Formal Expressions with Different Connotations

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 descriptions of a response.

   Answer choices

   • performed with minimal care or interest
   • expressed without qualification
   • avoiding a direct answer
   • intended to reduce hostility

   Items

   • conciliatory
   • evasive
   • categorical
   • perfunctory
   Check answers and explanations

   1. conciliatory

   intended to reduce hostility

   2. evasive

   avoiding a direct answer

   3. categorical

   expressed without qualification

   4. perfunctory

   performed with minimal care or interest

   The adjectives distinguish soothing, avoidance, absolute force and superficial effort.

2. Question 2 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of reasoning.

   Answer choices

   • internally consistent and intelligible
   • seeming plausible while being unsound
   • clear and strongly persuasive
   • assuming the conclusion in its premises

   Items

   • circular
   • specious
   • coherent
   • cogent
   Check answers and explanations

   1. circular

   assuming the conclusion in its premises

   2. specious

   seeming plausible while being unsound

   3. coherent

   internally consistent and intelligible

   4. cogent

   clear and strongly persuasive

   Circularity, deceptive plausibility, coherence and persuasive force are distinct.

3. Question 3 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of a restriction.

   Answer choices

   • left to an authorised person's judgement
   • lacking a relevant reason or consistent principle
   • imposing a heavy burden
   • appropriately scaled to the aim or risk

   Items

   • arbitrary
   • proportionate
   • onerous
   • discretionary
   Check answers and explanations

   1. arbitrary

   lacking a relevant reason or consistent principle

   2. proportionate

   appropriately scaled to the aim or risk

   3. onerous

   imposing a heavy burden

   4. discretionary

   left to an authorised person's judgement

   Reasonlessness, appropriate scale, burden and delegated choice differ.

4. Question 4 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of consent.

   Answer choices

   • expressly stated
   • understood from silence or conduct
   • capable of being withdrawn
   • limited by a reservation

   Items

   • explicit
   • tacit
   • qualified
   • revocable
   Check answers and explanations

   1. explicit

   expressly stated

   2. tacit

   understood from silence or conduct

   3. qualified

   limited by a reservation

   4. revocable

   capable of being withdrawn

   Mode of expression, reservation and future withdrawal are separate dimensions.

5. Question 5 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of evidence.

   Answer choices

   • supporting an inference indirectly
   • settling the issue decisively
   • adding support to an existing account
   • based on individual reports rather than systematic data

   Items

   • corroborative
   • conclusive
   • circumstantial
   • anecdotal
   Check answers and explanations

   1. corroborative

   adding support to an existing account

   2. conclusive

   settling the issue decisively

   3. circumstantial

   supporting an inference indirectly

   4. anecdotal

   based on individual reports rather than systematic data

   The terms distinguish support, decisiveness, indirectness and informal source type.

6. Question 6 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of an argument's relevance.

   Answer choices

   • essential to the whole argument
   • outside the matter under consideration
   • only indirectly connected to the main issue
   • closely relevant to the matter

   Items

   • germane
   • extraneous
   • tangential
   • integral
   Check answers and explanations

   1. germane

   closely relevant to the matter

   2. extraneous

   outside the matter under consideration

   3. tangential

   only indirectly connected to the main issue

   4. integral

   essential to the whole argument

   Direct relevance, irrelevance, peripheral connection and necessity differ.

7. Question 7 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of a policy's timing.

   Answer choices

   • applying to future cases
   • applying to earlier cases
   • intended to continue without a set endpoint
   • operating temporarily before a final arrangement

   Items

   • prospective
   • retrospective
   • interim
   • permanent
   Check answers and explanations

   1. prospective

   applying to future cases

   2. retrospective

   applying to earlier cases

   3. interim

   operating temporarily before a final arrangement

   4. permanent

   intended to continue without a set endpoint

   Future and past application differ from temporary and indefinite duration.

8. Question 8 · Matching

   Match each item to the correct choice.

   Match each beginning to its only suitable ending. Four descriptions of a statement.

   Answer choices

   • allowing more than one meaning
   • leaving no doubt about the intended position
   • expressing mixed feelings or attitudes
   • avoiding a definite stance

   Items

   • ambiguous
   • ambivalent
   • unequivocal
   • noncommittal
   Check answers and explanations

   1. ambiguous

   allowing more than one meaning

   2. ambivalent

   expressing mixed feelings or attitudes

   3. unequivocal

   leaving no doubt about the intended position

   4. noncommittal

   avoiding a definite stance

   Multiple meanings, mixed attitudes, clarity of stance and absence of commitment differ.

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.