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Vocabulary : Sayings : Quizzes : Talking 2

Sayings Quiz: Talking 2

Try this fun quiz to check your understanding of English sayings. To learn more about an individual saying, click on the "more about this saying" link.

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1. Never speak ill of the dead

The saying "Never speak ill of the dead" recommends that we should not
  1. hope that ill people will die
  2. criticize ill people before they die
  3. criticize people who are no longer alive
more about this saying: Never speak ill of the dead

2. No reply is best

You might apply the proverb "No reply is best" when
  1. you don't know the answer to an exam question
  2. someone asks for something that you prefer not to give
  3. a tourist asks you the way
more about this saying: No reply is best

3. Say well or be still

If you always "say well or be still", then you
  1. always say nice things about everyone
  2. never say anything
  3. never say anything nasty about someone
more about this saying: Say well or be still

4. Silence is golden

A person who believes that "silence is golden" probably knows
  1. how to throw her voice
  2. the value of gold
  3. when to keep quiet
more about this saying: Silence is golden

5. Silence means consent

If "silence means consent" and you say nothing when a friend suggests robbing a bank, it means that you
  1. agree
  2. disagree
  3. haven't decided
more about this saying: Silence means consent

6. Speech is silver, silence is golden

If it's true that "speech is silver, silence is golden", then words can be
  1. less valuable than no words
  2. as valuable as no words
  3. more valuable than no words
more about this saying: Speech is silver, silence is golden

7. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

If I think that "sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me", then I don't care what you
  1. call me
  2. throw at me
  3. think of me
more about this saying: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

8. Talk of the Devil, and he is bound to appear

You might say "Talk of the devil!" when your boss suddenly arrives
  1. in your local pub
  2. while you are discussing him
  3. while you are discussing religion
more about this saying: Talk of the Devil, and he is bound to appear

9. The squeaking wheel gets the grease

On the principle that "the squeaking wheel gets the grease", who is most likely to get their money back after a bad meal in a restaurant? The customer who
  1. immediately complains loudly in front of all other customers
  2. writes a polite letter of complaint a week later
  3. leaves his meal unfinished, saying quietly that he feels sick
more about this saying: The squeaking wheel gets the grease

10. There is a time to speak and a time to be silent

The proverb "There is a time to speak and a time to be silent" urges us to
  1. speak quietly
  2. speak at the appropriate time
  3. never say anything
more about this saying: There is a time to speak and a time to be silent