Your taskFill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.anticipationassuranceattainmentcoincidencedevotiondiminutiondistortionerosionmaturityrefinementrelaxationsuspensionunificationcompilationdepression0 / 15 answeredYour score0 / 150%Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.1There was growing among investors as the central bank prepared to announce its interest rate decision.Correct answer: anticipation▸ Why?"Anticipation" is the abstract noun (-tion suffix) derived from "anticipate"; it fills the slot after "growing" as the subject noun; "anticipating" would need a subject and auxiliary verb to form a complete predicate.2The government offered no formal that the programme would continue beyond the next election cycle.Correct answer: assurance▸ Why?"Assurance" is the noun form (-ance suffix) used after "formal" to denote a guarantee; "assuring" as a gerund could technically follow "no formal" but is far less idiomatic in formal writing than the noun form.3The region's low levels of educational have been linked to high rates of long-term unemployment.Correct answer: attainment▸ Why?"Attainment" (noun, -ment suffix) is the fixed academic collocation for educational achievement; "attaining" is a gerund but "educational attaining" is not an established phrase.4It was no mere that both committees reached the same conclusion independently.Correct answer: coincidence▸ Why?"Coincidence" is the noun required after "no mere" — a set phrase meaning more than accidental overlap; "coinciding" is a gerund requiring a different syntactic frame.5Her lifelong to the preservation of indigenous languages earned her an honorary doctorate.Correct answer: devotion▸ Why?"Devotion" (noun, -tion suffix) is the standard nominalisation of "devote" in formal writing; "devoting" would require the structure "Her lifelong devoting of time to..." which changes the meaning.6Researchers warned that a in Arctic sea ice could accelerate global warming through a feedback loop.Correct answer: diminution▸ Why?"Diminution" is the formal academic noun (-tion suffix) meaning a lessening or reduction; "diminishing" is a participial adjective and cannot fill a noun slot after the article "a".7The of historical facts in the textbook prompted widespread criticism from academic historians.Correct answer: distortion▸ Why?"Distortion" (noun, -tion suffix) fills the subject position after "The"; "distorting" as a gerund is possible but less formal, and "distorted" is an adjective that cannot head a noun phrase here.8Coastal has accelerated dramatically over the past decade due to rising sea levels and increased storm activity.Correct answer: erosion▸ Why?"Erosion" is the standard nominalisation (-ion suffix) of "erode"; "coastal erosion" is the established fixed phrase in environmental science; "eroding" as a gerund is possible in informal writing but not idiomatic here.9Emotional is considered an important predictor of success in leadership roles.Correct answer: maturity▸ Why?"Maturity" is the abstract noun (-ity suffix) required after "Emotional" as the head of the subject noun phrase; "maturing" would require a predicate verb to form a complete sentence.10The latest version of the algorithm represents a significant over its predecessor in terms of accuracy.Correct answer: refinement▸ Why?"Refinement" (noun, -ment suffix) collocates with "a significant ___" to mean an improvement or enhancement; "refining" would require "a significant refining of..." which is less idiomatic.11Mindfulness practices promote of the nervous system and have been shown to reduce cortisol levels.Correct answer: relaxation▸ Why?"Relaxation" (noun, -tion suffix) is the standard nominalisation used in medical and psychological contexts; "relaxing" is an adjective (e.g. "a relaxing exercise") and cannot fill a noun slot after "promote".12The of clinical trials was ordered after three participants reported adverse reactions to the treatment.Correct answer: suspension▸ Why?"Suspension" (noun, -ion suffix) is the nominalisation required after "The" as subject; "The suspending of clinical trials" is grammatically possible but far less formal than "The suspension of...".13 of the two regional transport networks under a single authority was debated for over a decade.Correct answer: unification▸ Why?"Unification" (-tion suffix via -fy → -fication) is the standard political and administrative noun; "unifying" as a gerund subject is grammatically possible but less common in formal policy writing.14The of statistical data from across twenty research sites proved far more time-consuming than anticipated.Correct answer: compilation▸ Why?"Compilation" is the nominalisation (-ation suffix) of "compile"; "compilation of data" is the more formal and idiomatic academic expression compared to "compiling of data".15Economic in the manufacturing sector led to widespread redundancies across the northern regions.Correct answer: depression▸ Why?"Depression" is the standard economic noun (-ion suffix) meaning a sustained downturn; "depressing" is an adjective and cannot head a noun phrase after "Economic" in this context.Check AnswersPlease answer at least one question first.Found an error in this exercise? 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