American Cultural Literacy - Meaning of Cultural Terms and Cultural Literacy Test

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1) Abbreviation

a) Shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the whole.
b) A word formed from the initial letters of the several words in the name.
c) Omission or suppression of parts of words or sentences.

2) Absolute zero

a) Most famous Japanese aircrafts during World War II.
b) It is the point at which particles have a minimum energy, determined by quantum mechanical effects, which is called the zero-point energy.
c) The quantity that registers a reading of zero on a scale.

3) Abstract expressionism

a) An art movement early in the 20th century which the artist's subjective expression of inner experiences was emphasized.
b) A subjective art form in which an artist distort reality for an emotional effect and it is exhibited in many ways including painting, literature, theatre, film, architecture and music.
c) Movement of abstract painting that emerged in New York City during the mid-1940s and attained singular prominence in American art in the following decaded.

4) A cappella

a) Vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way.
b) The brightest star in Auriga.
c) Italian/English eurodance, house and techno group that found international success mainly in the early 1990s.

5) Achilles

a) The patron deity of the "silver-swirling" Acheloos River, which is the largest river of Greece.
b) A mythical Greek hero of the Iliad; a foremost Greek warrior at the siege of Troy.
c) The king who lead the Greeks against Troy in the Trojan War.

6) Acquittal

a) A verdict of not guilty
b) An act granting release from punishment for an offense.
c) The act of excusing a mistake or offense.

7) Acrophobia

a) Fear of sourness.
b) Fear of itching or of the insects that cause itching.
c) Extreme or irrational fear of heights.

8) Actions speak louder than words

a) If someone is all talk, they often talk about doing something brave or exciting but never do it.
b) What you do is more important than what you say.
c) If something speaks for itself, it does not need any explanation.

9) Anno Domini

a) A terrible year
b) A wonderful year
c) In the year of the Lord

10) Adagio

a) A tempo marking indicating that the music is to be played slowly.
b) Gradually decreasing in tempo and broadening in manner.
c) Playing or singing something at first sight of the music sheet.

11) John Adams

a) A diplomat, politician, and the sixth President of the United States.
b) First Vice President of the United States (1789–1797) and second President (1797–1801).
c) American Patriot and First President of the United States (1715-1783).

12) Adaptation

a) The responsive adjustment of a sense organ to varying conditions.
b) The act of accepting with approval; favorable reception.
c) Choose and follow; as of theories, ideas, policies, strategies or plans.

13) Addis Ababa

a) The capital city of Ethiopia
b) A city in Ethiopia and the current capital of the Oromia Region
c) A market town in northern Ethiopia, and best known as the community closest to the decisive Battle of Adowa

14) Ad hoc

a) Latin phrase which means “for the honor”
b) Latin phrase which means "for this purpose”
c) Latin phrase which means “appealing to feelings rather than reason”

15) Adieu

a) Spanish for goodbye
b) French term for farewell
c) Spanish term for God

16) Adiós

a) Spanish for goodbye
b) Spanish term for God
c) French term for farewell

17) adjective

a) A word whose main syntactic role is to modify a noun or pronoun, giving more information about what the noun or pronoun refers to.
b) A word that modifies something other than a noun.
c) A content word that denotes an action or a state.

18) AEC (Atomic Energy Commission)

a) A former executive agency that was responsible for research into atomic energy and its peacetime uses in the United States.
b) The United Nations agency concerned with atomic energy.
c) An Indian government department responsible for administration of India's nuclear programme.

19) Aeneas

a) The Greek king of Ithaca and the hero of Homer's epic poem.
b) The king who lead the Greeks against Troy in the Trojan War.
c) A Trojan hero, the son of prince Anchises and the goddess Aphrodite.

20) Afghanistan

a) A landlocked country that is located in the heart of Asia. It is variously designated within Central Asia or the Middle East.
b) A Muslim republic that occupies the heartland of ancient south Asian civilization in the Indus River valley.
c) A landlocked mountainous republic in southeast central Asia.