Challenging Standardized Test Words Quiz Vol. 3

Question: Oscar’s directions to the vacation house were circuitous.

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 were manifold.

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 of ennui.

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

Question: Cynthia had some trepidation 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 a furtive 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: Sarah dithered 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 work inimical to creativity.

Answer: Inimical comes from the prefix in-, meaning “not,” and amicus, meaning “friend” (amicus is also the root for amicable).

Question: Donna had three precocious 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 a cursory glance at the study material.

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

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

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

Question: Dylan responded to the criticism with several fatuous remarks.

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

Question: Every day after eating lunch, Danielle felt somnolent.

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

Question: The road to Amanda’s house was quite tortuous.

Answer: Tortuous and torturous are both derived from the Latin word torquere, meaning “to twist” or “to wrench.”

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

Answer: Quotidian can be traced back to the Latin quotidie, 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 real cupidity.

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 was restive.

Answer: Coming from the Anglo-French rester, 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 a propitious time to start a company.

Answer: Synonymous with auspicious, 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 its limpid 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 public approbation.

Answer: Both approbation and approval can be traced back to the Latin word approbare, meaning “to prove” or “to approve.”

Question: The district attorney found exculpatory evidence.

Answer: Exculpatory comes from the Latin ex-, meaning “out of” or “away from,” and culpa, meaning “blame” or “guilt.” Culpa can also be found in the remorseful phrase mea culpa.