General Vocabulary MCQ Exercise 7

Trash (mainly American) and refuse (formal British) both mean rubbish or waste that people throw away. Not cans, because cans are only one kind of rubbish.

Be taken aback means to be very surprised or shocked by something unexpected, so it matches surprised. Not happy: the idiom tells us about the surprise, not whether she liked the present.

To debate means to discuss a problem seriously, with people giving different opinions, so it is closest to argued. Not talked, because that is too general and does not show the disagreement.

To assume means to believe something is true without being sure, so it means suppose. Not know, because knowing means being certain.

To summon someone means to officially order them to come to you, so it means called: The boss called me to her office.

Cautiously means carefully, trying to avoid danger or mistakes. Not slowly: you are often slow when you are careful, but the word is about care, not speed.

The edge of a table is its outside border, where the top stops, so here it means the side of the table. Not centre or middle, which are the opposite of the edge.

To hire a person means to pay them to work for you, so it means employed. Not rented: in British English you can hire a car (rent it), but people are not rented.

An inquiry is an official process of finding out the facts about something, so it means an investigation. Not findings, because findings are the results of an inquiry, not the inquiry itself.

Hardly ever means almost never, so it is the same as seldom. Not never, because hardly ever means it still happens sometimes, but very rarely.

To maintain equipment means to keep it in good working condition, so it means kept up. Not checked, because checking is only one part of maintaining something.

To master a skill means to learn it completely and do it very well, so it is closest to learned. Not beat or won: you master a skill, you don't defeat it.

Minimal means the smallest possible amount, so the minimal number of hours is the least number. Not maximum or most, which mean the opposite.

An opportunity is a good time or situation that makes it possible to do something, so it means a chance. Not moment, which is just a point in time and doesn't carry the idea of a possibility.

Abundant means more than enough, so it means plentiful. Not enough, adequate or sufficient, because they mean just enough, not a lot more.

To quit doing something means to stop doing it, so it means stopped. Started, began and continued have the opposite or a different meaning.

Ready to go means prepared to go, with everything done that is needed before leaving. Not finished, because he was about to start something, not end it.

To gather flowers means to collect them from the plants, so here it means picked. Not brought: the children may have brought the flowers later, but gathered describes collecting them.

To handle an object means to hold and move it with your hands, so here the jar was carried very carefully. Not managed, because we manage people or situations, not a jar.

To long to do something means to want it very much, so it means desired: She longed to see her family again. Not hoped, because hoping is wanting something and expecting it, not a strong wish.