Free Vocabulary and Word Usage MCQs with Answers
30 Vocabulary and Word Usage MCQs from Business Writing and Comprehension, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Precise word choice includes meanings, synonyms, antonyms, homophones, collocations, prefixes, suffixes, idioms and context-based usage. Questions distinguish formal from informal expressions, literal from figurative meaning, and commonly confused words such as affect and effect, accept and except, and principal and principle.
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30 questions · page 2 of 2
- A. The officer adapted the standard form to suit local needs.
- B. The officer adapted the new regulation after cabinet approval.
- C. The officer adapted the committee to issue a revised order.
- D. The officer adapted the proposal instead of formally accepting it.
Explanation: Adapt means to modify something so that it suits a new purpose or condition.
Correct answer: The officer adapted the standard form to suit local needs.- A. The consultant advice the board and gave useful advise.
- B. The consultant gave useful advise and adviced the board to wait.
- C. The consultant gave useful advice and advised the board to wait.
- D. The consultant advised useful advice and advice the board to wait.
Explanation: Advice is the noun meaning a recommendation, while advise is the verb meaning to recommend.
Correct answer: The consultant gave useful advice and advised the board to wait.- A. The confidential files lay untouched on the desk.
- B. The confidential files laid untouched on the desk.
- C. The clerk has lain the confidential files on the desk.
- D. The clerk lay the confidential files on the desk.
Explanation: Lay is the past tense of lie when no object is used, so files lay on the desk is correct.
Correct answer: The confidential files lay untouched on the desk.- A. The team’s moral improved after the successful operation.
- B. The team’s morale improved after the successful operation.
- C. The team showed high morale principles during the debate.
- D. The officer praised the staff’s moral after the victory.
Explanation: Morale means the confidence and enthusiasm of a group, whereas moral relates to standards of right and wrong.
Correct answer: The team’s morale improved after the successful operation.- A. A lose wire could cause the machine to lose power.
- B. A lose wire could cause the machine to loose power.
- C. A loose wire could cause the machine to loose its power.
- D. A loose wire could cause the machine to lose power.
Explanation: Loose means not firmly fixed, while lose means to be deprived of or no longer have something.
Correct answer: A loose wire could cause the machine to lose power.- A. The speech contained an allusion to the founder’s famous struggle.
- B. The speech contained an illusion to the founder’s famous struggle.
- C. The magician created an allusion that deceived the audience.
- D. The historical reference was an illusion to an earlier event.
Explanation: An allusion is an indirect reference to a person, event, or text. An illusion is a deceptive appearance or false perception, which is why…
Correct answer: The speech contained an allusion to the founder’s famous struggle.- A. The manager ensured staff, assured their safety, and insured the equipment.
- B. The manager assured staff, ensured their safety, and insured the equipment.
- C. The manager insured staff, ensured their safety, and assured the equipment.
- D. The manager assured staff, insured their safety, and ensured the equipment.
Explanation: Assure is used when giving confidence to a person, ensure means to make an outcome certain, and insure refers to protection through an…
Correct answer: The manager assured staff, ensured their safety, and insured the equipment.- A. Being unable to understand a simple issue
- B. Showing complete confidence in a decision
- C. Having mixed or conflicting feelings
- D. Refusing to consider an opposing view
Explanation: Ambivalent describes a state in which a person has opposing or mixed feelings about something.
Correct answer: Having mixed or conflicting feelings- A. The auditor scrutinized the accounts for hidden errors.
- B. The auditor scrutinized the report by signing it quickly.
- C. The auditor scrutinized the witness with a brief greeting.
- D. The auditor scrutinized the office by closing it at noon.
Explanation: Scrutinize means to examine something closely and critically. Accounts can be scrutinized for errors, while signing, greeting, or closing…
Correct answer: The auditor scrutinized the accounts for hidden errors.- A. The office received less applications this month.
- B. The office received fewer applications this month.
- C. The office received fewer traffic during the month.
- D. The office received less individual forms this month.
Explanation: Fewer is normally used with countable items, such as applications, while less is used with mass or uncountable quantities.
Correct answer: The office received fewer applications this month.