LOWER TO UPPER INTERMEDIATE Verbs MCQ Test With Answers – 01
VERBS THAT WON’T FAIL YOU
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Question 1
We'll need to make some new tests to _____ the exact nature of the tumour.
To determine something means to find out the facts about it exactly: Tests determined the cause of the illness. Not deter, which means to stop someone from doing something.
Question 2
No one has been able to discover the place where the pirates are supposed to have _____ the king's treasure.
Pirates hide treasure, which means they put it where nobody can find it. The past participle after have is hidden. The other verbs need a person or information as the object, not treasure.
Question 3
The police have started to _____ the case, but they don't expect any quick results.
The police investigate a case: they examine the facts to find out the truth. Not research, which is used for study or science, and not search, which needs for or a place (search the house).
Question 4
But first, we must try and _____ the patient's blood pressure.
Doctors try to reduce (make lower) high blood pressure. Not produce, which means to make something, and not purify, which means to make something clean.
Question 5
It needed the collective genius of mankind to _____ the wheel.
You invent something that did not exist before, like the wheel. Not discover: you discover something that already exists but was unknown, e.g. discover a new planet.
Question 6
Breaking up with her boyfriend has quite _____ her.
To upset someone means to make them sad or worried. The past participle is also upset: The news upset her. The other verbs don't describe the feelings caused by a break-up.
Question 7
He was _____ from service for his persistent disobedience.
To be dismissed means to be officially removed from your job. The clue is from service. Not threatened, which does not go with from.
Question 8
Dirt has begun to _____ again on the windowsills.
To accumulate means to slowly collect or grow in amount: Dust accumulates on shelves. Not decompose or decay, which mean to break down and rot.
Question 9
I must have lost my joy in living. Nothing seems to _____ my imagination.
To stimulate someone's imagination means to make it active and full of ideas. Not simulate, which means to copy or imitate something.
Question 10
A funny thing _____ me on my way here.
Something happens to a person: it takes place and affects them. A funny thing happened to me is a common way to start a story.
Question 11
Perhaps the truly unhappiest man is he who _____ the courage to live and _____ the courage to die.
To lack something means to not have it or not have enough of it: He lacks confidence. The same word fits both gaps. Not leaks, which sounds similar but means liquid or gas escaping.
Question 12
All applicants are _____ to fill in this form before proceeding to see the headmaster.
Be requested to do something is a formal way of saying people are asked to do it: Visitors are requested to sign in. Not indicated or approved, which are not used in this pattern.
Question 13
I'm afraid we'll have to _____ the meeting altogether.
Altogether (completely) shows the meeting will not happen at all, so we cancel it. Not postpone, which means moving it to a later time.
Question 14
We were terribly disappointed that evening as we'd thought we would be _____ to some soft and quiet romantic music.
Be treated to something means to be given something special and enjoyable: We were treated to a lovely dinner. Not thrilled, which would need by and does not fit the meaning to some music.
Question 15
Why don't you try and _____ your terms first of all? We might be able to follow you better then.
To define your terms means to explain exactly what the words you use mean. Not describe, which does not collocate with terms in this sense.
Question 16
The hot and humid climate of the island _____ his precarious health.
To affect means to have an influence or effect on something, often a bad one: Smoking affects your health. The other verbs don't make sense with health.
Question 17
They just _____ a few greetings and then everyone went his own way.
People exchange greetings: they say hello to each other. Exchange means to give and receive something. Not insulted or ridiculed, which do not fit with greetings.
Question 18
I think we can safely say that he has _____ his will and courage even under these most adverse circumstances.
To display a quality means to show it clearly: She displayed great courage. Not persisted, which cannot take an object, and not managed, which does not go with will and courage.
Question 19
She _____ that we get there at least half an hour before the concert was due to begin.
Suggest that someone (should) do something is used to give advice or an idea; the verb stays in the base form: She suggested that we get there early. Not confirmed, which would need a past verb (that we got).
Question 20
He personally _____ his success to hard work.
Attribute something to something means to say it is caused by it: He attributes his success to hard work. Not contributes, which means to help cause something (Hard work contributed to his success).
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