English: Word Usage Questions Set 16

Directions (1-10): In each of the following questions one sentence is given with a word in bold, choose the most similar meaning of that word and mark it as your answer.

1. Ploy : If the prosecutor’s ploy does not work, a guilty man could go free.
   A) vitiate
   B) radar
   C) expose
   D) trick
   E) ahead
   
   View Answer

      Option D
   ploy – an activity done for amusement.
2. Boisterous : Your boisterous actions at church cannot be tolerated.
   A) sedate
   B) serene
   C) wild
   D) subdued
   E) unruffled
   
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      Option C
   Boisterous – noisy, energetic, and cheerful.
3. Longevity : The politician’s longevity in office will be determined by voter popularity.
   A) brevity
   B) nonage
   C) endurance
   D) internet
   E) suicidal
   
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      Option C
   Longevity – long existence or service.
4. Frenetic : Yesterday the sales floor was even more frenetic than usual because of the big clearance sale.
   A) mad
   B) placid
   C) docile
   D) affable
   E) amicable
   
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      Option A
   Frenetic – fast and energetic in a rather wild and uncontrolled way.
5. Angst : There was no sign of her inner angst in her deep brown eyes or on her beautiful features.
   A) ease
   B) content
   C) support
   D) comfort
   E) anxiety
   
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      Option E
   Angst – a feeling of persistent worry about something trivial.
    
6. Appellate : The judges have appellate jurisdiction of cases civil and criminal coming up from the lower courts.
   A) judicial
   B) objective
   C) specified
   D) honest
   E) justified
   
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      Option A
   Appellate -(especially of a court) concerned with or dealing with applications for decisions to be reversed. 
7. Deterrent : The stop sign on the corner is supposed to be a deterrent that discourages speeding.
   A) incentive
   B) spur
   C) impediment
   D) goad
   E) activator
   
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      Option C
   Deterrent -a thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something. 
8. Plebiscite : Few voters participated in the plebiscite so the proposal received little objection.
   A) vote
   B) initiation
   C) table
   D) count
   E) mandate
   
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      Option A
   Plebiscite – the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution.
9. Defiant : The defiant child threw a tantrum when it was time to go to bed.
   A) respectful
   B) submissive
   C) obedient
   D) bold
   E) accept
   
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      Option D
   Defiant – showing defiance.
10. Overt : Because of Frank’s religious beliefs, he was able to forgive his attackers for their overt hatred.
    A) private
    B) conniving
    C) disguised
    D) furtive
    E) obvious
    
    View Answer

       Option E
    Overt – done or shown openly; plainly apparent.