Philippine Civil Service Exam · Verbal Ability

Vocabulary, Context Clues and Synonyms-Antonyms

35 practice questions, each with the answer and an explanation.

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Random questions from this topic, one at a time. You see the answer and the explanation straight after each one.

All 35 questions

  1. In the sentence 'The director commended the clerk for showing exemplary diligence in clearing backlogged permits,' what does 'exemplary' mean?
  2. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'NEPOTISM' as evaluated under Philippine civil service ethics.
  3. In administrative law, when an officer acts 'ultra vires', what does the phrase signify?
  4. Select the closest synonym for the word 'CANDOR' in the phrase 'She responded to the audit committee with remarkable candor.'
  5. What is the meaning of 'SUPERFLUOUS' in: 'The manual contains superfluous documentation that slows down processing'?
  6. Identify the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'MITIGATE' in: 'The agency took swift measures to mitigate the environmental impact.'
  7. What does 'LACONIC' mean in: 'The secretary's laconic response provided only the essential resolution without elaboration'?
  8. Select the closest synonym for 'CIRCUMSPECT' in: 'Auditors must remain circumspect when assessing third-party transactions.'
  9. What is the meaning of 'OBSEQUIOUS' in professional ethics discussions?
  10. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE to 'GARRULOUS'.
  11. In public administration, an 'anomaly' refers to which of the following?
  12. Select the closest synonym for 'DISPARATE' in: 'The council integrated disparate proposals into a unified reform framework.'
  13. What does 'UBIQUITOUS' mean in: 'Mobile smartphones have become ubiquitous across Philippine urban centers'?
  14. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'ACRIMONIOUS'.
  15. What is the meaning of 'INTRANSIGENT' in: 'The union maintained an intransigent stance during collective negotiations'?
  16. Select the closest synonym for 'PERFUNCTORY' in: 'The inspection team conducted a perfunctory review of the facility.'
  17. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'NEFARIOUS'.
  18. In: 'The board issued an unequivocally cogent justification for the budget reallocation,' what does 'cogent' mean?
  19. What does 'RECIDIVISM' mean in the context of correctional and administrative penal systems?
  20. Select the closest synonym for 'TENUOUS' in: 'The auditor found the link between expenditure and project deliverables to be tenuous.'
  21. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE to 'ALACRITY' in: 'The staff responded to the emergency mobilization with alacrity.'
  22. What is the meaning of 'INCIPIENT' in: 'The committee addressed the incipient conflict before it disrupted operations'?
  23. Select the closest synonym for 'PARSIMONIOUS'.
  24. In: 'The council warned that piecemeal amendments would vitiate the comprehensive nature of the code,' what does 'vitiate' mean?
  25. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE to 'OSTENTATIOUS' in professional lifestyle guidelines.
  26. What does 'QUIXOTIC' mean in: 'His plan to digitize all provincial archives in forty-eight hours was deemed quixotic'?
  27. Select the closest synonym for 'SAGACIOUS' in: 'The agency benefited from the sagacious counsel of its retired commissioners.'
  28. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE to 'SANGUINE' in: 'The financial director remained sanguine regarding tax revenue recovery.'
  29. What is the meaning of 'EXONERATE' in administrative disciplinary cases?
  30. Select the closest synonym for 'VORACIOUS'.
  31. In statutory construction, a 'proviso' serves what primary function?
  32. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE to 'SURREPTITIOUS'.
  33. What does 'ENERVATE' mean?
  34. Select the closest synonym for 'RECALCITRANT'.
  35. Choose the word most nearly OPPOSITE in meaning to 'PELLUCID'.

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