Word Knowledge on the ASVAB, one word at a time

A teacher had to intervene before the argument turned into a fight. Intervene most nearly means

1. Leave
   Leaving would not stop the fight; intervening means getting involved.
2. Look on
   Looking on means watching without acting, the opposite of what the teacher did.
3. Step in
   To intervene is to come between people or events to change what happens — to step in.
4. Interview
   Interview shares only the "inter-" prefix.

ID 716230 · Report a problem

The clerk's brusque reply made the customer feel unwelcome. Brusque most nearly means

1. Bored
   Bored describes a feeling; brusque describes the sharp, unfriendly way the reply was given.
2. Curt
   A brusque reply is short and abrupt to the point of rudeness — curt.
3. Busy
   A busy clerk may answer brusquely, but busy names a possible cause, not the manner of the reply.
4. Loud
   A brusque reply can be quiet; the word describes abruptness, not volume.

ID 716232 · Report a problem

The company won a lucrative contract to supply the Army with boots. Lucrative most nearly means

1. Profitable
   A lucrative contract makes a lot of money for the company that wins it.
2. Lucky
   Lucky is the trap suggested by the "luc-" spelling.
3. Prestigious
   Prestigious means bringing respect or status; a contract can bring status and little profit.
4. Expensive
   Expensive is the buyer's view of cost; lucrative is the seller's view of profit.

ID 716236 · Report a problem

Impartial most nearly means

1. Biased
   Biased is the antonym.
2. Impatient
   Impatient shares only the "imp-" start.
3. Incomplete
   Incomplete plays on "partial" meaning not whole; impartial uses the other sense of partial, favoring one side.
4. Fair
   An impartial judge or referee does not favor either side — fair.

ID 716237 · Report a problem

The spokesperson gave a tactful answer to the reporter's awkward question. Tactful most nearly means

1. Diplomatic
   A tactful answer handles an awkward subject without giving offense — diplomatic.
2. Long-winded
   Long-winded means wordy; tact is about care, not length.
3. Outspoken
   Outspoken means blunt and frank, close to the opposite.
4. Evasive
   An evasive answer dodges the question; a tactful one can still answer it, only gently.

ID 716239 · Report a problem

The king issued an edict banning hunting in the royal forest. Edict most nearly means

1. Order
   An edict is an official order issued by a ruler or other authority.
2. Request
   A request asks; an edict commands.
3. Prediction
   Prediction plays on the "dict" (say) in predict; an edict lays down a rule, not a forecast.
4. Edition
   Edition is the look-alike: one version of a book or newspaper.

ID 716240 · Report a problem

The scientist's theory was later corroborated by three independent studies. Corroborated most nearly means

1. Corrected
   Corrected is the look-alike; it would mean the studies found and fixed errors in the theory.
2. Challenged
   Challenged is the opposite: questioned rather than supported.
3. Published
   The studies may well have been published, but the word describes what they did for the theory.
4. Confirmed
   To corroborate a theory is to support it with independent evidence — to confirm it.

ID 716242 · Report a problem

The mountain range was a formidable obstacle for the advancing army. Formidable most nearly means

1. Formal
   Formal is the spelling trap.
2. Daunting
   A formidable obstacle is so large or difficult that it inspires fear or respect — daunting.
3. Picturesque
   Picturesque means pretty to look at; a formidable obstacle may or may not be beautiful.
4. Distant
   A formidable range may also be far away, but the word describes how hard it is to overcome.

ID 716245 · Report a problem

Divers recovered ancient artifacts from the sunken ship, including coins and clay jars. Artifacts most nearly means

1. Fossils
   Fossils are remains of living things preserved in rock; coins and clay jars were made by people.
2. Documents
   Documents are written records; coins and jars are objects.
3. Machines
   Artifacts are often simple objects with no moving parts, like the jars in the sentence.
4. Relics
   Artifacts are objects made by people long ago — relics, like the coins and jars.

ID 716248 · Report a problem

Conspicuous most nearly means

1. Suspicious
   Suspicious behavior often draws attention, but the word means arousing distrust, not easy to see.
2. Noticeable
   Conspicuous means easy to see or notice, standing out from its surroundings.
3. Conscious
   Conscious (awake, aware) is a sound-alike.
4. Hidden
   Hidden is the antonym.

ID 716253 · Report a problem

Terse most nearly means

1. Wordy
   Wordy is the antonym.
2. Tense
   Tense (nervous or stretched tight) is the sound-alike.
3. Brief
   A terse statement uses few words — brief and to the point, sometimes abruptly so.
4. Polite
   A terse reply may be polite or not; the word describes how short it is.

ID 716251 · Report a problem

Snow covered the apex of the mountain all year round. Apex most nearly means

1. Slope
   The slope is the side that rises toward the apex.
2. Face
   A face is a steep side of a mountain, not its top.
3. Peak
   The apex is the highest point or tip — the peak of the mountain.
4. Base
   The base is the opposite end of the mountain.

ID 716453 · Report a problem

Before construction begins, engineers survey the land to map its slopes. Survey most nearly means

1. Purchase
   Buying the land is a separate step; surveying gathers measurements.
2. Measure
   To survey land is to measure its shape, boundaries, and heights so it can be mapped.
3. Clear
   Clearing removes trees and brush; the sentence says the survey maps the slopes.
4. Question
   To survey people is to question them, but these engineers are surveying land.

ID 716457 · Report a problem

The patrol had to navigate through miles of swamp at night. Navigate most nearly means

1. Hurry
   Hurry is about speed; navigating is about direction.
2. Wade
   The patrol may well wade through water, but navigate means finding and keeping the right way, not walking in water.
3. Steer
   To navigate is to steer or find a course through a place, as the patrol does through the swamp.
4. Escape
   Nothing in the sentence says the patrol was escaping; navigating is about finding the route.

ID 716463 · Report a problem

Guards patrolled the perimeter of the base all night. Perimeter most nearly means

1. Boundary
   The perimeter is the outer boundary of an area, the line the guards walked.
2. Barracks
   Barracks are buildings where soldiers live, inside the perimeter.
3. Interior
   Interior is the inside, the opposite of the perimeter.
4. Entrance
   The entrance is one point on the perimeter, not the whole edge.

ID 716466 · Report a problem