General Vocabulary MCQ Exercise 3

To order someone to do something means to tell them firmly that they must do it, as the police do here. Not informed, because you inform someone of or about something; you don't inform someone to do something.

To comprehend means to understand. The child could not understand the teacher's instructions. Make needs out (make out) to have this meaning.

To encounter difficulties or problems means to meet or face them. The difficulties he encountered are the problems he had to face. Not escaped: if he had escaped the difficulties, in spite of would make no sense.

We say specialise in something when a doctor or other professional focuses on one area, e.g. She specialises in heart disease. Worked and graduated don't go with in childhood illnesses.

Compulsory means required by law, so every child must go. Mandating is a verb form, so it cannot follow is as an adjective here (the adjective is mandatory).

To convince someone to do something means to persuade them after giving reasons. It took us three hours shows that it was hard work. Not invite: an invitation takes a moment, and agree is something she does, not something we do to her.

Strict parents have firm rules and expect children to obey them. The clue is the control of where he went and when. Not worrying: a person is worried, while a situation is worrying.

To lend means to give something that the person will give back later. Jane will receive the money from me. Not borrow: you borrow money from someone, so it is the opposite direction.

A role is a character that an actor plays in a play or film, e.g. He played the role of Hamlet. Play is the whole performance, and plot is the story.

An ache is a pain that continues, like a headache. The speaker wants medicine for the pain. Cure is what stops an illness, not the pain itself.

We use wear for clothes that are on your body, e.g. She is wearing a jacket. Not putting: we say putting on for the action of getting dressed, and on is missing here.

In British English, a phone line is engaged when someone else is using it, so you can't get through (American English: busy). Broken would describe a fault, not the usual reason for not getting through.

We switch (or turn) lights on and off. The other verbs describe movements and don't go with lights.

Amusing means funny and entertaining, e.g. an amusing story. Not interested: -ed adjectives describe how a person feels; a story would be interesting.

To rinse means to wash something quickly with clean water to remove soap. After the dishes are washed, the other person rinses them. Not clean: that means the same as wash, so it doesn't add a new job.

A screen is the large flat surface where a film is shown at the cinema. A stage is used for plays and concerts, not films.

Casual is the opposite of formal: relaxed and informal, e.g. casual clothes. The clue is I was wrong about the dinner being formal.

Polite is the opposite of rude. The speaker wishes he were polite, but he is getting ruder. Not impolite: that means rude, which is what he already is.

A prescription is a doctor's written order for medicine, which you take to a pharmacy. Prescribe is the verb, and a receipt is the paper you get after paying.

Optimistic people expect good things to happen. The clue is look on the bright side, which means to see the good part of a situation. Ambitious means wanting success, which is a different idea.

A lecture is a formal talk on a subject, usually given by a professor or teacher. Speak and talking are verb forms, so they cannot follow give a.

Tasteless means having no flavour; the suffix -less means 'without'. Not tasteful: that means showing good style, e.g. tasteful furniture.

A signature is your name written in your own special way, used on contracts and documents. Not sign: as a noun, a sign is a notice or symbol, and as a verb it can't follow your.

Seem to is followed by the base form of a verb. To reject means to refuse to accept something. The clue is They don't like change at all, so these people say no to new ideas. Not welcome or adopt: these mean to be happy with something new and start using it, which is the opposite.

References are letters or statements from former employers or teachers about your character and work, often requested when you apply for a job. Introductions are not usually asked for in job applications.