Fill in the blanks. This vocabulary exercise tests your ability to use the words mean and means correctly.
1Father didn't ............... to be a clerk, but that is what he became.
Wrong!
After "didn't", use the base form "mean".
2What does that word ...............?
Wrong!
After "does", use the base form "mean".
3A damp breeze from the sea usually ............... rain.
Wrong!
With the singular subject "breeze", use "means".
4The shoes were of ............... quality.
Select 3 answers.
Wrong!
"Mean", "poor", and "inferior" can all describe low quality.
5How could anyone be so ...............?
Wrong!
The adjective "mean" can mean unkind or nasty.
6Everyone deserves a ............... job.
Wrong!
A job that has value or purpose is "meaningful".
7Many elderly people don't have the ............... to travel.
Wrong!
"Means" can mean the money or resources needed to do something.
8Only a man of ............... could afford an expensive car like that.
Wrong!
A "man of means" is a man with a lot of money.
9Flying is the quickest ............... of getting there.
Wrong!
"Means" can mean a method or way of doing something.
10Thoreau felt that many people live ............... lives.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Mean" and "meaningless" can both describe lives seen as poor in value or purpose.
11That long speech had no ............... at all.
Wrong!
The noun "meaning" refers to the sense or purpose of something.
12After his wife's death, his life has had no ...............
Wrong!
The noun "meaning" refers to purpose or value in life.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Father didn’t mean to be a clerk, but that is what he became.
- What does that word mean?
- A damp breeze from the sea usually means rain.
- The shoes were of mean / poor / inferior quality.
- How could anyone be so mean?
- Everyone deserves a meaningful job.
- Many elderly people don’t have the means to travel.
- Only a man of means could afford an expensive car like that.
- Flying is the quickest means of getting there.
- Thoreau felt that many people live mean / meaningless lives.
- That long speech had no meaning at all.
- After his wife’s death, his life has had no meaning.