OOPT Vocabulary and Collocations 2 — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which collocation is correct?

do a mistake
make a mistake (Correct answer)
have a mistake
take a mistake

Correct answer: make a mistake

'Make a mistake' is the correct collocation — 'mistake' collocates with 'make', not 'do', 'have', or 'take'.

Collocations are fixed combinations of words. 'Mistake' collocates with 'make': make a mistake. Common 'make' collocations: make a decision, make progress, make an effort, make an appointment, make a suggestion. Common 'do' collocations: do homework, do business, do damage, do someone a favour.

Question 2: Choose the correct collocation: 'He gave a ___ speech at the ceremony.'

moving (Correct answer)
moved
movable
movement

Correct answer: moving

'Moving speech' is the correct collocation — 'moving' means emotionally affecting.

'Moving' (adjective) = emotionally affecting: 'a moving speech', 'a moving film', 'a moving story.' 'Moved' is the past participle used predicatively: 'I was moved by the speech.' 'Movable' means able to be physically moved. 'Movement' is a noun. The collocation 'moving speech' is standard in English.

Question 3: Which phrase is the correct collocation in British English?

take a shower
make a shower
do a shower
have a shower (Correct answer)

Correct answer: have a shower

In British English, 'have a shower' is the standard collocation. 'Take a shower' is American English.

British English: 'have a shower', 'have a bath', 'have a wash.' American English: 'take a shower', 'take a bath.' Since the OOPT is a British English test (Oxford), 'have a shower' is the expected answer. Both are internationally understood, but in British English contexts 'have' is the standard verb.

Question 4: Complete with the correct collocation: 'The government needs to ___ action on climate change.'

do
make
take (Correct answer)
have

Correct answer: take

'Take action' is the correct collocation — not 'do', 'make', or 'have' action.

'Take action' is a fixed collocation: 'The government needs to take action.' Similarly: 'take measures', 'take steps', 'take precautions'. 'Make' collocates with decision/effort/progress. 'Do' collocates with work/damage/business. 'Have' collocates with experience/time/difficulty.

Question 5: Which adjective best collocates with 'evidence'?

strong evidence (Correct answer)
big evidence
heavy evidence
tall evidence

Correct answer: strong evidence

'Strong evidence' is the correct collocation. 'Big', 'heavy', and 'tall' do not collocate with 'evidence'.

Abstract concepts related to power or persuasion often collocate with 'strong': strong evidence, strong argument, strong influence, strong possibility, strong preference. 'Big' collocates with physical size or informal magnitude (big problem, big deal). 'Heavy' collocates with physical weight or intensity (heavy rain, heavy traffic). 'Tall' describes physical height only.

Question 6: Choose the correct collocation: 'After the accident, she was in ___ shock.'

large
deep (Correct answer)
great
wide

Correct answer: deep

'Deep shock' is the correct collocation. 'Deep' commonly intensifies emotional states.

'Deep' collocates with states of emotional intensity or depth: deep shock, deep sleep, deep regret, deep depression, deep thought. 'Great' can also collocate with some emotional states (great sadness, great joy) but not typically with 'shock'. 'Large' and 'wide' describe physical dimensions and don't collocate with emotional states like shock.

OOPT Vocabulary and Collocations 2

Which collocation is correct?