Midterm Exam Reviewer - Meaning Flashcards
The meaning of individual words.
Lexical meaning
The meaning of phrases or sentences.
Semantic meaning
The meaning derived from the context in which language is used.
Pragmatic meaning
Which word is synonymous with “ephemeral”?
a) Persistent
b) Transient
c) Eternal
d) Permanent
b) Transient
In the word “exasperate,” what is the lexical meaning?
a) Soothe
b) Irritate
c) Praise
d) Calm
b) Irritate
Which word is an antonym for “malleable”?
a) Flexible
b) Rigid
c) Adaptable
d) Pliable
b) Rigid
What is the lexical meaning of “prolific”?
a) Unproductive
b) Fertile
c) Limited
d) Scant
b) Fertile
What does the term “ambivalent” mean?
a) Indifferent
b) Confident
c) Undecided
d) Aggressive
c) Undecided
In the sentence “The torrent of rain flooded the streets,” what is the lexical
meaning of “torrent”?
A) A large rock
B) A fast-flowing stream of water
C) A tall building
D) A type of bird
B) A fast-flowing stream of water
In the sentence “She was captivated by the eloquence of his speech,” what is
the lexical meaning of “eloquence”?
A) Lack of speech
B) Ability to speak many languages
C) Fluent and persuasive speaking or writing
D) Musical instrument
C) Fluent and persuasive speaking or writing
In the sentence “The quaint little village was like something out of a
storybook,” what is the lexical meaning of “quaint”?
A) Large and bustling
B) Old-fashioned and charming
C) Modern and sleek
D) Noisy and chaotic
B) Old-fashioned and charming
In the sentence “His indomitable spirit inspired everyone around him,” what is
the lexical meaning of “indomitable”?
A) Easily defeated
B) Unable to be subdued or defeated
C) Weak and fragile
D) Reserved and shy
B) Unable to be subdued or defeated
In the sentence “The verdant fields stretched out as far as the eye could see,”
what is the lexical meaning of “verdant”?
A) Dry and barren
B) Covered with snow
C) Green with vegetation
D) Desert-like
C) Green with vegetation
In the sentence “The painting was a masterpiece of Renaissance art,” what is
the lexical meaning of “masterpiece”?
A) A piece of furniture
B) A work done by an apprentice
C) An exceptionally good piece of work
D) A mathematical theorem
C) An exceptionally good piece of work
In the sentence “The arduous journey through the mountains tested their
endurance,” what is the lexical meaning of “arduous”?
A) Easy and effortless
B) Simple and straightforward
C) Difficult and demanding
D) Luxurious and comfortable
C) Difficult and demanding
In the sentence “The cacophony of car horns made it impossible to
concentrate,” what is the lexical meaning of “cacophony”?
A) A harmonious blend of sounds
B) A loud and unpleasant mixture of sounds
C) Silence
D) A type of birdcall
B) A loud and unpleasant mixture of sounds
In the sentence “His gargantuan appetite amazed everyone at the table,” what
is the lexical meaning of “gargantuan”?
A) Extremely small
B) Of average size
C) Enormous or gigantic
D) Lacking appetite
C) Enormous or gigantic
In the sentence “The ubiquitous presence of smartphones has changed the
way we communicate,” what is the lexical meaning of “ubiquitous”?
A) Rare and hard to find
B) Present everywhere
C) Limited to specific locations
D) Easily broken
B) Present everywhere
What does the expression “hit the hay” signify?
a) Going to a farm
b) Going to bed
c) Playing a sport
d) Making furniture
b) Going to bed
What does the saying “jumping on the bandwagon” mean?
a) Engaging in a new trend
b) Exercising on a vehicle
c) Joining a music group
d) Playing a musical instrument
a) Engaging in a new trend
What does it mean to “cut to the chase”?
a) Begin a car race
b) Get to the main point
c) Trim a garden hedge
d) Start a movie
b) Get to the main point
If someone says “the ball is in your court,” what is he/she suggesting?
a) A game of tennis
b) It’s your responsibility now
c) Passing the ball to someone else
d) Playing a team sport
b) It’s your responsibility now
What does it mean to be “caught red-handed”?
a) Caught with red paint
b) Caught while committing a crime
c) Caught in a love affair
d) Caught playing with red objects
b) Caught while committing a crime
What does the phrase “I’ll think about it” pragmatically indicate?
a) Immediate acceptance
b) Rejection
c) Willingness to consider
d) Disinterest
c) Willingness to consider
When someone says, “You always do that,” the pragmatic meaning is likely:
a) Compliment
b) Criticism
c) Agreement
d) Surprise
b) Criticism
What is the pragmatic meaning of the statement “I suppose we could try that
approach”?
a) Enthusiastic agreement
b) Openness to considering an option
c) Strong disagreement
d) Refusal
b) Openness to considering an option
In the sentence “It’s quite chilly in here, isn’t it?” the pragmatic meaning is:
a) Seeking confirmation
b) Making a statement
c) Complimenting the temperature
d) Expressing disagreement
a) Seeking confirmation
In the statement “That’s not what I had in mind,” the pragmatic meaning is:
a) Agreement
b) Disagreement
c) Surprise
d) Indifference
b) Disagreement
