The Alchemist Vocabulary Quiz

What does the word 'contemplate' mean in the sentence: 'The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who knelt beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty.'?

• Ignore

• Reflect

• Destroy

• Build

In the sentence 'Dusk was falling as the boy arrived with his herd at an abandoned church. The roof had fallen in long ago, and an enormous sycamore had grown on the spot where the sacristy once had stood.', what does 'sacristy' refer to?

• A type of tree

• A part of a church

• A herd of animals

• A time of day

What is the meaning of 'proprietor' in the sentence: 'The merchant was the proprietor of a dry goods shop, and he always demanded that the sheep be sheared in his presence, so that he would not be cheated.'?

• Customer

• Owner

• Employee

• Supplier

In the context of the sentence 'He knew that a few hours from now, with the sun at its zenith, the heat would be so great that he would not be able to lead his flock across the fields.', what does 'zenith' mean?

• Lowest point

• Highest point

• Middle point

• Starting point

What does 'tinged' mean in the sentence: 'The horizon was tinged with red, and suddenly the sun appeared.'?

• Covered

• Touched slightly

• Removed

• Darkened

In the sentence 'It prepares your spirit and your will, because there is one great truth on this planet: whoever you are, or whatever it is that you do, when you really want something, it is because that desire originated in the soul of the universe.', what does 'originated' mean?

• Ended

• Started

• Changed

• Disappeared

What does the term 'levanter' refer to in the context of the Mediterranean?

• A) A type of ship

• B) A wind

• C) A sea creature

• D) A mountain

In the phrase 'follow the omens,' what does 'omens' most likely mean?

• Signs or warnings

• Friends

• Enemies

• Treasures

What does the word 'abashed' mean in the sentence 'He looked to the skies, feeling a bit abashed'?

• Confident

• Embarrassed

• Angry

• Joyful

What does the word 'incessantly' mean in the context of the sentence: 'For nearly a year, he had been working incessantly, thinking only of putting aside enough money so that he could return to Spain with pride.'?

• Occasionally

• Continuously

• Lazily

• Rarely