Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word or phrase.
1The opera was pleasant, but it is one of the composer's ............... works.
Wrong!
Use "lesser" to mean less important in the phrase "lesser works".
2The ruler's ............... practices led to a popular uprising.
Wrong!
Use "licentious" to describe immoral or uncontrolled behavior.
3As the law stands today, the responsibility ............... with the driver.
Wrong!
Use "lies" (present simple of "lie") to mean rests or belongs; "As the law stands today" shows that the present is needed. "Lay" is the past of "lie", and "lays" comes from the transitive verb "lay" (put something down).
4A smile ............... up his face.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "lighted" and "lit" are correct past-tense forms in this expression.
5............... me fifty dollars.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "Lend" and "Loan" can mean give someone money temporarily.
6A Rolls-Royce is a ............... car.
Wrong!
Use "luxurious" to describe something very comfortable and expensive.
7The garden has ............... foliage.
Wrong!
Use "luxuriant" to describe plants growing thickly and abundantly.
8In the distance rose the ............... Alps.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "majestic" and "majestical" are adjectives that can describe the Alps here.
9She has a ............... for collecting seashells.
Wrong!
Use "mania" for a very strong enthusiasm or obsession.
10He has one ...............: he is terrified of heights.
Wrong!
Use "phobia" for a strong fear of something.
11Only a man of ............... could afford a house that big.
Wrong!
Use "means" in the expression "a man of means" to mean wealth or resources.
12We understood him ............... his accent.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "despite" and "in spite of" are correct before a noun phrase.
Answers
- The opera was pleasant, but it is one of the composer’s lesser works.
- The ruler’s licentious practices led to a popular uprising.
- As the law stands today, the responsibility lies with the driver.
- A smile lighted / lit up his face.
- Lend / Loan me fifty dollars.
- A Rolls-Royce is a luxurious car.
- The garden has luxuriant foliage.
- In the distance rose the majestic / majestical Alps.
- She has a mania for collecting seashells.
- He has one phobia: he is terrified of heights.
- Only a man of means could afford a house that big.
- We understood him despite / in spite of his accent.