Answer: Memories of objects collected because of their links with people or events

Meaning: Objects kept or collected because they are associated with a famous person, place, event, or a special memory.

Synonyms: Keepsakes, Souvenirs, Mementos, Collectibles

Exam Tip: Memorabilia refers to physical objects, not memories themselves. This distinction is a common exam trap.

Answer: Unbelievable or unreasonable

Meaning: Completely absurd, ridiculous, or impossible to believe.

Synonyms: Absurd, Ridiculous, Ludicrous, Outrageous

Exam Tip: Preposterous describes something that is so unreasonable or absurd that it is difficult to believe, not merely something that is unacceptable or debatable.

Answer: A state of pain, distress or grief

Meaning: A condition of suffering, pain, hardship, or great distress.

Synonyms: Suffering, Misery, Distress, Hardship

Exam Tip: Affliction refers to suffering or distress in general, whether physical, mental, or emotional. It is not limited to a disease.

Answer: Represent something as being less important than it really is

Meaning: To deliberately make something seem less important, serious, or significant than it actually is.

Synonyms: Downplay, Minimize, Belittle, Understate

Exam Tip: Underplay is the opposite of overstate or exaggerate. It commonly means to downplay or minimize the importance of something.

Answer: (A) web log

Meaning: Blog is short for “web log”, an online journal or website where articles or posts are published regularly.

Synonyms: Online journal, Web diary, Online publication, Web journal

Exam Tip: The word “blog” is a contraction of “web log”. It does not stand for web blog, web blogger, or web blogging.

Answer: (C) fit

Answer: (B) Additional

Meaning: Something that is added to another thing but is not an essential part of it; a supplementary addition.

Synonyms: Additional, Supplementary, Accessory, Auxiliary

Exam Tip: Adjunct refers to something added as a supplement or complement. Do not confuse it with admonish (to scold), amorphous (without a definite shape), or ambiguous (having more than one possible meaning).

Answer: (A) An astrologer

Meaning: A person who is believed to have the ability to perceive events or information beyond normal human senses, especially to foresee the future.

Synonyms: Seer, Psychic, Fortune-teller, Soothsayer

Exam Tip: A clairvoyant is associated with supernatural or extrasensory perception, not with scientific fields like astronomy or astrophysics.

Answer: (B) Indirect

Meaning: Experienced or felt through the actions or experiences of another person rather than by oneself.

Synonyms: Indirect, Second-hand, Surrogate, Substitute

Exam Tip: Vicarious commonly appears in the phrase “vicarious pleasure/experience,” meaning enjoying or experiencing something through another person. Do not confuse it with vituperative, which means abusive or harsh in speech.

Answer: (C) contain

Answer: (D) ebullient

Meaning: Cheerful, energetic, and full of enthusiasm or excitement.

Synonyms: Exuberant, Buoyant, Cheerful, Vivacious

Exam Tip: Ebullient best fits both a lively personality and a joyful, festive atmosphere. Do not confuse it with excitable, which describes someone who becomes easily excited rather than someone who is naturally cheerful and energetic.

Answer: B. Secret

Meaning: Hidden, concealed, or not openly acknowledged.

Synonyms: Secret, Concealed, Hidden, Clandestine

Exam Tip: Covert refers to something done secretly or kept hidden from public view. Do not confuse it with overt, which means open or obvious—the two are opposites.

Answer: A. Humanitarian

Answer: C. Cruelty

Meaning: An extremely cruel, violent, or brutal act.

Synonyms: Cruelty, Brutality, Barbarity, Savagery

Exam Tip: Atrocity refers to an exceptionally cruel or inhuman act, not merely unkind behavior. It is commonly used in the context of war crimes, violence, or serious human rights abuses.

Answer: (A) change

Meaning: A change in circumstances or fortune, especially one that is unexpected or unpleasant.

Synonyms: Change, Fluctuation, Variation, Ups and downs

Exam Tip: Vicissitude is most often used in the phrase “the vicissitudes of life,” referring to the unexpected changes and hardships that occur over time.

Answer: (D) haughty

Meaning: Behaving or looking as though one is superior to others; arrogantly proud.

Synonyms: Haughty, Arrogant, Proud, Condescending

Exam Tip: Supercilious describes a person who looks down on others with contempt or arrogance. Do not confuse it with officious, which means excessively eager to interfere or give unwanted advice.

Answer: (A) self-important

Meaning: Excessively eager to offer unwanted help or advice, often in a self-important or interfering manner.

Synonyms: Self-important, Interfering, Meddlesome, Intrusive

Exam Tip: Officious does not mean official. It describes someone who interferes unnecessarily while acting as though they have authority.

Answer: (B) Calmness

Answer: (A) Ardent

Meaning: Filled with strong emotion, enthusiasm, or intense passion.

Synonyms: Ardent, Passionate, Fervent, Zealous

Answer: (A) Culminating

Meaning: Relating to the most important, exciting, or decisive point of something; reaching a climax.

Synonyms: Culminating, Decisive, Peak, Pivotal

Exam Tip: Climactic is related to “climax” (the highest or most intense point), whereas climatic relates to climate or weather. This spelling difference is a common exam trap.

Answer: (C) comparable

Meaning: Similar in certain respects or corresponding to something else.

Synonyms: Comparable, Similar, Corresponding, Parallel

Exam Tip: Analogous means similar but not necessarily identical. It is often used to compare two different things that share important characteristics or functions.

Correct Answer: (C) Troubled

Meaning: Beleaguered means troubled, under constant pressure, or surrounded by difficulties or problems.

Example: The beleaguered company struggled to recover from financial losses.

Exam Tip: Beleaguered is commonly used in newspapers to describe a person, organization, or government facing persistent problems, criticism, or attacks. Don’t confuse it with belittled, which means made to seem unimportant or inferior.

Correct Answer: (A) Tireless

Meaning: Indefatigable means unable to be tired; tireless and persistent.

Synonyms: Tireless, untiring, relentless, hardworking.

Correct Answer: (B) Holiness

Meaning: Sanctity means holiness; sacredness or the quality of being holy.

Synonyms: Holiness, sacredness, purity, divinity.

Exam Tip: Sanctity is commonly associated with holy places, religious beliefs, and sacred traditions. Do not confuse it with tranquillity or placidity, which refer to calmness.

Correct Answer: (A) untired

Meaning: Indefatigable means remaining untired despite continuous effort; tireless.

Synonyms: Tireless, untiring, energetic, relentless.

Correct Answer: (A) of the first or highest quality

Meaning: Classic means of the highest quality, standard, or lasting excellence.

Synonyms: Excellent, exemplary, timeless, outstanding.

Exam Tip: Classic can refer to something of enduring value or exceptional quality, such as a classic novel, classic example, or classic performance.

Correct Answer: (D) Excited

Meaning: Delighted means very pleased, happy, or excited.

Synonyms: Pleased, thrilled, joyful, excited.

Correct Answer: (A) Sweet-sounding

Meaning: Mellifluous means pleasant, smooth, and sweet-sounding, especially when referring to a voice or music.

Synonyms: Sweet-sounding, melodious, harmonious, musical.

Correct Answer: (A) Most typical example

Meaning: Quintessential means the most perfect or typical example of a particular quality or class.

Synonyms: Typical, ideal, perfect, representative.

Exam Tip: Quintessential is often used in phrases like the quintessential leader, the quintessential English village, or the quintessential example, meaning the finest or most representative example.

Correct Answer: (C) A confused situation

Meaning: Imbroglio means a complicated, confusing, or embarrassing situation.

Synonyms: Complication, entanglement, mess, predicament.

Exam Tip: Imbroglio is often used to describe political, legal, or personal disputes involving confusion or complexity. Don’t confuse it with cacophony, which means a harsh mixture of sounds.

Correct Answer: (C) Clear

Meaning: Lucid means clear, easy to understand, or expressed in a simple and intelligible way.

Synonyms: Clear, intelligible, comprehensible, coherent.

Correct Answer: (C) Unintentional

Meaning: Inadvertent means not intentional; done accidentally or unintentionally.

Synonyms: Unintentional, accidental, inadvertent, unplanned.

Correct Answer: (A) Steal

Meaning: Embezzle means to steal money or property entrusted to one’s care, especially by an employee or official.

Synonyms: Steal, misappropriate, misappropriate funds, defraud.

Exam Tip: Embezzle specifically refers to the dishonest use of money or property that has been entrusted to someone, unlike ordinary theft, which does not require a position of trust.

Correct Answer: (B) Odd

Meaning: Queer means strange, unusual, or odd (in this context).

Synonyms: Odd, strange, unusual, peculiar.

Correct Answer: (D) Worsen

Meaning: Mar means to spoil, damage, impair, or worsen something.

Synonyms: Worsen, spoil, damage, impair.

Exam Tip: Mar is frequently used in newspapers and editorials in phrases like “mar the image,” “mar the beauty,” or “mar the prospects,” meaning to spoil or damage.

Correct Answer: (B) Grotesque

Meaning: Bizarre means very strange, unusual, or grotesque.

Synonyms: Grotesque, odd, peculiar, weird, outlandish.

Exam Tip: Bizarre is commonly used to describe unusual appearances, behavior, or events. Don’t confuse it with mundane, which means ordinary or commonplace.

Correct Answer: (D) Detailed

Meaning: Explicit means clear, specific, and detailed; leaving no room for doubt.

Synonyms: Detailed, clear, specific, definite, unambiguous.

Correct Answer: (A) Medley

Meaning: Pot-pourri means a mixture or collection of different things; a medley.

Synonyms: Medley, mixture, assortment, collection.

Correct Answer: (C) Lively / Full of life

Meaning: Vivacious means full of life, energy, and enthusiasm.

Synonyms: Lively, animated, energetic, spirited.

Exam Tip: Vivacious is commonly used to describe people, especially children or someone with a cheerful and energetic personality. Don’t confuse it with joyful, which refers only to happiness, not energy.

Correct Answer: (C) Expired

Meaning: Passed away means to die (a polite or euphemistic expression).

Synonyms: Expired, died, deceased, departed.

Correct Answer: (D) Full and deep

Meaning: Sonorous means having a deep, full, rich, and pleasant sound.

Synonyms: Deep, resonant, rich, full-toned.

Exam Tip: Sonorous is commonly used to describe voices, bells, or musical instruments with a deep and resonant quality. Don’t confuse it with loud, which refers only to volume, not richness of sound.

Correct Answer: (B) Pricked

Meaning: Pierced means to make a small hole in something with a sharp object; to prick.

Synonyms: Pricked, punctured, penetrated, perforated.

Correct Answer: (B) Crooned

Meaning: Crooned means sang or hummed softly and gently, especially in a soothing manner.

Synonyms: Hummed, sang softly, warbled, murmured.

Exam Tip: Croon is typically used for soft, gentle singing, especially to comfort someone or express affection. Don’t confuse it with chant, which means to sing or recite rhythmically.

Correct Answer: (B) Increased

Meaning: Fuelled means increased, intensified, or made something stronger.

Synonyms: Increased, intensified, stimulated, heightened.

Exam Tip: Fuel is often used figuratively in expressions like fuel doubts, fuel rumours, fuel controversy, or fuel anger, meaning to make them stronger or more intense.

Correct Answer: (C) Gigantic

Meaning: Enormous means extremely large in size or extent.

Synonyms: Gigantic, huge, immense, colossal.

Exam Tip: Enormous describes very large size, while tall refers only to height and big is a more general, less precise word.

Correct Answer: (D) Rebuked

Meaning: Reprimanded means officially or formally scolded for a fault or mistake.

Synonyms: Rebuked, scolded, admonished, censured.

Correct Answer: (C) Craftiness

Meaning: Cunning means skillful in achieving one’s goals through clever or deceitful methods; craftiness.

Synonyms: Craftiness, slyness, guile, shrewdness.

Exam Tip: Cunning often carries a negative sense, implying cleverness used for deception or dishonest purposes. Don’t confuse it with intelligence, which is a neutral quality.

Correct Answer: (B) Stately

Meaning: Dignified means calm, noble, and worthy of respect; stately.

Synonyms: Stately, noble, dignified, majestic.

Correct Answer: (A) Huge

Meaning: Immense means extremely large or enormous in size.

Synonyms: Huge, enormous, gigantic, colossal.

Correct Answer: (B) Amplify

Meaning: Expand means to develop or explain something in greater detail; to amplify.

Synonyms: Amplify, elaborate, enlarge, extend.

Correct Answer: (A) Superb

Meaning: Peerless means having no equal; unsurpassed or unmatched.

Synonyms: Superb, unrivalled, unmatched, incomparable.

Correct Answer: (B) Prominent

Meaning: Salient means most noticeable, important, or prominent.

Synonyms: Prominent, notable, striking, outstanding.

Correct Answer: (D) Voluble

Meaning: Loquacious means very talkative; tending to speak a great deal.

Synonyms: Voluble, talkative, garrulous, chatty.

Exam Tip: Both talkative and voluble are similar in meaning, but voluble is the closest synonym because it also conveys speaking fluently and at length, making it the better choice in competitive exams.

Correct Answer: (B) Gaudy

Meaning: Garish means bright, showy, and overly flashy in a way that lacks good taste.

Synonyms: Gaudy, flashy, glaring, ostentatious.

Exam Tip: Garish has a negative connotation, describing something that is excessively bright or decorative. Don’t confuse it with cheap, which refers to low cost or poor quality rather than appearance.

Correct Answer: (C) Throwing them out

Meaning: Discard means to get rid of something that is no longer wanted or needed; to throw away.

Synonyms: Throw out, dispose of, cast aside, get rid of.

Exam Tip: Discard is commonly used for removing unwanted items. The phrasal verb throw out is its closest equivalent. Don’t confuse it with throw off (remove quickly), throw over (abandon), or throw up (vomit or produce suddenly).

Correct Answer: (D) Wild tumult

Meaning: Pandemonium means a state of wild and noisy disorder, confusion, or uproar.

Synonyms: Wild tumult, chaos, uproar, bedlam.

Correct Answer: (B) Abhors

Meaning: Abhor means to hate or detest someone or something intensely.

Synonyms: Abhors, detests, loathes, despises.

Correct Answer: (A) Bottomless

Meaning: Abysmal means extremely deep, profound, or very bad. In this context, it refers to very great or profound ignorance.

Synonyms: Bottomless, profound, immense, unfathomable.

Exam Tip: Abysmal originally means immeasurably deep like an abyss. In expressions such as “abysmal ignorance” or “abysmal failure,” it emphasizes an extremely poor or profound degree.

Correct Answer: (C) Renounced

Meaning: Abjure means to formally give up, renounce, or reject a belief, claim, or allegiance.

Synonyms: Renounced, relinquished, forsook, disowned.

Correct Answer: (C) Pompous

Meaning: Bombastic means using grand, inflated, or overly elaborate language to impress others; pompous.

Synonyms: Pompous, grandiloquent, pretentious, high-sounding.

Correct Answer: (B) Look of gloom

Meaning: Shadow (in this context) means a look of sadness, worry, or gloom appearing on a person’s face.

Synonyms: Look of gloom, sadness, dejection, melancholy.

Correct Answer: (B) Incessant

Meaning: Persistent means continuing for a long time without stopping; incessant.

Synonyms: Incessant, continuous, constant, unceasing.

Exam Tip: Persistent describes something that keeps occurring or continues for a long time. Among the given options, incessant is the closest synonym because it emphasizes uninterrupted continuation.

Correct Answer: (A) Delightful

Meaning: Delectable means highly pleasing, delightful, or enjoyable. In sports, it describes a performance that is a pleasure to watch.

Synonyms: Delightful, enjoyable, pleasing, captivating.

Exam Tip: Although delectable literally means delicious when referring to food, it is often used figuratively to describe an excellent or enjoyable performance, piece of writing, or experience. Here, delightful is the closest synonym.

Correct Answer: (C) Inclined

Meaning: Prone means likely or liable to be affected by something, especially something unpleasant.

Synonyms: Inclined, liable, susceptible, vulnerable.

Exam Tip: Prone to is a common collocation meaning likely to suffer from or experience something (e.g., prone to floods, prone to accidents, prone to illness). Among the given options, inclined is the closest synonym.

Correct Answer: (A) Sight

Meaning: Spectacle means an impressive or remarkable sight; something that attracts attention.

Synonyms: Sight, display, scene, show.

Correct Answer: (C) Arrear

Meaning: Backlog means an accumulation of unfinished or delayed work that remains to be completed.

Synonyms: Arrear, accumulation, pending work, unfinished work.

Exam Tip: Backlog is commonly used for pending work, applications, files, or cases that have not yet been dealt with. Among the given options, arrear (meaning something overdue or pending) is the closest synonym.

Correct Answer: (B) Easily influenced

Meaning: Pliable means easily influenced, persuaded, or controlled by others; flexible in character.

Synonyms: Easily influenced, compliant, adaptable, yielding.