Q 01/05

Which adjective describes someone who practices abstinence, especially in eating and drinking?

A) Abstemious

B) Gregarious

C) Loquacious

D) Obstreperous

Answer · why

A) Abstemious

It is one of the few common English words that contain all five vowels once each, in alphabetical order.

Q 02/05

What term describes treating serious issues with deliberately inappropriate humor; flippant?

A) Punctilious

B) Facetious

C) Querulous

D) Meticulous

Answer · why

B) Facetious

It is the best-known English word with a, e, i, o and u appearing once each in alphabetical order; add '-ly' and y joins the parade too.

Q 03/05

Which word means receiving or giving systematic instruction, especially at a school or university?

A) Edification

B) Enlightenment

C) Education

D) Apprenticeship

Answer · why

C) Education

It is the shortest everyday word most people know that packs in all five vowels, though not in alphabetical order. The root is Latin educare, 'to brin...

Q 04/05

What adjective means very numerous; existing in great numbers?

A) Copious

B) Multitudinous

C) Superabundant

D) Inexhaustible

Answer · why

B) Multitudinous

Shakespeare's Macbeth famously fears his bloody hand would 'the multitudinous seas incarnadine'. The word uses all five vowels, with u appearing three...

Q 05/05

Which word describes a sound, especially speech, that is pleasing to the ear?

A) Cacophonous

B) Dissonant

C) Euphonious

D) Raucous

Answer · why

C) Euphonious

From Greek eu ('well') and phone ('sound'), it contains all five vowels and its antonym, cacophonous, comes from kakos, 'bad'.