English Vocabulary and Grammar Quiz

Fettle means proper or sound condition - as in 'fine fettle.' Option A is correct. The term describes being in good shape, physically or mentally. Other options suggest courage (B), plants (C), or restraints (D).

Filch means to steal or take in a furtive, sneaky manner. Option C is correct. The term implies petty theft done secretly. Other options refer to a brush (A), betrayal (B), or debris (D).

Florid means very ornate, flowery, or elaborately decorated - often applied to writing or speech. Option C is correct. The term suggests excessive decoration. Other options refer to heat (A), liquid state (B), or old coins (D).

Folly means a lack of good sense or understanding - foolishness or stupidity. Option A is correct. The term refers to unwise decisions or actions. Other options refer to paper (B), shrubs (C), or animals (D).

Fulsome means offensively flattering or insincere - excessive to the point of being distasteful. Option D is correct. The term describes praise that's overdone and feels fake. Other options suggest body type (A), growth (B), or abundance (C).

Funicular means operated or moved by a cable - like a funicular railway. Option A is correct. The term describes cable-powered systems, often on steep inclines. Other options refer to dance (B), play (C), or insect parts (D).

A furlong is an imperial unit of distance equal to 1/8 mile or 220 yards, traditionally used in horse racing and agriculture. The other options are incorrect: a furlong has nothing to do with leaves of absence, horse anatomy, or flag equipment.

The subject is 'Trivandrum' (singular), so the verb must be 'ranks' (singular). The phrase 'ranks as' means 'is considered to be'. The intro clause 'Far from being...' is just descriptive and doesn't affect the subject-verb agreement.

The subject is 'the killer' (singular person), so the verb must be 'is' (singular). The phrase 'the killer of the girls in both cities' has a singular head noun 'killer' despite the prepositional phrases with plural words.

'Machinery' is an uncountable noun that takes a singular verb, so 'is' is correct. Uncountable nouns like machinery, equipment, and furniture always use singular verbs even when referring to multiple items.

The subject is 'items' (plural), so the verb must be 'cost' (plural). This is present tense describing a general fact - items 'cost' more, not 'costs'. The prepositional phrases don't affect subject-verb agreement.

'Imply' is correct because the fact does the implying (it suggests or indicates something). 'Infer' means to draw a conclusion from evidence - that's what the listener does, not what the fact does. This is a common confusion between these two words.

'Led' is the past tense of 'lead'. The phrase 'has led' requires the past participle form. This is an irregular verb where the past tense (led) is different from the present tense (lead) - a common source of confusion.

'Will' is correct as it's the future tense auxiliary verb for the third person singular ('he'). This follows the standard conditional structure: 'If you build it, he will come.' 'Shall' is typically used for first person ('I shall', 'we shall').

'Advise' is the verb (what you do), while 'advice' is the noun (what you give). The sentence requires the verb form 'I advise you' meaning 'I recommend or suggest to you'. This is a common confusion between these two related words.

The sentence requires 'besides' which can mean 'except for' or 'other than'. The structure 'Few people besides his uncle never visited him' means almost everyone visited him, with his uncle being an exception who did not. 'Beside' means 'next to' which doesn't fit this context.

An emollient is something that softens or soothes, typically referring to moisturizing substances in medical or cosmetic contexts. 'Lubricative' relates to making surfaces slippery, which is presented as the closest association. While not a perfect synonym, it's the intended answer among the options.

Ersatz is a German loanword meaning artificial, imitation, or fake (usually as an inferior substitute). The antonym (opposite) would therefore be 'natural' or genuine. 'Artificial', 'substitute', and 'imitation' are all synonyms or related concepts, not antonyms.

Soporific means causing drowsiness or sleepiness (sedative, sleep-inducing). The antonym is therefore 'active' or 'stimulating' - something that keeps you awake rather than putting you to sleep. 'Sedative', 'sleepy', and 'narcotic' are all synonyms, not antonyms.

Agrestic means relating to the fields or countryside, synonymous with rural or rustic. Urban (A), city (C), and metropolitan (D) all refer to built-up city areas, which are opposites of agrestic.