One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 471

Chapter 28

One Word Substitution

Introduction
Brevity is the soul of wit. Then, you have to be precise
and to the point. You just cannot put your ideas across
succinctly — without mincing words — unless you
are direct and forthright. Too many words (verbosity)
and roundabout statements (circumlocution) impede
the smooth flow of thoughts and ofte n cre ate
confusion. So, in exhibiting your sentiment by speech,
the narrower the compass of the word is, the more
energetic is the impression.
You have, in English, different words for group of
people in the different situations of life. For example,

A COLLECTION OF PEOPLE
 at a lecture or concert : audience
 at a match : spectators
 in the street : crowd
 in a riot : mob
 in a church, mosque, temple : congregation
 in a rowdy scene : rabble
 watching a TV programme : viewers






K KUNDAN
attending a funeral
listening to a broadcast programme

A person sent on a mission

A person who spends his money recklessly
A person who can neither read nor write
:
:

:
:
:
mourners
listeners
It is, therefore, advisable to study the list of one-word substitution to help add ‘pep’ to your expression.
 A minister representing a sovereign or a state in a foreign country : ambassador
emissary
spendthrift
illiterate
 A person who lives at the same time as another : contemporary
 A lover of mankind : philanthropist
 A lover of womankind : philogynist
 A lover of oneself : egoist
 A lover of others : altruist
 A lover of food : gourmand
 A person who loves his own country : patriot
 A person who regards the whole world as his country : cosmopolitan
 A person who believes in the total abolition of war : pacifist
 A person who is fond of fighting : bellicose
 A man who is womanish in his habits : effeminate
 A person who is devoted to the welfare of women : feminist
 One who is all-powerful : omnipotent
 One who is present everywhere : omnipresent
 One who knows everything : omniscient
 One who believes in fate : fatalist
 One who supplicates or entreats earnestly : supplicant
 One who has narrow religious views : bigot
472 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

 One who plays for pleasure : amateur

 One who plays for money : professional
 One who eats too much : glutton
 One who feeds on vegetables : vegetarian
 One who eats human flesh : cannibal
 One who breaks images and idols : iconoclast
 One who is over-enthusiastic about some religious principles or beliefs : fanatic
 One who walks in sleep : somnambulist
 One who talks in sleep : somniloquent
 One who makes a scientific study of language : linguist
 One who knows many languages : polyglot
 One who enjoys another person’s confidence : confidant
 One who is appointed by parties to settle disputes : arbitrator
 One who breaks in a house to steal : burglar
 One who sails around stopping and robbing ships at sea : pirate
 One who abstains from alcoholic drink : teetotaller
 A person who leaves his own country and goes to live in another : emigrant
 A person who comes to one country from another to settle : immigrant
 To send out of one’s native country : expatriate
 One who leads others in any field : pioneer
 One who commits the first act of attack : aggressor
 One who speaks for others : spokesman
 One who wastes money for luxury : extravagant

K KUNDAN
 One who is unable to pay his debt : insolvent/bankrupt
 One who abandons his religious faith : apostate
 One who makes an eloquent public speech : orator
 One who undergoes the penalty of death for persistence in his faith : martyr
 A child whose parents are dead : orphan
 A man whose wife is dead : widower
 A woman whose husband is dead : widow
 A person who takes advantage of every change for success, sometimes
to other people’s disadvantage : opportunist
 A girl or woman who flirts, that is, tries to attract people and make
advances in love simply to satisfy her vanity : coquette
 A person who has a long experience of any occupation : veteran
 A person who does clever tricks which appear magical : conjuror
 A person who travels into or through a country for the purpose of learning
about it : explorer
 A disease that can be spread by touch : contagious
 A disease that is found regularly in a particular place : endemic
 A disease that causes death : fatal
 A child born after the death of its father : posthumous
 A child brought up by persons who are not its parents : foster-child
 Having a tendency to break the law to do socially unacceptable things : delinquent
 A disease caused by bacteria and passed from one person to another : infectious
 A remedy for all kinds of diseases : panacea
 A medicine that induces sleep : narcotic
 An office which has no work but high salary : sinecure
 A game or battle in which no party gains victory : drawn
 A roundabout way of expression : circumlocution
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 473

 A story in which ideas are symbolized as people : allegory

 A short simple story designed to teach a moral or religious lesson : parable
 A short story in which animals or objects speak a story that gives
wholesome moral lesson : fable
 A talk between two people : dialogue
 An old story about great events and people in ancient times, which may
not be true : legend
 A long speech for a single actor or actress, usually alone on a stage : monologue
 An introduction to a long poem, a play, etc : prologue
 A speech made by one of the actors at the end of a play : epilogue
 A string of beads used for prayer : rosary
 The act of speaking aloud one’s thoughts when alone : soliloquy
 A speech which is delivered without any previous preparation : extempore
 The first venture of a person : maiden
 The life-history of a man written by himself : autobiography
 The life-history of a man written by someone else : biography
 Animals which live both on land and in water : amphibians
 Animals which live in flocks : gregarious
 Animals which give milk and suckle their young ones : mammals
 An animal which lives on the flesh of others : carnivorous
 Animals which live in water : aquatic
 A style full of words : verbose
 A style in which a writer displays his knowledge : pedantic
 Repetition or writing word for word : verbatim

K KUNDAN
 Matter written by hand : manuscript
 Words opposite in meaning : antonym
 Words different in meaning but similar in sound : homonym
 Words similar in meaning : synonym
 Anything which is no longer in use : obsolete
 Article sold by one country to another : export
 Article bought by one country from another : import
 A state which is impartial to all religions : secular
 That which cannot be heard : inaudible
 That which cannot be consumed by fire : incombustible
 That which cannot be believed : incredible
 That which cannot be blotted : indelible
 That which cannot be denied or questioned : indisputable
 That which cannot be cured : incurable
 That which cannot be corrected or reformed : incorrigible
 That which cannot be explained : inexplicable
 That which cannot be expressed in words : inexpressible
 That without which one can’t do : indispensable
 That which cannot be extinguished : inextinguishable
 That which cannot be avoided : inevitable
 That which never tires out : inexhaustible
 That which cannot be easily reached : inaccessible
 That which cannot be admitted or allowed : inadmissible
 That which cannot be defended : indefensible
 That which cannot be excused : inexcusable
 That which can be easily set on fire : inflammable
474 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

 That which never fails : infallible

 That which can be seen through : transparent
 That which cannot be seen : invisible
 That which cannot be repaired : irreparable
 That which cannot be perceived by the senses : imperceptible
 That which cannot be changed : irrevocable
 That which is not to the point : irrelevant
 That which cannot be taken by force or arms : impregnable
 Incapable of being read : illegible
 Incapable of being wounded : invulnerable
 Incapable of being divided : indivisible
 Incapable of being dissolved : insoluble
 Incapable of being understood : unintelligible
 Incapable of being imitated : inimitable
 Incapable of being practised : impracticable
 Fit to be chosen : eligible
 That which cannot be seen through : opaque
 That which happens every two years : biennial
 That which happens every four years : quadrennial
 That which happens every half year : semiannual
 That which occurs time after time : perennial
 That which happens once in three years : triennial
 A man who leads an immoral life : libertine

K KUNDAN
 A medicine to counteract the effect of poison : antidote
 A medicine which can loosen the bowels : laxative
 The science of speech sound : phonetics
 The science of reasoning : logic
 The science which deals with the derivation of words : etymology
 Related to the sun : solar
 Related to the moon : lunar
 The practice of marrying only once : monogamy
 The practice of having two wives or two husbands at a time : bigamy
 The practice of marrying more than one wife at a time : polygamy
 The practice of marrying more than one husband at a time : polyandry
 Allowance due to a wife on legal separation from her husband : alimony
 Property inherited from one’s father or ancestors : patrimony
 Of unknown or unadmitted authorship : anonymous
 An imaginary name assumed by an author for disguise : pseudonym
 The cessation of warfare before a treaty is signed : armistice
 The act of violating the sanctity of the church : sacrilege
 The act of speaking disrespectfully about sacred things : blasphemy
 An office for which no salary is paid : honorary
 The sum paid to a man for his labour : remuneration
 Yearly return of a date : anniversary
 Compulsory enlistment of military and other services : conscription
 Of one’s own free will : voluntary
 All of one mind : unanimous
 Occurring at the same time : simultaneous
 Give tit for tat : retaliate
 A figure with many angles and sides : polygon
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 475

 Total loss of voice : aphonia

 One who walks on foot : pedestrian
 One who is fond of entertaining guests : hospitable
 One who is out to destroy all government, law and order : anarchist
 One who is revengeful : vindictive
 One who is interested in old things, works of art or books : antiquarian
 One who deceives by pretending to be someone else : impostor
 The worship of idols or images : idolatry
 The original inhabitants of a country : aborigines
 Persons who work in the same department of an office : colleagues
 A soldier who fights for the sake of money : mercenary
 A formal written charge against a person for some crime or offence : indictment
 Forensic examination of a dead body : postmortem
 Engaged in war : belligerent
 A person who has many love affairs without intending to marry : philanderer
 A person who helps a helpless person or stranger : Samaritan
 One who can use either hand with perfect ease : ambidextrous
 The state of abstention from marriage : celibacy
 Land that grows things in abundance : fertile
 Land that does not grow anything : barren
 A disease that spreads over a large area : epidemic
 A house which is visited by ghosts : haunted
 The place where clothes are kept : wardrobe

K KUNDAN
 A political leader who tries to appeal to the feelings of people to
stir them up : demagogue
 A place of rest and recuperation for the sick : sanatorium
 A place for the burial of dead bodies : cemetery
 A place where birds and beasts are kept for public to see : zoo
 A person who introduces the performers, speakers etc : compere
 A place where books are bound : bindery
 A boastful fellow who behaves recklessly : swashbuckler
 A place where stone, slate, etc is obtained for building, road-making etc : quarry
 A structure erected in remembrance of a person or event : monument
 A gambling den : casino
 Closed vehicle for carrying sick or wounded people : ambulance
 Force of aircraft used to protect a military or naval operation : air-cover
 List of things to be done, business to be discussed by a committee : agenda
 A record of list of one’s ancestors in the order of succession or descent : genealogy
 An imaginary place where ideally perfect social and political
conditions are supposed to exist : Utopia
 Paradise or a place where one gets supreme delight and bliss : Elysium
 A small set or committee of top leaders which runs the election
for the party : caucus
 Person who pilots or travels in a balloon, airship or other aircraft : aeronaut
 Person who writes from dictation from somebody : amanuensis
 Person who believes that nothing can be known about God or
of anything except material things : agnostic
476 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

Exercise

Directions: Out of the four alternatives, 16. Killing of a child

choose the one which can be substituted for the a) Homicide b) Genocide
given words/sentence c) Infanticide d) Suicide
1. One who knows many languages. 17. The art of good eating
a) Linguist b) Polyglot a) Gastronomy b) Astronomy
c) Translater d) Phonetician c) Vegetarianism d) Gourmet
2. One who does not follow the usual rules of social 18. One who is indifferent to pleasure or pain
life. a) Stoic b) Stylist
a) Bohemian b) Artisan c) Cynic d) Psychic
c) Partisan d) Physician 19. Lasting only for a moment
3. Placing a thing beside another. a) Momentous b) Momentary
a) Impose b) Repose c) Trivial d) Petty
c) Juxtapose d) Expose 20. To seize control of a vehicle in order to force it
4. To throw or drop unnecessary goods or fuel from to go to a new destination, or demand something
a ship, an aircraft, a spacecraft etc. a) Attack b) Contract
a) Capsize b) Enthral c) Hijack d) Detour
c) Volley d) Jettison 21. Simple, fast-spreading plant without flowers or
5. Wild and noisy disorder. leaves, which can often cause disease.
a) Agitation b) Revolution a) Bacteria b) Amoeba
c) Pandemonium d) Stir c) Virus d) Fungus
6. Possessing unlimited powers. 22. One who is greedy
a) Voracious b) Avaricious
a) Omniscient b) Omnipotent
c) Carnivorous d) Omnivorous
c) Omnipresent d) Omnicompetent
23. An area of land that is controlled by a ruler

K KUNDAN
7. He is a doctor who is a spe cialist in skin
a) Colony b) Dominion
diseases.
c) County d) Municipality
a) Cardiologist b) Physician
24. A place where Jews worship according to their
c) Dermatologist d) Physicist
religion
8. One who retires from society and lives alone.
a) Cathedral b) Synagogue
a) Saint b) Giant
c) Chapel d) Demagogue
c) Plaintiff d Recluse 25. One who is indifferent to pleasure and pain
9. The art of making pots, bricks etc, with clay. a) Ascetic b) Esoteric
a) Potting b) Ceramics c) Stoic d) Sceptical
c) Crockery d) Dynamics 26. The study of religion and religious ideas and
10. Living at the same time. beliefs
a) Concurrent b) Contemporary a) Theocracy b) Theosophy
c) Coincident d) Concomitant c) Theology d) Theism
11. Give and receive mutually 27. Dissection of a dead body to find out the cause
a) Present b) Reciprocate of death
c) Compromise d) Approve a) Biopsy b) Investigation
12. One who can think about the future with c) Surgery d) Autopsy
imagination and wisdom 28. A person without training or experience in a skill
a) Dreamer b) Seer or subject
c) Idealist d) Visionary a) Chaplain b) Mason
13. A doctor who treats children c) Artisan d) Novice
a) Paediatrician b) Pedagogue 29. One who stays away from school without
c) Pedestrian d) Paedophile permission
14. One who studies election trends by means of a) Pedant b) Supplicant
opinion polls c) Mendicant d) Truant
a) Entomologist b) Psephologist 30. The act of killing a whole group of people,
c) Demagogue d) Eugenist especially a whole race
15. One who believes in offering equal opportunities a) Patricide b) Parricide
to women in all spheres c) Matricide d) Genocide
a) Male Chauvinist b) Feminist 31. One who deserts his principles or party.
c) Fatalist d) Futurist a) Apostle b) Proselytize
c) Renegade d) Critic
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 477

32. One who intervenes between two or more parties 49. A short poem or spee ch addresse d to the
to settle differences spectators after the conclusion of a drama
a) Neutral b) Intermediary a) Prologue b) Dialogue
c) Judge d) Connoisseur c) Epilogue d) Monologue
33. The habit of always admiring oneself 50. One who loves books
a) Psychosis b) Neurosis a) Scholar b) Bibliographer
c) Narcissism d) Paranoia c) Teacher d) Bibliophile
34. To take back, withdraw or renounce 51. That which would burn easily
a) Repent b) Retrace a) Incendiary b) Incantatory
c) Refuse d) Recant c) Inflammable d) Incandescent
35. A pen for small animals 52. Place of gathering for public discussion
a) Hutch b) Lair a) Platform b) Dais
c) Den d) Cage c) Stage d) Forum
Pen = a small piece of land surrounded 53. An addition to the end of a letter
by a fence in which farm animals a) Post-script b) Prelude
are kept c) Post-natal d) Postmortem
36. A woman having more than one husband at the 54. Young cow that has not yet had a calf
same time a) Cowlet b) Colt
a) Polyandry b) Polygamy c) Ewe d) Heifer
c) Polyphony d) Polyglot 55. A mournful song (or poem) for the dead
37. Feeding on food made both of plants and flesh a) Ballad b) Dirge
a) Carnivorous b) Omnipotent c) Ode d) Lyric
c) Omnivorous d) Optimist 56. The dead skin cast off by a snake
38. One who destroys images or attacks popular a) Bough b) Slough
beliefs c) Peelings d) Borough
a) Imagist b) Misanthropist 57. Science dealing with bird life
c) Iconoclast d) Masochist a) Zoology b) Ornithology
39. Violation of something holy and sacred c) Etymology d) Philology

K KUNDAN
a) Pollution b) Pilferage 58. One who is from 60 to 69 years old
c) Sacrilege d) Pittance a) Sexton b) Sexologist
40. A place where nuns live and work c) Sexagenarian d) Sextuplet
a) Church b) School 59. Someone who keeps bees
c) Convent d) Abode a) Apiarist b) Horticulturist
41. One who has obstinate and narrow religious c) Ornithologist d) Pathologist
views 60. Speaking one's thoughts aloud to oneself
a) Theosophist b) Bigot a) Apostrophise b) Memorise
c) Philosopher d) Theologian c) Soliloquize d) Solemnise
42. The sound of a funeral bell 61. A person with a long experience of any occupation
a) Knell b) Spell a) Veteran b) Genius
c) Ding d) Ding-dong c) Seasoned d) Ambidexterous
43. Military waking signal sounded in the morning 62. Words written on a tomb
a) Reveille b) Lullaby a) Epithet b) Epigraph
c) Anthem d) Soprano c) Soliloquy d) Epitaph
44. Study of insects 63. Stealthily done
a) Ecology b) Embryology a) Devious b) Nefarious
c) Entomology d) Biology c) Surreptitious d) Villainous
45. A person in his seventies 64. Something no longer in use
a) Sexagenarian b) Septuagenarian a) Desolate b) Absolute
c) Centurion d) Patriarch c) Obsolete d) Primitive
46. Belief that war and violence are unjustified 65. One not concerned with right or wrong
a) Neutralisation b) Pessimism a) Moral b) Amoral
c) Naturalisation d) Pacifism c) Immoral d) Immortal
47. A group of girls 66. A person who opposes war or use of military force
a) Bevy b) Convoy a) Fascist b) Pacifist
c) Troupe d) Coterie c) Narcissist d) Fatalist
48. Causing or ending in death 67. Severely abusive writing in journals
a) Fatal b) Deadly a) Imaginary b) Speculative
c) Serious d) Dangerous c) Scurrilous d) Sarcastic
478 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

68. Call upon God or any other power (like law) etc, 86. A person who breaks into a house in order to
for help or protection ste al
a) Invocation b) Involution a) Poacher b) Bandit
c) Inundation d) Revocation c) Intruder d) Burglar
69. Fear of being enclosed in a small closed space 87. The study of maps
a) Agoraphobia b) Claustrophobia a) Cartography b) Geography
c) Xenophobia d) Paranoia c) Geology d) Atlas
70. One who has become dependent on something 88. Tough tissues in joints
of drugs is a) Ligaments b) Endoderm
a) Adamant b) Edict c) Muscles d) Fibre
c) Addict d) Derelict 89. The first model of a new device
71. Succession of rulers belonging to one family a) Prototype b) Sculpture
a) Dynasty b) Lineage c) Icon d) Photograph
c) Ancestry d) Progeny 90. A building where an audience sits
72. To cut something into two pieces a) Aquarium b) Gymnasium
a) Severe b) Sever c) Auditorium d) Stadium
c) Sewer d) Sow 91. One who collects coins
73. Flat metal or porcelain plate fixed on a wall as a) Archaeologist b) Numismatist
an ornament or memorial c) Philatelist d) Connoisseur
a) Tabloid b) Poster 92. A system of Government in which only one
c) Board d) Plaque political party is allowed to function
a) Oligarchy b) Dictatorship
74. Act of deceiving somebody in order to make money
c) Totalitarianism d) Theocracy
a) Fraud b) Robbery
93. Customs and habits of a particular group
c) Pickpocket d) Theft
a) Mores b) Traditions
75. A short poem or spee ch addresse d to the
c) Rites d) Rituals
spectators after the conclusion of a drama
94. A body of persons appointed to hear evidence
a) Prologue b) Dialogue
and give their verdict in trials

K KUNDAN
c) Epilogue d) Monologue
a) Association b) Council
76. Capable of being understood in either of two or
c) Bar d) Jury
more possible senses, and therefore not definite
95. Indifference to pleasure or pain
a) Amphibious b) Ambiguous a) Perseverance b) Tolerance
c) Amorphous d) Confusing c) Stoicism d) Reticence
77. A person who is unable to pay his debts 96. Building in which dead bodies are kept for a time
a) Solvent b) Banker a) Mortuary b) Monastery
c) Insolvent d) Lender c) Sanatorium d) Crematorium
78. Anything which is no longer in use 97. One who believes that gaining pleasure is the
a) Obscure b) Obsolete most important thing in life
c) Pristine d) Lapsed a) Hedonist b) Pessimist
79. A person coming to a foreign land to settle there c) Misanthrope d) Philistine
a) Immigrant b) Emigrant 98. One who breaks the established traditions and
c) Tourist d) Settler image
80. Something capable of being done a) Fatalist b) Fanatic
a) Probable b) Feasible c) Iconoclast d) Philologist
c) Tenable d) Explicable 99. Property handed down after the death of a person
81. One who goes to settle in another country a) Legacy b) Legend
a) Immigrant b) Alien c) Patrimony d) Inheritance
c) Citizen d) Emigrant 100. General view of a person's character
82. One who hates mankind a) Biography b) Profile
a) Philanthropist b) Terrorist c) Introduction d) Sketch
c) Misanthrope d) Misogynist 101. Wild and noisy disorder
83. Belonging to all parts of the world a) Agitation b) Revolution
a) Versatile b) Universal c) Pandemonium d) Stir
c) Cosmopolitan d) Secular 102. The first public speech delivered by a person
84. One who walks on ropes a) Maiden speech b) Inaugural speech
a) Funambulist b) Upholsterer c) Trial speech d) Marathon speech
c) Acrobat d) Aviator 103. One who does not follow the usual rules of social
85. The study of the origin and history of words life
a) Linguistics b) Etymology a) Bohemian b) Artisan
c) Verbose d) Anthology c) Partisan d) Physician
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 479

104. Placing a thing beside another 122. Inability to sleep

a) Impose b) Repose a) Hysteria b) Insomnia
c) Juxtapose d) Expose c) Aphasia d) Amnesia
105. Expert in the scientific study of birds. 123. One who is given to pleasures of the flesh
a) Dermatologist b) Zoologist a) Terrestrial b) Epicurean
c) Ornithologist d) Astronaut c) Celestial d) Pedestrian
106. To be biased against 124. A tank where fish or water plants are kept
a) Partial b) Objective a) Aquarium b) Sanatorium
c) Prejudiced d) Predestined c) Nursery d) Aviary
107. Motion of he ad, hands e tc, as a mode of 125. A person who never takes alcoholic drinks
expression indicating attitude a) Teetotaller b) Alcoholic
a) Gesture b) Grin c) Addict d) Bagpipes
c) Gestation d) Grimace 126. That which lasts for a short time
108. Bitter and violent attack in words a) Regular b) Transitory
a) Diaspora b) Diacriticism c) Rotatory d) Repository
c) Diadem d) Diatribe 127. Ready to believe anything
109. Treatment by means of exercise and massage a) Credible b) Incredible
a) Chemotherapy b) Hydrotherapy c) Credulous d) Incredulous
c) Physiotherapy d) Psychotherapy 128. A four footed animal
110. The abandonment of one's country or cause a) Tetraped b) Quadruped
a) Defection b) Disloyalty c) Polyped d) Double-paired
c) Desertion d) Migration 129. A person who believes in the total abolition of
111. A place where birds are ketp war
a) Aquarium b) Den a) Socialist b) Communist
c) Aviary d) Sanctuary c) Fascist d) Pacifist
112. A method which never fails 130. Constant efforts to achieve something
a) Unflinching b) Irreparable a) Patience b) Vigour
c) Irremediable d) Infallible c) Attempt d) Perseverance

K KUNDAN
113. Something which cannot be believed 131. A government in which all religions are honoured
a) Inevitable b) Ineffable a) Communist b) Socialistic
c) Incredible d) Ineluctable c) Secular d) Capitalist
114. Body of a human being or animal embalmed for 132. A place where government/public records are kept
burial a) Archive b) Museum
a) Corpse b) Mummy c) Shelf d) Cellar
c) Morgue d) Mortuary 133. Living together of a man and woman without being
115. Of very bad morals, characterised by debasement married to each other
or degeneration a) Marriage b) Equipage
a) Desultory b) Dilapidated c) Lineage d) Concubinage
c) Depraved d) Dilatory 134. Too much official formality
116. Government by a ruler who has unlimited power a) Bureaucracy b) Red-tapism
a) Despotism b) Autocracy c) Nepotism d) Formalism
c) Monarchy d) Anarchy 135. Dry weather with no rainfall
117. An occasion of great importance a) Draught b) Draft
a) Exemplary b) Momentous c) Drought d) Desert
c) Herculean d) Grandiose 136. The worship of idols or images
118. A person who is always hopeful and looks upon a) Atheism b) Theism
the brighter side of things c) Idolatry d) Iconoclasm
a) Florist b) Artist 137. Something that is poisonous or unhealthy
c) Theist d) Optimist a) Trivial b) Toxic
119. Place of burial c) Torpid d) Tragic
a) Cave b) Church 138. A remedy for all diseases
c) Synagogue d) Cemetery a) Amnesia b) Panacea
120. To have a very high opinion of oneself c) Intelligentsia d) Parasol
a) Exaggeration b) Adulation 139. A hater of mankind
c) Abundance d) Conceited a) Misanthrope b) Misogynist
121. One who believes in giving equal opportunity to c) Philanthropist d) Misogamist
women in all fields 140. Irresistible craving for alcoholic drinks
a) Fanatic b) Misogynist a) Megalomania b) Dipsomania
c) Philanderer d) Feminist c) Kleptomania d) Pyromania
480 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

141. A government by officials a) Salvo b) Gunsalute

a) Oligarchy b) Aristocracy c) Reception d) Jingoism
c) Plutocracy d) Bureaucracy 159. Short remaining end of a cigarette
142. One who walks in sleep a) Filing b) Pinch
a) Somniloquist b) Egoist c) Filament d) Stub
c) Somnambulist d) Altruist 160. A person who makes love without intentions
143. Commencement of adjacent words with the same a) Romeo b) Goon
letter c) Consort d) Philanderer
a) Pun b) Alliteration 161. One who abstains from alcoholic drinks
c) Transferred epithet d) Oxymoron a) Teetotaller b) Drunkard
144. A specialist who tests eyesight c) Idiot d) Philosopher
a) Optician b) Ophthalmologist 162. Information gathering activity
c) Ichthyologist d) Neurologist a) Logistics b) Reconnaissance
145. A wall built to prevent the sea or a river from c) Subversion d) Camouflage
flooding an area 163. Hard to understand
a) Dam b) Mound
a) Punctilious b) Obtuse
c) Dyke d) Embankment
c) Absurd d) Abstruse
146. Be lie f that God is in e ve rything and that
164. Subtle difference in colour, meaning, etc
everything is God
a) Nuance b) Variant
a) Atheism b) Pantheism
c) Indifference d) Change-over
c) Scepticism d) Animism
165. A place of refuge and safety
147. A picture of a person or a thing drawn in such a
a) Sanatorium b) Asylum
highly exaggerated manner as to cause laughter
a) Cartoon b) Cacography c) Nursery d) Resort
c) Cartography d) Caricature 166. Incapable of being corrected
148. The state of being mise rable bere ft of all a) Inconsolable b) Incredible
possessions c) Brilliant d) Incorrigible

K KUNDAN
a) Dependant b) Complacent 167. Skilful at handling things
c) Destitute d) Omnipresent a) Handicraft b) Clever
149. That which cannot be called back c) Dexterous d) Fastidious
a) Irresponsible b) Irrevocable 168. A hater of women
c) Irredeemable d) Incalculable a) Misogamist b) Misogynist
150. One who journeys from place to place c) Philanderer d) Misanthrope
a) Quack b) Cannibal 169. One who collects coins
c) Itinerant d) Courier a) Meteorologist b) Metallurgist
151. Study of insects is c) Alchemist d) Numismatist
a) Etymology b) Entomology 170. That which is out of place
c) Ecology d) Embryology a) Anachronistic b) Obsolete
152. Careful in the spending of money, time etc c) Incongruous d) Archaic
a) Punctual b) Economical 171. Equal in rank, merit or quality
c) Miserly d) Calculative a) Contemporary b) Colleague
153. Reproducing or memorizing word for word c) Chum d) Peer
a) Verbatim b) Verbose 172. Science of heredity
c) Verbiage d) Verbalism a) Hereditary b) Genetics
154. That which cannot be captured c) Genesis d) Inheritance
a) Untakable b) Ungrippable 173. Arrangement in order of occurrence
c) Impregnable d) Slippery a) Timely b) Chronological
155. One who breaks the law c) Chronic d) Temporal
a) Aggressor b) Politician 174. Occurring at night
c) Transgressor d) Pedestrian a) Nightly b) Dark
156. Study of the problems of legal punishment and c) Neurotic d) Nocturnal
prison management 175. Determine the nature of the disease
a) Penology b) Criminology
a) Investigate b) Determine
c) Neurology d) Ragamuffin
c) Diagnose d) Detect
157. Paying the back injury with injury
176. To feel or express disapproval of something or
a) Repression b) Reprisal
someone
c) Subjugation d) Vendetta
a) Declare b) Deprive
158. The firing of a number of guns together as a
c) Depreciate d) Deprecate
salute
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 481

177. Handwriting that cannot be read 196. Ceremonial sounding of trumpets

a) Ineligible b) Decipher a) Fanfare b) Symphony
c) Ugly d) Illegible c) Orchestra d) Band
178. Animals that can live on land and in water 197. One who is fond of superior foods and drinks
a) Anthropoid b) Aquatic a) Fastidious b) Drunkard
c) Amphibian d) Aquarium c) Glutton d) Epicure
179. Easily duped or fooled 198. Something that is believable
a) Insensible b) Perceptible a) Credible b) Credulous
c) Gullible d) Indefensible c) Gullible d) Genuine
180. Fear of water 199. Swelling from abnormal growth in some part of
a) Claustrophobia b) Hydrophobia the body
c) Insomnia d) Obsession a) Graft b) Ulcer
181. Concluding part of a literary work c) Hemorrhage d) Tumour
a) Epilogue b) Bibliography 200. A person who lends money at a very high rate of
c) Soliloquy d) Episode interest
182. One who is beyond reform a) Investor b) Usurper
a) Optimistic b) Incorrigible c) Usurer d) Lender
c) Indefatigable d) Notorious 201. Opinion contrary to accepted doctrine
183. Science of diseases a) Blasphemy b) Perjury
a) Philology b) Pathology c) Iconoclasm d) Heresy
c) Psychology d) Virology 202. One who does not care for art or literature
184. One who secretly listens to the talk of others a) Bureaucart b) Illiterate
a) Spy b) Detective c) Philanderer d) Philistine
c) Emissary d) Eavesdropper 203. A person or a thing which is unrivalled
185. One who be lie ve s in no gove rnme nt and a) Nonpareil b) Nincompoop
therefore incites disorder in a State c) Niggardly d) Non sequitur
a) Monarchist b) Anarchist 204. One who is beyond correction or reform
c) Autocrat d) Naxalite a) Insurmountable b) Inimitable

K KUNDAN
186. A mild or indirect expression substituted for an c) Incorrigible d) Invincible
offensive or harsh one 205. A group of stars forming a pattern in the sky
a) Euphemism b) Truism a) Galaxy b) Constellation
c) Favouritism d) Altruism c) Orbit d) Stellar
187. The murder of parent or a near relative 206. Work for which one does not take salary or
a) Patricide b) Parricide payment
c) Matricide d) Homicide a) Remunerated b) Charge-sheet
188. Animals who live in herds c) Complementary d) Honorary
a) Sociable b) Gregarious 207. No longer in use
c) Carnivorous d) Social a) Absolute b) Obsolete
189. A broad road bordered with trees c) Contemporary d) Remote
a) Boudoir b) Boulevard 208. Careful and thorough enquiry
c) Avenue d) Facade a) Investigation b) Interview
190. Violation of something holy or sacred c) Examination d) Exploration
a) Profanity b) Sedition 209. The violent storm made it difficult for them to
c) Sacrilege d) Slander reach the shore
191. A sly look that is lustful a) Weather b) Rains
a) Leer b) Lore c) Breeze d) Tempest
c) Lark d) Littoral 210. A pe rson who dishone stly pre te nds to be
192. A jocular person who is full of amusing anecdotes somebody else
a) Wiles b) Yokel a) Imperialist b) Impressionist
c) Wag d) Aeon c) Implorer d) Impostor
193. Deep in thought 211. A situation that stops an activity from
a) Meditation b) Pensive progressing
c) Pesky d) Purloin a) Bypass b) Breach
194. Without risk of punishment c) Bottleneck d) Blockhead
a) Impudent b) Impunity 212. A body of persons appointed to hear evidence
c) Inexorable d) Imperturbable and give their verdict in trials
195. Excessive preoccupation with one’s health a) Association b) Council
a) Hypochondria b) Malaise c) Bar d) Jury
c) Disaffected d) Malinger
482 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

213. A movement of part of the body to express an a) Spirited b) Interested

idea or feeling c) Fanatical d) Despotic
a) Jibe b) Gesture 231. An agreement between two countries or groups
c) Pose d) Mimicry to stop fighting
214. Failing to discharge one's duty a) Compromise b) Ceasefire
a) Debacle b) Dereliction c) Outpost d) Protocol
c) Determination d) Deterrent 232. Full of criticism and mockery
215. A person who is physically dependent on a a) Discrimination b) Ridicule.
substance c) Satire d) Contempt
a) Criminal b) Martyr 233. A remedy for all diseases
c) Gladiator d) Addict a) Narcotic b) Antiseptic
216. A child born after the death of its father is called c) Tonic d) Panacea
a) An orphan b) A deprived child 234. The killing of whole group of people
c) A waif d) A posthumous child a) Genocide b) Germicide
217. A legal agreement by which a person borrows c) Patricide d) Suicide
money from a bank usually to buy a house 235. The plants and vegetation of a region
a) Document b) Mortgage a) Fauna b) Flora
c) Lease d) Invoice c) Landscape d) Environment
218. Able to use the left hand and right hand equally 236. That which is without opposition
well a) Unaware b) Verdict
a) Ambivert b) Ambidextrous c) Unanimous d) Spontaneous
c) Ambivalent d) Ambitious 237. Strong dislike between two persons
219. One who hates women a) Aversion b) Antipathy
a) Philanthropist b) Ascetic c) Apathy d) Despair
c) Misogamist d) Misogynist 238. Place where wine is made
220. A system of naming things a) Bakery b) Cloakroom
a) Horticulture b) Miniature c) Tannery d) Brewery

K KUNDAN
c) Genocide d) Nomenclature 239. A paper written by hand
221. A raised passageway in a building a) Handicraft b) Handiwork
a) Walkway b) Walkout c) Manuscript d) Thesis
c) Walkabout d) Walkover 240. The art of preserving skin of animals, birds and
222. A cure for all diseases fish
a) Laxative b) Panacea a) Taxonomy b) Taxidermy
c) Antidote d) Purgative c) Topology d) Seismology
223. A person who loves mankind 241. Related to moon
a) Misanthrope b) Anthropologist a) Solar b) Moony
c) Philanthropist d) Mercenary c) Lunar d) Honeymoon
224. To confirm with the help of evidence 242. To run away with a lover
a) Corroborate b) Implicate a) Deceive b) Cheat
c) Designate d) Extricate c) Escape d) Elope
225. The action of looking within or into one's own 243. An underhand device resorted to in order to
mind justify misconduct
a) Observation b) Examination a) Subterfuge b) Manoeuvre
c) Introspection d) Introvert c) Stratagem d) Complicity
226. One who has narrow and prejudiced religious 244. Impossible to describe
views a) Miraculous b) Ineffable
a) Religious b) Fanatic c) Stupendous d) Appalling
c) Bigot d) God-fearing 245. One who criticizes popular beliefs which he
227. Capable of being interpreted in two ways thinks are mistaken or unwise
a) Confusing b) Unclear a) Philistine b) Iconoclast
c) Ambiguous d) Ambivert c) Impostor d) Cannibal
228. To be dogmatic in one's opinions 246. Detaining and confining someone
a) Plaintive b) Opinionated a) Interruption b) Interrogation
c) Undoubtable d) Secular c) Interment d) Internment
229. Intense and unreasoned fear or dislike 247. Science of the races of mankind
a) Horror b) Phobia a) Genealogy b) Epistemology
c) Fright d) Scare c) Ethnology d) Sociology
230. Excessively enthusiastic unreasonably about 248. One who hides away on a ship to obtain a free
something passage
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 483

a) Compositor b) Stoker a) Famous b) Notorious

c) Stowaway d) Shipwright c) Criminal d) Terrorist
249. Clues available at a scene 267. Words of similar meaning
a) Circumstantial b) Derivative a) Homonyms b) Pseudonyms
c) Inferential d) Suggestive c) Antonyms d) Synonyms
250. An unexpected piece of good fortune 268. An official call to appear in a court of law
a) Windfall b) Philanthropy a) Summon b) Notice
c) Benevolence d) Turnstile c) Memorandum d) Petition
251. An emolument over and above fixed income or 269. To cut a part of a person's body
salary a) Amputate b) Mutilate
a) Honorarium b) Sinecure c) Ambuscade d) Mitigate
c) Perquisite d) Prerogative 270. One who is filled with excessive and mistaken
252. The animals of a particular region enthusiasm about his religion
a) Flora b) Museum a) Fatalist b) Lunatic
c) Zoo d) Fauna c) Fanatic d) Stoic
253. One who is unable to pay debts 271. A list of items to be transacted at a meeting
a) Debtor b) Indebted a) Menu b) Agenda
c) Borrower d) Insolvent c) Minutes d) Records
254. A roundabout way of speaking 272. List of issues to be discussed at a meeting
a) Loose-tongued b) Loquacious a) Schedule b) Agenda
c) Circumlocution d) Talkative c) Time-table d) Plan
255. An order requiring a person to attend a court 273. One who cannot speak
a) Courtship b) Agreement a) Deaf b) Dumb
c) Subpoena d) Command c) Visionless d) Lame
256. An imaginary name assumed by an author for 274. The highest point
disguise a) Zenith b) Height
a) Facsimile b) Surname c) Zeal d) Ridge
c) Alias d) Pseudonym 275. A speech delivered without previous preparation

K KUNDAN
257. Murder of brother a) Soliloquy b) Extempore
a) Homicide b) Infanticide c) Rhetoric d) Expression
c) Patricide d) Fratricide 276. One who pretends to be what he is not
258. An extreme fear of being in a small confined place a) Crocodile b) Flatterer
a) Hydrophobia b) Paraphernalia c) Hhypocrite d) Counterfeiter
c) Claustrophobia d) Progeria 277. Study of heavenly bodies
259. An inscription on a tomb a) Astrology b) Astronomy
a) Epitaph b) Crypt c) Atargazing d) Astrophysics
c) Obituary d) Legacy 278. To give one's authority to another
260. Allowance due to a wife from her husband on a) Assign b) Delegate
separation c) Represent d) Designate
a) Patrimony b) Antimony 279. One who intervenes between two or more parties
c) Parsimony d) Alimony to settle differences
261. Practice of employing spies in war a) Neutral b) Intermediary
a) Esplanade b) Espionage c) Judge d) Connoisseur
c) Espadrille d) Estrangement 280. The absence of law and order
262. A fixed territory in which authority can be a) Rebellion b) Mutiny
exercised c) Revolt d) Anarchy
a) Jurisdiction b) Judiciary 281. A voice that cannot be heard
c) Jurisprudence d) Juristic a) Unheard b) Faint
263. Instrument to measure atmospheric pressure c) Audible d) Inaudible
a) Metronome b) Compass 282. High sea waves caused by underwater earthquake
c) Pedometer d) Barometer a) Tsunami b) Tornado
264. One who tends to take a hopeful view of life c) Hurricane d) Cyclone
a) Magnate b) Creator 283. A disease which is spread by direct contact
c) Pacifist d) Optimist a) Contagious b) Infectious
265. Belonging to all parts of the world c) Epidemic d) Endemic
a) Common b) Universal 284. The study of ancient civilizations
c) Worldly d) International a) History b) Anthropology
266. To be known for bad acts c) Ethnology d) Archaeology
484 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

285. An animal story with a moral a) Pessimist b) Optimist

a) Fable b) Tale c) Infallible d) Hypocrite
c) Anecdote d) Parable 303. Murder of a man
286. A thing likely to be easily broken a) Regicide b) Fratricide
a) Vulnerable b) Flexible c) Homicide d) Genocide
c) Brittle d) Delicate 304. Use of force or threats to get someone to agree
287. Body of singers to something
a) Coir b) Quorum a) Coercion b) Conviction
c) Quire d) Choir c) Confession d) Cajolement
288. To secretly store more than what is allowed 305. Animal that feeds on plants
a) Hoard b) Store a) Carnivorous b) Herbivorous
c) Hide d) Aboard c) Insectivorous d) Omnivorous
289. Very dramatic 306. A number of stars grouped together
a) Histrionic b) Hippocratic a) Orbit b) Constellation
c) Hirsute d) Hoary c) Solar system d) Comet
290. A figure of speech by which a thing is spoken of 307. Lasting only for a very short while
as being that which it only resembles a) Transparent b) Temporal
a) Metaphor b) Simile c) Temporary d) Temperate
c) Personification d) Alliteration 308. An involuntary action under a stimulus is
291. The process by which a person or an organization described as a
reduces the amount of money it spends a) Complex b) Reflex
a) Budgeting b) Retrenchment c) Reflection d) Response
c) Saving d) Closure 309. A continuous process of change is known as
292. An established principle of practical wisdom a) Transformation b) Metamorphosis
a) Marxism b) Maxim c) Flux d) Dynamism
c) Neologism d) Platonism 310. The use of many words where only a few are
293. A small room in a big house, hotel, ship etc necessary

K KUNDAN
where glasses, dishes, spoons, food etc are kept a) Circumlocution b) Circumspection
a) Portico b) Pantry c) Circumscription d) Circumvention
c) Mezzanine d) Kitchen 311. Circular building or hall with a dome
294. A foreigner who settles in a country a) Edifice b) Palace
a) Immigrant b) Emigrant c) Rotunda d) Spire
c) Alien d) Visitor 312. One who is a citizen not of a country but of the
295. Doing something according to one's own free will world
a) Wilfully b) Obligingly a) Bohemian b) Cosmopolitan
c) Voluntarily d) Compulsorily c) Philanthropist d) Internationalist
296. Place that provides refuge 313. Person who insists on adherence to formal rules
a) Shelter b) House or literary meaning
c) Country d) Asylum a) Scholar b) Pedant
297. A person who gambles or bets c) Pedagogue d) Literalist
a) Punter b) Backer 314. Calmness and indifference to suffering
c) Customer d) Client a) Stoicism b) Despair
298. Art of writing for newspapers and magazines c) Agony d) Materialism
a) Literature b) Journalism 315. The practice of having more than one husband
c) Biography d) Artistry a) Polyandry b) Polygamy
299. An abandoned child of unknown parents who is c) Bigamy d) Debauchery
found by somebody 316. Seeing something which is not actually present
a) Foundling b) Sibling a) Imagination b) Presumption
c) Urchin d) Orphan c) Hallucination d) Supposition
300. Parts of a country behind the coast or a river 317. With much liveliness and a sense of purpose
bank a) Lousily b) Jocularly
a) Swamps b) Marshes c) Zealously d) Jauntily
c) Hinterland d) Isthmuses 318. Code of diplomatic etiquette and precedence
301. A written statement about someone's character, a) Statesmanship b) Diplomacy
usually provided by an employer c) Hierarchy d) Protocol
a) Testimonial b) Memorandum 319. To renounce a high position of authority or
c) Certificate d) Licence control
302. One who does not make mistakes a) Abduct b) Abandon
c) Abort d) Abdicate
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 485

320. Not to be moved by entreaty a) Glower b) Gnaw

a) Rigorous b) Negligent c) Gnash d) Grind
c) Inexorable d) Despotic 331. A post with little work but high salary
321. An object or portion serving as a sample a) Director b) Trustee
a) Specification b) Spectre c) Sinecure d) Ombudsman
c) Spectacle d) Specimen 332. Something that causes death
322. The practice of submitting a proposal to popular a) Dangerous b) Fatal
vote c) Brutal d) Horrible
a) Election b) Reference 333. A person who has no money to pay off his debts
c) Popularity d) Referendum a) Insolvent b) Poor
323. An inscription on a tomb c) Destitute d) Pauper
a) Espionage b) Epilogue 334. Words uttered impiously about God
c) Epitaph d) Elegy a) Amoral b) Philosophy
324. Feeling inside you which tells you what is right c) Logic d) Blasphemy
and what is wrong 335. The study of insects
a) Cleverness b) Conscience a) Anthropology b) Zoology
c) Consciousness d) Fear c) Etymology d) Entomology
325. Release of a prisoner from jail on certain terms 336. One who compiles a dictionary
and conditions a) Geographer b) Lexicographer
a) Parole b) Parley c) Lapidist d) Linguist
c) Pardon d) Acquittal 337. A test in which cells from diseased organs are
326. Loss of memory removed and tested
a) Ambrosia b) Amnesia a) Biopsy b) Autopsy
c) Insomnia d) Forgetting c) Operation d) Amputation
327. To struggle helplessly 338. Speed of an object in one direction
a) Flounder b) Founder a) Pace b) Tempo
c) Fumble d) Finger c) Velodrome d) Velocity
328. A person who writes decoratively 339. The place where public, government or historical

K KUNDAN
a) Calligrapher b) Collier records are kept
c) Choreographer d) Cartographer a) Coffer b) Pantry
329. Pertaining to cattle c) Archives d) Scullery
a) Canine b) Feline 340. Theft of another person’s writings or ideas and
c) Bovine d) Verminous passing them off as one’s own
330. To look at someone in an angry or threatening a) Plagiarism b) Burglary
way c) Piracy d) Pilferage

Answers and explanations

1. b; Linguist = a per son who knows sev er al
foreign languages well; a person
who studies languages
Polyglot = knowing, using or writt en in
more t han one language;
multilingual
Phonetician = a per son who studies speech
sounds and how they ar e
produced
2. a; Artisan = a person who does skilled work,
making things with their hands
Partisan = a person who strongly supports a
particular leader, group or idea
Bohemian = a person, often somebody who is
involved with the arts, who lives
in v ery inf or mal way wit hout
f ollowing accepted rules of
behaviour
3. c; Impose = to force somebody/something to have
t o deal with somet hing t hat is
difficult or unpleasant
Repose = to be or be kept in a particular place;
a state of rest, sleep or feeling calm
Juxtapose = to put people or things together,
especially in order to show a contrast
or a new relationship between them
4. d; Capsize = if a boat capsizes or something
capsizes it, it turns over in the water
Enthral = if something enthrals you, it is so
interesting, beautiful, etc that you give
it all your attention
Volley = to hit or kick the ball before it reaches
the ground
Jettison = to throw something out of a moving
plane or ship to make it lighter
5. c; Pandemonium = a situation in which there is
a lot of noise, act iv it y
and conf usion especially
because people ar e feeling
angry
486 English Language and Comprehension
Stir = to move or make somebody
mov e, in or der t o do
something
6. b; Omniscient = knowing everything
Omnipotent = having total power; able to do
anything
Omnipresent = present everywhere
7. c; Physicist = a scientist who studies physics
Physician = a doctor, especially one who is a
specialist in general medicine and
not surgery
8. d; Saint = a person that the Christian Church
recognizes as being very holy, because
of the way they have lived or died
Giant = a very large strong person who is
often cruel and stupid
Plaintif f = a per son who makes a f ormal
complaint against somebody in court
Recluse = a person who lives alone and likes
to avoid other people
9. b; Ceramics = the ar t of making and decorating
ceramic.
Ceramic = a pot or other object made of clay that
has been made permanenetly hard by
heat
10. b; Concurrent = existing or happening at the
same time
Contemporary = belonging to the same time
Concomitant = happening at the same time
as something else, especially
K KUNDAN
because one thing is related
to or causes the other
11. b; Reciprocate = t o behav e or feel t owar ds
somebody in the same way as they
behave or feel towards you
12. d; Seer = a person who claims that they can see
what is going to happen in the future
13. a; Paediatrician = a doctor who studies and treats
the diseases of children
Pedagogue = a person who likes to teach
people t hings, especially
because they think they know
more than other people
Pedestrian = a person walking in the street
and not travelling in a vehicle
Pedophile = a per son who is sexually
attracted to children
14. b; Entomologist = a person who studies insects
scientifically
Psephologist = a per son who st udies how
people vote in elections
Demagogue = a political leader who seeks
suppor t by appealing t o
popular desir es
pr ejudices r at her
through rational arguments
Eugemist = a per son who st udies the
methods t o improv e t he
ment al and physical
characteristics of the human
r ace by choosing who may
become parents
15. b; Male-chauvinist = a man who believ es men
ar e more impor t ant ,
int elligent , et c
women
One Word Substitution
Feminist = a person who supports the
belief that women should
have the same rights and
opportunities as men
Fatalist = a person who believes that
events are decided by fate
and that you cannot control
them
16. c; Homicide = t he crime of killing somebody
deliberately
Genocide = the murder of a whole race or group
of people
17. c; Gastronomy = the art and practice of cooking
and eating good food
Gourmet = a person who knows a lot about
good food and wines and who
enjoys choosing, eating and
drinking them
18. a; Stoic = a person who is able to suffer pain
or trouble without complaining or
showing what they are feeling
Cynic = a person who believes that people
only do things to help themselves,
rather than for good or sincere
reasons; a person who does not
believe that something good will
happen or that something is
important
Indifferent = having or showing no interest in
somebody/something; not very good
19. b; Momentous = v ery impor tant or ser ious,
especially because there may be
important result
Momentary = lasting for a very short time
Trivial = not important or serious; not
wroth considering
Petty = small and unimportant
20. c; Detour = a longer route that you take in order to
avoid a problem or to visit a place
21. a
22. b; Voracious = eating or wanting large amount
of food; wanting a lot of new
information and knowledge
Avaricious = having extreme desire for wealth
Carnivore = an animal that eats meat
Omnivorous = eat ing all t ypes of f ood,
especially both plants and meat
23. b; Dominion = authority to rule; control; an area
controlled by one ruler
24. b; Cathedral = the main church of a district,
under the care of a Bishop (=a
priest of high rank)
Chapel = a small building or room used for
and Christian worship in a school,
than prison, large private house, etc
Synagogue = a building where Jews meet for
religious worship and teaching
Demagogue = a political leader who tries to win
support by using arguments based
on emotions rather than reason
25. c; Ascetic = not allowing your self physical
pleasur e, especially f or religious
reasons; related to a simple and strict
way of living
than Esoteric = to be understood or enjoyed by only
a few people with a special
One Word Substitution
knowledge or interest
Stoic = a person who is able to suffer pain
or trouble without complaining or
showing what they are feeling
Sceptical = hav ing doubt s t hat a claim or
statement is true or that something
will happen
26. c; Theocracy = gover nment of a count r y by
religious leaders; a country that is
governed by religious leaders
Theosophy = a religious system of thought that
tries to know God by means of
meditation, player, etc
Theology = the study of religion and beliefs; a
set of religious beliefs
Theism = belief in the existence of God or
gods
27. d; Dissect = to cut up a dead person, animal or
plant in order to study it
Biopsy = the removal and examination of tissue
from the body of somebody who is ill/
sick, in order to find out more about
their disease
Autopsy = an official examination of dead body
by a doctor in order to discover the
cause of death
28. d; Chaplain = a priest or other Christian minister
who is responsible for the religious
needs of people in a prison, hospital,
etc or in the armed forces
Ma so n = a person who builds using stone or
K KUNDAN
works with stone
Artisan = a per son who does skilled wor k,
making things with their hands
Novice = a person who is new and has little
experience in a skill, job or situation
29. d; Pedant = a person who is too concerned
with small det ails or r ules
especially when learning or
teaching
Supplicant = a person who asks for something
in a humble way, especially from
God or a powerful person
Mendicant = (especially of members of religious
groups) living by asking people for
money and food
Truant = a child who st ays away fr om
school without permission
30. d; Patricide = the crime of killing your father, a
person who is guilty of this crime.
Parricide = the cr ime of killing your f at her,
mother or a close relative; a person
who is guilty of this crime
Matricide = the crime of killing your mother; a
person who is guilty of this crime
Genocide = the murder of a whole race or group
of people; a person who is guilty of
this crime
31. c; Apostle = a person who strongly believes in
a policy or an idea and tries to
make other people believe in it
Proselytize = To try to persuade other people to
accept your belief s, especially
about religion and politics
Renegade = a person who leaves one political,
religious, etc group to join another
English Language and Comprehension 487
that has very different views; a
per son who opposes and lives
outside a group or society that they
used to belong to
32. b; Intermediary = a person or an organisation that
helps other people or organisa-
tions to make an agreement by
being a means of communica-
tion between them; to go bet-
ween
Connoisseur = an expert on matters involving
the judgement of beauty, quality
or skill in art, food or music
33. c; Psychosis = a ser ious mental illness that
affects the whole personality
Neurosis = a ment al illness in which a
person suffers strong feelings of
fear and worry; any strong fear
or worry
Narcissism = the habit of admiring yourself too
much, especially your appearance
Paranoia = a ment al illness in which a
person may wrongly believe that
other people are trying to harm
them, that they are somebody very
important, etc; fear or suspicion
of other people when there is no
evidence or reason for this
34. d; Repent = to feel or show that you are sorry for
something bad or wrong that you
have done
Retrace = to go back along exactly the same
path or route that you have come
along; to make the same trip that
somebody else has made in the past
Recant = to say, often publicly, that you no
longer hav e t he same belief or
opinion that you had before
Renounce = to state officially that you are no
longer going to keep title, position,
etc; to state publicly that you no
longer have a particular belief or that
you will no longer behav e in a
particular way
35. a; Hutch = a cage, usually of wood and wire, mesh
for small animals.
Lair = den, wild animal’s resting place.
Den = a lair of predatory animals, lion’s den.
Cage = framework with wires or bars in which
small birds or animals may be kept.
36. a; Polyandry = the custom of having more than
one husband at the same time
Polygamy = the custom of having more than one
wife at the same time
Pol ypho ny = the combination of several different
patt er ns of musical notes sung
together to form a single piece of
music
Polyglot = knowing, using or written in more
than one language
37. c; Omnipotent = having total power; able to do
anything
Optimist = a person who always expects
good things to happen or things
to be successful
488 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

38. c; Misanthrope = a person who hates and avoids Patriarch = the male head of a family or
other people community
Iconoclast = a person who criticizes popular 46. d; Pessimism = a feeling that bad t hings will
beliefs or established customs happen and that something will
and ideas not be successful
Masochism = the enjoyment of something that Pacifism = the belief that war and violence
most people would find are always wrong
unpleasant or painful; t he 47. a; Bevy = a large group of people or things of the
pr act ice of gett ing sexual same kind
pleasure from being physically Convoy = a group of vehicles or ships travelling
hurt together especially when soldiers or
39. c; Sacred = very important and treated with great other vehicles travel with them for
respect protection
Sacrilege = an act of treating a holy thing or Coterie = a small group of people who have the
place without respect same interests and do things together
Pilf er = to steal things of little value or in but do not like to include others
small quantities, especially from the 48. a; Fatal = causing or ending in death
place where you work Deadly = causing or likely to cause death
Pittance = a very small amount of money that 49. c; Prologue = a speech etc at the beginning of a
somebody receives, for example as a play, book or f ilm/movie that
wage, and that is hardly enough to introduces it
live on Monologue = a long speech in a play, film/movie
40. c; Convent = a building in which nuns (=members etc spoken by one actor, especially
of a female religious community) live when alone
together Epilogue = a speech, etc at the end of a play,
Abode = the place where somebody lives book or film/movie that comments
41. b; Obstinate = refusing to change your opinions, on or acts as a conclusion to what
way of behaving etc, when other has happened
people try to persuade you to 50. d; Bibliographer = a person who studies history
Theosophy = a religious system of thought that of books and their production

K KUNDAN
tries to know God by means of Bi blio phi le = a person who loves or collects
meditation, preyer, etc books
Theologian = a person who studies theology 51. c; Incendiary = designed to cause fire; causing
Theology = the study of religion and beliefs strong feelings or violence
Bigot = a person who has ver y str ong, Incantatory = adjective of the word ‘incanta-
unreasonable beliefs or opinions tion’.
about race, religion or politics and Incantation = a series of words said as a magic
who will not listen to or accept spell or charm
t he opinions of anyone who Inflammable = that can burn easily
disagrees Incandescent = giving out light when heated
42. a; Funeral = a ceremony, usually a religious one, 52. d; Dais = a stage, especially at one end of a room,
for burying or cremating (=burning) on which people stand t o make
a dead person speeches to an audience
Kn el l = an event that means that the end Forum = a place wher e people can exchange
or destruction of something will opinions and ideas on a particular issue
come soon; knell 53. a; Post-natal = connected with the period after
Ding-dong = used to represent the sound made the birth of a child
by a bell Prelude = a short piece of music, especially
Ding =used to represent the sound made an introduction to a longer piece;
by a bell an action or event that happens
43. a; Reveille = a tune that is played to awake soldiers before another more important
in the morning one and forms an introduction to
Lu lla by = a soft gentle song sung to make a child it
go to sleep 54. d; Cow let = there is no such word in dictionary
Soprano = a singing voice with the highest range Colt = a young made horse up to the age of
for a woman or boy four or five
44. c; Embryology = t he scient if ic st udy of t he Ewe = a female sheep
development of embryos Heifer = a young female cow, especially one
Entomology = the scientific study of insects that has not yet had a calf
45. b; Sexagenarian = a person between 60 and 69 55. b; Mou r n f u l = very sad
years old Ballad = a song or poem that tells a story; a
Septuagenarian = a person between 70 and 79 slow popular song about love
years old Dirge = a song in the past at a funeral or
Centurion = (in ancient Rome) an army for a dead person; any song or
officer who commanded 100 piece of music that is too slow and
soldiers sad
One Word Substitution
Ode = a poem that speaks to a person or
thing or celebrates a special event
56. b; Bough = a large branch of a tree
Slough = to lose a layer of dead skin
Borough = a town or part of a city that has its
own local government
Peelings = the skin of fruit or vegetables that
has been removed
57. b; Ornithology = the scientific study of birds
Etymology = t he st udy of t he or igin and
hist or y of wor ds and t heir
meanings; the origin and history
of a particular word
Philology = t he scient if ic st udy of t he
development of language or of a
particular language
58. c; Sexton = a person whose job is to take
car e of a church and it s
surroundings, ring the church
bell etc
Sexologist = a per son who st udies the
human sexual behaviour
Sexagenarian = a person between 60 and 69
years old
Sextuplet = one of six children born at the
same time to the same mother
59. a; Apiary = a place where bees are kept
Ornithologist = a person who studies birds
Horticulture = t he study or pr actice of
gr owing f lower s, f ruit and
vegetables
K KUNDAN
60. c; Apostrophise = to address what you are saying,
or a poem, a speech in a play,
etc to a particular person
Solemnise = to per for m a r eligious
ceremony, especially a 69. b; Agoraphobia
marriage
Soliloquy = a speech in a play in which a
character, who is alone on the
stage, speaks his or her
thoughts
61. a; Veteran = a per son who has a lot of
experience in a particular area
or activity
Ambidextrous = able to use the left hand or the
right hand equally well
62. d; Tomb = a large grave, especially one built of
stone above or below the ground
Epithet = an adjective or phrase that is used to
descr ibe somebody/somet hing’s
character or most important quality,
especially in order to give praise or
criticism
Epitaph = words that are written or said about
a dead person, especially words on a
gravestone
Epigraph = a line of writing, short phrase, etc
on a building or statue, or as an
introduction to part of a book
63. c; Devious = behav ing in a dishonest or
indirect way, or tricking people,
in order to get something
Nefarious = criminal; immoral
Surreptitious = done secretly or quickly, in the
hope that other people will not
notice
English Language and Comprehension 489
64. c; Desolate = very lonely and unhappy; empty and
without people, making you feel sad
or frightened
Obsolete = no longer used because something
new has been invented
65. b; Amoral = not following any moral rules and
not caring about right and wrong
Immortal = that lives or lasts for ever
66. b; Fascist = a person who supports fascism
(=an extreme right-wing political
syst em or at titude which is in
f av ours of st rong centr al
government and which does not
allow any opposition)
Pacifist = a person who believes in pacifism
(=the belief that war and violence
are always wrong)
Narcissism = the habit of admiring yourself too
much, especially your appearance
Fatalism = the belief that events are decided
by fate and that you cannot control
them; the fact of accepting that
you cannot prevent something from
happening
67. c; Speculative = based on guessing or on
opinions that have been f or med
without knowing all the facts
Scurrilous = v er y rude and insult ing, and
int ended to damage somebody’s
reputation
68. a; Invocation = the act of asking for help, from a
god or from a person in authority
Inundate = to cover an area of land with a
large amount of water
Revocation = the act of cancelling a law, etc
= a fear of being in public places
where there are many other
people
Claustrophobia = an extreme fear of being in a
small confined place
Xenophobia = a strong feeling of dislike or
f ear of people f r om other
countries
Paranoia = f ear or suspicion of other
people when t here is no
evidence or reason for this
70. c; Edict = an official order or statement given
by somebody in authority
Adamant = determined, not to change your mind
or to be persuaded about something
Addict = a person who is unable to stop taking
harmful drugs
Derelict = (especially of land or buildings) not
used or car ed f or and in bad
condition; a person without a home,
a job or property
71. a; Ancestry = the family or the race of people that
you come from
Lineage = the series of families that somebody
comes from originally
Dynasty = rule of the same family by succession
72. b; Severe = extremely bad or serious
Sever = to cut something into two pieces
Sewer = an underground pipe that is used to
carr y sewage away fr om houses,
factories, etc
490 English Language and Comprehension One Word Substitution

Sow = to plant or spread seeds in or on the
ground
73. d; Tabloid = a newspaper with small pages
Plaque = a flat piece of stone, metal, etc usually
with a name and dates on, attached to
a wall in memory of a person or an
event
74. a; Pickpocket = a person who steals money, etc
f rom ot her people’s pockets,
especially in crowded places
75. c; Prologue = a speech, etc at the beginning of
a play, book, or film/movie that
introduces it
Epilogue = a speech, etc at the end of a play,
book or film/movie that comments
on or acts as a conclusion to what
has happened
Monologue = a long speech in a play, film/movie
etc, spoken by one actor, especially
when alone
76. b; Amphibious = able to live both on land and in
water
Ambiguous = that can be understood in more
than one way; having different
meanings
Amorphous = having no definite shape, form
or structure
77. c; Solvent = having enough money to pay your
debts; not in debt
Insolvent = not having enough money to pay
Acrobat = an ent er t ainer who per f or ms
difficult acts such as balancing
on high r opes, especially at a
circus
Aviator = a person who flies an aircraft
85. b; Etymology = the study of the origin and history
of words and their meanings
Verbose = using or containing more words
than are needed
Anthology = a collection of poems, stories, etc
that have been written by different
people and published together in
a book
86. d; Poacher = a person who illegally hunts birds,
animals or fish on somebody’s else’s
property
Bandit = a member of an armed group of thieves
who attack travellers
Burglar = a per son who ent er s a building
illegally in order to steal
Intruder = a person who enters a building or an
area illegally
87. a; Cartography = the art or process of drawing or
making maps
88. a; Ligament = a strong band of tissue in the body
that connects bones and supports
organs and keeps them in
position
89. a; Prototype = the first design of something from
which other forms are copied or

K KUNDAN
what you owe developed
78. b; Obscure = not well known; unknown; difficult 90. c; Auditorium = the part of a theatre, concert hall,
to understand etc in which the audience sits; a
Obsolete = no longer used because something large building or room in which
new has been invented; out of date public meetings, concerts, etc are
Pristine = f r esh and clean, as if new; not held
developed or changed in any way 91. c; Numismatist = a person who collects or studies
79. a; Immigrant = a person who has come to live coins or medals
permanently in a country that is Philatelist = a person who collects or studies
not their own stamps
Emigrant = a person who leaves their country Connoisseur = an expert on matters involving
to live in another the judgement of beauty, quality
Settler = a person who goes to live in a new or skill in art, food or music
country or region
80. b; Feasible = that is possible and likely to be 92. a; Oligarchy = a form of government in which
achieved only a small group of people hold
Tenable = easy to defend against attack or all the power
criticism Totalitarian = (of a countr y or syst em of
Ex plicable = that can be explained or understood government) in which there is
81. d; Alien = from another country or society; foreign only one political party that has
82. c; Philanthropist = a rich person who helps the complete power and control over
poor and t hose in need, the people
especially by giving money Theocracy = gover nment of a count r y by
Misanthrope = a per son who hat es and religious leaders
avoids other people 93. b; Mores = the customs and behaviour that are
Misogynist = a man who hates women considered typical of a particular
83. c; Versatile = able to do many dif f erent social group or community
things Rite = a ceremony performed by a particular
Cosmopolitan = containing people of different group of people, often for religious
t ypes or f rom dif f erent purposes
countries, and influenced by Ritual = a series of actions that are always
their culture perf or med in t he same way,
84. c; Upholsterer = a person whose job is to upholster especially as par t of a r eligious
furniture ceremony
Upholster = to cover a chair , etc with soft 94. d; Verdict = a decision that is made by a jury in
material and cloth cour t , st at ing if somebody is
One Word Substitution
considered guilty of a crime or not
Jury = a group of members of the public
who listen to the facts of a case in a
cour t and decide whether or not
somebody is guilty of a crime
95. c; Perseverance = the quality of continuing to try
t o achiev e a part icular aim
despite difficulties
Stoicism = the fact of not complaining or
showing what you are feeling
when you are suffering
Reticent = unwilling to tell people about
things
96. a; Mortuary = a room or building, for example
part of a hospital, in which
dead bodies are kept before they
are buried or cremated
Monastery = a building in which monks
(=members of a male religious
community) live together
Sanatorium = a place like a hospital where
patients who hav e a lasting
illness or who are getting better
after an illness are treated
Crematorium = a building in which the bodies
of dead people are burned
97. a; Hedonist = one who lives f or pleasur e-
seeking
Pessimist = a person who always expects
the worst to happen
Misanthrope = one who hates mankind
K KUNDAN
Philistine = a per son who has no
under standing f or art s;
uncivilized person
98. c; Fatalist = a person who believes strongly
in fate
Fanatic = diehard believer and supporter
of some r eligion, cause or
political ideology
Philologist = a person having in-depth study
of a language
99. d; Legacy = property that which is given to a
person by one's will
* Legacy may be acquired even
during the lifetime of the previous
owner .
Patrimony = propert y inherit ed f r om one's
father or ancestors
100. b; Biography = writing of a person's life
Prof ile = very short biography of a person
101. c; Pandemonium = a situation in which there is
a lot of noise, act iv it y and
conf usion, especially because
people ar e f eeling angr y or
frightened
102. a; Maiden speech = the first speech made by an
MP in the parliaments of some
countries
103. a; Bohemian = a person, often somebody who is
involved with the arts, who lives
in a very informal way without
f ollowing accepted rules of
behaviour
Artisan = a person who does skilled work,
making things with their hands
Partisan = showing too much support for one
English Language and Comprehension 491
person, group or idea, especially
without considering it carefully
104. c; Repose = to be or be kept in a particular
place
Juxtapose = to put people or things together,
especially in or der t o show a
contrast or a new r elat ionship
between them
105. c; Dermatologist = specialist of skin diseases
106. c; Prejudiced = having an unreasonable dislike of
or pr efer ence f or somebody/
something, especially based on
their race, religion, sex, etc
Predestined = already decided or planned by God
or by fate
107. a; Gesture = a movement that you make with
your hands, your head or your face
to show a particular meaning
Grin = a wide smile
Gestation = the process by which an idea or a
plan develops
Grimace = an ugly expr ession made by
twisting your face, used to show
pain, disgust et c or to make
somebody laugh
108. d; Diaspora = the movement of people from any
nation or group away from their
own country
Diacritic = a mark such as an accent, placed
over, under or through a letter in
some languages, to show that the
letter should be pronounced in a
different way from the same letter
without a mark
Diadem = a crown, worn especially as a sign
of royal power
Diatribe = a long and angry speech or piece
of writing attacking and critici-
zing somebody/something
109. c
110. c; Abandonment = the act of leaving a person,
t hing or place wit h no
intention of returning
Defect = t o leave a political part y,
country etc to join another
that is considered to be an
enemy
Desert = to go away from a place and
leave it empty
111. c; Aviary = a large cage or building for keeping
birds in, for example in a zoo
Den = the hidden home of some types of wild
animal
112. d; Unf linching = r emaining st r ong and
determined, even in a difficult
or dangerous situation
Inf allible = nev er wr ong; nev er making
mistakes
113. c; Inevitable = that you cannot avoid or prevent
Ineffable = too great or beautiful to describe
in words
Ineluctable = t hat you cannot av oid;
unavoidable
114. b; Embalm = t o pr event a dead body fr om
decaying by treating it with special
substances to preserve it
492 English Language and Comprehension
Corpse = a dead body, especially of a human
Morgue = a place where dead bodies that have
been found are kept until they can
be identified
Mortuary = a room or building, for example part
of a hospital in which dead bodies
are kept before they are buried or
cremated
115. c; Debase = to make somebody/something
less valuable or repect; to devalue
Desultory = going from one thing to another,
without a def init e plan and
without enthusiasm
Dilapidated = (of furniture an buildings) old and
in very bad condition
Depraved = morally bad; wicked; evil
Dilatory = not acting quickly enough;
causing delay
116. a; Despotism = the rule of a despot (= a ruler with
great power, especially one who
used it in a cruel way)
Autocracy = a syst em of gov er nment of a
country in which one person has
complete power
Monarchy = a system of government by a king
or a queen
Anarchy = a sit uat ion in a countr y, an
organisation etc in which there
is no gov ernment , or der or
control.
K KUNDAN
117. b; Exemplary = pr oviding a good example f or
people to copy
Momentous = v ery impor tant or ser ious,
especially because there may be
important results
Herculean = needing a lot of st r engt h
determination or effort
Grandiose = seeming very impressive but too
large, complicated expensive, etc
to be practical or possible
118. d; Florist = a person who owns or works in a
shop/store that sells flower s and
plants
Theist = a per son who believ es in the
existence of God or gods
119. d; Synagogue = a building where Jews meet for
religious worship and teaching
Cemetery = an area of land used for burying
dead people, especially one that
is not beside a church
120. d; Adulation = admiration and praise, especially
when this is greater than is nec-
essary
Conceited = having too much pride in yourself
and what you do
121. d; Fanatic = a person who is extremely en-
thusiastic about something
Misogynist = a man who hates women
Philanderer = a man who has sexual
r elat ionships wit h many
different women
Feminist = a per son who suppor t s t he
beliefs that women should have
the same rights and opportuni-
ties as men
One Word Substitution
122. b; Hysteria = a state of extreme excitement fear
or anger in which a person, or a
group of people, loses control of
their emotions and starts to cry,
laugh, etc
Insomnia = the condition of being unable to
sleep
Aphasia = the loss of the ability to understand
or produce speech, because of brain
damage
Amnesia = a medical condit ion in which
somebody partly or completely loses
their memory
123. b; Terrestrial = connected with the planet earth
Epicurean = devoted to pleasure and enjoying
yourself
Celestial = of the sky or of heaven
Pedestrian = a person walking in the street
and not travelling in a vehicle
124. a; Aquarium = a large glass container in which
fish and other water creatures
and plants are kept
Sanatorium = a place like a hospital where
pat ient s who hav e a last ing
illness or who are getting better
after an illness are treated
Aviary = a lar ge cage or building or
keeping birds in, for example
in a zoo
125. a; Teetotaller = a person who does not drink
alcohol
Bagpipes = a musical inst rument played
especially in Scotland
126. b; Transitory = continuing for only a short time
Repository = a place wher e something is
stored in large quantities
127. c; Credulous = too ready to believe things and
therefore easy to trick
128. b; Quadruped = any creature with four feet
Polyp = a small and v er y simple sea
creature with a body shaped like
a tube
129. d
130. d; Vigour = energy, force or enthusiasm
Perseverance = the quality of continuing to try
to achieve a particular aim
despite difficulties
131. c
132. a; Cellar = an underground room often used for
storing things
133. d; Lineage = t he series of f amilies that
somebody comes from originally
Concubine = a woman who lives with a man,
often in addition to his wife or
wives, but who is less important
than they are
134. b; Nepotism = giving unfair advantages to your
own family if you are in a position
of power , especially by giving
them jobs
135. c; Draught = a flow of cool air in a room or other
confined space
136. c; Atheism = the belief that God does not exist
Theism = the belief that God exists
Idolatry = the practice of worshipping stat-
ues as Gods
One Word Substitution
Iconoclasm = destruction of religious statues
or objects
137. b; Trivial = of very little importance; not worth
considering
Toxic = containing poison
Torpid = with no energy or enthusiasm; not
active
Tragic = making you feel very sad
138. b; Amnesia = a medical condition in which
someone completely or partly
loses one’s memory.
Panacea = something that will solve all
the problems of a particular
situation; something that can
cure any disease
Intelligentsia = the people in a countr y or
society who are well educated
and are interested in culture,
politics or literature
Parasol = a type of light umbrella that
women in the past carried to
protect themselves from the
sun; presently the same thing
is being used in its big form
on the beaches or out side
cafes to protect people from
hot sun
139. a; Misanthrope = a per son who hat es and
avoids other people
Misogynist = a man who hates women
Philanthropist = a rich person who helps the
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poor and t hose in need,
especially by giving money
Misogamist = one who hates marriages
140. b; Megalomania = a mental illness or condition
in which somebody has an
exaggerated belief in his own
importance or power
Dipsomania = dipso + mania
alcohol craving to the extent
of madness; a person who has
a strong desire for alcoholic
drink that he cannot control
Kleptomania = a mental illness in which
somebody has a strong desire
to steal things
Pyromania = a mental illness that causes
a strong desire to set fire to
things
141. d; Oligarchy = a form of government in which
only a small group of people hold
all the power
Aristocracy = people born in the highest social
class, who have special titles
Plutocracy = gover nment by the reachest
people of a country
142. c; Egoist = a person who thinks that he
or she is better than other
people and who thinks and
talks too much about himself
or herself
Somnambulist = sleepwalker
Altruist = a person who cares about the
needs and happiness of other
people more than your own
English Language and Comprehension 493
143. b; P u n = the clever or humorous use of a
word that has more than one
meaning, or of words that have
different meanings but sound
the same
Alliteration = the use of the same letter or
sound at the beginning of words
that are close together, as in
sing a song of sixpence
Epithet = an adjective or phrase that is
used t o descr ibe somebody/
something’s character or most
important quality, especially in
order to give praise or criticism
Oxymoron = a phrase t hat combines two
words that seem to be opposite
of each other, for example, a
deafening silence.
144. b; Optician = a person whose job is to
examine people’s eyes and
t o r ecommend and sell
glasses
Ophthalmologist = a doctor who studies and
treats the disease of the
eye
145. d; Dyke = a long thick wall that is built
to stop water flooding on to a
low area of land, especially
from the sea
Mo u n d = a large pile of earth or stones;
a small hill
Embankment = a wall of stone or earth made
to keep water back or carry a
r oad or r ailway over low
ground
146. b; Atheism = the belief that the god does not
exist
Pantheism = the belief that God is present in
all natural things; belief in many
or all gods.
Scepticism = an attitude of doubting that claims
or statements are true or that
something will happen
Animism = the belief that plants, objects and
natural things such as weather
have a living soul
147. a; Cacography = a mixture of loud unpleasant
sounds
Cartography = the art or process of drawing
or making maps
Caricature = a funny drawing or picture of
somebody that exaggerates some
of their features
148. c; Bereft of
something = completely lacking something;
having lost something
Complacent = too satisfied with yourself or
with a situation, so that you
do not feel that any change is
necessary
Dependant = a person, especially a child
who depends on another per-
son for a home, food, money
etc
Destitute = without money, food and other
things necessary for life
494 English Language and Comprehension
Omnipresent = present everywhere
149. c; Irrevocable = that cannot be changed; final
150. c; Quack = a person who dishonestly claims
t o have medical knowledge or
skills
Cannibal = a person who eats human flesh
Itinerant = tr av elling f rom place t o place,
especially to find work
151. b; Etymology = t he st udy of t he or igin and
hist or y of wor ds and t heir
meanings
Entomology = the scientific study of insects
152. b; Mi ser ly = a person who is always unhappy and
complaining
153. a; Verbatim = exactly as spoken or written
Verbose = using or containing more words
that are needed
Verbiage = the use of too many words, or of
mor e dif f icult words than ar e
needed, to express an idea
154. b; Impregnable = strong and impossible to defeat
or change; invincible
155. c; Transgress = to go beyond the limit of what is
morally or legally acceptale
156. a; Penology = t he scient if ic st udy of t he
punishment of criminals and the
operation of prisons
Ragamuffin = a person usually a child, who is
wearing old clothes that are torn
and dirty
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157. b; Repression = the act of using force to control a
group of people and restrict their
freedom
Reprisal = a violent or aggr essiv e act
towar ds somebody because of
something bad that they have
done towards you
Subjugate = to defeat somebody/something;
to gain control over somebody/
something
Vendetta = a long and violent disagreement
between two families or groups,
in which people are murdered
in return for previous murders
158. a; Salvo = the act of firing several guns or
dropping several bombs etc at the
same time
Jingoism = a st r ong belief t hat your own
country is best, especially when
this is expressed in support of war
with another country
159. d; F il l in g = the act of putting documents, letters,
etc into a file
Pinch = the amount of something that you can
hold between your finger and thumb
Stub = a short piece of a cigarette, pencil,
etc that is left when the rest of it
has been used
160. d; Goon = a cr iminal who is paid t o
frighten or injure people
Consort = the husband or wife of a ruler
Philanderer = a man who has sexual
r elat ionships wit h many
different woman
To make love
(somebody) = to have sex
One Word Substitution
161. a; Abstain = to stay away from something
Teetotaller = a per son who does not drink
alcohol
Drunkard = a per son who gets drunk very
often
162. b; Logistics = the practical organi-sation
that is needed to make a
complicated plan success-
ful when a lot of people and
equipment is involved.
Reconnaissance = the activity of getting in-
formation about an area for
military purposes, using
soldiers, planes etc.
Subversive = trying or likely to destroy
or damage a government or
political system by attract-
ing it secretly or indirectly.
Camouflage = a way of hiding soldiers
and military equipment,
using point, leaves or nets,
so that they look like part
of their surroundings.
163. d; Punctilious = very careful to behave correctly
or to perform your duties exactly
as you should.
Obtuse = slow or unwilling to
understand something.
Absurd = completely ridiculous
Abstruse = difficult to understand
164. a; Subtle = not very noticeable or obvious.
Nuance = a ver y slight dif f erence in
meaning, sound, colour or
somebody’s feelings that is not
usually very obvious
Indifference = a lack of interest, feeling or
reaction towards somebody/
something
Change-over = a change from one system, or
method of working to another
165. b; Sanatorium = place like a hospit al wher e
patients who hav e a lasting
illness or who are getting better
an illness are treated
Asylum = protection that a government
gives to people who have left
t heir own countr y, usually
because they were in danger
for political reasons
Refuge = shelt er or pr otect ion fr om
danger, trouble etc
166. d; Inconsolable = very sad and unable to accept
help or comfort.
Incredible = impossible or very difficult to
believe.
Incorrigible = having bad habits which
cannot be changed or
improved.
167. c; Dexterous = skilful with your hands; skilfully
done.
Fastidious = being careful that every detail of
something is correct
168. b
169. d; Alchemist = a person who studied alchemy
(= a mysterious power or magic
that can change things)
One Word Substitution
Numismatist = the study of coins and medals.
170. c; Anachronism = a person, a custom or an idea
that seems old-fashioned and
does not belong to the present.
Incongruous = strange, and not suitable in a
particular situation.
Archaic = old and no longer used; very
old-fashioned.
171. d; Chum = a friend
Peer = a person who is the same age or who
has the same social status as you.
172. b 184. d;
173. b; Chronic = lasting for a long time; having had
a disease for a long time
Temporal = connected with or limited by time
174. d; Neurotic = not behaving in a reasonable, calm
way, because you ar e wor r ied
about something
Nocturnal = active at night
175. c 185. b;
176. d; Deprecate = t o f eel and expr ess st rong
disapproval of something
177. d; Decipher = to succeed in finding the meaning
of something that is difficult to
read or understand.
Illegible = difficult or impossible to read.
178. c; Anthropoid = looking like a human.
Aquatic = growing or living in, on or near
water.
Aquarium = a large glass container in which
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fish and other water creatures
and plants are kept
179. c; Du pe = to trick or cheat somebody
Gu ll ib le = too willing to believe or accept what
other people tell you and therefore
easily tricked.
180. b; Claustrophobia = an extreme fear of being in
a small confined place
Hydrophobia = extr eme f ear of water ,
which happens with rabbies
infection in humans.
Insomnia = t he condit ion of being
unable to sleep.
Obsession = t he stat e in which a
person’s mind is completely
filled with thoughts of one
particular thing or person
in a way that is not normal.
181. a; Epilogue = a speech, etc at the end of a
play, book or film/movie that
comments on or act as a
conclusion t o what has
happened.
Bibliography = a list of books or articles about
a particular subject or by a
particular author.
Soliloquy = a speech in a play in which a
character, who is alone on the
stage, speaks his or her
thoughts; monologue.
182. b; Optimistic = expecting good t hings t o
happen or something to be
successful.
Incorrigible = having bad habits which
English Language and Comprehension 495
cannot be changed or
improved.
Indefatigable = never giving up or getting tired
of doing something.
Notorious = well known for being bad.
183. b; Philology = t he scient if ic st udy of t he
development of language or of a
particular language.
Virology = the scientific study of viruses and
the diseases caused by them.
Emissary = a per son who is sent t o
deliver an official message,
especially from one country
to another, or to perform a
special task.
Eavesdropper = a person who listens secretly
t o what other people ar e
saying.
Incite = to encourage somebody to do
something violent , illegal or
unpleasant especially by
making them angry or excited.
Monarchist = a person who believes that a
country should be ruled by a king
or queen.
Anarchist = a person who believes that laws
and gover nment s ar e not
necessary.
Autocrat = a ruler who has complete power.
186. a; Euphemism = an indirect word or phrase that
people oft en use t o refer to
somet hing embar r assing or
unpleasant, sometimes to make
it seem more acceptable than it
really is
Truism = a statement that is clearly true
and does not t her efor e add
anyt hing int er est ing or
important to a discussion.
Altruism = the fact of caring about the needs
and happiness of other people
more than your own.
187. a; Patricide = the crime of killing your father; a
person who is guilty of this.
Parricide = the crime of killing your father,
mother or a close relative; a person
who is guilty of this crime.
Matricide = the crime of killing your mother; a
person who is guilty of this crime.
Homicide = t he crime of killing somebody
deliberately.
188. b; Gregarious = (of animals) living in groups.
189. b; Boudoir = a woman’s small private room or
bedroom
Boulevard = a wide city street, often with trees
on either side.
Facade = the front of a building.
190. c; Profanity = behaviour that shows a lack of
respect for god or holy things.
Sedition = the use of words or actions that
are intended to encourage people
to oppose a government.
Sacrilege = an act of treating a holy thing or
496 English Language and Comprehension
place without respect.
Slander = a false spoken statement intended
to damage the good opinion people
have of somebody; the legal offence
of making this kind of statement.
191. a; Sly = suggesting that you know something
secret that other people do not know.
Lu stf ul = f eeling of showing st rong sexual
desire.
Leer = an unpleasant look or smile t hat
shows somebody is interested in a
person in an evil or sexual way.
Lore = knowledge and information related to
a particular subject, especially when
this is not written down.
Lark = a thing that you do for fun or as a
joke.
Littoral = the part of a country that is near the
coast.
192. c; Jocular = humorous; enjoying making people
laugh.
Anecdote = a short , interesting or amusing
story about a real person or event.
Wiles = clever tricks that somebody uses in
order to get what they want or to
make somebody behav e in a
particular way.
Yokel = if you call a person yokel, you are
saying that they do not have much
education or underst anding of
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modern life, because t hey come
from the countryside.
Wag = a person who enjoys making jokes.
Aeon = extr emely long per iod of t ime,
thousands of years.
193. b; Pensive = thinking deeply about something
especially because you are sad or
worr ied.
Pesky = annoying
Pu rlo in = steal something or use it without
permission.
194. b; Impudent = rude; not showing respect for
other people.
Impunity = if a person does something bad
with impunity, they do not get
punished for what they have
done.
Inexorable = t hat cannot be st opped or
changed; relentless
Imperturbable = not easily upset or worried by
a difficult situation; calm.
195. a; Hypochondria = a state in which somebody
wor ries all t he time about
their health and believes that
they are ill/sick when there
is nothing wrong with them.
Malaise = a general feeling of being ill/
sick, unhappy or not satisfied,
without signs of any particular
problem.
Disaffected = no longer satisfied wit h your
situation, organi-sation, belief
etc and therefore not loyal to it.
Malinger = t o pr et end t o be ill/sick
especially in or der to av oid
One Word Substitution
work.
196. a; Trumpet = a brass musical instrument made
of a curved metal tube that you
blow into, with three valves for
changing the note.
Fanfare = a short loud piece of music that is
played to celebr ate somebody/
something important arriving.
Symphony = a long complicated piece of music
for a large orchestra, in three or
four main parts.
197. d; Fastidious = being careful that every detail of
something is correct.
Drunkard = a per son who get s dr unk v er y
often.
Glutton = a person who enjoys doing difficult
or unpleasant tasks.
Epicure = who enjoys food and drink of high
quality and knows a lot about it.
198. a; Credulous = too ready to believe things and
therefore easy to trick.
Gu ll ib le = too willing to believe or accept
what ot her people t ell you and
therefore easily tricked.
199. d; Graft = a piece of skin, bone, etc removed from
a living body and placed in another
part of t he body which has been
damaged.
200. c; Usurper = a per son who takes somebody’s
posit ion and/or power wit hout
having the right to do this.
Usurer = a person who lends money to people
at unfairly high rates of interest.
201. d; Blasphemy = behav iour or language that
insult s or shows a lack of
respect for God or religions.
Perjury = the crime of telling a lie in court.
Iconoclasm = cr it icizing popular belief s or
established customs and ideas.
Heresy = a belief or an opinion that is
against t he principles of
particular religion.
202. d; Philanderer = a man who has sexual
r elat ionships wit h many
different women.
Philistine = a person who does not like or
understand art, literature, music
etc.
203. a; Nonpareil = a per son or t hing t hat is
bett er t han ot her s in a
particular area.
Ninco mpoop = a stupid person.
Niggardly = unwilling to be generous with
money, time, etc.
Non sequitur = a statement that does not seem
to follow what has just been said
in any natural or logical way.
204. c; Insurmountable = that cannot be dealt with
successfully.
Inimitable = too good or individual for
anyone else to copy with
the same effect.
Incorrigible = having bad habits which
cannot be changed or
One Word Substitution
improved.
Invincible = too strong to be defeated or
challenged.
205. b; Stellar = connected with the stars.
206. d; Remunerate = to pay somebody for work that
they have done.
207. b; Obsolete = no longer used because something
new has been invented.
208. a; Ex ploration = an examination of some-thing
in order to find out about it.
209. d
210. d; Implore = t o ask somebody t o do
something in the anxious
way because you want or
need it very much
Impressionist = a per son who enter t ains
people by copying the way a
f amous per son speaks or
behaves.
211. c; Breach = a br eak in a relationship
between people or countries; a
failure to do something that must
be done by law.
Bottleneck = anything that delays development
or pr ogr ess, par t icular ly in
business or industry.
Blockhead = a very stupid person.
212. d
213. b; Jibe = an unkind or insulting remark about
somebody.
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Gesture = a movement that you make with your
hands, your head or your face to show
a particular meaning.
214. b; Debacle = an event or a situation that is
a complete failure and causes
embarrassment.
Dereliction = the fact of deliberately not doing
what you should do, especially
when it is part of your job.
Deterrent = a thing that makes somebody
less likely to do something.
215. d; Martyr = a person who suffers very much
or is killed because of t heir
religious or political beliefs.
Gladiator = a man trained to fight other men
or animals in order to entertain the
public.
216. d; W a i f = a small thin person, usually a
child, who looks as if they do
not have enough to eat.
Posthumous = happening, done, published,
etc after a person has died.
217. b; Invoice = a list of goods that have been sold,
work what has been done et c
showing what you must pay.
218. b; Ambivalent = showing or hav ing bot h
good and bad feelings about
somebody/some-thing.
Ambidextrous = able to use the left hand or
the right hand equally well
219. d; Philanthropist = a r ich person who helps
the poor and those in need,
English Language and Comprehension 497
especially by giving money.
Ascetic = not allowing your self
physical pleasures,
especially f or r eligious
reasons; related to a simple
and strict way or living.
Misogynist = a man who hates women
220. d; Horticulture = t he study or pr actice of
growing flowers, fruit and
vegetables.
Miniature = very small; much smaller than
usual.
Genocide = the murder of a whole race
or group of people.
Nomenclature = a system of naming things,
especially in a branch of
science.
221. a; Wa lk wa y = a passage or path for walking
along, often outside and raised
above the ground.
Walkout = the act of suddenly leaving a
meet ing as a pr ot est against
something.
Walkabout = an occasion when an important
person walks among ordinary
people to meet and talk to them.
Walkover = an easy vict or y in a game or
competition.
222. d; Laxative = a medicine, food or drink that
makes somebody empty t heir
bowels easily.
Panacea = something that will solve all the
problems of a particular situation.
Antidote = a substance that controls the effects
of a poison or disease.
Purgative = a substance, especially a medicine,
that causes your bowels to empty.
223. c; Mercenary = a soldier who will fight for any
count ry or gr oup that of f er s
payment.
224. a; Corroborate = t o pr ovide ev idence or
informat ion that suppor ts a
statement, theory etc.
Implicate = t o show or suggest that
somet hing is the cause of
something bad.
Designate = to choose or name somebody for
to a particular job or position.
Extricate = to escape or enable somebody to
escape from a difficult situation.
225. c; Introspection = the careful examination of
your own thoughts, feelings
and reasons for behaving in
a particular way.
Introvert = a quiet person who is more
inter est ed in t heir own
thoughts and feelings than
in spending time with other
people.
226. c; Prejudiced = having an unreasonable dislike
of or preference for somebody/
something, especially based on
498 English Language and Comprehension
their race, religion, sex etc.
Bigot = a person who has very strong,
unreasonable beliefs or opinions
about race, religion or politics and
who will not listen to or accept
t he opinions of anyone who
disagrees.
Fanatic = a person who holds extreme or
dangerous opinions.
227. d; Ambiguous = not clearly stated or defined; that
can be understand in more than
one way; having different mean-
ings.
228. b; Dogmatic = being certain that your beliefs
are r ight and t hat ot her s
should accept them, without
paying attention to evidence
or other opinions.
Plaintive = sounding sad, especially in a
weak complaining way.
Opinionated = having very strong opinions that
you are not willing to change.
229. b
230. c; Despot = a ruler with great power, especially
one who uses it in a cruel way.
231. b; Outpost = a small town or group of buildings
in a lonely part of country.
Protocol = the first or original version of an
agreement , especially a t r eat y
K KUNDAN
between countries
232. c 233. d
234. a; Germicide = a substance which dest roys
bacteria etc.
235. b; Fauna = all the animals living in an area or
in a particular period of history.
Flora = the plants of a particular area, type of
environment or period of time.
236. c; Unanimous = if a decision or an opinion is
unanimous, it is agreed or
shared by everyone in a group.
Spontaneous = happening naturally, without
being made to happen.
237. b; Aversion = a str ong f eeling of not liking
somebody/something
Antipathy = a strong feeling of dislike.
Apathy = the feelings of not being interested
in or enthusiastic about anything.
Despair = the feeling of having lost all hope.
238. d; Cloakroom = a room in a public building
where people can leave coats,
bags, etc for a time.
Tannery = a place where animal skins are
tanned and made into leather.
Brewery = a factory where beer is made; a
company that makes beer.
239. c; Handiwork = a wor k t hat you do, or
something that you have made,
especially using your artistic
skill; a thing done by a
part icular per son or gr oup,
especially something bad.
240. b; Taxonomy = t he scientif ic pr ocess of
classifying things (= arranging
One Word Substitution
them into group)
Taxidermy = the art of stuffing dead animals,
bir ds and fish with a special
material so that they look like
living ones and can be
displayed.
241. c
242. d; Elope = to run away with somebody in
order to marry them secretly
243. b; To resort to = to make use of something,
especially something bad, as
a means of achiev ing
somet hing, of ten because
t her e is no ot her possible
solution.
Subterfuge = a secret, usually dishonest,
way of behaving.
Manoeuvre = a movement performed with
care and skill.
Stratagem = a trick or plan that you use to
gain an advantage or to trick
an opponent.
Complicity = t he act of taking part wit h
another person in a crime
244. b; Miraculous = like a mir acle; completely
unexpected and very lucky.
Ineffable = too great or beautiful to describe
in words.
Stupendous = extremely large or impressive,
especially greater or better than
you expect.
Appalli ng = shocking; extremely bad
245. b; Philistine = a person who does not like or
under stand ar t , lit er at ur e,
music, etc,
Iconoclast = a person who criticizes popular
beliefs or established customs
and ideas
Imposter = a per son who pretends to be
somebody else in order to trick
people.
Cannibal = a person who eats human flesh.
246. d; Internment = a student or new graduate who
is getting practical experience
in a job, for example during
the summer holiday/vacation.
Interment = the act of burying a dead person.
247. c; Genealogy = the study of family history,
including the study of who
the ancestors of a particular
person were
Epistemology = the part of philosophy that
deals with knowledge.
Ethnology = t he scientif ic st udy and
comparison of human races.
248. c; Compositor = a person who arranges text on
a page before printing.
Stoker = a person whose job is to add coal
or ot her fuel t o a f ire, et c,
especially on a ship or st r eam
train.
Stowaway = a person who hides in a ship or
plane before it leaves, in order to
travel without paying or being
One Word Substitution
seen.
249. a
250. a W in d f al l = an amount of money that
somebody/something wins or
receives unexpectedly.
Philanthropy = the practice of helping the poor
and those in need, especially
by giving money.
Benevolent = kind, helpful and generous.
Turnstile = a gate at t he entrance t o a
public building, stadium etc
that turns in a circle when
pushed, allowing one person
to go through at a time.
251. c; Emolument = money paid to somebody for
work they have done especially
to somebody who earns a lot of
money.
Honorarium = a payment made for somebody’s
professional services.
Sinecure = a job that you are paid for even
through it involves little or no
work.
Perquisite = something to which somebody
has a special right because of
their social position.
Prerogative = a right or advantage belonging
to a particular person or group
because of their importance or
social position.
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252. d informat ion about anot her
253. d; Insolvent = not having enough money to pay
what you owe; bankrupt
254. c; Roundabout = not done or said using the
shortest, simplest or most
direct way possible.
Loquacious = talking a lot
Circumlocution = using more words that are
necessary instead of speak-
ing or writing in a clear,
direct way.
255. c; Courtship = the time when two people have
a romantic relationship before
they get married; the process or
act of at tr acting a business
partner, etc.
Subpoena = a written order to attend court as
a witness to give evidence.
256. d; Facsimile = an exact copy of something.
Pseudonym = a name used by somebody,
especially a writer, instead of
their real name.
Alias = used when a person, especially
a criminal or an actor, is known
by two names.
257. d; Homicide = the crime of killing somebody
deliberately.
Infanticide = a person who is guilty of killing
a body.
Patricide = a person who kills his father.
Fratricide = a person who kills his brother
or sister.
258. c; Paraphernalia = a large number of objects or
personal possessions especi-
English Language and Comprehension 499
ally the equipment that you
need for a particular activity.
259. a; Epitaph = wor ds that ar e wr itten or said
about a dead person, especially
words on a gravestone
Crypt = a room under the floor of a Church,
used especially in the past as a
place for burying people.
Obituary = an article about somebody’s life and
achievements, that is printed in a
newspaper soon after t hey have
died.
Legacy = money or property that is given to
you by somebody when they die.
260. d; Patrimony = propert y that is giv en t o
somebody when t heir father
dies.
Antimony = a chemical element.
Parsimony = t he f act of being ext r emely
unwilling to spend money.
Alimony = the money that a court orders
somebody to pay regularly to their
former wife or husband when
the marriage is ended.
261. b; Esplanade = a level area of open ground
in a town for people to walk
along, often by the sea or a
river.
Espionage = the activity of secretly getting
important political or military
count ry or of f inding out
another company’s secrets by
using spies
Espadrille = a light shoe made of strong
cloth with a sole made of rope
Estrangement = the state of being estranged
Estranged = no longer living wit h your
husband or wife
262. a; Jurisprudence = the scientific study of law
263. d; Metronome = a device that makes a regular
sound like a clock and is used
by musicians to help them keep
the correct rhythm when playing
a piece of music
Pedometer = an instrument for measuring
how far you have walked
264. d; Pacifist = a person who believes in pacifism
and who refuses to fight in a war
Pacifism = the belief that war and violence are
always wrong
265. b 266. b
267. d; Homonym = a word that is spelt like another
word (or pronounced like it) but
which has a different meaning
for example, ‘can’ meaning ‘be
able’ and ‘can’ meaning ‘put
something in a container’.
Pseudonym = a name used by somebody,
especially a writer, instead of
their real name
268. a; Summon = to order somebody to appear
in court
Memorandum = a record of a legal agreement
which has not yet been
500 English Language and Comprehension
formally prepared and signed
Petition = a written document signed by
a large number of people that
asks somebody in a position
of authority to do or change
something
269. a; Amputate = to cut off somebody’s arm, leg,
finger or toe in a medical operation
Mutilate = to damage somebody’s body very
severely, especially by cutting or
tearing off part of it
Mitigate = to make something less harmful,
serious, etc
270. c; Fatalist = a person who believes that events
are decided by f ate and that you
cannot control them
Lunatic = a person who does crazy things that
are often dangerous
Fanatic = a per son who is ext r emely
enthusiastic about something
Stoic = a person who is able to suffer pain
or trouble without complaining or
showing what they are feelin
271. b 272. b 273. b
274. a Zenith = the highest point that the sun or moon
reaches in the sky, directly above you
Zeal = great energy or enthusiasm connected
with something that you feel strongly
about
275. b; Soliloquy = a speech in a play in which a
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character, who is alone on the
stage, speaks his or her thoughts
Extempore = spoken or done wit hout any
previous thought or preparation
Rhetoric = speech or wr iting t hat is
intended to influence people, but
that is not completely honest or
sincer e; t he skill of using
language in speech or writing
in a special way that influences
or entertains people
276. c; Hypocrite = a person who pretends to have
moral standards or opinions
that they do not actually have
Counterfeiter = a per son who counter f eit s
money or goods
Counterfeit = t o make an exact copy of
something in order to trick
people into thinking that it is
the real thing
277. b 278. b
279. b; Connoisseur = an exper t on mat t er s
involving the judgement of
beauty, quality or skill in art,
food or music
280. d; Rebellion = opposition to authority; an attempt
by some of the people in a country
to change their government, using
violence
Mu t i n y = t he act of r ef using t o obey the
orders of somebody in authority,
especially by soldiers or sailors
Anarchy = a sit uat ion in a countr y, an
organisation, etc in which there
is no government, order or control
One Word Substitution
281. d 282. a
283. a; Contagious = a contagious disease spreads by
people touching each other
Infectious = an infectious disease can be
passed easily from one person to
another, especially through the
air they breathe
Epidemic = a lar ge number of cases of a
particular disease happening at
the same time in a particular
community
Endemic = regularly found in a particular
place or among a particular group
of people and difficult to get rid
of
284. d; Anthropology = the study of the human race,
especially of it s or igins,
dev elopment , cust oms and
beliefs
Ethnology = t he scientif ic st udy and
comparison of human races
Archaeology = the study of cultures of the
past, and of periods of history
by examining the remains of
buildings and objects found in
the ground
285. a; Fable = a traditional short story that teaches
a moral lesson, especially one with
animals as characters
Tele = a st ory creat ed using t he
imagination, especially one that is
full of action and adventure
Anecdote = a short , interesting or amusing
story about a real person or event
Parable = a short story that teaches a moral
or spiritual lesson, especially one
of those told by Jesus as recorded
in Bible
286. c; Vulnerable = weak and easily hurt physically
or emotionally
Brittle = hard but easily broken
Delicate = easily damaged or broken
287. d; Coir = rough material made from the shells
of coconuts, used for making ropes,
for covering floors
Quorum = the smallest number of people who
must be at a meeting before it can
begin or decisions can be made
Quire = four sheets of paper folded to make
eight leaves
Choir = a group of people who sing together,
for example in church services or
public performances
288. a
289. a; Histrionic = histrionic behav iour is ver y
emot ional and is intended t o
attract attention in a way that
does not seem sincere
The Hippo-
cratic oath = the promise that doctors make to
keep to t he principles of t he
medical profession
Hirsute = having a lot of hair on the face
or body
Hoary = very old and well known and
therefore no longer interesting
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 501

290. c; Metaphor = a word or phrase used to describe
somebody/something else, in a
way that is dif ferent f rom its
normal use in order to show that
the two things have the same
qualities and t o make t he
description more powerful
Simile = a word or phrase that compares
somet hing to somet hing else
using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’, for
example, a face like a mask or as
white as snow.
Personify = to be an example of a quality or
characteristic, or to have a lot of
it
Alliteration = the use of the same lett er or
sound at the beginning of words
that are close together, as in sing
a song of sixpence.
291. a; Retrench = to spend less money; to reduce costs
292. b; Max im = a well-known phr ase t hat
expr esses somet hing t hat is
usually true or that people think
is a rule for sensible behaviour
Neologism = a new word or expression or a
new meaning of a word
Platonism = the idea of the ancient Greek
philosopher Plato and those who
followed him
293. b; Portico = a roof t hat is suppor t ed by
sof t and wet because t her e is
nowher e for t he wat er t o f low
away to
Hinterland = the areas of a country that are
away from the coast, from the
banks of a large river or from the
main cities
Isthmus = a narrow strip of land, with water
on each side, that joins two larger
pieces of land
301. a; Testimonial = a formal written statement,
often by a former employer,
about somebody’s abilit ies,
qualities and character
Memorandum = a record of a legal agreement
which has not yet been
formally prepared and signed
302. c; Inf allible = nev er wr ong; nev er making
mistakes
Hypocrite = a person who pr et ends t o have
moral standards or opinions that
they do not actually have
303. c; Regicide = a person who is guilty of killing a
king or queen
304. a; Coercion = the action of making somebody do
something that they do not want
to do, using force or threatening
to use force
Conviction = a strong opinion or belief
Confession = a statement that a person makes,
admitting that they are guilty of a

K KUNDAN
columns, especially one that forms crime
the entrance to a large building Cajole = to make somebody do something
Mezzanine = a floor that is built between two by talking to them and being very
floors of a building and is smaller nice to them
than the other floors 305. b 306. b 307. c 308. b
294. a; Immigrant = a person who has come to live 309. c; Metamorphosis = a pr ocess in which
permanently in a country that is somebody/someth ing
not their own changes complet ely into
Emigrant = a person who leaves their country something different
to live in together Flux = continuous movement and
Alien = from another country or society change; a flow; an act of
295. c; W i l f u l = done deliberately, although the f lowing
person doing it knows that it is 310. a; Circumlocution = using more words than are
wrong; not car ing about what necessar y, inst ead of
other people want; determined to speaking or writing in a
do what you want clear direct way
296. d Circumspect = t hinking v er y car ef ully
297. a; Punter = a person who gambles on the result about something befor e
of a horse race doing it, because there may
Backer = a per son or company t hat giv es be risks involved
suppor t t o somebody/somet hing, Circumscribe = to limit somebody
especially financial support somet hing’s f reedom,
298. b rights, power, etc
299. a; Foundling = a baby who has been left by its Circumvent = to find a way of avoiding a
parent s and who is found and difficulty or a rule
taken care of by somebody else 311. c; Edifice = a large impressive building
Sibling = a brother or sister Spire = a tall pointed structure on the top of
Urchin = a young child who is poor and a building, especially a church
dirty, often one who has no home Rotunda = a round building or hall, especially
Orphan = a child whose parents are dead one with a curved roof (= a dome)
300. c; Sw am p = an area of ground that is very wet 312. b; Bohemian = a person, often somebody
or cover ed with wat er and in who is involved with the
which plant s, t r ees, et c ar e arts, who lives in a very
gr owing inf or mal way wit hout
Mar sh = an area of low land that is always following accepted rules of
502 English Language and Comprehension
behaviour
Cosmopolitan = a per son who has
exper ience of many
different parts of the world
Philanthropist = a rich person who helps
the poor and those in need,
especially by giving money
Internationalist = a person who believes that
count ries should wor k
together in a friendly way
313. b; Adherence
to something = t o behav e accor ding t o a
part icular law, r ule, set of
instructions, etc; to follow a
particular set of beliefs or a
fixed way of doing something
Pedant = a person who is too concerned
with small det ails or rules
especially when learning or
teaching
Pedagogue = a teacher; a person who likes
t o t each people t hings,
especially because they think
they know more than other
people
314. a; Stoicism = t he f act of not complet ing or
showing what you ar e feeling
when you are suffering
Despair = the feeling of having lost all hope
315. a; Polyandry = the custom of having more than
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one husband at the same time
Polygamy = the custom of having more than
one wife at the same time
Bigamy = the crime of marrying somebody
when you are still legally
married to somebody else
Debauchery = immor al behav iour inv olving
sex, alcohol or drugs
316. c; Hallucination = the fact of seeming to see or
hear somebody/somet hing
t hat is not r eally t her e,
especially because of illness
or drugs
317. d; Lousy = very bad; awful; terrible
Jocularly = humorous; enjoying making people
laugh
Zealous = showing great energy and
ent husiasm f or somet hing,
especially because you feel strongly
about it
318. d; Etiquette = the formal rules of correct or polite
behav iour in societ y or among
member of a particular profession
Precedence = t he condit ion of being mor e
important than somebody else and
theref ore coming or being dealt
with first
Protocol = a system of fixed rules and formal
behaviour used at official meetings,
usually between governments
319. d; Renounce = to state officially that you are no
longer going to keep a t itle,
position, etc
Abdicate = to give up the position of being king
or queen; to f ail or r ef use t o
perform a duty
One Word Substitution
320. d; Entreaty = a ser ious and often emot ional
request
Inexorable = t hat cannot be st opped or
changed; relentless
Despot = with great power, especially one
who used it in a cruel way
321. d; Spectre = something unpleasant that people
ar e afraid might happen in t he
future
322. d
323. c; Espionage = the activity of secr etly get ting
import ant political or military
inf or mat ion about another
country or of finding out another
company’s secrets by using spies
Epitaph = words that are written or said
about a dead person especially
words on a gravestone
Epilogue = a speech, etc at the end of a play,
book, or film/mov ie t hat
comment s on or acts as a
conclusion to what has happened
Elegy = a poem or song that expresses
sadness, especially for somebody
who has died
324. b; Conscience = the part of your mind that tells
you whether your actions are right
or wrong
325. a; Parole = per mission t hat is given to a
prisoner to leave prison before the
end of their sentence on condition
that they behave well
Parley = a discussion between enemies or
people who disagree, in order to
try and find a way of solving a
problem
Acquittal = an official decision in court that a
person is not guilty of a crime
326. b; Ambrosia = the food of the gods; something that
is very pleasant to it
Amnesia = a medical condit ion in which
somebody partly or completely loses
their memory
Insomnia = the condition of being unable to
sleep
327. a; Flounder = to struggle to know what to say or
do or how to cont inue wit h
something
Fumble = to use your hands in an awkward
way when you are doing something
or looking for something
328. a; Calligraphy = beautiful handwriting that you do
with a special pen or brush
Collier = a ship that car ries coal; coal
miner
329. c; Canine = connected with dogs; one of the
four pointed teeth in the front of
a human’s or animal’s mouth
Feline = connected with an animal of the
cat family
Bovine = connected with cows
Verminous = covered with vermin
Vermin = wild animals or birds that
destroy plants or food, or attack
farm animals and birds
One Word Substitution English Language and Comprehension 503

330. c; Gl ow er = t o look in an angr y Blasphemy = behav iour or language that

aggressive way insults or shows a lack or respect
Gnaw = to keep biting something for God or religion
or chewing it har d, so 335. d; Etymology = t he st udy of t he or igin and
t hat it gradually hist or y of wor ds and t heir
disappears meanings
Gnash your teeth = t o f eel v ery angr y and Entomology = the scientific study of insects
upset about something, 336. b; Lapidary = (especially of writt en language)
especially because you elegant and exact; concise
cannot get what you want 337. a; Biopsy = the removal and examination of
Grind = to br eak or crush tissue from the body of somebody
something into very small who is ill/sick, in order to find
pieces between two hard out more about their disease
surf aces or using a Autopsy = an official examination of a dead
special machine body by a doctor in order to discover
331. c; Trustee = a member of a group of people the cause of death
t hat cont r ols t he f inancial Amputate = to cut off somebody’s arm, finger or
aff airs of a char it y or other toe in a medical operation
organisation 338. d; Velodrome = a track or building used for cycle
Sinecure = A job that you are paid for even racing
though it involves little or no Tempo = the speed of any movement or
wor k activity
Ombudsman = an of f icial whose job is t o 339. c; Coffer = a way of referring to the money that
examine and r epor t on a government, an organisation, etc
complaints made by ordinary has available to spend
people about companies, the Scullery = a small room next to the kitchen in
government or public authorities an old house, originally used for
332. b washing dishes
333. a; Insolvent = not having enough money to pay 340. a; Plagiarism = the art of plagiarizing something
what you owe Plagiarize = to copy another person’s ideas,
Destitute = without money, food and the other words or work and pretend that

K KUNDAN
things necessary for life they are your own
Pauper = a very poor person Pilf er = to steal things of little value or in
334. d; Impious = showing a lack of respect for God small quantities, especially from
and religion the place where you work