Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1Although the script was predictable, the lead actor's grief was utterly ............... .
Wrong!
Use "convincing" because the review describes the effect of the actor's performance on the audience.
2Several reviewers ............... the dancer's precise timing and emotional restraint.
Wrong!
Use "praised" because critics praise specific qualities such as timing and emotional control.
3Because two actors forgot their cues and the scene changes dragged, the opening night felt surprisingly ............... for a professional production.
Wrong!
Use "under-rehearsed" because forgotten cues and scene changes that dragged suggest insufficient preparation.
4............... a few shaky high notes, the singer held the audience's attention until the final encore.
Wrong!
Use "Despite" before a noun phrase such as "a few shaky high notes".
5The final duet was ............... the strongest moment of the whole evening.
Wrong!
Use "arguably" to introduce a debatable critical judgement in a review.
6The lighting changes were ............... subtle that they almost went unnoticed.
Wrong!
Use "so" before the adjective "subtle" in the result pattern so + adjective + that.
7The violinist received a standing ovation after a ............... solo in complete silence.
Wrong!
Use "ten-minute" because a compound adjective before a noun is singular and hyphenated.
8Her nervous energy ............... as genuine vulnerability rather than poor preparation.
Wrong!
Use "across" because an emotion or idea that is communicated successfully comes across.
9The filmed version was no ............... than the live show, even on a small screen.
Wrong!
Use "less powerful" after "no" to mean the recorded version was equally powerful, not weaker.
10At nearly three hours, the second interval should have been ............... entirely.
Wrong!
Use "cut" because after "should have been" the passive needs the past participle.
11I was ............... by the flat ending, especially after such a promising first act.
Wrong!
Use "disappointed" because the sentence describes how the critic felt after the performance failed to meet expectations.
12The comedy opened brilliantly but failed ............... its pace after the first twenty minutes.
Wrong!
Use "to sustain" because "fail" is followed by a to-infinitive.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Although the script was predictable, the lead actor’s grief was utterly convincing.
- Several reviewers praised the dancer’s precise timing and emotional restraint.
- Because two actors forgot their cues and the scene changes dragged, the opening night felt surprisingly under-rehearsed for a professional production.
- Despite a few shaky high notes, the singer held the audience’s attention until the final encore.
- The final duet was arguably the strongest moment of the whole evening.
- The lighting changes were so subtle that they almost went unnoticed.
- The violinist received a standing ovation after a ten-minute solo in complete silence.
- Her nervous energy across as genuine vulnerability rather than poor preparation.
- The filmed version was no less powerful than the live show, even on a small screen.
- At nearly three hours, the second interval should have been cut entirely.
- I was disappointed by the flat ending, especially after such a promising first act.
- The comedy opened brilliantly but failed to sustain its pace after the first twenty minutes.

