Chapter 3: DEFINITION
- Practice -
















Multiple Choice:

Click on the button next to the answer you wish to select. Your results will be displayed immediately in the question's text box.

No. of Questions = 26 








In these exercises, you will be given definitions and asked to identify what is wrong with them. The possible faults correspond to rules of definitions.













     1. 

A SURVEYOR is one who surveys land for a living.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    


 

    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     2. 

An ORATOR is a person who lifts his audience into flight on wings of eloquence.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     3. 

SMOKE is a substance in the air that indicates the presence of fire.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     4. 

A LIE is a false statement.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        











     5. 

A TRAIN is a locomotive pulling passenger or freight cars.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     6. 

A FORGERY is a fake painting
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     7. 

A TELEPHONE is a communication device invented by Alexander Graham Bell.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     8. 

A BOMB is an explosive weapon.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     9. 

To TALK is to speak.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     10. 

An ABACUS is a calculating device consisting of rows of sliding wooden beads.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     11. 

A HOSTAGE is when you're held captive by another person or group trying to extract some concession from a third party.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        











     12. 

An EARTHQUAKE is a rumble in the bowels of the earth.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     13. 

A BUMPER is the part of a car where you put a bumper sticker.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     14. 

A MORAL person is one who acts in an ethical fashion.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     15. 

To PAUSE is to stop performing a given activity.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     16. 

A GIFT is a possession that is voluntarily transferred to another person.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     17. 

To GRILL is to broil meat over an open fire.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     18. 

A LETTER is a form of written communication that is enclosed in an envelope.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     19. 

A PROSPEROUS person is one who is well off.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     20. 

To INTERROGATE is to question someone formally and systematically in a police station.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     21. 

FICTION is writing that is not true.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        













     22. 

A STRAIT is a narrow passage of water connecting two oceans.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     23. 

A STRIKE is a protest action by workers.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     24. 

A RELIGION is a world view positing a supernatural divine being and an afterlife.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     25. 

To READ is to move one's eyes across lines of written words.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        








     26. 

A CURFEW is when some authority restricts the hours during which you may be away from your home.
        
    
        



    

    














    

    

    
    
        a)
        
    no genus
        
    



    

    

    
    
        b)
        
    circular
        
    



    

    

    
    
        c)
        
    too broad
        
    



    

    

    
    
        d)
        
    negative
        
    



    

    

    
    
        e)
        
    too narrow
        
    




    

    
    
        f)
        
    unclear (vague, obscure, or metaphorical)
        
    


 

    

    
    
        g)
        
    nonessential
        
    



    
    

    
    







    
    
        


        


















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