Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1The minister ............... that the leaked memo was authentic, but refused to say who had verified it.
Wrong!
"Denied" means the minister said the memo was not authentic.
2Several outlets ............... that the figures were massaged, though none produced the underlying dataset.
Wrong!
"Alleged" introduces an unproven claim reported by others; "accused" and "assured" need a person as object (accuse someone of, assure someone that).
3The spokesperson ............... to confirm whether the CEO had signed off on the settlement.
Wrong!
"Refused" is the natural verb before "to confirm" in this reporting context.
4According to two people briefed on the talks, the deal is ............... to be announced on Friday.
Wrong!
"Expected" completes the passive reporting phrase "is expected to be announced."
5The report ............... the decision to budget pressures, rather than to any change in policy.
Wrong!
"Attributed" means the report linked the decision to a stated cause.
6In a carefully worded statement, the agency said it was ............... that any rules had been broken.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Not aware" and "unaware" are both standard cautious phrases before a that-clause; "not knowing" cannot follow "was" in this way.
7The chair ............... that she had been misquoted, insisting the transcript told a different story.
Wrong!
"Maintained" means the chair kept saying she had been misquoted, which matches her insisting that the transcript told a different story.
8He ............... to have seen the draft contract, but his timeline does not match the email trail.
Wrong!
"Claimed" reports what he said about himself while leaving doubt possible.
9The memo was ............... to the press, yet no one will say by whom.
Wrong!
"Leaked" means the memo was passed to the press unofficially.
10The analyst was careful to ............... her comments to what could be verified from filings.
Wrong!
"Confine" means to limit the comments to what could be verified.
11The article ............... the accusation to unnamed insiders, distancing the newsroom from the claim.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Ascribed" and "attributed" both mean the article assigned the accusation to a source.
12The dossier ............... the minister as having intervened, but it stops short of alleging illegality.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Depicts" and "portrays" both describe how the dossier presents the minister without directly alleging illegality.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The minister denied that the leaked memo was authentic, but refused to say who had verified it.
- Several outlets alleged that the figures were massaged, though none produced the underlying dataset.
- The spokesperson refused to confirm whether the CEO had signed off on the settlement.
- According to two people briefed on the talks, the deal is expected to be announced on Friday.
- The report attributed the decision to budget pressures, rather than to any change in policy.
- In a carefully worded statement, the agency said it was not aware / unaware that any rules had been broken.
- The chair maintained that she had been misquoted, insisting the transcript told a different story.
- He claimed to have seen the draft contract, but his timeline does not match the email trail.
- The memo was leaked to the press, yet no one will say by whom.
- The analyst was careful to confine her comments to what could be verified from filings.
- The article ascribed / attributed the accusation to unnamed insiders, distancing the newsroom from the claim.
- The dossier depicts / portrays the minister as having intervened, but it stops short of alleging illegality.