Test Your Knowledge About English Literature
There are so many incredible writers throughout history that it’s near impossible to soak in all of their great works. You can certainly try, however! In the following quiz, we’re going to be seeing just how much of a literature buff you are, as we test your knowledge of various writers and their works from days gone by. Let’s see how much you can tell us!
- 1.
What part of speech is "pitiable", meaning "contemptible"?
- A.
Noun
- B.
Adverb
- C.
Verb
- D.
Adjective
Correct Answer
D. AdjectiveExplanation
"Pitiable" is an adjective that means "contemptible." Adjectives are words that describe or modify nouns, and in this case, "pitiable" describes something or someone that is deserving of contempt or scorn. It is used to express a negative judgment or opinion about someone or something. Therefore, "adjective" is the correct part of speech for "pitiable" in the given context.Rate this question:
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- 2.
What part of speech is "pitiless", meaning "hard-hearted"?
- A.
Adjective
- B.
Verb
- C.
Noun
- D.
Adverb
Correct Answer
A. AdjectiveExplanation
"Pitiless" is an adjective that describes someone who lacks compassion or empathy, being hard-hearted and unsympathetic. Adjectives are words that modify nouns or pronouns, providing more information about them. In this case, "pitiless" is used to describe a person's character or behavior, indicating their lack of mercy or kindness. Therefore, the correct answer is adjective.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What part of speech is "pittance", meaning "any small portion or meager allowance"?
- A.
Verb
- B.
Noun
- C.
Adjective
- D.
Adverb
Correct Answer
B. NounExplanation
"Pittance" is a noun that refers to a small portion or meager allowance. As a noun, it represents a person, place, thing, or idea, which fits the definition of "pittance" in this context. It does not function as a verb, adjective, or adverb, making the correct answer "Noun".Rate this question:
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- 4.
What part of speech is "placid", meaning "serene"?
- A.
Adjective
- B.
Noun
- C.
Adverb
- D.
Verb
Correct Answer
A. AdjectiveExplanation
"Placid" is a word used to describe something or someone that is calm, peaceful, and undisturbed. It is an adjective because it modifies a noun by providing additional information about its characteristics or qualities. In this case, "placid" describes the state of being serene, indicating that it is an adjective.Rate this question:
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- 5.
What part of speech is "planisphere", meaning "a polar projection of the heavens on a chart"?
- A.
Noun
- B.
Adjective
- C.
Adverb
- D.
Verb
Correct Answer
A. NounExplanation
"Planisphere" is a noun because it is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, it specifically refers to a polar projection of the heavens on a chart. Nouns are typically used to name or identify things, and "planisphere" fits this description as it is a specific term used to describe a particular object or concept.Rate this question:
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- 6.
What part of speech is "platitude", meaning "a written or spoken statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace"?
- A.
Adverb
- B.
Adjective
- C.
Noun
- D.
Verb
Correct Answer
C. NounExplanation
"Platitude" is a noun because it refers to a type of written or spoken statement. It is not an adverb, adjective, or verb, as it does not describe an action, quality, or manner. Instead, it functions as a noun by identifying a specific type of statement that is flat, dull, or commonplace.Rate this question:
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- 7.
What part of speech is "plaudit", meaning "an expression of applause"?
- A.
Verb
- B.
Noun
- C.
Adverb
- D.
Adjective
Correct Answer
B. NounExplanation
The word "plaudit" refers to an expression of applause, which indicates that it is a noun. As a noun, "plaudit" represents a singular form of the word used to describe an act of applauding or showing approval. It does not function as a verb, adverb, or adjective, which further confirms that it is a noun.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What part of speech is "pleasant", meaning "agreeable"?
- A.
Adverb
- B.
Verb
- C.
Adjective
- D.
Noun
Correct Answer
C. AdjectiveExplanation
"Pleasant" is an adjective because it describes a quality or characteristic of something or someone. In this case, it is used to describe something that is agreeable or enjoyable. Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns, and in this context, "pleasant" modifies a noun by providing more information about its quality.Rate this question:
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- 9.
What part of speech is "plebeian", meaning "common"?
- A.
Adjective
- B.
Noun
- C.
Adverb
- D.
Verb
Correct Answer
A. AdjectiveExplanation
"Plebeian" is a word used to describe something or someone as "common". In this context, it is used as an adjective because it is modifying the noun "common". Adjectives are used to provide more information about nouns and pronouns, and in this case, "plebeian" is describing the quality or characteristic of being common.Rate this question:
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- 10.
What part of speech is "pledgee", meaning "the person to whom anything is pledged"?
- A.
Adjective
- B.
Adverb
- C.
Noun
- D.
Verb
Correct Answer
C. NounExplanation
"Pledgee" is a noun that refers to the person to whom something is pledged. It is a specific term used in legal and financial contexts to describe the recipient of a pledge or promise. As a noun, it functions as the subject or object in a sentence and can be modified by adjectives or other nouns.Rate this question:
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- 11.
What part of speech is "plenipotentiary", meaning "a person fully empowered to transact any business"?
- A.
Adverb
- B.
Noun
- C.
Adjective
- D.
Verb
Correct Answer
B. NounExplanation
"Plenipotentiary" is a noun because it refers to a person who is fully empowered to transact any business. As a noun, it represents a specific role or title given to someone with extensive authority and power. It does not function as an adverb, adjective, or verb in this context.Rate this question:
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- 12.
What part of speech is "plumb", meaning "a weight suspended by a line to test the verticality of something"?
- A.
Verb
- B.
Adjective
- C.
Adverb
- D.
Noun
Correct Answer
D. NounExplanation
"Plumb" in this context is a noun because it refers to a specific object, namely a weight that is suspended by a line to test the verticality of something. It is not being used as a verb, adjective, or adverb in this particular meaning.Rate this question:
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- 13.
What part of speech is "plummet", meaning "a piece of lead for making soundings, adjusting walls to the vertical"?
- A.
Adverb
- B.
Noun
- C.
Verb
- D.
Adjective
Correct Answer
B. NounExplanation
"Plummet" in this context refers to a specific object, a piece of lead used for certain purposes. This indicates that "plummet" is being used as a noun, as it is a thing or object. It is not being used as an adverb, verb, or adjective, which are all different parts of speech.Rate this question:
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- 14.
What part of speech is "plural", meaning "containing or consisting of more than one"?
- A.
Verb
- B.
Adjective
- C.
Adverb & Adjective
- D.
Noun
Correct Answer
B. AdjectiveExplanation
"Plural" is an adjective that describes something as "containing or consisting of more than one." Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns to provide more information or describe their qualities. In this case, "plural" is describing the noun it is modifying, indicating that it refers to multiple items or entities. Therefore, the correct answer is adjective.Rate this question:
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- 15.
What part of speech is "plurality", meaning "a majority"?
- A.
Adverb
- B.
Noun
- C.
Verb
- D.
Adjective
Correct Answer
B. NounExplanation
"Plurality" is a noun that refers to the state of being in the majority or having the largest number or amount. As a noun, it functions as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence, and it can be modified by adjectives or other nouns. In this context, "plurality" is used to describe the part of speech of the word "plurality" itself, which makes it a noun.Rate this question:
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Current Version
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Mar 18, 2023Quiz Edited by
ProProfs Editorial Team -
Mar 31, 2015Quiz Created by
Thames
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