Dictionary quiz

Before attempting this quiz, go back to the lesson “The Importance of a Good Dictionary”, and then come back!

This quiz is to help you get used to an online dictionary, and to practice using the information presented.  

So, what are you waiting for? Give the quiz a go!

Use the dictionary link provided hererin (to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary) to answer the following questions: 

1. How many ways can you use this verb? What are they?

rescue

2. What are the different food meanings for this word in BrE and NAmE (for meanings of “BrE” and “NAmE”, see the lesson mentioned above)?

chip

3. How do you pronounce the following words in BrE?

superior debris

Find the phonemic transcript, and try to listen to the pronunciation using the dictionary link.

4. What is a synonym for the following word?

relinquish

5. Are these verbs transitive or intransitive?

watch, live, eat 

6. What part of speech is the following word? Does it have a good or a bad meaning?

disgraceful

7. How do you spell…

necesary, necessary, nessecary

8. Where is the stress in these words?

photograph photography photographer photographic

9. This word is an adjective, what noun does it describe?

semi-detached

10. Which prepositions/adverbs can be used after this word, and which is the most common?

talk

Answers:

1. 3 (1 = rescue someone/something from someone/something; 2 = rescue someone/something; 3 = rescue someone/something + adjective)

2. BrE chip = a French fry
NAmE chip = a round flat slice of potato sold in bags (usually “crisp” in BrE)

3. superior = /su:‘pɪəriə(r)/ or /sju:‘pɪəriə(r)/

4. give up

5. watch = I and T

live = I

eat = I and T

6. adjective = negative meaning (bad)

7. necessary

8. photograph photography photographer photographic

9. a house

10. talk to/about/with = equally common

talk of = less common

How did you do?

1 – 3 = Good try, but you’re not there yet! Try again with some new words.

4 – 6 = Pretty good, you can use a dictionary quite well. Try to use a dictionary to learn more about the new words you learn.

7 – 9 = Well done! You can use a dictionary very effectively.

10 = YOU ARE A DICTIONARY SUPERSTAR!!!! Go and tell all your friends how clever you are…

Now that you have seen what a good dictionary can do, you have the tools to understand and use a whole new world of vocabulary. So start searching now!

This material is provided by the Australian Centre for Education and Training (ACET).