Confused Words Exercise (506)

In each sentence, choose the correct word from the pair of similar terms. (If both words possibly can be correct, choose the more plausible one.)

  • He always tells the same old tired _________.

  • Put your _______ to the metal.

  • Fortunately, the ________ went more quickly than the climb up the mountainside.

  • She did not hesitate to ________ me of the situation as soon as I arrived.

  • The contestants will then ________ to the next table.

Answers and Explanations

1. He always tells the same old tired anecdote.

anecdote: story. "The anecdote about the time he got lost became more dramatic with each telling."
antidote: a treatment for poison or anything that stops or reverses a bad effect. "The only antidote for boredom is to do something."

2. Put your pedal to the metal.

pedal: pad or lever for operating a machine or instrument with a foot. "He had to replace a pedal on his bike."
petal: part of a flower. "Only one petal remained on the single rose in the vase."

3. Fortunately, the descent went more quickly than the climb up the mountainside.

decent: adequate or acceptable, or kind and honest. "They are good, decent people."
descent: lineage or derivation, or downward movement or inclination. "In the genealogy project, students traced their descent."

4. She did not hesitate to apprise me of the situation as soon as I arrived.

appraise: evaluate the condition or value of something. "I asked the jeweler to appraise the ring."
apprise: provide information. "I will apprise you about the decision after the meeting."

5. The contestants will then proceed to the next table.

precede: go before. "I was supposed to precede her in the line, but she insisted on going first."
proceed: continue. "I will proceed as we had planned."

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