is to ___?
A) hand
B) head
C) cyclist
D) road
E) hair
(Total for Question 27 is 1 mark)
28
FARMER is to CROPS as FISHERMAN is to ___?
A) catch
B) boat
C) net
D) sea
E) rod
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
NOVICE is to EXPERT as APPRENTICE is to ___?
A) beginner
B) trainee
C) master
D) workshop
E) tool
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
CRUMB is to LOAF as DROPLET is to ___?
A) puddle
B) cloud
C) ocean
D) glass
E) tap
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'After trekking through the Sahara ___ for three days, the explorers were desperate for water.'
A) desert
B) dessert
C) desart
D) dezert
E) desurt
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The audience were asked to read the poem ___ so that everyone could hear it clearly.'
A) alowed
B) allowed
C) aloud
D) alloud
E) alowd
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Munir poured milk over his bowl of ___ before catching the school bus.'
A) serial
B) ceerial
C) ceriel
D) cereal
E) cerial
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'Please ___ here while I fetch the manager from the stockroom.'
A) weight
B) wate
C) wayt
D) waite
E) wait
(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: sturdy, durable, tough, hardwearing, flimsy.
A) sturdy
B) durable
C) flimsy
D) tough
E) hardwearing
(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: talkative, chatty, garrulous, loquacious, reserved.
A) talkative
B) reserved
C) chatty
D) garrulous
E) loquacious
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
37
In this group of five words, four share a similar meaning and one does not belong. Identify the odd one out: honest, truthful, sincere, forthright, deceitful.
A) honest
B) truthful
C) deceitful
D) sincere
E) forthright
(Total for Question 37 is 1 mark)
38
In this group of five words, four share a similar meaning and one does not belong. Identify the odd one out: charitable, philanthropic, altruistic, munificent, stingy.
A) charitable
B) philanthropic
C) stingy
D) altruistic
E) munificent
(Total for Question 38 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.E59 Vocabulary and Word Skills Set 7
Question 1
B1 D) fearless and daring, especially when facing danger - matches the meaning of intrepid
Answer: D) fearless and daring, especially when facing danger
Question 2
B1 A) shrewd and quick to notice how to gain an advantage - matches the meaning of astute
Answer: A) shrewd and quick to notice how to gain an advantage
Question 3
B1 B) willing to cooperate and open to suggestion - matches the meaning of amenable
Answer: B) willing to cooperate and open to suggestion
Question 4
B1 A) enduring hardship calmly, without complaint - matches the meaning of stoic
Answer: A) enduring hardship calmly, without complaint
Question 5
B1 C) extremely attentive to detail and difficult to please - matches the meaning of fastidious
Answer: C) extremely attentive to detail and difficult to please
Question 6
B1 B) easily made angry, quick-tempered - matches the meaning of irascible
Answer: B) easily made angry, quick-tempered
Question 7
B1 B) bold and full of confidence - is the direct opposite of timid
Answer: B) bold and full of confidence
Question 8
B1 B) arrogant and full of excessive pride - is the direct opposite of humble
Answer: B) arrogant and full of excessive pride
Question 9
B1 C) permanent and lasting indefinitely - is the direct opposite of transient
Answer: C) permanent and lasting indefinitely
Question 10
B1 B) constantly striving to improve, never satisfied with current success - is the direct opposite of complacent
Answer: B) constantly striving to improve, never satisfied with current success
Question 11
B1 B) easily bent or adapted to new circumstances - is the direct opposite of rigid
Answer: B) easily bent or adapted to new circumstances
Question 12
B1 B) using very few words, brief and to the point - is the direct opposite of verbose
Answer: B) using very few words, brief and to the point
Question 13
B1 A) not harmful, gentle and not causing danger - matches the sense of benign in context
Answer: A) not harmful, gentle and not causing danger
Question 14
B1 A) showing mature ability or understanding much earlier than usual - matches the sense of precocious in context
Answer: A) showing mature ability or understanding much earlier than usual
Question 15
B1 B) stated or appearing to be true, though possibly not the real one - matches the sense of ostensible in context
Answer: B) stated or appearing to be true, though possibly not the real one
Question 16
B1 A) mysterious and difficult to understand or explain - matches the sense of enigmatic in context
Answer: A) mysterious and difficult to understand or explain
Question 17
B1 B) genuinely sorry and showing regret for wrongdoing - matches the sense of contrite in context
Answer: B) genuinely sorry and showing regret for wrongdoing
Question 18
B1 B) talking fluently and at great length - matches the sense of voluble in context
Answer: B) talking fluently and at great length
Question 19
B1 B) slow to act and inclined to cause delay - matches the sense of dilatory in context
Answer: B) slow to act and inclined to cause delay
Question 20
B1 A) -ism - is the suffix meaning 'a distinctive belief, system or practice'
Answer: A) -ism
Question 21
B1 B) after - is the meaning of the prefix 'post-'
Answer: B) after
Question 22
B1 C) time - is the idea the root 'chron' relates to
Answer: C) time
Question 23
B1 B) outside or beyond the usual - is the meaning of the prefix 'extra-'
Answer: B) outside or beyond the usual
Question 24
B1 C) to write or draw - is the idea the root 'graph' relates to
Answer: C) to write or draw
Question 25
B1 A) to believe - is the idea the root 'cred' relates to
Answer: A) to believe
Question 26
B1 A) bees - completes the collective-noun relationship shown by pack and wolves
Answer: A) bees
Question 27
B1 B) head - completes the protective-item-to-body-part relationship shown by thimble and finger
Answer: B) head
Question 28
B1 A) catch - completes the producer-to-product relationship shown by farmer and crops
Answer: A) catch
Question 29
B1 C) master - completes the beginner-to-expert relationship shown by novice and expert
Answer: C) master
Question 30
B1 C) ocean - completes the tiny-part-to-vast-whole relationship shown by crumb and loaf
Answer: C) ocean
Question 31
B1 A) desert - is the correct homophone meaning a dry, sandy region
Answer: A) desert
Question 32
B1 C) aloud - is the correct homophone meaning spoken so as to be heard
Answer: C) aloud
Question 33
B1 D) cereal - is the correct homophone meaning a breakfast food made from grain
Answer: D) cereal
Question 34
B1 E) wait - is the correct homophone meaning to stay in one place until something happens
Answer: E) wait
Question 35
B1 C) flimsy - is the odd one out, meaning weak and easily damaged rather than strong and long-lasting
Answer: C) flimsy
Question 36
B1 B) reserved - is the odd one out, meaning quiet and holding back speech rather than talking freely
Answer: B) reserved
Question 37
B1 C) deceitful - is the odd one out, meaning likely to lie or mislead rather than honest and open
Answer: C) deceitful
Question 38
B1 C) stingy - is the odd one out, meaning reluctant to give or spend rather than generous