Practice Questions
Bank updating
Concept Explanation
Word usage tests confusable pairs (accept/except, principal/principle) and appropriate register. The right word fits meaning, grammar, and level of formality.
How to solve fast
- Substitute a simple synonym mentally to test meaning.
- Check whether the word needs a fixed preposition.
- Reject words that are correct alone but wrong in this collocation.
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Q1 EasyThe school ___ announced a holiday.ExplanationPrincipal is the head of a school; principle is a rule.
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Q2 EasyThe ___ of the fable is honesty.ExplanationMoral is the lesson; morale is group spirit.
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Q3 EasyThe heavy rain ___ our schedule yesterday.ExplanationAffected means influenced; effected means brought about.
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Q4 EasyThe mentor gave useful ___.ExplanationAdvice is the noun; advise is the verb.
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Q5 EasyAll departments attended ___ the off-site team.ExplanationExcept excludes; accept means receive.
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Q6 EasyDo not ___ the layout without approval.ExplanationAlter means change; altar is a ceremonial table.
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Q7 EasyWalk down the centre ___ to row twelve.ExplanationAisle is a passage; isle is an island.
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Q8 EasyPlease ___ the source in the list.ExplanationCite means refer to; site is a place.
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Q9 Easy___ time to review the contract.ExplanationIt's means it is; its is possessive.
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Q10 EasyIf you ___ the cap, the bottle may leak.ExplanationLose means misplace; loose means not tight.
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Q11 EasyThe hall was ___ empty.ExplanationQuite means to a high degree; quiet means silent.
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Q12 EasyPlease ___ the instructions carefully before you begin.ExplanationRead is the verb; red and reed do not fit.
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Q13 EasyFinish the draft first; ___ we can edit.ExplanationThen marks sequence; than compares.
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Q14 Easy___ attended except the intern on leave.ExplanationEveryone is a single pronoun meaning all people.
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Q15 MediumThe CEO will ___ the new policy tomorrow.ExplanationEffect as a verb means bring about.
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Q16 MediumThe firm will ___ the new safety standard.ExplanationAdopt means take up officially; adapt means adjust.
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Q17 MediumHis remark was an ___ to the earlier case.ExplanationAllusion is an indirect reference; illusion is a false appearance.
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Q18 MediumHackers caused a ___ of customer data.ExplanationBreach is a break or violation.
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Q19 MediumThe blue paint ___ the wood trim.ExplanationComplement means go well with; compliment means praise.
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Q20 MediumShe is a ___ worker who checks every line.ExplanationConscientious means careful and dutiful.
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Q21 MediumAfter graduation she will ___ to Canada.ExplanationEmigrate focuses on leaving one country.
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Q22 MediumThe student sought ___ before signing.ExplanationCounsel is advice; council is a body.
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Q23 MediumDouble-check the figures to ___ accuracy.ExplanationEnsure means make certain; insure relates to insurance.
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Q24 MediumThe warehouse is five miles ___ than the old office.ExplanationFarther often marks physical distance.
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Q25 MediumEngineers ___ a new method to cut loss.ExplanationDevised is the past of the verb devise.
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Q26 MediumThe building, ___ a mill, now holds a workshop.ExplanationFormerly means in the past; formally means officially.
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Q27 MediumPlease ___ the reports on the desk.ExplanationLay takes an object; lie does not.
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Q28 MediumThe introduction will ___ the findings.ExplanationPrecede means come before; proceed means go forward.
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Q29 MediumPrices ___ every year.ExplanationRise is intransitive; raise needs an object.
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Q30 MediumOrder letterhead and other ___.ExplanationStationery is writing paper; stationary means not moving.
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Q31 MediumTo ___ did you send the file?ExplanationWhom is the object of to.
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Q32 MediumThe audit found ___ than five serious errors.ExplanationFewer counts items; less is for uncountable amounts.
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Q33 MediumThe witness was willing to ___ the facts in court.ExplanationBear witness / bear the facts means testify or carry the account; bare means uncovered.
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Q34 HardVolunteers will ___ the street for signatures.ExplanationCanvass means solicit; canvas is cloth.
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Q35 Hard___ interruptions slowed the workshop, but it still finished.ExplanationContinual fits repeated gaps; continuous means without a break.
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Q36 HardKeep the merger plans ___.ExplanationDiscreet means tactful; discrete means separate.
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Q37 HardThe survey failed to ___ a clear reason.ExplanationElicit means draw out; illicit means unlawful.
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Q38 HardAn ___ flood warning forced people to leave.ExplanationImminent means about to happen; eminent means distinguished.
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Q39 HardHer ___ excuse sounded sincere.ExplanationIngenuous means candid; ingenious means clever.
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Q40 HardFrom the chart, analysts ___ that demand had peaked.ExplanationInfer means conclude from evidence; imply means suggest.