VERBS THAT WON’T FAIL YOU
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Question 1
He _____ his speech by pointing out that his ideas were always open to discussion.
To conclude a speech means to end it. The clue is by pointing out…, which describes how he finished. Not concealed, which means 'hid'.
Question 2
I was terribly _____ by his strange behaviour.
To be baffled means to be completely confused, unable to understand something. Strange behaviour is something that confuses you: I was baffled by the question.
Question 3
I _____ hard and purchased it for five hundred in the end.
To bargain means to argue about the price of something to get it cheaper. The clue is purchased it for five hundred in the end, meaning a lower price was agreed. Not begged, which means asking desperately for a favour, not negotiating a price.
Question 4
Let's take an oath to fight on till the bitter end! We'll never _____ the city!
To surrender means to give up and let the enemy take control. The clue is fight on till the bitter end: they will never give the city to the enemy. Not defeat or conquer, because the speakers are defending their own city.
Question 5
It suddenly _____ on me that this really was the sort of website I had always hoped to come across on the Internet.
The fixed phrase is it dawned on me (that)…, meaning I suddenly realised something. Not occurred: we say it occurred to me, not on me.
Question 6
What would _____ if somebody pushed the button by mistake?
What would happen if…? asks about the result of an imaginary situation (second conditional). Happen means 'take place'. The other verbs need an object and don't fit.
Question 7
There's no doubt that learning a foreign language _____ a lot of determination and hard work.
To involve means to need something as a necessary part: The job involves a lot of travel. Learning a language needs determination and hard work. Not includes, which means 'contains as part of a group', not 'requires'.
Question 8
You ought to have known you couldn't _____ many secrets for long in such a small village.
To conceal means to hide something or keep it secret. In a small village, people find out everything, so you can't hide secrets for long. Not conceive, which means 'imagine' or 'form an idea'.
Question 9
It's outrageous! They _____ me fifty dollars for an ordinary meal!
To charge someone an amount means to ask them to pay that price: They charged me fifty dollars. Not cheated: we say cheated me out of fifty dollars, not cheated me fifty dollars.
Question 10
How dare you _____ me! Who do you think you are?
To threaten someone means to say you will hurt them or cause them trouble. How dare you…! and Who do you think you are? show the speaker is angry at being frightened or bullied.
Question 11
I tried to _____ the car, but I couldn't see very well what was behind me.
To reverse a car means to drive it backwards. The clue is I couldn't see what was behind me. Not reveal (show something hidden) or restore (bring back to its original condition).
Question 12
The huge crowd of spectators were quite _____ by the fast pace of the game.
To be thrilled means to be very excited and pleased. A fast game excites the spectators. Not reacted, which cannot be used in the passive like this.
Question 13
They _____ him a huge piece of chocolate on condition that he would not tell on them.
To offer someone something means to say you will give it to them: They offered him chocolate. The clue is on condition that, a deal. Not offended, which means 'upset someone'.
Question 14
The apartment has two balconies and one of them _____ the sea.
When a building or room overlooks something, it has a view of it from above: a room overlooking the park. Not notices, because only people notice things.
Question 15
Later models were slightly _____, but the original design remained the same on the whole.
To modify means to change something slightly in order to improve it. The clue is slightly and the original design remained the same. Not evaluated, which means 'judged' and is not a change.
Question 16
His paintings are now going to be _____ in the National Gallery – almost two years after his untimely death.
To exhibit means to show paintings or objects in public, for example in a gallery. The clue is in the National Gallery. Don't confuse it with inhibited (held back) or prohibited (not allowed), which look similar.
Question 17
As a travel agency, we _____ in Aegean cruises and tours.
To specialize in something means to focus on one particular area of work: She specializes in children's books. The preposition in is the clue. Not generalize, which means the opposite.
Question 18
The blast occurred at about 03.00, _____ the windows of the building.
To shatter means to break suddenly into many small pieces. Windows shatter in an explosion. The -ing clause shows the result of the blast.
Question 19
The Foreign Secretary gave the good news that the negotiations could be _____ later this year.
To launch something means to start a big activity or project: launch negotiations, launch a campaign. Not lunched (had lunch) or punched (hit), which only look similar.
Question 20
Intelligence is an evolutionary advantage because it enables us to evaluate and _____ reality.
Here manipulate means to control or handle something skilfully to get the result you want. Intelligence helps us understand reality and then change it to our advantage. Not imitate, which means 'copy'.
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