Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1In her keynote, the professor argued that ............... is not a luxury but a prerequisite for innovation.
Wrong!
Use the zero article for an abstract noun used in a general sense.
2After the scandal, ............... became the committee’s favourite excuse for doing nothing.
Wrong!
Use the definite article when referring to a specific, known instance of an abstract idea in context.
3In the ethics seminar, we discussed whether ............... can ever be fully objective.
Wrong!
Use the zero article for an academic field in general; use the definite article only in special, context-limited cases.
4In this company, ............... is treated as a skill you can train, not a personality trait.
Wrong!
Use the zero article for an abstract noun when speaking generally.
5The report warns that ............... is often mistaken for efficiency when teams are under pressure.
Wrong!
Use the zero article for an abstract noun used generically.
6When the CEO says “we value feedback,” ............... matters is whether anyone acts on it.
Wrong!
Use the fixed structure "the only thing that" to specify what is important.
7In the museum, ............... is protected by strict climate control and low lighting.
Wrong!
Use the definite article to refer to a category as a whole in a specific setting.
8In the debate, she appealed to ............... rather than evidence, which weakened her case.
Wrong!
Use the zero article for an abstract noun used in a general way.
9At that stage of the trial, ............... was still unclear, so the judge postponed the ruling.
Wrong!
Use the definite article when the abstract noun refers to a specific issue in the situation.
10In the training manual, ............... is described as the ability to recover quickly after setbacks.
Wrong!
Use the zero article for the general concept; "a" is not natural with this uncountable abstract noun in this definition.
11In her memoir, she writes that ............... is what she misses most about childhood.
Wrong!
Use the definite article to refer to a particular quality as she experiences it.
12In the philosophy lecture, ............... was defined as the absence of coercion, not the absence of rules.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
In this context, both the zero article (the general concept) and the definite article (the concept as defined in that lecture) are acceptable.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- In her keynote, the professor argued that curiosity is not a luxury but a prerequisite for innovation.
- After the scandal, the need for transparency became the committee’s favourite excuse for doing nothing.
- In the ethics seminar, we discussed whether science can ever be fully objective.
- In this company, resilience is treated as a skill you can train, not a personality trait.
- The report warns that speed is often mistaken for efficiency when teams are under pressure.
- When the CEO says “we value feedback,” the only thing that matters is whether anyone acts on it.
- In the museum, the art is protected by strict climate control and low lighting.
- In the debate, she appealed to emotion rather than evidence, which weakened her case.
- At that stage of the trial, the intent was still unclear, so the judge postponed the ruling.
- In the training manual, resilience is described as the ability to recover quickly after setbacks.
- In her memoir, she writes that the innocence is what she misses most about childhood.
- In the philosophy lecture, the freedom/freedom was defined as the absence of coercion, not the absence of rules.
