Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The committee changed its position after hearing a highly ............... argument from the safety inspector.
Wrong!
The adjective "persuasive" is needed before the noun 'argument'.
2Because Anton had missed two deadlines, his ............... was questioned by the project manager.
Wrong!
After the possessive 'his', the abstract noun "reliability" names the quality being questioned.
3The researchers described the trial results as ............... because the sample was too small to prove whether the drug worked.
Wrong!
The phrase 'could not decide' requires the negative adjective "inconclusive" to describe the results.
4The board gave their ............... of the revised budget only after several costs had been reduced.
Wrong!
The noun "approval" is required after 'their' and before 'of'.
5Despite its technical subject, the report was ............... clear and easy for non-specialists to follow.
Wrong!
An adverb is needed to modify the adjective 'clear', so "surprisingly" is correct.
6A senior ............... warned that inflation might rise again if energy prices continued to increase.
Wrong!
The sentence needs a person noun, and "economist" means an expert in economics.
7Several families left the region for ............... reasons, mainly because unemployment had risen sharply.
Wrong!
Use "economic" for matters connected with the economy, such as unemployment.
8IT staff investigated the sudden ............... of several files from the shared drive.
Wrong!
The noun "disappearance" is needed after 'the' to name the event being investigated.
9For outdoor posters, the designer chose a water-............... material that would survive heavy rain.
Wrong!
The adjective "resistant" describes a material that is not easily damaged by water.
10The charity saw a ............... rise in donations after the campaign video went viral.
Wrong!
The noun 'rise' needs an adjective before it, so "dramatic" is correct.
11With only two days left and half the data still missing, the team seems ............... to finish on time.
Wrong!
Because the deadline is only two days away, "unlikely" shows that finishing on time is not expected.
12Submitting proof of identity is a legal ............... for all applicants, not just a company preference.
Wrong!
After 'a', the sentence needs the noun "requirement" before 'for'.
Answers
- The committee changed its position after hearing a highly persuasive argument from the safety inspector.
- Because Anton had missed two deadlines, his reliability was questioned by the project manager.
- The researchers described the trial results as inconclusive because the sample was too small to prove whether the drug worked.
- The board gave their approval of the revised budget only after several costs had been reduced.
- Despite its technical subject, the report was surprisingly clear and easy for non-specialists to follow.
- A senior economist warned that inflation might rise again if energy prices continued to increase.
- Several families left the region for economic reasons, mainly because unemployment had risen sharply.
- IT staff investigated the sudden disappearance of several files from the shared drive.
- For outdoor posters, the designer chose a water-resistant material that would survive heavy rain.
- The charity saw a dramatic rise in donations after the campaign video went viral.
- With only two days left and half the data still missing, the team seems unlikely to finish on time.
- Submitting proof of identity is a legal requirement for all applicants, not just a company preference.
