Choosing Verbs for Abstract Ideas

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

C1. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Fill in the blank (text)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use challenge: During yesterday's seminar, new evidence ___ (challenge) the assumption under discussion.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   challenged

   The completed event during yesterday's seminar calls for challenged.

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use one word: The proposal has come ___ scrutiny after the audit. Use the preposition in the fixed phrase.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   under

   Come under scrutiny means become subject to close examination.

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use imply: The wording carries an unintended ___ (imply).

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   implication

   Implication is the noun after an unintended.

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use one word: The argument hinges ___ a distinction between access and ownership.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   on / upon

   Hinge on or upon identifies the critical dependency.

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use acknowledge: The authors deserve credit for ___ (acknowledge) the limitations.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   acknowledging

   For takes an ing form.

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use one word: The distinction has a bearing ___ how the rule is applied.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   on / upon

   Have a bearing on means be relevant to or affect.

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use reconcile: We found it difficult ___ (reconcile) the two accounts.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to reconcile

   Difficult takes a to-infinitive in this anticipatory-it construction.

8. Question 8 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use one word: The new finding calls ___ a reassessment. Use the particle meaning requires.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   for

   Call for means require or make necessary.

9. Question 9 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use substantiate: The claim remains ___ (substantiate) by independent evidence; no outside study supports it.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   unsubstantiated

   The context requires the negative participial adjective unsubstantiated, meaning unsupported.

10. Question 10 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use one word: The review sheds light ___ why earlier attempts failed.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    on / upon

    Shed light on means clarify.

11. Question 11 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use constrain: Financial ___ (constrain) limited the scope of the inquiry.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    constraints

    Plural noun constraints names the limiting conditions.

12. Question 12 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use one word: The outcome lends itself ___ more than one interpretation.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    to

    Lend itself to means be suitable for or open to an interpretation.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.