Correct answer: takes. The proverb is “It takes two to make a quarrel”, meaning both sides share the blame.

Background: The proverb is written in the simple present tense.

• took: “Took” changes the tense of the proverb.
• take: “Take” does not agree with the singular subject “it”.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “takes” is correct.

Did you know? A similar proverb is “It takes two to tango”.

Memory trick: It TAKES two.

Correct answer: have. When two subjects are connected by 'as well as', the verb agrees strictly with the first subject ('You'). So the verb should agree with ‘You’: ‘have agreed’ is the best choice.

Background: Phrases like 'as well as', 'along with', and 'together with' do not make the subject compound.

• has: 'Has' is singular third-person and does not agree with 'You'.
• is / was: 'Is' and 'was' are incorrect verb forms for 'You'.

Did you know? Removing the parenthetical phrase gives: 'You have agreed to the proposal.'

Memory trick: 'As well as' rule → Focus on the first subject ('You' → 'have').

Correct answer: in. A person is a lecturer “in” a subject, so the correct preposition is “in”.

Background: The preposition “in” normally identifies the academic subject or field.

• at: “At” is used for a place or institution, not a subject.
• of: “Of” is much less common here; “lecturer in English” is the standard form.
• off: “Off” does not fit the meaning.

Did you know? We say “professor of English” but “lecturer in English”.

Memory trick: Lecturer IN a subject.

Correct answer: Contemporary. Obsolete means no longer used because it is out of date, so “contemporary” (modern) is the opposite.

Background: Floppy disks are an example of obsolete technology.

• Old: “Old” is similar in meaning to obsolete.
• Extinct: “Extinct” means no longer existing, similar to obsolete.
• Outdated: “Outdated” is a synonym of obsolete.

Did you know? “Contemporary” means belonging to the present time.

Memory trick: Obsolete ↔ contemporary.

Correct answer: Modern. 'Quaint' means attractively unusual, old-fashioned, or picturesque. Its direct antonym is 'Modern' (or 'Conventional / Contemporary').

Background: 'Familiar' is a weak antonym; 'Modern' directly opposes the old-fashioned character implied by 'quaint'.

• Brisk: Quick, active, or energetic.
• Distinct: Clearly noticeable or separate.
• Ridiculous: Absurd or deserving mockery.

Did you know? 'Conventional' and 'ordinary' are also strong antonyms of quaint.

Memory trick: Quaint (old-fashioned/unusual) ↔ Modern (contemporary).

Correct answer: Confusion. Bafflement is the state of being puzzled, so “confusion” is the closest meaning.

Background: To baffle someone is to leave them completely puzzled.

• Clarity: “Clarity” means clearness, the opposite of bafflement.
• Pleasure: “Pleasure” means enjoyment.
• Cleanliness: “Cleanliness” means being clean.

Did you know? Other synonyms are perplexity and bewilderment.

Memory trick: Baffled = confused.

Correct answer: Reserved. Taciturn means quiet and not inclined to talk, so “reserved” is the closest.

Background: The word comes from the Latin tacitus, meaning “silent”.

• Talky: “Talky” means talkative, the opposite of taciturn.
• Chatty: “Chatty” means talkative, the opposite of taciturn.
• None of these: “None of these” is incorrect because “reserved” is correct.

Did you know? A related word is “tacit”, meaning understood without being said.

Memory trick: Taciturn = tacit = silent.

Correct answer: Sack. The proverb is “An empty sack cannot stand upright”, meaning a hungry or poor person cannot work properly.

Background: It shows that people need their basic needs met before they can function well.

• Container: “Container” is not used in this proverb.
• Vessel: “Empty vessels make the most noise” is a different proverb.
• Bag: “Bag” is not used in this proverb.

Did you know? Proverbs have fixed wording and cannot be changed.

Memory trick: Sack stands only when full.

Correct answer: Cubism. Salvador Dalí is a famous surrealist painter, and Georges Braque co-founded Cubism with Pablo Picasso.

Background: In an analogy, the second pair has the same relationship as the first: artist and movement.

• Realism: Braque did not belong to the realist movement.
• Pop: Pop art came later, with artists such as Andy Warhol.
• Portraits: Portraits are a type of painting, not an art movement.

Did you know? Braque and Picasso developed Cubism around 1907–08.

Memory trick: Dalí → Surrealism; Braque → Cubism.

Correct answer: Spanish. “Trampoline” comes from the Spanish trampolín.

Background: The Spanish word itself comes from an Italian word for stilts.

• Egyptian: The word is not Egyptian.
• Latin: The word is not Latin.
• Persian: The word is not Persian.

Did you know? George Nissen helped popularise the modern trampoline in the 1930s.

Memory trick: Trampoline → trampolín (Spanish).