NUMS — Medical & Dental Entry Test

NUMS English — Vocabulary: Meanings, Synonyms and Antonyms (Set 3)

Take the NUMS English — Vocabulary: Meanings, Synonyms and Antonyms (Set 3): 30 multiple-choice questions (40 minutes) with instant scoring and a full…

What this test covers

• 30 NUMS English

Sample questions with answers

The first 5 questions of this test, with the correct answer and explanation.

1. Q1. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "The monk led an AUSTERE life, without luxuries or comforts."

   • A. Plain and strict ✓
   • B. Hurried
   • C. Lavish
   • D. Cheerful

   Answer: A. Plain and strict

   Explanation: 'Austere' describes a way of living that is severe, simple and without luxury.

2. Q2. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "The OBSTINATE patient refused every treatment, however gently it was explained."

   • A. Forgetful
   • B. Fearful
   • C. Grateful
   • D. Stubborn ✓

   Answer: D. Stubborn

   Explanation: 'Obstinate' means refusing to change one's mind or course of action: stubborn.

3. Q3. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "Only SPORADIC cases of dengue were reported in the town, scattered over several months."

   • A. Fatal
   • B. Occasional ✓
   • C. Frequent
   • D. Widespread

   Answer: B. Occasional

   Explanation: 'Sporadic' means occurring now and then in scattered instances; the context confirms 'scattered'.

4. Q4. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "Climbing the steep mountain path was an ARDUOUS task for the elderly trekkers."

   • A. Pleasant
   • B. Brief
   • C. Tiring and difficult ✓
   • D. Risk-free

   Answer: C. Tiring and difficult

   Explanation: 'Arduous' means involving great effort and difficulty.

5. Q5. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "The ASTUTE examiner noticed at once that two scripts had been copied."

   • A. Elderly
   • B. Shrewd ✓
   • C. Strict
   • D. Careless

   Answer: B. Shrewd

   Explanation: 'Astute' means having sharp judgement and quick understanding; shrewd.

The other 25 questions

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6. Q6. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "The nurse tried to PLACATE the angry relatives by explaining the delay."

   • A. Dismiss
   • B. Calm down
   • C. Ignore
   • D. Provoke

7. Q7. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "Children are often RESILIENT and recover quickly from minor illnesses."

   • A. Difficult to treat
   • B. Slow to grow
   • C. Easily frightened
   • D. Able to recover quickly

8. Q8. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "Patients were told to ABSTAIN from food for eight hours before the operation."

   • A. Recover
   • B. Escape
   • C. Refrain
   • D. Benefit

9. Q9. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "The volunteers' effort to clean the hospital grounds on their day off was LAUDABLE."

   • A. Noisy
   • B. Doubtful
   • C. Surprising
   • D. Praiseworthy

10. Q10. Choose the word closest in meaning to the capitalised word as used in the sentence: "The invigilator gave only a CURSORY glance at the desks and moved on."

    • A. Suspicious
    • B. Hasty and superficial
    • C. Admiring
    • D. Careful

11. Q11. Choose the word opposite in meaning to ARROGANT.

    • A. Wealthy
    • B. Clever
    • C. Angry
    • D. Humble

12. Q12. Choose the word opposite in meaning to FERTILE (as used of soil).

    • A. Barren
    • B. Moist
    • C. Rocky
    • D. Cultivated

13. Q13. Choose the word opposite in meaning to DEPLETE.

    • A. Consume
    • B. Waste
    • C. Replenish
    • D. Exhaust

14. Q14. Choose the word opposite in meaning to ZENITH.

    • A. Horizon
    • B. Summit
    • C. Apex
    • D. Nadir

15. Q15. Choose the word opposite in meaning to EXPLICIT.

    • A. Written
    • B. Implied
    • C. Detailed
    • D. Direct

16. Q16. Choose the word opposite in meaning to SUPERFICIAL (as in 'a superficial analysis').

    • A. Brief
    • B. Accurate
    • C. Profound
    • D. Careless

17. Q17. Choose the word opposite in meaning to ACCELERATE.

    • A. Propel
    • B. Hasten
    • C. Initiate
    • D. Decelerate

18. Q18. Choose the word opposite in meaning to VOLUNTARY.

    • A. Optional
    • B. Casual
    • C. Unpaid
    • D. Compulsory

19. Q19. Choose the word opposite in meaning to HOMOGENEOUS (as in 'a homogeneous mixture').

    • A. Concentrated
    • B. Uniform
    • C. Saturated
    • D. Heterogeneous

20. Q20. Choose the word opposite in meaning to PRODIGAL.

    • A. Selfish
    • B. Thrifty
    • C. Foolish
    • D. Generous

21. Q21. Choose the single word that means 'a doctor who treats children'.

    • A. Physiotherapist
    • B. Paediatrician
    • C. Cardiologist
    • D. Gynaecologist

22. Q22. Choose the single word that means 'fear of enclosed or confined spaces'.

    • A. Claustrophobia
    • B. Agoraphobia
    • C. Hydrophobia
    • D. Acrophobia

23. Q23. Choose the single word that means 'that which cannot be read because it is badly written'.

    • A. Incredible
    • B. Illegible
    • C. Ineligible
    • D. Inaudible

24. Q24. Choose the single word that means 'a person who is concerned about the welfare of others and puts them before himself'.

    • A. Altruist
    • B. Pessimist
    • C. Sceptic
    • D. Egoist

25. Q25. In the sentence 'The warden turned a blind eye to the late-night noise in the hostel', the idiom 'turned a blind eye' is closest in meaning to:

    • A. To deliberately pretend not to notice something
    • B. To avoid meeting someone
    • C. To lose one's sight suddenly
    • D. To look at something very carefully

26. Q26. In the sentence 'The patient decided to bite the bullet and have the operation', the idiom 'bite the bullet' is closest in meaning to:

    • A. To eat in a hurry
    • B. To face something unpleasant with courage
    • C. To speak very angrily
    • D. To make a risky purchase

27. Q27. What does the idiom 'to cut corners' mean?

    • A. To measure something accurately
    • B. To make a task more complicated
    • C. To finish a task ahead of schedule with extra care
    • D. To do something cheaply or carelessly by skipping steps

28. Q28. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The new antibiotic had no adverse ___ on the patients.

    • A. affects of
    • B. effective
    • C. effect
    • D. affect

29. Q29. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: The school ___ announced that the exam would be held on Monday.

    • A. principally
    • B. principled
    • C. principal
    • D. principle

30. Q30. Choose the word that correctly completes the sentence: A well-balanced diet is a ___ to regular exercise for good health.

    • A. complex
    • B. compliance
    • C. complement
    • D. compliment