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Quiz about Commonly Misused Everyday Words

Commonly Misused Everyday Words Quiz

As a teacher I have noticed students making the same vocabulary errors again and again. In this quiz, I have focused on common errors in the strict grammatical sense rather than what may be heard colloquially. (British English)

A multiple-choice quiz by miss g. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
miss g

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
157,026

Updated
Mar 02 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
8 / 10

Plays
6238

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: RacingBee (10/10), Liz5050 (10/10), gibbysgab (1/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

Her efforts were laudable.

She is a negligible mother.

I had a meagre portion of fries in the restaurant.

I went to the doctor complaining of hallucinations.

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

The waters were barely navigable in the storm.

The band had an excellent repertoire.

Her protestations were vehement.

That's an unguent perfume you're wearing!

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

I fell to the bottom of the well-made, abysmal hole.

One hundred centimetres make a metre.

We had a barbecue and cooked ribs.

Fortunately, the boy was not injured.

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Question 4 of 10

4. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

The criteria for university entry is very tough.

Sally is always cautious around fire.

The fugitive had been on the run for two months.

I am authorised to enter this room.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

It is imperative that you study before examinations.

The lyrics of this song are very meaningful.

The trilingual girl spoke thirty languages.

The impertinent boy got a detention from the teacher.

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

The tumour was malicious.

The new headteacher is tyrannical.

I would not malign my friend.

The natural calamity ruined our house.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

There have been great technological advances in the field of medicine.

She made a solemn promise.

The haulage trucks pass along the road near my house.

The characters performed the soliloquy.

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

It was a coincidence that we both arrived at the same time.

The cottage was picturesque.

The thief surreptitiously picked the traveller's pockets.

It was difficult to illicit a response from the criminal.

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word? Hint

The malingerer was lazing around.

The family managed to escape from the wreckage.

To excess the internet, press 'enter'.

It was ultimately her decision.

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Identify the sentence with an inappropriately-used word. Hint

The author was offering singed copies of her book.

The writer's pseudonym was John Smith.

The girl was working on her physique.

The soloist gave a spectacular performance.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: She is a negligible mother.

The word 'negligible' means 'slight or insignificant'. The word that should have been used is 'negligent' which means 'neglectful'.

2. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: That's an unguent perfume you're wearing!

The sentence should have read 'a pungent perfume' instead of 'an unguent'. Pungent means strong-smelling whereas unguent is a noun, meaning an ointment. The adjectival form unguentary, meaning that the noun being modified contains or is similar to unguent, could possibly have been used to describe a perfume.

3. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: I fell to the bottom of the well-made, abysmal hole.

The word 'abysmal' should have read 'abyssal' which means at the bottom or the deepest part. The word 'abysmal' means immeasurably bad, or deep in a literary sense where the suggestion is obscure or unfathomable.

4. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: The criteria for university entry is very tough.

The word 'criteria' is plural (the singular is criterion) therefore the verb should also have been plural. Other examples of words with unusually formed plurals include datum which becomes data, and alumnus which becomes alumni.

5. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: The trilingual girl spoke thirty languages.

The prefix 'tri' is from Latin and means three, therefore a trilingual person can speak three languages. Someone who only speaks two different languages is bilingual. It is now (since 2012) internationally accepted to refer to anyone who speaks more than one language, however many that may be, as multilingual.

6. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: The tumour was malicious.

The correct word here is 'malignant' which means harmful whereas 'malicious' means intending to cause harm. Since a tumour has no consciousness, it cannot be described as malicious. The prefix 'mal-' originates from the Latin meaning 'badly'.

7. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: The characters performed the soliloquy.

A soliloquy is a speech in a play spoken by one character. It is a literary device usually employed to reveal the character's thoughts or motivation to the audience.

8. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: It was difficult to illicit a response from the criminal.

'Illicit' is an adjective meaning that something is not permitted by laws or customs; therefore, this word should have been replaced with 'elicit' which is a verb meaning to draw out a reaction.

9. Which of the following sentences contains an incorrectly used word?

Answer: To excess the internet, press 'enter'.

Although these words sound fairly similar, they are not related. The word 'excess' should be replaced with 'access'.

10. Identify the sentence with an inappropriately-used word.

Answer: The author was offering singed copies of her book.

Hmmm, I don't think I'd be very happy to receive a 'singed' copy of a book! I'd much prefer a 'signed' one. Thanks for taking my quiz. I hope you've enjoyed it!

Source: Author miss g

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