English Vocabulary Quiz- Set 124

Directions (1-10) Which of the following phrases given against each sentence can replace the phrase given in bracket in the sentence grammatically and contextually? if none of the phrases can replace the word/phrase given in bracket in the sentence , select ‘None’ as your answer.

1. The Swedes are not alone in finding their language under pressure from the ''ubiquitous'' spread of English.
   I. omnipresent
   II. all-pervasive
   III. percolate
   II
   I, III
   III
   I,II
   None of these
   Option D
   Ubiquitous – present, appearing, or found everywhere.
   
    



2. To foster a culture of innovation, faculty must be open to exploring the unknown making the environment conducive for interactions.
   I. encourage
   II. endeavour
   III. promote
   III
   I,III
   II,III
   I,II
   None of these
   Option B
   Foster – encourage the development of (something, especially something desirable).
   
    



3. He keeps trying to get his silly matter published but I think he’s ''flogging a dead horse''.
   I. just holding it in leash
   II. just fiddling around here
   III. hogging over it
   II,III
   III
   I,II
   II
   None of these
   Option D
   flogging a dead horse – to waste one’s efforts, waste time unnecessarily without any purpose
   
    



4. His apparent ''heresy'' is not that of the smooth talking cleric, but the statistician specialising in the field of criminology.
   I. piousness
   II. hearsay
   III. ramblings
   III
   I,II
   II
   II,III
   None of these
   Option E
   Heresy – belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious (especially Christian) doctrine.
   
    



5. Many of us conform to the ''outmoded customs'' laid down by our forebears.
   I. outdated practices
   II. in vogue traditions
   III. obsolescent conventions
   I,II
   II,III
   I,III
   I
   None of these
   Option C
   Outdated customs – old-fashioned and no longer useful or relevant to modern life.
   
    



6. The ''amateur'' pianist made one or two false starts before finally playing the piece a bit right at the culmination.
   I. professional
   II. dabbler
   III. partisan
   I,II
   II
   II,III
   I,II
   None of these
   Option B
   Amateur – a person who engages in a pursuit on an unpaid rather than a professional basis/done in an incompetent or inept way.
   
    



7. After 14 years living and working in this country, she thinks it’s time ''to call it a day''.
   I. to concede defeat
   II. to recapitulate
   III. to give up hope
   III
   I,III
   II,III
   I,II
   None of these
   Option E
   To call it a day – to stop what you are doing because you do not want to do any more or think you have done enough
   
    



8. Despite all the goodies that participants get , I am not ''going for'' the competition.
   I. gunning for
   II. competing in
   III. taking part in
   II
   I,II
   II,III
   III
   None of these
   Option C
   Go in for – to take part in
   
    



9. We were ''kept on tenterhooks'' for hours while the judges chose the winner.
   I. waiting nervously
   II. in suspense
   III. kept in dark
   I,II
   II,III
   I,III
   I
   None of these
   Option A
   On tenterhooks – waiting nervously/anxiously for a result/ in anticipation for something eventful
   
    



10. Vineet ''pulled a long face'' when he was taken to task by his teacher for his carelessness.
    I. showed arrogance
    II. looked disappointed
    III. mocked him
    I,III
    II,III
    II
    I,III
    None of these
    Option C
    Pull a long face – to look sad, disappointed