Intermediate adjective-noun collocations. 45 questions on wide/broad/narrow, severe/grave/bitter, fresh/keen/dire, and false-collocation correction.
What this test covers
- wide, broad, and narrow collocations
- severe, grave, dire, and bitter collocations
- fresh, keen, and false-collocation error patterns
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1After the meeting, the committee finally reached a ___ consensus on the budget.
Answer: C. broad
The adjective 'broad' collocates with 'consensus' and 'agreement' to show that a large majority of people share the same opinion. While 'wide' can describe a range, 'broad' is the standard choice for general agreement in formal contexts.
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Q2The report highlights a ___ gap between the rich and the poor in this region.
Answer: A. wide
The noun 'gap' (a difference or disparity) most naturally collocates with 'wide'. This describes a significant or large difference. 'Heavy' or 'broad' would be incorrect in this context.
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Q3The candidate won the election by a ___ margin, securing only 51% of the vote.
Answer: B. narrow
The phrase 'only 51%' is a context clue indicating a very small difference. In English, we use the collocation 'narrow margin' to describe a victory or difference that is very small. 'Wide margin' would mean a large victory.
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Q4Which sentence uses the adjective correctly?
Answer: A. There is broad agreement on this policy.
'Broad agreement' is a fixed collocation meaning that most people agree on the main points. We do not usually use 'narrow' or 'deep' with the noun 'agreement' in this way.
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Q5The university provides a ___ range of extracurricular activities for all students.
Answer: A. wide
The noun 'range' collocates with 'wide' to describe a large variety of options. 'Narrow range' is grammatically possible but suggests very few options, which contradicts the context of providing activities 'for all students'.
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Q6Despite the ___ support from the public, the new law was not passed.
Answer: B. broad
'Broad support' is a common collocation meaning widespread approval from many different groups of people. The word 'despite' suggests that the support was significant, making 'broad' the best fit.
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Q7The rescue team had a ___ escape when the building collapsed.
Answer: A. narrow
A 'narrow escape' is a fixed idiom/collocation meaning that someone only just managed to avoid a dangerous or unpleasant situation. Adjectives like 'wide' or 'broad' are not used with 'escape' in this sense.
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Q8The company has a ___ network of distributors across the entire continent.
Answer: D. wide
The context 'across the entire continent' suggests a very large and extensive system. 'Wide network' is the standard collocation for describing an extensive group of connections or distributors.
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Q9The manager has a ___ knowledge of international trade regulations.
Answer: D. broad
'Broad knowledge' is a common collocation used to describe a comprehensive understanding that covers many different aspects of a subject. 'Heavy' is never used with 'knowledge'.
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Q10The government won the vote with a ___ majority in parliament.
Answer: D. narrow
In politics, a 'narrow majority' means winning by only a few votes. This is the opposite of a 'large' or 'huge' majority. 'Deep' and 'bitter' do not collocate with the noun 'majority'.
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Q11The research project has a very ___ focus, looking only at one specific gene.
Answer: A. narrow
The context clue 'only at one specific gene' indicates that the scope is limited. 'Narrow focus' is the correct collocation to describe something that is highly specialized or limited in scope.
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Q12Identify the correct sentence:
Answer: B. Please provide a broad outline of the project.
A 'broad outline' is a standard collocation referring to a general description or summary of a plan without including all the small details. 'Serious', 'wide', and 'narrow' do not work with 'outline' in this context.
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Q13Identify the correct sentence:
Answer: D. The broad agreement among the staff surprised the CEO.
'Broad agreement' is the standard way to express that there is a general consensus among a group. The other options are not natural English collocations for this noun.
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Q14The sudden tax increase caused a ___ variety of protests across the country.
Answer: B. wide
'Wide variety' is a very common collocation used to describe a large number of different types of something. 'Narrow variety' is a contradiction, and 'bitter' or 'grave' do not collocate with 'variety'.
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Q15The team's ___ victory was celebrated by fans after a very close game.
Answer: B. narrow
The context clue 'very close game' tells us the score was almost a tie. A 'narrow victory' means winning by a very small amount (e.g., one goal or one point).
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Q16The region is currently facing a ___ shortage of clean water.
Answer: B. severe
We use 'severe' to describe something very bad or serious, especially problems like a 'shortage', 'drought', or 'pain'. While 'grave' also means serious, it is less common with the noun 'shortage' than 'severe' is.
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Q17The diplomat expressed ___ concern about the potential for war in the region.
Answer: B. grave
In formal and diplomatic contexts, 'grave concern' is the standard collocation used to express that a situation is extremely serious and worrying. 'Severe concern' is much less common.
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Q18After losing the championship, the captain felt a ___ disappointment.
Answer: D. bitter
The adjective 'bitter' often collocates with feelings of disappointment, resentment, or regret. It suggests the feeling is deep, painful, and hard to accept.
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Q19The meteorologist issued a warning about ___ weather expected this weekend.
Answer: B. severe
'Severe weather' is the technical and common collocation for extreme conditions like storms, heavy snow, or high winds. 'Grave' is used for consequences, while 'bitter' usually describes extreme cold.
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Q20The country is in ___ need of international aid to support the refugees.
Answer: D. dire
'Dire' is a strong adjective used to describe situations that are extremely serious or urgent. 'In dire need' is a fixed collocation meaning that something is desperately required to avoid disaster.
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Q21He made a ___ error by trusting the wrong person with the secret.
Answer: C. grave
A 'grave error' is a formal way to describe a very serious mistake that has significant negative consequences. 'Bitter' describes feelings, while 'fresh' means new.
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Q22The two companies have been locked in a ___ rivalry for over a decade.
Answer: B. bitter
A 'bitter rivalry' is a common collocation describing a competition characterized by intense negative feelings and hostility. 'Severe' and 'grave' are generally used for problems or dangers, not competition.
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Q23The report received ___ criticism from the board of directors.
Answer: A. severe
When criticism is very harsh or strong, we call it 'severe criticism'. This adjective is often used to describe the intensity of negative feedback or strictness.
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Q24The situation in the war-torn city is truly ___.
Answer: A. dire
'Dire' is the best adjective here to describe a situation that is extremely bad, desperate, and urgent. We often speak of people being in 'dire circumstances' or 'dire straits'.
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Q25The athlete suffered a ___ injury during the first half of the match.
Answer: C. severe
In medical and sports contexts, 'severe injury' is the standard collocation for a very serious physical hurt. While an injury can be 'deep' (like a cut), 'severe' is the general term for overall seriousness.
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Q26There is a ___ danger that the project will fail if we do not act now.
Answer: C. grave
'Grave danger' is a set collocation meaning a very serious and immediate threat. 'Deep danger' is not a standard English expression.
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Q27The workers are in ___ straits after the factory closed down.
Answer: B. dire
'Dire straits' is a fixed idiomatic collocation meaning to be in a very difficult or desperate situation, especially regarding money.
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Q28Identify the correct sentence:
Answer: C. The weather will be severe today.
'Severe weather' is the standard collocation used by weather services and in general English to describe dangerous or extreme conditions.
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Q29The news of the scandal came as a ___ blow to the company's reputation.
Answer: C. bitter
A 'bitter blow' is a common figurative collocation describing a sudden, very disappointing event that is hard to recover from. 'Dire' and 'grave' are usually used for threats or current conditions.
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Q30The judge warned the defendant that he faced ___ punishment for his crimes.
Answer: A. severe
'Severe punishment' is the standard legal and general collocation for a harsh or strict penalty. 'Dire' is usually used for the 'consequences' or 'need' rather than the punishment itself.
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Q31We need to take a ___ approach to solving this management problem.
Answer: D. fresh
A 'fresh approach' is a common collocation meaning a new, original, or different way of dealing with a situation. It implies that the previous methods were not working.
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Q32The investigators found ___ evidence that could change the trial's outcome.
Answer: C. fresh
In legal contexts, 'fresh evidence' refers to new information or proof that has just been discovered. While evidence can be 'serious', 'fresh' specifically highlights its novelty.
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Q33She has a ___ interest in learning about ancient history.
Answer: D. keen
A 'keen interest' is a very common collocation meaning a strong, enthusiastic, and genuine desire to know more about something.
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Q34The organization hopes that this project will provide a ___ start for the community.
Answer: D. fresh
A 'fresh start' is a fixed collocation meaning a completely new beginning, often after a period of failure or difficulty. It is synonymous with 'wiping the slate clean'.
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Q35The marketing team has some ___ ideas for the new campaign.
Answer: A. fresh
'Fresh ideas' are ideas that are new, original, and exciting. This is the standard adjective used to describe creative innovation in business and art.
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Q36He has a ___ eye for detail, which makes him a great editor.
Answer: C. keen
To have a 'keen eye' for something is a common idiom/collocation meaning you are very good at noticing specific things or details that others might miss.
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Q37There is a ___ problem with the software that we must fix immediately.
Answer: A. serious
'Serious problem' is the most natural and frequent collocation for an issue that requires urgent attention. 'Heavy problem' is a common mistake made by learners; 'heavy' is used for traffic or rain, not abstract problems.
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Q38Identify the correct sentence:
Answer: D. The serious mistake caused the whole system to crash.
In English, mistakes are described as 'serious', 'big', or 'grave'. 'Heavy' is not used to describe the magnitude of an error, making 'serious mistake' the correct choice.
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Q39The students are facing ___ competition for the university scholarships.
Answer: D. keen
'Keen competition' is a standard collocation used to describe a situation where many people are competing intensely for the same thing. 'Wide' and 'deep' do not describe the intensity of competition.
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Q40It is a ___ question whether the policy will actually work in practice.
Answer: A. serious
A 'serious question' refers to a significant or important doubt or matter that needs careful thought. 'Heavy question' is not a standard collocation in this context.
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Q41The team experienced ___ difficulty during the implementation phase.
Answer: B. serious
Difficulty is most often described as 'serious', 'great', or 'considerable'. 'Heavy' is used for physical weight or intensity (like rain), but not for the abstract concept of difficulty.
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Q42He has a ___ sense of humor that everyone in the office enjoys.
Answer: B. great
'Great sense of humor' is the standard collocation to describe someone who is very funny. 'Serious sense of humor' would be a contradiction, as humor is usually not serious.
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Q43The company reported a ___ injury on the construction site yesterday.
Answer: B. serious
'Serious injury' is the correct medical and formal collocation. We do not use 'heavy' to describe physical injuries in English.
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Q44The town council is breathing a sigh of relief as they finally have some ___ air.
Answer: C. fresh
'Fresh air' is a very common fixed collocation referring to clean, outdoor air. It is used here both literally and figuratively (as a relief).
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Q45The company is facing a ___ setback regarding its new product launch.
Answer: B. serious
A 'setback' (a problem that delays progress) is typically described as 'serious' or 'major'. 'Heavy' and 'deep' are not used to describe the nature of a setback.
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