ACER Level 1 Humanities Practice

Try each question first, then open the worked solution to check your answer and see how to reach it.

1. 1.Read the text: 'Despite the scorching heat, the marathon runner pushed forward, ignoring the burning in his lungs.' This demonstrates:

   • AApathy
   • BPerseverance
   • CConfusion
   • DAnger
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   Answer: B (Perseverance)

   The runner 'pushed forward' despite 'the scorching heat' and 'the burning in his lungs'. Continuing through difficulty is perseverance. 'Apathy' means not caring, which is the opposite of pushing on, and there are no signs of confusion or anger in the sentence.

2. 2.Read the text: 'He spoke with such conviction that even his harshest critics began to reconsider their stance.' Conviction means:

   • AGuilt
   • BDoubt
   • CFirm belief
   • DAnger
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   Answer: C (Firm belief)

   He spoke with such conviction that 'even his harshest critics began to reconsider their stance'. Changing critics' minds requires speaking with firm belief. 'Doubt' is the opposite of conviction, and 'guilt' is a different meaning of the related word 'convicted', which does not fit this sentence.

3. 3.Read the text: 'The city was a melting pot of cultures, offering a kaleidoscope of cuisines, languages, and traditions.' This implies the city is:

   • ADangerous
   • BHomogeneous
   • CDiverse
   • DBoring
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   Answer: C (Diverse)

   A 'melting pot of cultures' is a place where many different cultures mix together, and a 'kaleidoscope of cuisines, languages, and traditions' adds to the sense of variety. So the city is diverse. 'Homogeneous', meaning all the same, is the opposite of what the metaphors describe.

4. 4.Read the text: 'She had a knack for finding the silver lining in every cloud, no matter how dire the situation appeared.' This means she is:

   • APessimistic
   • BOptimistic
   • CWealthy
   • DA meteorologist
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   Answer: B (Optimistic)

   'Finding the silver lining in every cloud' is an idiom for seeing something good in a bad situation, 'no matter how dire'. Someone who always looks for the positive is optimistic. 'Pessimistic' is the opposite, and 'meteorologist' takes the cloud image too literally.

5. 5.Read the text: 'The ancient oak tree stood as a silent witness to centuries of changing seasons.' This uses:

   • ASimile
   • BPersonification
   • CIrony
   • DOnomatopoeia
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   Answer: B (Personification)

   A tree cannot really be a 'witness', because witnessing is a human action. Giving the oak tree a human role, a 'silent witness to centuries', is personification. There is no 'like' or 'as' comparison, so it is not a simile, and there is no sound word, so it is not onomatopoeia.

6. 6.Read the text: 'The author's tone was unmistakable; dripping with sarcasm, she mocked the government's feeble attempt at reform.' The tone is:

   • ASincere
   • BSarcastic and mocking
   • CJoyous
   • DMelancholy
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   Answer: B (Sarcastic and mocking)

   The sentence tells us the writing was 'dripping with sarcasm' and that she 'mocked the government's feeble attempt at reform'. Both clues point to a sarcastic and mocking tone. 'Sincere' is the opposite of sarcastic, and nothing suggests joy or sadness.

7. 7.Read the text: 'The sudden influx of tourists during the summer revitalized the small coastal town's struggling economy.' Influx means:

   • ADeparture
   • BDecrease
   • CSudden arrival in large numbers
   • DSickness
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   Answer: C (Sudden arrival in large numbers)

   The 'influx of tourists' happened 'during the summer' and 'revitalized' a struggling economy. More visitors arriving would boost local business, so influx means a sudden arrival in large numbers. 'Departure' and 'decrease' are the opposite and would not revive the economy.

8. 8.Read the text: 'The mountain climbers faced a treacherous ascent, battling freezing winds and sheer, icy cliffs.' Treacherous means:

   • AEasy
   • BBeautiful
   • CDangerous and hazardous
   • DWarm
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   Answer: C (Dangerous and hazardous)

   The climbers were 'battling freezing winds and sheer, icy cliffs', so the ascent was full of danger. Treacherous means dangerous and hazardous. 'Easy', 'beautiful' and 'warm' all clash with freezing wind and icy cliffs, so the context rules them out.

9. 9.Read the text: 'The once bustling marketplace was now desolate, abandoned by merchants and shoppers alike.' Desolate means:

   • ACrowded
   • BLively
   • CEmpty and bleak
   • DColourful
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   Answer: C (Empty and bleak)

   The marketplace was 'once bustling' but is 'now desolate, abandoned by merchants and shoppers alike'. The contrast with bustling, and the word 'abandoned', show that desolate means empty and bleak. 'Crowded' and 'lively' describe how it used to be, which is the trap.

10. 10.Read the text: 'Through sheer tenacity, the young musician practiced day and night until she finally mastered the complex symphony.' Tenacity means:

    • ALaziness
    • BNatural talent
    • CPersistent determination
    • DLuck
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    Answer: C (Persistent determination)

    The musician 'practiced day and night until she finally mastered' the symphony. Keeping going for a long time until succeeding is tenacity, or persistent determination. The sentence credits effort, not natural talent or luck, and laziness is the opposite.