IMO Practice Test — One-Word Substitution & Confusable Words
8 Questions • 20 min • Olympiad level
20:00
Question 1 of 8
'One who is indifferent to pleasure and pain':
stoic
cynic
hedonist
sceptic
Explanation: A stoic endures without complaint.
Question 2 of 8
Choose the correct confusables: 'The ___ effect of the new ___ was felt at once.' (principal/principle)
principal … principle
principle … principal
principal … principal
principle … principle
Explanation: 'principal effect' (main) of the new 'principle' (rule).
Question 3 of 8
'A word opposite in meaning to another':
synonym
antonym
homonym
acronym
Explanation: Antonym.
Question 4 of 8
Choose: 'I ___ from your tone that you disagree.' (imply/infer)
imply
infer
implies
infers
Explanation: The listener infers; the speaker implies.
Question 5 of 8
'One who pretends to be what he is not':
hypocrite
philanthropist
altruist
patriot
Explanation: A hypocrite.
Question 6 of 8
Choose: 'Lay the book on the table' vs 'I want to ___ down.'
lay
lie
laid
lain
Explanation: 'lie down' (intransitive) — no object.
Question 7 of 8
'Study of the origin and history of words':
etymology
entomology
ecology
ethnology
Explanation: Etymology (words); entomology is insects.
Question 8 of 8
Choose: 'His ___ behaviour caused ___ problems.' (continual/continuous)
continual … continual
continual … continuous
continuous … continual
continuous … continuous
Explanation: 'continual behaviour' (repeated) caused 'continuous problems' (unbroken) — context favours 'continual … continuous'.