Advanced verb-noun collocations. 45 questions on formal and academic collocations with conduct, launch, impose, yield, pose, exert, and shed.
What this test covers
- Academic and Formal Collocations: conduct, carry out, launch, impose
- Collocations with yield, pose, exert, and shed
- Precision Collocations with Abstract Nouns in Formal Writing
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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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Q1The research committee decided to ___ a thorough investigation into the laboratory's safety protocols after the incident.
Answer: D. conduct
In professional and academic writing, 'conduct' is the standard verb for executing systematic procedures like investigations, inquiries, or research. It implies official management and oversight of a process. While 'perform' is possible for technical tasks, it lacks the administrative weight of 'conduct.' 'Do' and 'make' are general-purpose verbs that are too informal for this formal context.
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Q2The university has decided to ___ a new campaign to raise awareness about sustainable energy practices on campus.
Answer: A. launch
'Launch' is the precise collocation used for the formal initiation of public-facing projects, such as campaigns, products, or initiatives. It suggests an official, coordinated start. 'Create' focuses on the design phase rather than the rollout. 'Start' and 'open' are too general and lack the institutional impact required for a structured, wide-scale campaign.
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Q3The international community decided to ___ strict economic sanctions against the country following the violation of the treaty.
Answer: B. impose
'Impose' is the standard verb with authoritative meaning used to describe the official application of penalties, taxes, or sanctions. 'Place' is too general (e.g., 'place an order'). 'Provide' usually has a positive emotional tone that clashes with the punitive nature of sanctions. 'Force' is incorrect here because it typically requires a direct object and an infinitive (e.g., 'force them to comply').
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Q4The latest agricultural study is expected to ___ significant results regarding soil fertility in arid regions.
Answer: D. yield
'Yield' is the formal academic collocation for producing results, profits, or data, particularly when those outputs result from a specific process, investment, or growth. While 'bring' or 'give' might be used in general conversation, 'yield' is the precise technical term used in research and financial contexts to describe the output of a system.
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Q5The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence continues to ___ a significant challenge to traditional employment structures.
Answer: B. pose
'Pose' is the standard verb used to introduce abstract nouns that denote potential difficulty, danger, or intellectual inquiry, such as 'challenge,' 'threat,' or 'question.' It suggests that the subject presents a situation that must be dealt with. 'Offer' implies a willing presentation, and 'create' describes the origin rather than the ongoing state of the challenge.
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Q6The diplomatic envoys attempted to ___ pressure on the opposing side to agree to a ceasefire.
Answer: A. exert
'Exert' is a formal verb denoting the application of influence, pressure, or physical power to achieve a specific effect. While 'put pressure on' is common in standard English, 'exert' is preferred in formal diplomatic or academic contexts. 'Force' would require a different grammatical structure (e.g., 'force them to agree'), and 'demand' refers to the request itself, not the application of pressure.
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Q7New archival documents have finally managed to ___ light on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the treaty's signing.
Answer: D. shed
'Shed light on' is a fixed metaphorical collocation used to describe the clarification of obscure or complex issues. The verb 'shed' historically means to cast or scatter. The other verbs—'release,' 'give,' and 'bring'—do not participate in this specific idiomatic structure, which is the standard way to describe revealing new information that aids understanding.
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Q8Recent forensic evidence has ___ doubt on the veracity of the initial witness statements.
Answer: B. cast
'Cast doubt' is a fixed formal collocation. The verb 'cast' (meaning to throw or project) is traditionally paired with abstract nouns like 'doubt,' 'suspicion,' or 'shadow.' While 'thrown into doubt' is a valid phrase, it is used in the passive or for states (e.g., 'the plan was thrown into doubt'). The transitive pattern 'X casts doubt on Y' requires 'cast'.
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Q9We must ___ in mind that these preliminary findings are subject to peer review and may change.
Answer: C. keep
'Keep in mind' is a standard idiomatic collocation used to suggest including a factor in one's thinking or decision-making. 'Bear in mind' is a slightly more formal alternative, but 'keep' is the most common version. 'Hold,' 'take,' and 'put' do not form this specific idiomatic unit in English for the act of remembering or considering information.
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Q10The senator's recent public statements have ___ into question the integrity of the entire electoral process.
Answer: C. called
'Call into question' is a formal fixed phrase used to express doubt or skepticism regarding the validity of something. While 'put into question' is occasionally used, 'call' is the established and more frequent phrase in formal writing. 'Taken' and 'placed' do not work with this specific prepositional phrase.
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Q11The planning department has ___ forward a proposal to revitalize the downtown district.
Answer: C. put
'Put forward' is the standard phrasal verb used in formal contexts for presenting a theory, proposal, or candidate for consideration. 'Set forward' is non-standard here, and 'taken forward' implies developing an existing idea rather than introducing a new one. 'Took' is grammatically incorrect after the auxiliary 'has,' as the past participle 'taken' would be required.
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Q12Based on the observed patterns, researchers can ___ a logical inference about future market trends.
Answer: A. draw
'Draw an inference' is the conventional academic collocation for deriving a conclusion from evidence or premises. 'Reach' is commonly paired with 'conclusion,' but 'draw' specifically matches 'inference' in formal logic. 'Create' and 'form' are semantically imprecise for a logical deduction process, which is about extraction rather than invention.
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Q13The professor's extensive research and scholarly publications command great ___ among her peers.
Answer: C. respect
'Command respect' is a strong collocation used to describe someone whose qualities or achievements naturally and rightfully elicit high esteem. 'Honor' and 'regard' are synonyms but do not typically collocate with 'command' in this sense of inherent authority. 'Interest' is usually 'attracted' or 'piqued' rather than 'commanded'.
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Q14The controversial policy change has attracted widespread ___ from various human rights organizations.
Answer: C. criticism
'Attract criticism' is the standard formal combination used to describe the reception of a controversial action. While one can attract 'interest,' the context of a 'controversial' change establishes a negative association that makes 'criticism' the most logically appropriate choice.
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Q15The sudden resignation of the CEO has fueled intense ___ regarding the company's future stability.
Answer: A. speculation
'Fuel speculation' is a common metaphorical collocation where 'fuel' acts as an intensifier, suggesting an event provides 'material' for rumors or theories. Given the volatility of a 'sudden resignation,' 'speculation' (guessing without firm evidence) is the only fitting noun; 'certainty' and 'agreement' contradict the unstable context.
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Q16Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: B. The team made a survey of the anomalies.
In academic and technical English, 'survey' is a noun that requires a verb indicating methodological execution, such as 'conduct,' 'perform,' or 'carry out.' 'Made a survey' is a collocation error; general-purpose verbs like 'make' are not used for formal research instruments or scientific procedures.
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Q17Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: B. The government yielded a threat to national security.
While 'pose,' 'constitute,' and 'present' are standard collocations for describing something that is a source of danger, 'yield' is semantically incompatible with 'threat.' 'Yield' denotes the production of a tangible result, profit, or data (e.g., 'yield a profit'), not the existence of an abstract danger.
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Q18Which of the following is the correct collocation with 'tears'?
Answer: C. shed tears
'Shed tears' is a fixed collocation in both literary and formal English. While 'cry' is the common verb for the action, 'tears' is rarely the direct object of 'cry' (usually one just 'cries'). 'Drop' and 'pour' are literal descriptions of liquid movement but do not form the established idiomatic phrase for weeping.
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Q19Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: B. The voters made a vote for the candidate.
'Cast a vote' is the primary technical collocation in electoral contexts. 'Register' and 'record' are also appropriate in administrative descriptions. 'Made a vote' is a collocation error; English does not use the general verb 'make' for the official act of voting.
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Q20Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: A. The lobbyists made influence on the committee members.
The abstract noun 'influence' typically collocates with 'exert' (the act of applying it) or 'wield' (the state of possessing and using power). 'Apply' is also used in specific contexts. 'Made influence' is a common learner error; the verb 'make' is not part of the standard collocation set for influence.
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Q21Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: D. The scientists made an experiment to test the hypothesis.
For scientific activities, 'conduct,' 'perform,' or 'run' are the standard verbs. 'Make an experiment' is a non-standard collocation often resulting from literal translation. Academic English requires verbs that emphasize the procedure, methodology, or execution of the task.
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Q22Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: C. The organization launched a problem during the meeting.
One can 'pose,' 'raise,' or 'present' a problem to introduce it for discussion. However, 'launch' is reserved for positive or proactive initiatives, products, or campaigns. Its emotional tone is incompatible with 'problem,' which describes an obstacle or difficulty.
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Q23Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: A. The judge imposed a question on the witness.
'Impose' means to force a rule, tax, or sanction upon someone. It does not collocate with 'question.' 'Pose a question' or 'raise a question' are the standard formal collocations, while 'ask' is the general neutral verb for this action.
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Q24Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: C. The new law yielded an initiative for small businesses.
An 'initiative' (a new plan or program) is 'launched,' 'created,' or 'started.' 'Yielded' is used for the results, benefits, or outputs produced by an action (e.g., 'yielded a profit'), but it cannot be used to describe the introduction of the plan itself.
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Q25Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: C. The professor exerted a dilemma during the lecture.
A 'dilemma' is 'posed,' 'presented,' or 'raised' when it is introduced as a problem for consideration. 'Exert' is used for applying physical force or abstract influence (e.g., 'exert pressure'). It is logically incompatible with the noun 'dilemma,' which is an intellectual problem.
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Q26Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: D. The auditor shed a review of the company's books.
'Shed' is used in specific idioms like 'shed light,' 'shed tears,' or 'shed leaves,' but it does not collocate with 'review.' 'Conduct,' 'perform,' and 'carry out' are all appropriate for describing the professional execution of an audit or investigation.
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Q27Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: B. The manager cast an effort to improve productivity.
Effort is 'made,' 'exerted,' or 'put in.' The verb 'cast' is reserved for light, doubt, suspicion, or votes. Using 'cast' with 'effort' is a collocational mismatch that sounds unnatural to a native speaker.
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Q28Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: D. The lawyer mounted a suspicion against the witness.
While 'mount' can collocate with 'an attack,' 'a defense,' or 'a campaign,' it does not collocate with 'suspicion.' Suspicion is 'raised,' 'cast' (placed on someone), or 'aroused' (triggered). 'Mounted suspicion' is not an established phrase.
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Q29Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: C. The article made debate among the academics.
In formal writing, debates are 'sparked' (metaphorically ignited), 'aroused,' or 'caused.' 'Make debate' is a collocation error; the verb 'make' does not serve as a functional verb with the noun 'debate' in the way 'make a mistake' does.
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Q30Identify the incorrect collocation:
Answer: A. The proposal exerted consideration by the board.
'Merit' and 'warrant' are verbs indicating that something deserves attention. 'Exert' is an action verb requiring the application of force or influence. A proposal cannot 'exert consideration,' as consideration is a mental process performed by the board, not a force the proposal applies.
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Q31Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: D. The commission conducted an inquiry into the matter.
'Conduct' is the standard formal collocation for an inquiry. While 'perform' might be understood, it lacks the technical precision required in administrative or legal contexts. 'Did' is too informal, and 'produced' would refer to the final report rather than the process of the inquiry itself.
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Q32Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: B. The government launched an appeal against the court's decision.
In legal and formal writing, 'launch an appeal' or 'lodge an appeal' are the standard phrases for beginning a formal challenge. 'Started' is too neutral, while 'threw' and 'formed' are incorrect in this judicial context.
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Q33Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: C. The authorities imposed restrictions on travel.
The verb 'impose' is the standard term for the official introduction and enforcement of rules, laws, or restrictions. 'Yielded' would imply the restrictions produced an output, 'shed' would mean they were removed, and 'performed' is incorrect because restrictions are enforced, not acted out like a task.
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Q34Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: D. The investment is expected to yield a substantial return.
'Yield' is the technical and formal verb used specifically in finance and economics to describe the production of interest, profit, or returns. While 'bring' or 'give' are common in casual speech, 'yield' is the precise choice for formal discourse regarding investments.
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Q35Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: A. The flood poses a risk to the local infrastructure.
'Pose' is the correct verb to use with nouns like 'risk,' 'threat,' and 'danger.' it describes the existence of a potential problem. 'Exert' is used for the application of force or pressure, and 'create' describes the origin, but 'pose' is the established formal collocation for identifying risks.
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Q36Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: D. The supervisor exerted control over the department.
'Exert control' is a formal collocation meaning to use power or authority effectively. 'Make,' 'put,' and 'cast' do not form standard idiomatic pairings with 'control' when describing the active application of authority.
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Q37Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: A. The findings shed light on the complex process.
The idiom 'shed light on' is a fixed metaphorical expression. 'Give light' describes literal illumination (e.g., a lamp), but the figurative meaning for 'clarifying' or 'explaining' requires the verb 'shed' in both present and past forms.
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Q38Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: D. The scandal cast doubt on the candidate's integrity.
'Cast doubt' is a fixed idiomatic phrase in English. Other verbs like 'put,' 'made,' or 'placed' are not used in formal writing to express the introduction of uncertainty regarding a claim or quality.
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Q39Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: D. We must keep in mind the potential for error.
'Keep in mind' is the standard idiomatic phrase for remembering or considering a fact. While 'bear in mind' is a common formal alternative, 'place,' 'take,' and 'hold' do not satisfy the specific requirements of this set phrase.
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Q40Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: C. The report calls into question the validity of the data.
'Call into question' is the idiomatic standard for expressing doubt about the truth or reliability of something. 'Put into question' is occasionally used but is less formal and frequent than 'call into question' in advanced academic writing.
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Q41Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: B. The committee put forward a recommendation.
'Put forward' is the established phrasal verb used to suggest or propose an idea, plan, or recommendation. 'Set forward' and 'take forward' have different meanings related to movement or subsequent development and are not used for the initial act of proposing.
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Q42Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: A. The analysts drew a conclusion from the data.
'Draw a conclusion' is the primary academic collocation for the process of inferring something from evidence. 'Create' and 'make' are too generic and fail to capture the sense of extraction from data. 'Construct' is usually used for theories, arguments, or physical structures.
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Q43Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: D. The scholar commands attention in her field.
'Command attention' is a strong collocation meaning to naturally and rightfully receive notice due to inherent importance or quality. While one can 'earn' attention through work, 'command' conveys a level of authoritative presence typical of high-level academic or professional descriptions.
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Q44Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: C. The strategy attracted interest from the board.
'Attract interest' is the most natural and frequent formal collocation for something that causes people to become interested. While 'invited interest' is possible, it implies a solicitation for feedback, whereas 'attract' describes the effect the strategy has on the audience.
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Q45Which sentence uses the correct collocation?
Answer: A. The rumors fueled the flames of the scandal.
'Fuel the flames' is a common metaphorical collocation (idiom) used to describe something that makes an existing bad situation, such as a scandal or controversy, more intense. Because the scandal already exists, it cannot be 'caused,' 'produced,' or 'made' by the rumors — it can only be intensified, which is exactly what 'fueled' expresses.
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