Free One Word Substitution MCQs with Answers

1. One word substitution for "a person who cannot read or write":

• A. Ignorant
• B. Illiterate
• C. Illegible
• D. Illegitimate

Explanation: "Illiterate" describes a person unable to read or write. "Illegible" describes handwriting that cannot be read, and "ignorant" means lacking knowledge generally — a literate person can still be ignorant.

2. One word substitution: a person who does not believe in the existence of God.

• A. agnostic
• B. atheist
• C. theist
• D. sceptic

Explanation: An atheist denies the existence of God, while an agnostic holds that it cannot be known either way, which is the distinction the question is testing. A theist believes in God, and a sceptic doubts claims in general rather than religious ones specifically. The a prefix meaning without appears in many such words.

3. One word substitution: a medicine that counteracts a poison.

• A. antibiotic
• B. antidote
• C. antiseptic
• D. analgesic

Explanation: An antidote reverses the effect of a poison, while an antibiotic kills bacteria, an antiseptic prevents infection on a surface and an analgesic relieves pain. All four share the sense of acting against, but only one names the remedy for poisoning. Medical vocabulary of this kind is common in MDCAT papers.

4. One word substitution: a speech made without preparation.

• A. eloquent
• B. extempore
• C. verbose
• D. monologue

Explanation: An extempore or impromptu speech is delivered on the spur of the moment with no rehearsal. Eloquent describes how well something is said rather than whether it was prepared, and verbose means using too many words. A monologue is a long speech by one person, prepared or not.

5. One word substitution: one who studies the structure of the human body.

• A. physiologist
• B. anatomist
• C. pathologist
• D. pharmacist

Explanation: Anatomy is the study of structure, so an anatomist examines how the body is built, while a physiologist studies how it functions. A pathologist studies disease and a pharmacist deals with medicines. This family of medical specialisms appears regularly in MDCAT English.

6. One word substitution: a place where medicines are prepared and dispensed.

• A. laboratory
• B. dispensary
• C. clinic
• D. ward

Explanation: A dispensary is where medicines are made up and issued, while a clinic is where patients are examined and a ward is where they are admitted. A laboratory is for tests and research. Each word names a different part of a hospital, which is what the question is checking.

7. One word substitution: something that can be believed.

• A. credible
• B. credulous
• C. incredible
• D. creditable

Explanation: Credible means believable, while credulous describes a person who believes too readily, and confusing the two is the point of the question. Incredible means unbelievable and creditable means deserving praise. All four share the Latin root credere, meaning to believe.

8. One word substitution: a government by the people.

• A. autocracy
• B. democracy
• C. bureaucracy
• D. aristocracy

Explanation: The Greek demos means people and kratos means rule, so democracy is rule by the people. Autocracy is rule by one person, aristocracy by a privileged class and bureaucracy by officials. Knowing the two roots lets you decode any word in this family.

9. One word substitution: a person who is easily deceived.

• A. credible
• B. gullible
• C. sceptical
• D. cynical

Explanation: Gullible describes someone who believes claims too readily and is therefore easily fooled, and it is close in meaning to credulous. Sceptical and cynical describe the opposite disposition, and credible applies to the claim rather than to the person. This pair of near opposites is examined frequently.

10. A person who loves mountain:

• A. Bibliophile
• B. Photophile
• C. Orophile
• D. Selenophile

Explanation: An orophile is a person who loves mountains; “oro-” comes from a word meaning mountain. A bibliophile loves books, while a selenophile loves the moon.