BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOLLOWING an experience I had in the early 1970s where I was grossly embarrassed when I could not have answered a question because of being ignorant of the meaning of a particular phrase, “Amalgamation of troops”, I decided to seek the help of an elderly friend.
On his advice, I purchased a book, “Word Power Made Easy” by Norman Lewis, with the aim of improving my vocabulary. Today, in the interest of education, I have decided to share what I learned with you, visitors to SKNVibes.com, and I sincerely vow to continue as long as I possibly can...once the feedback is encouraging.
Lewis posited that, as an average adult, one’s vocabulary is barely one-and-one-half times as large as that of a 10-year-old child and only one fourth as many words as the average second-year high school student.
In my view, Lewis’ pronouncements are debatable, but he stressed that his findings on adult vocabularies were based on testing hundreds of students in the Adult Education Programme of the City College of New York.
He claimed that the average adult vocabulary is 50,000 and the constant rate of increase among this group is in the region of 50 words per year, which is one and one-hundredth the rate of children between six and 10 years old.
Perhaps many of us who were not fortunate to attend a college or university are not average adults; our vocabulary may not be comparatively anemic and might have come a lot further than others.
For this reason, here are 30 brief phrases, each containing one underlined word; it is up to you to check the closest definition of each such word. To keep your score valid, refrain, as far as possible from wild guessing and do not use a dictionary. The key will be found at the end of the test.
Test Of Vocabulary Range
1. Dishevelled appearance: (a) untidy, (b) fierce, (c) foolish, (d) peculiar, (e) unhappy.
2. A baffling problem: (a) difficult, (b) simple, (c) puzzling, (d) long, (e) new.
3. Lenient parent: (a) tall, (b) not strict, (c) wise, (d) foolish, (e) severe.
4. Repulsive personality: (a) disgusting, (b) attractive, (c) normal, (d) confused, (e) conceited.
5. Audacious attempt: (a) useless, (b) bold, (c) foolish, (d) crazy, (e) necessary.
6. Agile climber: (a) lively, (b) tired, (c) skilful, (d) careful, (e) stubborn.
7. Prevalent disease: (a) dangerous, (b) catching, (c) childhood, (d) fatal, (e) widespread.
8. Ominous report: (a) loud, (b) threatening, (c) untrue, (d) serious, (e) unpleasant.
9. An incredible story: (a) true, (b) interesting, (c) well-known, (d) unbelievable, (e) unknown.
10. A good oculist: (a) eye doctor, (b) skin doctor, (c) foot doctor, (d) heart doctor, (e) bone doctor.
11. Will supersede the old law: (a) enforce, (b) specify penalties for, (c) take the place of, (d) repeal, (e) continue.
12. An anonymous donor: (a) generous, (b) stingy, (c) well-known, (d) one whose name is not known, (e) reluctant.
13. Performed an autopsy: (a) examination of living tissue, (b) examination of a corpse to determine the cause of death, (c) process in the manufacture of optical lenses, (d) operation to cure an organic disease, (e) series of questions to determine the causes of delinquent behaviour.
14. An indefatigable worker: (a) well-paid, (b) tired, (c) skilful, (d) tireless, (e) pleasant.
15. A confirmed atheist: (a) bachelor, (b) disbeliever in God, (c) believer in religion, (d) believer in science, (e) priest.
16. A loquacious woman: (a) tall, (b) beautiful, (c) homely, (d) sweet, (e) talkative.
17. A glib talker: (a) smooth, (b) awkward, (c) loud, (d) friendly, (e) boring.
18. To philander: (a) work hard, (b) make love thrillingly, (c) save money, (d) be in doubt, (e) try unsuccessfully.
19. An ocular difficulty: (a) unexpected, (b) insurmountable, (c) pertaining to the eye, (d) real, (e) imaginary.
20. Questionable paternity: (a) fatherhood, (b) truthfulness, (c) value, (d) knowledge, (e) wisdom.
21. A naïve attitude: (a) unwise, (b) hostile, (c) unsophisticated, (d) friendly, (e) contemptuous.
22. Living in affluence: (a) dirt, (b) countrified surroundings, (c) fear, (d) wealth, (e) poverty.
23. More pleasant in retrospect: (a) back view, (b) freedom, (c) acceptance, (d) leisure, (e) anticipation.
24. A real gourmet: (a) teacher, (b) greedy eater, (c) vegetarian, (d) connoisseur of good food, (e) antique.
25. To simulate interest: (a) pretend, (b) feel, (c) lose, (d) stir up, (e) ask for.
26. A magnanimous action: (a) puzzling, (b) generous, (c) foolish, (d) unnecessary, (e) wise.
27. A clandestine meeting: (a) prearranged, (b) hurried, (c) important, (d) secret, (e) periodical.
28. The apathetic populace: (a) made up of various national stocks, (b) keenly vigilant of their rights, (c) densely packed, (d) indifferent, uninterested (e) prehistoric.
29. To placate his wife: (a) divorce, (b) make a gift to, (c) make arrangements for, (d) help, (e) change hostility to friendliness.
30. Vacillate continuously: (a) avoid, (b) waver mentally, (c) inject, (d) treat, (e) scold.
KEY: 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a, 5-b, 6-a, 7-e, 8-b, 9-d, 10-a, 11-c, 12-d, 13-b, 14-d, 15-b, 16-e, 17-a, 18-b, 19-c, 20-a, 21-c, 22-d, 23-a, 24-d, 25-a, 26-b, 27-d, 28-d, 29-e, 30-b.
Award yourself one point for each correct answer.
If you scored:
0-5 correct choices, your vocabulary is below average;
6-17 correct choices, your vocabulary is average;
18-24 correct choices, your vocabulary is above average;
25-27 correct choices, your vocabulary is excellent; and
28-30 correct choices, your vocabulary is on a superior level.
In the next publication, we shall do another vocabulary test (30 phrases) before moving on to “How to talk about personality types”. Best of luck
