Unit 6: Vocabulary - Practice Quiz

The idiom 'a piece of cake' is used to describe something that is very simple or easy to accomplish.

'Make a mistake' is a common English collocation. The verb 'make' is frequently used with 'mistake'.

'How do you do?' is a traditional and formal formulaic expression for introductions. The standard response is also 'How do you do?'.

'To spill the beans' means to disclose information that was supposed to be kept secret.

The standard collocation to describe a large amount of rainfall is 'heavy rain'.

The idiom 'costs an arm and a leg' is used to emphasize that something has a very high price.

'You're welcome' is a polite and common formulaic response to 'Thank you'.

'Catch a taxi' (or 'catch a bus/train') is a common collocation meaning to get on a form of public transport.

If you are 'feeling under the weather', you are feeling unwell or sick.

The common collocation is 'to make a promise', which means to state that you will definitely do something.

'Excuse me' or 'I'm sorry' are standard polite expressions used for minor accidents like bumping into someone.

'Break a leg' is a theatrical superstition used to wish a performer good luck without saying 'good luck' directly.

The correct preposition to use with 'addicted' is 'to', as in 'addicted to something'.

The idiom 'once in a blue moon' refers to an event that happens very infrequently.

'Best wishes,' or 'Cheers,' are common and appropriate formulaic closings for informal emails, whereas 'Sincerely' and 'Yours faithfully' are more formal.

'Fast food' is the standard and widely recognized collocation for food that is prepared and served quickly, like hamburgers and fries.

The idiom 'to see eye to eye' means to share the same views or to be in agreement about something.

'Bon voyage' is a French phrase adopted into English specifically to wish someone a pleasant trip or journey.

'Pay attention' is a strong collocation meaning to concentrate on or listen carefully to someone or something.

'Yes, please' is a polite and standard formulaic expression to indicate that you are ready to give your food or drink order.

The idiom save face means to preserve one's reputation and avoid losing the respect of others, especially after a failure or mistake. The manager is trying to avoid looking bad by shifting the blame.

To hold one's horses means to wait and be patient. Sarah is deciding to wait instead of acting immediately. Bite the bullet means to face a difficult situation with courage. Play it by ear means to improvise. Jump the gun means to act too soon.

The verb that strongly collocates with risks is take. The common expression is to take risks.

Remarkable growth is a strong collocation used to describe very impressive and noticeable expansion. While strong growth is also correct, remarkable better fits the significant context of profits doubling. Heavy growth and deep growth are not standard collocations.

I was wondering if... is a common and polite formulaic expression for making a request, especially when you don't want to sound demanding. It softens the request and shows consideration for the other person's time.

The idiom around the clock means for 24 hours a day, without stopping. It implies intense and continuous effort to meet a goal.

Fully aware is a very common adverb-adjective collocation meaning completely conscious or knowledgeable about something. The other options are less common or incorrect in this specific pairing.

This is a standard formulaic expression used to formally and politely request the focus of a group of people, typically at the beginning of a speech, announcement, or meeting.

To be on thin ice means to be in a risky or dangerous situation where one small mistake could have disastrous consequences, just like walking on ice that is too thin to support one's weight.

The correct collocation is to make an apology. One makes an apology, not does one. The other options (make a decision, take a chance, pay attention) are all standard and correct collocations.

I couldn't agree with you more is a strong, emphatic formulaic expression used to show complete agreement with someone's statement. The other options express weak agreement (A, C) or disagreement (B).

Back to square one means having to start over from the very beginning because a previous attempt failed or a situation has changed completely. It perfectly describes having to relearn something from scratch.

The standard collocation for a compromise or an agreement is to reach. While achieve is similar in meaning, reach is the more natural and frequent verb used in this context.

Don't mention it is a formulaic expression used as a polite and informal response to Thank you. It implies that the favor was no trouble at all and is similar to You're welcome or No problem.

The idiom let the dust settle means to wait for a chaotic or uncertain situation to calm down and become clearer before making a decision or taking action.

Emergency exit is a fixed noun-noun collocation (or compound noun) that refers to a specific exit for use in emergencies. Safety exit is not the standard term.

Pardon me or Excuse me for interrupting is a polite and formal formulaic expression used to apologize for speaking when someone else is. It acknowledges the interruption and respectfully invites the other person to continue, making it suitable for a professional setting.

The idiom smoke and mirrors refers to trickery or deception. It suggests that something appears impressive or plausible on the surface, but is actually hiding a lack of substance or truth.

The verbs that collocate well with feedback are get, receive, collect, or gather. In the context of actively seeking input from a group, gather is a very appropriate and common choice.

This response uses a polite formula (That's very kind of you) to acknowledge the offer before politely declining with another formula (I couldn't possibly...). This is a socially graceful way to refuse something. Option A is too direct, while C and D are impolite.

To 'cut the Gordian knot' means to solve a complex problem in a decisive and radical way. This perfectly fits the context of a 'radical merger' that resolves a 'deadlock'. 'Dotting the i's and crossing the t's' means to finalize minor details, which is the opposite of the action described. 'Throwing a spanner in the works' means to sabotage a plan. 'Taking a rain check' means to postpone an offer.

'Palpable tension' is a very strong and standard collocation. While 'tangible' is a close synonym and grammatically possible, 'palpable' is the conventional and strongest collocate for abstract nouns like 'tension,' 'relief,' or 'excitement' when describing them as if they can be physically felt. 'Touchable' is too literal, and 'sensible' means reasonable or practical, which is incorrect in this context.

This question tests nuanced, diplomatic language. Option C is the most appropriate for disagreeing with a superior because it uses hedging ('I'm not sure', 'perhaps'), frames the disagreement as a potential misunderstanding ('not on the same page'), and suggests collaboration ('could we explore'). Option A is too confrontational. Option B is polite but very direct. Option D is also direct and sounds accusatory ('your idea won't work').

This question requires differentiating between several similar idioms. To 'steal someone's thunder' specifically means to prevent someone from getting the attention or credit they deserve by revealing their plans or ideas first. This is precisely what the rival did. 'Taking the wind out of his sails' means to make someone lose confidence, which is a result of the action, not the action itself. 'Pulling the rug out' means to withdraw support suddenly. 'Raining on his parade' means to spoil a happy moment.

The adverb 'vehemently' is the strongest and most standard collocate for 'deny'. It implies a denial made with great force, passion, and conviction. While 'strongly deny' is acceptable, it is less idiomatic and weaker than 'vehemently deny'. 'Absolutely' typically modifies absolute verbs or adjectives (e.g., 'absolutely refuse'). 'Powerfully' is not a common collocate for 'deny'.

'Beyond the pale' means outside the bounds of acceptable or moral behavior. It originates from the 'Pale of Settlement,' a historical term for a boundary. 'Over the top' is similar but usually implies exaggeration or excessive drama, whereas 'beyond the pale' specifically refers to crossing a moral or social boundary. 'Out of the blue' means unexpectedly, and 'off the beaten track' refers to an isolated place.

This question assesses social and professional pragmatics. Option C is the most suitable for a formal, professional context. It is empathetic ('deeply saddened') but maintains a respectful distance ('Please accept my heartfelt sympathies'). Option A is slightly more informal. Option B is generally considered a faux pas, as one can never know 'exactly' how another person feels. Option D, while well-intentioned, can be a cliché and puts the burden on the grieving person to assign a task.

The verb that collocates most strongly and formally with abstract nouns like 'threat,' 'risk,' or 'danger' is 'pose.' 'To pose a threat' is a standard and formal collocation. While one can 'create' a threat, 'pose' is the more precise and idiomatic choice in this formal/academic register. 'Make a threat' implies a verbal action, and 'put a threat' is not a standard collocation.

To 'have an axe to grind' means to have a selfish or hidden motive for doing something. The context of a past business rivalry provides this hidden motive. 'Having a chip on his shoulder' implies a general sense of resentment, not a specific agenda. 'Spoiling for a fight' means being eager to argue. 'Having a bone to pick' means wanting to confront someone about a known issue, which is typically done openly, not as a hidden agenda.

This question tests the grammatical rule of collocations with gradable and ungradable adjectives. 'Unique' is an ungradable (or absolute) adjective; something is either unique or it isn't. It cannot be 'very unique' or 'a little unique'. Therefore, modifying it with 'very' is logically and grammatically incorrect. The other options are correct: 'profound' and 'flawed' are gradable, and 'perfect' (ungradable) can be emphasized with adverbs like 'absolutely' or 'quite simply'.

Option C is the most skillful choice for a formal debate. It is polite ('Sorry to interrupt'), uses softening language ('just like to'), and frames the correction constructively as a 'point of clarification' rather than a direct attack. This maintains decorum while allowing for the correction. Option B is polite but less specific about the purpose. Options A and D are too aggressive and confrontational for a formal academic setting.

A 'Pyrrhic victory' is a victory that inflicts such a devastating toll on the victor that it is tantamount to defeat. The high cost in legal fees and reputation damage makes this the most precise idiom. A 'hollow victory' is similar but more general, meaning a victory that is meaningless or brings no real satisfaction; it does not necessarily imply a ruinous cost. The emphasis on the severe negative consequences points specifically to a Pyrrhic victory.

This question tests formal register and precise collocation. While 'file a complaint' and 'submit a complaint' are also correct, 'to lodge a complaint' is a particularly strong, formal collocation that implies formally registering a grievance with an official body, such as a court or regulatory authority. 'Place a complaint' is not idiomatic. In this formal context, 'lodge' is the most sophisticated and appropriate choice.

Option B is the best example of diplomatic, professional communication. It employs a 'sandwich' technique: starting with a positive ('promising'), using hedging language to soften the criticism ('it seems that', 'may need'), and providing an objective reason ('to meet the committee's criteria'). Option A is too harsh. Option C is too blunt ('Unfortunately, you'll have to...'). Option D can sound condescending.

The idiom 'the proof is in the pudding' (a shortening of 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating') means that the real value or success of something can only be determined by putting it to the test. The context of testing the software and seeing its positive results directly illustrates this meaning. 'The writing was on the wall' signals doom. 'The cat was out of the bag' means a secret is revealed. 'The chickens had come home to roost' means negative consequences have appeared.

'Inclement weather' is a strong, formal, and somewhat fixed collocation used specifically for unpleasant weather (stormy, cold, or wet). While the weather could also be described as 'severe' or having 'adverse' effects, 'inclement' is the most precise and idiomatic term in the context of a formal announcement about cancelling an event. 'Hostile' is not used to describe weather.

This question tests professional negotiation and boundary-setting. Option C is the strongest response because it is polite, professional, and proactive. It shows you are considering the request seriously ('Let me look'), avoids making a vague or empty promise, and sets a clear expectation for a follow-up ('get back to you by the end of the day'). Option B is noncommittal but can sometimes be interpreted as a soft 'no'. Option D is a direct refusal. Option A is unprofessional.

To 'spill the beans' means to reveal secret information, often carelessly or prematurely. This fits the context of indiscreetly revealing a surprise party plan perfectly. 'Dropped the ball' means to make a mistake or fail in one's duty, which is a broader and less specific description of the action. 'Broke the ice' means to initiate social conversation. 'Read the riot act' means to reprimand someone fiercely.

This question tests the nuanced connotations of intensifying adverbs. While 'deeply' and 'sorely' are also correct collocations with 'disappointed', 'bitterly' is the most powerful and precise choice here. 'Bitterly' suggests a disappointment mixed with anger, resentment, and a sense of injustice, which perfectly captures the emotion of an athlete whose dreams are shattered by a stroke of bad luck. 'Gravely' typically collocates with words like 'concerned' or 'ill'.

This is a complex question of professional diplomacy. Option C is the most skillful. It frames the weakness positively as a 'challenge' rather than a failure, uses softening language ('occasionally'), and presents the employee in a positive light by mentioning they were 'actively developing' the skill. This conveys the necessary information without being overly damaging. Option A is too blunt. Option B uses the negative word 'failed'. Option D places a direct burden on the future employer, which is a strong negative signal.