With television, we can follow the problems of other countries more closely.
To follow more closely means to know more about something. So television makes us more aware of the problems of other countries. The option about problems being worldwide adds an idea that is not in the original sentence.
Question 2
Only the newer members of the board approved the scheme, but the rest were doubtful.
Only the newer members approved means the scheme had the support of the newer members and not of the others. Not the option about the rest accepting it: the original says the rest were doubtful.
Question 3
The Topkapi Museum is unique in the world on account of its very fine collection of china.
Unique in the world means there is nothing else like it anywhere, so no other museum in the world can compete with its collection. Not one of the famous collections, because that makes the Topkapi collection one among many, not the best.
Question 4
The two bridges over the Bosphorus have helped to improve the traffic in Istanbul.
Have helped to improve means the bridges are one cause of the better traffic. This matches to a certain extent, the result of the bridges. The other options say the traffic got worse, or that the bridges were not important.
Question 5
As one might expect, nearly all the six-year-olds received a prize at the end of the year.
As one might expect is close to naturally, and nearly all means the same as almost all. The original is in the past tense, so were given fits. Not the majority of the prizes go to six-year-olds: that talks about the prizes, not the children.
Question 6
After taking his previous achievements into account, they are thinking of giving him a more senior position.
Taking his previous achievements into account means the same as having considered his past record. A more senior position means a promotion. Not the option with took his past career into account: it changes the time and says the decision has already been made.
Question 7
George Burns is likely to turn up late for the meeting.
Be likely to means will probably, and turn up means arrive. Not happened to be late or as it turned out, because those describe something that has already happened.
Question 8
There is no hot water because the central heating system has broken down.
Has broken down means the system is out of order. Because matches since, and no hot water matches there isn't any hot water. Not there isn't much hot water, because that means there is a little.
Question 9
It's two months since James moved into his new flat.
It's two months since + past simple means the action happened two months ago. So James moved into his new flat two months ago. Not It took James two months: that is about how long the move lasted.
Question 10
I haven’t heard anyone say he didn't enjoy the concert.
I haven't heard anyone say he didn't enjoy it is a double negative. It means that, as far as I know, everyone enjoyed it. Not most people didn't enjoy the concert, which reverses the meaning.
Question 11
There were many applicants, but I didn't think any of them was suitable.
Many applicants matches lots of people applied, and I didn't think any of them was suitable matches in my opinion, none of them was suitable. Not very few seemed suitable, because very few means some were suitable.
Question 12
I was surprised to learn he had already had the operation.
I was surprised that he had already had the operation means I didn't expect him to be operated on so soon. The other options change who does the operation, or talk about an operation in the future.
Question 13
I can't possibly get these papers filed by midday unless someone helps me.
Can't possibly … unless someone helps me means help is necessary. I shall have to have some help if I am to finish matches this, and by midday is by 12 o'clock. Not the option that says you will have to help me: the original says someone, not a particular person.
Question 14
Any day suits me except Tuesday.
Except means the same as but here. So any day but Tuesday means every day is fine apart from Tuesday.
Question 15
In my opinion, the explanation he gave for the explosion was not very convincing.
In my opinion matches didn't seem to me, and not very convincing is close to not very credible. Both sentences are about an explanation he has already given. Not will convince everyone, because it changes the tense and the meaning.
Question 16
I'm afraid that perhaps I didn't turn off the gas.
I'm afraid that perhaps I didn't expresses worry about a possible past action. This matches I'm worried that I may have left the gas on, where may have + past participle means past possibility. Not I'm not sure that I turned the gas on, because on is the opposite of off.
Question 17
We arrived late, so we missed the first act of the play.
The original gives a cause (arrived late) and a result (missed the first act). We weren't able to see the first act as we got there late gives the same cause and result, with as meaning because.
Question 18
Of all my friends, Mary is the one who reads most.
Mary is the one who reads most is a superlative. It can be paraphrased with a negative comparison: None of my friends reads as much as Mary. Not None of Mary's friends, because the original compares Mary with my friends, not hers.
Question 19
They have to stay in Istanbul until the end of July.
Have to stay until the end of July means they are not allowed or able to go earlier. So they can't leave Istanbul before the end of July. Not must leave before, which means the opposite.
Question 20
The play we saw last night wasn't particularly good.
Not particularly good means the play was rather disappointing. So we weren't impressed by it. Not the options with enjoyable or enjoyed ourselves: they say the opposite.