Question 1
Many members of the medical profession are of the opinion that laughter, a common element of everyday life, has _____ therapeutic effects on the body.
Valuable means very useful or beneficial. The sentence says doctors think laughter is good for the body, so its therapeutic effects are valuable. Hilarious (very funny) describes jokes, not effects. Ridiculous, awkward and morbid (unhealthily interested in death) are all negative and do not fit a positive claim.
Question 2
The fact that safety belts save lives is both _____ obvious and also supported by an impressive amount of evidence.
Conclusively means in a way that leaves no doubt, so conclusively obvious means clear beyond any argument. It fits the sense of the sentence: the fact is beyond doubt and is also backed by evidence. The other adverbs do not collocate with obvious: something cannot be permanently, purposefully or appropriately obvious. Excessively (too much) adds an unwanted negative meaning.
Question 3
Founded to promote the art, science, and practice of rehabilitation care for people with disabilities, the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM) was _____ called the American College of Radiology and Physiotherapy.
Originally means at first, at the beginning. The sentence gives the organisation's first name, before it became the ACRM. Not eventually, which means in the end and would refer to its later name, but that later name is the ACRM itself.
Question 4
As we approach the challenge of the millennium date change, more information is emerging about the potential _____ and pitfalls that might face the country.
Perils are serious dangers. The fixed phrase perils and pitfalls means dangers and hidden problems, and it matches the word challenge in the sentence. Guards and protections have the opposite idea. Aides (assistants) and comrades (friends, fellow members) do not fit the meaning.
Question 5
According to the newspaper, the parliament is working on a _____ that will abolish all higher education entrance exams.
A proposal is a formal plan or suggestion, for example a draft law that a parliament works on. Here it is a plan to abolish the entrance exams. Disposal (getting rid of something) looks similar but has a different meaning. A refusal, a hindrance (obstacle) or a horizon cannot abolish exams.
Question 6
One major aim of the new constitution is to prevent the _____ of power by any majority.
The misuse of power means using power wrongly or unfairly. This is what a constitution tries to prevent a majority from doing. Prevent the existence of power makes no sense, since a government must have power. Compromise and completion do not collocate with of power in this sense.
Question 7
I thoroughly enjoyed the lecture; it wasn't _____, but it wasn't too scholarly, either.
The structure it wasn't X, but it wasn't too Y, either needs two opposite faults. The opposite of too scholarly (too academic and difficult) is oversimplified, meaning made too simple. Underestimated and underrated describe how people judge something, not the content of a lecture. Overdue means late.
Question 8
As far as we are concerned, the evidence put before the court was not _____ enough to convict the man.
Conclusive evidence proves something beyond doubt, which is what a court needs to convict someone. Subsequent (coming later) and consecutive (one after another) are about order in time. Adamant (refusing to change one's mind) and earnest (serious and sincere) describe people, not evidence.
Question 9
His poetic output may not be large but, nevertheless, Philip Larkin is generally regarded as one of the _____ poets of our time.
The words may not be large but, nevertheless set up a contrast: Larkin did not write much, but he is still highly respected. Distinguished means famous and highly respected for excellent work. Not prolific, which means producing a lot of work and would contradict the first part of the sentence. Extensive and excessive also suggest a large amount, and futile (useless) does not fit.
Question 10
Through the winter, the bank rates were reasonably steady, but they have started to _____ again.
Fluctuate means to rise and fall irregularly. The linker but contrasts it with reasonably steady, and again shows the rates were unstable before. Improve does not form a contrast with steady. Incline and exchange do not describe changes in rates.
Question 11
The criticism he made concerning the annual fiscal report was _____ to the point.
To the point means relevant and direct. It is usually intensified with degree adverbs such as very, remarkably or refreshingly. Remarkably means to an unusual or notable degree, so the criticism was strikingly relevant. Not immediately, which refers to time and does not combine with to the point to describe a quality. Incessantly (without stopping) and incompetently do not fit either.
Question 12
We will repeat the experiment twice in order to _____ the results.
To verify results means to check that they are correct or true. Scientists repeat an experiment for exactly this reason. The other verbs (vanish = disappear, spill, sneak, pinch) have nothing to do with checking results.
Question 13
Diplomatic relations between the two countries, which were _____ during the war, have not yet been restored.
To sever relations means to end them completely, for example They severed all ties with the company. The clue is have not yet been restored: something must have been broken first. Not established, because relations that were set up would not need restoring.
Question 14
People who are constantly in the public eye must learn to remain _____ in the face of criticism.
Composed means calm and in control of your feelings. You often hear remain composed when people face pressure or criticism. Outrageous (shocking) and resultant (caused by something) do not describe a calm reaction. Appreciated and restored do not fit the meaning.
Question 15
They raised no _____ to his prolonged leave of absence since they didn't want to lose him altogether.
Raise an objection (to something) is a fixed collocation meaning to say that you disagree with or oppose something. They accepted his long leave because they did not want to lose him. Refutation (proving something false) and refusal do not combine with raise ... to. A refund is money given back.
Question 16
As the conditions of the expedition are likely to be severe, you had better take the necessary _____.
Take precautions is a fixed collocation meaning to act in advance to avoid danger or problems. It fits because the conditions will be severe. We make efforts and make attempts, not take them. Trials and objections do not fit the meaning.
Question 17
It was felt that the EU had _____ on a programme of economic change that the member states could not sustain.
To embark on something means to start a new and usually large or difficult project, for example embark on a career or embark on a programme. The preposition on after the gap is the clue. Surpassed and specified take a direct object without on. Relieved and retired do not fit the meaning.
Question 18
To be a leader, it is not enough to be hardworking and knowledgeable; one must also be able to inspire _____.
Inspire confidence is a common collocation meaning to make people trust and believe in you, which is a key quality of a leader. Restraint (self-control) and discretion (care in what you say) are not things a leader inspires in others. Denial and reservation (doubt) are negative.
Question 19
The two major political parties in Britain are currently _____ to extreme and radically different approaches to the solution of Britain's economic problems.
Be committed to something means to be firmly dedicated to a policy or course of action. This describes parties that strongly support their approaches. Not obsessed, which is followed by with, not to, and is too negative for this context. Referred, implied and meant make no sense here.
Question 20
I have looked through the report, but I must admit, only _____.
Superficially means only on the surface, without careful or detailed attention. The words but I must admit, only show that the speaker is confessing to a limited reading of the report. Thoroughly, carefully and seriously express the opposite, which would not need an admission.
Print this test
Free worksheets for class or home