Practice Set — Vocabulary, Idioms and One-Word Substitution Mock (50 MCQs)

Practice Set: 50 Mixed Vocabulary MCQs

This is a timed self-test drawing on synonyms, antonyms, one-word substitutions and idioms covered across the whole book. Attempt all 50 questions before checking answers; a realistic time budget is 25 minutes. Answers are marked at the end of each question.

Section A: Synonyms (Q1–12)

1. Choose the synonym of ABUNDANT.
(a) Scarce (b) Plentiful (c) Meagre (d) Sparse
Answer: (b) Plentiful

2. Choose the synonym of AUDACIOUS.
(a) Timid (b) Daring (c) Cautious (d) Reserved
Answer: (b) Daring

3. Choose the synonym of MUNDANE.
(a) Extraordinary (b) Banal (c) Exciting (d) Rare
Answer: (b) Banal

4. Choose the synonym of CANDID.
(a) Evasive (b) Deceptive (c) Frank (d) Secretive
Answer: (c) Frank

5. Choose the synonym of METICULOUS.
(a) Careless (b) Scrupulous (c) Hasty (d) Sloppy
Answer: (b) Scrupulous

6. Choose the synonym of ADVERSARY.
(a) Ally (b) Rival (c) Friend (d) Companion
Answer: (b) Rival

7. Choose the synonym of PLAUSIBLE.
(a) Unbelievable (b) Reasonable (c) Absurd (d) Impossible
Answer: (b) Reasonable

8. Choose the synonym of TENACIOUS.
(a) Irresolute (b) Persistent (c) Weak (d) Wavering
Answer: (b) Persistent

9. Choose the synonym of FRUGAL.
(a) Extravagant (b) Wasteful (c) Thrifty (d) Lavish
Answer: (c) Thrifty

10. Choose the synonym of ERUDITE.
(a) Ignorant (b) Scholarly (c) Naive (d) Illiterate
Answer: (b) Scholarly

11. Choose the synonym of GREGARIOUS.
(a) Reclusive (b) Sociable (c) Solitary (d) Withdrawn
Answer: (b) Sociable

12. Choose the synonym of PRUDENT.
(a) Reckless (b) Judicious (c) Careless (d) Impulsive
Answer: (b) Judicious

Section B: Antonyms (Q13–24)

13. Choose the antonym of BENEVOLENT.
(a) Kind (b) Malevolent (c) Charitable (d) Generous
Answer: (b) Malevolent

14. Choose the antonym of TRANSPARENT.
(a) Clear (b) Obvious (c) Opaque (d) Evident
Answer: (c) Opaque

15. Choose the antonym of OPTIMISTIC.
(a) Hopeful (b) Pessimistic (c) Cheerful (d) Confident
Answer: (b) Pessimistic

16. Choose the antonym of VOLUNTARY.
(a) Willing (b) Compulsory (c) Optional (d) Free
Answer: (b) Compulsory

17. Choose the antonym of ABUNDANCE.
(a) Plenty (b) Surplus (c) Scarcity (d) Excess
Answer: (c) Scarcity

18. Choose the antonym of HUMBLE.
(a) Modest (b) Arrogant (c) Meek (d) Simple
Answer: (b) Arrogant

19. Choose the antonym of GENUINE.
(a) Authentic (b) Real (c) Spurious (d) True
Answer: (c) Spurious

20. Choose the antonym of DILIGENT.
(a) Industrious (b) Negligent (c) Assiduous (d) Hardworking
Answer: (b) Negligent

21. Choose the antonym of CONCEAL.
(a) Hide (b) Cover (c) Reveal (d) Mask
Answer: (c) Reveal

22. Choose the antonym of RIGID.
(a) Stiff (b) Flexible (c) Inflexible (d) Firm
Answer: (b) Flexible

23. Choose the antonym of TRANQUIL.
(a) Calm (b) Peaceful (c) Turbulent (d) Serene
Answer: (c) Turbulent

24. Choose the antonym of ELABORATE.
(a) Detailed (b) Simple (c) Intricate (d) Complex
Answer: (b) Simple

Section C: One-Word Substitutions (Q25–36)

25. A person who is unable to pay their debts:
(a) Bankrupt (b) Insolvent (c) Pauper (d) Beggar
Answer: (b) Insolvent

26. A word that can be read the same way forwards and backwards:
(a) Anagram (b) Acronym (c) Palindrome (d) Synonym
Answer: (c) Palindrome

27. A person who loves and collects books:
(a) Bibliophile (b) Bibliography (c) Philologist (d) Librarian
Answer: (a) Bibliophile

28. One who is present everywhere at the same time:
(a) Omniscient (b) Omnipotent (c) Omnipresent (d) Immortal
Answer: (c) Omnipresent

29. A place where birds are kept:
(a) Aviary (b) Apiary (c) Aquarium (d) Sanctuary
Answer: (a) Aviary

30. A person who studies and treats diseases of the heart:
(a) Dermatologist (b) Cardiologist (c) Neurologist (d) Pathologist
Answer: (b) Cardiologist

31. Government by a small group of powerful people:
(a) Democracy (b) Oligarchy (c) Autocracy (d) Theocracy
Answer: (b) Oligarchy

32. A person who can speak more than two languages:
(a) Bilingual (b) Linguist (c) Polyglot (d) Interpreter
Answer: (c) Polyglot

33. One who does not believe in the existence of God:
(a) Agnostic (b) Atheist (c) Theist (d) Pagan
Answer: (b) Atheist

34. Handwriting that cannot be read:
(a) Indelible (b) Illegible (c) Incomprehensible (d) Inaudible
Answer: (b) Illegible

35. A journey to a sacred place:
(a) Expedition (b) Excursion (c) Pilgrimage (d) Voyage
Answer: (c) Pilgrimage

36. A person appointed to settle a dispute between two parties:
(a) Advocate (b) Arbitrator (c) Attorney (d) Magistrate
Answer: (b) Arbitrator

Section D: Idioms and Phrases (Q37–50)

37. "To let the cat out of the bag" means:
(a) To adopt a pet (b) To reveal a secret unintentionally (c) To escape danger (d) To cause confusion
Answer: (b) To reveal a secret unintentionally

38. "To bury the hatchet" means:
(a) To start a new fight (b) To make peace with an enemy (c) To hide evidence (d) To end a project
Answer: (b) To make peace with an enemy

39. "Once in a blue moon" means:
(a) Every night (b) Very rarely (c) During a full moon (d) Frequently
Answer: (b) Very rarely

40. "To add fuel to the fire" means:
(a) To calm a situation (b) To make a bad situation worse (c) To start a fire safely (d) To ignore a problem
Answer: (b) To make a bad situation worse

41. "To be in hot water" means:
(a) To be in trouble (b) To be relaxed (c) To take a shower (d) To be very busy
Answer: (a) To be in trouble

42. "To beat around the bush" means:
(a) To speak directly (b) To avoid the main topic (c) To work in a garden (d) To search thoroughly
Answer: (b) To avoid the main topic

43. "To turn over a new leaf" means:
(a) To change one's behaviour for the better (b) To read a new book (c) To move to a new city (d) To start gardening
Answer: (a) To change one's behaviour for the better

44. "To smell a rat" means:
(a) To notice a bad odour (b) To suspect something is wrong (c) To catch a pest (d) To feel disgusted
Answer: (b) To suspect something is wrong

45. "To be at loggerheads" means:
(a) To be in strong disagreement (b) To be very tired (c) To work together closely (d) To be confused
Answer: (a) To be in strong disagreement

46. "To throw in the towel" means:
(a) To start a fight (b) To give up or surrender (c) To clean up after a task (d) To offer help
Answer: (b) To give up or surrender

47. "To cost an arm and a leg" means:
(a) To be very cheap (b) To be extremely expensive (c) To require physical labour (d) To be dangerous
Answer: (b) To be extremely expensive

48. "To keep one's fingers crossed" means:
(a) To hope for a good outcome (b) To lie deliberately (c) To count carefully (d) To refuse an offer
Answer: (a) To hope for a good outcome

49. "To be a fish out of water" means:
(a) To feel completely at ease (b) To feel awkward in unfamiliar surroundings (c) To be an excellent swimmer (d) To struggle financially
Answer: (b) To feel awkward in unfamiliar surroundings

50. "To pull someone's leg" means:
(a) To physically injure someone (b) To help someone stand up (c) To joke with or tease someone (d) To betray a friend
Answer: (c) To joke with or tease someone

Answer Key Summary

Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans	Q	Ans
1	b	11	b	21	c	31	b	41	a
2	b	12	b	22	b	32	c	42	b
3	b	13	b	23	c	33	b	43	a
4	c	14	c	24	b	34	b	44	b
5	b	15	b	25	b	35	c	45	a
6	b	16	b	26	c	36	b	46	b
7	b	17	c	27	a	37	b	47	b
8	b	18	b	28	c	38	b	48	a
9	c	19	c	29	a	39	b	49	b
10	b	20	b	30	b	40	b	50	c

Score yourself out of 50. A score of 40 or above indicates strong readiness for the vocabulary section of SSC, RRB and banking English papers. A score between 30 and 39 suggests you should revisit Chapters 26–29 of this book, particularly the categories where you lost the most marks. A score below 30 means a full second pass through Chapters 2 through 25 is worthwhile before attempting another mock set.