Vocabulary Building Skills MCQs Quiz With Answers

1. Many husbands still find it difficult to render total support to their wives' careers, particularly if their wives earn more than they do. What does render mean?

Cook

Hide

Give

Delay

The word "render" in this context means to provide or give. In the given sentence, it implies that husbands struggle to fully support their wives' careers, especially when their wives earn more money than they do. This suggests that husbands may face challenges in accepting their wives' success and providing the necessary support.

Explanation

The word "render" in this context means to provide or give. In the given sentence, it implies that husbands struggle to fully support their wives' careers, especially when their wives earn more money than they do. This suggests that husbands may face challenges in accepting their wives' success and providing the necessary support.

2. Running a clandestine operation-such as an underground newspaper in a dictatorship, a network of spies or undercover police investigation-is difficult and often highly dangerous. What does clandestine mean?

Important

Expensive

Legal

Secret

Clandestine means secret. Running a clandestine operation involves activities that are kept hidden from public knowledge, such as an underground newspaper in a dictatorship or a network of spies. These operations are often risky and dangerous due to their secretive nature.

Explanation

Clandestine means secret. Running a clandestine operation involves activities that are kept hidden from public knowledge, such as an underground newspaper in a dictatorship or a network of spies. These operations are often risky and dangerous due to their secretive nature.

3. Identifying the age of layers of rock also fixes the age of fossils that are within those layers. What do fixes mean?

Causes

Hides

Establishes

Casts doubt on

The word "fixes" in this context means to establish or determine. By identifying the age of layers of rock, we are able to establish the age of fossils that are found within those layers. This means that the age of the rock layers provides a fixed or definitive age for the fossils.

Explanation

The word "fixes" in this context means to establish or determine. By identifying the age of layers of rock, we are able to establish the age of fossils that are found within those layers. This means that the age of the rock layers provides a fixed or definitive age for the fossils.

4. When we interact, we behave like actors by following a script that we have learned. When someone enters a doctor's waiting room, for instance, he or she assumes the role of patient. What does assumes mean?

Meets

Contacts

Denies

Takes on

Assumes in this context means to take on or adopt a particular role or identity. When someone enters a doctor's waiting room, they take on the role of a patient, meaning they behave and interact in a way that is expected of a patient in that setting.

Explanation

Assumes in this context means to take on or adopt a particular role or identity. When someone enters a doctor's waiting room, they take on the role of a patient, meaning they behave and interact in a way that is expected of a patient in that setting.

5. The elephant was deeply enmeshed in the fabric of Thai life. For centuries, it served as Thailand's main code of transportation; its image graced temples, palaces, and the national flag. What does enmeshed mean?

Hidden

Harmed

Involved

Weakened

Enmeshed means being deeply involved or entangled in something. In this context, it refers to the elephant being an integral part of Thai life, serving as the main mode of transportation and being prominently featured in various aspects of their culture.

Explanation

Enmeshed means being deeply involved or entangled in something. In this context, it refers to the elephant being an integral part of Thai life, serving as the main mode of transportation and being prominently featured in various aspects of their culture.

6. No one knows how humans acquired the concept of cooking food, but their first experience of cooking was probably fortuitous: very likely, some meat fell into a fire by accident. What does fortuitous mean?

Harmful

Planned

Lucky

Expensive

Fortuitous means lucky or happening by chance. In the given context, it suggests that the first experience of cooking food for humans was probably accidental but fortunate, as some meat fell into a fire by chance.

Explanation

Fortuitous means lucky or happening by chance. In the given context, it suggests that the first experience of cooking food for humans was probably accidental but fortunate, as some meat fell into a fire by chance.

7. The Amazonian forest in Brazil is so expansive that it influences weather and climate patterns. What does expansive mean?

Far

Broad

Green

Mysterious

Expansive means broad or extensive. In the context of the sentence, it suggests that the Amazonian forest in Brazil is vast and covers a large area, which has a significant impact on weather and climate patterns.

Explanation

Expansive means broad or extensive. In the context of the sentence, it suggests that the Amazonian forest in Brazil is vast and covers a large area, which has a significant impact on weather and climate patterns.

8. Good communication between marriage partners can often mitigate the stress caused by physical signs of aging, changes in work status or satisfaction, and the death of close relatives and friends. What does mitigate mean?

Lessen

Hide

Cause

Add to

Mitigate means to lessen or reduce the impact or severity of something. In the context of the given question, it suggests that good communication between marriage partners can help to alleviate or reduce the stress caused by physical signs of aging, changes in work status or satisfaction, and the death of close relatives and friends.

Explanation

Mitigate means to lessen or reduce the impact or severity of something. In the context of the given question, it suggests that good communication between marriage partners can help to alleviate or reduce the stress caused by physical signs of aging, changes in work status or satisfaction, and the death of close relatives and friends.

9. In the early 1900s, sums paid to widows with dependent children were meager, ranging from $2 to $14 a month for the first child and lesser amounts for the rest. What does meager mean?

Slight

Old-fashioned

Harmful

Generous

The word "meager" means lacking in quantity or quality, often used to describe something that is small or insufficient. In the context of the sentence, it suggests that the sums paid to widows with dependent children were very small or insignificant. Therefore, the closest synonym to "meager" is "slight," which also means small or minimal.

Explanation

The word "meager" means lacking in quantity or quality, often used to describe something that is small or insufficient. In the context of the sentence, it suggests that the sums paid to widows with dependent children were very small or insignificant. Therefore, the closest synonym to "meager" is "slight," which also means small or minimal.

10. Government entails those political processes that have to do with the forming of rules and policies which are binding throughout a society. What do entails mean?

Includes

Recognizes

Outlaws

Omits

The word "entails" in this context means that government includes or involves the political processes of forming rules and policies that are binding throughout a society.

Explanation

The word "entails" in this context means that government includes or involves the political processes of forming rules and policies that are binding throughout a society.