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Collocation Mistakes – Quiz 1
Collocation Mistakes Quiz 1 (11 MCQs)
This multiple-choice question set evaluates students' understanding of collocation mistakes, particularly in marriage expressions and financial contexts. It assesses consistency in verb-preposition pairing, subject-verb agreement, and grammatical accuracy in common phrases. The test aims to enhance proficiency in English collocations and grammatical collocations.
Quiz Instructions
Select an option to see the correct answer instantly.
1.
Fill in the blank:She is good ..... mathematics.
A) For.
B) At.
C) On.
D) In.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) At.
The phrase "good at" is a common collocation in English, meaning skilled or proficient in something. For example, one might say "She is good at mathematics."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"For" is not typically used to describe proficiency in a subject.
Option B:
"At" is correct as it collocates with "good" to indicate skill or ability.
Option C:
"On" is generally not used to express proficiency in this context.
Option D:
"In" can be used, but "good at" is more common and natural-sounding for this phrase.
2.
Which preposition is commonly used with the verb 'rely'?
A) About.
B) For.
C) In.
D) On.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The preposition "on" is commonly used with the verb 'rely' to form the correct collocation, meaning to depend on something or someone for support or information. For example: "We rely on our team to complete the project."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"About" is not typically used with 'rely.'
Option B:
"For" can be used in some contexts but is less common than "on." For example: "We rely for support from our colleagues." However, "we rely on our colleagues" is more natural.
Option C:
"In" is not commonly paired with 'rely.'
Option D:
"On" is the correct preposition to use with 'rely,' forming the proper collocation.
3.
Yasmina struggles ..... collocations
A) At.
B) On.
C) With.
D) In.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) With.
The phrase "struggles with" is a common collocation in English, often used to indicate difficulty or problems related to something. For example, one might say, "She struggles with math." This usage conveys that Yasmina has difficulties or challenges specifically related to the concept of struggling.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"At" is typically used for activities or tasks, such as "struggles at work," but not commonly paired with "struggle" in this context.
Option B:
"On" is generally used to indicate a surface or topic of discussion, like "struggles on the project," which doesn't fit well here.
Option C:
"With" is correct as it indicates Yasmina has difficulties related to something specific.
Option D:
"In" is used for situations or states, such as "struggles in life," but not typically with the verb "struggle" when referring to a specific issue.
4.
Fill in the blank:I invested money ..... a new company.
A) For.
B) To.
C) In.
D) On.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
C) In.
The phrase "invest money in a company" is a common collocation that means to put money into a business with the expectation of earning a profit. Using "in" here is grammatically correct and conveys the intended meaning.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
For - This preposition does not fit naturally in this context.
Option B:
To - While "invest to a company" might sound somewhat natural, "in" is more commonly used and grammatically correct.
Option C:
In - Correct collocation for the phrase "invest money in a company."
Option D:
On - This preposition does not fit naturally with the verb "invest" when referring to companies or businesses.
5.
Which of the following sentences contains a preposition error?
A) I'm focusing in my goals.
B) He paid for dinner.
C) They laughed at the joke.
D) She invested in education.
Show Answer
Explanations:
Option A contains a preposition error because "focus" is typically used with the preposition "on," not "in." The correct sentence would be, "I'm focusing on my goals."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Incorrect. "Focus" should be followed by "on," not "in."
Option B:
Correct. "For" is correctly used with "paid."
Option C:
Correct. "At" is appropriately used here.
Option D:
Correct. "In" is properly used in this context.
6.
Fill in the blank:I'm interested ..... learning English.
A) In.
B) About.
C) To.
D) For.
Show Answer
Explanations:
"In" is the correct preposition to use in this context because "interested in" is a common collocation that means having an interest or desire to learn about something. The phrase "I'm interested in learning English" is grammatically correct and commonly used.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Correct. "Interested in" is the proper collocation.
Option B:
Incorrect. "About" does not form a natural collocation with "interested."
Option C:
Incorrect. "To" typically introduces infinitive verbs, not interests.
Option D:
Incorrect. "For" is not used to express interest in learning something.
7.
Our lessons consist ..... fun, good times, learning, and tears from my students!
A) For.
B) Of.
C) In.
D) To.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) Of.
The phrase "consist of" is a common collocation in English, meaning that something is made up of or includes certain elements. Therefore, the sentence should read: "Our lessons consist of fun, good times, learning, and tears from my students!"
Option Analysis:
Option A:
For - Incorrect; "for" does not collocate with "consist."
Option B:
Of - Correct; "of" is the correct preposition to use with "consist."
Option C:
In - Incorrect; "in" does not collocate well with "consist."
Option D:
To - Incorrect; "to" does not collocate with "consist."
8.
I'm married ..... her
A) With.
B) To.
C) For.
D) On.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) To.
The phrase "I'm married to her" is a common collocation in English, meaning that marriage involves a relationship between two people where one is married to the other. This usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted.
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"With" is not typically used in this context; it would imply an association rather than a marital relationship.
Option B:
"To" is the correct preposition for expressing marriage, as in "I'm married to her."
Option C:
"For" is generally used with durations or reasons, not to express marital status directly.
Option D:
"On" is not appropriate here; it would be used for specific dates or occasions, such as "I'm getting married on Saturday."
9.
What is the correct form of the verb in this sentence? 'He ..... on his brother.'
A) Depend.
B) Dependent.
C) Depends.
D) Depended.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct form of the verb in this sentence is "depends." The subject "He" requires a third-person singular present tense verb, which is "depends."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
Depend. Incorrect; it should be in third-person singular present tense.
Option B:
Dependent. Incorrect; this is an adjective, not a verb form.
Option C:
Depends. Correct; it matches the subject "He" with the appropriate verb form.
Option D:
Depended. Incorrect; it should be in present tense for the given sentence context.
10.
Fill in the blank:He is proficient ..... coding.
A) On.
B) For.
C) In.
D) At.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
D) At.
The phrase "proficient at" is a common collocation in English, meaning someone has a high level of skill or ability in something. Other options like "on," "for," and "in" do not form natural collocations with "proficient."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"On" is incorrect as it does not naturally pair with "proficient."
Option B:
"For" is also incorrect; it would be used differently, e.g., "for coding projects."
Option C:
"In" can sometimes work in certain contexts but is less natural than "at" when describing proficiency.
Option D:
"At" is the correct collocation for "proficient," meaning skilled or adept at something.
11.
Fill in the blank:She is interested ..... traveling abroad.
A) To.
B) In.
C) About.
D) For.
Show Answer
Explanations:
The correct answer is
B) In.
The phrase "interested in" is a common collocation in English, meaning that someone has an interest or liking for something. Therefore, the sentence should read: "She is interested in traveling abroad."
Option Analysis:
Option A:
"To" is not typically used with "interested."
Option B:
Correct collocation - "interested in."
Option C:
"About" does not fit the context of expressing interest.
Option D:
"For" is not used with "interested."
Frequently Asked Questions
What are collocation mistakes?
Collocation mistakes occur when words that commonly go together, such as "happy marriage" or "get married," are used incorrectly. These errors can affect the natural flow and clarity of a sentence.
How do prepositions contribute to collocation mistakes?
Prepositions like "with," "in," or "to" are often part of fixed expressions. Misusing them can lead to awkward phrasing, such as saying "get married with someone" instead of the correct "get married to someone."
Why is understanding collocations important?
Understanding collocations enhances fluency and naturalness in English. It helps learners use words more naturally, making their writing and speech sound more authentic.
Can collocation mistakes be avoided?
Yes, by studying common word combinations through resources like corpora or language learning materials. Regular practice and exposure to authentic texts can also help in recognizing and using correct collocations.
How do advanced learners improve their collocation skills?
Advanced learners can improve by reading extensively, paying attention to natural language use, and using tools like collocation dictionaries or software that highlight common word pairs in context.