CONFUSING WORDS

I. Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the following questions.
Question 1: He wasn't aware that only one mistake could________his chances of getting the job.
A. destroy B. damage C. ruin D. devastate
Question 2: The committee________and censured him for his uncooperative attitude.
A. reprimanded B. scolded C. reproached D. rebuked
Question 3: There were 79 killed and 230 ________in a bomb explosion at the embassy.
A. injured B. wounded C. hurt D. ached
Question 4: This wine comes________recommended. You should try it!
A. high B. highly C. heighten D. height
Question 5: The police have every good________to believe that he is guilty.
A. excuse B. cause C. reason D. ground
Question 6: You should be________of yourself for telling such lies.
A. shy B. bashful C. inhibited D. ashamed
Question 7: His new car is the________of all his friends.
A. envy B. jealousy C. grudge D. grievance
Question 8: ________is a strong, dangerous wind that forms itself into an upside-down spinning cone
and is able to destroy buildings as it moves across the ground.
A. Typhoon B. Hurricane C. Cyclone D. Tornado
Question 9: A________of $10,000 has been offered for the capture of his murderer.
A. prize B. gift C. bounty D. award
Question 10: Big supermarkets can undercut all________, especially small high-street shops.
A. rivals B. opponents C. contenders D. challenger
Question 11: The rain has been________since this morning, which makes me feel bored.
A. continuous B. continual C. continuation D. continuity
Question 12: A system of checks and balances exists to ensure that our government
is________democratic.
A. positively B. genuinely C. actually D. truly
Question 13: You can't complain of being________when you don't make any effort to meet people.
A. alone B. lonely C. solitary D. loneliness
Question 14: It is reported that the building was completely________by fire.
A. spoilt B. ruined C. damaged D. destroyed
Question 15: He never raised his voice or________his children unfairly.
A. chided B. scolded C. reproached D. reprimanded
Question 16: Can the sales team meet its financial________?
A. purposes B. aims C. goals D. objectives
Question 17: They had to wait ten minutes for the anesthetic to take________ before they stitched up
the cut.
A. effect B. impact C. influence D. affect
Question 18: The bank will insist you produce a driving________or passport as a form of ID.
A. diploma B. certificate C. degree D. licence
Question 19: Please________me from the rest of the meeting - I've just received a phone call that
requires my immediate attention.
A. excuse B. apologize C. forgiven D. sorry
Question 20: She values her job________her family.
A. over B. above C. behind D. before
Question 21: The killer________that he often drugged his victims before he killed them.
A. confessed B. admitted C. acknowledged D. recognized
Question 22: Whenever a camera was pointed at her, Marilyn would instantly
________herself into a radiant star.
A. transmit B. transform C. convert D. transfer
Question 23: He directed "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind," receiving an Oscar for
the________.
A. lately B. latest C. later D. latter
Question 24: The process of________Jackson from a talented teenager into a franchise player began in
training camp.
A. exchanging B. transforming C. altering D. converting
Question 25: The________lay with the organizers, who failed to make the necessary arrangements for
dealing with so many people.
A. mistake B. foul C. fault D. error
Question 26: The two people________badminton seemed to be at it quite intensely.
A. going B. playing C. doing D. practicing
Question 27: ________I said, I'm not interested in buying insurance at the moment.
A. Like B. As C. Similar D. Alike
Question 28: He put on a large hat and glasses as a disguise and hoped no one would________him.
A. see B. recognize C. realize D. watch
Question 29: You could always________a dress for the ball if you can't afford to buy one.
A. hire B. rent C. employ D. lease
Question 30: I'm having lunch with an old friend________next week.
A. sometimes B. occasionally C. sometime D. often
Question 31: Some musicians don't like to________rings when they're playing.
A. wear B. dress C. put on D. clothe
Question 32: Customs officers have seized________a ton of heroin destined for New York.
A. mostly B. nearby C. near D. nearly
Question 33: Do you think these two colours________?
A. match B. fit C. go with D. suit
Question 34: This was my first trip on the ocean and my first________in a steamboat.
A. voyage B. journey C. expedition D. excursion
Question 35: When you've pinned the pattern onto the________, you can start cutting out all the pieces.
A. clothing B. cloth C. clothes D. costume
Question 36: I could________someone calling my name.
A. hear B. listen to C. overhear D. feel
Question 37: The building was demolished before a crowd of nearly 200________.
A. onlookers B. audiences C. viewers D. spectators
Question 38: To them, acid rain and urban________are more immediate and urgent concerns than
global warming.
A. haze B. fog C. smog D. mist
Question 39: Untreated________is being pumped into the sea, from where it pollutes our beaches.
A. sewage B. litter C. rubbish D. garbage
Question 40: Mexican farm workers________into the US each year to find work at harvest time and
then return to their hometown.
A. emigrate B. migrate C. drift D. move
Question 41: A crowd had gathered________the scene of the accident.
A, center B. surrounding C. around D. round
Question 42: The________for the disaster was engine failure, not human error.
A. origin B. excuse C. cause D. reason
Question 43: The hounds had lost the________of the fox near the river.
A. scent B. odor C. savour D. flavor
Question 44: She________herself for being so impatient with the children.
A. reprimanded B. scolded C. chided D. rebuked
Question 45: Mr Harvey, unable for once to do exactly as he wanted, sulked just like a________child.
A. damaged B. spoiled C. destroyed D. ruined
Question 46: The government has________that homelessness is a problem but it has failed to grasp the
scale of the problem.
A. admitted B. confessed C. acknowledged D. approved
Question 47: I’m sorry, I________my notebook at home.
A. left B. forgot C. erased D. put
Question 48: What's the formula for________pounds into kilograms?
A. converting B. transferring C. transmitting D. transforming
Question 49: Profits have declined________the recent drop in sales.
A. as a result B. as a result of C. resulting in D. resulting from
Question 50: The train slowed down and then stopped________.
A. all together B. together C. altogether D. all are correct
Question 51: Because of international treaty obligations, the Government is legally________to consider
every asylum claim.
A. about B. due C. just D. bound
Question 52: It is announced that the film festival________in October.
A. happens B. occurs C. comes up D. takes place
Question 53: One by one the old buildings in the city have been________and replaced with modern
tower blocks.
A. demolished B. damaged C. ruined D. devastated
Question 54: I’m not familiar ________current research in the field.
A. to B. with C. about D. at
Question 55: Her job is only concerned________costs and fees.
A. to B. with C. about D. at
Question 56: We________the victims to talk freely about their experiences.
A. encourage B. stimulate C. motivate D. all are correct
Question 57: The project should be completed by next March, six months ________
A. therefore B. consequently C. as a result D. hence
Question 58: Huong: "Are you going to be at church on Sunday morning?"
Hoa:" ________- it depends how late we get back on Saturday."
A. probably B. likely C. possibly D. maybe
Question 59: Until the constitution is________, the power to appoint ministers will remain with the
president.
A. mended B. repaired C. corrected D. amended
Question 60: I had to________my voice to make myself heard over the noise.
A. raise B. rise C. arise D. elevate
Question 61: The Central Bank________in the currency markets today to try to stabilize the exchange
rate.
A. interfered B. intervened C. involved D. interrupted
Question 62: I couldn’t believe it when Fiona accused me of________in her relationship with Jack. I
only had a normal conversation with him at my office.
A, intervening B. interfering C. intercede D. intersect
Question 63: Their________was born last week in a hospital near their house.
A. infant B. toddler C. baby D. kid
Question 64: The opera "Aida" was________written for the opening of the Cairo opera house in 1871.
A. specially B. especially C. particularly D. extremely
Question 65: The disease that once claimed millions of lives has now been
A.erased B. eradicated C. deleted D. emptied
Question 66: The head teacher threatened the three girls with________.
A. dismissal B. rejection C. expulsion D. exclusion
Question 67: They had an awful row several years ago, but now they've________ their differences.
A. resolved B. solved C. dissolved D. conquered
Question 68: That old campaign________really means that there should be jobs and enough food for all
citizens.
A. motto B. emblem C. slogan D. banner
Question 69: You can________Ruth because she always does things by the rules.
A. trust B. believe C. lean D. bank
Question 70: I burrowed through the clothes in the drawer looking for a clean ________of socks.
A. couple B. pair C. piece D. item
Question 71: She was________of her migraine headaches when she changed her diet.
A. treated B. healed C. cured D. recovered
Question 72: When I informed her of her failure, she started to
uncontrollably.
A. whimper B. weep C. sob D. wail
Question 73: The boat was about a mile off the________when the engine suddenly died.
A. shore B. seaside C. coast D. beach
Question 74: Love and relationships will always be a topic of________interest.
A. common B. popular C. universal D. general
Question 75: ________injury, the team captain was forced to withdraw from the match.
A. Due to B. Subject to C. Thanks to D. In addition to
Question 76: The law has done little to________racial discrimination and inequality.
A. hinder B. limit C. prevent D. dissuade
Question 77: He entered the United States in 1988 as a permanent________ because of his marriage to a
U.S. ________.
A. resident/ inhabitant B. dweller/ citizen
C. resident/ citizen D. inhabitant/ dweller
Question 78: Access to these buildings is________when school is in session.
A. limited B. restricted C. delimited D. restrictive
Question 79: What________of the adult male population is unemployed?
A. percentage B. proportion C. rate D. ratio
Question 80: The business is going through a rather depressing________at the moment.
A. duration B. phase C. span D. stint
Question 81: The following programme________scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers.
A. includes B. comprises C. contains D. consists of
Question 82: The police________cars and other personal property belonging to the drug dealers.
A. impounded B. seized C. confiscated D. sequestered
Question 83: Jeans are an indispensable part of most people's________.
A. wardrobe B. cupboard C. bookshelf D. credenza
Question 84: Ifyou investheavily in the stock market, you have to stay________ and be ready to move
your money quickly.
A. alert B. vigilant C. watchful D. conscious
Question 85: So far, only one________has been rescued from the scene of the explosion.
A. victim B. casualty C. calamity D. wounded
Question 86: I don't know what the________is with the car, but it won't start.
A. trouble B. problem C. matter D. issue
Question 87: The________of the conference was the changing role of women in modern society.
A. topic B. subject C. theme D. title
Question 88: The government say they are trying to do more to________the public about the
consequences of drug abuse.
A. teach B. train C. coach D. educate
Question 89: There's a________-looking van parked at the end of the street.
A. doubtful B. suspicious C. dubious D. bizarre
Question 90: The police were out in________at the football match.
A. force B. power C. strength D. control
Question 91: On their return they discovered that their house had been________.
A. stolen B. robbed C. burgled D. thieved
Question 92: Henry Ford was a pioneer during the________days of car manufacture.
A. soon B. early C. beginning D. starting
Question 93: The doctor suggested that I might like to see a________to help me deal with stress better.
A. advisor B. solicitor C. counsellor D. attorney
Question 94: She is highly________at dealing with difficult customers.
A. skilled B. skillful C. expert D. talented
Question95: The________of today's festival will go to several local charities.
A. proceeds B. earnings C. profits D. revenues
Question 96: The children played under the________of a large beach umbrella.
A. shadow B. shade
C. sunshade D. both B and C are correct
Question 97: The police asked him if he could________out the killer from a series of photos.
A. choose B. select C. decide D. pick
Question 98: The detectives________the house from top to bottom, but they found no sign of the stolen
goods.
A. looked for B. sought C. searched D. found
Question 99: James took the books off the little table to make________for the television.
A. place B. space C. room D. seat
Question 100: The________growth of opposition to the plan has surprised the council.
A. brisk B. fast C. quick D. rapid
Question 101: We stopped at the top of the hill to admire the________.
A. scene B. scenery C. landscape D. sight
Question 102: Unlike astronomy, astrology cannot be described as an________ science.
A. correct B. accurate C. exact D. precise
Question 103: A service was held in________of local soldiers killed in the war.
A. recall B. remembrance C. recollection D. reminiscence
Question 104: It's________that none of the proposals will be accepted.
A. credible B. believable C. conceivable D. trustable
Question 105: I could see the lights of the town________in the distance.
A. burning B. twinkling C. glowing D. flaring
Question 106: Fitzgerald is eager to________Martin's record of three successive world titles.
A. emulate B. copy C. imitate D. produce
Question 107: You should eat more - you're too________.
A. thin B. skinny C. lean D. slight
Question 108: He________old houses to make it more attractive and then sells them at a profit.
A. renews B. updates C. upgrades D. renovates
Question 109: The firm was found guilty of publishing a misleading and________ advertisement.
A. cheating B. deceptive C. deceitful D. dishonest
Question 110: We________at the back of the room like naughty schoolchildren.
A. giggled B. grinned C. chuckled D. smiled
Question 111: When you see an officer, you must________.
A. greet B. bow C. curtsy D. salute
Question 112: Young people on the________are often bored and frustrated.
A. wage B. salary C. dole D. pension
Question 113: There is considerable________between banks and accountancy firms when it comes to
giving corporate financial advice.
A. contest B. competition C. rivalry D. all are correct
Question 114: Her hands were covered in dust and she had a black________on her nose.
A. dot B. smudge C. mark D. stain
Question 115: The vegetables were________and tasteless.
A. watery B. wet C. damp D. moist
Question 116: He was briefly famous in his twenties but then sank into________.
A. mystery B. secret C. obscurity D. recognition
Question 117: After a lengthy and________divorce, she vowed never to remarry.
A. painful B. hurt C. aching D. sore
Question 118: Presidential power was reduced by a constitutional________in 1991.
A. shift B. variation C. alteration D. amendment
Question 119: The Prime Minister________a meeting of his cabinet to discuss the matter.
A. gathered B. convened C. collected D. assembled
Question 120: The director has really________himself with this new film.
A. surpassed B. exceeded C. outstripped D. prevailed
II. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the underlined part that needs correction in
each of the following questions.
Question 1: In this teaching practice, teachers illicit and build on their students' mathematical insights.
A B C D
Question 2: Our guests said some very complementary things about the meal I'd cooked.
A B C D
Question 3: It's impossible to carry on a conservation with all this noise going on!
A B C D
Question 4: In principal I agree with the idea, but in practice it's not always possible.
A B C D
Question 5: I am the formal leader of the project but the every day management is in the hands of my
assistant. A B C D
Question 6: To felicitate learning, each class is no larger than 30 students.
A B C D
Question 7: His moods are so flexible that I don’t know where I am with him.
A B C D
Question 8: Kazakova's performance made her the heroin of the Moscow Film Festival.
A B C D
Question 9: Although not formerly trained as an art historian, he is widely respected for his knowledge
of the period. A B C D
Question 10: According to the Bible, an angle told Mary that she would have God's son, Jesus.
A B C D
Question 11: He was persecuted for having sex with a girl who was underage.
A B C D
Question 12: I always ask for an isle seat, not a window seat.
A B C D
Question 13: I should have listened to my father's wise council, and saved some money instead of
A B C
spending it all.
D
Question 14: My biology teacher said that Oxygen Defuses from the lungs into the bloodstream.
A B C D
Question 15: The company realized it was spending too much on stationary.
A B C D
Question 16: At that time she was just a modest mechanic and only wished to earn enough money to
A B C
support her family.
D
Question 17: The people at the table behind us were organizing someone's birthday.
A B C D
Question 18: You know, I've been nearly crazy with worry about you. Where have you been?
A B C D
Question 19: For most citizens, freedom means the liberty to practice their religious or political beliefs.
A B C D
Question 20: My memory of childhood lessens as time goes by but sometimes there is something
A B C
bringing me back.
D
Question 21: Mr Black has been a customer of this law firm for many years.
A B C D
Question 22: Despite the government's repeated insurance to the contrary, taxation has risen over the
past decade. A B C D
Question 23: The boat was about a mile from the shore when the motor suddenly died.
A B C D
Question 24: The university is saving $300,000 per year by its energy preservation efforts.
A B C D
Question 25: She knew she might be in danger but she felt that it was her obligation to tell the police
A B C
about the incident.
D
Question 26: The holiday was cancelled so the travel office had to refund everybody the price of the
tickets. A B C D
Question 27: The doctor advised me to keep him out of school until he's not infectious anymore.
A B C D
Question 28: I have a suspicion that he's having an affair, though I don't have any concrete evidence.
A B C D
Question 29: I'm not inferring anything about your cooking, but could we eat out tonight?
A B C D
Question 30: After years of abuse from her husband, she finally found the courage to leave him.
A B C D