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Junior Cycle English: Vocabulary in context

How often Vocabulary in context comes up on the English papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 1 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2018.

OL Asked on 6 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Vocabulary in context, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on Vocabulary in context.

(a)'The old man was frugal, saving every coin and wasting nothing.' What does 'frugal' mean here?
  1. Generous with gifts
  2. Careful with money
  3. Weak and unwell
(b)'Her reply was terse: two words, then silence.' What does 'terse' mean?
  1. Loud and angry
  2. Warm and friendly
  3. Brief and abrupt
(c)'The crowd was jubilant as the final whistle blew.' Which word is closest in meaning to 'jubilant'?
  1. Overjoyed
  2. Exhausted
  3. Disappointed
Show the answers

(a) Careful with money

(b) Brief and abrupt

(c) Overjoyed

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Vocabulary in context.

Higher Level

Asked on 1 of the last 8 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2018.

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Not asked
2025Not asked
2024Not asked
2023Not asked
2022Not asked
2019Not asked
2018Q2
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Vocabulary in context questions

Vocabulary in context, 3 marks

'The instructions were ambiguous, so half the class did the wrong task.' What does 'ambiguous' mean?

  1. Printed too small to read
  2. Strict and very detailed
  3. Unclear in meaning
Show the answer

Unclear in meaning

Ambiguous means something can be understood in more than one way, which is why half the class got it wrong. The result in the sentence is your clue.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 6 of the last 8 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026Q3
2025Q2, Q4
2024Q1, Q8
2023Q5
2022Q5
2019Q7
2018Not asked
2017Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Vocabulary in context questions

Vocabulary in context, 2 marks

Read: 'The exhausted hikers collapsed onto the grass.' Exhausted means...

  1. Very excited
  2. Very lost
  3. Very tired
Show the answer

Very tired

The hikers collapsed, and that is the clue: they were worn out. Using the rest of the sentence to work out a word is called using context.

Vocabulary in context, 3 marks

Read: 'The derelict house had smashed windows and a caved-in roof.' Derelict means...

  1. Crowded and busy
  2. Run-down and abandoned
  3. Freshly painted and repaired
Show the answer

Run-down and abandoned

The smashed windows and caved-in roof show the house has been left to fall apart. Derelict buildings are neglected and empty.

Vocabulary in context, 3 marks

Read: 'She was reluctant to jump into the freezing lake.' Reluctant means...

  1. Unwilling
  2. Eager
  3. Clumsy
Show the answer

Unwilling

Nobody wants to jump into a freezing lake, so she was unwilling or hesitant. Eager is the opposite of reluctant.

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