TNPSC One Word Substitution Test 4

Concept Booster – TNPSC One Word Substitution Test 4

Great job attempting the quiz! Now, let’s strengthen your understanding of TNPSC One Word Substitution. Read the explanations carefully to improve your vocabulary and avoid similar mistakes in the exam.

1. Choose the one word for “A person who loves peace”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Pacifist is a person who opposes violence, war, and the use of force. Pacifists believe that conflicts should be resolved through peaceful methods and non-violent actions.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Reformer – A person who works to improve or change a system or society.
• Activist – A person who campaigns actively for political or social causes.
• Patriot – A person who strongly supports and loves their country.

Example:

Mahatma Gandhi is widely regarded as a pacifist because he advocated non-violence and peaceful resistance.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Pacifist with Patriot. A pacifist promotes peace, whereas a patriot expresses loyalty to their nation.

✅ Answer:

B. Pacifist

2. Choose the one word for “A person who studies fishes”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Ichthyologist is a scientist who studies fish, including their classification, anatomy, behavior, habitats, and evolution. Ichthyology is a branch of zoology.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Ornithologist – A scientist who studies birds.
• Zoologist – A scientist who studies animals in general.
• Ecologist – A scientist who studies the relationship between organisms and their environment.

Example:

An ichthyologist may research marine fish species and their migration patterns.

Exam Tip:

Remember: Ichthyo = Fish. Questions on scientific study fields are frequently asked in competitive exams.

✅ Answer:

B. Ichthyologist

3. Choose the one word for “A person who can speak many languages”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Polyglot is a person who can speak, read, or understand multiple languages fluently. The term is commonly used for people proficient in several languages.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Translator – A person who converts written text from one language to another.
• Linguist – A person who studies languages scientifically.
• Interpreter – A person who translates spoken language orally.

Example:

A person who can speak English, Tamil, Hindi, French, and Spanish is called a polyglot.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Polyglot with Linguist. A polyglot speaks many languages, while a linguist studies languages as a subject.

✅ Answer:

D. Polyglot

4. Choose the one word for “A person who lives at the same time as another”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Contemporary is a person who lives or exists during the same period as another person. The term is often used to describe people, events, or works belonging to the same historical period.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Descendant – A person related to someone from a later generation.
• Ancestor – A person from whom one is descended.
• Successor – A person who follows another in a position or role.

Example:

William Shakespeare and Queen Elizabeth I were contemporaries.

Exam Tip:

Remember that contemporary refers to the same time period, not family relationships.

✅ Answer:

A. Contemporary

5. Choose the one word for “A person who makes speeches in public”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Orator is a person who is skilled at delivering speeches in public. Orators are known for their eloquence and ability to persuade audiences.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Editor – A person who edits written material.
• Writer – A person who writes books, articles, or other content.
• Poet – A person who writes poetry.

Example:

Martin Luther King Jr. was a famous orator known for his inspiring speeches.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Orator with Writer. An orator speaks publicly, whereas a writer communicates through writing.

✅ Answer:

C. Orator

6. Choose the one word for “A person who studies fossils”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Paleontologist is a scientist who studies fossils and prehistoric life forms. Paleontology helps us understand the history of life on Earth.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Historian – Studies historical events and records.
• Archaeologist – Studies ancient human civilizations and artifacts.
• Geologist – Studies rocks, minerals, and the Earth’s structure.

Example:

A paleontologist may study dinosaur fossils to understand prehistoric ecosystems.

Exam Tip:

Remember: Paleo = Ancient. Paleontologists study ancient life through fossils.

✅ Answer:

C. Paleontologist

7. Choose the one word for “A person who cannot pay attention for long”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Inattentive person is someone who fails to concentrate or pay proper attention for a sustained period.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Careful – A person who acts with caution and attention.
• Diligent – A person who is hardworking and attentive.
• Intelligent – A person with good reasoning ability.

Example:

An inattentive student may miss important instructions during class.

Exam Tip:

The prefix “in-“ often indicates the opposite meaning. “Inattentive” means “not attentive.”

✅ Answer:

B. Inattentive

8. Choose the one word for “A person who acts for another in business matters”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Agent is a person authorized to act on behalf of another person or organization, especially in business or legal matters.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Broker – A person who arranges transactions between parties.
• Assistant – A person who helps another person.
• Clerk – A person employed for office or administrative work.

Example:

A real estate agent acts on behalf of buyers and sellers in property transactions.

Exam Tip:

An agent represents someone, while a broker mainly acts as an intermediary.

✅ Answer:

C. Agent

9. Choose the one word for “A person who draws plans for buildings”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Architect is a professional who designs buildings and prepares plans for their construction.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Mason – A worker who builds using stone, brick, or concrete.
• Surveyor – A person who measures land and property boundaries.
• Engineer – A professional who applies scientific principles to design structures and systems.

Example:

The architect prepared the blueprint for the new hospital building.

Exam Tip:

Remember: Architect = Design, whereas Engineer = Construction and technical execution.

✅ Answer:

B. Architect

10. Choose the one word for “A person who studies the environment”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Ecologist is a scientist who studies the relationships between living organisms and their environment.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Geographer – Studies places, landscapes, and human activities.
• Chemist – Studies substances and chemical reactions.
• Biologist – Studies living organisms in general.

Example:

An ecologist may study how pollution affects wildlife populations.

Exam Tip:

Ecology focuses on the interaction between organisms and their surroundings.

✅ Answer:

C. Ecologist

11. Choose the one word for “A person who is unable to read and write”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Unlettered person is someone who lacks formal education and cannot read or write.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Teacher – A person who teaches.
• Scholar – A person who has extensive knowledge through study.
• Educated – A person who has received education.

Example:

Many adult education programs help unlettered individuals acquire literacy skills.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Unlettered with Uneducated. Unlettered specifically refers to the inability to read and write.

✅ Answer:

C. Unlettered

12. Choose the one word for “A person who secretly listens to others’ conversations”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Eavesdropper is a person who secretly listens to private conversations without permission.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Detective – A person who investigates crimes.
• Informer – A person who provides information secretly.
• Spy – A person who secretly gathers information, usually for political or military purposes.

Example:

The eavesdropper listened to the conversation from outside the room.

Exam Tip:

An eavesdropper mainly listens secretly, while a spy gathers information for a broader purpose.

✅ Answer:

B. Eavesdropper

13. Choose the one word for “A person who is learning a trade”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Apprentice is a person who learns a skill or trade under the supervision of an experienced professional.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Craftsman – A skilled worker in a particular craft.
• Expert – A person with extensive knowledge or skill.
• Master – A person with complete command of a skill.

Example:

The apprentice learned carpentry under the guidance of a master carpenter.

Exam Tip:

Remember: Apprentice = Learner, while Master = Expert.

✅ Answer:

B. Apprentice

14. Choose the one word for “A person who studies the structure of the earth”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Geophysicist is a scientist who studies the Earth’s physical properties, structure, composition, and natural processes using scientific methods and instruments.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Cartographer – A person who creates and studies maps.
• Seismologist – A scientist who studies earthquakes and seismic waves.
• Meteorologist – A scientist who studies weather and atmospheric conditions.

Example:

A geophysicist may use seismic data to study the Earth’s crust and predict geological activities.

Exam Tip:

Remember: Geo = Earth and Physics = Physical properties. Geophysics deals with the Earth’s structure and processes.

✅ Answer:

B. Geophysicist

15. Choose the one word for “A person who kills animals for sport”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Hunter is a person who hunts or kills animals, either for food, sport, or other purposes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Tourist – A person who travels for pleasure.
• Sportsman – A person who participates in sports.
• Naturalist – A person who studies nature and living organisms.

Example:

The hunter traveled to the forest during the hunting season.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Hunter with Naturalist. A naturalist studies and observes nature, while a hunter kills animals.

✅ Answer:

C. Hunter

16. Choose the one word for “A person who walks from place to place selling goods”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Hawker is a person who travels from one place to another selling goods, often by carrying them personally or using a small cart.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Trader – A person engaged in buying and selling goods generally.
• Merchant – A person who owns or operates a business dealing in goods.
• Vendor – A person who sells goods, usually from a fixed location.

Example:

The hawker moved from street to street selling fruits and household items.

Exam Tip:

Remember: A hawker travels, whereas a vendor may sell from a fixed place.

✅ Answer:

B. Hawker

17. Choose the one word for “A person who hates marriage”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Misogamist is a person who dislikes, opposes, or avoids marriage.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Bachelor – An unmarried man.
• Hermit – A person who lives in isolation.
• Misogynist – A person who dislikes or hates women.

Example:

The character remained a misogamist throughout his life and never wished to marry.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Misogamist with Misogynist. A misogamist dislikes marriage, while a misogynist dislikes women.

✅ Answer:

A. Misogamist

18. Choose the one word for “A person who believes everything will turn out badly”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Pessimist is a person who expects negative outcomes and tends to focus on unfavorable possibilities.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Doubter – A person who questions or lacks confidence.
• Realist – A person who accepts situations as they are.
• Critic – A person who evaluates or judges others’ work or ideas.

Example:

The pessimist expected the project to fail despite everyone’s optimism.

Exam Tip:

Remember the pair:

• Optimist → Expects positive outcomes.
• Pessimist → Expects negative outcomes.

✅ Answer:

C. Pessimist

19. Choose the one word for “A person who studies earthquakes”:

Answer & Meaning:

A Seismologist is a scientist who studies earthquakes, seismic waves, and the movement of the Earth’s crust.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Ecologist – Studies organisms and their environment.
• Astronomer – Studies celestial objects and space.
• Geologist – Studies rocks, minerals, and the Earth’s structure.

Example:

Seismologists use instruments called seismographs to measure earthquake activity.

Exam Tip:

Remember: Seismo = Earthquake. Seismology is the scientific study of earthquakes.

✅ Answer:

C. Seismologist

20. Choose the one word for “A person who cannot be satisfied”:

Answer & Meaning:

An Insatiable person is someone whose desires, needs, or appetite cannot be fully satisfied.

Why Other Options Are Wrong?

• Humble – A person who is modest and not proud.
• Greedy – A person who wants more than needed, especially wealth.
• Contented – A person who is satisfied and happy.

Example:

He had an insatiable desire for knowledge and spent his entire life learning.

Exam Tip:

Do not confuse Insatiable with Greedy. An insatiable person can have endless desire for anything, while greed is usually associated with excessive desire for wealth or possessions.

✅ Answer:

B. Insatiable

Authority Reference:
Oxford Learner’s Dictionaries – One Word Meanings and Usage