Vocabulary and Word Choice

What is a synonym?

• AA word that sounds the same
• BA word with the opposite meaning
• CA word with similar meaning✓
• DA word that is longer

Answer: Synonyms have similar meanings but may carry different connotations.

What is an antonym?

• AA word that sounds the same but is spelt differently
• BA word that means almost the same as another word
• CA word with opposite meaning✓
• DA word formed from the first letters of others

Answer: Antonyms have opposite meanings: hot/cold, big/small.

Why is precise word choice important in writing?

• ALong and unusual words will always impress a reader more than simple ones do
• BPrecise words convey meaning more effectively and create intended effects✓
• CAny word from the same area of meaning will create exactly the same effect
• DVague wording is preferable because it lets each reader decide on the meaning

Answer: Precise word choice creates clarity, tone, and desired emotional effect.

What is a technical term?

• AAny long word that most readers will find difficult to understand
• BSpecialised vocabulary specific to a field or subject✓
• CA word borrowed from another language
• DA recently invented word for new technology

Answer: Technical terms are specialised vocabulary for specific fields.

What is slang?

• AWords used only in regional dialects
• BInformal language popular in particular groups✓
• CDeliberately offensive language
• DWords that have fallen out of use

Answer: Slang is informal, group-specific language that changes frequently.

What effect does using formal vocabulary have?

• AIt makes the writing sound chatty and friendly to the reader
• BIt creates a serious, professional tone✓
• CIt signals that the writer is addressing close friends
• DIt guarantees shorter sentences

Answer: Formal vocabulary establishes professional, serious, or academic tone.

What effect does informal vocabulary have?

• AIt creates conversational, approachable tone✓
• BIt makes writing suitable for a formal report or job application
• CIt creates distance from the reader
• DIt removes the writer's voice entirely

Answer: Informal vocabulary creates casual, accessible, friendly tone.

What is a homophone?

• ATwo words spelt the same way but pronounced quite differently
• BTwo words with closely related meanings that can be swapped
• CTwo words sounding identical but with different meanings✓
• DTwo words that rhyme at the end

Answer: Homophones sound identical but have different meanings: to/two/too, hear/here.

What is a homonym?

• AA word that carries exactly the same meaning as another word
• BA word that expresses the opposite meaning of another word
• CA word with multiple unrelated meanings or a homophone✓
• DA word formed by joining two separate words into a single term

Answer: Homonyms are identical in sound/spelling but different in meaning.

What is a pun related to word choice?

• AIntentionally choosing words with multiple meanings for humour✓
• BDeliberately repeating the same word at the start of successive clauses
• CChoosing formal Latinate words to sound authoritative
• DUsing deliberately archaic or rare vocabulary

Answer: Puns exploit multiple word meanings for comedic effect.

Why might a writer choose simpler words over complex ones?

• ATo show off a wide and sophisticated vocabulary range
• BTo make the writing sound more academic
• CTo reach a broader audience and create clarity✓
• DTo increase the total word count of a piece

Answer: Simple vocabulary increases accessibility and clarity.

What is the effect of using abstract vocabulary?

• AIt discusses ideas and concepts rather than concrete things✓
• BIt appeals directly to the senses by naming tangible physical objects
• CIt replaces nouns with verbs to speed up the pace of a passage
• DIt signals that a text is written for young children

Answer: Abstract vocabulary refers to ideas, emotions, concepts rather than physical objects.

What is the effect of using concrete vocabulary?

• AIt keeps meaning general and theoretical
• BIt creates a formal, academic register
• CIt removes imagery from the description
• DIt creates vivid, specific, sensory detail✓

Answer: Concrete vocabulary refers to specific, physical, tangible things.

What is a cliché?

• AA striking new image invented by an individual writer
• BA phrase borrowed from another language
• CA specialist term used within a trade
• DAn overused expression that has lost impact✓

Answer: Clichés are overused phrases: 'at the end of the day', 'last but not least'.

Why should writers avoid clichés?

• AThey are too difficult for most readers to follow
• BThey always break grammatical rules
• CThey shorten a piece too much
• DThey lack originality and impact✓

Answer: Clichés are predictable and fail to create fresh, engaging meaning.

What is a prefix?

• AA letter combination added before a word to change meaning✓
• BA letter combination added after a word to change tense
• CA short word placed in front of a noun phrase
• DThe root section that carries a word's core meaning

Answer: Prefixes (un-, re-, pre-) attach to word beginnings changing meaning.

What is a suffix?

• AA letter combination placed at the start of a word to reverse its sense
• BThe unchanging base part of a word before any endings are added
• CA letter combination added after a word to change meaning✓
• DA punctuation mark that joins two words together

Answer: Suffixes (-ing, -tion, -ful) attach to word endings changing meaning.

What is etymology?

• AThe origin and history of a word's meaning✓
• BThe set of rules governing word order in a sentence
• CThe study of how words are pronounced
• DThe study of insects and their behaviour

Answer: Etymology traces words back to their origins and meaning development.

What does context clue mean?

• AInformation in surrounding text helping determine word meaning✓
• BA grammatical rule showing how a word functions in a clause
• CA dictionary definition printed in a footnote
• DA detail an author plants to hint at a later plot twist

Answer: Context clues use surrounding sentences to understand unknown words.

How can you determine meaning from context?

• ATranslate the word into another language first
• BCount the syllables to judge the word's tone
• CLook the word up in a dictionary before reading on
• DUse definitions and examples nearby to infer meaning✓

Answer: Surrounding examples, definitions, and logic help infer unknown word meaning.

What is register in vocabulary?

• AThe complete list of words a writer knows and can use
• BThe rhythm and stress patterns of speech
• CThe regional accent a speaker was raised with
• DThe appropriateness of language level to context✓

Answer: Register is language formality level: formal, informal, slang, technical.

What is the effect of using varied vocabulary?

• AIt makes the text simple enough for every reader to follow
• BIt corrects any grammatical errors found within a paragraph
• CIt reduces the number of words in a piece
• DIt prevents monotony and maintains reader interest✓

Answer: Varied vocabulary prevents repetition and maintains engagement.

What is a loaded word?

• AA word with strong emotional associations✓
• BA word made up of three or more separate syllables
• CA word that carries no meaning of its own, such as 'the'
• DA technical term restricted to one specialist field

Answer: Loaded words carry strong positive or negative connotations.

How does word choice affect persuasion?

• ALonger, more technical words are always more persuasive
• BPersuasion depends on paragraph length, not on wording
• CStatistics persuade readers; wording does not
• DPowerful, emotive words influence reader opinion✓

Answer: Word choice is essential to persuasion through emotional and logical appeal.

What is a compound word?

• AA word shortened by removing letters, such as 'phone'
• BA word built from a root plus a prefix or suffix
• CA word with more than three syllables
• DTwo words combined to create new meaning✓

Answer: Compound words combine two words: football, notebook, something.