Your taskFill in the gap in each sentence with the correct word or phrase.signifyestimateformulateequatedominateillustratelocatenegatereactapproximateconcentrateimplicateinvestigategeneratemodify0 / 15 answeredYour score0 / 150%Keep practising! Focus on the explanations below.1Repeated failures in standardised tests a fundamental problem with the existing curriculum design.Correct answer: signify▸ Why?"Signify" is the verb related to "significant," meaning to be a sign of or indicate; "significance" is the noun and cannot fill the finite verb slot after the subject.2Economists that reducing carbon emissions by 30% would cost approximately 1% of global GDP per year.Correct answer: estimate▸ Why?"Estimate" serves as a finite verb here meaning to calculate approximately; "estimation" is the noun form and would make the sentence ungrammatical without restructuring.3The committee worked for three days to a policy balancing economic growth with environmental protection.Correct answer: formulate▸ Why?"Formulate" = "formula" + -ate, meaning to create a systematic plan; "formulation" is the noun and cannot follow the infinitive marker "to" in a verb slot.4Many scholars argue it is misleading to financial prosperity with personal happiness or social well-being.Correct answer: equate▸ Why?"Equate" means to treat two things as equivalent; "equation" is the noun — "equalise" is the most tempting wrong choice but means to make equal, not to compare.5The multinational corporation began to the regional market within just two years of its overseas expansion.Correct answer: dominate▸ Why?"Dominate" means to have controlling influence; "domination" and "dominant" are noun and adjective forms — neither can follow "began to" as a verb infinitive.6The researcher used a series of comparative case studies to how poverty and poor health are mutually reinforcing.Correct answer: illustrate▸ Why?"Illustrate" means to explain through examples or visual representations; "illustration" is the noun and cannot follow the infinitive "to" in a verb position.7Investigators worked for three weeks to the original source of contamination in the public water supply.Correct answer: locate▸ Why?"Locate" means to find the exact position of something; "location" is the noun — only the verb infinitive can follow "worked for three weeks to."8The positive results from the first experiment did not the concerns raised in earlier preliminary reviews.Correct answer: negate▸ Why?"Negate" means to cause something to lose its validity or effect; "negation" is the noun and "negative" is the adjective — neither fits the verb slot after "did not."9Plant and animal cells differently to temperature changes, reflecting their distinct metabolic processes.Correct answer: react▸ Why?"React" means to respond to a stimulus; "reaction" is the noun — a finite verb agreeing with the plural subject "cells" is required.10When precise census data is unavailable, demographers population growth using historical birth-rate projections.Correct answer: approximate▸ Why?"Approximate" functions as both adjective and verb; as a verb it means to estimate roughly — "approximation" is the noun and cannot fill the finite verb slot after the subject.11The new urban renewal policy aims to public investment in the twelve most economically deprived districts.Correct answer: concentrate▸ Why?"Concentrate" means to direct resources toward a specific target; "concentration" is the noun — "aims to" requires a base verb in the infinitive form.12The newly uncovered forensic evidence was sufficient to the senior official in the financial fraud case.Correct answer: implicate▸ Why?"Implicate" means to show that someone was involved in wrongdoing; "implication" is the noun — only a base verb can follow the infinitive marker "to."13Parliament voted to appoint an independent committee to the claims of systematic electoral interference.Correct answer: investigate▸ Why?"Investigate" means to examine something carefully and officially; "investigation" is the noun — only the base verb can follow an infinitive marker.14Solar and wind installations together enough electricity to meet approximately 30% of national demand.Correct answer: generate▸ Why?"Generate" means to produce; "generation" is the noun — the finite verb slot in the main clause requires a base verb agreeing with its plural subject.15Scientists must their theoretical models whenever new experimental data contradicts prior predictions.Correct answer: modify▸ Why?"Modify" means to make partial changes to something; "modification" is the noun — the modal "must" requires a base verb, not a noun, to complete the predicate.Check AnswersPlease answer at least one question first.Found an error in this exercise? Let us know.