Esercizi di C2 Multiple-choice Cloze (Gratis)

Risposta: B — sway

“Holds sway over” means exercises a dominant influence over. A. Force can be exerted, but hold force over is not this idiom. B. Sway completes hold sway over, matching the influence of grand buildings on debate. C. Worth concerns value, not domination, and does not fit hold ... over. D. Weight can mean influence in carry weight; hold weight over is not the required construction.

Risposta: D — service

“Pay lip service to” means profess support without acting on it. A. Pay tribute to expresses appreciation, but lip tribute is not the expression. B. Honour can refer to respect, but lip honour does not complete the phrase. C. Pay respect to is possible without lip; it does not fit the fixed wording here. D. Service completes pay lip service to. The contrast with actual decision-making establishes the insincerity.

Risposta: A — conclusion

“A foregone conclusion” is an outcome regarded as certain beforehand. A. Conclusion forms the established expression. The negation rejects automatic preservation. B. A resolution is a decision or solution, but foregone resolution is not this idiom. C. An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence; foregone inference is not the fixed phrase. D. A settlement is an agreement or resolution of a dispute, not the required expression.

Risposta: C — odds

“At odds with” means inconsistent with or opposed to. A. People can be in dispute with someone; at dispute with does not fit. B. The usual pattern is in contrast to or with, not at contrast with. C. Odds completes at odds with: removing meeting places undermines the stated policy. D. The relevant construction is in conflict with, not at conflict with.

Risposta: A — focus

“Brought this contradiction into sharp focus” means made it particularly clear. A. Focus fits bring into sharp focus and the survey’s clarifying effect. B. Bring to someone’s attention is possible, but into sharp attention is not. C. Notice would require a different construction, such as bring to public notice. D. Regard can mean consideration or respect, but into sharp regard is not the required construction.

Risposta: B — issue

“Took issue with the suggestion” means challenged or disagreed with it. A. The usual pattern is raise an objection to, not take objection with. B. Issue completes take issue with, introducing the residents’ disagreement. C. Take exception to is valid, but the printed preposition is with. D. People dispute a suggestion or enter into a dispute; take dispute with is not the construction.

Risposta: A — costs

“At all costs” means whatever sacrifice or disadvantage is involved. A. Costs completes at all costs. The negative phrase rejects preservation regardless of practical consequences. B. Prices are amounts paid for goods; at all prices is not this idiom. C. Fees are payments for services and do not fit at all ... in this sense. D. Charges are amounts billed or accusations; at all charges is not the fixed expression.

Risposta: C — weight

“Carry weight with the planning committee” means influence its judgement. A. Power can be exercised or wielded; carry power with is not this idiom. B. Have influence with or over is possible; carry influence with is not the normal expression. C. Weight completes carry weight with, meaning that the committee takes the request seriously. D. Attach importance to is a different construction; carry importance with does not fit.