Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Vocabulary 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The word 'infer' most nearly means:
- to state directly
- to deduce from evidence (Correct answer)
- to reject without consideration
- to memorize completely
Correct answer: to deduce from evidence
Infer means to conclude something by reasoning from evidence rather than explicit statement.
Question 2: A 'redundant' phrase is one that is:
- highly original
- using more words than needed to express an idea (Correct answer)
- logically inconsistent
- formally structured
Correct answer: using more words than needed to express an idea
Redundant means not or no longer needed or useful; unnecessarily repetitive.
Question 3: The word 'convoluted' most nearly means:
- straightforward
- extremely complex and difficult to follow (Correct answer)
- briefly stated
- emotionally moving
Correct answer: extremely complex and difficult to follow
Convoluted means extremely complex and difficult to follow; intricately twisted.
Question 4: Which word best describes a 'prolific' author?
- producing a large body of work (Correct answer)
- writing only short pieces
- focused on a single topic
- writing in an elevated style
Correct answer: producing a large body of work
Prolific means producing many works, results, or offspring; highly productive.
Question 5: The word 'alleviate' most nearly means:
- to worsen gradually
- to make less severe or painful (Correct answer)
- to completely eliminate
- to carefully document
Correct answer: to make less severe or painful
Alleviate means to make something, especially pain or difficulty, less severe.
Question 6: A 'skeptical' reader is one who:
- accepts all claims without question
- questions or doubts claims until proven (Correct answer)
- reads only non-fiction
- prefers simple texts
Correct answer: questions or doubts claims until proven
Skeptical means not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations about something.
Question 7: The word 'coherent' most nearly means:
- logically consistent and clearly expressed (Correct answer)
- scattered and disorganized
- emotionally charged
- visually appealing
Correct answer: logically consistent and clearly expressed
Coherent means logical and consistent; forming a unified whole that is easy to understand.
The word 'infer' most nearly means: