BARRON'S Vocabulary Quiz

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Questions and Answers

What does the idiom 'a bitter pill to swallow' imply in a situation?

A situation that is enjoyable

A pleasant surprise

A situation that is easy to accept

A humiliating defeat (correct)

What is the meaning of the term 'terminate' in the context of employment?

To increase work responsibilities

To end someone's employment (correct)

To continue employment

To promote someone

How is the word 'exacerbate' best defined?

To ignore a problem

To resolve an issue

To improve a situation

To irritate or make worse (correct)

In what context is the term 'revert' used in the provided content?

To return to a previous state Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'an ax to grind' suggest about a person's motives?

Selfish motives or hidden agendas Signup and view all the answers

What does the adjective 'poignant' suggest about an experience or feeling?

It has a strong emotional impact, often sad. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the meaning of the verb 'inundate'?

To overwhelm with an excessive amount of input. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'garbled' imply about a message?

It is confusing due to hasty delivery. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is the best definition of 'sanguine'?

Cheerful and confident about the future. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'phlegmatic' suggest about a person's temperament?

They are calm and unemotional. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the content, what does 'corroborate' mean?

To provide support or evidence for a claim. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes someone who is zealous?

They exhibit great enthusiasm and passion for a cause. Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'fair-weather friends' refer to?

Friends who are only supportive in good situations. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'solace' refer to in the context provided?

Easing of grief Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes 'the most worthless part'?

Dregs Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'to rule the roost' mean?

To be in charge Signup and view all the answers

What does 'rampant' mean in the given context?

Widespread Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about 'inane' remarks?

They are silly Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by 'clandestine'?

Secret and undercover Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to 'concur'?

To agree Signup and view all the answers

In what context is a 'frenzy' described?

A state of great, often violent, activity Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'precocious' refer to in relation to children?

Children who reach maturity early Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes 'perfunctory'?

Done without care or superficial Signup and view all the answers

What emotion does the word 'chagrin' most closely represent?

Disappointment Signup and view all the answers

In what context is 'perverse' typically used?

To describe someone who stubbornly persists in error Signup and view all the answers

What does the verb 'deride' imply?

To ridicule or scoff at Signup and view all the answers

Which phrase exemplifies a 'red-letter day'?

A day marked by happiness and rejoicing Signup and view all the answers

The meaning of 'eschew' is best defined as:

To avoid or shun Signup and view all the answers

What does 'fiasco' refer to?

A complete failure Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'harass' imply in the context used?

To attack persistently Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines 'monolithic'?

Uniform and massive in structure Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of 'arbitrary' as used in the content?

Based on random choice or personal whim Signup and view all the answers

What does 'indigent' refer to?

Needy and poor Signup and view all the answers

In what context is 'fray' used?

To engage in a contest or competition Signup and view all the answers

What does the idiom 'one swallow does not make a summer' caution against?

Celebrating small victories too soon Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the word 'stymie'?

To hinder or impede progress Signup and view all the answers

What does 'effigy' refer to?

A likeness of a hated person Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'plea bargain' refer to in a legal context?

An agreement to plead guilty to a lesser charge Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the condition of 'incompatibility'?

A situation where two parties do not match well Signup and view all the answers

What does it imply to 'cope' in a challenging situation?

To handle or manage effectively Signup and view all the answers

What does 'covert' mean in the context provided?

Secret or hidden Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of being 'like Caesar’s wife' in a social context?

Being perceived as trustworthy and above suspicion Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Hobson's Choice

Hobson owned a livery stable but did not allow customers to choose horses.
This phrase, "Hobson's Choice", describes a situation where only one option is presented as the only choice.

New Words

Solace - Easing of grief
Aspirant - One who desires to achieve a certain goal
Dregs - The most worthless part of something
Frenzy - A state of great activity and strong emotion, often violent
Scurrilous - vulgar, obscene, or defamatory
Rampant - Going unchecked, widespread
Inane - Silly
Ethics - Code of principles
Concur - Agree
Clandestine - Secret, undercover
Precocious - Reaching maturity early
Perfunctory - Done without care, superficial
Chagrin - Feeling of disappointment, humiliation
Perverse - Contrary, persisting in error
Deride - To ridicule, scoff at
Disparage - To discredit, belittle
Laudable - Praiseworthy
Fiasco - Complete failure
Masticate - To chew up
Eschew - Avoid
Red-letter day - Day of happiness, time for rejoicing
Harass - Annoy persistently
Monolithic - Massively solid
Arbitrary - Based on whim - Dictatorial
Indigent - Poor, needy
Fray - A fight
One swallow does not make a summer - Don't jump to conclusions
Stymie - To hinder, impede
Effigy - A likeness (usually of a hated person)
Flout - To mock, to show contempt for
Cognizant - Aware of
Turbulent - Unruly, agitated
Bitter pill to swallow - A humiliating defeat
Terminate - To end
Forthwith - Immediately
Exacerbate - To irritate, make worse
Revert - To turn back
Oust - To drive out, eject
Ax to grind - Having a selfish motive in the background
Poignant - Moving, or causing a keen sense of sadness or regret
Inundate - To overwhelm with a large amount of something
Garbled - Confused, distorted
Sanguine - Optimistic or positive, especially in an apparently bad situation
Phlegmatic - Not easily excited, or annoyed
Corroborate - To confirm or support with evidence
Comprehensive - Including or dealing with all or nearly all elements or aspects of something
Zealous - Having or showing great fervor of feeling or enthusiasm for something
Coerce - To persuade someone to do something by using force or threats
Fair-weather friends - People who are only friends when things are good
Subterranean - Under the ground
Viable - Successful, likely to succeed
Jeopardize - To risk harming or destroying something/somebody
Incredulous - Not wanting to believe something
Permeate- Spread to all parts, to penetrate
Propitious - Successful, lucky, favourable
Surmise - Guess or suppose
Curtail - Limit, shorten
Repress - To try not to show, or express
Cryptic - Hidden, unclear
Inchoate - Only just begun, Undeveloped
Prejudice - Unreasonable dislike or preference
Aspiration - Desire to achieve
Inveigh- Criticize strongly
Nettle- Annoy, irritate
Overt - Done openly
Relegate- Assign to a lower position
Supine- Lying flat on the back
Repulse- To cause strong dislike
Scurry - Run quickly
Stentoarian - Loud, powerful
Complicity - Partnership in wrongdoing
Liquidation - Disposal of, killing
Accomplice - An associate in crime

Today's Idiom

To rule the roost - To be in charge, to be master
Red-letter day - Day of happiness, time for rejoicing
Let sleeping dogs lie - To let well enough alone
An ax to grind - Having a selfish motive in the background
To cool one's heels - To be kept waiting
To break the ice - To make a start by overcoming initial difficulties
To pay the piper - To bear the consequences

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Description

Test your knowledge on the concept of Hobson's Choice and expand your vocabulary with new words and idioms. This quiz covers various terms and their meanings, along with idiomatic expressions to enhance your understanding of the English language.