VOCABULARY

IMPROVE YOUR WORD POWER

Quick Test1
Match the following words with their meanings given on the right. Word Meaning 1. shroud (a) crowd 2. bevy (b) abundance 3. imbibe (c) prevent from speech 4. enthral (d) thing that conceals 5. quirk (e) playful 6. laurels (f) cut from a whole 7. muzzle (g) to absorb 8. glitch (h) a maneuver 9. frisky (i) fascinate 10. scramble (j) sudden irregularity 11. miniscule (k) fame 12. gambit (l) trick of fate 13. cornucopia (m) knotted (twisted) 14. gnarled (n) tiny 15. lop (o) mix together indiscriminately

Quick Test3
The passage given below has certain blanks. Fill the blanks after studying the passage carefully and select the most suitable word to complete the sentences. 31 truth 32 of the knowledge that man is 33 by nature and 34 in resources. He is not a limited, 35 individual, completely 36 by the 37 of time, space and customs. The world of illusion is a 38 of his 39 , a play 40 in the theatre of his 41 . But his 42 in the role, has made him 43 of his true self and he 44 now as a 45 through the path he has created. 31. (a) expressive (b) real (c) spiritual (d) fake 32. (a) consists (b) denies (c) makes (d) tells 33. (a) omnipotent (b) external (c) vagabond (d) truthful 34. (a) rich (b) omniscient (c) definite (d) infinite 35. (a) separate (b) deserted (c) miscalculated (d) ideal 36. (a) astounded (b) bound (c) hooked (d) framed 37. (a) delusion (b) imagination (c) illusion (d) frustration 38. (a) means (b) sacrament (c) conditioning (d) dream 39. (a) projecting (b) framing (c) imagining (d) characterising 40. (a) enacted (b) drafted (c) acted (d) designed 41. (a) ruthlessness (b) conscious- (c) brain (d) heart ness 42. (a) diversion (b) conduction (c) desire (d) absorption 43. (a) trivial (b) fragmented (c) forgetful (d) definite 44. (a) stumbles (b) kicks (c) unifies (d) craves 45. (a) master (b) creature (c) practitioner (d) fashioner

Quick Test2
Match the following words with their meanings. Word Meaning 16. suburbs (a) hostile response 17. pate (b) to think 18. strand (c) of physical 19. cerebrate (d) to roam 20. prowl (e) outer edge/border 21. backlash (f) place of protection 22. jargon (g) ooze out 23. dabble (h) thread 24. haven (i) harsh/hoarse 25. nuzzle (j) total disgust 26. exude (k) rub gently with the nose 27. oppressive (l) experiment 28. raspy (m) chain up 29. sensual (n) words used by a particular group 30. shackle (o) harsh/domineering

Check your performance ...

1. (d) 5. (l) 9. (c) 13. (b) 17. (j) 21. (a) 25. (k) 29. (c) 33. (b) 37. (c) 41. (b) 45. (b) 2. (a) 6. (k) 10. (o) 14. (m) 18. (h) 22. (n) 26. (g) 30. (m) 34. (d) 38. (d) 42. (d) 3. (g) 7. (c) 11. (n) 15. (f) 19. (b) 23. (l) 27. (o) 31. (c) 35. (a) 39. (c) 43. (c) 4. (i) 8. (j) 12. (h) 16. (e) 20. (d) 24. (f) 28. (i) 32. (a) 36. (b) 40. (a) 44. (a)

Where do you stand? If you score: 1 to 10 ... Poor 11 to 25 ... Average 26 to 38 ... Above Average 39 to 45 ... Excellent

743 MARCH 2007 THE COMPETITION MASTER