Shades of Meaning in Public Debate

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

Single choice

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 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The speaker's concession was intended to … criticism, not endorse it.

   1. refuse
   2. defuse
   3. infuse
   4. confuse
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   defuse

   Defuse criticism means reduce its force or tension.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The argument is compelling only if its central … is accepted.

   1. premier
   2. permission
   3. premise
   4. promise
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   premise

   Premise is an assumption on which an argument rests.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The distinction is easily blurred, … the need for careful definitions.

   1. unless
   2. although
   3. despite
   4. hence
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   hence

   Hence introduces a noun-phrase consequence, the need.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The proposal has attracted criticism from … the political spectrum.

   1. crossing
   2. crosswise
   3. across
   4. cross
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   across

   Across the spectrum describes a wide range of positions.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The article … the impression that agreement was unanimous.

   1. convenes
   2. conveys
   3. converts
   4. convicts
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   conveys

   Convey an impression means communicate it.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. Her answer was deliberately …, leaving room for several interpretations.

   1. ambiguously
   2. ambiguity
   3. ambiguous
   4. ambivalent
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   ambiguous

   Ambiguous describes language with multiple meanings; ambivalent describes mixed feelings.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The debate turned … whether the exception should become the rule.

   1. at
   2. with
   3. for
   4. on
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   on

   Turn on in this sense means centre on a crucial issue.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The concession does not … the broader objection.

   1. invalidate
   2. invalidation
   3. invalid
   4. invalidly
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   invalidate

   A finite verb after does not must be the base form invalidate.

9. Question 9 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The issue cannot be reduced … a simple choice between two extremes.

   1. for
   2. at
   3. to
   4. with
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   to

   Reduce to means simplify into a narrower form.

10. Question 10 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. The speaker was careful not to … the significance of one example.

    1. oversee
    2. overstate
    3. overhear
    4. overrule
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    overstate

    Overstate means describe as greater or stronger than justified.

11. Question 11 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    The groups agree about wording but disagree about the central purpose of the policy. Their apparent agreement masks a … difference in priorities.

    1. superficial
    2. fundamental
    3. negligible
    4. trivial
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    fundamental

    Fundamental concerns the underlying purpose. The explicit disagreement is not merely superficial or too small to matter.

    fundamental: Fundamental concerns the underlying purpose. The explicit disagreement is not merely superficial or too small to matter.

12. Question 12 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    The discussion has ignored exceptions and treated every group as identical. It would benefit from a more … account of the trade-offs.

    1. one-sided
    2. categorical
    3. nuanced
    4. superficial
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    nuanced

    Nuanced recognises fine distinctions and exceptions; the other descriptions would repeat the weakness identified in the context.

    nuanced: Nuanced recognises fine distinctions and exceptions; the other descriptions would repeat the weakness identified in the context.

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.