Test sheet for ACT Vocabulary Test Online

aghast

(1)

a. E.g. The film grabs you by the throat so that any feeling of being aghast is contained – and you hold on to that feeling up to the very last scene.

Select answer:
struck by shock, terror, or amazement
put forth or held out as real, actual, or intended; proper or intended to be shown
obvious and offensive, blatant, scandalous; flaming into notice
beginning to exist or appear; in an early stage
timely; just in time; suited or right for a particular purpose
Don't select.

bequeath

(2)

v. E.g. Though Maud had intended to bequeath the family home to her nephew, she died before changing her will.

Select answer:
gather into a mass, sum, or whole; amount to
leave to someone by a will; hand down
teach and impress by frequent repetitions
appear or take shape, usually in enlarged or distorted form
avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing
Don't select.

circumvent

(3)

v. E.g. In order to circumvent the enemy, we will make two preliminary attacks in other sections before starting our major campaign.

Select answer:
turn aside, especially from main subject in writing or speaking
lay responsibility or blame for, often unjustly
surround an enemy; enclose or entrap; beat by cleverness and wit
drive out evil spirits by or as if by incantation, command, or prayer
guarantee as safe; secure; promise or agree condescendingly, as a special favor; permit
Don't select.

dilapidated

(4)

a. E.g. Rather than get discouraged, the architect saw great potential in the dilapidated house.

Select answer:
open to two or more interpretations and often intended to mislead
plentiful; containing plenty; affording ample supply
overly simple; simplifying something so that its complexity is lost or important details are overlooked
in disrepair, run down; of very poor quality or condition
below threshold of conscious perception, especially if still able to produce a response
Don't select.

entomology

(5)

n. E.g. Kent found entomology the most annoying part of his biology course; studying insects bugged him.

Select answer:
surviving remnant; something left after loss or decay; object kept for its association with the past
study of insects; branch of zoology which treats of insects
condition of balance among various forces; inactivity resulting from static balance
case for arrows; collection or store, as arsenal; quick shaking
error in naming person or place; name wrongly or unsuitably applied to a person or an object
Don't select.

gruff

(6)

a. E.g. Although he was blunt and gruff with most people, he was always gentle with children.

Select answer:
unconquerable; incapable of being overcome
massive; bulky; great in size
neatly dressed; very stylish in dress; lively and alert
periodic; on and off; stopping and starting at intervals
having rough, surly, or harsh nature
Don't select.

incidental

(7)

a. E.g. The scholarship covered his major expenses at college and some of his incidental expenses as well.

Select answer:
admitting of no doubt or misunderstanding; clear and unambiguous
having no equal; incomparable
happening, as occasional event, without regularity; coming without design
habitually complaining; expressing complaint or grievance
scornful; expressing contempt; showing a lack of respect
Don't select.

obstinate

(8)

a. E.g. We tried to persuade him to give up smoking, but he was obstinate and refused to change.

Select answer:
difficult to use or handle because of size or weight or shape; lacking grace in movement or posture
overly simple; simplifying something so that its complexity is lost or important details are overlooked
having been delayed; done or sent too late
being or taking a roundabout, lengthy course; going round in a circuit; not direct
stubbornly adhering to an attitude or opinion; hard to control or treat
Don't select.

paroxysm

(9)

n. E.g. When he heard of his son's misdeeds, he was seized by a paroxysm of rage.

Select answer:
song for two or three unaccompanied voices; short poem, often about love, suitable for being set to music
active resistance; condition of being an opposing principle, force, or factor
vocabulary of technical terms used in a particular field, subject, science, or art
religious devotion and reverence to God; devout act, thought, or statement; godliness
sudden outburst of emotion or action; sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease
Don't select.

pyromania

(10)

n. E.g. The detectives searched the area for the pyromania who had set these costly fires.

Select answer:
person with insane desire to set things on fire
sudden outburst of emotion or action; sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of a disease
long narrow opening ; long narrow depression in surface
study of origin and nature of ideas
creative work, as literary or musical composition
Don't select.

spatial

(11)

a. E.g. NASA is engaged in an ongoing program of spatial exploration.

Select answer:
mixed up; difficult to understand because it has been distorted
expressing sorrow ;mournful or melancholy; sad
difficult to use or handle because of size or weight or shape; lacking grace in movement or posture
under the influence of alcohol; intoxicated; drunk
relating to space; existing in or connected with space
Don't select.

torrid

(12)

a. E.g. Harlequin Romances publish torrid tales of love affairs, some set in hot climates.

Select answer:
gay; joyous; carefree and lighthearted
consisting of dissimilar elements or parts; completely different
passionate; hot or scorching; hurried or rapid
partly transparent; transmitting rays of light without permitting objects to be distinctly seen
precisely meaningful; forceful and brief
Don't select.