Basic Details
Word: Scarce
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Not easily found; in short supply.
Synonyms: Rare, insufficient, limited
Antonyms: Abundant, plenty, plentiful
Idioms and Phrases
- Scarce as hen's teeth: Something that is extremely rare or difficult to find. Example: "Jobs in that field are as scarce as hen's teeth."
- Make do with what you have: To manage with what is available when resources are scarce. Example: "During the renovations, we had to make do with what we had in the kitchen."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Water is scarce in the desert, so it is important to conserve every drop.
Example 2: After the drought, the farmers found that their crops were scarce, making it difficult to sell at the market.
Example 3: During the war, food became scarce, and everyone had to ration what little they had.
Fun Fact
Did you know that the word "scarce" comes from the Latin word "scarce," meaning "to be free from"? It highlights the idea of something being lacking or insufficient.
Famous Quote
"They are fortunate who are not scared by the scarcity of bread." Spanish Proverb
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "scarce" mean?
a) Found in abundance
b) Not easily found
c) Pleasant to look at
d) Quite common
Answer: b) Not easily found
2. Which of these is a synonym of "scarce"?
a) Plentiful
b) Rare
c) Common
d) Available
Answer: b) Rare
3. Which of these is an antonym of "scarce"?
a) Rare
b) Limited
c) Abundant
d) Insufficient
Answer: c) Abundant
4. Which sentence uses "scarce" correctly?
a) It was very scarce at the party.
b) Resources were scarce after the natural disaster.
c) She wore a scarce dress to the event.
d) Everyone had scarce time to play.
Answer: b) Resources were scarce after the natural disaster.
5. Which idiom suggests something that is extremely rare?
a) Make do with what you have
b) As scarce as hen's teeth
c) A drop in the ocean
d) Born with a silver spoon
Answer: b) As scarce as hen's teeth
