Test sheet for ACT Vocabulary Test Online

ascendancy

(1)

n. E.g. Leaders of religious cults maintain ascendancy over their followers by methods that can verge on brainwashing.

Select answer:
superiority or decisive advantage; domination
person or thing regarded as embodying or exhibiting some quality, idea
central or vital part; most material and central part; grain or seed as of corn
doctor who specializes in diagnosis and treatment of foot ailments
act of two things flowing together; junction or meeting place where two things meet
Don't select.

besmirch

(2)

v. E.g. The scandalous remarks in the newspaper besmirch the reputations of every member of the society.

Select answer:
fill with horror and loathing; horrify; hate
soil, smear so as to make dirty or stained
resolve or settle differences by working with all conflicting parties
restate text in one's own words, especially to clarify thought of others
read or examine, typically with great care
Don't select.

countenance

(3)

v. E.g. He refused to countenance such rude behavior on their part.

Select answer:
give sanction or support to; tolerate or approve
plead; make earnest request of; ask for earnestly
build or fuel a fire; cause to glow; light up; inspire
corrupt; seduce from virtue
gradually deprive infants of mother's milk; detach affections of
Don't select.

derivative

(4)

a. E.g. Although her early poetry was clearly derivative in nature, the critics thought she had promise and eventually would find her own voice.

Select answer:
unoriginal; derived from another source
being or seeming to be without an end; endless; tedious; continual
not essential; coming from outside
subordinate; secondary; serving to assist or supplement
happening, as occasional event, without regularity; coming without design
Don't select.

faze

(5)

v. E.g. No crisis could faze the resourceful hotel manager.

Select answer:
speak indistinctly; pass over carelessly or with little notice
state without proof; assert to be true
disturb composure of; dismay; ruffle
leave someone who needs or counts on you
force to leave; remove from office
Don't select.

furtive

(6)

a. E.g. Noticing the furtive glance the customer gave the diamond bracelet on the counter, the jeweler wondered whether he had a potential shoplifter on his hands.

Select answer:
having sections or patches colored differently and usually brightly; multicolored
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
green; full of juice in vegetation
marked by quiet and caution and secrecy
producing offspring or fruit in great abundance; fertile
Don't select.

litany

(7)

n. E.g. On this solemn day, the congregation responded to the prayers of the priest during the litany with fervor and intensity.

Select answer:
fixed and regular payment, such as salary for services or allowance.
double-dealing; deliberate deceptiveness in behavior or speech; acting in bad faith.
decree ,especially issued by a sovereign; official command
repetitive or incantatory recital; long and tedious address
hard monotonous routine work
Don't select.

luster

(8)

n. E.g. The soft luster of the silk in the dim light was pleasing.

Select answer:
shine, polish or sparkle; soft reflected light
lever used to turn a rudder and steer a boat; drawer in table, chest, or counter
large tent, often with open sides, used chiefly for outdoor entertainment; rooflike structure
error in naming person or place; incorrect designation
exact copy or reproduction, as of a document; fax
Don't select.

poseur

(9)

n. E.g. Some thought Salvador Dali was a brilliant painter; others dismissed him as a poseur.

Select answer:
beginning of something; taking in, as by swallowing; process of receiving within
active strength of body or mind; imaginative lively style, especially style of writing; exertion of force
temporary stay; brief period of residence; place of temporary stay
person who pretends to be sophisticated, elegant to impress others
cheap showy jewelry or ornament on clothing
Don't select.

saccharine

(10)

a. E.g. She tried to ingratiate herself, speaking sweetly and smiling a saccharine smile.

Select answer:
burning hot; extremely and unpleasantly hot
rash; marked by unthinking boldness
extremely steep; descending rapidly, or rushing onward
having cloyingly sweet attitude, tone, or character; overly sweet
by a small amount at a time; in stages; gradually
Don't select.

sumptuous

(11)

a. E.g. I cannot recall when I have had such a sumptuous Thanksgiving feast.

Select answer:
extremely poisonous; hostile; bitter
beginning to exist or appear; in an early stage
not able to be perceived by senses, as touch; vague
magnificent and splendid, suggesting abundance and great expense; luxurious
rising in revolt against established authority; rebelling against leadership of political party
Don't select.

vivacious

(12)

a. E.g. She had always been vivacious and sparkling.

Select answer:
rubbing away; tending to grind down
animated; lively; vigorous and active
greatly exceeding bounds of reason or moderation; exceeding proper limits
lacking in spirit or energy to exert effort
free of guilt; not subject to blame; completely acceptable
Don't select.