Word Power: Can You Match These Tricky Terms With Their Definitions?
Centuries of trade between Middle Eastern and European merchants brought more than silks and spices to the West. Find out how many of these words are in your vocabulary.
Lapis Lazuli
A: Breed of soft-haired rabbit
B: Gem-carving technique
C: Bright blue mineral
Answer: C—Bright blue mineral
As in, “Yvonne’s necklace caught the eye with its lapis lazuli stones.”
Test your knowledge of these evocative adjectives.
Bezoar
A: Wild boar
B: Hard mass in a stomach
C: Navigational star chart
Answer: B—Hard mass in a stomach
As in, “The veterinarian found the bezoar that had been causing José’s dog such pain.”
Find out the real reason there’s an “r” in Mrs.
Adobe
A: Flour-based glue
B: Sun-dried bricks
C: Political advisor
Answer: B—Sun-dried bricks
As in, “Some of the streets in Timimoun, Algeria, are lined with adobe houses.”
Too easy? Try your hand at these Jeopardy! questions even champions got wrong.
Mecca
A: Place that attracts people
B: Clay cooking pot
C: Magnetic north
Correct answer: A—Place that attracts people
As in, “Some Muslims take an annual trip to Mecca, the city where Muhammad was born, and some culture lovers take an annual trip to New York City, a mecca for the arts.”
Ready for another Word Power quiz? Take to the skies without leaving your chair by exploring these aviation terms.
Carmine
A: Woven satchel
B: Vivid red
C: Youthful prince
Answer: B—Vivid red
As in, “In spring, Jasmine’s garden is full of carmine tulips.”
Can you pass this quiz of 4th grade science questions?
Albatross
A: Oceanic bird of the family Diomedeidae
B: Saltwater fish species
C: Song lamenting the fall of a city
Answer: A—Oceanic bird of the family Diomedeidae
As in, “‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ tells of a curse brought about when a sailor kills an albatross.”
Know your way around a kitchen? Test your knowledge of cooking terms.
Loofah
A: Incense holder
B: Dried fruit used as a bath sponge
C: Cinnamon toothpaste
Answer: B—Dried fruit used as a bath sponge
As in, “Harry’s bathroom was stocked with fresh towels, a silk dressing gown and a loofah.”
You’ll never look at these palindrome words the same way again.
Alcove
A: Footstool
B: Fragrant spice
C: Recessed area
Answer: C—Recessed area
As in, “A marble bust of Beethoven sat in an alcove in the living room.”
These printable crossword puzzles will give your brain a good workout.
Azimuth
A: Military officer who leads a death squad
B: Political deadlock
C: Direction of a celestial body from the observer
Answer: C—Direction of a celestial body from the observer
As in, “To receive the most sunlight, a solar panel should take the sun’s azimuth into account.”
Can you pass this quiz of fourth grade spelling words?
Cipher
A: Coded messaging
B: Gambling strategy
C: Freshwater dolphin
Answer: A—Coded messaging
As in, “Many ciphers were created for the U.S. military during the Second World War, but the Navajo language proved one of the best methods of secret communication.”
How many of these baby terms can you define?
Julep
A: Citrus drink
B: Syrupy drink
C: Yogourt drink
Answer: B—Syrupy drink
As in, “The mint julep is the signature cocktail of the Kentucky Derby.”
Think you’ve got an extensive vocabulary? Put it to the test with this quiz of ocean terms.
Calipers
A: Instrument with two legs that measures dimensions
B: Hereditary religious leaders in Syria
C: Proportion of precious meals in an alloy
Answer: A—Instrument with two legs that measures dimensions
As in, “While renovating the kitchen, Jillian used calipers to determine the size of her tiles.”
If you can get 80% of these tricky trivia questions right, you’re a certified genius.
Alkaline
A: Dark eyeliner made from wax
B: Substance containing a low concentration of hydrogen ions
C: Pointed nose
Answer: B—Substance containing a low concentration of hydrogen ions
As in, “A solution with a pH higher than seven is said to be alkaline, or basic.”
Test your health IQ with this medical trivia quiz.
Arsenal
A: Person who sets fires
B: Deadly poison
C: Store of weapons
Answer: C—Store of weapons
As in, “Nine countries in the world possess known nuclear arsenals.”
Can you answer these real Jeopardy! questions about words?
Damask
A: Twilight hour
B: Woven fabric with a reversible pattern
C: Persian Gulf sailing vessel
Answer: B—Woven fabric with a reversible pattern
As in, “For the French doors, the decorator chose damask curtains that would photograph well from either side.”
If you aced this Reader’s Digest Word Power test, you’re ready to tackle our Canadian trivia quiz.
