Direction: In the following question, a part of the sentence has been highlighted. You need to identify which of the given options can replace the highlighted part and make the sentence grammatically and contextually correct. In case the highlighted part is correct, mark (e) as your answer.
1. She decided to call off the event due to the bad weather forecast.
A. off
B. put off
C. call in
D. put up
E. No correction required.
2. The manager hit the nail with her innovative strategy, leading the company to record profits.
A. hit the nail off
B. hit the nail on the leg
C. hit the nail in the hand
D. hit the nail on the head
E. No correction required.
3. The actor’s powerful performance stole the light, earning him critical acclaim and awards.
A. stole the performance
B. stole the spotlight
C. stole the scene
D. stole the audience
E. No correction required.
4. The team’s hard work paid to, and they secured a well-deserved victory in the championship.
A. hard work paid for
B. hard work paid up
C. hard work paid on
D. hard work paid off
E. No correction required.
5. The scientist’s groundbreaking research made sound in the scientific community, reshaping the field of study.
A. made ripples
B. made splashes
C. made waves
D. made currents
E. No correction required.
6. The government’s decision to increase taxes met with fierce majority from the public.
A. met with fierce anger
B. met with fierce support
C. met with fierce approval
D. met with fierce resistance
E. No correction required.
7. The artist’s new masterpiece took the art world by storm, garnering praise from critics and collectors alike.
A. took the art world by rain
B. took the art world by breeze
C. took the art world by blink
D. took the art world by sunshine
E. No correction required.
8. The government’s initiative to promote renewable energy fell short of demand, as the adoption rate remained low.
A. fell short of projections
B. fell short of achievements
C. fell short of goals
D. fell short of predictions
E. No correction required.
9. The athlete’s dedication and perseverance paid bonus, and she won the gold medal in the Olympics.
A. paid bonuses
B. paid returns
C. paid profits
D. paid dividends
E. No correction required.
10. The new software broke new skies in the tech industry, setting a new standard for user experience.
A. broke new earth
B. broke new core
C. broke new ground
D. broke new ocean
E. No correction required.
ANSWERS AND SOLUTION
1.
The correct option is B. “put off.”
Explanation: The phrase “call off” means to cancel or postpone an event or activity. However, in this context, the speaker wants to convey that the event was postponed due to bad weather forecast. “Call of” is wrong and can’t be used here. The correct phrase to use in this situation is “put off,” which means to delay or reschedule. Therefore, the sentence should be: “She decided to put off the event due to the bad weather forecast.”
A. off: This is a preposition indicating separation or disconnection.
B. put off: This is a phrasal verb meaning to postpone or cancel an event or plan.
C. call in: This is a phrasal verb meaning to request someone’s presence or assistance, often in a professional context.
D. put up: This is a phrasal verb with multiple meanings, including “to place something in a particular position” or “to tolerate or endure something.”
2.
Answer: D. hit the nail on the head
Explanation: “Hit the nail on the head” is an idiomatic expression that means to do or say something exactly right or to be precisely correct. In the given context, the manager’s innovative strategy was successful and achieved the desired results, leading the company to record profits. The other options do not convey the same meaning and are not appropriate replacements for the phrase in the sentence.
A. hit the nail off: This is not a common expression in English and does not convey a clear meaning in this context.
B. hit the nail on the leg: This is not a common expression in English and does not convey a clear meaning in this context.
C. hit the nail in the hand: This is not a common expression in English and does not convey a clear meaning in this context.
D. hit the nail on the head: This is an idiomatic expression that means to be exactly right or accurate about something, especially when making a statement or analysis.
3.
Answer: B. stole the spotlight
Explanation: In the given sentence, “stole the spotlight” is an idiomatic expression that means to attract the most attention or to be the center of focus in a particular situation or event. The sentence suggests that the actor’s powerful performance was so outstanding that it grabbed the attention of the audience and critics, leading to critical acclaim and awards for the actor. The other options, such as “stole the performance,” “stole the scene,” or “stole the audience,” do not convey the same meaning and are not appropriate replacements for the phrase used in the sentence.
A. stole the performance: This is not a common expression in English and does not convey a clear meaning in this context.
B. stole the spotlight: This idiom means to attract attention or become the center of attention, especially in a performance or public event.
C. stole the scene: This idiom means to dominate or attract attention in a particular scene of a play, movie, or performance.
D. stole the audience: This is not a common expression in English and does not convey a clear meaning in this context.
4.
Answer: D. hard work paid off
Explanation: The team’s hard work paid off, and they secured a well-deserved victory in the championship” conveys that the team’s effort and dedication resulted in a successful outcome, which is winning the championship. The phrase “paid off” is an idiom that means to bring a successful result or receive a benefit from one’s efforts.
A. hard work paid for: This does not fit the context and does not convey the intended meaning.
B. hard work paid up: This does not fit the context and does not convey the intended meaning.
C. hard work paid on: This does not fit the context and does not convey the intended meaning.
D. hard work paid off: This means that the team’s hard work was successful, and they achieved the desired outcome, which was a well-deserved victory in the championship.
5.
Answer: C. made waves
Explanation- The scientist’s groundbreaking research made waves in the scientific community, reshaping the field of study” means that the scientist’s research gained significant attention and had a significant impact on the scientific community. The phrase “made waves” is an idiom that conveys the idea of causing a stir or attracting attention.
The other options:
A. made ripples – This conveys a smaller or less significant impact compared to “made waves.”
B. made splashes – This is similar to “made waves,” but “made waves” is a more common and idiomatic expression.
D. made currents – This doesn’t fit the context and doesn’t convey the idea of causing an impact or attracting attention.
6.
Answer: D. met with fierce resistance
Explanation- The government’s decision to increase taxes met with fierce resistance from the public” means that the public strongly opposed the government’s decision. The phrase “met with fierce resistance” conveys the idea of strong opposition or refusal to accept something.
A. met with fierce anger – This doesn’t fit the context as it suggests that the public was angry, not necessarily opposed to the decision.
B. met with fierce support: This conveys the opposite meaning of what the sentence intends. The government’s decision likely faced opposition rather than support.
C. met with fierce approval: This is not appropriate for the context, as the sentence talks about a negative response from the public, not approval.
D. met with fierce resistance: This option correctly conveys the idea that the government’s decision was met with strong opposition and resistance from the public.
7.
Answer: E. No correction required.
Explanation- The phrase “took the art world by storm” is an idiomatic expression that means something, or someone became very popular or successful very quickly, and it fits well in the context of the sentence. It indicates that the artist’s new masterpiece received a lot of attention and acclaim from both critics and collectors.
8.
Answer: A. fell short of projections
Explanation- The phrase “fell short of projections” means that the actual result or performance was below what was expected or estimated. It fits well in the context of the sentence, indicating that the government’s initiative to promote renewable energy did not meet the expected level of demand.
A. fell short of projections – Did not meet the expected or forecasted levels.
B. fell short of achievements – Did not achieve the desired or intended outcomes.
C. fell short of goals – Did not reach the set objectives or targets.
D. fell short of predictions – Did not match the anticipated or foreseen results.
9.
Answer: D. paid dividends
The phrase “paid dividends” means that the athlete’s dedication and perseverance resulted in significant returns or rewards, just like investments that pay off and generate profits. It fits well in the context of the sentence, indicating that her hard work and efforts led to winning the gold medal in the Olympics.
The other options:
A. paid bonuses – While this option is related to rewards, “dividends” is a more appropriate word in the context of the sentence.
B. paid returns – This option is similar to option A and doesn’t convey the idea of significant rewards as effectively as option D.
10.
Answer: C. broke new ground
The idiom “break new ground” means to do something that is new and innovative. In this sentence, the speaker is saying that the new software is groundbreaking, as it is setting a new standard for user experience. The other options are not as accurate or appropriate in this context.