Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The epidemiologist ............... that the apparent decline was anything more than a sampling artefact.
Wrong!
Use "disputed" for reporting that someone said a claim was false or questionable; quarrelled does not take a direct that-clause.
2The auditor ............... the figures had been massaged to satisfy the board.
Wrong!
Use "that" when objected reports a statement or protest in a finite clause; objected to is followed by a noun phrase or -ing form, not this clause.
3Although the committee seemed satisfied, the legal adviser nevertheless ...............: the precedent, she said, had been misread.
Wrong!
Use "demurred" to report polite hesitation or disagreement; concurred means agreed, which contradicts nevertheless and the challenge that follows.
4In her reply, the minister took issue ............... his claim that the reforms were merely cosmetic.
Wrong!
Use "with" in the fixed reporting expression take issue with a claim, meaning disagree with it.
5The firm categorically ............... the allegation as defamatory.
Wrong!
Use "rejected" to report refusal to accept a claim; accepted reports agreement and contradicts the stated claim being called defamatory.
6The opposition spokesman called the proposal ............... because it could not be implemented within the statutory timetable.
Wrong!
Use "unworkable" because the subsequent reason says the proposal could not be implemented within the statutory timetable.
7Several historians ............... the interpretation because it collapsed a crucial distinction between compliance and collaboration.
Wrong!
Use "challenged" to report disagreement with an interpretation, especially when the speaker says a key distinction is being collapsed.
8The ambassador said, with visible restraint, “I beg to ...............”
Wrong!
Use "differ" in the idiom I beg to differ, a formal way of reporting or expressing disagreement.
9When the chair described the delay as negligible, the project lead ............... that it would invalidate two years of field data.
Wrong!
Use "countered" when a speaker replies by putting forward an opposing point; confirmed would support the previous claim instead.
10The external reviewer disagreed ............... the panel’s conclusion that the risk was purely theoretical.
Wrong!
Use "with" after disagreed when reporting opposition to a person’s conclusion or view.
11In a sharply worded note, the ombudsman ............... the account misleading.
Wrong!
Use "deemed" to report a judgement that the account was misleading; yielded cannot take this object-complement reporting frame.
12The negotiators ............... at the proposed concession, calling it an avoidable surrender.
Wrong!
Use "balked" to report resistance or objection to the concession; rejoiced at would report approval, not disagreement.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- The epidemiologist disputed that the apparent decline was anything more than a sampling artefact.
- The auditor that the figures had been massaged to satisfy the board.
- Although the committee seemed satisfied, the legal adviser nevertheless demurred: the precedent, she said, had been misread.
- In her reply, the minister took issue with his claim that the reforms were merely cosmetic.
- The firm categorically rejected the allegation as defamatory.
- The opposition spokesman called the proposal unworkable because it could not be implemented within the statutory timetable.
- Several historians challenged the interpretation because it collapsed a crucial distinction between compliance and collaboration.
- The ambassador said, with visible restraint, “I beg to differ”
- When the chair described the delay as negligible, the project lead countered that it would invalidate two years of field data.
- The external reviewer disagreed with the panel’s conclusion that the risk was purely theoretical.
- In a sharply worded note, the ombudsman deemed the account misleading.
- The negotiators balked at the proposed concession, calling it an avoidable surrender.