Frequently confused words 8
This is an exercise that will help you learn the differences between frequently confused words. We call them "Frequently Confused Words" sentence completion exercises because the key thing to learn here is the appropriate context in which you should use these words. Sometimes you can use both words, but one answer is more appropriate to use in that context. For other sentences, one word is the only possible answer. The explanations at the bottom of each page will clarify all of the answers if you're not sure about certain sentences.
3. Oh no! I forgot to pay last month's rent for my _____.
8. We bought a _____ instead of a house so that we wouldn't have to do yardwork like mowing the lawn and raking leaves.
An explanation of the answers:
1. The words "salvage" and "rescue" seem to have very similar meanings, right? After all, they are usually used in similar contexts. The important thing to remember here is that things are salvaged and people and animals are rescued. "Salvage" means to save a thing, and "rescue" means to save a person or animal.
2. Like number 1, this sentence has two words that are often used in the same context. The main difference between these two words is that a carcass is the dead body of an animal, while a corpse is the dead body of a person. Therefore, carcass is the more appropriate word for this sentence.
3. Apartments and condominiums are both kinds of homes where one person or family lives in part of a building (instead of occupying an entire house, for example). The main difference between the two is that people rent apartments, but own condiminiums. Because this sentence is about renting, the correct answer is apartment.
4. Number 4 is one of the more challenging sentences in this exercise. "Fog" and "haze" are both phenomena where the air outside is not clear. Fog is made up of small water particles (like a cloud), whereas haze can be caused by many different sources--like smoke or pollution, for example. Since it rarely drizzles or rains when the air is hazy, "fog" is the more appropriate word to use in this context.
5. "Care for" and "care about" are two different phrasal verbs with two different meanings. We use "care for" to describe the act of taking care of somebody who is sick. We use "care about" to discuss things that we are interested in. Since number 5 is about nursing a sick family member, "care for" is the appropriate term for this context.
6. Since this sentence is about saving things, "salvage" is the better answer.
7. This sentence is about cremating a human body after someone's death. If we used "carcass" in this sentence, it would sound very disrespectful! Therefore, "corpse" is the more appropriate word to use in this context.
8. This is about buying a part of a building to live in. Since the person in this sentence will be purchasing it, "condominium" is the correct word here.
9. Sentence 9 is about air pollution. Since fog can only be made out of water particles, it only makes sense to use the word "haze" in this sentence.
10. Since this sentence is about students being interested in their grades, "care about" is the right phrasal verb to use in this context.
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