ACER Level 2 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: 'The new policy was a double-edged sword; it protected local jobs but drastically increased the cost of goods.' A double-edged sword means:

   • AA sharp weapon
   • BSomething with both positive and negative consequences
   • CA total failure
   • DA complete success
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   Answer: B (Something with both positive and negative consequences)

   A double-edged sword cuts both ways. The sentence explains this: the policy 'protected local jobs but drastically increased the cost of goods'. The word 'but' joins a benefit and a drawback, so the idiom means something with both positive and negative consequences. It is not a literal weapon.

2. 2.Read the text: 'Like a fragile house of cards, the fragile alliance collapsed at the first sign of pressure.' This is an example of a:

   • ASimile
   • BMetaphor
   • CPersonification
   • DHyperbole
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   Answer: A (Simile)

   The sentence compares the alliance to 'a fragile house of cards' using the word 'Like', which makes it a simile. A metaphor would say the alliance was a house of cards, without a comparing word. The comparison suggests the alliance was weak and could collapse at any moment.

3. 3.Read the text: 'The professor's lecture was so labyrinthine that most students left the hall more confused than when they entered.' Labyrinthine means:

   • ASimple
   • BShort
   • CComplicated and twisting
   • DLoud
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   Answer: C (Complicated and twisting)

   A labyrinth is a maze. The lecture left students 'more confused than when they entered', just as a maze confuses people who walk into it. So labyrinthine means complicated and twisting. 'Simple' is the opposite, and nothing in the sentence refers to length or volume.

4. 4.Read the text: 'His sudden resignation sent shockwaves through the corporate office, leaving everyone scrambling for answers.' Shockwaves implies:

   • AA literal earthquake
   • BA profound and sudden impact
   • CA pleasant surprise
   • DA minor inconvenience
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   Answer: B (A profound and sudden impact)

   'Shockwaves' is used figuratively here: the resignation did not cause an earthquake, but it had a sudden, powerful effect, 'leaving everyone scrambling for answers'. So it implies a profound and sudden impact. 'A minor inconvenience' is too weak, and scrambling suggests the surprise was not pleasant.

5. 5.Read the text: 'Instead of addressing the main issue, the politician gave an evasive answer, deftly steering the conversation away.' Evasive means:

   • ADirect
   • BHonest
   • CAvoiding a direct answer
   • DLoud
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   Answer: C (Avoiding a direct answer)

   The politician did not address 'the main issue' and was 'deftly steering the conversation away'. Avoiding the question is what evasive means. 'Direct' and 'honest' are the opposite of avoiding an issue, and the sentence says nothing about volume.

6. 6.Read the text: 'The new regulations were met with widespread dissent from the factory workers, who immediately organized a strike.' Dissent means:

   • AAgreement
   • BCelebration
   • COpposition or disagreement
   • DSilence
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   Answer: C (Opposition or disagreement)

   The workers met the regulations with dissent and 'immediately organized a strike'. Striking is a strong form of protest, so dissent means opposition or disagreement. 'Agreement' and 'celebration' contradict the strike, and silence does not fit organising a protest.

7. 7.Read the text: 'His apologies felt hollow, a mere facade to hide his continuing indifference to the problem.' Facade means:

   • AA building
   • BA deceptive outward appearance
   • CA true feeling
   • DA loud noise
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   Answer: B (A deceptive outward appearance)

   His apologies 'felt hollow' and were 'a mere facade to hide his continuing indifference'. Something that hides the truth behind a false front is a facade: a deceptive outward appearance. The literal meaning is the front of a building, but here the word is used figuratively.

8. 8.Read the text: 'The committee's decision was unanimous; not a single member voted against the proposed community project.' Unanimous means:

   • ADivided
   • BFully in agreement
   • CUndecided
   • DAngry
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   Answer: B (Fully in agreement)

   The sentence defines the word with the clause after the semicolon: 'not a single member voted against' the project. If everyone agrees, the decision is unanimous, meaning fully in agreement. 'Divided' and 'undecided' contradict the fact that nobody voted against.

9. 9.Read the text: 'The diplomat's conciliatory speech helped to ease the rising tensions between the two rival nations.' Conciliatory means:

   • AAggressive
   • BProvoking
   • CIntended to placate or pacify
   • DConfusing
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   Answer: C (Intended to placate or pacify)

   The speech 'helped to ease the rising tensions between the two rival nations'. Easing conflict is the purpose of a conciliatory speech, which is intended to placate or calm. 'Aggressive' and 'provoking' would raise tensions rather than ease them.

10. 10.Read the text: 'The evidence presented was merely circumstantial, failing to definitively link the suspect to the crime.' Circumstantial means:

    • AAbsolute proof
    • BSuggesting but not proving
    • CIrrelevant
    • DFabricated
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    Answer: B (Suggesting but not proving)

    The evidence was 'merely circumstantial, failing to definitively link the suspect to the crime'. Evidence that suggests involvement but cannot prove it is circumstantial. 'Absolute proof' is the opposite, and 'fabricated' means made up, which the sentence does not claim.