Upwork English Vocabulary Test Answers UK Version 2016 (1st place!)

Upwork English Vocabulary Test Answers UK Version 2016

78 Answered Test Questions:
1. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

It seems we’ve reached an IMPASSE in our negotiations.
Answers:
a. Favourable compromise
a. Monetary amount
a. Total agreement
a. Stalemate
2. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of homophones from the options below.
The _________ poet, knowing his death was _________, struggled to finish his final ode.
Answers:
a. imminent/eminent
a. eminent/immanent
a. immanent/imminent
a. eminent/imminent
3. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
The only ________________ difference between the twins is the shape of their noses.
Answers:
a. distinctive
a. distinguished
a. distinguishable
4. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of homophones from the options below.
The skilful candidate’s ____________ speech was delightful to listen to, but failed to explain how he would achieve the ___________ goals of peace and prosperity.
Answers:
a. illusive/elusive
a. allusive/elusive
a. elusive/allusive
a. allusive/illusive
5. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Marilyn conveyed a BLITHE indifference to the troubles that mounted around her.
Answers:
a. Carefree; heedless
a. Cruel; heartless
a. Catastrophic
6. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

She entered the ballroom on the arm of a DEBONAIR young man.
Answers:
a. Imprudent and unrefined
a. Cheerful and clumsy
a. Selfish and dissipated
a. Charming and elegant
7. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.

Although _________ wanted to keep the boat all to _________, I knew it would be used extensively by both Susan and _________.
Answers:
a. I/myself/myself
a. I/me/I
a. I/myself/I
a. I/myself/me
8. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

RILE
Answers:
a. Placate
a. Annoy
a. Waste
a. Construct
9. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

MITIGATE
Answers:
a. Abate
a. Conceal
a. Intensify
a. Allow
10. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The publicist was surprised by the INUNDATION of fan letters for her top client.
Answers:
a. Deluge
a. Dearth
a. Hindrance
11. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The plots of all her novels just seem to MEANDER along, to the point where I can’t follow the storyline or figure out who’s who.
Answers:
a. Purposely confuse
a. Take a winding or indirect course
a. Charm and delight
12. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

ITINERANT
Answers:
a. Permanent
a. Flexible
a. Transient
a. Dissatisfied
13. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The despot’s MINIONS were only too eager to tout his edicts and report any unrest among his subjects.
Answers:
a. Sycophants; servile followers
a. Distant relatives
a. Armoured knights
14. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

She always got a VICARIOUS thrill from watching her father skydive.
Answers:
a. Empathetic
a. Dangerous
a. Pathetic
a. Sickening
15. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

v. To impose with authority; urge strongly
Answers:
a. Enjoin
a. Prevalent
a. Dissonance
a. Relegate
16. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Now that the festivities have ended, perhaps we can return to some SEMBLANCE of normality.
Answers:
a. Sentiment; emotion
a. Agreement
a. Outward appearance
17. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

INORDINATE
Answers:
a. Reasonable
a. On a waiting list
a. Unprepared
a. Immense
18. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

ADVERSE
Answers:
a. Moody
a. Poetic
a. Favourable
a. Twisted
19. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.
If you insist on eating more candy floss _________ a kid at a carnival, __________ don’t come crying to me when you’ve gained two stone!
Answers:
a. then/than
a. than/then
a. then/then
a. than/than
20. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

Agatha RUMINATED for weeks about the consequences of telling Arthur about the affair.
Answers:
a. Pondered
a. Worried
a. Neglected
a. Laughed
21. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The mysterious message Claude received could be a HARBINGER of what’s in store for him and his family.
Answers:
a. Downfall
a. Omen; forerunner
a. Unequivocal proof
22. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of homophones from the options below.
Rachel knew that she’d soon be living in ___________ circumstances unless she got her financial problems ____________ out immediately.
Answers:
a. straightened/straitened
a. straitened/straightened
23. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The journalist denied that he had any PRURIENT interest in the politician’s private life, but his titillating articles seemed to indicate otherwise.
Answers:
a. Mercenary; venal
a. Overly curious about the sexual behaviour of others
a. Characterized by profound insight
24. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Her MELLIFLUOUS voice is perfectly suited to lullabies and never fails to put us all to sleep.
Answers:
a. Smoothly flowing; sweet-sounding
a. Dull; tiresome
a. Cacophonous
25. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Similar to something else in certain respects, as in form, function, or meaning
Answers:
a. Abject
a. Agrarian
a. Analogous
a. Amalgam
26. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The exchange student was disheartened by the rather BRUSQUE welcome she received from her host family.
Answers:
a. Clamorous; disorderly
a. Gracious; kind
a. Blunt or rude in manner of speech
27. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct homophone from the options below.
Who has the power to _________ out justice to the citizens of this country?
Answers:
a. meet
a. mete
a. meat
28. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

Roger might be more AMENABLE to your ideas if you presented them without sneering.
Answers:
a. Intractable
a. Willing to accept
a. Impressed by
a. Unhappy
29. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

These artists really IMBUE their work with a spirit of profound freedom.
Answers:
a. Spoil
a. Detract from; debase
a. Fill or permeate with a particular feeling or quality
30. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

n. Flair; style; a flamboyant manner
Answers:
a. Panache
a. Voracious
a. Resonance
a. Cosmogony
31. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.

The workers were allowed to ___________ down once they’d ________ the brick, but the foreman himself has not yet ___________ down.
Answers:
a. lay/lain/laid
a. lie/laid/lain
a. lie/lain/lain
a. lay/laid/laid
32. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct homophone from the options below.
That gruelling competition really tested the _____________ of the gymnastics team.
Answers:
a. meddle
a. metal
a. medal
a. mettle
33. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

n. A position that entails little work but provides a salary
Answers:
a. Quiescence
a. Theocracy
a. Swindle
a. Sinecure
34. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.
Our solicitors have informed us that whilst the new tax laws will not __________ our business directly, they may have an adverse _________ on the spending power of our clients.
Answers:
a. effect/affect
a. affect/affect
a. effect/effect
a. affect/effect
35. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.

Mr Winthrop was dismayed to discover that his wilful young wife __________ her wealth and __________ the law at every opportunity.
Answers:
a. flouted/flouted
a. flouted/flaunted
a. flaunted/flouted
a. flaunted/flaunted
36. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

PRETENTIOUS
Answers:
a. Modest
a. Understanding
a. Uneasy
a. Pleasant
37. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.

I screamed as the monstrous presence snaked towards me on the dark and __________ path.
Answers:
a. tortious
a. tortuous
a. torturous
38. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Narrow-minded; limited in scope
Answers:
a. Hermetic
a. Foreseeable
a. Sporadic
a. Sectarian
39. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Sluggish; apathetic; dull
Answers:
a. Turbid
a. Torpid
a. Turgid
a. Tepid
40. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

LASSITUDE
Answers:
a. Simplicity of speech
a. Leniency
a. Philanthropy
a. Vigour
41. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

The WIZENED old woman gave Jack a handful of beans and some good advice.
Answers:
a. Sage
a. Shrivelled
a. Creepy
a. Jocular
42. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

v. To issue a vehement verbal attack; to denounce explosively
Answers:
a. Vituperative
a. Litigant
a. Fulminate
a. Exhume
43. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.

It’s a good thing you’re so _________ at paperwork, because you’ll need to fill out hundreds of forms to __________ a child.
Answers:
a. adapt/adapt
a. adept/adopt
a. adapt/adopt
a. adopt/adept
44. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

n. The act or fact of lessening; reduction
Answers:
a. Diminution
a. Protraction
a. Dissuade
a. Dissolution
45. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Poverty is RIFE in the rural areas of our county, where one in three families receives some assistance.
Answers:
a. Prevalent
a. Unavoidable
a. Saddening
46. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

n. A mass or crowd; multitude
Answers:
a. Reprieve
a. Malady
a. Horde
a. Indulgence
47. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

n. Local or provincial dialect
Answers:
a. Invective
a. Patois
a. Neopaganism
a. Polyarchy
48. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.

The crafty spy gave a ____________ name to the hotel clerk.
Answers:
a. fictive
a. fictional
a. fictitious
49. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Dan was a nice bloke, but he was far too GARRULOUS and tended to monopolize people at parties.
Answers:
a. Gluttonous
a. Quarrelsome; contentious
a. Excessively talkative about trivial topics
50. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

The soldier’s EXEMPLARY conduct did not go unnoticed by his sergeant.
Answers:
a. Erratic
a. Apathetic
a. Admirable
a. Meticulous
51. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct homophone from the options below.
Oscar, who did not possess a discerning __________, preferred hotdogs to steak.
Answers:
a. palette
a. pallet
a. palate
52. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.
The proposed after-school tutoring programme promises _______________ benefits to the students and the community.
Answers:
a. innumerable
a. enumerable
53. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

NONCHALANT
Answers:
a. Courageous
a. Unnerved
a. Unperturbed
a. Lethargic
54. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Tending to create ill will or give offense
Answers:
a. Labyrinthine
a. Invidious
a. Titillating
a. Envious
55. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct homophone from the options below.

We all remarked on how well the spray of begonias _____________ her hair colour.
Answers:
a. complimented
a. complemented
56. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Understood by or intended for only a select few or a particular group
Answers:
a. Esoteric
a. Eccentric
a. Narcissistic
a. Languid
57. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

n. Capacity for producing a desired result; effectiveness
Answers:
a. Contumacy
a. Defenestration
a. Conversion
a. Efficacy
58. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Maude managed to sweep up the broken dishes without a word of REPROOF to her children.
Answers:
a. Expression of disapproval or blame
a. Expression of affection or love
a. Expression of apology or regret
59. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Hardhearted; unmoved by pity
Answers:
a. Apologetic
a. Parsimonious
a. Obdurate
a. Abdicated
60. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

We fully expect Elizabeth to FOIST her work on us and disappear for the weekend as usual.
Answers:
a. Force upon; palm off
a. Take away; take off one’s hands
a. Keep for oneself
61. Choose the word that best corresponds with the definition given below.

adj. Easily provoked to anger; irritable
Answers:
a. Sapid
a. Irascible
a. Jocund
a. Incorrigible
62. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

REFUTE
Answers:
a. Expose
a. Support
a. Garbage
a. Safe place
63. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.

Though he didn’t win the advertising account, Sal made a __________ presentation that he can be proud of.
Answers:
a. credulous
a. creditable
a. credible
64. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The diplomats, who have been accused of DUPLICITY by their respective countries, have been removed from their posts.
Answers:
a. Bad taste
a. Deceitfulness; double-dealing
a. Embezzlement
65. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Running around barefoot in the snow will only EXACERBATE your flu symptoms.
Answers:
a. Eliminate
a. Aggravate; worsen
a. Exhaust; drain of strength
66. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

It would BEHOVE you to show a little more respect to the judge and jury who are deciding your case.
Answers:
a. Be too much trouble to
a. Be detrimental to
a. Be worthwhile or proper for; be incumbent upon
67. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct word from the options below.

She launched her new line of handbags _________ a fanfare of publicity.
Answers:
a. between
a. amid
a. among
68. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.

She hastened to _________ me that she intends to pay the bill, and that she will _________ that the cheque is posted today.
Answers:
a. assure/ensure
a. ensure/insure
a. insure/assure
a. ensure/assure
69. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct homophone from the options below.

This experiment was designed to ___________ certain behaviours from the test subjects.
Answers:
a. illicit
a. elicit
70. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

Alicia, who loved both men equally and wanted to hurt neither, found herself in quite a QUANDARY over which one she should choose.
Answers:
a. Happy circumstance
a. Puzzling predicament
a. Easy decision
71. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

The coach was absolutely disgusted by his team’s INDOLENCE and nasty attitude.
Answers:
a. Violent behaviour
a. Odorousness
a. Laziness
a. Disappearance
72. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct set of words from the options below.

I can _________ all the terms of the lease for the flat _________ the one about not allowing pets.
Answers:
a. except/accept
a. except/except
a. accept/accept
a. accept/except
73. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

His son’s group of friends had a DELETERIOUS effect on his schoolwork.
Answers:
a. Influential
a. Positive
a. Hysterical
a. Harmful
74. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly an antonym of the word below.

AVARICE
Answers:
a. State of good health
a. Materialism
a. Loneliness
a. Generosity
75. Choose the word or phrase that is most nearly a synonym for the word in CAPITAL LETTERS in the following sentence.

Alec has always been CONTEMPTUOUS of his fellow writers.
Answers:
a. Disdainful
a. Inspired by
a. Disliked by
a. Respectful
76. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The recent shenanigans in the town square went against all PRECEPTS of decency.
Answers:
a. Rules for action or behaviour
a. Vague ideas; abstractions
a. Significance
77. Choose the definition that best reflects the meaning of the word in CAPITAL LETTERS as it is used in the sentence below.

The community theatre troupe faced one problem after another, so it was no surprise that their season ended in a DEBACLE.
Answers:
a. Conundrum
a. Spectacle; display
a. Complete failure; breaking up
78. Complete the following sentence by choosing the correct homophone from the options below.

Sally was greatly __________ when I said I didn’t like redheads.
Answers:
a. piqued
a. peeked
a. peaked