Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1I slept through my alarm, ............... I missed the first ten minutes of the meeting.
Wrong!
"So" introduces the result of the missed alarm.
2We’ve sorted out the train tickets. ..............., have you tried the new café near the station?
Wrong!
"By the way" introduces a new side point that is only loosely connected to the current topic.
3I love the flat; the rent is ridiculous, ...............
Wrong!
"though" adds an informal afterthought that contrasts with the first idea.
4Small changes helped me focus, ............... turning off notifications during work blocks.
Wrong!
"Like" informally introduces an example of a small change that helped.
5..............., I preferred the old design even though the new one looks more modern.
Wrong!
"To be honest" signals that the speaker is giving a frank personal opinion.
6The hotel was noisy and the weather was awful, but the hiking was fantastic; ..............., it was still a great trip.
Wrong!
"All in all" sums up the overall judgement after considering different points.
7I didn’t call him again; ..............., I sent a short message and waited for his reply.
Wrong!
"Instead" introduces the alternative action taken rather than calling again.
8Let’s not go out tonight; it’s raining, and ..............., I’m exhausted.
Wrong!
"Besides" adds another reason for not going out.
9The traffic was terrible, and the taxi driver told me his life story. ..............., the presentation starts at two.
Wrong!
"Anyway" returns to the main point after a digression about traffic.
10The instructions aren’t just difficult; ..............., they’re almost impossible to follow.
Wrong!
"Actually" corrects or strengthens the previous idea by saying the problem is even worse.
11He talks too much sometimes; I like him, ...............
Wrong!
"though" works at the end of the sentence to add a contrasting afterthought.
12We need a better system; ..............., people shouldn’t have to email three different managers for one approval.
Wrong!
"I mean" introduces a clarification or rephrasing of the previous vague comment.
Answers
- I slept through my alarm, So I missed the first ten minutes of the meeting.
- We’ve sorted out the train tickets. By the way, have you tried the new café near the station?
- I love the flat; the rent is ridiculous, though.
- Small changes helped me focus, Like turning off notifications during work blocks.
- To be honest, I preferred the old design even though the new one looks more modern.
- The hotel was noisy and the weather was awful, but the hiking was fantastic; All in all, it was still a great trip.
- I didn’t call him again; Instead, I sent a short message and waited for his reply.
- Let’s not go out tonight; it’s raining, and Besides, I’m exhausted.
- The traffic was terrible, and the taxi driver told me his life story. Anyway, the presentation starts at two.
- The instructions aren’t just difficult; Actually, they’re almost impossible to follow.
- He talks too much sometimes; I like him, though.
- We need a better system; I mean, people shouldn’t have to email three different managers for one approval.
