Advanced Level Vocabulary Exercise – MCQ Test 12
Question 1
Syndicalism embodies the idea that workers, through direct action, _____ a general strike, should seize control over the means of production and hence gain political power.
The gap adds one important example of 'direct action': especially means 'above all' or 'in particular', as in direct action, especially a general strike. Not consistently (always in the same way) or previously (before): neither introduces an example.
Question 2
Even in developed countries, it is not unusual to see wage and job _____ against women.
Discrimination against someone is unfair treatment because of their sex, race, age and so on. Wage and job discrimination against women is a fixed collocation. Not separation or difference, which do not take against and do not mean unfair treatment.
Question 3
The origins of stress vary from person to person, and people _____ differently to stressful events.
React to something means to behave in a certain way because of it: people react differently to stressful events. Not refer to (mention) or rely on (depend on), and adopt does not take to here.
Question 4
This hotel certainly offers a high standard of service at _____ rates.
Competitive rates/prices are as low as, or lower than, those of rivals, which suits a hotel offering good service. Not reliable: services or people are reliable, but we do not normally describe prices this way. Relative and contemporary do not collocate with rates in this sense.
Question 5
I'm sure the boy is not really backward, but it is certainly difficult for him to _____ the other students in his class.
Keep up with someone means to progress at the same speed as them: it is difficult for him to keep up with the other students. Not make up for, which means to compensate for something bad, as in make up for lost time.
Question 6
Every community in the world recognizes certain activities as crimes and has developed its own way of _____ them.
Deal with a problem means to take action to solve or control it: its own way of dealing with crimes. Not looking after, which means taking care of a person or thing, so it does not fit crimes.
Question 7
The visitors were taken to the airport, and there they were _____ by the assistant manager.
See someone off means to go to an airport or station with someone to say goodbye as they leave: they were seen off by the assistant manager. Not made off, which means 'escaped quickly' and cannot be used in the passive like this.
Question 8
The top research universities in the U.S.A. are _____ the fact that women researchers are encountering substantial barriers to career advancement.
Face up to a difficult fact means to accept it and start dealing with it: facing up to the fact that women researchers are encountering barriers. Not waiting for or pulling out of (withdrawing from), which do not collocate with the fact that.
Question 9
His doctor _____ advising him to take it easy for a while and stop all overtime but he didn't listen.
Keep on + -ing means to continue doing something repeatedly: His doctor kept on advising him to take it easy. The other phrasal verbs are not followed by an -ing form with this meaning. Ran through means 'quickly practised or checked'.
Question 10
I'm afraid I can't _____ the signature on this painting, but it has been signed.
Make out means to see, read or hear something with difficulty: I can't make out the signature, although it is there. Not find out, which means to discover a fact or piece of information, not to read handwriting.
Question 11
Our understanding of the development of behaviour has long been hampered by the tendency to _____ sharply between "innate" and "acquired" behaviour.
Distinguish between A and B means to recognise the difference between two things: distinguish sharply between 'innate' and 'acquired' behaviour. Not separate, which normally takes an object (separate A from B) rather than between.
Question 12
Owing to the shortages in some building materials and labour _____ in some trades, the building industry began to make more use of prefabricated parts.
Scarcity means a situation in which there is not enough of something. Labour scarcity means not enough workers, which matches shortages earlier in the sentence. Not components (parts of a machine or structure) or immunity (protection from disease or punishment).
Question 13
In a blizzard, the _____ of very low temperatures, strong wind and suffocating snow often proves fatal.
A combination is a mixture of several things together: the combination of very low temperatures, strong wind and suffocating snow. Not endurance, which is the ability to bear hardship and does not describe a mixture of conditions.
Question 14
As regards the proposals for the treaty on economic cooperation, my government has certain _____ concerning them.
To have reservations about/concerning something means to have doubts about it, so you cannot agree completely. This is typical diplomatic language: my government has certain reservations. Not restrictions, which are rules that limit something, not doubts.
Question 15
The _____ concerning total disarmament have broken down without leading to any fruitful results.
Negotiations are formal talks aimed at reaching an agreement. Negotiations break down when they fail: the negotiations have broken down without any fruitful results. Not commitments, which are promises; they are broken, not said to break down.
Question 16
A well-organized company that knows its products are of a high standard does not fear _____.
Competition means rival companies trying to win the same customers. A firm sure of its high standards does not fear competition. Not concentration or conversion, which do not make sense as something a company fears here.
Question 17
Many schools have _____ the old rule that pupils must wear ties, and several others are planning to do the same next year.
Abolish means to officially end a law, rule or system: Many schools have abolished the old rule. Not executed, which means 'carried out' (a plan or order), the opposite of ending a rule.
Question 18
A hundred years ago the chestnut _____ a quarter of the hardwood trees in America.
Make up means to form a particular amount or part of a whole: the chestnut made up a quarter of the hardwood trees. Not made out, which means 'saw or understood with difficulty'.
Question 19
Fats can only be _____ for energy by aerobic metabolism.
Break down in science means to divide a substance into simpler parts through a chemical process: Fats can only be broken down for energy by aerobic metabolism. Not cut out (stop eating or doing something) or set up (establish).
Question 20
You should _____ this treatment for a further week, by which time recovery will be complete.
Keep to means to continue following a plan, rule or course of treatment without changing it: keep to this treatment for a further week. Not put up with, which means to tolerate something unpleasant, not to continue following it.
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