This sixth vocabulary test contains 25 multiple choice questions on the topics of prepositions and phrasal verbs of the English language. Both English learners and ESL teachers can use this online exercise as a revision to check the knowledge of prepositions and phrasal verbs.
Question 1
It might be a good idea to buy a _____ raincoat because then it can be worn with either side out.
Reversible clothing can be worn with either side out, which is exactly what the clue with either side out describes: a reversible jacket. The other adjectives (decisive, strenuous, extravagant, slippery) don't describe something you can turn inside out.
Question 2
She is a very _____ child, who always does as she’s told.
Compliant means willing to obey rules or do what others want. The relative clause who always does as she's told defines the word. Influential and fanciful don't fit the meaning of obedience.
Question 3
Japan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications was _____ technology, research and development to the tune of 619 million dollars in 2006.
To fund something means to provide money for it. The clue is to the tune of 619 million dollars, which means 'to the amount of' a sum of money. Not tackling: it means dealing with a problem, and it does not go with spending a sum of money.
Question 4
If you are both going to lie, at least stick to the same story and don’t _____ each other.
To contradict someone is to say the opposite of what they have said. Stick to the same story is the clue: if your stories differ, you contradict each other. Intervene means to get involved in a situation, and it would need in.
Question 5
Scientists in different countries, working _____ of each other, have come up with very similar results.
Independently of means separately, without contact or help from each other. The fixed pattern independently of each other fits, and the result (similar findings) is surprising because they worked separately. None of the other adverbs can be followed by of each other.
Question 6
In recent years, scientists have come to a/an _____ that the earth is warming mostly due to the emission of carbon dioxide from electrical power plants that burn coal, oil and natural gas.
Come to an agreement is a fixed collocation meaning to reach a shared opinion or decision. Here it is followed by a that-clause stating what the scientists agree on. A treaty is a formal agreement between countries, and we don't come to one.
Question 7
Pele and Maradona have been _____ the best football players in the world up to now.
Indisputably means without any doubt, in a way nobody can argue with. It is a typical adverb before a superlative: indisputably the best. Continuously means without stopping, and it doesn't express a judgement about who is best.
Question 8
Nokia set up a tent recently at the Los Angeles Film Festival to _____ its mobile-video phones and technology.
To show off something means to display it proudly so that people notice it. Here a company is using a tent at a festival to present its new phones. Give away means to give something for free, which is not the purpose of a display tent.
Question 9
His publishers will soon be _____ his latest collection of essays, which he wrote during his trip to China recently.
To bring out a book means to publish it or put it on sale. The subject his publishers and the object his latest collection of essays point to this meaning. Making up means inventing something, which is not what publishers do with a finished book.
Question 10
She did not get the money honestly and legally. She got it by _____.
Deception is the act of making someone believe something that is not true, usually to gain something. Not honestly and legally is the clue: She got it by deception. Detention means being kept in prison or held somewhere, so it doesn't fit.
Question 11
You can raise the microphone or lower it. It’s _____.
Adjustable means it can be changed to a different position or size. The clue is raise the microphone or lower it: an adjustable chair. Breakable means easily broken, which is not the point here.
Question 12
Last night I went to see a romantic film which was rather _____.
Moving means causing strong feelings, especially sadness or sympathy, and it describes a romantic film well: a moving story. Not moved: the -ed adjective describes how a person feels (I was moved), not the film. Ecstatic also describes a person's feeling of great happiness.
Question 13
Words that sound alike but are spelt _____ are called homophones, as in the example of to, two and too.
Homophones sound the same but are spelt differently, like to, two and too. The contrast sound alike but tells you the spelling is not the same. Similarly would remove the contrast that but signals.
Question 14
One reason why artificial flavourings and colourings are _____ used in ready-made foods is that they are much cheaper than natural ingredients.
Widely used means used a lot, in many places. The reason given (they are much cheaper) explains why they are used so much. Scarcely (hardly at all) means the opposite and doesn't match the reason.
Question 15
Squid force water out of their bodies to _____ themselves through the water.
To propel something means to push or drive it forward with force: rockets are propelled by burning fuel. Squid shoot water out of their bodies to push themselves forward. Project means to throw or send something forward away from you, not to move yourself through water.
Question 16
The dentists working in this hospital object to _____ teeth without doing everything that can be done.
To extract a tooth means to pull it out; this is the standard medical verb: have a tooth extracted. The dentists object to pulling teeth out before trying every other treatment. Ejecting means forcing something or someone out, and dragging means pulling something along the ground, so neither is used for teeth.
Question 17
We thought of buying the pretty wooden Ottoman house we saw by the Bosphorus, but then we _____ the idea, as the roof was too damaged.
To give up an idea means to stop planning to do something. The clue is but then and the roof was too damaged, which shows they changed their minds. Did up means repaired or decorated, which they would only do if they had bought the house.
Question 18
A brief outline of the course and bibliography were _____ to the students at the first meeting.
To hand out things means to give one to each person in a group: The teacher handed out the worksheets. The outline and bibliography were given to the students at the first meeting. Broken down means divided into parts or stopped working, which doesn't fit giving papers to students.
Question 19
In formulating a hypothesis, we must keep it _____ with what we know of the real world; it cannot disagree with our experience.
Congruent with means in agreement with or consistent with something. The second clause, it cannot disagree with our experience, explains the meaning. Proper does not take with in this sense, and meticulous (very careful about details) describes a person or their work.
Question 20
Some species of animals have become extinct because they could not _____ to a changing environment.
To adapt to something means to change in order to suit new conditions. The clue is the preposition to and a changing environment. Foresee means to know something will happen; it takes a direct object, not to.
Question 21
The college is about to _____ a program for reducing math anxiety among students.
To initiate a program means to start it officially. Is about to shows the program is just beginning. Nominate means to suggest a person for a job or prize, not to start a program.
Question 22
An experienced farmer can estimate the annual _____ of his acres with surprising accuracy.
A yield is the amount of crops a piece of land produces: a high annual yield of wheat. The context of a farmer and his acres points to this word. Resource is a supply of something useful, and it does not collocate with annual in this sense.
Question 23
Although she was knowledgeable in a number of fields, she was hired for her particular _____ in computer programming.
Expertise means expert skill or knowledge in a particular area, and it is often used with in: expertise in computer programming. The contrast with knowledgeable in a number of fields shows she was chosen for one special skill. Utility means usefulness and is not used for a person's skills.
Question 24
His opponents could not harm Achilles, who was _____ only in his heel.
Vulnerable means able to be hurt or attacked. In the Greek myth, Achilles could be wounded only in his heel, which gives us the phrase Achilles' heel (a weak point). The other adjectives have nothing to do with being harmed.
Question 25
We _____ kept George off the planning committee because we didn't want him to know that the party was to be in his honour.
Deliberately means on purpose, intentionally. The reason clause, because we didn't want him to know, shows it was a planned decision. Subsequently means afterwards, and it doesn't express intention.
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