English vocabulary exercise 2 | Sentence completion

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate word or phrase.

1. The journey took longer than we expected because the driver brought us by a …………………….. route.

a) ambiguous
b) circular
c) circumscribed
d) longest
e) circuitous

2. Students protested against school regulations that ………………. their social activities.

a) circumscribed
b) circulated
c) denied
d) circumvented
e) ensnared

3. The human …………………. for story-telling has fascinated both psychologists and neuroscientists.

a) prejudice
b) predilection
c) persuasion
d) apathy
e) indifference

4. Many ……………………. decisions were taken at the conference.

a) historic
b) historical
c) histrionic
d) hectic
e) extensive

5. Surrender is a perfectly acceptable ……………………. in extreme circumstances.

a) alternate
b) alternative
c) possible
d) another

6. Many areas of the city ………………….. into darkness for hours.

a) plunged
b) spread
c) merged
d) deep

e) immersed

7. I ……………………… to meet him on Monday.

a) Look forward
b) Expect
c) Hope
d) Either ‘expect’ or ‘hope’.
e) Either ‘look forward’ or ‘expect’

8. If you react to situations in an ……………….. manner, you will only upset yourself.

a) invalid
b) irrational
c) arduous
d) arguable
e) implorable

9. It was a ……………….. building but we decided to rent it because we couldn’t afford anything better.

a) scruffy
b) desperate
c) disperate
d) fragmented
e) robust

10. When ruling parties fail to get reelected in India, it is almost always blamed on the strong ……………………. wave.

a) anti- incumbency
b) irrational
c) unprecedented
d) deliberate
e) anti-national

Answers

1. e) circuitous; A circuitous route is a roundabout route.

2. a) circumscribed; To circumscribe something is to limit it.

3. b) predilection; Predilection mean preference, liking or inclination.

4. a) historic; Historic means important in history.

5. b) alternative; Alternative means a possible choice or course.

6. a) plunged; When a city plunges into darkness, all lights go out suddenly.

7. Either ‘expect’ or ‘hope’; Look forward is followed by ‘to + -ing form’. For example, you can say:
I look forward to meeting him on Monday.

8. b) irrational; Irrational means utterly illogical.

9. a) scruffy; Scruffy means untidy or shabby.

10. a) anti- incumbency; Incumbent is the holder of an office. Anti-incumbency wave is the general resentment people feel towards the ruling party.