English Language

Vocabulary Usage

161 Questions
All Wrong Sense of a Multiple-Meaning Word 59 Confusable Near-Homophone 44 Wrong Word Class for the Slot 23 Collocation Mismatch 22

Vocabulary Usage Questions

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

ALTERNATE

  1. My husband and I alternate in washing up at night.

  2. Every alternate fence post was painted red, giving a striped effect.

  3. There is no alternative to travelling by that route.

  4. The wind had dropped now and the cloud was breaking up, we walked to the quay in alternative light and shade.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

“Alternate” in (1) and (5) is the correct usage as it means to do or occur by turns. In (2), it means every second one, thereby depicting its correct usage. “Alternative” in (3) and (4) means the freedom of choice, especially between two things or possibilities. “Alternative” in (4) would be incorrect. The correct usage would be “alternate”, which gives sense to the sentence. Hence, the answer is (4).

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

CAP

  1. The mountains with the snowy caps is a beautiful sight.

  2. The politician could cap the assembly polls hands down.

  3. Put the cap back on the bottle after you have taken the pill out of it.

  4. The government has promised to control the fiscal deficit and has introduced new spending caps for non-plan expenditures.

  5. You can't go cap in hand for your subsistence.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

'Cap' as used in (1) implies to cover the top or end of; form a cap; in option (3), it refers to a lid or covering; in option (4), it means an upper limit set on a budgeted cost; in option (5) it means beg. Therefore, options (1), (3), (4) and (5) highlight correct usage of cap, but option (2) suggests the incorrect usage of 'cap'. The correct sentence would read, 'The politician could win the assembly polls cap in hand', where it means in a humble or servile manner. Hence, option (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

PLAIN

  1. It was plain that he is the culprit.

  2. If we are going to be business partners, there will have to be plain dealing between us.

  3. I don't want to go out with you, do I make myself plain?

  4. She liked her blunt, plain-spoken boss.

  5. Two straight lines lie in the same plain.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

The correct word in (5) should be 'plane' instead of 'plain' would suffice. This marks option (5) as the one, which has the incorrect usage.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

CORRUPT

  1. Offers of money can corrupt public servants.

  2. The evil person enjoys corrupting teenagers.

  3. The French don't approve of their language corruption.

  4. The battlefield was filled with the stench of corruption.

  5. You can't corrupt the text in this manner.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The meaning of term 'corrupt' implied in sentence (1) is to cause to become dishonest. The meaning implied in sentence (2) is 'immorality especially sexually'. In sentence (4) the usage of term 'corrupt' denotes a formal word for 'decay'. In sentence (5) 'corrupt' means spoil. In sentence (3) we have a problem. 'Language corruption' expression should have been 'The French don't approve of their language being corrupted'. Thus, option (3) marks incorrect usage.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

MALICE

  1. He was motivated by malice when he set out to harass his ex-wife.

  2. The saintly man bears no maliciousness.

  3. It was with malice aforethought that he bought a gun and lay in wait for the manager who had sacked him.

  4. The malicious woman falsely accused him of child abuse.

  5. It's a malice afterthought.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Meaning of the term 'malice' is ill will, evil intent, or desire to harm. In option (2), 'maliciousness' should be replaced by the correct noun 'malice'.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly. PLACE

  1. Your comments place me in an awkward position.

  2. This is not placed for here.

  3. It's your place to make a speech at the dinner.

  4. We have enough cutleries for six place settings.

  5. The place is closed to vehicular traffic.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

As used in option in (1), 'place' implies to put in a particular position. As given in option (3), 'your place' means your right or duty. 'Place settings'', as given in option (4), refer to an arrangement of knives, forks, etc. 'Place' in (5) means locality. The sentence as given in option (2), supposed to convey 'doesn't belong to'', is incorrect.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

SCRAPE

  1. He hurriedly scraped a note before he ran to his car.

  2. They scraped a letter into the stone.

  3. She had scraped together enough money for college.

  4. She fell down and scraped her knee.

  5. The carpenter scraped the plank clean.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The process of writing quickly without any attention to detail is scribbling and not scraping.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly:

RABBIT

  1. Would you like some rabbit stew?

  2. The thieves escaped into the rabbit warren of the slums.

  3. She is a hopeless rabbit at tennis.

  4. Creeping up behind the guard, he rabbited him on the floor.

  5. He is a rabbit amongst a pack of wolfs.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

(4): “Rabbit” in option (1) is used as of its flesh eaten as meat. Hence, option (1) is correct usage. “Rabbit warren” is the correct usage in (2) as it refers to a place with narrow passage, usually in an overcrowded slum. Hence, (2) is the correct usage. In option (3), rabbit is used as slang for weak player or a beginner at a game, which reflects the correct usage. In option (5), rabbit is used as a weak fearful person. Option (4) is incorrect. Instead of “rabbited him on the floor”, it should have been “he floored him with a rabbit punch” which refers to a sharp blow with the side of the hand to the back of the neck. Hence, (4) is the answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

CONNECTION

  1. Her query has no direct connection with our discussion.

  2. The ISP provider will charge a one-time connection fee of Rs. 250.

  3. As my flight was late, I missed my connection.

  4. You gave me an incorrect connection to locate Dr. Bhargava, I had to spend a lot of time in reaching him.

  5. I have no connections in high places.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'Connection' as used in options (1), (2) and (5) implies a link respectively. Option (3) also suggests correct usage of connection as it means the act or means of transferring from one train, bus, etc. to another in the course of a journey. Option (4) is the answer as there is no such meaning of connection implying description, explanation.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

ARGUE

  1. He has an argumentative nature.

  2. It won't help to argue the toss, as you can't change things.

  3. He argued me out of resigning my job.

  4. It is argued whether she actually said that.

  5. His manners argue a good upbringing.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

'Argued' in (4) is incorrect. The correct sentence would be 'It is arguable whether she actually said that'. This marks option (4) as the required answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Choose the sentence in which the word given below has not been used correctly.

PINCH

  1. I was pinched about the money I had.

  2. I can get by with five hours sleep at a pinch.

  3. The pinch left a bruise on her arm.

  4. In the recession many people felt the pinch.

  5. He is reduced to a pinch after his confinement.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The expression 'at a pinch' as used in option (2) is correct. In option (3), the most common usage of the word pinch has been given, which refers to a squeeze made by fingers and thumb on a surface. In option (4), pinch refers to the experience or effects of poverty. In option (5), pinch refers to thinning. In option (1) the sentence makes no sense. Therefore, the answer is option (1).

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn't been used correctly.

APT

  1. An apt reply is called for.

  2. She proved aptly philanthropic.

  3. He shows an aptitude for the violin.

  4. He is apt to lose his temper quickly.

  5. It is apt for flowers to bloom in spring.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In sentence (2,) the adverb 'aptly' is grammatically incorrect and should be replaced by the adjective 'an apt'. Therefore option (2) is the required answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn’t been used correctly.

PELLET

  1. The pellets of animals are interesting to make a study on.

  2. He threw a pellet of bread to the seagull.

  3. Allow the pellet to dissolve under your tongue.

  4. Conservationists examine the pellets of animals to see what their diet consists of.

  5. He aimed the catapult to pellet at the hapless bird.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Option (5) makes no sense due to use of the word ‘pellet’ in incorrect verb form. Project the pellet would have been the correct usage. Hence, (5) is our answer.

Multiple choice

Directions: Find the statement where the given word hasn't been used correctly.

PALM

  1. He spent the night sleeping on an uncomfortable palm.

  2. He tried to palm off a piece of glass as a diamond.

  3. You should have seen him in his palmy days before he lost his health and his money.

  4. Driving gloves have mesh backs and leather palms.

  5. His efforts helped him to bear the palm.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The use of 'palm' in option (2) is 'to cheat or defraud'. In option (3), the meaning is 'prosperous or flourishing'. In sentence (4), the meaning is 'inner surface of a glove'. In all these sentences the usage is correct and appropriate. Palm in (5) is symbolic of victory. In sentence (1), the word palm has been used in reference to palm trees. The correct usage should be 'palm leaf'. Therefore, option (1) has incorrect usage of the term palm.