VERBS THAT WON’T FAIL YOU
Please do not click the answer button before you have thoroughly studied the question and deliberated on your own choice!!
Question 1
The discussion was mainly on the subject of the number of workers to be _____.
Employ means to give people paid work. The phrase the number of workers to be employed means how many people will be given jobs. Not presented, which means shown or given formally, not hired.
Question 2
The news of a new and more serious breach of the ceasefire received here last night has now been _____.
Confirm means to say officially that something is true. News first received as a report is later confirmed. Not informed, because you inform a person, not news.
Question 3
The tube is then _____ into its place and secured with clips.
Insert means to put something into a space or opening: insert a key into a lock. The clue is into its place.
Question 4
I wish you would _____ yourself of your disgusting habit of chain-smoking.
The pattern is cure somebody of something: to make someone stop a bad habit or get rid of an illness. Cure yourself of a habit means stop it completely. Not reduce, which doesn't take of: you reduce a habit, not reduce yourself of it.
Question 5
It'll take him a long time yet to fully _____ from the terrible blow he has received.
Recover from means to get better after an illness, shock or bad experience. The clue is from the terrible blow. Not cure, because cure needs an object (cure someone) and is not used with from like this.
Question 6
There was one final command he had hoped to give his soldiers all through his fighting years: "_____ fire!"
Cease is a formal word for stop. Cease fire! is the order to stop shooting, and a ceasefire is an agreement to stop fighting. Not Drop, which doesn't form this fixed command.
Question 7
We _____ many a danger and difficulty on the way, but we managed to overcome them all in the end.
Encounter means to meet or face something, usually a problem or danger: encounter difficulties. The clue is managed to overcome them. Not endangered, which means put something in danger.
Question 8
_____ two spoonfuls of sugar in a large cup half-filled with water. Then, add one spoonful of lemon juice.
Dissolve means to mix something solid into a liquid until it disappears: Sugar dissolves in water. The clue is sugar and water.
Question 9
He _____ his car in a head-on collision with a lorry, but came out of it quite unhurt.
Crash a car means to have an accident in which the car hits something. The clue is head-on collision with a lorry. Not cracked, which means a thin line broke in something, like glass.
Question 10
Don't forget to _____ my name in your letter.
Mention means to talk or write about something briefly: mention my name in your letter. The other verbs do not fit with my name.
Question 11
The roof was _____. I had to call in a repairman.
Leak means to let water or gas come through a hole or crack: The roof is leaking. The clue is that a repairman was needed. Not dropping, which doesn't describe water coming through a roof.
Question 12
Don't you ever care about the _____ masses? Don't you know that some 842 million people -- 13% of the world's population -- don't have enough food to eat each day?
Starving means suffering or dying because there is not enough food. The clue is don't have enough food to eat. The starving masses are huge numbers of hungry people. Not feeding, which means giving food.
Question 13
I couldn't understand what had happened and when I apologised to him explaining how I couldn't hear him, he just _____ me and rode off.
Swear at someone means to use rude, offensive words towards them, usually in anger. He was angry, so he swore at me and rode off. Not argued, which needs with (argued with me).
Question 14
One of my friends at work actually came up to me yesterday and asked if I had lost some weight. It's so nice when someone _____ this -- especially when it happens to be a beautiful girl!
Notice means to see or become aware of something. The friend saw that he had lost weight, so someone notices this. Not criticizes or condemns, which are negative and wouldn't make him feel nice.
Question 15
She's a very nice lady, slightly older than myself and happily _____ with two kids.
Happily married is a common collocation meaning married and content. The clue is with two kids. Not engaged, which means planning to marry, so it fits less well with having a family.
Question 16
That was the first time I had ever had to _____ a puncture.
Repair a puncture means to fix a hole in a tyre. A puncture is a small hole in a tyre that lets the air out.
Question 17
Several countries so far have offered to _____ between the two warring sides.
Mediate means to try to help two sides in a disagreement reach an agreement. The clue is between the two warring sides. Not meditate, which looks similar but means to think quietly and deeply, often to relax.
Question 18
In some cultures, when two people cut themselves to _____ their blood together, they become "blood brothers".
Mingle means to mix together: their blood mingles. The clue is together, as the blood of the two people is mixed. The other verbs don't mean mix.
Question 19
The nation is _____ the loss of its great leader.
Mourn means to feel and show great sadness because someone has died. The clue is the loss of its great leader. Not praising, because you don't praise a loss.
Question 20
We'll be _____ the ninetieth anniversary of the Republic in the coming year.
Celebrate means to do something enjoyable for a special day or event: celebrate an anniversary. The clue is anniversary. Celebrate is the natural verb with anniversary.
Print this test
Free worksheets for class or home