Free ASVAB Word Knowledge Practice Test

Word Knowledge practice questions

1. Question 1

   Candid most nearly means

   1. A.secretive
   2. B.nervous
   3. C.frank
   4. D.cheerful
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. frank

   Candid means open and honest in what one says, so frank is the match. Think of a "candid photo": it shows things as they really are, not posed.

2. Question 2

   The new recruit was diligent, finishing every assignment well before the deadline. Diligent most nearly means

   1. A.hardworking
   2. B.careless
   3. C.talkative
   4. D.anxious
   Show answer

   Correct answer: A. hardworking

   Diligent means showing steady, careful effort, so hardworking fits. The sentence clue (finishing early) points to effort, not to nerves or carelessness.

3. Question 3

   Mitigate most nearly means

   1. A.worsen
   2. B.delay
   3. C.explain
   4. D.lessen
   Show answer

   Correct answer: D. lessen

   To mitigate is to make something less severe, as in mitigating damage or risk. Worsen is the opposite and is a common trap.

4. Question 4

   After the storm, fresh drinking water was scarce, and each family received only two bottles a day. Scarce most nearly means

   1. A.plentiful
   2. B.limited
   3. C.polluted
   4. D.expensive
   Show answer

   Correct answer: B. limited

   Scarce means in short supply, so limited is correct. The ration of two bottles a day signals a shortage; nothing in the sentence mentions cost or contamination.

5. Question 5

   The word frugal is most opposite in meaning to

   1. A.thrifty
   2. B.wasteful
   3. C.careful
   4. D.modest
   Show answer

   Correct answer: B. wasteful

   Frugal means sparing and economical with money or resources, so its opposite is wasteful. Thrifty is a synonym, a trap when the question asks for the opposite.

6. Question 6

   The general's orders were so ambiguous that the officers argued for an hour about what he wanted. Ambiguous most nearly means

   1. A.strict
   2. B.urgent
   3. C.brief
   4. D.unclear
   Show answer

   Correct answer: D. unclear

   Ambiguous means open to more than one interpretation, so unclear is the match. The prefix ambi- (both) hints at two possible meanings, which explains the arguing.

7. Question 7

   Tenacious most nearly means

   1. A.persistent
   2. B.fragile
   3. C.generous
   4. D.timid
   Show answer

   Correct answer: A. persistent

   Tenacious means holding firmly to a goal or grip and refusing to give up, so persistent fits. It shares the Latin root ten- (hold) with tenant and retain.

8. Question 8

   Even though she was shaken, the witness gave a lucid account of how the accident happened. Lucid most nearly means

   1. A.lengthy
   2. B.emotional
   3. C.clear
   4. D.false
   Show answer

   Correct answer: C. clear

   Lucid means easy to understand or clearly expressed. The root luc- means light (as in translucent), so a lucid account sheds light on events.

9. Question 9

   Placate most nearly means

   1. A.provoke
   2. B.ignore
   3. C.accuse
   4. D.soothe
   Show answer

   Correct answer: D. soothe

   To placate is to calm someone down by making concessions, so soothe is correct. It is related to placid (calm); provoke is the opposite.

10. Question 10

    His reply to the long letter was so terse that we doubted he had read it at all. Terse most nearly means

    1. A.brief
    2. B.polite
    3. C.detailed
    4. D.cheerful
    Show answer

    Correct answer: A. brief

    Terse means using very few words, so brief is the match. Detailed is the opposite, and the contrast with the long letter is the clue.

11. Question 11

    Vigilant most nearly means

    1. A.lazy
    2. B.watchful
    3. C.brave
    4. D.quiet
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. watchful

    Vigilant means keeping careful watch for danger or trouble, so watchful fits. A vigil is a period of staying awake to keep watch.

12. Question 12

    Under the bright lamp, the mechanic spotted a minute crack in the engine block. Minute most nearly means

    1. A.sudden
    2. B.deep
    3. C.tiny
    4. D.recent
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. tiny

    Pronounced my-NOOT, the adjective minute means extremely small, so tiny is correct. Do not confuse it with the unit of time; the need for a bright lamp hints the crack was hard to see.

13. Question 13

    Benevolent most nearly means

    1. A.cruel
    2. B.wealthy
    3. C.kind
    4. D.wise
    Show answer

    Correct answer: C. kind

    Benevolent means well-meaning and kindly. The prefix bene- means good or well, as in benefit; a benevolent person is not necessarily wealthy.

14. Question 14

    The committee decided to defer the vote until more members could attend. Defer most nearly means

    1. A.cancel
    2. B.postpone
    3. C.rush
    4. D.count
    Show answer

    Correct answer: B. postpone

    To defer is to put off until a later time, so postpone is correct. Cancel is tempting, but the phrase "until more members could attend" shows the vote will still happen.

15. Question 15

    The word obscure is most opposite in meaning to

    1. A.hidden
    2. B.vague
    3. C.ancient
    4. D.famous
    Show answer

    Correct answer: D. famous

    Obscure can mean little known (an obscure author), so its opposite here is famous. Hidden and vague are close synonyms of obscure, not opposites.

Tips for ASVAB Word Knowledge

• When the word is used in a sentence, read the whole sentence — the context often rules out two choices.
• Break unfamiliar words into prefixes and roots (bene- means good, mal- means bad, -cede means go).
• Watch for distractors that look or sound like the target word but mean something else.
• Build vocabulary a little every day; cramming word lists the night before rarely sticks.

Keep practicing

• Free ASVAB practice test: AFQT questions from all four subtests
• Arithmetic Reasoning practice test
• Paragraph Comprehension practice test
• Mathematics Knowledge practice test
• How to Pass the ASVAB: 10 Proven Study Tips
• How to Study for the ASVAB in 30 Days