Concessions, Exceptions and Boundaries

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

C2. 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

Matching

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 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of bounding a conclusion.

   Answer choices

   • that the assumptions remain valid.
   • of compelling contrary evidence.
   • to independent verification.
   • as the assumptions remain defensible.

   Items

   • The claim holds insofar
   • The claim holds provided
   • The claim holds in the absence
   • The claim holds subject
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The claim holds insofar

   as the assumptions remain defensible.

   2. The claim holds provided

   that the assumptions remain valid.

   3. The claim holds in the absence

   of compelling contrary evidence.

   4. The claim holds subject

   to independent verification.

   Insofar as, provided that, absence of and subject to require different complements.

2. Question 2 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of expressing a concession.

   Answer choices

   • incomplete in a crucial respect.
   • is not uniquely supported.
   • the account may seem, it leaves one fact unexplained.
   • plausibility, it lacks independent support.

   Items

   • Compelling though
   • Despite the account's apparent
   • The account is plausible, albeit
   • However plausible the account is, it
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Compelling though

   the account may seem, it leaves one fact unexplained.

   2. Despite the account's apparent

   plausibility, it lacks independent support.

   3. The account is plausible, albeit

   incomplete in a crucial respect.

   4. However plausible the account is, it

   is not uniquely supported.

   Though here precedes a subject and verb; despite takes a noun phrase; albeit introduces a reduced adjective phrase; the last beginning already supplies the concessive clause and main-clause subject.

3. Question 3 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of limiting an exception.

   Answer choices

   • to cases explicitly authorised.
   • prejudice to existing rights.
   • the absence of a viable alternative.
   • than the wording expressly permits.

   Items

   • The exception is confined
   • The exception applies only in
   • The exception operates without
   • The exception extends no further
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The exception is confined

   to cases explicitly authorised.

   2. The exception applies only in

   the absence of a viable alternative.

   3. The exception operates without

   prejudice to existing rights.

   4. The exception extends no further

   than the wording expressly permits.

   Confined to, in the absence, without prejudice and no further than define different limits.

4. Question 4 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of distinguishing implications.

   Answer choices

   • that the strongest reading is correct.
   • to an unconditional endorsement.
   • with more than one explanation.
   • of making a direct allegation.

   Items

   • The concession does not amount
   • The evidence does not entail
   • The statement stops short
   • The result is compatible
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The concession does not amount

   to an unconditional endorsement.

   2. The evidence does not entail

   that the strongest reading is correct.

   3. The statement stops short

   of making a direct allegation.

   4. The result is compatible

   with more than one explanation.

   Amount to, entail that, stop short of and compatible with govern distinct complements.

5. Question 5 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four ways of stating conditions formally.

   Answer choices

   • the dispute might have been resolved.
   • evidence, the error would have escaped notice.
   • emerge, the decision could be reconsidered.
   • notify the review panel.

   Items

   • Had the evidence survived,
   • Were the new evidence to
   • Should further evidence emerge, please
   • But for the surviving
   Check answers and explanations

   1. Had the evidence survived,

   the dispute might have been resolved.

   2. Were the new evidence to

   emerge, the decision could be reconsidered.

   3. Should further evidence emerge, please

   notify the review panel.

   4. But for the surviving

   evidence, the error would have escaped notice.

   Had introduces the past counterfactual; to requires base-form emerge; please requires imperative notify; surviving modifies the noun evidence.

6. Question 6 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four boundaries on interpretation.

   Answer choices

   • to an unintended implication.
   • whether later revision is permitted.
   • out an unconditional guarantee.
   • for a narrower interpretation.

   Items

   • The wording leaves open
   • The wording leaves room
   • The wording rules
   • The wording gives rise
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The wording leaves open

   whether later revision is permitted.

   2. The wording leaves room

   for a narrower interpretation.

   3. The wording rules

   out an unconditional guarantee.

   4. The wording gives rise

   to an unintended implication.

   Leave open whether, room for, rule out and give rise to select different structures.

7. Question 7 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four relations between claims.

   Answer choices

   • on the date of the event.
   • with each other.
   • from the first only with an extra premise.
   • of whether the second is true.

   Items

   • The two claims are consistent
   • The two claims are at variance
   • The second claim follows
   • The first claim is independent
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The two claims are consistent

   with each other.

   2. The two claims are at variance

   on the date of the event.

   3. The second claim follows

   from the first only with an extra premise.

   4. The first claim is independent

   of whether the second is true.

   Consistent with, at variance on, follow from and independent of express different relations.

8. Question 8 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four limits on an evaluation.

   Answer choices

   • as it goes, but is incomplete.
   • to establish the broader conclusion.
   • every relevant respect.
   • a narrowly specified reading.

   Items

   • The statement is true as far
   • The statement is not true in
   • The statement is true only on
   • The statement's truth is not sufficient
   Check answers and explanations

   1. The statement is true as far

   as it goes, but is incomplete.

   2. The statement is not true in

   every relevant respect.

   3. The statement is true only on

   a narrowly specified reading.

   4. The statement's truth is not sufficient

   to establish the broader conclusion.

   As far as, in every respect, on a reading and sufficient to require separate endings.

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.