Free Vocabulary and Word Usage MCQs with Answers

• A. The judge abstained the accused for theft.
• B. The voter abstained from casting a ballot.
• C. The medicine abstained his severe pain.
• D. The teacher abstained the students from class.

Explanation: Abstain means to deliberately refrain from an action, and it is commonly followed by “from.” The other sentences incorrectly use it as a…

• A. She is averse with accepting unnecessary risks.
• B. She is averse for accepting unnecessary risks.
• C. She is averse to accepting unnecessary risks.
• D. She is averse by accepting unnecessary risks.

Explanation: Averse means opposed or unwilling, and the standard construction is “averse to.” The prepositions “for,” “with,” and “by” do not fit this…

• A. The bored student was disinterested in the lecture.
• B. The impartial referee was uninterested in the teams.
• C. The impartial referee was disinterested in the teams.
• D. The bored student was disinterested by the lecture.

Explanation: Disinterested means impartial or free from personal interest, so it correctly describes a fair referee.

• A. To measure the effects of inflation
• B. To reduce the harmful effects of inflation
• C. To predict the future rate of inflation
• D. To remove every effect of inflation

Explanation: Mitigate means to make something less severe, harmful, or painful. It does not necessarily mean to eliminate a problem completely, making…

• A. The drought may affect food prices this year.
• B. The drought may effect food prices this year.
• C. The drought may affect a major effect this year.
• D. The drought may effect an affecting price this year.

Explanation: Affect is usually a verb meaning to influence, while effect is usually a noun meaning a result.

• A. The office ordered new stationary for its letters.
• B. The office ordered new stationery for its furniture.
• C. The office ordered new stationery for its letters.
• D. The office ordered new stationary for its furniture.

Explanation: Stationery means writing materials such as paper and envelopes. Stationary means still or unmoving, so it cannot describe office writing…

• A. The blue tie compliments him for his honesty.
• B. The blue tie compliments his grey suit.
• C. The blue tie complements him for his honesty.
• D. The blue tie complements his grey suit.

Explanation: Complement means to complete, match, or enhance something, so it fits the relationship between the tie and the suit.

• A. A short introduction will precede the main speech.
• B. A short introduction will proceed the main speech.
• C. A short introduction will precede after the main speech.
• D. A short introduction will proceed before the main speech.

Explanation: Precede means to come before something in time or order. Proceed means to continue or move forward, so it cannot replace “precede” in this…

• A. The witness gave a credulous account of the incident.
• B. The witness gave a credible account of the incident.
• C. The witness was credible because he believed every rumour.
• D. The witness was credulous because his evidence was reliable.

Explanation: Credible means believable or trustworthy, so it appropriately describes a reliable account.

• A. The pragmatic manager chose a careless solution.
• B. The pragmatic manager chose a magical solution.
• C. The pragmatic manager chose a workable solution.
• D. The pragmatic manager chose a purely theoretical solution.

Explanation: Pragmatic means practical and focused on achieving a useful result. A workable solution reflects practical thinking, whereas magical or…

• A. The minister inferred that prices would rise, and the audience inferred his concern.
• B. The minister inferred that prices would rise, and the audience implied his concern.
• C. The minister implied that prices would rise, and the audience implied his concern.
• D. The minister implied that prices would rise, and the audience inferred his concern.

Explanation: To imply is to suggest something indirectly, while to infer is to reach a conclusion from evidence.

• A. The imminent scholar warned of an eminent shortage.
• B. The eminent scholar warned of an imminent shortage.
• C. The imminent scholar warned of an imminent shortage.
• D. The eminent scholar warned of an eminent shortage.

Explanation: Eminent means distinguished or highly respected, whereas imminent means about to happen.

• A. The interview elicited useful evidence about elicit trade.
• B. The interview illicit useful evidence about elicit trade.
• C. The interview elicited useful evidence about illicit trade.
• D. The interview illicit useful evidence about illicit trade.

Explanation: Elicit means to draw out a response or information. Illicit means illegal, so the sentence properly describes information obtained and…

• A. The principle reason was a breach of a constitutional principle.
• B. The principle reason was a breach of a constitutional principal.
• C. The principal reason was a breach of a constitutional principal.
• D. The principal reason was a breach of a constitutional principle.

Explanation: Principal can mean chief or most important, while principle means a rule or fundamental belief.

• A. The clerk ordered stationery while the vehicle remained stationary.
• B. The clerk ordered stationary while the vehicle remained stationery.
• C. The clerk ordered stationery while the vehicle remained stationery.
• D. The clerk ordered stationary while the vehicle remained stationary.

Explanation: Stationery refers to writing materials, such as paper and envelopes. Stationary means standing still, which correctly describes the vehicle.

• A. The officer made a discrete inquiry into three discreet allegations.
• B. The officer made a discreet inquiry into three discrete allegations.
• C. The officer made a discreet inquiry into three discreet allegations.
• D. The officer made a discrete inquiry into three discrete allegations.

Explanation: Discreet means tactful and careful not to attract attention. Discrete means separate or distinct, so the inquiry and allegations require…

• A. The village is farther from Lahore, and farther negotiations are needed.
• B. The village is further from Lahore, and farther negotiations are needed.
• C. The village is farther from Lahore, and further negotiations are needed.
• D. The village is further from Lahore, and further negotiations are needed.

Explanation: Farther is traditionally used for measurable physical distance, while further means additional or more.

• A. The researcher cited a source about the archaeological site and described the cite before him.
• B. The researcher sited a source about the archaeological cite and described the sight before him.
• C. The researcher cited a source about the archaeological sight and described the site before him.
• D. The researcher cited a source about the archaeological site and described the sight before him.

Explanation: To cite means to refer to a source, a site is a location, and sight refers to something seen or a view.

• A. The law prescribes bribery, while regulations prescribe reporting procedures.
• B. The law prescribes bribery, while regulations proscribe reporting procedures.
• C. The law proscribes bribery, while regulations proscribe reporting procedures.
• D. The law proscribes bribery, while regulations prescribe reporting procedures.

Explanation: Proscribe means to forbid officially, whereas prescribe means to lay down a rule or required procedure.

• A. The engineer offered an ingenious solution, and the witness gave an ingenuous reply.
• B. The engineer offered an ingenuous solution, and the witness gave an ingenious reply.
• C. The engineer offered an ingenious solution, and the witness gave an ingenious reply.
• D. The engineer offered an ingenuous solution, and the witness gave an ingenuous reply.

Explanation: Ingenious means clever or inventive, while ingenuous means innocent, frank, or candid.