Upper Level Vocabulary Test 19

Precariously means in an unstable way that could easily fail or collapse. A precariously balanced peace is one that could break down at any moment. Not previously, which only means 'before' and does not fit with balanced.

Rigorous training is very thorough, strict and demanding. It is the natural collocation with training. Harsh and severe describe punishment or conditions rather than a training programme.

The fixed expression is drop a hint, which means to suggest something indirectly. Not suggest, because you suggest an idea, not a hint.

To phrase something means to choose the words you use to express it, as in You could have phrased it more tactfully. Not remarked, which means to make a comment and does not describe how the words were chosen.

To comb a place means to search it very carefully and thoroughly: The police are combing the suburbs for the missing car. Not seeking, because you seek the thing you want (seek the car), not the place where you search. Sacking a town means attacking it and stealing from it, which does not fit here.

To realize an ambition means to achieve it or make it happen. Not obtained, because we obtain things such as permission or information, not an ambition.

Engrossed in something means so interested in it that you notice nothing else. The preposition in is the clue. Gripped means a similar thing, but it is used with by (gripped by the book).

To reconcile different views means to find a way for them to exist together or agree. Not compromise, because you compromise on something, and it cannot take points of view as a direct object.

A long-standing arrangement is one that has existed for a long time and still continues. Not long-lasting, which describes something that lasts a long time, such as an effect or a product.

Eligible means allowed or qualified to do something because you meet the rules: eligible to join. Not permissible, which describes an action that is allowed, not a person.

A formal address is a speech given to an audience, and give an address is a common collocation. Discussion, debate and dialogue involve several people, not one speaker.

The idiom from scratch means from the very beginning, with no previous knowledge. Not nothing: from nothing is used for building a business or a fortune, not for learning a language.

Preoccupied means thinking so much about something else that you do not notice what is happening around you. Not absent-minded, which describes a person's general habit of forgetting things rather than their state at one moment. Concentrated is not used for people in this sense (we say concentrating), and cautious and thoughtful do not explain why he didn't hear.

To override something means to be more important than it. Here the community's interests are more important than those (the interests) of individuals. Not overcome, which means to defeat a problem or difficulty.

To cancel trains means to stop them from running at all. Not postpone, which means to move an event to a later time; trains are cancelled, not postponed.

Restoration is the work of repairing an old building so that it looks as it did originally. Not reproduction, which means a copy of something.

Come to a standstill means to stop completely. A terminus is the last station on a line, not a state of stopping. Stoppage is a noun for a strike itself; we do not say come to a stoppage.

To soak food means to leave it in water for a long time so that it becomes soft: soak the beans overnight. Not infuse, which means putting tea or herbs in hot water to get their flavour.

Lose confidence in something means to stop believing that it will succeed or do well. It is the usual collocation about investors and markets. Not reliance, which means depending on something, and we do not say lose reliance in.

To commemorate means to honour the memory of people or an event, often with a monument. Not celebrates, which suggests a happy occasion.

To be convicted of a crime means a court officially decides that you are guilty. Not sentenced, which is the punishment given after a conviction (sentenced to ten years), and it is used with to, not of.

To ensure means to make certain that something happens: to ensure greater accuracy. Not assure, which means to tell someone confidently that something is true (I assure you). Insure is about insurance.

Sparsely populated means having very few people living there, spread over a large area. It is a fixed collocation; slightly or loosely populated are not used.

Erratic means not regular or consistent, sometimes good and sometimes bad. That is why he rarely does well in exams. Not errant, which means behaving badly or wandering from the right path, and erroneous means incorrect.

To be taken in means to be deceived or tricked: He was taken in by the disguise. Not taken up, which means started (a hobby) or accepted (an offer).

Make sense of something means to understand it. It is a fixed expression. Not meaning: we say understand the meaning, not make any meaning of it.

An accurate forecast is correct and true. Accurate is the usual word for forecasts and predictions. Precise and exact describe measurements or details rather than whether a forecast comes true.

In high spirits is an idiom meaning happy, excited and full of energy. Not mood: we say in a good mood, not in high mood.

An asset is a person or thing that is very useful or valuable: She is a great asset to the team. Not profit, which is money gained, not a person.

The idiom drive a hard bargain means to negotiate firmly and insist on getting a good deal. Not deal: the word fits the meaning, but the fixed idiom uses bargain.

Impervious to something means not affected or influenced by it: impervious to criticism. Not unaware, because it is used with of and means 'not knowing', not 'not caring'.

To distract someone from something means to take their attention away from it. The preposition from is the clue. Disturbs fits the meaning but is not used with from my work.

The idiom make a name for yourself means to become well known and respected. Not fame or popularity: they have a similar meaning but do not fit the fixed expression make a ... for himself.

A legacy is money or property left to someone when a person dies. Not heritage, which means the traditions, culture and history of a country or group.

Put something in jeopardy means to put it in danger of failing or being lost. Not risk, because the phrase is put at risk, not in risk.

Alacrity means eagerness and speed: He accepted the offer with alacrity. Not gratification, which means a feeling of pleasure or satisfaction and is not used in this expression.

To organize people into groups means to arrange them in an ordered way for a purpose. Not dispersed, which means to send people away in different directions.

Remind someone to do something means to tell them so that they do not forget. Not remember, because it does not take a person plus to + verb in this way (remember to bring, not remember Peter to bring).

Stained means marked with a dirty mark that is difficult to remove: stained with coffee. Not dyed, which means coloured on purpose, for example cloth or hair.

An impression is an amusing imitation of a famous person's voice and behaviour. Take off someone means to copy them in a funny way. Not reproductions, which are copies of objects such as paintings or furniture.