Question 1

The manager wants to  ________ business with a new provider as soon as

possible.
● get
● do
● make

 To do business means to be involved in commerce or trade.

The verbs get or make are not the right collocations for this
meaning.

Question 2
It’s important to have the files in alphabetical _________ .
● sequence
● arrangement
● order
 People might understand if you said alphabetical
sequence or arrangement but the correct collocation
is alphabetical order.

Question 3
He always __________ an excuse for being late.
● makes
● produces
● provides

 To make an excuse means to give an explanation when

something goes wrong. The verbs produce or provide are not the
right collocations for this meaning.

Question 4
Their services were  _______  recommended.
● highly
● extremely
● exceedingly
 The correct collocation is highly recommended. The other two
adverbs are not used with recommend.
Question 5
That is not a very secure way to _______   a living.
● realise
● do
● make
 To make a living means to earn the money you need for food,
clothing, etc. Using realise or do a living are not correct
collocations. Another appropriate collocation would be to earn a
living.

Question 6
I’m paying $200 for a _______    room.
● unique
● single
● solo
 Even though all three words are synonyms, the correct
collocation is single room.

Question 7
I had to apologise _______   for breaking the vase in the store.
● energetically
● profusely
● intensely
 The correct collocation is to apologise profusely.
Saying apologise energetically or intensely is incorrect and
sounds awkward. Another collocation would be to apologise
sincerely.

Question 8
Students  _______   agreed with the suggestion given by their teacher.
● sharply
● highly
● strongly
We would normally say strongly agree or absolutely agree. The
adverbs sharply and highly do not form collocations with the
verb agree.

Question 9
The house began to  _______   fire very quickly.
● catch
● start
● get
A house can catch fire, meaning that it can burn in flames.
Someone can start a fire, but notice the use of the article “a”
before fire. The verb get is not used to form a collocation
with fire.

Question 10
I prefer to catch _______   flights when I travel on holidays.
● straight
● uninterrupted
● direct
Straight and uninterrupted are synonyms of direct, but the correct
collocation is direct flight. You can also say non-stop flight.

Question 11
I am _______  interested in politics.
● deeply
● strongly
● greatly
Strongly and greatly form other collocations but not
with interested. The correct collocation is deeply interested,
meaning you are very interested in something.

Question 12
I was  ______ disappointed to hear the bad news.
● bitterly
● eagerly
● happily
Bitterly disappointed is the only correct collocation.

Question 13
It’s important not to  the law when you’re overseas.
● annul
● break
● unfollow
In this context, the correct collocation is to break the law. You
can follow the law, but not unfollow it. Annulling a law has a
different meaning.

Question 14
An effective way to  knowledge is through reading.
● learn
● gain
● earn
You can gain or acquire knowledge, but not learn or earn it.

Question 15
For my birthday, I want to  a big party.
● do
● make
● throw
The correct collocation is to throw a party.