One-word Substitution and Idioms Quiz: WBPSC Clerkship 2024
A little practice. A step forward.
12 practice questions for WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Part-I English: 8 one-word substitutions and 4 idioms, each answer explained. 📖 Read the detailed topic
Choose the one word for: "One who collects postage stamps"
A philatelist collects postage stamps. A numismatist collects or studies coins, a lexicographer compiles dictionaries and a cartographer draws maps.
- Philately = stamp collecting
- Numismatics = the study of coins
- Philatelist (stamps) and numismatist (coins) are often mixed up
- Numisma is the Latin word for a coin
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Philatelist | collects postage stamps |
| Numismatist | collects or studies coins |
| Lexicographer | compiles dictionaries |
| Cartographer | draws maps |
Choose the one word for: "Killing of one's own brother"
-cide means killing and frater means brother, so killing one's brother is fratricide. Patricide is killing one's father, regicide a king and homicide any human being.
- -cide = killing
- Matricide = killing one's mother
- Infanticide = killing an infant
- Think of 'fraternity' (brotherhood): frater = brother
| Word | Killing of |
|---|---|
| Homicide | a human being |
| Patricide | one's father |
| Matricide | one's mother |
| Fratricide | one's brother |
| Regicide | a king |
| Infanticide | an infant |
Choose the one word for: "Government by the wealthy"
-cracy means rule and pluto- means wealth, so rule by the wealthy is plutocracy. Autocracy is rule by one person with absolute power, theocracy by religious leaders, bureaucracy by officials.
- -cracy = rule
- Democracy = rule by the people
- Plutus was the Greek god of wealth
| Word | Rule by |
|---|---|
| Plutocracy | the wealthy |
| Theocracy | religious leaders |
| Autocracy | one person with absolute power |
| Bureaucracy | officials |
| Democracy | the people |
Choose the one word for: "One who cannot be corrected"
in- (not) + corrig (correct) + -ible (can be) = incorrigible, one who cannot be corrected. Invincible means cannot be defeated, infallible never making mistakes, inevitable cannot be avoided.
- in-/il-/ir- = not
- -ible/-able = can be done
- 'Correct' hides inside in-CORRIG-ible
Choose the one word for: "A place where bees are kept"
A place where bees are kept is an apiary (api- = bee). An aviary is for birds, an arsenal for weapons, a granary for grain.
- Apiary = bees
- Aviary = birds
- Aviary and apiary differ by one letter: birds versus bees
- Avi- = bird (as in aviation); api- = bee
| Place | What is kept |
|---|---|
| Apiary | bees |
| Aviary | birds |
| Arsenal | weapons |
| Granary | grain |
Choose the one word for: "One who hates mankind"
mis- (hate) + anthrop (human) = misanthrope, one who hates mankind. A misogynist hates women, a philanthropist loves and helps people, an atheist does not believe in God.
- anthrop- = human
- gyn- = woman
- phil- = love
- Misanthrope (mankind) and misogynist (women) both begin with mis-: check the root
- Anthropology is the study of humans: anthrop = human
Choose the one word for: "A person who can speak many languages"
poly- (many) + glot (tongue, language) = polyglot. A bilingual person speaks two languages, a lexicographer compiles dictionaries, an etymologist studies the origin of words.
- Poly- = many
- Bi- = two
- 'Bilingual' is tempting but means only two languages
- Polygon: many sides; polyglot: many languages
Choose the one word for: "Handwriting that cannot be read"
Writing that cannot be read is illegible (il- not + legible readable). Illegal means against the law, ineligible not qualified, illiterate unable to read and write.
- Legible = can be read
- Eligible = qualified
- Illegible (unreadable) and ineligible (not qualified) sound alike
- Legible shares a root with lecture and legend: reading
Choose the meaning of the idiom in the sentence: "He submitted the form at the eleventh hour."
At the eleventh hour means at the last possible moment. 'At eleven o'clock' is the literal trap; 'late at night' and 'too early' do not fit.
- An idiom's meaning is figurative
- The literal option is usually wrong
- 'At eleven o'clock' is the literal reading, not the idiom
- In a twelve-hour day, the eleventh hour is just before the end
Choose the meaning of the idiom in the sentence: "The new stadium has become a white elephant for the town."
A white elephant is a possession that costs a lot to keep but is of little use. 'A rare animal' is the literal trap; the other two describe people and do not fit a stadium.
- White elephant = a costly but useless possession
- Context: cost versus use
- A white elephant is expensive to keep and cannot be put to work
Choose the meaning of the idiom in the sentence: "After years of quarrelling, the two neighbours decided to bury the hatchet."
To bury the hatchet means to end a quarrel and make peace. 'Hide a weapon' and 'dig the ground' are literal traps and 'start a quarrel' is the opposite; 'after years of quarrelling' shows the fight is ending.
- Hatchet = a small axe, a symbol of fighting
- Bury the hatchet = make peace
- Burying the weapon means the fight is over
Choose the meaning of the idiom in the sentence: "My uncle visits us once in a blue moon."
Once in a blue moon means very rarely. 'Only at night' is the literal trap built on the word moon; 'every month' and 'very often' are the opposite.
- Once in a blue moon = very rarely
- Be wary of the literal option
- A blue moon is rare, so the visits are rare
📊 Topic Analysis
12 practice questions for WBPSC Clerkship 2024 Part-I English: 8 one-word substitutions and 4 idioms, each answer explained.
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