1?

f ~ t ~ e ~Recognizing the need for secondary school students to be armed with strongvocabulary skills, Secondary 2 Challenging English Vocabulary is designedespecially for those in Secondary two (Express and Normal) who wish to buildon their knowledge of new words.

Deliberately set at a standard higher than the secondary two level, the objectiveof this book is to allow the learner to master higher level of vocabulary so thathe is able to apply the new impressionable words during examinations to makehis mark.

With a total of 320 tests categorized into 9 different parts, this book provides morethan sufficient practices for the vocabulary learner, by focusing on. a specific typeof vocabulary usage in each section. This allows the learner to have a sharpenedsense of the different types of vocabulary usage, and at the same time developsan extensive collection of new words.

Different skills can be picked up in the various sections of this book. Under 'ConfusingWords', the learner is able to acquire a more discerning mind by picking out themost appropriate word among similar words in a sentence usage. Under 'Synonymsand Antonyms', one can build on the knowledge of pairs of words with same andopposite meanings. 'Challenging Idioms', 'Similes' and 'Figures of Speech' focuson the figurative use of the English language. This form of knowledge is especiallyuseful when the student wants to find an imaginative way of expressing the worldaround them.

Conscientious attempts are made to facilitate vocabulary learning for the student.Lists of difficult words and their corresponding meanings are presented in the formof 'VocaBank' under 'Multiple Choice Questions' and 'Confusing Words'. This pro-vides an ease of reference for the learner who wishes to check on new or bafflingwords.

Therefore learning new words is no longer an insurmountable task, but an excitingand stimulating experience, with dedicated guidance along the way.

Cheong Wai PengEditor

rrfY/l/t&/l/t~

10 Questions per test 100Tests 5 - 104

'15Questions per test 40 Tests 105 - 144

15 Questions per test 30 Tests 145- 174

15 Questions per test 30 Tests 175- 204

15 Questions per test 30 Tests ~ 205 - 234

15 Questions per test 30Tests c, 235 - 264

14 Questions per test 15Tests 265 - 279

10 Questions per test 30 Tests 280 - 309

18 Questions per test 15Tests 310 - 324

320 Tests

Part 1 Multiple Choice Questions

Part 2 Confusing Words

Part 3 Mastering Tough Vocabulary

Part 4 Synonyms & Antonyms

Part 5 Phrasal Verbs

Part 6 Challenging Idioms

Part 7 Proverbs

Part 8 Figures of Speech

Part 9 Similes

..Mu[tiple ChoiceQuestions

TEST 1PART 1

Choose the most suitable answer and write its number in the blank provided.

1. One of the ways to - our general knowledgeis to read widely.(1) encounter (2) enlighten (3) enforce (4) enrich

'~ag~acc1imatise - accustom to anew climate.

akimbo - (of the arms) withhands on the hips and elbows

2. Vandalism is a crime that is - by law. Those who defy can be fined or turnedoutwardscaned or both. amnesia- a partialor total(1)penetrable (2) punishable (3)pardonable (4)preventable loss of memory.

compromise - the settlementof a dispute by mutual con-

3. The doting mother was willing to - herself in court to protect her only cession

child. condone- forgive.(1) conjure (2) injure (3)perjure (4) squander conjure-cause to appearas

if by magic.

4. Julie willnotcompleteher historyassignmenton timeifshe keeps -'She has postponed doing it for the umpteenth time.

(1) penetrating (2) ventilating (3) stimulating (4)procrastinating

5. The principal looked intimidating as she stared, with - akimbo, at thelate-comers.

(1) arms (2) eyes (3) hands (4) legs

6. In Dubai, veiled women who are - in billowing black robes are oftenseen shopping in designer boutiques.(1) swashed (2) swarmed (3) swathed (4) swatted

7. After ten - hours in the freezing cold, the mountaineers finally reachedthe summit. '

(1) grilling (2) gruelling (3) endearing (4) exhilarating

8. In times of crisis and sorrow, religion can be an - for the masses.(1) answer (2) example (3) epicure (4) opiate

contrive - plan or make re-

sourcefully or with skill.

deplete - reduce in numbers.

dote - excessively fond of

endearing - inspiring affec-tion.

epicure - a person with re-fined tastes, esp. in food anddrink.

epilepsy - neurological dis-order:marked by episodes ofsensory disturbance.

exhilarate - affect with greatliveliness or joy.

frostbite - injury to body tis-sues, due to freezing.

gangrene - death and decom-position of a part of the bodytissue.

gruelling - extremely de-manding, severe, or tiring.

opiate - a thing whichsoothes.

9. They trekked up and down the lower slopes of Everest to - their bod- perjure - wilfully tell an un-

ies to the condition at an higher altitude. truth when on oath.. .. plummet-fall or plungerap-

(1) acclImatIze (2) exercIse (3) enable (4) operate idly.

10. The wind on the mountain was howling and the temperature was -'

(1) soaring (2) plummeting (3) exhausting (4) depleting

11. As he lay buried in the snow, the lone trekker was in danger of suffering-; perhaps even death.(1) amnesia (2) epilepsy (3) gangrene (4) frostbite

12, My parents would not - my staying out after 8 pm.(1) contrive (2) consider (3) compromise (4) condone

([) n (p)ll (c:) 01 ([)6 (1')8

(,f'ec~ cba[[enging Englisb vocabu{ar~

(c:) L ([)9 ([) 'S; (pJp (f}r

procrastinate - defer action

squander - spend (money,time, etc.) wastefully.

swash - make the sound ofwashing.

swat - hit hard and abruptly.

swath - a space left clear afterthe passage ofa mower etc.

umpteen - indefinitely many,a lot of

veil - a piece of usu. more orless transparent fabric attachedto a woman's hat etc

(c:)Z- (pi-T- ::SJ.J~!:UV-I

~5

PART 1 : Multiple Choice Questions

TEST 2Choose the most suitable answer and write its number in the blank provided. ct; a g~1. "What a terribly - child! Honestly, I have yet to meet another as affable- friendly.

annoying!" declared Mrs Renegrade exasperatedly. amiable..likeable(1) amicable (2) puzzling (3) vexatious (4) confusing amicable-showing or done

in a friendly spirit.

anaesthetic - produces insen-sibility to pain.

autopsy -a personal inspec-tion.

biopsy - to discover the pres-ence or cause of a disease.

daunt - discourage.

dermatology - the treatment4, Despite many failures, Jim remained - and continued his mission to ofskin disorders,

save the birds from poachers, despotic-a tyrant or oppres-

(1) unpretentious (2) unaffected (3) unbeatable (4) undaunted sor.exasperate - irritate intensely.

explicate - make clear,

expedite - hasten an action,

extricate - tree or disentanglefrom a constraint or difficulty,

inculcate ~ urge or impress(a fact or idea) persistently

malady -II disease.

melodious,- sweet-sounding.

moorland - a tract of openuncultivated upland.

poach - catch illegally

pragmatic - dealing withmatters with regard to theirpractical requirements,

precocious - (of a plant) flow-ering or fruiting early,

raucous - harsh-sounding,

resurgent - tending to rise

again,

revelry - have a goodtime,reverie - a delusion,

2. The ugly bird made a - 'whoo- whoo' as it flew above our heads.(1) raucous (2) superfluous (3)precocious (4) melodious

3. The vet took the injured bird, - anaesthetic and stitched its wounds.(1) injected (2) issued (3) administered (4) altered

5. My late grandmother, who had lived in a small village in India, had suffereda strange - during her lifetime for which no known cure was available.(1) melody (2) malady (3) trauma (4) villainy

6. The next day, the virus - through cyberspace, crashing several sys-tems all at once.

(1) splashed (2) rampaged (3) shuttled (4) resurgent

7. The dermatologist did a/an - for Una to determine the type of skindisease she had.

(1) autopsy (2) dialysis (3) biopsy (4) ultrasound'

8. I walked in a quiet - through the complete stillness of the moorlands,(1) reversal (2) revile (3) reverie (4) revelry

9. A disorganized person will usually end up - half of his time looking forlost items.

(1) accumulating (2) expediting (3) managing (4) squandering

10, To get some exercise regularly, - some exercise activity into yourdaily routine.(1) inculcate (2) include (3) extricate (4) explicate

11. The - discipline master struck terror in the hearts of the students.(1) affable (2) amiable (3)pragmatic (4) despotic

revile - criticize abusively,

squander - spend (money.time, etc,) wastefully

superfluous - more thanenough, redundant, needless,

trauma - any physical woundor injury.

veterinary -treatment for farmand domestic animals,

D. .

t t.

I.11 t II I

. t t'

f Ivexatious.. such as to cause

12. unng emergency Sl ua Ions, peop e WI na ura y eap In 0 ac Ions, 0 - an distressing thing

lowing their - instead of contemplating. villainy - a wicked act.

(1) influences (2) conscience (3) instincts (4) decisions

[ ([) n- (F) 'n (z) '01 (F) '6 ([) '8

«)fec,~ challengingEnglish vocabular~

([) '[ ([)'f([)L (z) '9 (z) .~ (F) 'F ([) 'z ..:SJ<lMSUO

~6

PART 1 ..Multiple Choice Questions

TEST 3Choose the most suitable answer and write its number in the blank provided.

1, The passengerwas travelling under an - name with a fake passport.(1) alien (2) imaginary (3) endorsed (4) assumed

~caE~abridgement - an abstract.

acute - (of a disease) comingsharply to a crisis,

. . . alien- notinaccordance.2, Freedom from such prisons can be bought, owing to the corruption.

th t - amplify-enlargeuponoraddIn e sys em. detailto,

(1) endemic (2) epidemic (3) epic (4) endowed auspicious - of good omen.

blaze - a bright !lame or fire,

3. When the leader was found dead under - circumstances, an intensive catastrophic-agreatandusu.investigation was mounted, suddendisaster,

(1) auspicious (2) suspicious (3) precocious (4) malicious concoct - invent (a story, ahe, etc,)

endemic - regularly.4. The fraudsters wore tailored suits and diamond-studded Rolex

d'

t- en ow - gIve a permanenwatches. incometoa personetc.

(1) immaculately (2) imperfectly (3) imminently (4) immensely epic- grand, heroic.

epidemic -a widespread oc-currence of a disease.

errant -deviating from anac-cepted standard.

escapism - to seek distrac-tion and relief from reality.

exemplify - illustrateby ex-ar6ple

exhilarate - affect with greatliveliness or joy.

fetish -a thing abnormallystimulating.

immaculate - pure, spotless,

immensely - very much (en-joyed myself immensely).

imminently - about to hap-

pen.

induce - prevail on; persuade.

induct - introduce formallyinto office.

invigorate - give vigour or

strength to.

irk - irritate, annoy,10. Emotionalstress and catastrophic life eventsarewell-known- of acute ,. . . d d dh rt tt k ma ICIOUS - mtene to 0

ea a ac s. harm.

(1) indicators (2) inductors (3) instigators (4) inducers nauseate - feel sick

5, After hiking along it for a while, the track narrowed and gradually - out.(1) filtered (2) dissolved (3) petered (4) swerved

6, A dozen - raced through the rescuers' minds when no trace of themissing mother and child could be found.(1) ideas (2) scenarios (3) solutions (4) suggestions

7, Upon reaching the summit, Norma felt lightheaded and -'

(1)energized (2) invigorated (3) nauseated (4) exhilarated

8. Itwas the blazen - of facts in the murder case that irked the judge andmotviated him to penalize the errant lawyers.(1) distortion (2) observation (3) replenishing (4) frustration

9. The rear flippers of the seals were - for identification before they werereturned to the sea.

(1) branded (2) stitched (3) tagged (4) tattooed

peter - diminish, come to an

11. Stress is difficult to - though it is a contributing factor to heart attacks. end,(1) qualify (2) quantify (3) exemplify (4) amplify precocious- prematurelyde-

veloped m some faculty.

quantify - determine the

quantity of.12. Music was a form of - for the young man who would turn to it when-ever he needed to relax his troubled mind.

(1) escapism (2) fetish (3) concoction (4) abridgement

0) n (r:) 'f[ (fr) 'Of ([) '6 ([) '8

(L'>f'eC.~ chaUel1lJi11fJEne{isb vocabular;9

(r:) '[ ([) 'r: (fr) 'f :SJdMSUV ]([) 'L (r:) '9 ([) '~ ([) 'fr

~7