Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1By describing workplace surveillance as 'no more intrusive than water or electricity,' the minister ............... it rather than defending it directly.
Wrong!
Calling surveillance a household utility presents it as ordinary and accepted, so the best answer is "normalises".
2The report's catalogue of incentives, omissions, and institutional blind spots makes the failure appear ............... rather than the result of one official's lapse.
Wrong!
A chain of incentives and blind spots implies a structural cause, so the correct answer is "systemic".
3By listing the obvious objections before his opponents can, the speaker ............... them and deprives them of surprise.
Wrong!
Mentioning critics' objections before they are raised anticipates and neutralises them, so the answer is "pre-empts".
4When the mayor invites sceptics to help refine the proposal, she ............... them instead of casting them as enemies.
Wrong!
Inviting sceptics to refine the proposal treats them as partners, so the best answer is "conciliates".
5By letting the graph settle the issue before dialogue begins, the article turns data into a ............... rather than evidence for discussion.
Wrong!
Treating the figures as settling the matter gives them final authority, so the correct answer is "verdict".
6In the phrase 'a judge who still tells the truth,' the adverb quietly makes honesty seem ............... in public life.
Wrong!
The word 'still' implies that such honesty is no longer expected, so the answer is "exceptional".
7The repeated question 'What did you allow?' turns listeners from spectators into ............... of the crisis.
Wrong!
The repeated direct question assigns responsibility to the audience, so the correct answer is "culprits".
8By comparing small reforms to seedlings that need light, not commands, the essay makes change seem ............... rather than imposed.
Wrong!
Comparing reform to seedlings makes gradual change seem natural and self-developing, so the answer is "organic".
9Putting 'efficiency dividend' in quotation marks, the editorial ............... the government's euphemism even while repeating it.
Wrong!
Scare quotes signal reservation about the label, so the correct answer is "distances itself from".
10By making citizens 'organise,' 'refuse,' and 'rebuild,' the paragraph gives them ............... instead of treating them as victims of policy.
Wrong!
Using active verbs for citizens makes them do things rather than merely receive them, so the correct answer is "agency".
11The phrase 'the market chose to punish hesitation' makes an economic shift sound ............... rather than mechanical.
Wrong!
Personifying the market as choosing to punish implies intention, so the best answer is "deliberate".
12In 'Admittedly, the plan was delayed, but delay was the price of consultation,' the opening word ............... the criticism before reframing it.
Wrong!
Admitting the delay before arguing it was necessary grants part of the opposing case, so the answer is "concedes".
Answers
- By describing workplace surveillance as ‘no more intrusive than water or electricity,’ the minister normalises it rather than defending it directly.
- The report’s catalogue of incentives, omissions, and institutional blind spots makes the failure appear systemic rather than the result of one official’s lapse.
- By listing the obvious objections before his opponents can, the speaker pre-empts them and deprives them of surprise.
- When the mayor invites sceptics to help refine the proposal, she conciliates them instead of casting them as enemies.
- By letting the graph settle the issue before dialogue begins, the article turns data into a verdict rather than evidence for discussion.
- In the phrase ‘a judge who still tells the truth,’ the adverb quietly makes honesty seem exceptional in public life.
- The repeated question ‘What did you allow?’ turns listeners from spectators into culprits of the crisis.
- By comparing small reforms to seedlings that need light, not commands, the essay makes change seem organic rather than imposed.
- Putting ‘efficiency dividend’ in quotation marks, the editorial distances itself from the government’s euphemism even while repeating it.
- By making citizens ‘organise,’ ‘refuse,’ and ‘rebuild,’ the paragraph gives them agency instead of treating them as victims of policy.
- The phrase ‘the market chose to punish hesitation’ makes an economic shift sound deliberate rather than mechanical.
- In ‘Admittedly, the plan was delayed, but delay was the price of consultation,’ the opening word concedes the criticism before reframing it.
