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In Other Words Trivia Quiz

Are you subject to fits of logophilia? Try this quiz. I provide a sentence that uses two interesting words. See if you can choose which of the sentences that follow has the nearest to the same meaning.

A multiple-choice quiz by uglybird. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
uglybird

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
175,681

Updated
Aug 20 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
877

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. [It seemed anomalous that such abstruse words would be spoken in such a dulcet tone.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

It seemed odd that such difficult to understand words would be so sweetly spoken.

It seemed irregular that such meaningless words would be spoken so confidently.

It seemed strange that such perplexing words would be uttered so matter-of-factly.

It seemed inconsistent that such emotionally charged words would be spoken so calmly.

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Question 2 of 10

2. [Florence was scoffing when abruptly, arachibutyrophobia struck.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

In the process of ridiculing another, Florence abruptly became fearful about losing her arms.

While eating rapidly, Florence became anxious about having swallowed four spiders.

As she mocked, Florence was suddenly consumed by her fear of spiders.

As she ate, Florence became fearful of having peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth.

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Question 3 of 10

3. [Gladys had the peccant look of a person engaged in divagation.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Gladys looked abashed about the fact that she was rambling.

Gladys' face was pinched with concentration as she attempted to find the best location to dig the well.

The spirits she was calling up were causing Gladys to be agitated.

Gladys had the dishonest appearance that characterizes those knowingly filing a frivolous lawsuit.

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Question 4 of 10

4. [So enervating was the speech that George's motivation to act turned to velleity.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

The speech so excited George that he salivated profusely.

The boring speech sapped George's motivation to act.

As he heard the speech, George was inflamed to commit criminal acts.

The speech wearied George. His motivation was replaced with a cynical acceptance of the status quo.

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Question 5 of 10

5. [Carl was not going to abdicate to a witling.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Carl was not going to hand over power to the young genius.

Carl was not going to step aside for a person of mean understanding.

Carl would not defer to the sarcastic young man.

Carl would not relinquish control to the pompous and self-important challenger.

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Question 6 of 10

6. [Morris was as fictile as pacable.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Morris was malleable and easily placated.

Morris was temperamental and wicked.

Morris was fickle and inflexible.

Morris was easily confused and boring.

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Question 7 of 10

7. [Our county has both karst and kame.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Our county has both brambles and heath.

Our county has both termites and fleas.

Our county has both short glacial ridges and areas of eroded limestone.

Our county has both wise old men and shrewd old women.

8. [While it once required a sizable aperture to excite Marge's crytoscopophilia, she now found herself transfixed at the sight of the smallest transom.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Marge is finding ever-increasing pleasure in looking at horse drawn carriages.

Marge has an increasing desire to look through even the smallest of the windows of the homes she passes.

The facets of smaller and smaller jewels are required to enthrall Marge.

Before Marge was only excited when looking through large microscopes but now is thrilled with even a hand lens.

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Question 9 of 10

9. [Play may be polysemous, but then true monosemy is rare.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Play requires many separate muscle movements, but then so do most activities.

Play results in a variety of pleasurable sensations, but few activities produce a single sensation.

Play evokes a number of emotions, but the state of being dominated by a single overweening emotion is rare.

The word "play" has many meanings, but words that truly have a single meaning are rare.

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Question 10 of 10

10. [Alfred gazed at the purple welkin incredulously.]

Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets? Hint

Alfred could not believe anyone would wear a purple kilt.

Alfred was surprised to see a purple sky.

Alfred was astonished to see the large, purple bush.

Alfred had always thought the purple welkin to be a mythological beast.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. [It seemed anomalous that such abstruse words would be spoken in such a dulcet tone.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: It seemed odd that such difficult to understand words would be so sweetly spoken.

Dulcet comes from the Latin word "dulcis" meaning sweet. The Latin root from which abstruse comes means "to hide."

2. [Florence was scoffing when abruptly, arachibutyrophobia struck.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: As she ate, Florence became fearful of having peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth.

The root "arachi" here refers to peanuts rather than to spiders, the root "butyro" to butter. The word "arachibutyrophobia" came to my attention in Bill Bryson's very excellent book on the English language, "The Mother Tongue". The word "scoff" can refer to mocking or ridiculing behavior, and also to rapid, often undignified, eating of food.

3. [Gladys had the peccant look of a person engaged in divagation.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: Gladys looked abashed about the fact that she was rambling.

Both "peccant" and "divagation" are SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) words, albeit rather obscure ones. Peccant shares a root with "peccadillo", which is, of course, a small sin. In Latin, "peccadum" means sin.

4. [So enervating was the speech that George's motivation to act turned to velleity.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: The boring speech sapped George's motivation to act.

"Velleity" is another word courtesy of Bill Bryson, author of "The Mother Tongue". "Velleity" is that state of mind in which a person has the merest wish with no energy to obtain the object of desire. Considering how often I experience velleity, I am surprised the word is not in frequent use. I am aware of no synonyms for it.

5. [Carl was not going to abdicate to a witling.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: Carl was not going to step aside for a person of mean understanding.

"Witling" is another somewhat obscure SAT word. A witling is someone of little intelligence, often applied to one who think they are clever when they are not. I feel a bit peccant about this transparent attempt to fool you by using a word that sounds as if it might have a meaning opposite to the one that it does. I bet there's a name for words like this.

6. [Morris was as fictile as pacable.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: Morris was malleable and easily placated.

"Fictile" has a brittle sound to it, and yet it means moldable. "Pacable", on the other hand, is only two letters away from "peaceable" and has a very similar meaning.

7. [Our county has both karst and kame.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: Our county has both short glacial ridges and areas of eroded limestone.

In my quest for interesting and obscure words I came across a website that might be of interest to word lovers: http://phrontistery.50megs.com/index.html. It contains a number of resources of interest. "Karst" and "kame" were found there.

8. [While it once required a sizable aperture to excite Marge's crytoscopophilia, she now found herself transfixed at the sight of the smallest transom.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: Marge has an increasing desire to look through even the smallest of the windows of the homes she passes.

"Crytoscopophilia" is yet another Bill Bryson word mentioned in "The Mother Tongue". It refers to a significant desire to peer through windows of the houses one passes. One definition for transom is a small window over a door.

9. [Play may be polysemous, but then true monosemy is rare.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: The word "play" has many meanings, but words that truly have a single meaning are rare.

"Polysemous" is from the Greek word "polu" meaning many and the Greek word "sema" meaning sign or signify. The word "semantic" also derives from the root "sema".

10. [Alfred gazed at the purple welkin incredulously.] Which of the following sentences has the meaning that most nearly matches the sentence in brackets?

Answer: Alfred was surprised to see a purple sky.

I love the word "welkin" and am sorry that I have no legitimate reason to use it in everyday conversation. I may have to do an entire quiz of welkin puns at some point. Do I hear you thanking me for this quiz? "You're welkin!"

Source: Author uglybird

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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