U.S. Word Usage Test
From
the options below, choose the correct preposition to complete the underlined
prepositional idiom in the following sentence.
The
only way Amy will be allowed to stay in that apartment is if she promises not
to infringe __________ the house rules ever again.
a.
on
b.
about
c. upon
d. over
e. No
preposition is needed.
Which
of the following words means "unconcerned, bored, not interested”?
a.
Disinterested
b.
Uninterested
c. The
words are synonyms and are completely interchangeable.
Which
of the following similar words expresses a sense of tediousness?
a.
Repetitive
b.
Repetitious
Which
of the following words would be most appropriate when referring to a vessel's
ability to hold or contain something?
a.
Ability
b.
Capability
c.
Capacity
When
referring to two distinct things, which of the following words means "the
second of the two"?
a.
Former
b.
Later
c.
Latter
d.
Penultimate
From
the options below, choose the correct preposition to complete the underlined
prepositional idiom in the following sentence.
Vincent's
mastery ___________ painting has put him in a league of his own at the
conservatory.
a.
of
b. over
c. in
d. No
preposition is needed.
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
Pauline
will ___________ arrive late so she can make a grand entrance.
a.
doubtless
b.
doubtlessly
c.
undoubted
Select
the correct meaning of the adjective "noisome”.
a.
Making much noise
b.
Noxious or offensive
c.
Boring
From
the options below, choose the correct preposition to complete the underlined
prepositional idiom in the following sentence.
Fred
is always willing to help out, and that's something you can bank ___________.
a. at
b.
on
c. off
d. with
e. No
preposition is needed
Which
of the following similar words refers to something that is lush and grows
abundantly?
a.
Luxuriant
b. Luxurious
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct phrase from the options below.
____________,
I have enclosed our sales brochure and product information pamphlets.
a. Per
your request
b. As
per your request
c.
As you requested
d. As
per the request you recently made
e. All
of the above
f. None
of the above
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
The
herd of gazelles successfully ____________ the wild cheetahs.
a.
alluded
b.
eluded
c.
illuded
Which
of the following similar words is most commonly used to describe a feature that
makes a person, place, or thing easy to pick out from others?
a.
Distinguishable
b.
Distinguished
c.
Distinctive
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct sequence of words from the
options below.
Walter
wears his ______________ clothes ______________, but saves his tuxedo for
special occasions.
a.
everyday / every day
b.
every day / everyday
c.
everyday / everyday
d.
every day / every day
Which
of the following similar words is more commonly associated with secretly
working together to plot a misdeed?
a.
Conspire
b.
Connive
The
word word "__________" means to convey an additional, nuanced meaning
of a word, whereas the_" specifies the literal meaning of a word or
phrase.
a.
denote / connote
b.
connote / denote
Which
of the following similar prefixes generally means "half”?
a. Bi
b.
Semi
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
Amanda
was adamant about having no ___________ than three hundred people at her
wedding, but space for silly dances.
a.
less / fewer
b. less
/ less
c.
fewer / fewer
d.
fewer / less
e. Both
b and d may be used.
f. Both
a and c may be used
Which
of the following words is a verb meaning "to change"?
a.
Alter
b.
Alder
c.
Altar
d.
Antfer
Of
the similar words below, the word “ ___________" is most commonly used to
express a formal request.
a. can
b.
could
c.
may
d.
might
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct sequence of words from the
options below.
Horace
knew he'd walked into a ____________trap when he opened the door to nothing but
a ___________silence.
a.
deadly/deathly
b.
deathly/deadly
c.
deadly/deafly
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct phrase from the options below.
Winning
the lottery would mean the world to____________.
a. my
wife and I
b. my
wife and me
c. my
wife and myself
d.
Either a or b may be used.
e. Either
b or c may be used
Which
of the following similar words expresses a stronger sense of duty?
a.
Ought
b.
Should
Which
of the following similar words is used to describe one's negative feelings and
antipathy for something?
a.
Adverse
b.
Averse
Which
of the following similar words refers to something that is well-known or
momentous in history?
a.
Historic
b.
Historical
Which
of the following words refers to a state of immobility?
a.
Stationery
b.
Stationary
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct sequence of words from the
options below.
Sophia
managed to ______________ Igor's crude advances; in a huff, the little man done
the castle wall and scooted off into the underbrush.
a.
repulse / repulsive / repelled
b.
rappel / repelled / repulsed
c.
repel / repulsive / rappelled
d.
rappel / repulsed / repelled
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct sequence of words from the
options below.
Not
only was Marlon's handwriting practically ____________, but the story was so
dull and convoluted that I also found it ____________.
a.
unreadable / illegible
b.
legible / readable
c.
illegible / unreadable
The
word word "______________" refers to something that is immoral,
improper, or incorrect, whereas the “________________" refers to something
that is unjust, unfair, or unsanctioned by law.
a.
wrong / wrongful
b.
wrongful / wrong
c. The
two words are completely interchangeable.
Which
of the following words is most commonly used as a verb meaning "to produce
a change in"?
a.
Affect
b.
Effect
Which
of the following similar words is more commonly associated with a physical
reliance on something?
a.
Addiction
b.
Dependence
From
the options below, choose the correct preposition to complete the underlined
prepositional idiom in the following sentence.
The
CEO's decision to step down is based __________ his need to take care of
personal matters.
a.
on
b. in
c. over
d. No
preposition is needed.
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
Annabelle
told no one but her long-time ______________of her intention to join the
circus.
a.
confident
b.
confider
c.
confidant
d.
confessor
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
I
must warn you that Mr. Gladstone lost all of my money in bad investments, so
I'd be ______________ of his financial advice if I were you.
a.
wary
b.
leery
c.
weary
d.
Either a or b may be used
e.
Either b or c may be used
From
the options below, choose the correct sequence of prepositions to complete the
underlined prepositional idioms in the following sentence.
My
supervisor cannot abide ___________ anyone who comes in late or who doesn't
abide his rules.
a.
with/by
b.
No preposition needed .''by
c.
by/with
d.
by/No preposition needed
Select
the correct meaning of the verb "condole."
a. To
comfort
b.
To express sympathy to
c. To
portion out
Of
the following similar words, which implies a movements?
a. On
b. Onto
c.
Onto
Complete
the following sentence by choosing the correct sequence of words from the
options below.
Due
to All stair's ___________nature, our weekend at his home wasn't as
____________as we had hoped.
a.
restive / restful
b.
restful / restive
c.
restful / restless
d.
restless / restive
From
the options below, choose the correct preposition to complete the underlined
prepositional idiom in the following sentence.
A
sunny day at the beach is certainly preferable ____________ a rainy day in own.
a. with
b. than
c. for
d.
to
e. No
preposition is needed.
Which
of the following statements regarding the use of "that" and
"which" is CORRECT?
a.
"Which" is used to narrow a category or identify an item that is
being talked about. "That" is used to indicate something that has already
been mentioned.
b.
"That" is used to narrow a category or identify an item that is being
talked about. "Which" is used to indicate something that has already
been mentioned.