PRACTICE SET 02

With the November 2020 election fast __________(1), US President Donald Trump has found himself ___________(2)_odds with his former National Security Advisor John Bolton– an ally-turned-foe whose latest book paints a less than charitable picture of the Trump presidency. The Trump administration, which tried to stop the book from being published, received a ______________(3)_ on Saturday when a federal court turned down its request, saying it was too late to _____________(4)_ such an order. The preview of Bolton’s book– which releases June 23 – has already been ___________(5)__ with several media organizations, who have widely reported its main parts that show Trump in a bad light. 

1.(a) atoning 

   (b) reproaching

   (c) approaching 

   (d) condoning 

2.(a) for

   (b) at

   (c) from 

   (d) in

3.(a) set-up

   (b) set down

   (c) set off

   (d) setback 

4.(a) implemented

   (b) implement

   (c) attainment

   (d) attain 

5.(a) share 

   (b) shares 

   (c) sharing 

   (d) shared

Answers key 

1.(c) approaching

atoning - making amends or reparation

reproaching - expressing (someone) one's disapproval of or disappointment in their actions

approaching - come near or nearer to (someone or something) in distance or time

condoning - accepting (behaviour that is considered morally wrong or offensive)

Election cannot atone, reproach or condone. It must be approaching.

Hence, "approaching" must be chosen.

2.(b) at - "at odds" is an idiomatic expression which means 'in conflict or at variance'.

Hence, "at" is the correct preposition to be used here.

3.(d) setback 

set-up - the way in which something, especially an organization or equipment, is organized, planned, or arranged

set down - to place at rest on a surface or on the ground

set off - begin a journey

setback - something that happens that delays or prevents a process from developing 

Federal court has turned down the request which means something must have received a 'setback'.

Hence, "setback" is the correct option.

4.(b) implement

Implement - put (a decision, plan, agreement, etc.) into effect

Attain - succeed in achieving (something that one has worked for)

Orders are implemented not attained. Therefore, options (c) and (d) are overruled.

Also, after 'to' we use base form of verb.

Hence, "implement" is the correct option.

5.(d) shared - in passive form, third from of verb is used.

Hence, "shared" is the correct option.