confusing words Flashcards
1.The Ph. D degree (a)/ was confide on (b)/ him on the convocation. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2015]
1.(b) ‘Cofide on’ should be ‘Confer on’. A degree is confered on a person.
2.Before every meal (a)/ the head of the family (b)/ would provoke God’s blessings. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2015]
2.(c) ‘Provoke’ should be ‘invoke’. ‘Invoke’ means ‘ask for’ and ‘provoke’ means ‘incite’.
3.On the busy National Highway 40 (a)/ we witnessed a collusion (b)/ between a truck and a bus. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2014]
3.(b) ‘collusion’ should be ‘collision’. ‘Collusion’ means ‘agreement’ and ‘collision’ means ‘crash’.
4.This practice does not confirm (a)/ to the notes (b)/ laid down by the committee. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2014]
4.(a) ‘confirm to’ should be ‘conform to’. ‘Conform’ means ‘comply’.
5.This opinion of (a)/ the president would not effect (b)/ his popularity in the country. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2014]
5.(b) ‘Effect’ should be ‘affect’. ‘Effect’ means ‘bring about’. ‘Affect’ means ‘produce an effect on’.
6.Most of my friends (a)/ heard the earthquake (b)/ but I was totally unaware of it. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2014]
6.(b) ‘Heard’ should be ‘felt’.
7.According to my opinion (a)/ she is the best (b)/ candidate for the job. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Stenographer 2014]
7.(a) ‘According to my opinion’ should be ‘In my opinion’.
8.The international day against (a)/ drug abuse and illicit trafficking (b)/ is observed on June 26th. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-II 2014]
8.(b) ‘Illicit traffic’ should be ‘trafficking’.
9.The principle export (a)/ from Brazil (b)/ is coffee. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC MTS 2013]
9.(a) ‘Principle’ should be ‘principal’. ‘Principle’ means ‘doctrine’ and ‘principal’ means ‘chief’.
10.After rising the flag to (a)/ inaugurate the sports meet the chairman (b) gave a long speech. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC MTS 2013]
10.(a) ‘Rising’ should be ‘raising’. ‘Raise’ means ‘cause to rise’ and ‘rise’ means ‘go up’.
11.The local counsel (a)/ pays for the upkeep (b)/ of the cricket ground. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC MTS 2013]
11.(a) ‘Counsel’ should be ‘council’.
12.The library members were asked (a)/ to return back the books (b)/ to the library. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-II 2013]
12.(b) ‘Return back’ should be ‘return’.
13.The reporter (a)/ was unable (b)/ to illicit information from the police. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-II 2013]
13.(c) ‘Illicit’ should be ‘elicit’. ‘Illicit’ means ‘illegal’. ‘Elicit’ means ‘ask for’.
14.I (a)/ go to school (b)/ by walk. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-II 2013]
14.(c) ‘By walk’ should be ‘on foot’.
15.The custom has been (a)/ prevalent in India (b)/ since immemorial time. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2013]
15.(c) ‘Since time immemorial’ is an idiomatic expression.
16.I was (a)/ laying down (b)/ when the door bell rang. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL (Main) 2013]
16.(b) ‘Laying down’ should be ‘lying down’. ‘Lie down’ means ‘rest’.
17.How is Surendra (a)/ going with (b)/ his work. (c)/ No error (d) [SSCFCI (M) 2012]
17.(b) ‘Going with’ should be ‘Getting on with’.
18.My mother (a)/ hanged (b)/ my clothes. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC FCI 2012]
18.(b) ‘Hanged’ should be ‘hung’. ‘Hanged’ refers to execution while ‘hung’ refers to putting in a higher position.
19.The astronomer (a)/ who predicts the future (b)/ has arrived. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC FCI (Main) 2012]
19.(a) ‘Astronomer’ should be ‘astrologer’. An astronomer is a cosmonaut and an astrologer is one who predicts future.
20.I am thinking (a)/ to write (b)/ my autobiography. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Stenographer 2012]
20.(c) ‘My’ is not needed.
21.Our knowledge of history does not come to (a)/ our help and sometimes we even fail to (b)/ remember who invented America. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CGL TIER-I 2012]
21.(c) ‘Invented’ should be ‘discovered’. Invent means ‘to produce something new’ and discover means ‘to find something hidden’.
22.Hari was appointed leader (a)/ of a group of young social workers (b)/ that have accepted to help and develop the village in three months. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (Main) 2012]
22.(c) ‘Accepted’ should be ‘agreed ‘.
23.The object of the new act is to (a)/ to partly keep out (b)/ foreign investors. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (III) 2012]
23.(a) ‘Object’ should be ‘objective’. ‘Object’ refers to ‘intended result’. ‘objective’ refers to an aim you are trying to achieve.
24.My father (a)/ has returned back (b)/ to Chennai yesterday. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
24.(b) return does not required back.
25.The President (a)/ overtakes (b)/ in Bangladesh. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
25.(b) ‘Overtakes’ should be ‘take over’. ‘Takeover’ means ‘assume power’.
26.After my son had searched (a)/ for an hour (b)/ he realized that his pen had been laying on the table. (c)/ No error (d)
26.(c) ‘Laying’ should be ‘lying’. ‘Lying’ is the present participle form of ‘lie’. ‘Lie’ means rest and ‘Lay’ means ‘put’.
27.I am tired (a)/ so I’ll lay down (b)/ and take a rest. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
27.(b) ‘Lay down’ should be ‘lie down’.
28.We (a)/ have to return back (b)/ immediately. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
28.(b) See explanatory note 24.
29.The company is using (a)/ influence to persuade people (b)/ to buy refrigerators. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
29.(b) ‘We use ‘exert influence’. ‘Using’ should be’ exerting’.
30.I (a)/ come to school (b)/ at the same usual time. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
30.(c) same and usual can’t go together.
31.The servant (a)/ hanged the lamp (b)/ on the wall. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC CPO (M) 2011]
31.(b) ‘Hanged’ should be ‘hung’.
32.I (a)/ will return back (b)/ in five minutes. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2012]
32.(b) See explanatory note 24.
33.The poisonous gases (a)/ will effect (b)/ our health. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC LDC 2011]
33.(b) ‘Effect’ should be ‘affect’.
34.Most of the developing countries find it (a)/ difficult to cope up with problems (b)/ created by the sudden impact of technological progress. (c)/ No error (d)
34.(b) ‘Cope with’ is a phrasal verb. Don’t use ‘up’ with ‘cope’.
35.We swam up to the drowning man caught hold of his clothes (a)/ before he could go down again (b)/ and pulled him out. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2014 (I)]
35.(b) ‘Caught hold’ should be ‘got hold’.
36.As the thieves ran out of the bank (a)/ they got into the gateway car (b)/ which was waiting with its engine running. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2013 (I)]
36.(c) ‘Waiting with’ should be ‘left with’
37.The sudden change (a)/ of place (b)/ effected her health. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2012 (I)]
37.(c) Effected should be affected.
38.Everybody was trying (a)/ to shake hand (b)/ with the minister. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2010 (II)]
38.(b) ‘Shake hand’ should be ‘shake hands’.
39.He collected his bags (a)/ said good bye to us (b)/ and left for home immediately. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2010 (II)]
39.(b) ‘Say good bye’ should be ‘bade good bye’.
40.The Akbar Nama (a)/ is among the major historical texts (b)/ in the Indian past. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2010 (II)]
40.(c) ‘Past’ should be ‘history’.
41.During the earthquake (a)/ people listened a strange noise (b)/ and rushed out of homes. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2008 (II)]
41.(b) ‘Listened’ should be ‘heard’. ‘Hear’ is an involuntary action.
42.Taking life as it comes (a)/ I am someone who thrives on challenges and believes that my pupose in life (b)/ is to give one hundred percent to every opportunity that comes my way. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2008 (I)]
42.(d)
43.The collapse of the business (a)/ was a (b)/ moral blow to the business tycoon and his family. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2008 (I)]
43.(c) ‘Moral’ is not needed here.
44.In consideration for (a)/ the bereaved family’s feelings (b)/ the papers did not print the story. (c)/ No error (d) [CDS 2008 (I)]
44.(a) Use ‘considering’ in place of ‘in consideration for’.
45.Do you know (a)/ how old were you (b)/ when you came here? (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2010 (I)]
45.(a) ‘Do you know’ should be ‘Do you remember’.
46.Everyday before (a)/ I start work for my livelihood (b)/ I do my prayer. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2010 (I)]
46.(c) ‘Do my prayer’ should be ‘say my prayer’.
47.The person in the seat of justice (a)/ should be absolutely partial (b)/ and not treat his nearest and dearest with favour. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2010 (I)]
47.(b) ‘Partial’ should be ‘impartial’. ‘Partial’ means ‘biased’. ‘Impartial’ means ‘unbiased’.
48.Some women admit that (a)/ their principle goal in life (b)/ is to marry a wealthy man. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2008 (I)]
48.(b) ‘Principle’ should be ‘principal’.
49.From their vintage-point on the cliff (a)/ the children could watch (b)/ the ships coming and going. (c)/ No error (d) [NDA 2001 (II)]
49.(a) ‘Vintage point’ should be ‘vantage point’.
50.The new taxation rates (a)/ announced by the government (b)/ are bound to effect the export sector. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 1997]
50.(c) ‘Effect’ should be ‘affect’.
51.You will be persecuted (a)/ for bringing seeds (b)/ into Australia. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2001]
51.(a) ‘Persecuted’ should be ‘prosecuted’. ‘Prosecute’ means ‘start legal proceeding against’ and ‘Persecute’ means ‘torture’.
52.I must complement you (a)/ on your good manner (b)/ and your impeccable behaviour. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Income Tax 2005]
52.(a) ‘Complement’ should be ‘compliment’.
53.The long-distance train (a)/ which met with an accident (b)/ was carrying some army personal. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Income Tax 2005]
53.(c) ‘Personal’ should be ‘personnel’.
54.The young men from Japan (a)/ found the assent of the mountain (b)/ hard going. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Income Tax 2005]
54.(b) ‘Assent’ should be ‘ascent’.
55.The interim report does not (a)/ analyse thoroughly the principle causes (b)/ of the disaster. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Statistical Investigator 2006]
55.(b) ‘Principle’ should be ‘principal’.
56.I’ll send my servant (a)/ but I can’t insure (b)/he will reach there in time. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Income Tax 2007]
56.(b) ‘Insure’ should be ‘assure’. Insure means ‘protect financially’. Assure means ‘convince’.
57.Scenes from the film (a)/ had to be censured(b)/ before it was released. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2008]
57.(b) ‘Censured’ should be ‘censored’. Censure means criticize and censor means ‘cut’.
58.We have to (a)/ insure that members (b)/ fulfil the requirements. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Tax Assistant 2009]
58.(b)’Insure’ should be assure.
59.When I read his book (a)/ I implied from it (b)/ that he never understood women. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Section Officer 2009]
59.(b) ‘Imply from’ should be ‘Infer from’. Imply means suggest and Infer means conclude.
60.Though there is hourly bus service on this route (a)/ a number of people are still suffering (b)/ as there is no bus shelter here. (c)/ No error (d)
60.(c) ‘Bus shelter’ should be ‘bus stop’.
61.We requested the watchman (a)/ to clean up the basement (b)/ so that the children had enough space to play. (c)/ No error (d) [SSC Statistical Investigator 2010]
61.(c) ‘Enough space’ should be ‘enough room’. ‘Room’ refers to ‘enough space for a particular purpose’.
62.Now-a-days (a)/ the accidents of diabetes (b)/ among urban children is on the rise. (c)/ No error (d)
62.(b) ‘Accidents’ should be ‘incidence’. ‘Incidence’ refers to ‘happening’ & accident refers to ‘mishap’.
63.Many believe that (a)/ nothing could have avoided the war (b)/ between America and Iraq (c)/ No error (d)
63.(b) ‘Avoided’ should be ‘averted’. ‘Avoid’ means ‘to keep away from’. ‘Avert’ means to prevent something bad from happenning.
64.The data shows that (a)/ the unemployment rate has (b)/ raised to 6.1 percent, the highest in five years. (c)/ No error (d)
64.(c) ‘Raised’ should be ‘risen’. Raise means ‘lift’ and Rise means ‘go up’.
65.On account of their forwarded thinking (a)/ leaders of Botswana have managed to raise over one million (b)/ citizens out of poverty. (c)/ No error (d)
65.(a) ‘Forwarded’ means ‘forward’.
66.An unexpected raise in the cost of living as well as (a)/ a decline in employment opportunities resulted (b)/ in the rapid decline of new Government programmes for the unemployed. (c)/ No error (d)
66.(a) ‘Raise’ should be ‘rise’. ‘Raise’ is a ‘verb’ but ‘rise’ is both a verb and a noun. ‘Rise’ means ‘increase’.
67.Regardless of your teaching method, the objective of any conversation class should be (a)/ for the students to practice (b)/ speaking words. (c)/ No error (d)
67.(b) ‘Practice’ should be ‘Practise’. ‘Practice’ is a noun. ‘Practise’ is a verb.
68.When they have been frightened (a)/ as for example by an electric storm (b)/ dairy cows may refuse giving milk. (c)/ No error (d)
68.(c) ‘Refuse giving milk’ should be ‘stop yielding milk’.
69.Studying science of (a)/ logic is one way to (b)/ cultivate one’s reason. (c)/ No error (d)
69.(c) ‘Reason’ should be ‘reasoning’. ‘Reason’ is an argument and ‘Reasoning’ means ‘rational thinking’.
70.Every candidate under considering (a)/ for a military job must undergo (b)/ a thorough medical examination. (c)/ No error (d)
70.(a) Under considering should be ‘under consideration’.
- Alexander calder who was originally (a)/ interested in (b)/ mechanical engineering later became a sculpture. (c)/ No error (d)
- (c) ‘Sculpture’ should be ‘Sculptor’. ‘Sculptor’ is one who carves in stone.
