Confusing words - part 4

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ABUSE / MISUSE__________________________________________________2
ADVERSE / AVERSE_______________________________________________2
ALLOW / LET_____________________________________________________2
ANCESTOR / DESCENDANT / PREDECESSOR____________________________2
ASSURE / ENSURE / INSURE________________________________________2
BAKE / FRY______________________________________________________2
BERTH / BIRTH___________________________________________________3
BORN / BORNE___________________________________________________3
CANVAS / CANVASS_______________________________________________3
CENT / SCENT / SENT______________________________________________3
CITE / SIGHT / SITE_______________________________________________3
COMIC / COMICAL________________________________________________3
CONSIDER / REGARD AS___________________________________________4
CREDIBLE / CREDULOUS___________________________________________4
DEFECTIVE / DEFICIENT____________________________________________4
DISCOVER / INVENT_______________________________________________4
EATABLE / EDIBLE_________________________________________________4
EMINENT / IMMINENT______________________________________________4
EXTEND /EXTENT / EXTANT_________________________________________4
FELL / FELT______________________________________________________5
FLOUR / FLOWER_________________________________________________5
HAPPY / LUCKY___________________________________________________5
HOMEWORK / HOUSEWORK_________________________________________5
IN TIME / ON TIME________________________________________________5
INTENSE / INTENSIVE_____________________________________________5
LAST / LATEST / LATTER____________________________________________5
LIGHT / SLIGHT__________________________________________________6
MEASURE / MEASUREMENT_________________________________________6
MORNING / MOURNING____________________________________________6
OFFICIAL / OFFICIOUS_____________________________________________6
OUTBREAK / OUTBURST____________________________________________6
PERMISSION / PERMIT_____________________________________________6
PRACTICE / PRACTISE_____________________________________________7
PROOF / PROVE__________________________________________________7
RELATION / RELATIONSHIP_________________________________________7
SCENE / SEEN____________________________________________________7
SEW / SOW______________________________________________________7
SOMETIME / SOMETIMES___________________________________________7
URBAN / URBANE_________________________________________________8
WEED / WHEAT / WED_____________________________________________8

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Choose the correct word from the following pairs:

1. ABUSE / MISUSE
1. She is continually ___________ her position by getting other people do things
for her.
2. Shes been accused of ___________ federal funds to pay for her sons private
school expenses.
3. This new computer system is completely unnecessary and a ___________ of
taxpayers money.
4. If you ___________ your body now, youll pay the price when youre older.
2. ADVERSE / AVERSE
1. So far the drug is thought not to have any ___________ effects.
2. He attracted a lot of ___________ publicity with his speech about unmarried
mothers.
3. Im not ___________ to the occasional glass of champagne.
4. Would you be ___________ to having the meeting at your house?
3. ALLOW / LET
1. Why dont you ________ me go? All my friends are going.
2. I would not ________ a child to have a TV or a computer in their room.
3. We dont ________ employees use the office telephone for personal calls.
4. How much time do you ________ yourself to get ready in the morning?
4. ANCESTOR / DESCENDANT / PREDECESSOR
1. Kennedy's ______________ as president was the war hero Dwight
Eisenhower.
2. There were portraits of his ______________ on the walls of the room.
3. She is a ______________ of Queen Victoria.
4. He returned to Ireland, where his mother's ______________ lived.
5. We owe it to our ______________ to leave them a clean world to live in.
6. My ______________ worked in this job for twelve years.
5. ASSURE / ENSURE / INSURE
1. Please __________ it will not happen again.
2. I can __________ you the report will be finished tomorrow.
3. Are these paintings __________?
4. The future of their company is __________.
5. The new rules will __________ a higher level of security.
6. We advise you to __________ them for at least one thousand pounds each.
6. BAKE / FRY
1. Shall I _______ you an egg, or would you prefer boiled?
2. Kellys mom always used to _______ the best cookies.
3. The cooking instructions say _______ it at 180C for half an hour.
4. It is healthier to grill or steam your food than to _______ it.
7. BERTH / BIRTH
1. He reserved a ________ on the train because he was travelling overnight.
2. Our neighbours were so happy because of the ________ of their new baby.
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3. A ship has applied to leave its ________.

4. These asteroids were formed at the ________ of the solar system.

8. BORN / BORNE
1. Sarah was ________ and brought up in Madrid.
2. He had ________ their insults for years.
3. They say that in China a new baby is ________ every five minutes.
4. She has ________ all her problems with great courage.
9. CANVAS / CANVASS
1. The college students were paid to ____________ shoppers.
2. Ill never camp because I dont like sleeping under ____________.
3. Wind and wave power are now being seriously ____________ as the solution
to our energy problem.
4. Tom and Maria like to ____________ people about ____________ tents.
10. CENT / SCENT / SENT
1. Halfway the game, the team could already ________ victory.
2. It turns out his paintings arent worth a red ________.
3. The hounds had lost the ________ of the fox near the river.
4. She ________ her granddaughter her favourite pop stars new ________ for
her birthday.
5. I ________ the ________ back and it cost me 95 ________.
11. CITE / SIGHT / SITE
1. The web developer designed a ________ that could test your ________ to
see if you were colour blind.
2. When Sasha was doing an essay she had to ________ several writers.
3. My mother had to go to the eye doctor because her ________ was getting
blurry. She went to the ________ where the doctors office was located to
have her ________ tested.
4. We chose a large, lever ________ for our tent.
5. Scientists ________ this experiment as their main support for this theory.
6. Im worried that were losing ________ of our original objectives.
12. COMIC / COMICAL
1. His speech was so bad it was almost __________.
2. My son wants to be a __________ when he grows up.
3. Watching the police try to enforce traffic rules in Delhi is __________.
4. My sister collects rare __________.
5. Of all the writers of __________ opera, Gilbert and Sullivan are my
favourites.
13. CONSIDER / REGARD AS
1. ______________ yourself lucky that I didnt mention it to the boss!
2. He rarely used taxis, which he ______________ extravagant.
3. We don't ______________ her suitable for the job.
4. Kubrick was widely ______________ one of the most influential post-war film
directors.

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14. CREDIBLE / CREDULOUS

1. ____________ women bought the mandrake root to promote conception.
2. They havent produced any ____________ evidence for convicting him.
3. The story of what had happened to her was barely ____________.
4. My brother is ____________ enough to believe anything you tell him.
15. DEFECTIVE / DEFICIENT
1. The majority of tinned food is ____________ in vitamins.
2. Although my father has ____________ hearing, he still refuses to wear a
hearing-aid.
3. His theory is ____________ in several respects.
4. Retailers can return ____________ merchandise.
16. DISCOVER / INVENT
1. Was it Graham Bell who _____________ the telephone?
2. Was it Christophorus Columbus who _____________ America?
3. She _____________ that her husband was having an affair.
4. He has _____________ a wholly factitious story about his past.
17. EATABLE / EDIBLE
1. Only leaves of the plant are __________.
2. My friend is not good at cooking but it is __________.
3. Are this mushrooms __________?
4. Raw meat is __________ but yet not __________ until it has been cooked.
18. EMINENT / IMMINENT
1. Only the most ___________ scientists win the Nobel Prize.
2. For a man in ___________ danger of losing his job, he appeared quite
unruffled.
3. He handled the situation with ___________ skill.
4. He gave a dire warning that an earthquake was ___________.
19. EXTEND /EXTENT / EXTANT
1. The path __________ beyond the end of the road.
2. We have some __________ parish records from the 16th century.
3. We dont yet know the __________ of his injuries.
4. Were planning to __________ our publishing of childrens books.
5. The full __________ of the damage only became evident the following
morning.
20. FELL / FELT
1. He _______ the side of the kettle to see if it was still hot.
2. He always _______ himself inferior to his brothers.
3. When the teacher walked in, the childrens voices _______ to a whisper.
4. I _______ down the stairs and injured my back.
5. He was so rude I _______ like slapping his face.
6. The audience was still laughing as the curtain _______.
21. FLOUR / FLOWER
1. Theyve got some beautiful _________ beds in their garden.
2. She saw some _________ and a _________ on the floor.
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3. When does this plant _________?

4. Grease and _________ the tins thoroughly.

22. HAPPY / LUCKY

1. When I heard that Id been given the job, I felt very ________.
2. The ________ winner will be able to choose from three different holidays.
3. We hadnt planned to be in France at the same time as Ann and Tom - it was
just a ________ coincidence.
4. Theyre ________ to have such a nice office to work in.
23. HOMEWORK / HOUSEWORK
1. A lot of students in the UK get too much ____________.
2. I never seem to have enough time to do the ____________. Theres always
something that needs dusting or polishing.
3. I do all the ____________ while he just does the dishes now and again.
4. You cant watch TV until youve done your ____________.
24. IN TIME / ON TIME
1. The bus was late this morning but it is usually _____ time.
2. The ambulance got the hospital just _____ time to save his life.
3. Why are you never _____ time? You always keep everybody waiting.
4. I got home just _____ time - its starting to rain.
25. INTENSE / INTENSIVE
1. The course compresses two years training into six ____________ months.
2. ____________ bombing had reduced the city to rubble.
3. She was a very ____________ person, who seemed to care deeply about
everyone.
4. No, I was not always so disciplined or serious, ____________ or passionate,
but now I am.
26. LAST / LATEST / LATTER
1. You can go there either by plane or train. The _________ costs less.
2. The next meeting will be held in the _________ week in June.
3. His _________ film is one of the funniest he's ever made.
4. The _________ version of their graphics package was handed out today.
5. Total profit was 550 million in the _________ half of 2003.
6. I swear this is the _________ cigarette I will ever smoke.
27. LIGHT / SLIGHT
1. Like most long-distance runners she is very __________.
2. Hes a few pounds __________ than he used to be.
3. Shes got a headache and a __________ fever.
4. How do you get your cakes so wonderfully __________, Sarah?
28. MEASURE / MEASUREMENT
1. Which _______________ should I take first - the width or the length of the
room?
2. There was a large _______________ of agreement between the candidates.
3. What _______________ do they use for diamonds?
4. The machine makes thousands of _______________ every day.
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5. These _______________ were designed to improve car safety.

29. MORNING / MOURNING

1. Indeed, many people do not put on ___________ at all, save for very near
relatives.
2. Shops were closed as a sign of ___________ for the king.
3. The murder took place at four in the ___________.
4. The family were still in ___________ the ___________ after the funeral.
30. OFFICIAL / OFFICIOUS
1. Yesterday I received an ____________ letter concerning my income tax.
2. He is an ____________ little man and widely disliked in the company.
3. Number Ten Downing Street is het British prime ministers ____________
residence.
4. Bustling about self-importantly he was making an ____________ nuisance of
himself.
31. OUTBREAK / OUTBURST
1. Last month there was an ___________ of the bird flu.
2. Her comments provoked an ___________ of anger from the boss.
3. Forgive my ___________ last week.
4. On the ___________ of war he expected to be called up.
32. PERMISSION / PERMIT
1. You need to have a work _____________ before you can work.
2. Could I have your _____________ to leave work early on Friday?
3. I have a parking _____________ which allows me to park on the street
outside my house.
4. We applied for _____________ to build a house here but our application was
refused.
33. PRACTICE / PRACTISE
1. I'm quite good at tennis but I need to ____________ my serve.
2. It seemed like a good idea before we started, but in ____________ it was a
disaster.
3. ____________ putting your tent up in the garden several times.
4. Dont worry if you cant manage it first time. Itll come with ____________.
5. Youll have to turn up for all the ____________ if you want to play in the
concert.
34. PROOF / PROVE
1. Do they have any ________ that it was Hampson who stole the goods.
2. I wish hed stop trying to ________ himself all the time.
3. It will be very difficult to ________ that they are guilty.
4. I anyone needs ________ of Andrew Darres genius as a writer, this novel is it.
35. RELATION / RELATIONSHIP
1. Studies show that there is a strong _______________ between income and
mental health.
2. _______________ between China and the United States are tense at the
moment.
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3. How is your _______________ with your father?

4. All our friends and _______________ came to our wedding.

36. SCENE / SEEN

1. There was a terrible ________ and Jayne ended up in tears.
2. I havent ________ Jerry around in the last few weeks.
3. The movies final ________ was something that had to be ________ to be
believed.
4. The car had been abandoned two kilometres away from the ________ of the
robbery.
37. SEW / SOW
1. The weather was so cold that the farmer decided to wait to _______ the
seeds.
2. Ill have to _______ a patch onto these jeans - theyre ripped at the knee.
3. Now that youve _______ doubt in my mind, Ill never be sure I can trust him.
4. A nurse will come and _______ up that wound for you soon.
38. SOMETIME / SOMETIMES
1. We usually played football at school, but ____________ we played hockey.
2. I knew I had met her ____________, but I couldnt remember when.
3. Why dont you come over and have dinner with us ____________?
4. I ____________ wonder whether I should give up my job and just travel.
39. URBAN / URBANE
1. Do you enjoy _________ life, or would you prefer to live in the country?
2. Herschel was an _________, kindly, and generous man.
3. In conversation, he was suave and _________.
4. The speed limit is strictly enforced on _________ roads.
40. WEED / WHEAT / WED
1. ________ have done it much better.
2. If he eats anything with ________ in it hes very sick.
3. He looks like a real ________ in those shorts.
4. ________ better make sure that we dig up every ________ said one
gardener to the other.
5. He is keen to ________ out any applicants whom he believes to be frauds.
6. Many ________ farmers have begun to diversify other forms of agriculture.

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Key
1
1 abusing
2 adverse
3 let
4 predecessor
5 ensure
6 fry
7 berth
8 born

misusing
adverse
allow
ancestors
assure
bake
birth
borne
canvas

misuse
averse
let
descendant
insured
bake
berth
born
canvassed

10 scent

cent

scent

11 site, sight

cite

12 comical
13 Consider
14 Credulous
15 deficient
16 invented
17 edible

comic
regarded as
credible
defective
discovered
eatable

sight, site,
sight
comical
consider
credible
deficient
discovered
edible

18 eminent
19 extends
20 felt
21 flower
22 happy
23 homework
24 on
25 intensive
26 latter
27 slight
28 measurement

imminent
extant
felt
flour, flower
lucky
housework
in
Intensive
last
lighter
measure

eminent
extent
fell
flower
happy
housework
on
intense
latest
slight
measure

29 mourning

mourning

morning

30 official
31 outbreak
32 permit
33 practise
34 proof
35 relationship
36 scene
37 sow
38 sometimes
39 urban
40 Wed

officious
outburst
permission
practice
prove
Relations
seen
sew
sometime
urbane
wheat

official
outburst
permit
Practise
prove
relationship
scene, seen
sown
sometime
urbane
weed

9 canvass

4
abuse
averse
allow
ancestors
assured
fry
birth
borne
canvass,
canvas
sent, scent
site
comics
regarded as
credulous
defective
invented
edible,
eatable
imminent
extend
fell
flour
lucky
homework
in
intense
latest
light
measurement
s
mourning,
morning
officious
outbreak
permission
practice
proof
relations
scene
sew
sometimes
urban
Wed, weed

descendants predecessor
ensure
insure

sent, scent,
cents
cite

sight

comic

extent
felt

fell

latter

last

measures

practices

weed

wheat

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