Idiomatic Precision across Registers

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

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. A formal report should say the evidence … the claim, meaning supports it.

   1. bears down
   2. bears out
   3. bears up
   4. bears with
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   bears out

   Bear out means confirm or support a claim.

2. Question 2 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The discrepancy is small, but it cannot simply be … aside.

   1. swept over
   2. painted
   3. washed
   4. brushed
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   brushed

   Brush aside means dismiss without proper consideration.

3. Question 3 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. We should not … the issue by conflating two separate questions.

   1. muddying
   2. muddily
   3. muddy
   4. mud
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   muddy

   Muddy the issue means make it less clear; should takes a base verb.

4. Question 4 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The proposed safeguard is merely cosmetic; it … little weight in practice.

   1. balances
   2. carries
   3. lifts
   4. weighs
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   carries

   Carry weight means have influence or practical significance.

5. Question 5 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The parties remain at … over the interpretation of the clause.

   1. heads
   2. odd
   3. crossroads
   4. loggerheads
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   loggerheads

   At loggerheads means in strong disagreement.

6. Question 6 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   Choose the best completion or reply. The objection cannot be dismissed … hand; it requires examination.

   1. off the
   2. by the
   3. from the
   4. out of
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   out of

   Dismiss out of hand means reject immediately without consideration.

7. Question 7 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   The claim assumes precisely what it must prove: it … the question.

   1. begs
   2. raises
   3. answers
   4. evades
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   begs

   Beg the question refers to assuming the disputed conclusion within the argument. Raising or evading a question describes a different act.

   begs: Beg the question refers to assuming the disputed conclusion within the argument. Raising or evading a question describes a different act.

8. Question 8 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   After weeks without agreement, both sides accepted a compromise following mediation. The mediator helped the parties … an impasse.

   1. reach
   2. break
   3. maintain
   4. prolong
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   break

   Break an impasse means end the deadlock. The explicit compromise excludes preserving or extending it.

   break: Break an impasse means end the deadlock. The explicit compromise excludes preserving or extending it.

9. Question 9 · Single choice

   Choose one answer.

   No existing right was waived or harmed by the concession. It was made … prejudice to the firm's existing rights.

   1. despite
   2. unless
   3. without
   4. notwithstanding
   Check answers and explanations

   Answer

   without

   Without prejudice to means without harming or waiving the stated rights.

10. Question 10 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. The review should examine the practice in the …, not isolated anecdotes.

    1. entire
    2. circle
    3. whole
    4. round
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    round

    In the round means considering all aspects together.

11. Question 11 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. The promise sounds reassuring, but the wording leaves a … clause.

    1. take-out
    2. give-out
    3. get-out
    4. go-out
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    get-out

    A get-out clause offers a way of avoiding an obligation.

12. Question 12 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. The warning fell on … ears; no action followed.

    1. quiet
    2. deaf
    3. silent
    4. mute
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    deaf

    Fall on deaf ears means be ignored.

13. Question 13 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Choose the best completion or reply. The director's reply was evasive; it … the issue rather than answered it.

    1. stepped into
    2. sidestepped
    3. stepped up
    4. overstepped
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    sidestepped

    Sidestep an issue means avoid dealing with it directly.

14. Question 14 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    The amendment makes small adjustments while preserving the meaning; it merely … the wording.

    1. reverses
    2. fine-tunes
    3. repudiates
    4. obliterates
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    fine-tunes

    Fine-tunes means makes small, precise adjustments. The other verbs would reverse, reject or remove the wording rather than refine it.

    fine-tunes: Fine-tunes means makes small, precise adjustments. The other verbs would reverse, reject or remove the wording rather than refine it.

15. Question 15 · Single choice

    Choose one answer.

    Complete the conventional expression meaning beyond a reasonable limit: That conclusion is a … too far; the evidence supports a weaker claim.

    1. stride
    2. step
    3. march
    4. walk
    Check answers and explanations

    Answer

    step

    A step too far marks exceeding a reasonable or justified limit.

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.