EXERCISE: AVOIDING TWO-WORD VERBS

For each sentence, select the best answer from the choices given.

1. Several subjects backed out of their treatment.

a. recalled b. abandoned c. eliminated d. excised
2. He didn’t turn up at the designated meeting place.
a. appear b. attend c. get discovered d. expose
3. The sensitivity of the equipment meant that we had to set it up with utmost care.
a. elevate b. launch c. arrange d. introduce
4. The custodian would see to the security of the building.
a. adjust b. arrange c. elevate d. recondition
5. James added up the number of affirmative responses.
a. planned b. detailed c. recited d. calculated
6. The order was to call off the strike immediately.
a. cancel b. annul c. void d. summon
7. He brought about his company’s collapse by his reckless spending.
a. caused b. developed c. pioneered d. affected
8. He wanted to clear up some misconceptions.
a. dissolve b. illuminate c. lift d. clarify
9. Lara’s paper has too many grammatical mistakes, meaning she couldn’t get her message across.
a. define b. communicate c. unravel d. resolve
10. Isa and the other participants were happy to get the laborious questionnaire over with.
a. amend b. complete c. expire d. realize
11. When deadlines approach, a student cannot let anything hold up the completion of an assignment.
a. detain b. terminate c. delay d. derail
12. You did not let her down because she knows you did your best.
a. disappoint b. deceive c. anger d. mock
13. The purpose of the literature review is find out what has been said on the topic.
a. encounter b. divine c. discover d. debunk
14. The board of directors fell apart.
a. dislodged b. degenerated c. perished d. disintegrated
15. Dieters often feel that they should totally get rid of high-fat and high-sugar foods.
a. eliminate b. kill c. expel d. suspend
16. It will take some time for our newer coal mines to catch up with our older ones.
a. equal b. strike c. overhaul d. chase
17. To print the name of an interviewee, an author must make sure of the interviewee’s consent.
a. enfeeble b. ensure c. insure d. inject
18. A primary education system was set up throughout Ireland as early as 1831.
a. located b. heightened c. established d. constructed
19. Thus, he should have looked into how the patient coped previously.
a. examined b. scanned c. sifted d. audited
20. Because the subsection was not directly relevant to the rest of the paper, Randal had to cut it out.
a. excise b. surcharge c. levy d. amputate
21. Sam carried out the research because Jimmy couldn’t find the time.
a. insured b. executed c. repeated d. realized
22. Hendriks (2010) points out that such a study might be useful.
a. alludes b. adverts c. explains d. defines
23. We asked the participants to make up a scenario in which they would be content.
a. materialize b. complement c. assemble d. fabricate
24. He was let go after he was caught trying to steal money from the vault.
a. retired b. fired c. exempted d. excepted
25. We could not pass up this opportunity to collaborate.
a. misplace b. misspend c. forgo d. forget
26. Napoleon would not tolerate his generals holding out on him.
a. killing b. checking on c. abstaining from d. hiding something from
27. Foucault’s writings still bear on contemporary thought about prison.
a. influence b. force c. condense d. compress
28. Hannah had to come up with a way to isolate the variable.
a. invent b. attain c. happen d. interpose
29. Sven tried everything, but he could not hold on to his youth.
a. remain b. keep c. endure d. outlast
30. At the beginning of his speech, Finn found it necessary to touch on the circumstances of the event.
a. attest b. herald c. import d. mention
31. The act of aggression called for immediate response.
a. occasioned b. necessitated c. inquired d. lacked
32. The data shows various relationships that we had not picked up on.
a. noticed b. entertained c. adopted d. audited
33. The witness left out a number of important details.
a. forgot b. omitted c. stopped d. terminated
34. The large company bought out the smaller one.
a. ransomed b. surrendered c. purchased d. persuaded
35. The company’s assets were bought up in the auction.
a. ransomed b. surrendered c. purchased d. persuaded
36. Steve Jobs dropped out of college.
a. quit b. ceased c. declined d. relinquished
37. They finally made up after years of bickering over social media.
a. yielded b. resigned c. conversed d. reconciled
38. Practiced writers cut down on unnecessary adjectives and adverbs.
a. eliminate b. reduce c. conserve d. sustain
39. Regretfully, the board must turn down a number of applicants every year.
a. reject b. ignore c. miss d. double
40. We have a hypothesis, but we must look into other possible explanations for the phenomenon.
a. censor b. research c. expect d. confront
41. This new state takes after its regional neighbors.
a. seizes b. captures c. resembles d. understands
42. We need to go over the details of the report.
a. review b. receive c. reiterate d. revise
43. In the darkness, he could not make out the size of the camp.
a. recognize b. understand c. achieve d. manage
44. The outnumbered forces would not give up.
a. return b. surrender c. abstain d. refuse
45. The students are trying to put together the data they have gathered.
a. calculate b. synthesize c. produce d. build
46. The country will put up with a certain number of economic sanctions.
a. applaud b. praise c. tolerate d. overlook
47. The common flu can be passed on through saliva.
a. transmitted b. perished c. divulged d. revealed
48. The question is, should a citizen be able to count on its government to preserve free access to clean water?
a. calculate b. trust c. admire d. secure
49. I call on the work of other contemporary thinkers.
a. forget b. remember c. phone d. utilize
50. After a long pause for thought, he gave in to the demands.
a. yielded b. forwarded c. despaired d. delivered