ACER Level 3 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 virulent strain of the virus spread rapidly through the population, overwhelming the local hospitals.' Virulent means:

   • AHarmless
   • BWeak
   • CExtremely severe or harmful
   • DSlow
   Show answer and working

   Answer: C (Extremely severe or harmful)

   The strain 'spread rapidly through the population, overwhelming the local hospitals'. A disease that spreads fast and overwhelms hospitals is extremely severe or harmful, which is what virulent means. 'Harmless', 'weak' and 'slow' all contradict the effects described.

2. 2.Read the text: 'The grand estate, though old, exuded an undeniable aura of opulence and historical prestige.' Opulence means:

   • APoverty
   • BSimplicity
   • CGreat wealth and luxury
   • DDecay
   Show answer and working

   Answer: C (Great wealth and luxury)

   The estate 'exuded an undeniable aura of opulence and historical prestige'. Grand estates and prestige suggest wealth, so opulence means great wealth and luxury. 'Poverty' and 'simplicity' are the opposite. Although the estate is old, 'decay' does not fit the positive word 'prestige'.

3. 3.Read the text: 'The once pristine river is now heavily polluted, a stark reminder of industrial negligence.' Pristine means:

   • ADirty
   • BIn its original, unspoiled condition
   • CDangerous
   • DDeep
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   Answer: B (In its original, unspoiled condition)

   The river was 'once pristine' but is 'now heavily polluted'. The contrast word 'now' tells us pristine means the opposite of polluted: in its original, unspoiled condition. 'Dirty' describes its current state, which makes it the trap answer.

4. 4.Read the text: 'His blatant disregard for the rules eventually led to his expulsion from the academy.' Blatant means:

   • AHidden
   • BSubtle
   • CDone openly and unashamedly
   • DAccidental
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   Answer: C (Done openly and unashamedly)

   His 'blatant disregard for the rules' led to expulsion, which suggests he broke the rules obviously and without trying to hide it. Blatant means done openly and unashamedly. 'Hidden' and 'subtle' are the opposite, and 'accidental' would not usually lead to expulsion.

5. 5.Read the text: 'The community was galvanized into action after the devastating flood destroyed the local school.' Galvanized means:

   • AParalyzed
   • BShocked or excited into taking action
   • CBored
   • DSilenced
   Show answer and working

   Answer: B (Shocked or excited into taking action)

   After the flood destroyed the school, the community was 'galvanized into action'. The phrase 'into action' shows the shock pushed people to do something, so galvanized means shocked or excited into taking action. 'Paralyzed' and 'silenced' are the opposite of taking action.

6. 6.Read the text: 'The old dogma that the earth was flat was eventually universally debunked by scientific exploration.' Dogma means:

   • AA scientific fact
   • BA principle laid down as incontrovertibly true
   • CA new theory
   • DA mathematical equation
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   Answer: B (A principle laid down as incontrovertibly true)

   The flat-earth idea was an old dogma that was 'universally debunked by scientific exploration'. A dogma is a principle laid down as unquestionably true by authority, not because of evidence, which is why science could overturn it. It was not a scientific fact or a new theory.

7. 7.Read the text: 'The negotiations reached a frustrating impasse, with neither side willing to make the slightest concession.' Impasse means:

   • AA quick agreement
   • BA situation where no progress is possible
   • CA celebration
   • DA starting point
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   Answer: B (A situation where no progress is possible)

   The negotiations reached an impasse, 'with neither side willing to make the slightest concession'. If nobody gives ground, no progress is possible, which is what impasse means: a deadlock. 'A quick agreement' and 'a celebration' contradict the frustration described.

8. 8.Read the text: 'The novel serves as an allegory for the dangers of totalitarianism, using animals to represent human political figures.' What is an allegory?

   • AA literal history
   • BA story with a hidden meaning
   • CA type of poem
   • DA humorous joke
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   Answer: B (A story with a hidden meaning)

   An allegory tells a story whose characters and events stand for something else. The novel uses 'animals to represent human political figures' to warn about 'the dangers of totalitarianism', so it has a hidden, deeper meaning. It is not a literal history, and nothing suggests it is a joke or a poem.

9. 9.Read the text: 'Her performance was widely lauded by the critics, earning her a standing ovation on opening night.' What does 'lauded' mean?

   • ACriticized
   • BPraised highly
   • CIgnored
   • DLaughed at
   Show answer and working

   Answer: B (Praised highly)

   Her performance was 'widely lauded by the critics' and earned 'a standing ovation'. A standing ovation is the highest praise from an audience, so lauded means praised highly. 'Criticized' and 'laughed at' contradict the ovation, and 'ignored' does not fit a standing ovation.

10. 10.Read the text: 'The archaic laws, written centuries ago, were no longer applicable to the modern digital age.' What does 'archaic' mean?

    • ANew and innovative
    • BVery old or old-fashioned
    • CDigital
    • DComplicated
    Show answer and working

    Answer: B (Very old or old-fashioned)

    The laws were 'written centuries ago' and 'no longer applicable to the modern digital age'. Being very old and out of date is what archaic means. 'New and innovative' is the opposite, and the laws are contrasted with the digital age rather than being digital themselves.