Vocabulary Quiz from 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet Beecher Stowe

This is a vocabulary challenge based on vocabulary words from the classic novel Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe.

If you enjoy word challenges or learning new words, in context, then take a few minutes to complete this word challenge. Every effort has been made to pull salient words from the text, in particular words that often appear on the SAT will often be a part of these vocabulary quizzes.

Test your vocabulary on a few of the words from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin .

Each vocabulary word will be presented with three alternative definitions. Try to choose the best definition. To make the quiz a little easier a quoted passage follows each vocabulary word. Answers are at the end of the vocabulary quiz.

Some of these words are challenging, but some of them you may find familiar. The definitions will remain very basic for the sake of simplicity. Good luck.

Vocabulary Quiz

1.portentous - A) dangerous, B) loaded, C) significant
"His hands, large and coarse, were plentifully bedecked with rings; and he wore a heavy gold watch-chain, with a bundle of seals of portentous size, and a great variety of colors, attached to it, --which, in the ardor of conversstion, he was in the habit of flourishing and jingling with evident satisfaction."

2.doleful - A) silly, B) cheerful, C) downcast
"Instantly the flexible limbs of the child assumed the appearance of deformity and distortion, as, with his back humped up, and his master's stick in his hand, he hobbled about the room, his childish face drawn into a doleful pucker, and spitting from right to left, in imitation of an old man."

3.diffidence -A) reluctance, B) boldness, C) aggression
"Shelby was thoughtfully peeling an orange, Haley broke out afresh, with becoming diffidence, but as if actually driven by the force of truth to say a few words more."

4.piquant - A) tart, B) lively, C) humorous
"There was something so piquant and original in these elucidations of humanity, that Mr. Shelby could not help laughing in company."

5.chattel - A) engineer, B) inventor, C) property
"This same gentleman, having heard of the fame of George's invention, took a ride over to the factory, to see what this intelligent chattel had been about."

6.pretensions -A) claim, B) showiness, C) deception
"In fact, that corner was the drawing-room of the establishment. In the other corner was a bed of much humbler pretensions, and evidently designed for use."

7.edification - A) betterment, B) downfall, C) glory
" 'La sakes, now, does it?' said Uncle Tom, looking with a respectful, admiring air, as his young teacher flourishingly scrawled q's and g's innumerable for his edification; and then, taking the pencil in his big, heavy fingers, he patiently recommenced. "

8.facetious - A) condescending, B) not serious, C) serious
"And, with that, aunty gave George a nudge with her finger, designed to be immensely facetious, and turned again to her griddle with great briskness."

9.admonition - A) advice, B) discipline, C) deception
"So the maternal admonition seemed rather to fail of effect."

10.pecuniary - A) self-effacing, B) needful, C) monetary
" 'Why not make a pecuniary sacrifice?' "

11.abolitionist - A) politician, B) advocate to end slavery, C) activist
" 'Why, wife, you are getting to be an abolitionist, quite.' "

12.dexterous -A) skillful, B) awkward, C) clumsy
"...he rapped the crown on his head with a dexterous thump, and looked about well pleased, as if to say, 'Who says I haven't got a hat?' "

13.obsequious - A) confident, B) arrogant, C) servile
"The landlord was all obsequious..."

14.impregnable - A) strong enough to resist, B) composed of steel, C) indispensable
"Sublime is the dominion of the mind over the body, that, for a time, can make flesh and nerve impregnable, and string the sinews like steel, so that the weak become so mighty."

15.pensive - A) shallow, B)solemn, C) ignorant
"The pensive, reflective tone in which this was spoken appeared to amuse Andy prodigiously, and he drew a little behind, and shook so as apparently to run a great risk of failing off his horse, while Sam's face was immovably composed into the most doleful gravity."

16.felicitation - A) criticism, B) congratulations, B) complaint
"While this scene was going on at the tavern, Sam and Andy, in a state of high felicitation, pursued their way home."

17.restive -A) calm, B) restful C) restless
" 'It's the only thing ye ever was persistent in, Lord knows!' muttered Aunt Chloe, who was getting rather restive; the merriment of the evening being to her somewhat after the Scripture comparison, ---like 'vinegar upon nitre.' "

18.gambol - A) fighting, B) stealing, C) frolic
"...ever and anon mingling admonitory remarks to a number of frolicsome juveniles, who were effervescing in all those modes of untold gambol and mischief that have astonished mothers ever since the flood."

19.penance - A) confession, B)punishment, C) indifference
"Be that as it may, if our good senator was a political sinner, he was in a fair way expiate it by his night's penance."

20.superfluous - A) additional encouragement, B) extravagant, C)excessive, unnecessary, or needless
"In fact, the exhortation seemed rather superfluous one to a man with a great pair of iron fetters on his feet."

Answers to vocabulary quiz from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe : 1-C, 2-C, 3-A, 4-B, 5-C, 6-B, 7-A, 8-B, 9-A, 10-C, 11-B, 12-A, 13-C, 14-A, 15-B, 16-B, 17-C, 18-C, 19-A, 20-C

How did you do on the vocabulary quiz from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe?
If you got 17-20 correct you are word wise.
13-16 correct answers means you have an astute understanding of vocabulary.
If you got 10 - 12 answers correct, you did well.
If you got 7-10 correct, take heart, you are resourceful and learning well.
If you got 4-6 correct keep trying.
If you got 1-3 answers on the vocabulary quiz correct, why not study the words and give yourself a do-over.