Mix Vocabulary Questions and Answers For Competitive Exams

Language competency is essential for cracking competitive exams. At various stages in our lives too, we come across situations where lack of good command over language might appear as a flaw in our personality. Essential component of doing well in any language is knowing its vocabulary well. Competitive exams, be it banking, SSC, exams under UPSC, or state level exams, they lay special emphasis on vocabulary section. While this may come as natural to many students, many from rural background struggle with English vocabulary. Method to get command over vocabulary involves reading good books and English newspaper, but in competitive exam it is essential that one is able to recall, what he/she has studied. Hence solving adequate number of questions is important.

We have compiled few questions from Mix Vocabulary section for your practice. Try to attempt the questions on your own and thereafter refer to answers given at the end to check and analyze your performance.

Important Vocabulary Questions and Answers For Government Job Exams

Directions (1-3): A word has been given in each question and has been used in the sentences given below. Identify the statements where the word has been used in a contextually and grammatically correct manner. If the word has been used correctly in all the statements, mark (e), “All of these”, as your answer

1 HOSTILE
He made hostile efficiency a key part of his budget plan.
There has been a hostile reaction to the government's proposed tax increase.
The security forces exercised great restraint by not responding to hostile attacks and threats
Only (i)
Both (i) and (ii)
Both (ii) and (iii)
Only (iii)
All of these

2 VAGUE
The judges determined that the law was too vague to be fairly enforced.
The merger of these two companies would vague the world's biggest accounting firm (iii)The president had a vague reception in Ohio this morning.
Only (i)
Both (i) and (ii)
Both (ii) and (iii)
Only (iii)
All of these

3 ESCALATE
The pedestrian was jaywalking when he escalate the busy street, walking straight into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
We've tried to escalate the most likely problems, but it's impossible to be prepared for every eventuality.
(iii)The decision to escalate UN involvement has been made in the hopes of a swift end to the hostilities.
Only (i)
Both (i) and (ii)
Both (ii) and (iii)
Only (iii)
All of these

Directions (4-8): In the following questions, a sentence is divided into four parts consisting of a highlighted word in each part. Choose the option reflecting the word which is either misspelt or grammatically incorrect. If all the highlighted words are correct, choose option (e) i.e. “all are correct” as your answer choice.

4 The manager balanced (A) the strength (B) of his team against that of their opponent (C) and sighed. (D)
balanced
strength
opponent
sighed
All are correct

5 One evening Rohan pripared (A) a nice supper (B) and put it on low heat in the oven to keep it tepid (C) while his wife dressed. (D)
prepared
supper
tepid
dressed
All are correct

6 . She was able to breathe (A) easier when she stood outside the massive(B) fortress (C) that sat on a clearing the size of two footbal (D) fields.
breathe
massive
fortress
football
All are correct

7. From time to time Jack would looking over(A) Mungo's shoulder, suggesting(B) tactics (C) which invariably proved disastrous.(D)
looking over
suggesting
tactics
disastrous
All are correct

8: Horrified (A) passengers saw Olive stumble (B) and (C) fall of a platform as an express roared (D) in. (a) Horrified
stumble
fall of
roared
All are correct

Directions (9-13): In each of the questions below, there is a word given in bold which is followed by five options. In each of the options, a pair of words is given which is either the pair of synonyms or antonyms or synonym & antonym of the word given in bold. Choose that pair as your answer.

9) ABERRANT
Inane: Systematic
Anomalous: Amulet
Abusive: Amoral
Abstain: Abandon
Deviant: Abnormal

10) METICULOUS
Conscientious: Nemesis
Scrupulous: Slapdash
Obligatory: Scrutinize
Skeptic: Stringent
Sloppy: Subservient

11) ECCENTRIC
Peculiar: Bizarre
Altruistic: Magnanimous
Autocratic: Bloated
Capacious: Chaste
Compress: Illegitimate

12). ECSTASY
Illusion: Hallucination
Effectual: Hilarity
Euphoria: Garbled
Rapture: Insouciance
Fatuous: Erudite

13). IMPUNITY
Livid: Morbid
Dispensation: Nullify
Incarceration: Captivity
Salvation: Incongruous
Kindred: Obsessive

Directions (14-16): In the following questions a part of a sentence is given in bold, it is then followed by four sentences which try to explain the meaning of the idiom/phrase given in bold. Choose the alternative from the four given below each question which explains the meaning of the phrase correctly without altering the meaning of the sentence given as question. If none of the sentence explains the meaning of the highlighted phrase, choose option (e) i.e., “none of these” as your answer choice.

14) I contemplate long and hard before I decide if I feel ready to tackle a new skill or if I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie.

I scrutinize thoroughly before I choose if I am ready to pursue a new skill or if I prefer to ignore it to avoid even more difficult situation.
I examine extensively before I determine, if I want to follow a new skill or if I choose to capture the hidden capabilities.
I study very hard while establishing whether I feel qualified to adapt a new skill or if I am inexperienced to assimilate it.
I forecast thoroughly before I decide that if I am ready to tackle a new skill or if I choose to let the dogs sleep.
None of these

15) If you want to respond but feel like the cat got your tongue, I spoke with experts to create an unofficial, evolving script we could use when we face a variety of icky situations.
If you want to respond but feel like you could clamour, I spoke with experts to create an unofficial, evolving script we could use when we face a variety of icky situations.
If you want to respond but feel like the cat held your tongue, I spoke with experts to create an unofficial, evolving script we could use when we face a variety of icky situations.
If you want to respond but feel like you could only mutter, I spoke with experts to create an unofficial, evolving script we could use when we face a variety of icky situations.
(d) If you want to respond but feel like you can’t answer anything, I spoke with experts to create an unofficial, evolving script we could use when we face a variety of icky situations.
(e) None of these

16)President Paul Biya has been acting like a cat on hot bricks or better still a mother who returns from a long journey just to find her plates in disarray.
President Paul Biya has been acting anxious like a mother who returns from a long journey just to find her plates in disarray.
President Paul Biya has been acting poised as if a mother who returns from a long journey just to find her plates in disarray.
President Paul Biya’ mother is suppressed after returning from a long journey just to find her plates in disarray.
President Paul Biya is a mother who returns from a long journey just to find her plates in disarray and is distressed about it.
None of these

Directions (17-18): Choose the word/group of words which is MOST SIMILAR in meaning to the word / group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

17) THRILLED
Tedious
Monotonous
Delight
Dull
Boring

18 INFLUENCE
Insignificance
Domination
Underwhelming
Triviality
Weakness

Directions (19-20): Choose the word/group of words which is MOST OPPOSITE in meaning of the word/ group of words printed in bold as used in the passage.

19 FUNERAL
Nativity
Burial
Cremation
Entombment
Inhumation

20. HINDERED
Hamper
Inhibit
Impede
Retard
Expedite

Answers
1: . (c); Hostile means showing or feeling opposition or dislike; unfriendly. Therefore, sentence (ii) and (iii) depict the correct usage of the given word. Hence, option (c) is the most suitable answer choice.
(a); Vague means thinking or communicating in an unfocused or imprecise way.
Therefore, only sentence (i) depicts the correct usage of the given word. Hence, option (a) is the most suitable answer choice
(d); Escalate means increase rapidly. Therefore, only sentence (iii) depicts the correct usage of the given word. Hence, option (d) is the most suitable answer choice.

4. (a); Except “balenced” which is spelt as “balanced” all other words are correctly spelt so our answer choice will be option (a).
5 (a) ; Except “pripared” which is spelt as “prepared” all other words are correctly spelt so our answer choice will be option (a).
(d); Except “footbal” which is spelt as “football” all other words are correctly spelt so our answer choice will be option (d).
(a); Except “looking over” which is grammatically wrong all other words are correctly spelt and are grammatically flawless so our answer choice will be option (a). Replace “looking over” with “look over”.
(c); Except “fall of” which is spelt as “fall off” all other words are correctly spelt so our answer choice will be option (c)

. 9)(e); “Aberrant” means departing from an accepted standard or diverging from the normal type. Therefore, “Deviant: Abnormal” is the set of words that expresses the meaning of the given highlighted word. Hence, option (e) is the most suitable answer choice. Inane means lacking sense or meaning; silly. Anomalous means deviating from what is standard, normal, or expected. Amulet means an ornament or small piece of jewellery thought to give protection against evil, danger, or disease.

10)(b); “Meticulous” means showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise.
Therefore, the set of words that consists of its synonym and antonym is “Scrupulous : Slapdash”. Hence, option (b) is the most suitable answer choice Conscientious means wishing to do one's work or duty well and thoroughly. Nemesis means the inescapable agent of someone's or something's downfall. Scrupulous means (of a person or process) careful, thorough, and extremely attentive to details. Slapdash means done too hurriedly and carelessly. Sloppy means careless and unsystematic; excessively casual. Subservient means prepared to obey others unquestioningly

11). (a); “Eccentric” means (of a person or their behaviour) unconventional and slightly strange. Therefore, the set of words that reflect the synonyms of the given highlighted word is “Peculiar : Bizarre”. Hence, option (a) is the most suitable answer choice. Peculiar means different to what is normal or expected; strange. Bizarre means very strange or unusual. Altruistic means showing a disinterested and selfless concern for the well-being of others; unselfish. Magnanimous means generous or forgiving, especially towards a rival or less powerful person. Bloated means swollen with fluid or gas. Capacious means having a lot of space inside; roomy. Chaste means without unnecessary ornamentation; simple or restrained.
(d); “Ecstasy” means an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement. Therefore, the set of words that consists of its synonym and antonym is “Rapture: Insouciance”. Hence, option (d) is the most suitable answer choice. Effectual means (of something inanimate or abstract) successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective. Hilarity means extreme amusement, especially when expressed by laughter Garbled means reproduce (a message, sound, or transmission) in a confused and distorted way. Rapture means a feeling of intense pleasure or joy. Insouciance means casual; lack of concern; indifference. Fatuous means silly and pointless. Erudite means having or showing great knowledge or learning.
(c); “Impunity” means exemption from punishment or freedom from the injurious consequences of an action. Therefore, the set of words that reflect the antonyms of the given highlighted word is “Incarceration: Captivity”. Hence, option (c) is the most suitable answer choice. Livid means furiously angry. Morbid means characterized by an abnormal and unhealthy interest in disturbing and unpleasant subjects, especially death and disease.
(a); The most appropriate sentence that is grammatically and contextually viable in accordance to the meaning of the given sentence is sentence (a) as, the meaning of the phrase “to let sleeping dogs lie” is to ignore a problem because trying to deal with it could cause an even more difficult situation. All the other sentences are contextually incorrect; hence, option (a) is the most suitable answer choice.

15). (d); The most appropriate sentence that is grammatically and contextually viable in accordance to the meaning of the given sentence is sentence (d) as, the meaning of the phrase “cat got your tongue” is used when someone has nothing to say. All the other sentences are contextually incorrect; hence, option (d) is the most suitable answer choice.

16). (a); The most appropriate sentence that is grammatically and contextually viable in accordance to the meaning of the given sentence is sentence (a) as, the meaning of the phrase “cat on hot bricks” is used to express when someone is restless or skittish, unable to remain still. All the other sentences are contextually incorrect; hence, option (a) is the most suitable answer choice.

Thrilled: cause (someone) to have a sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure.
Most similar word – Delight which means great pleasure.
Monotonous means dull, tedious, and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.

influence--- the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself
Most similar word is domination

Funeral-- a ceremony or service held shortly after a person's death, usually including the person's burial or cremation.
Most similar word is cremation
Antonym of funeral is Nativity which means the occasion of a person's birth.

Hindered means to limit the ability of someone to do something, or to limit the development of somethings
The most similar word is impede
Antonym of hindered is expedite which means make (an action or process) happen sooner or be accomplished more quickly.

We hope that our curated list of important mix vocabulary questions and answers turned out to be useful for you. Mastering vocabulary is gradual process, consistent efforts are needed to become comfortable with this sections. Students are advised to make notes on words and questions they have got wrong. Regular revision of mistakes will help to minimize possibility of error in long run. This is also an effective way to add new words and information to your word bank. Candidates can also make notes of the words provided above and revise them regularly. Along with that, candidates should keep checking our website for more questions and free E-Books for Vocabulary.