diff --git a/test/uri/test_ftp.rb b/test/uri/test_ftp.rb
index f45bb06..3ad7864 100644
--- a/test/uri/test_ftp.rb
+++ b/test/uri/test_ftp.rb
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ def test_paths
     # If you think what's below is wrong, please read RubyForge bug 2055,
     # RFC 1738 section 3.2.2, and RFC 2396.
     u = URI.parse('ftp://ftp.example.com/foo/bar/file.ext')
-    assert(u.path == 'foo/bar/file.ext')
+    assert_equal('foo/bar/file.ext', u.path)
     u = URI.parse('ftp://ftp.example.com//foo/bar/file.ext')
-    assert(u.path == '/foo/bar/file.ext')
+    assert_equal('/foo/bar/file.ext', u.path)
     u = URI.parse('ftp://ftp.example.com/%2Ffoo/bar/file.ext')
-    assert(u.path == '/foo/bar/file.ext')
+    assert_equal('/foo/bar/file.ext', u.path)
   end
 
   def test_assemble
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ def test_assemble
     # assuming everyone else has implemented RFC 2396.
     uri = URI::FTP.build(['user:password', 'ftp.example.com', nil,
                          '/path/file.zip', 'i'])
-    assert(uri.to_s ==
-           'ftp://user:password@ftp.example.com/%2Fpath/file.zip;type=i')
+    assert_equal('ftp://user:password@ftp.example.com/%2Fpath/file.zip;type=i',
+                 uri.to_s)
   end
 
   def test_select
diff --git a/test/uri/test_generic.rb b/test/uri/test_generic.rb
index 1d5fbc7..b893f7e 100644
--- a/test/uri/test_generic.rb
+++ b/test/uri/test_generic.rb
@@ -240,9 +240,9 @@ def test_merge
     u = URI.parse('http://foo/bar/baz')
     assert_equal(nil, u.merge!(""))
     assert_equal(nil, u.merge!(u))
-    assert(nil != u.merge!("."))
+    refute_nil(u.merge!("."))
     assert_equal('http://foo/bar/', u.to_s)
-    assert(nil != u.merge!("../baz"))
+    refute_nil(u.merge!("../baz"))
     assert_equal('http://foo/baz', u.to_s)
 
     url = URI.parse('http://a/b//c') + 'd//e'
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/g', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/g')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('./g' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('./g', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('g', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/g', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/g')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('/g' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('/g', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('../../g', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('.' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('.', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('./', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -485,7 +485,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('..' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('..', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('../', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -513,7 +513,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('../..' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('../..', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('../../', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/g', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/g')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('../../../g' != url.to_s)  # ok? yes, it confuses you
+    refute_equal('../../../g', url.to_s)  # ok? yes, it confuses you
     assert_equal('../../g', url.to_s) # and it is clearly
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/g', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/g')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('../../../../g' != url.to_s) # ok? yes, it confuses you
+    refute_equal('../../../../g', url.to_s) # ok? yes, it confuses you
     assert_equal('../../g', url.to_s)   # and it is clearly
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -624,7 +624,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/g', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/g')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('./../g' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('./../g', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('../g', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -634,7 +634,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/g/', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/g/')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('./g/.' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('./g/.', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('g/', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/g/h', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/g/h')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('g/./h' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('g/./h', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('g/h', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/h', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/h')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('g/../h' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('g/../h', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('h', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/g;x=1/y', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/g;x=1/y')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('g;x=1/./y' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('g;x=1/./y', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('g;x=1/y', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -674,7 +674,7 @@ def test_rfc3986_examples
     assert_equal('http://a/b/c/y', url.to_s)
     url = @base_url.route_to('http://a/b/c/y')
     assert_kind_of(URI::Generic, url)
-    assert('g;x=1/../y' != url.to_s) # ok
+    refute_equal('g;x=1/../y', url.to_s) # ok
     assert_equal('y', url.to_s)
 
 #  http://a/b/c/d;p?q
@@ -822,18 +822,18 @@ def test_hierarchical
     hierarchical = URI.parse('http://a.b.c/example')
     opaque = URI.parse('mailto:mduerst@ifi.unizh.ch')
 
-    assert hierarchical.hierarchical?
-    refute opaque.hierarchical?
+    assert_predicate hierarchical, :hierarchical?
+    refute_predicate opaque, :hierarchical?
   end
 
   def test_absolute
     abs_uri = URI.parse('http://a.b.c/')
     not_abs = URI.parse('a.b.c')
 
-    refute not_abs.absolute?
+    refute_predicate not_abs, :absolute?
 
-    assert abs_uri.absolute
-    assert abs_uri.absolute?
+    assert_predicate abs_uri, :absolute
+    assert_predicate abs_uri, :absolute?
   end
 
   def test_ipv6
diff --git a/test/uri/test_http.rb b/test/uri/test_http.rb
index e937b1a..dc076ce 100644
--- a/test/uri/test_http.rb
+++ b/test/uri/test_http.rb
@@ -33,19 +33,19 @@ def test_normalize
     host = 'aBcD'
     u1 = URI.parse('http://' + host + '/eFg?HiJ')
     u2 = URI.parse('http://' + host.downcase + '/eFg?HiJ')
-    assert(u1.normalize.host == 'abcd')
-    assert(u1.normalize.path == u1.path)
-    assert(u1.normalize == u2.normalize)
-    assert(!u1.normalize.host.equal?(u1.host))
-    assert( u2.normalize.host.equal?(u2.host))
+    assert_equal('abcd', u1.normalize.host)
+    assert_equal(u1.path, u1.normalize.path)
+    assert_equal(u2.normalize, u1.normalize)
+    refute_same(u1.host, u1.normalize.host)
+    assert_same(u2.host, u2.normalize.host)
 
     assert_equal('http://abc/', URI.parse('http://abc').normalize.to_s)
   end
 
   def test_equal
-    assert(URI.parse('http://abc') == URI.parse('http://ABC'))
-    assert(URI.parse('http://abc/def') == URI.parse('http://ABC/def'))
-    assert(URI.parse('http://abc/def') != URI.parse('http://ABC/DEF'))
+    assert_equal(URI.parse('http://ABC'), URI.parse('http://abc'))
+    assert_equal(URI.parse('http://ABC/def'), URI.parse('http://abc/def'))
+    refute_equal(URI.parse('http://ABC/DEF'), URI.parse('http://abc/def'))
   end
 
   def test_request_uri
diff --git a/test/uri/test_parser.rb b/test/uri/test_parser.rb
index f455a5c..04c2cd3 100644
--- a/test/uri/test_parser.rb
+++ b/test/uri/test_parser.rb
@@ -20,17 +20,17 @@ def test_compare
     u2 = p.parse(url)
     u3 = p.parse(url)
 
-    assert(u0 == u1)
-    assert(u0.eql?(u1))
-    assert(!u0.equal?(u1))
+    assert_equal(u1, u0)
+    assert_send([u0, :eql?, u1])
+    refute_same(u1, u0)
 
-    assert(u1 == u2)
-    assert(!u1.eql?(u2))
-    assert(!u1.equal?(u2))
+    assert_equal(u2, u1)
+    assert_not_send([u1, :eql?, u2])
+    refute_same(u1, u2)
 
-    assert(u2 == u3)
-    assert(u2.eql?(u3))
-    assert(!u2.equal?(u3))
+    assert_equal(u3, u2)
+    assert_send([u2, :eql?, u3])
+    refute_same(u3, u2)
   end
 
   def test_parse_rfc2396_parser
diff --git a/test/uri/test_ws.rb b/test/uri/test_ws.rb
index f3918f6..d63ebd4 100644
--- a/test/uri/test_ws.rb
+++ b/test/uri/test_ws.rb
@@ -31,19 +31,19 @@ def test_normalize
     host = 'aBcD'
     u1 = URI.parse('ws://' + host          + '/eFg?HiJ')
     u2 = URI.parse('ws://' + host.downcase + '/eFg?HiJ')
-    assert(u1.normalize.host == 'abcd')
-    assert(u1.normalize.path == u1.path)
-    assert(u1.normalize == u2.normalize)
-    assert(!u1.normalize.host.equal?(u1.host))
-    assert( u2.normalize.host.equal?(u2.host))
+    assert_equal('abcd', u1.normalize.host)
+    assert_equal(u1.path, u1.normalize.path)
+    assert_equal(u2.normalize, u1.normalize)
+    refute_same(u1.host, u1.normalize.host)
+    assert_same(u2.host, u2.normalize.host)
 
     assert_equal('ws://abc/', URI.parse('ws://abc').normalize.to_s)
   end
 
   def test_equal
-    assert(URI.parse('ws://abc') == URI.parse('ws://ABC'))
-    assert(URI.parse('ws://abc/def') == URI.parse('ws://ABC/def'))
-    assert(URI.parse('ws://abc/def') != URI.parse('ws://ABC/DEF'))
+    assert_equal(URI.parse('ws://ABC'), URI.parse('ws://abc'))
+    assert_equal(URI.parse('ws://ABC/def'), URI.parse('ws://abc/def'))
+    refute_equal(URI.parse('ws://ABC/DEF'), URI.parse('ws://abc/def'))
   end
 
   def test_request_uri
diff --git a/test/uri/test_wss.rb b/test/uri/test_wss.rb
index 13a2583..cbef327 100644
--- a/test/uri/test_wss.rb
+++ b/test/uri/test_wss.rb
@@ -31,19 +31,19 @@ def test_normalize
     host = 'aBcD'
     u1 = URI.parse('wss://' + host          + '/eFg?HiJ')
     u2 = URI.parse('wss://' + host.downcase + '/eFg?HiJ')
-    assert(u1.normalize.host == 'abcd')
-    assert(u1.normalize.path == u1.path)
-    assert(u1.normalize == u2.normalize)
-    assert(!u1.normalize.host.equal?(u1.host))
-    assert( u2.normalize.host.equal?(u2.host))
+    assert_equal('abcd', u1.normalize.host)
+    assert_equal(u1.path, u1.normalize.path)
+    assert_equal(u2.normalize, u1.normalize)
+    refute_same(u1.host, u1.normalize.host)
+    assert_same(u2.host, u2.normalize.host)
 
     assert_equal('wss://abc/', URI.parse('wss://abc').normalize.to_s)
   end
 
   def test_equal
-    assert(URI.parse('wss://abc') == URI.parse('wss://ABC'))
-    assert(URI.parse('wss://abc/def') == URI.parse('wss://ABC/def'))
-    assert(URI.parse('wss://abc/def') != URI.parse('wss://ABC/DEF'))
+    assert_equal(URI.parse('wss://ABC'), URI.parse('wss://abc'))
+    assert_equal(URI.parse('wss://ABC/def'), URI.parse('wss://abc/def'))
+    refute_equal(URI.parse('wss://ABC/DEF'), URI.parse('wss://abc/def'))
   end
 
   def test_request_uri