Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The auditors insisted ............... the figures be released before the merger was approved.
Wrong!
After "insisted" followed by a finite clause, use "that"; "on" would require a noun phrase or gerund.
2A confidentiality clause precluded them ............... commenting publicly on the settlement.
Wrong!
"Preclude" takes the pattern "preclude someone from doing something", so "from" is correct.
3The committee argued that a closed hearing would not be conducive ............... the kind of scrutiny the allegations required.
Wrong!
The adjective "conducive" is normally followed by "to", as in "conducive to" a result or activity.
4Given the new archival evidence, his early interpretation is certainly worth ............... .
Wrong!
After "worth", English uses an -ing form, so "revisiting" is correct.
5All applicants will be assessed on the same criteria, irrespective ............... their departmental affiliation.
Wrong!
"Irrespective" is followed by "of", so the correct phrase is "irrespective of".
6The negotiator refused to soften the wording, lest ............... the concession be interpreted as an admission of liability.
Wrong!
"Lest" introduces a finite clause; in formal English it may be followed by "that", so "that" fits here.
7The amendment is useful only ............... it clarifies the regulator’s enforcement powers.
Wrong!
The standard subordinator is "insofar as", not "insofar that".
8Without continuing maintenance, the temporary embankment is liable ............... during the next storm surge.
Wrong!
When "liable" means likely to do something undesirable, it is followed by a to-infinitive: "to collapse".
9Several trustees objected to the mural ............... without a public consultation.
Wrong!
In "objected to", "to" is a preposition, so it is followed by an -ing form: "being removed".
10The review board deemed the protocol ............... unsafe for participants with compromised immunity.
Wrong!
In formal passive or object-complement patterns, "deem" can take "to be" before an adjective; "deemed the protocol as unsafe" is not standard.
11The minister tried to avoid ............... a commitment that would bind her successor.
Wrong!
"Avoid" is followed by an -ing form, so the correct choice is "making".
12The report is careful to distinguish correlation ............... causation, even where the graphs appear persuasive.
Wrong!
The pattern is "distinguish one thing from another", so "from" is correct.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The auditors insisted that the figures be released before the merger was approved.
- A confidentiality clause precluded them from commenting publicly on the settlement.
- The committee argued that a closed hearing would not be conducive to the kind of scrutiny the allegations required.
- Given the new archival evidence, his early interpretation is certainly worth revisiting.
- All applicants will be assessed on the same criteria, irrespective of their departmental affiliation.
- The negotiator refused to soften the wording, lest that the concession be interpreted as an admission of liability.
- The amendment is useful only insofar as it clarifies the regulator’s enforcement powers.
- Without continuing maintenance, the temporary embankment is liable to collapse during the next storm surge.
- Several trustees objected to the mural being removed without a public consultation.
- The review board deemed the protocol to be unsafe for participants with compromised immunity.
- The minister tried to avoid making a commitment that would bind her successor.
- The report is careful to distinguish correlation from causation, even where the graphs appear persuasive.
