Distinguishing between Similar Words

1. ask for – demand – insist – keep on – repeat

a) I’m going to ....................... the bill. It’s time we went home.
b) I .......................... on seeing the manager. The service here is terrible.
c) We ........................ to know why the prisoner was so badly treated.
d) They’ll ......................... causing trouble until they get what they want.
e) If you like, I’ll ...................... the question. Listen carefully this time.
2. accepted – agreed – approved – passed – spent
a) We .................... our holidays in Mallorca last year.
b) His father gave him a present because he had ....................... the
examination.
c) I ....................... with his plan in general but objected to some details.
d) I ....................... of his course of action and told him to go ahead.
e) I’ve ...................... their offer. I signed the contract this morning and an going to
start working for them next month.
3. assist – attempt – attend – intend – pretend
a) I wasn’t able to ....................... the meeting because I was too busy.
b) They’ll ....................... to rescue the climbers when the weather clears.
c) Now that you’ve admitted your mistake, what do you ...................... to
do about it?
d) The firm refused to give him the day off so he had to ...................... he
was ill.
e) I’m willing to .......................... you if you need help.
4. beat – conquered – earned – fought – won
a) Simpson .................... Howard in the final of the tennis championship.
b) When he was young all he ..................... was $10 a week.
c) He ...................... the first prize in the competition.
d) The Romans ............................ large areas of Europe.
e) Muhammad Ali ........................... for the world heavyweight
championship.

Language I 1 Practice
5. believe – expect – hope – look forward to – wait
a) We wrote to them last week and ............................ them to reply in
the next few days.
b) I ........................... it won’t rain this evening. We’re going out.
c) ........................... a moment, please. I’ve something to tell you.
d) We ..................................... meeting you again soon.
e) I was at school with your brother, I ...................... his name’s James,
isn’t it?
6. avoid – bear – carry – prevent – resist
a) We locked the door of the cage to ........................... the animals from
getting away.
b) He built a fence strong enough to ........................ the force of the
wind.
c) If we go by the side-roads we can .......................... most of the traffic.
d) I couldn’t .......................... to see him hitting the child.
e) The child was too tired to walk any farther, so I had to .......................
him.
7. recommend – refer – regard – remember – remind
a) I can’t ...................... where I put it.
b) ........................... me to answer the letter. I might forget.
c) I don’t .......................... that as a very serious mistake.
d) We don’t usually deal with cases like that in this office. I’ll have
to .................................. you to our Claims Department.
e) He’s a good engineer. I can ............................. him for the job.
8. arise – arouse – get up – raise – rise
a) Please ........................ your hands if you agree with the decision.
b) The cost of living is expected to ........................... by ten per cent this
year.
c) Problems like this ........................ every day in the factory.
d) Emotional speeches often ......................... strong feelings.
e) I ...................... every morning at seven o’clock.

Language I 2 Practice
9. glanced – glimpsed – stared – veiled – viewed
a) He .......................... out of the window for a moment and then went
on working.
b) He .......................... a car in the mirror. It was rapidly approaching
from behind.
c) She .......................... at me for a long time with a fixed expression,
not saying anything.
d) I ......................... his course of action with alarm. It seemed very
dangerous.
e) The top of the mountain was ........................... in mist so we could not
see the climbers.

Language I 3 Practice