I85PREP
⌘ K
RBSE VU English study materials
RBSE VU English study resources

RBSE VU English practice questions

One question at a time. Build your RBSE VU English understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1Reading Comprehension

A passage opens with the sentence: 'The old lighthouse keeper climbed the spiral stairs, counting each step as he had for forty years.' Which reading skill is being tested when a question asks why the keeper counts the steps?

  1. Drawing an inference from descriptive detail Correct answer.
  2. Identifying the main idea of the passage
  3. Determining the meaning of an unfamiliar word
  4. Locating a stated fact in the text

Explanation

The number of steps is not explained directly; the reader must connect 'as he had for forty years' to habit, routine, or memory. That act of combining clues to reach an unstated conclusion is inference. Locating facts or finding the main idea would only require matching words already on the page.

Question 2Reading Comprehension

In a passage about desert survival, the writer states: 'Camels store fat in their humps, not water, a fact that surprises many travellers.' What is the function of the phrase 'a fact that surprises many travellers'?

  1. It comments on how widely the information is misunderstood. Correct answer.
  2. It signals that the writer disagrees with the statement.
  3. It provides statistical evidence for the claim.
  4. It introduces a new topic unrelated to the hump.

Explanation

The clause is an aside that tells us the information corrects a common belief, which is why travellers are surprised. It adds commentary on reader misconception rather than new data or a change of subject. Recognising this helps a reader see the writer's awareness of popular error.

Question 3Reading Comprehension

Read this short passage: 'The festival was cancelled. Rain had flooded the main square overnight, and the stage could not be made safe.' Which sentence best states the cause-and-effect relationship?

  1. The stage was unsafe because the festival had been cancelled.
  2. Flooding made the stage unsafe, which led to the cancellation. Correct answer.
  3. The rain stopped because the festival was cancelled.
  4. The main square was flooded because the stage was unsafe.

Explanation

The passage presents a chain: rain flooded the square, the stage became unsafe, and the festival was cancelled. The correct option preserves that order of cause before effect. Reversing any link misrepresents what the text says happened.

Question 4Reading Comprehension

A paragraph begins: 'However, not every expert agrees.' What does this transition tell a reader about the paragraph that follows?

  1. It will introduce a contrasting viewpoint. Correct answer.
  2. It will conclude the passage entirely.
  3. It will offer an example supporting the previous claim.
  4. It will summarise the same point in simpler words.

Explanation

'However' signals contrast, and 'not every expert agrees' explicitly announces disagreement. A reader should therefore expect an opposing position to be presented. Recognising contrast markers helps track how an argument develops across paragraphs.

Question 5Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a scientist who 'pored over' hundreds of pages of notes before announcing a result. In this context, what does 'pored over' most nearly mean?

  1. Discarded as useless
  2. Copied out by hand
  3. Studied with close attention Correct answer.
  4. Glanced at quickly

Explanation

The phrase 'pored over' means to examine something with sustained, careful attention. The surrounding detail about hundreds of pages before announcing a result supports diligent study. Context clues about effort and preparation confirm this meaning.

Question 6Reading Comprehension

Which sentence from a reading passage expresses an opinion rather than a verifiable fact?

  1. The bridge spans 1.2 kilometres.
  2. The bridge was completed in 1932.
  3. The bridge carries two lanes of traffic.
  4. The bridge is the most beautiful structure in the city. Correct answer.

Explanation

A statement is an opinion when it depends on personal judgement and cannot be checked against evidence. Beauty is a value judgement, so reasonable people may disagree. The other sentences give dates, measurements, and capacities that can be verified.

Question 7Reading Comprehension

A passage says: 'The committee met on Tuesday. It approved the budget.' What does the pronoun 'It' refer to?

  1. Tuesday
  2. The committee Correct answer.
  3. The passage does not say
  4. The budget

Explanation

Pronoun reference is resolved by looking at the nearest suitable noun that agrees in number and makes sense. 'Committee' is a singular collective noun and is the logical actor that can approve a budget. 'Budget' is the object of approval, not the approver.

Question 8Reading Comprehension

A passage about urban transport lists three problems: overcrowded buses, unreliable timetables, and high fares. A question asks for the passage's main idea. Which answer is best?

  1. The city's public transport system faces several serious problems. Correct answer.
  2. Bus fares have risen sharply in recent years.
  3. Many people prefer to walk to work.
  4. Timetables are printed for passengers.

Explanation

The main idea must cover all the supporting details rather than one of them. Overcrowding, unreliability, and cost together point to a general statement about multiple problems. An answer that mentions only fares or timetables is too narrow.

Question 9Reading Comprehension

A writer states: 'Studies of sleep suggest that teenagers need more rest than adults.' Which word in this sentence most clearly limits the strength of the claim?

  1. Studies
  2. rest
  3. suggest Correct answer.
  4. teenagers

Explanation

Hedging verbs such as 'suggest' indicate that the claim is tentative rather than proven. A stronger verb like 'prove' or 'show' would present the finding as settled. Noticing hedges helps readers judge how firmly a writer commits to a statement.

Question 10Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The museum's new wing attracted record visitors. Ticket sales rose by forty per cent in the first month.' What is the relationship between the two sentences?

  1. The second sentence introduces an unrelated topic.
  2. The second sentence contradicts the first.
  3. The second sentence describes a future plan.
  4. The second sentence gives evidence supporting the first. Correct answer.

Explanation

The first sentence makes a claim about record attendance, and the second supplies a statistic that supports it. Rising ticket sales are concrete evidence of high visitor numbers. Recognising this support relationship helps readers evaluate whether claims are substantiated.

Question 11Reading Comprehension

A passage uses the word 'radical' to describe a proposed change to the school timetable. Which meaning fits best in this context?

  1. Expensive and popular
  2. Gradual and cautious
  3. Far-reaching and fundamental Correct answer.
  4. Temporary and minor

Explanation

When 'radical' describes a change, it means thorough or fundamental rather than slight. Contexts about reform and proposals usually activate this sense. The other options describe small-scale or unrelated qualities that do not match the word's core meaning.

Question 12Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'Although the vaccine was effective, supplies remained limited in rural areas.' Which inference is best supported?

  1. Supplies were plentiful in rural areas.
  2. The vaccine was ineffective everywhere.
  3. The vaccine had not yet been developed.
  4. Rural areas had fewer doses available than were needed. Correct answer.

Explanation

The word 'although' sets up a contrast between effectiveness and limited supply, and 'limited in rural areas' implies shortfall there. A valid inference stays close to what the text states without overreaching. The other options directly contradict the given information.

Question 13Reading Comprehension

In a passage arguing for later school start times, the writer says: 'Adolescents who begin classes at 8:30 or later report better concentration.' Why does the writer include this detail?

  1. To describe the writer's own school days
  2. To provide supporting evidence for the argument Correct answer.
  3. To explain how clocks are set
  4. To criticise students for poor concentration

Explanation

In an argumentative passage, specific reported outcomes serve as evidence for the position being advanced. The detail about improved concentration supports the case for later start times. Identifying how details function helps readers separate argument from mere description.

Question 14Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a character who 'smiled tightly and said nothing' when praised. What does this detail most likely suggest about the character?

  1. Complete indifference to other people
  2. A wish to praise someone in return
  3. Genuine delight at the praise
  4. Discomfort or reluctance about the praise Correct answer.

Explanation

A 'tight' smile combined with silence is a common signal of restrained or uneasy feeling rather than open pleasure. Readers infer emotion from physical description and behaviour. The detail implies awkwardness, not warmth or total indifference.

Question 15Reading Comprehension

Which pair of sentences is linked most effectively by the transition 'As a result'?

  1. The team trained daily. As a result, they performed strongly in the final. Correct answer.
  2. The team trained daily. As a result, the coach was new.
  3. The team trained daily. As a result, the stadium was large.
  4. The team trained daily. As a result, the match was postponed.

Explanation

'As a result' signals that the second sentence is a consequence of the first. Daily training plausibly produces strong performance, so the causal link is logical. The other pairs place unrelated or reversed ideas after the transition.

Question 16Reading Comprehension

A passage reports: 'According to the survey, most residents favour the new park.' What does the phrase 'According to the survey' tell the reader?

  1. The claim is attributed to a specific source. Correct answer.
  2. The writer personally conducted the survey.
  3. The claim is the writer's own opinion.
  4. The survey results are certainly false.

Explanation

Attribution phrases identify where information comes from, allowing readers to weigh the source. 'According to' does not mean the writer endorses the claim personally or that it is false. Recognising attribution is central to evaluating reliability.

Question 17Reading Comprehension

A paragraph reads: 'Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Their efficiency depends on angle, weather, and cleanliness. Regular maintenance can therefore improve output.' Which sentence is the topic sentence?

  1. Regular maintenance can therefore improve output.
  2. None of the sentences functions as a topic sentence.
  3. Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. Correct answer.
  4. Their efficiency depends on angle, weather, and cleanliness.

Explanation

The topic sentence introduces the subject that the rest of the paragraph develops. Here the first sentence establishes solar panels as the focus, and later sentences add detail and consequence. It is the general statement that the supporting sentences elaborate.

Question 18Reading Comprehension

A passage on recycling says: 'Glass can be recycled indefinitely without loss of quality.' Which question would best test whether the reader has understood the claim?

  1. Where is glass manufactured?
  2. How heavy is a glass bottle?
  3. Does recycling glass reduce its quality over time? Correct answer.
  4. What colour is most glass?

Explanation

A good comprehension question targets the specific assertion made in the text. The passage claims quality is not lost, so asking whether quality declines directly tests that claim. The other questions concern details the passage does not address.

Question 19Reading Comprehension

A passage notes: 'The river, once clear, now runs brown after heavy rain.' What does the contrast between 'once clear' and 'now runs brown' chiefly emphasise?

  1. A change in the river's condition over time Correct answer.
  2. The temperature of the water
  3. The popularity of the river for swimming
  4. The river's depth during storms

Explanation

The time markers 'once' and 'now' frame a comparison between past and present states. The colour shift from clear to brown signals deterioration or altered condition. Contrast structures are a common way writers highlight change.

Question 20Reading Comprehension

A passage states that a company 'streamlined its procedures, cutting the time needed to process orders from ten days to three.' Which conclusion is best supported by the passage?

  1. The company lengthened its processing schedule.
  2. The company stopped processing orders entirely.
  3. The company reduced the time taken to handle orders. Correct answer.
  4. The company increased the number of orders it refused.

Explanation

The figures move from ten days to three, which is a clear reduction in processing time. A valid conclusion must follow from the stated numbers rather than speculate beyond them. The other options contradict or ignore the data given.

Question 21Reading Comprehension

A writer begins an article: 'Every year, thousands of tonnes of food are wasted while families go hungry.' What is the main rhetorical effect of placing these two facts side by side?

  1. It proves that hunger is unavoidable.
  2. It creates a sense of contradiction that urges action. Correct answer.
  3. It explains how food is transported.
  4. It shows that waste is decreasing.

Explanation

Juxtaposing waste with hunger creates a striking contrast that readers perceive as unjust or avoidable. This rhetorical pairing is designed to provoke concern and motivate change. It does not present hunger as inevitable or describe logistics.

Question 22Reading Comprehension

A passage presents two studies on homework: one finds no benefit for young children, another finds modest benefits for older students. Which statement best captures the writer's implied position?

  1. The value of homework may depend on the age of the student. Correct answer.
  2. All studies of homework are unreliable.
  3. Homework benefits young children most of all.
  4. Homework should be abolished at every age.

Explanation

When evidence differs by group, the reasonable implied position is that effects are conditional. The two studies together suggest age matters, with little benefit early and some later. This synthesises both findings rather than adopting one extreme.

Question 23Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a policy as 'a success' but immediately notes that 'fewer than one in five eligible households took part.' How should a careful reader interpret the writer's use of 'success'?

  1. The term shows the policy was cancelled.
  2. The term refers only to household income.
  3. The term is fully supported by the participation figures.
  4. The term is questionable given the low take-up that follows. Correct answer.

Explanation

A claim of success sits awkwardly beside data showing very low participation, so the reader should treat the label critically. Careful reading involves checking evaluative words against the evidence supplied. The figures do not confirm success and may undermine it.

Question 24Reading Comprehension

A passage uses the sentence: 'Not all that glitters is gold.' In the context of a text about misleading advertising, what does the proverb most likely mean?

  1. Attractive appearances can hide poor quality. Correct answer.
  2. Glitter is a valuable material.
  3. Advertisements should always be trusted.
  4. Gold is difficult to find in shops.

Explanation

The proverb warns that outward shine is not proof of real value, which fits a passage about deceptive advertising. Readers must connect a figurative saying to the surrounding topic. The meaning concerns appearance versus substance, not literal gold or glitter.

Question 25Reading Comprehension

A passage reports survey results but notes that 'respondents were recruited from a single online forum.' What is the main weakness this detail reveals about the evidence?

  1. The survey used too many respondents.
  2. The results were collected over too many years.
  3. The sample may not represent the wider population. Correct answer.
  4. The questions were written in the wrong language.

Explanation

A sample drawn from one online forum is narrow and may share particular characteristics, limiting generalisation. Evaluating evidence includes checking how participants were selected. The concern is representativeness, not sample size, language, or duration.

Question 26Reading Comprehension

A reading passage opens with the sentence: 'Few inventions have reshaped daily life as quietly as the humble refrigerator.' What is the main function of this sentence within the passage?

  1. It provides statistical evidence that supports a later claim.
  2. It defines a technical term that the passage will use throughout.
  3. It summarizes the conclusion the passage will eventually reject.
  4. It introduces the passage's central subject and signals the writer's admiring stance. Correct answer.

Explanation

An opening sentence of this kind names the topic (the refrigerator) and simultaneously reveals attitude through words like 'humble' and 'quietly,' which carry admiration. It performs no numerical, definitional, or concluding function, so the framing role is the only defensible reading.

Question 27Reading Comprehension

Read this extract: 'The council promised to repair every pothole within a year. Eighteen months later, crews had filled barely half of them.' Which statement best describes how the second sentence relates to the first?

  1. It offers a cause that explains why the promise was made.
  2. It supplies a contrast that undercuts the promise in the first sentence. Correct answer.
  3. It generalizes from the first sentence to a wider principle.
  4. It restates the first sentence in different words.

Explanation

The first sentence records a commitment; the second reports performance that falls short of it. The time gap and the phrase 'barely half' create a contrast that weakens the original promise, rather than repeating, explaining, or generalizing it.

Question 28Reading Comprehension

A passage contains the sentence: 'The proposal was ambitious; nevertheless, the board rejected it.' Which word could replace 'nevertheless' without changing the logical relationship between the two clauses?

  1. However Correct answer.
  2. Therefore
  3. Similarly
  4. Because

Explanation

'Nevertheless' signals concession followed by contrast: ambition would normally favour a proposal, yet rejection followed. 'However' carries the same adversative meaning. The other choices express result, cause, or likeness, none of which preserves the contrast.

Question 29Reading Comprehension

In a passage about a failed expedition, the writer notes: 'They had packed for a fortnight; the journey took five weeks.' Which technique is the writer using to convey the expedition's difficulty?

  1. Understated juxtaposition of expectation and reality Correct answer.
  2. A definition of a technical survival term
  3. A statistical comparison of two expeditions
  4. Direct quotation of the explorers' own words

Explanation

The writer presents two plain facts side by side and lets the mismatch speak for itself, which is understatement through juxtaposition. No one is quoted, no statistics compare expeditions, and no terminology is defined.

Question 30Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'The library extended its opening hours, and borrowing rose by a fifth.' A reader concludes that the longer hours caused the increase. Which additional finding would most weaken that conclusion?

  1. Borrowing fell slightly in the year before the change.
  2. Borrowing also rose by a fifth at libraries in neighbouring towns that kept their old hours. Correct answer.
  3. The library's staff welcomed the change in hours.
  4. The library installed brighter lighting in its reading rooms.

Explanation

If comparable libraries with unchanged hours saw the same rise, the increase is plausibly a regional trend rather than an effect of the extended hours. That comparison removes the change as a plausible cause. The other findings do not supply an alternative explanation for the rise.

Question 31Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The report's recommendations were bold, its evidence thin, and its tone conciliatory.' Which best describes the writer's overall assessment of the report?

  1. Wholly critical
  2. Mixed, with reservations about support Correct answer.
  3. Neutral, offering no evaluation
  4. Wholly favourable

Explanation

The three-part structure balances praise ('bold') against criticism ('evidence thin') while noting a stylistic feature ('conciliatory'). The overall judgement is therefore mixed, with a specific reservation about the strength of the evidence.

Question 32Reading Comprehension

A passage about remote work says: 'Employees saved commuting time. Many used it for additional work tasks.' What is the most reasonable inference from these two sentences together?

  1. Employees preferred commuting to working from home.
  2. Remote work eliminated commuting for most employees.
  3. Some of the time gained from not commuting was absorbed by work. Correct answer.
  4. Employers required staff to work longer office hours.

Explanation

The two sentences form a sequence: time was freed, then some of it was spent on work tasks. The natural inference is that the benefit was partly reclaimed by the employer's demands. Nothing in the text supports the absolute or preference-based readings.

Question 33Reading Comprehension

In a passage, a scientist is described as having 'paused, then answered the question about funding with unusual care.' What does this detail most strongly suggest about the funding topic?

  1. The scientist considered the topic sensitive or complicated. Correct answer.
  2. The scientist found the question trivial.
  3. The scientist had not understood the question.
  4. The scientist wanted to change the subject entirely.

Explanation

A pause followed by notably careful wording usually signals that the speaker regards the matter as delicate or difficult. The detail points to caution about the topic, not indifference, confusion, or evasion, none of which is stated.

Question 34Reading Comprehension

A passage argues: 'Cities should plant more street trees. Trees lower summer temperatures, absorb rainwater, and improve air quality.' Which statement best identifies the role of the second sentence?

  1. It concedes a weakness in the recommendation.
  2. It states the conclusion the first sentence is meant to support.
  3. It provides the reasons on which the first sentence's recommendation rests. Correct answer.
  4. It introduces a counterargument the writer will answer.

Explanation

The first sentence is a recommendation; the second lists three benefits that justify it. Those benefits function as supporting reasons, not as a conclusion, concession, or opposing view.

Question 35Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The festival, which began as a single street stall, now fills three squares and draws visitors from abroad.' Which aspect of the festival does the sentence emphasize?

  1. Its seasonal schedule
  2. Its growth over time Correct answer.
  3. Its financial cost
  4. Its organisers' intentions

Explanation

The sentence sets an origin ('a single street stall') against a present scale ('three squares,' 'visitors from abroad'). That contrast is designed to highlight expansion. Cost, timing, and organizers' motives are not mentioned.

Question 36Reading Comprehension

A passage reports: 'The new policy reduced waiting times, according to hospital records.' Which feature of the evidence would most strengthen the claim that the policy caused the reduction?

  1. Waiting times were already falling before the policy was introduced.
  2. The records were compiled by the hospital's own administrators.
  3. Patients reported being satisfied with the new arrangements.
  4. Waiting times at comparable hospitals without the policy stayed the same. Correct answer.

Explanation

A comparison group that lacked the policy and showed no improvement isolates the policy as the likely cause. Without such a control, a general downward trend could explain the hospital's figures. Satisfaction and the identity of the record-keepers do not address causation.

Question 37Reading Comprehension

A passage states: 'Critics called the design derivative, yet the building has become the city's most photographed landmark.' What does the word 'yet' accomplish in this sentence?

  1. It concedes that the critics were correct.
  2. It indicates that the building is rarely visited.
  3. It explains why the design was called derivative.
  4. It balances professional criticism against popular success. Correct answer.

Explanation

'Yet' sets two opposed assessments side by side: expert disapproval and public enthusiasm. The conjunction does not endorse the critics, explain their judgement, or say anything about visitor numbers beyond the photographing.

Question 38Reading Comprehension

A passage describes a study in which participants rated a new snack. It notes: 'Participants knew which brand had funded the research.' Why is this detail important for interpreting the ratings?

  1. It proves that the snack was of high quality.
  2. It explains why the snack was chosen for testing.
  3. It shows that the participants were chosen at random.
  4. It raises the possibility that expectations influenced the ratings. Correct answer.

Explanation

Awareness of a funding source can bias how people judge a product, so the detail alerts the reader to a possible source of distortion. It concerns bias, not sampling method, product quality, or selection of the snack.

Question 39Reading Comprehension

Read: 'The editor praised the manuscript's clarity while quietly returning it to the author for a third revision.' What does the sentence imply about the editor's praise?

  1. It was offered only after the revision was complete.
  2. It was entirely false and meant to mislead the author.
  3. It was sincere but incomplete, since real concerns were left unspoken. Correct answer.
  4. It referred to a different manuscript.

Explanation

The word 'while' and the adverb 'quietly' set the spoken praise against an action that signals dissatisfaction. The implication is that the praise was genuine as far as it went but did not express the editor's full reservations. Outright deceit or confusion about the manuscript is not supported.

Question 40Reading Comprehension

A passage compares two explanations for a decline in bee numbers, then concludes: 'Neither explanation alone accounts for the pattern, though each captures part of it.' Which best describes the writer's position?

  1. Both explanations are rejected as useless.
  2. The decline cannot be explained by any means.
  3. The first explanation is sound and the second mistaken.
  4. Each explanation is partly valid but insufficient on its own. Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'neither...alone' denies sufficiency while 'each captures part of it' affirms partial validity. The position is therefore that both explanations contribute something but neither is complete. Rejection of both or of one contradicts the wording.

Question 41Vocabulary and Word Usage

In the sentence 'The committee reached a unanimous decision,' the word 'unanimous' most nearly means that the decision was made:

  1. by everyone in complete agreement Correct answer.
  2. after a long debate
  3. under strict time pressure
  4. by a single appointed member

Explanation

'Unanimous' describes a group in which all members share the same opinion, so a unanimous decision is one everyone agrees on. The word says nothing about how long the discussion took, who led it, or any deadline.

Question 42Vocabulary and Word Usage

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: 'The manager asked for a ____ summary of the report, no longer than two sentences.'

  1. tentative
  2. tedious
  3. concise Correct answer.
  4. verbose

Explanation

A two-sentence limit calls for something short and to the point, which is the meaning of 'concise'. The context clue 'no longer than two sentences' rules out any word suggesting length or wordiness.

Question 43Vocabulary and Word Usage

Which word is the most direct antonym of 'frugal' as used in 'a frugal shopper'?

  1. careful
  2. thrifty
  3. modest
  4. extravagant Correct answer.

Explanation

'Frugal' means economical and sparing with money, so its antonym describes someone who spends freely. 'Extravagant' means spending excessively, making it the direct opposite.

Question 44Vocabulary and Word Usage

In 'She gave a terse reply and left the room,' the word 'terse' suggests that the reply was:

  1. loud and angry
  2. confused and rambling
  3. brief and abrupt Correct answer.
  4. warm and detailed

Explanation

'Terse' means using few words, often in a way that seems curt or abrupt. The paired action of leaving the room supports the sense of a short, unfriendly answer rather than a detailed one.

Question 45Vocabulary and Word Usage

Which sentence uses 'principal' correctly for a standard English exam?

  1. The principal of the school building was repaired.
  2. He deposited the money in a principal account.
  3. The principal reason for the delay was heavy rain. Correct answer.
  4. She explained the principal of gravity to the class.

Explanation

'Principal' as an adjective means main or most important, so 'the principal reason' is correct. The noun 'principle' refers to a rule or truth, and that is the form needed in the science sentence.

Question 46Vocabulary and Word Usage

Identify the synonym of 'meticulous' as used in 'a meticulous record-keeper'.

  1. hurried
  2. forgetful
  3. thorough Correct answer.
  4. careless

Explanation

'Meticulous' describes someone who shows great attention to detail, which matches 'thorough'. The other options describe a lack of care or speed, which contradict the word.

Question 47Vocabulary and Word Usage

In the phrase 'a lucrative contract', the word 'lucrative' indicates that the contract is:

  1. poorly drafted
  2. financially rewarding Correct answer.
  3. short in duration
  4. legally binding

Explanation

'Lucrative' means producing wealth or profit, so a lucrative contract brings in money. It says nothing about legal status, quality of drafting, or length.

Question 48Vocabulary and Word Usage

Which word best completes the sentence: 'The instructions were so ____ that even a beginner could follow them.'

  1. ambiguous
  2. explicit Correct answer.
  3. obscure
  4. subtle

Explanation

The clause 'even a beginner could follow them' signals that the instructions were clear and fully stated, which is the meaning of 'explicit'. The other options all suggest vagueness or difficulty.

Question 49Vocabulary and Word Usage

In 'The witness gave a candid account of the events,' the word 'candid' most nearly means:

  1. hostile and accusing
  2. rehearsed and formal
  3. vague and cautious
  4. honest and direct Correct answer.

Explanation

'Candid' means frank and truthful, so a candid account is an honest, straightforward one. The word does not imply rehearsal, vagueness, or hostility.

Question 50Vocabulary and Word Usage

Choose the option in which the underlined-style word is used with the same meaning as in 'The evidence was too tenuous to support the claim.'

  1. The tenuous bridge swayed in the wind.
  2. The tenuous meeting was postponed.
  3. The tenuous fabric tore easily.
  4. His argument rested on a tenuous link between the two facts. Correct answer.

Explanation

In the original sentence, 'tenuous' means weak or flimsy in reasoning, describing an unsupported claim. The argument sentence uses it in the same figurative sense of a weak connection.