Section One Commonly Confused Words

Practice 1-1-1

Some of your spelling errors are probably caused by words (or set phrases) that either sound alike or look similar to the ones you really want to use.This practice helps you to be aware of some of the words (or set phrases) that either sound alike or look similar but have totally different meanings or usage.Examine the words (or set phrases) in parentheses(括号) and circle the correct one.Answers are provided.

1.I like all animals that are as small as (a, an) ant and as big as (a, an) whale.

2.If they (complement, compliment) themselves on social progress, then they deceive themselves.

3.Yesterday, he said that the accident was too (miner, minor) for serious attention.

4.She was (formally, formerly) only a member but now she is (formally, formerly) introduced as Madame President.

5.It's the (late, later, latter, latest) of the two ideas that the students actually grasped.

6.An outbreak of fire or an accident is often called an (emergency, emergence).

7.A great number of viewers were unable to distinguish reality from (simulation, stimulation).

8.The inventor was trying to (device, devise) an electrical (device, devise) to lock and unlock the door.

9.They find it difficult to (adopt, adapt, adept) themselves to the new environment.

10. (At a time, At one time) , students were allowed to borrow a maximum of twenty books from this library (at a time, at one time).

Practice 1-1-2

Some of your spelling errors are probably caused by words (or set phrases) that either sound alike or look similar to the ones you really want to use.This practice helps you to be aware of some of the words (or set phrases) that either sound alike or look similar but have totally different meanings or usage.Examine the words (or set phrases) in parentheses (括号) and circle the correct one.No answers are provided.

1.When it comes to eating, I am lucky；I can eat like (a, an) elephant and stay as thin as (a, an) snake.

2. (Its, It's) the biology course with (its, it's) lab requirement that worries me.

3.We all (wonder, wander) why he has the idea to (wonder, wander) about the world.

4.He has three (the other, others, other, another) books to read.

5.Between 40 and 50 (percent, percentage) of American households own a gun, probably the highest (percent, percentage) in the Western world.

6.He'll one day (rise, raise, arise) to be a writer of first rank.

7.Her (diary, dairy) gives an account of what happened.

8.It seems that he has a (causal, casual) attitude towards his work.

9.Most people like to own a fancy car as a symbol of (statue, status, stature).

10.This is an (every day, everyday) outfit (套装) , comfortable and simple-one that could be worn (every day, everyday).

11.She (especially, specially) wants to visit the Louvre (卢浮宫) , where she expects to buy a/an (especially, specially) chosen gift for her mother.

12.A large (amount, number) of people expended (付出) a significant (amount, number) of effort.

13.Professor Herrick wants to (advise, advice) his students, but they believe they need no (advise, advice).

14.The husband is fifty two years old, but he still behaves in a (childlike, childish) manner.In contrast, the wife's face has a (childlike, childish) quality that everyone likes immediately.

15. (Late, Later, Lately, Latter) , Jane and James are always (late, later, lately, latter) for school.But the (late, later, lately, latter) has promised to come on time in the future.