English Grammar

22. The main feature of the town is a _______________ lined with shops and cafes. 
23. I could see the key glittering at the bottom of _______________. 
 
 
Confusing words & false friends 
 
CONFUSING WORDS 
Confusing words are two or more words which have a similar meaning to each other but are 
used in a different way. OR Are related to the same topic, but have a different meaning. OR 
Look similar, but have a different meaning. 
 
FALSE FRIENDS 
False friends are words in English which have a similar-looking word in another language but 
which have a different meaning. 
 
G. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate word. 
 
1. action / activity 
The police took immediate _______________ when they realized the situation was getting out 
of hand. 
Economic _______________ stagnated as the recession took hold. 
 
 
2. actually / currently 
He may look young but he is _______________ 45. (in reality) 
They need more help than is _______________ available. (at present) 
 
 
3. advice / advise 
Can you _______________ me on the best course of action to take? 
He offered me some excellent _______________. 
 
4. affect/effect 
Cuts in spending will have a serious _______________ on the National Health Service. 
The strike will seriously _______________ train services. 
 
 
5. appreciable / appreciative 
There is an _______________ difference between manslaughter and murder. 
She was very _______________ of our efforts to help. 
 
 
 
103 
 
 
6. assumption /presumption 
They raised taxes on the _______________ that it would help control spending. 
It's sheer _______________ for the government to suggest things have improved since they 
came to power. 
 
 
7. assure / ensure / insure 
All the necessary steps had been taken to _______________ their safety. (guarantee) 
Mom _______________ us that everything would be all right. (comforted) 
It would be wise to _______________ your property against storm damage. 
 
 
8. beside / besides 
The office is just _______________ the railway station. 
_______________ their regular daytime job, many people do extra work in the evening. 
 
 
9. briefly /shortly 
_______________ before the conflict began, the army pulled down the border posts. 
The minister spoke _______________ about the need for political reform. 
 
 
10. channel /canal 
The television _______________ received a formal complaint about the program. 
The Suez _______________ was built in the second half of the nineteenth century. 
 
 
11. conscientious / conscious 
Most people are _______________ of the need to protect the environment. 
_______________ workers should be rewarded for their hard work. 
 
 
12. continual/ continuous 
A _______________ trade embargo has badly affected the economic infrastructure. 
The computer has given us _______________ problems ever since we installed it. 
 
 
13. control / inspect 
Environmental health officers regularly _______________ kitchens and other food preparation 
areas. 
The government plans to _______________ the price of meat to make sure it doesn't go up too 
much. 
 
 
14. criticism(s) / objection(s) 
They didn't raise any _______________ when we insisted on inspecting the figures. 
The government's plan was met with severe _______________. 
 
 
15. damage / injury / harm 
It was a severe _______________ which needed immediate hospital treatment. 
A lot of _______________ was caused to buildings along the coast during the storm. 
There's no _______________ in taking a break from your job now and then. 
 
 
16. discover / invent 
When did he _______________ the telephone? 
Did Alexander Fleming _______________ penicillin? 
104 
 
 
17. economic / economical 
She was brought up to be _______________ with the housekeeping money. 
We are faced with a deepening _______________ crisis. 
 
 
18. governor / ruler 
A _______________ with total power in a country is called an autocrat or a dictator. 
Arnold Schwarzenegger was the 38th _______________ of California. 
 
 
19. historic / historical 
This is the _______________ building where the peace treaty was signed. 
This town has many _______________ buildings. Actually, they badly need restoration. 
 
 
20. however/ moreover 
The plan was good in theory. _______________, in practice it was extremely difficult to 
implement. 
The plan was excellent. _______________, it was clear from the beginning that it was going to 
be a success. 
 
 
21. inconsiderate / inconsiderable 
An _______________ amount of money was wasted. 
_______________ behavior makes life unpleasant for everybody. 
 
 
22. indigenous / Indian(s) 
There were no snakes _______________ to the island. 
Located on tribal land in the Great Smoky Mountains, this non-profit organization tells the story 
of the Eastern Band of Cherokee _______________. 
 
 
23. intolerable /intolerant 
I consider his behavior to be quite _______________. 
The government is _______________ of other political parties. 
 
 
24. job / work 
Everybody has the right to a decent _______________ with good pay. 
Following the recession, many people are still looking for _______________. 
 
 
25. lay(s)/lie(s) 
The city of Quito _______________ near the equator. 
The manager made it clear he intended to _______________ down some strict rules. 
 
 
26. look at /watch 
We must _______________ the situation in Lugumba carefully, and be prepared to act if 
violence flares again. 
We need to _______________ the problem carefully and decide if there is anything we can do 
about it. 
 
 
27. permission / permit 
I'm afraid we can't _______________ photography in here. 
They received _______________ to attend the sessions as long as they didn't interrupt. 
105 
 
 
 
28. practice (verb AmE); practise (verb BrE) /practice (noun) 
It's important to _______________ your English whenever possible. 
You need more _______________ before you take the exam. 
 
 
29. priceless / worthless 
_________ paintings by artists like Van Gogh should not be in the hands of private collectors. 
As inflation spiraled out of control, paper money suddenly became _______________. 
 
 
30. principal(s) /principle(s) 
Many people refuse to eat meat on _______________. 
The _______________ of the college is an ardent non-smoker. 
The _______________ country's products are paper and wood. 
Not many people are familiar with the _______________ of nuclear physics. 
 
 
31. process / procession 
The _______________ made its way down the avenue. 
Applying for a visa can be a long and frustrating _______________. 
 
 
32. raise/rise 
As prices _______________, demand usually drops. 
In response to the current oil shortage, most airlines plan to _______________ their fares. 
 
 
33. respectable / respectful 
The _______________ delegates listened in silence as the chairman spoke. 
They want to bring up their children in an area which is considered to be _______________. 
 
 
34. specially / especially 
Crime is growing at a rapid rate, _______________ in urban areas. (mainly) 
I had this dress made _______________ for the wedding. (specifically) 
 
 
35. treat/cure 
Hospitals are so understaffed that they find it almost impossible to _______________ patients 
with minor injuries. 
They were unable to _______________ the disease, and hundreds died as a result. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
www.AtualidadesConcursos.com.br