ESL Vocabulary Exercises – Test (Quizzes)

Pre-Intermediate Vocabulary Test – ESL Vocabulary Exercises

When learning English, it is essential to not only understand individual words but also to grasp how they are used in different contexts. In this article, we will explore vocabulary that covers various aspects of life—from emotions and sounds to natural phenomena and human interactions. Each word is explained with examples to help you better understand its meaning and how to use it in real situations. After reviewing the material, you can take the test to assess how well you’ve learned the new words and their usage.

Task – ESL Vocabulary Exercises

In this vocabulary test, you will need to choose the correct option to complete the sentences. To begin, click “Start.”

ESL Vocabulary Exercises: Word Explanations

Describing Physical States and Feelings

• Thirsty
  Definition: Feeling the need to drink.
  Example: I was very thirsty after the run.
• Sleepy
  Definition: Feeling tired and wanting to sleep.
  Example: I’m feeling sleepy, I think I’ll go to bed.
• Cold
  Definition: Feeling a drop in body temperature or being chilled.
  Example: The room was so cold that I needed a blanket.
• Wet
  Definition: Covered with water or another liquid.
  Example: Her clothes were wet from the rain.
• Busy
  Definition: Being occupied with tasks or responsibilities.
  Example: He was too busy to answer the phone.
• Frightened
  Definition: Feeling scared or fearful.
  Example: The loud noise frightened the child.
• Deep
  Definition: Describing emotional intensity or significance.
  Example: Her love for him was deep.
• Unkind
  Definition: Showing a lack of kindness or being rude.
  Example: It was unkind of him to say such things.
• Warm
  Definition: Pleasantly hot, or emotionally friendly and caring.
  Example: She gave me a warm smile.
• Sadness
  Definition: The state of feeling sorrow or unhappiness.
  Example: The sadness in her eyes was evident.

Financial Terms

• Fare
  Definition: Payment for transportation.
  Example: The bus fare is $2.
• Fee
  Definition: Money paid for a service.
  Example: The lawyer’s fee was very high.
• Price
  Definition: The cost of a product or service.
  Example: What is the price of this car?
• Prize
  Definition: A reward or award for achievement.
  Example: She won the first prize in the competition.
• Cost
  Definition: The amount of money required to purchase something.
  Example: The cost of the meal was $50.
• Account
  Definition: A bank account or financial document.
  Example: I checked my bank account online.

Terms Describing Activities

• Conducting
  Definition: Managing an orchestra or musical group.
  Example: He is conducting the orchestra.
• Harmonising
  Definition: Creating harmony or agreement in sounds.
  Example: The singers are harmonising beautifully.
• Dealing
  Definition: Managing or handling something.
  Example: He’s dealing with a lot of stress at work.
• Playing
  Definition: Performing a musical piece or participating in a game.
  Example: She’s playing the piano tonight.
• Becoming
  Definition: The process of transforming into something or someone.
  Example: He is becoming more confident.

Terms Describing Fashion and Popularity

• Fashion
  Definition: A popular style in clothing or manners.
  Example: Long skirts are back in fashion.
• Absence
  Definition: The state of being without someone or something.
  Example: Her absence was felt at the meeting.
• Respect
  Definition: High regard or esteem.
  Example: He has great respect for his teacher.
• Popular
  Definition: Widely known or favored.
  Example: The new movie is very popular.
• Reply
  Definition: A response to a question or request.
  Example: She didn’t reply to my email.

Describing Movement and Actions

• Up
  Definition: To move in a direction higher.
  Example: We climbed up the hill.
• Onto
  Definition: Movement to a surface.
  Example: He jumped onto the table.
• Down
  Definition: To move to a lower position.
  Example: They walked down the stairs.
• Into
  Definition: Movement toward the inside of something.
  Example: She went into the house.
• Up to
  Definition: Movement toward a specific point or place.
  Example: We walked up to the top of the hill.

Describing Earnings and Financial Achievements

• Earn
  Definition: To receive money for work or services.
  Example: She earns a good salary.
• Win
  Definition: To receive a prize or victory.
  Example: He won the race.
• Gain
  Definition: To acquire something useful or valuable.
  Example: He gained a lot of experience during his internship.
• Afford
  Definition: To have enough money to purchase something.
  Example: I can’t afford a new car right now.
• Pay
  Definition: To give money for services or goods.
  Example: I need to pay the bill.

Describing Important and Fundamental Concepts

• Original
  Definition: The first or initial version.
  Example: This is the original painting.
• Primitive
  Definition: Very simple or ancient.
  Example: The tools they used were very primitive.
• Characteristic
  Definition: A feature or trait that distinguishes something.
  Example: Her kindness is a characteristic trait.
• Basic
  Definition: Simple or fundamental things.
  Example: The basic principles of math are easy to understand.
• Ordinary
  Definition: Something that is not distinguished by anything special.
  Example: It was just an ordinary day.

Describing Forecasts and Situations

• Forecast
  Definition: Prediction of events or weather conditions.
  Example: The weather forecast says it will rain tomorrow.
• Prediction
  Definition: Anticipation of the future based on certain information.
  Example: His prediction about the match turned out to be correct.
• Warning
  Definition: A message about potential danger or threat.
  Example: We received a warning about the storm.
• Situation
  Definition: A set of circumstances or current conditions.
  Example: The situation is getting worse.
• Circumstance
  Definition: A fact or condition that affects events.
  Example: Under the current circumstances, we cannot proceed.

Terms Describing Sounds and Their Characteristics

• Noise
  Definition: An unwanted or loud sound.
  Example: The noise from the construction kept me awake.
• Sound
  Definition: Something that can be heard.
  Example: I heard a strange sound coming from the basement.
• Echo
  Definition: A sound that is repeated after bouncing off a surface.
  Example: The mountains echoed our voices.
• Silence
  Definition: The absence of sounds or noise.
  Example: The silence in the room was unsettling.
• Volume
  Definition: The level of loudness of a sound.
  Example: Can you turn down the volume?

Describing Time and Duration Characteristics

• Length
  Definition: The extent of something from start to finish.
  Example: The length of the river is 300 kilometers.
• Duration
  Definition: The length of time an event lasts.
  Example: The duration of the movie was two hours.
• Interval
  Definition: A break or gap between events.
  Example: There was a 15-minute interval between acts.
• Period
  Definition: A segment of time.
  Example: They worked hard over a long period of time.
• Moment
  Definition: A very short span of time.
  Example: Wait a moment, I’ll be right back.

Describing Quantitative Characteristics

• Amount
  Definition: A specific quantity of something, usually uncountable.
  Example: The amount of sugar in this recipe is too high.
• Number
  Definition: A unit for counting things or objects.
  Example: The number of students in the class is 30.
• Sum
  Definition: The total quantity of something, usually money or figures.
  Example: The sum of 5 and 10 is 15.
• Total
  Definition: The final quantity of something.
  Example: The total cost was $100.
• Portion
  Definition: A part of something larger.
  Example: I only ate a small portion of the cake.

Terms Describing Change and Development

• Change
  Definition: The process of becoming different.
  Example: The change in the weather was sudden.
• Increase
  Definition: The process of becoming larger or greater in quantity.
  Example: There was an increase in the number of visitors.
• Decrease
  Definition: The process of becoming smaller.
  Example: The decrease in temperature was noticeable.
• Development
  Definition: The process of growth or improvement.
  Example: The development of new technology is rapid.
• Transformation
  Definition: A significant change in the form or nature of something.
  Example: The transformation of the city was remarkable.

Describing Interaction Between People and Events

• Argument
  Definition: A discussion between people with differing views.
  Example: They had an argument about the best way to solve the problem.
• Conversation
  Definition: An exchange of thoughts and ideas between two or more people.
  Example: We had a long conversation about the project.
• Discussion
  Definition: An official or unofficial debate on a topic.
  Example: The discussion about the new policy lasted for hours.
• Interaction
  Definition: Communication or engagement between people or objects.
  Example: The interaction between the teacher and the students was very positive.
• Negotiation
  Definition: The process of discussing terms of an agreement or decision.
  Example: The negotiation over the contract took weeks.

Describing Elements of Nature

• Rain
  Definition: The falling of water from the atmosphere in droplets.
  Example: It started to rain just as we were leaving.
• Snow
  Definition: White ice crystals that fall from the sky in cold weather.
  Example: The snow covered the entire landscape.
• Storm
  Definition: Intense weather conditions with strong winds, rain, or snow.
  Example: The storm knocked down several trees.
• Sunshine
  Definition: Direct light from the sun.
  Example: The sunshine made the day feel warm.
• Cloud
  Definition: A large mass of moist air that gathers in white or gray shapes in the sky.
  Example: The clouds blocked out the sun.