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Confusing words - part 3 Contents 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40.

ABILITY / CAPACITY ______________________________________________ ADAPT / ADOPT _________________________________________________ ALLOWED / ALOUD _______________________________________________ AMUSE / ENJOY / ENTERTAIN ______________________________________ APPRECIABLE / APPRECIATIVE _____________________________________ BACK / BACKSIDE _______________________________________________ BEAN / BEEN / BIN _______________________________________________ BOAR / BOOR / BORE _____________________________________________ CANCEL / DELAY / PUT OFF ________________________________________ CELL / SELL ____________________________________________________ CHOICE / CHOSE / CHOOSE _______________________________________ COMFORTABLE / CONVENIENT _____________________________________ CONFIDANT / CONFIDENT _________________________________________ COUNTY / COUNTRY ______________________________________________ DECENT / DESCEND / DESCENT / DISSENT ___________________________ DEVICE / DEVISE ________________________________________________ EARN / GAIN / WIN ______________________________________________ EMIGRATE / IMMIGRATE __________________________________________ EXPERIENCE / EXPERIMENT ________________________________________ FARTHER / FURTHER _____________________________________________ FLEA / FLEE ____________________________________________________ HAIR / HARE ____________________________________________________ HISTORIC / HISTORICAL __________________________________________ IMPLY / INFER __________________________________________________ INTO / ONTO ___________________________________________________ KNEW / NEW ___________________________________________________ LICENCE / LICENSE ______________________________________________ MASTERFUL / MASTERLY __________________________________________ MORAL / MORALE ________________________________________________ OF COURSE / OFF COURSE ________________________________________ OPPORTUNITY / OPTION / POSSIBILITY ______________________________ PEAK / PEEK / PIQUE _____________________________________________ PRACTICABLE / PRACTICAL ________________________________________ PRINCIPAL / PRINCIPLE ___________________________________________ REGRETFUL / REGRETTABLE _______________________________________ SAIL / SALE ____________________________________________________ SENSIBLE / SENSITIVE ___________________________________________ SOME TIME / SOMETIME __________________________________________ TESTAMENT / TESTIMONY _________________________________________ WEAK / WEEK ___________________________________________________

2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 8 8 8 8

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Choose the correct word from the following pairs: 1. 1. 2. 3. 4.

2. 1. 2. 3. 4.

3. 1. 2. 3. 4.

4. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

5. 1. 2. 3. 4.

6. 1. 2. 3. 4.

ABILITY / CAPACITY The health center serves all patients, regardless of their __________ to pay. He has a great __________ for remembering facts. It takes hard work and natural __________ to make it as a professional athlete. With her speaking skills, she has the __________ to fill the auditorium to its __________. ADAPT / ADOPT We had to __________ our plans to fit Jack’s timetable. I think it’s time to __________ a different strategy in my dealings with him. There is no English equivalent for ‘bon appetit’ so we have __________ the French expression. It took me a while to __________ to the new job. ALLOWED / ALOUD He read her letter __________ to the rest of the family. She __________ that she might have been too suspicious. “What did you say?” “Oh, nothing, I was just thinking __________.” You’re not __________ to talk during the exam. AMUSE / ENJOY / ENTERTAIN I want to travel because I ______________ meeting people and seeing new places. We ______________ ourselves by watching the passers-by. (s. past) I’ve brought an article from yesterday’s paper that I thought might ______________ you. We hired a magician to ______________ the children. Time passes quickly when you’re ______________ yourself. The crowd was ______________ with a display of aerobatics. APPRECIABLE / APPRECIATIVE There was an _______________ drop in temperature last night. It’s nice to have an _______________ audience. My little donation will not make an _______________ difference. I’m very _______________ of all the support you’ve given me. BACK / BACKSIDE Do not write anything on the ___________ of your answer book. He jotted her name down on the ___________ of an envelope. After cycling for the whole day, my ___________ was very sore. She lay on the grass and the stiff dry grass prickled the ___________ of her legs. 2/9

7. 1. 2. 3. 4.

8. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

9. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

BEAN / BEEN / BIN She had _______ craving a _______ burrito all week. Shall I _______ these old shoes? She doesn’t have a _______, but she’s set on marrying him.. These plastic cups has _______ used - please throw them in the _______. BOAR / BOOR / BORE He used a drill to ________ a hole in the wall. He and those three sons of his are ill-mannered ________, louts and womanizers. Do they also serve wild ________ meat in that restaurant? A dead ________ has been found on the side of the road. When his wife ________ him a child he could not hide his delight. I almost had him filed under arrogant ________, but then I caught him out being nice. CANCEL / DELAY / PUT OFF Can we ____________ the meeting until tomorrow, please? I’m very busy today. The original orders were ____________ and I was given fresh instructions. The plane was ____________ by an hour due to a blizzard. The concert has been ____________ owing to lack of support. We are ____________ our trip until January because of the hurricane. The coach was ____________ for about five hours.

10. CELL / SELL 1. He was desperate for some money, so he decided to ________ his ________ phone. 2. In an interview, you have to ________ yourself to the employer. 3. My brother is in a prison ________ now because he always tries to ________ stolen goods. 4. All living things are made up of ________. 11. CHOICE / CHOSE / CHOOSE 1. John had to make a _________ last week. He _________ to stay at home instead of going to Barcelona. Everyone said his _________ was a good one. 2. You need to _________ a colour of paint for the walls. 3. I had the most expensive dish on the menu - a _________ fillet of fish. 4. Katie _________ to stay away from work that day. 5. There’s not much to _________ between the two methods. 12. COMFORTABLE / CONVENIENT 1. I’m not ______________ with the idea of leaving her on her own. 2. My new flat is just around the corner from my office, which is very ______________. 3. I find it ______________ to be able to do my banking online. 3/9

4. Are you ______________ or shall I turn the heat down?

13. CONFIDANT / CONFIDENT 1. Are you _____________ that enough people will attend the event? 2. She is a _____________ and practised speaker who always impresses her audience. 3. My mother has always been my _____________. I can talk to her about everything. 4. Colonel House was a friend and _____________ of President Woodrow Wilson. 14. COUNTY / COUNTRY 1. Scandinavia consists of four ____________: Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. 2. A ____________ usually consists of several tows and the rural areas that surround them. 3. It’s often quicker to travel across ____________ and avoid the major roads completely. 4. He is living now in his mother’s home ____________ of Oxfordshire. 15. DECENT / DESCEND / DESCENT / DISSENT 1. She ____________ the sweeping staircase into the crowd of photographers and journalists. (s.past) 2. All I need is a roof over my head and a ____________ meal. 3. We weren’t prepared for the ____________ of thousands of journalists on the town. 4. Anyone wishing to ____________ from the motion should now raise their hand. 5. Sam was a ____________ man. Everyone liked how kind he was. 6. Last year John made a ____________ from Mount Kilimanjaro. When he got home there was much ____________ from the university students about air pollution. 16. DEVICE / DEVISE 1. The cartoon characters Snoopy and Charlie Brown were __________ by Charles M. Schultz. 2. We have a __________ that switches the lights on at a preset time in the evening. 3. The umbrella was ingeniously __________ to fold up into your pocket. 4. A trademark can be a powerful marketing __________. 17. EARN / GAIN / WIN 1. I’ve _________ five pounds since I stopped exercising. 2. How much do you _________, if you don’t mind me asking? 3. What do you hope to _________ from the course? 4. He _________ the award for best actor, and deservedly so. 5. It’s been a tough six months and I feel I’ve _________ a few weeks off. 4/9

6. She would do anything to _________ his love.

18. EMIGRATE / IMMIGRATE 1. Millions of Germans _____________ from Europe to America in the 19th century. 2. He _____________ with his parents in 1895 and grew up on Long Island. 3. New Zealanders who _____________ to Australia raise the IQ of both countries. 4. People say there’s no quality of life in Russia, and everyone wants to _____________. 19. EXPERIENCE / EXPERIMENT 1. His ______________ in Germany were rather depressing. 2. They did a number of ______________ last week. 3. I'm afraid I don't have much sales ______________. 4. Don't worry it's just an ______________. I'm not going to keep my beard. 20. FARTHER / FURTHER 1. For __________ information, please ring 075-6720290. 2. The __________ I go, the more I miss my home. 3. He could see a small boat on the __________ shore. 4. Before you look at your programme, let me explain a little __________. 21. FLEA / FLEE 1. They saw a _______ on the bed so they decided to _______ the motel room. 2. We’d _______ if there were anywhere to _______ to. 3. Every year thousands of people _______ the big cities in search of the rural idyll. 4. Go the a _______ market and haggle. 22. HAIR / HARE 1. A _______ is larger than a rabbit. It has longer ears and legs. 2. My flatmate has been getting in my _______ a lot recently. 3. This woman was dancing in the road and singing very loudly - I thought she was mad as a March _______. 4. He had lost his _______ by the time he was 30. 23. HISTORIC / HISTORICAL 1. Is it a _____________ fact that Washington slept in this house? 2. Many important _____________ documents were destroyed when the library was bombed. 3. She’s an avid reader of _____________ novels. 4. Modernizing _____________ buildings can often do more harm than good. 24. IMPLY / INFER 1. I ___________ from her expression that she wanted to leave.

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2. I’m not ___________ anything about your cooking, but could we eat out

tonight? 3. What can be ___________ from the Minister’s remarks? 4. The speaker or writer ___________ something, and the listener or reader ___________ it. 25. INTO / ONTO 1. She is putting the cups _______ the tray. 2. She puts a capsule _______ the coffee machine. 3. The child jumped _______ his bike and left. 4. Mike dove off the bridge _______ the river. 26. KNEW / NEW 1. Maria _______ that Nelson’s car wasn’t _______. 2. She’s _______ to the job so you can’t expect her to know everything yet. 3. She _______ that the _______ movie was due to come out this weekend. 4. Tom was a good musician. He _______ how to play classical guitar music. 27. LICENCE / LICENSE 1. This restaurant is ___________ to sell alcohol. 2. As parents they allowed their children very little ___________. 3. He was copped for driving without a ___________ last week. 4. Edward didn’t have a fishing ___________ - the council had decided not to ___________ anyone new this year to conserve stocks. 28. MASTERFUL / MASTERLY 1. By your ____________ speech I can tell you are an expert on teaching students. 2. He has a deep, ____________ voice. 3. She gave a ____________ performance as Kate in ‘The Taming of the Shrew’. 4. Once she became a prosecutor, she quickly established herself as a ____________ trial lawyer. 29. MORAL / MORALE 1. A couple of victories would improve the team’s _________ enormously. 2. It’s her _________ obligation to tell the police what she knows. 3. How on earth can you say that? Do you have no _________ values? 4. There have been a lot of job losses recently so _________ is fairly low. 30. OF COURSE / OFF COURSE 1. The Second World War ended, _____________, in 1945. 2. The ship is _____________ and may strike the reef! 3. “Where did you get the money? Did you steal it?” “_____________ not. My mother gave it to me.” 4. The project is _____________ and won’t be finished on time.

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31. OPPORTUNITY / OPTION / POSSIBILITY 1. I was never given the ______________ of going to college. 2. The best ______________ would be to cancel the trip altogether. 3. This walk provides the ______________ of seeing some beautiful countryside. 4. Is there any ______________ that you could pick me up from the station? 5. They didn’t leave him much ______________ - either he paid or they’d beat him up. 6. It’s not likely to happen but I wouldn’t rule out the ______________. 32. PEAK / PEEK / PIQUE 1. If I’m passing by I might take a ________ at the new premises. 2. He seems to have reached the ________ of his tennis career. 3. He stormed from the room in a fit of ________, shouting that he had been misunderstood. 4. Close your eyes. Don’t ________. I’ve got a surprise for you. 5. Don’t go there in the ________ season - it’ll be hot and crowded. 33. PRACTICABLE / PRACTICAL 1. She is ______________ and buys only what she can afford. 2. The troops will be brought home as soon as ______________. 3. It’s simply not ______________ to divide the work between so many people. 4. It is not ______________ to complete the tunnel before the end of the year. 5. I tend to wear clothes that are ______________ rather than fashionable. 34. PRINCIPAL / PRINCIPLE 1. He refused to give me any more money as a matter of _____________. 2. Schools try to teach children a set of _____________. 3. A small school with just three teachers and the _____________ is just what we need. 4. He can’t give up teaching, it’s his _____________ source of income. 35. REGRETFUL / REGRETTABLE 1. It is ______________ that strike leaders seem intent on spoiling holidays. 2. He apologised and was really ______________ even though he was not involved in the actual attack,’ he said. 3. The events that led to this claim and counterclaim are indeed ______________. 4. Overall, there was something in his eyes she had noticed: sadness, a deep, ______________ sadness. 36. SAIL / SALE 1. After ten house under _______, they reached dry land. 2. The building company gets commission on each house _______. 3. The yacht’s owner couldn’t afford to replace its _______, so he had to put it on _______. 4. You can’t expect to just _______ through without doing any work. 7/9

37. SENSIBLE / SENSITIVE 1. I am very ____________ to cold. I prefer warm temperatures. 2. Of course what you say is right. Any ____________ person would agree with you. 3. This seems to be a ____________ way of dealing with the problem. 4. Her reply showed that she was very ____________ to criticism. 38. SOME TIME / SOMETIME 1. We really should meet ____________ soon to discuss the details. 2. I don’t know when I’ll do it - but I will do it ____________. 3. I knew I had met her ____________, but I couldn’t remember when. 4. They went out together for ____________. 39. TESTAMENT / TESTIMONY 1. Some doubts have been expressed about his ____________. 2. The detail of her wildlife paintings is a ____________ to her powers of observation. 3. The reports are ____________ to the many hours of research completed by this committee. 4. This article will give clear instructions for making a last will and ____________. 40. WEAK / WEEK 1. We’re usually too tired to go out during the _______. 2. He was a _______ king surrounded by corrupt advisers. 3. The athlete had been training so hard, she felt _______ by the end of the _______. 4. He gave the _______est of excuses when asked why he was late.

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Key 1

2

3

4

5

1 ability

capacity

ability

ability, capacity

adapt aloud enjoy

adopt allowed amused

adopted aloud amuse

adapt allowed entertain

appreciable backside been, bean bore put off

appreciative back bin boors cancelled

appreciable backside bean boar delayed

10 sell, cell 11 choice, chose, choice 12 comfortable 13 confident 14 countries 15 descended

sell choose

cell, sell choice

appreciative back been, bin boar bore cancelled putting off cells chose choose

convenient confident county decent

convenient confidante country descent

comfortable confidant county dissent

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

device earn immigrated experiments farther flee, flee hair historical implying

devised gain immigrate experience farther flee hare historical inferred

device won emigrate experiment further flea hair historic implies, infers

25 onto 26 knew, new 27 licensed

into

onto

into

new licence

knew, new licence

28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

masterful moral off course option peak practicable principles regretful sale sensible some time testament weak

masterly moral Of course opportunity pique practical principal regrettable sail, sale sensible sometime testimony weak, week

knew licence, license masterful morale off course possibility peek practicable principal regretful sail sensitive some time testament weak

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

devised gained emigrated experiences further flea, flee hare historic inferred

masterly morale of course opportunity peek practical principle regrettable sail sensitive sometime testimony week

enjoying

6

entertained

boor

delayed

decent

descent, dissent

earned

win

option peak practical

possibility

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