Primary 6 PSLE English Vocabulary Quiz

Primary 6 PSLE English Quiz - Vocabulary: Answer Key

Total Marks: 40

Section A: Vocabulary in Context (Questions 1–10, 1 mark each)

1. Answer: B) momentous

Explanation: "Momentous" means of great importance or significance, often with far-reaching consequences. The context clues are "groundbreaking discovery" and "changed how we understand climate patterns forever"—these indicate something hugely significant, not trivial or commonplace. "Trivial" (A) means unimportant; "commonplace" (C) means ordinary; "forgettable" (D) is the opposite of what is needed.

Common mistake: Confusing "momentous" with "momentary" (lasting only a moment)—these are opposites in meaning.

2. Answer: B) resilient

Explanation: "Resilient" means able to recover quickly from difficulties; showing mental toughness. The context sets up a contrast: "despite harsh criticism" and "continued training with determination." The word "despite" signals we need a positive quality that enables perseverance. "Despondent" (A) means dejected and giving up—opposite meaning. "Indifferent" (C) means uncaring. "Submissive" (D) means yielding to authority, not showing inner strength.

Teaching note: Resilience is about bouncing back; the root comes from Latin "salire" (to jump), suggesting springing back into shape.

3. Answer: A) decipher

Explanation: "Decipher" means to convert a coded message into intelligible language, or more broadly to succeed in understanding something obscure. The context requires decoding "encrypted messages." "Dictate" (B) means to speak words for someone to write down. "Duplicate" (C) means to copy. "Disregard" (D) means to ignore—the opposite of the careful analysis needed.

4. Answer: C) evocative

Explanation: "Evocative" means bringing strong images, memories, or feelings to mind. The context shows the effect on viewers: they "stood in silence, overwhelmed by the emotional depth." "Mundane" (A) and "prosaic" (B) both mean dull, ordinary, lacking imagination. "Superficial" (D) means shallow, without depth—the opposite of what the passage describes.

5. Answer: B) reconcile

Explanation: "Reconcile" means to make things compatible or consistent with each other, or to restore friendly relations. The key clue is "showing they were not contradictory but complementary"—this is the definition of reconciliation. "Contradict" (A) would mean to show they opposed each other. "Dismiss" (C) means to reject. "Obscure" (D) means to hide or make unclear.

6. Answer: B) ominous

Explanation: "Ominous" means giving the impression that something bad or unpleasant is going to happen; threatening or foreboding. The context clues are "abandoned house," "even during daylight," and "inexplicable sense of unease"—all suggesting foreboding. "Jovial" (A) means cheerful. "Exhilarating" (C) means thrilling in a positive way. "Inviting" (D) means welcoming—opposite of the atmosphere described.

7. Answer: B) tact

Explanation: "Tact" means skill and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues. The context shows careful word choice to avoid offence during a "tense negotiation." "Recklessness" (A) means without caution—opposite of what is described. "Abruptness" (C) means suddenness, potentially rude. "Negligence" (D) means failure to take proper care.

Common mistake: Confusing "tact" with "tactic" (a plan or strategy). Tact is specifically about diplomatic sensitivity.

8. Answer: B) thwarted

Explanation: "Thwarted" means prevented from accomplishing something; blocked or hindered. The context shows an obstacle: "sudden blizzard" forced retreat when near success. "Assisted" (A) and "accompanied" (D) are positive/neutral and do not match the obstacle. "Encouraged" (C) also contradicts the negative outcome.

9. Answer: C) disingenuous

Explanation: "Disingenuous" means not candid or sincere, typically by pretending to be unaware of something one knows. The context reveals hidden truth: members "privately supported continuing" but "feared public backlash," so their public decision was falsely motivated. "Transparent" (A) means open and honest—opposite. "Altruistic" (B) means selflessly concerned for others. "Unanimous" (D) means fully in agreement, but the passage shows underlying disagreement.

Teaching note: Break down "dis-ingenuous": "genuine" means sincere, so "disingenuous" means not genuine, pretending simplicity or honesty while concealing one's real motives.

10. Answer: A) vivid

Explanation: "Vivid" means producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind. The effect described—"readers felt they were witnessing... firsthand"—is exactly what vivid writing achieves. "Vague" (B), "sketchy" (C), and "indistinct" (D) all mean unclear or incomplete—the opposite of the immersive experience described.

Section B: Word Forms and Usage (Questions 11–15, 2 marks each)

11. (a) Answer: exacerbate (1 mark)

Explanation: "Exacerbate" means to make a problem, bad situation, or negative feeling worse. The underlined phrase "make the problem worse" is a direct definition. From the box: "proliferate" means to increase rapidly in number (typically used for things, not problems); "inundate" means to overwhelm with things or people to deal with; "precipitate" means to cause something to happen suddenly or unexpectedly (not specifically worse).

(b) Answer: inundate (1 mark)

Explanation: "Inundate" means to overwhelm or flood. Flash floods literally and figuratively overwhelm villages with water. "Proliferate" would not fit grammatically here (villages don't proliferate). "Precipitate" is possible but less precise for flooding. "Exacerbate" is already used in (a).

12. (a) Sample answer (1 mark): "The witness gave an ambiguous statement that could be interpreted as either praise or criticism."

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for a sentence that:

• Uses "ambiguous" grammatically correctly
• Shows multiple possible meanings or interpretations
• Context suggests spoken/written communication

Explanation: "Ambiguous" contains the Latin root "ambi-" meaning "both ways." The word requires that something has at least two possible interpretations.

(b) Answer: ambiguity (1 mark)

Explanation: The noun form of "ambiguous" is "ambiguity." The sentence structure requires a noun after "The" and before "of." The pattern is: adjective (ambiguous) → noun (ambiguity). This is a common -ous → -ity transformation in English (analogous to curious/curiosity, generous/generosity).

13. (a) Sample answer (1 mark): "A hospital might have stringent hygiene regulations because patients are vulnerable to infections, and even small lapses in cleanliness could lead to serious illness or death."

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for an explanation that includes:

• Understanding that "stringent" = strict/very demanding
• A relevant hospital context (patient safety, infection prevention, etc.)
• Logical consequences of not being strict

Explanation: "Stringent" comes from Latin "stringere" (to draw tight). Hospitals need extreme strictness because the stakes—human lives—are highest.

(b) Sample answer (1 mark): "The new safety rules at the construction site were stringent, leaving no room for carelessness."

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for a grammatically correct sentence that:

• Uses "stringent" appropriately
• Conveys strictness/exacting standards
• Maintains the original meaning

Alternative acceptable: "Stringent safety rules were implemented at the construction site, tolerating no carelessness."

14. Answer (2 marks):

"Corroborated" means to confirm or give support to a statement, theory, or finding with additional evidence. If the witness corroborated the detective's theory, the investigation would gain credibility and likely proceed with confidence, possibly leading to arrest or further evidence gathering. (1 mark)

"Contradicted" means to deny the truth of a statement by asserting the opposite. If the witness contradicted the detective's theory, the investigation would be weakened or derailed; the detective would need to re-examine evidence, consider alternative suspects, or even abandon the theory if the contradiction was credible. (1 mark)

Explanation: These words represent opposite evidentiary relationships. "Corroborate" contains "robor-" from Latin "robur" (oak, strength)—literally "to strengthen together." "Contradict" contains "contra-" (against) + "dict" (say)—to speak against.

Marking note: Accept equivalent explanations that show understanding of support vs. opposition and plausible investigative consequences.

15. (a) Answer: out (1 mark)

Explanation: The collocation is "call out someone's bluff"—to challenge someone to prove their boast or threat is genuine. However, "call someone's bluff" is also correct and more common. Accepted answers: "out" or [blank/omitted]—both "call someone's bluff" and "call out someone's bluff" exist, though the former is more idiomatic.

Marking note: If student writes "[no word/nothing]" or leaves blank, award mark. If student writes "on," do not award—"call on" is a different phrasal verb.

(b) Answer: music (1 mark)

Explanation: "Face the music" is an idiom meaning to accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions. It originated from theatrical tradition where performers would face the orchestra (and thus the music) when receiving audience response, including criticism.

Section C: Vocabulary Application and Analysis (Questions 16–20, 2 marks each)

16. (a) Answer (1 mark): "Languishing" means failing to make progress; being in a state of neglect or suffering from lack of attention or resources.

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for any explanation capturing:

• Lack of progress/stagnation
• A negative state of decline or neglect

Explanation: The word comes from Latin "languere" (to be weak or faint). In the passage, the renovation was stuck, not moving forward, suffering from lack of funds and volunteers.

(b) Answer: achievable (1 mark)

Explanation: "Insurmountable" means too great to be overcome. Its opposite must mean able to be accomplished. The passage explicitly states "became achievable" after the donation—this is a direct structural clue for the contrast.

17. (a) Answer (1 mark): "Equivocal" suggests the minister's answers were deliberately unclear, ambiguous, or vague—open to multiple interpretations rather than straightforward.

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for explaining:

• Intentional vagueness or ambiguity
• Avoidance of direct answers

Explanation: "Equivocal" breaks into "equi-" (equal) + "vocal" (voice)—literally "equal voice," meaning giving equal weight to multiple interpretations, hence unclear. The politician wants to avoid commitment.

(b) Answer (1 mark): "Obfuscation" means the action of making something obscure, unclear, or unintelligible deliberately. A politician might use this technique to avoid accountability, hide inconvenient facts, or delay scrutiny while appearing to cooperate.

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for:

• Correct definition (deliberate obscuring)
• Plausible political motivation (avoiding blame, maintaining flexibility, deferring decisions)

Explanation: "Obfuscation" contains "fuscus" (Latin for dark)—literally "to darken." Journalists "noted his deliberate" action, indicating intentionality, not mere confusion.

18. Sample answer (2 marks):

"Although known for being reticent in private conversations, the mayor became unexpectedly eloquent at the charity gala. His usually reserved demeanor transformed into moving oratory that persuaded hundreds to donate generously."

Marking descriptors:

• 1 mark: Correct use of TWO words from the list with appropriate connotations
• 1 mark: Effective contrast showing change or difference from expectations; coherent paragraph structure (3–4 sentences as requested)

Alternative acceptable combination: verbose + articulate ("The professor was notoriously verbose in his lectures, yet somehow remained articulate enough that students followed his complex arguments").

Explanation: The task tests understanding that these words exist on a spectrum of communication quality and quantity, with nuances: "articulate" and "eloquent" are positive; "verbose" is negative (too much); "reticent" is about quantity (too little).

19. (a) Answer (1 mark): "Self-reliant" means depending on one's own abilities and resources rather than others. The quality the writer embraced was interdependence or willingness to accept help—recognizing that practical effectiveness (pragmatism) sometimes requires collaboration rather than stubborn independence.

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for identifying:

• Self-reliant = independence
• The contrast = accepting help/others' support, or pragmatism over pride

(b) Answer (1 mark): "Empowering" is effective because it creates an unexpected reversal: normally, needing help would seem weakening ("debilitating" means causing weakness or loss of strength). Instead, the writer discovers that accepting help builds greater capability and confidence—paradoxically gaining power through vulnerability. This contrast surprises the reader and underscores the writer's transformed perspective.

Marking descriptor: Award 1 mark for explaining:

• The expected negative ("debilitating")
• The actual positive outcome ("empowering")
• The contradiction/reversal as rhetorically effective

20. Answer (2 marks):

Meaning 1 (physical holding): The climber maintained a firm grip on the rock face despite injury, not letting go physically. (0.5 mark)

Meaning 2 (determination): She was also determined mentally, refusing to abandon her goal despite pain and adversity. (0.5 mark)

Combined effect: Together, these meanings create a complete picture of unyielding perseverance—both her body clings to the mountain and her will clings to her purpose. The physical tenacity reinforces the mental tenacity, making her struggle more visceral and admirable than if either quality alone were described. The doubling of meaning suggests her entire being—body and spirit—is committed to the ascent. (1 mark)

Marking note: Accept equivalent analyses that identify both literal and figurative dimensions and explain their synergy.

Total Marks: 40

Mark distribution:

• Section A: 10 × 1 = 10 marks
• Section B: 5 × 2 = 10 marks
• Section C: 5 × 2 = 10 marks

No common errors flagged beyond those noted per question.