Vocabulary Exercises

Question 1

Some love spinach; others _____ it

Answer 1

Abhor

Question 2

A snowstorm in late May is _____ for Chicago

Answer 2

Abnormal

Question 3

My father plays golf. What is your father’s _____?

Answer 3

Avocation

Question 4

The dictator refused to _____ and was eventually overthrown.

Answer 4

Abdicate

Question 5

Gene said the movie was interesting, but I didn’t find it _____.

Answer 5

Absorbing

Question 6

It was very decent of Marge to _____ me of blame by admitting she was at fault.

Answer 6

Absolve

Question 7

The kidnapper was arrested when he tried to _____ the executive.

Answer 7

Abduct

Question 8

I nominate Harriet for treasurer. She knows how to keep records and can be trusted not to _____ with our dues.

Answer 8

Abscond

Question 9

The owner must raise $20,000 in cash at once if she is to _____ bankruptcy

Answer 9

Avert

Question 10

We are _____ to further increases in the sales tax. It is too high already.

Answer 10

Averse

Question 11

With the _____ of autumn, the days become shorter.

Answer 11

Advent

Question 12

England was our _____ in the War of 1812.

Answer 12

Adversary

Question 13

Is it very expensive to _____ a summer home for year-round living?

Answer 13

Adapt

Question 14

We have sweets, but only occasionally. We are not _____ to them.

Answer 14

Addicted

Question 15

The candidate has few supporters in the rural areas; most of his _____s are in the cities.

Answer 15

Adherents

Question 16

After graduating from the College of the City of New York, Jonas Salk did _____ study at New York University to earn an M.D. degree.

Answer 16

Post-graduate

Question 17

Mr. Sims told me to put tomorrow’s date on the letter, but I forgot to _____ it.

Answer 17

Post-date

Question 18

The _____ showed that the patient had died of natural causes.

Answer 18

Postmortem

Question 19

In some areas, the peasants still use the same methods of farming as their _____ did centuries ago.

Answer 19

Antecedents

Question 20

You will not need a(n) _____ if you plan your letter carefully.

Answer 20

Post-script

Question 21

Everyone will benefit from the warmth of the fireplace if you arrange the chairs around it in a _____.

Answer 21

Semicircle

Question 22

The inspections are _____ ; there is one every six months.

Answer 22

Semiannual

Question 23

A state that has both an assembly and a senate has a _____ legislature.

Answer 23

Bicameral

Question 24

America’s foreign policy is _____; it represents the views of both major political parties.

Answer 24

Bipartisan

Question 25

A _____ house shares a common wall.

Answer 25

Semidetached

Question 26

This afternoon the swimming team has _____ use of the pool.

Answer 26

Exclusive

Question 27

No one can _____ the settler’s claim to the property, since he holds the deed to the land.

Answer 27

Impugn

Question 28

Over the centuries, the Colorado River has carved its bed out of solid rock by the process of _____.

Answer 28

Erosion

Question 29

A lack of opportunity compelled thousands to _____ from their native land.

Answer 29

Emigrate

Question 30

Proposals to increase taxes usually _____ strong resistance.

Answer 30

Evoke

Question 31

The famine-stricken nation is expected to _____ help of its more fortunate neighbors.

Answer 31

Invoke

Question 32

On the front page, I am going to _____ these words: “To Dad on his fortieth birthday. Love, Ruth.”

Answer 32

Inscribe

Question 33

Learning that their arrest was _____, the insurgent leaders went into hiding.

Answer 33

Imminent

Question 34

The judge asked the guards to ____ the spectators who were creating a disturbance.

Answer 34

Expel

Question 35

We just had to see what was in the package. We could not _____ our curiosity.

Answer 35

Inhibit

Question 36

A physician may decide to ___ the physical activities and the diet of a heart disease patient.

Answer 36

Circumscribe

Question 37

Obey the regulations; don’t try to ___ them.

Answer 37

Circumvent

Question 38

If you had been ___, you would have tested the used camera before buying it.

Answer 38

Circumspect

Question 39

The ___ of the earth at the equator is nearly 25,000 miles.

Answer 39

Circumference

Question 40

The rowers had expected to ___ the island in a couple of hours, but by evening they were less than halfway around.

Answer 40

Circumnavigate

Question 41

Though elected in November of even-numbered years, the new Congress does not ___ until the following January.

Answer 41

Convene

Question 42

If your seat number does not ___ your ticket number, the usher may ask you to move.

Answer 42

Correspond

Question 43

When Billy Budd, the peacemaker, was aboard, there was perfect ___ among the sailors.

Answer 43

Concord

Question 44

Do you want to ___ with me, or do you prefer to work alone?

Answer 44

Collaborate

Question 45

Just above St. Louis, the Missouri and Mississippi rivers ___ into a single waterway.

Answer 45

Coalesce

Question 46

A dropout will discover that the lack of a high school diploma is a serious ___ to employment.

Answer 46

Obstacle

Question 47

The pickets sat on the front steps in an attempt to ____ the entrance.

Answer 47

Obstruct

Question 48

To ____ waiting on line at the box office, order your tickets by mail.

Answer 48

Obviate

Question 49

Though Harry is a very careful driver, the possibility of his having a serious accident continues to ___ his parents.

Answer 49

Obsess

Question 50

Claire tried to forget the incident, but she couldn’t ___ it from her mind.

Answer 50

Obliterate

Question 51

The claim of wage earners that they are being overtaxed is by no means new; it has been their ___ complaint.

Answer 51

Perennial

Question 52

Why do you ___ in asking to see my notes when I have told you I don’t have any?

Answer 52

Persist

Question 53

Train conductors use hole punchers to ___ passenger tickets.

Answer 53

Perforate

Question 54

We thought the news upset Jane, but it didn’t seem to ___ her.

Answer 54

Perturb

Question 55

Road signs that ____ residents of this community are even more confusing to out-of-town visitors.

Answer 55

Perplex

Question 56

Mozart, who began composing at the age of five, was definitely ___.

Answer 56

Precocious

Question 57

The bills they have to pay do not ___ their making further purchases; they can use their credit.

Answer 57

Preclude

Question 58

I ___ the directions to Barbara’s house are correct, since she gave them to me herself.

Answer 58

Presume

Question 59

A group of distinguished specialists saw a ____ of the exhibit before it was opened to the public.

Answer 59

Preview

Question 60

The report that the President was in town was ___ because his plane had not yet landed.

Answer 60

Premature

Question 61

The ___ of a sizeable raise impelled the new employee to do her best.

Answer 61

Prospects

Question 62

Your enthusiastic supporters are ___ in their praise of merits.

Answer 62

Profuse

Question 63

George Stephenson was the first to use steam power to ___ a locomotive.

Answer 63

Propel

Question 64

You must not expect an apprentice to be as ___ as an experienced worker.

Answer 64

Proficient

Question 65

The proposal to demolish the historic building is sure to ____ a storm of protest.

Answer 65

Provoke