Challenging Standardized Test Words Quiz Vol. 3

Question: Oscar’s directions to the vacation house werecircuitous.

Answer: In addition to winding or circular paths,circuitous can refer to being indirect in language or action.

Question: Duncan’s reasons for moving out of the house weremanifold.

Answer: Coming from the Middle English words for “many” and “fold,”manifold frequently describes that which is numerous and diverse.

Question: One week into her retirement, Rebecca began to have a sense ofennui.

Answer:Ennui comes from the same French word asannoy and typically refers to boredom that occurs during a period of easy living.

Question: Cynthia had sometrepidation when it came to her new job.

Answer: Now used to describe fear and apprehension,trepidation originally referred to a trembling motion.

Question: Bill noticed his younger brother had afurtive look on his face.

Answer:Furtive can describe something done in a secretive way or the appearance of stealth. Someone might have a furtive look while being sneaky.

Question: Sarahdithered about which laptop to buy.

Answer:Dither can be traced back to a Middle English word meaning “to tremble, shiver.”

Question: Ross found the new dress code at workinimical to creativity.

Answer:Inimical comes from the prefixin-, meaning “not,” andamicus, meaning “friend” (amicus is also the root foramicable).

Question: Donna had threeprecocious children.

Answer: Derived from the Latin word for “early ripening,”precocious was first used to describe plants that bloomed before their leaves appeared.

Question: Helena took acursory glance at the study material.

Answer:Cursory comes from the Latincurrere, meaning “to run.”

Question: When Phillip opened the door to his hotel room, he saw it wascommodious.

Answer: Now synonymous withroomy,commodious comes from the Middle English word meaning “fertile” or “useful.”

Question: Dylan responded to the criticism with severalfatuous remarks.

Answer:Fatuous shares the Latin root wordfatuus (“foolish”) withinfatuation, a term often used to describe an attachment that is foolish or obsessive.

Question: Every day after eating lunch, Danielle feltsomnolent.

Answer:Somnolent can be traced back to the Latin wordsomnus, meaning “sleep,” which is also the root word forinsomnia.

Question: The road to Amanda’s house was quitetortuous.

Answer:Tortuous andtorturous are both derived from the Latin wordtorquere, meaning “to twist” or “to wrench.”

Question: After their dinner date, the couple agreed the food wasquotidian.

Answer:Quotidian can be traced back to the Latinquotidie, meaning “every day,” and can be used to describe something that happens daily as well as being ordinary.

Question: The actions of the company’s board of directors showed realcupidity.

Answer:Cupidity entered the English language as a way to describe lust. Today it is frequently used to specifically describe a lust for wealth.

Question: During the riding tour of the countryside, Donna’s horse wasrestive.

Answer: Coming from the Anglo-Frenchrester, meaning “to stop, resist, or remain,”restive can describe a resistance to control or a fidgety uneasiness.

Question: After graduating from business school, Carlos thought it was apropitious time to start a company.

Answer: Synonymous withauspicious,propitious often describes something that is a good omen or favorable and suggests that good conditions will likely continue.

Question: Many reviews for the Caribbean resort mentioned itslimpid water.

Answer:Limpid can be used to describe crystal-clear water as well as “clear and simple” writing.

Question: The new art installation at the park met with publicapprobation.

Answer: Bothapprobation andapproval can be traced back to the Latin wordapprobare, meaning “to prove” or “to approve.”

Question: The district attorney foundexculpatory evidence.

Answer:Exculpatory comes from the Latinex-, meaning “out of” or “away from,” andculpa, meaning “blame” or “guilt.”Culpa can also be found in the remorseful phrasemea culpa.