Review answers & explanations
Before booking a workshop, I read reviews that seemed almost too positive ___ be useful.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
Before booking a workshop, I read reviews that seemed almost too positive to be useful. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
Every account used similar phrases, leaving me doubtful ___ how much variety of experience was represented.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: about
Every account used similar phrases, leaving me doubtful about how much variety of experience was represented. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
That alone did not prove the reviews were false; ___, it prompted further questions.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: nevertheless
That alone did not prove the reviews were false; nevertheless, it prompted further questions. The linking adverb expresses the logical relationship and fits the punctuation.
I wanted to know what participants had actually ___ from the course.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: gained
I wanted to know what participants had actually gained from the course. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
A detailed review described a tutor ___ feedback had been particularly helpful.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: whose
A detailed review described a tutor whose feedback had been particularly helpful. Whose expresses possession and is followed by the noun belonging to someone or something.
Unlike the other comments, it acknowledged a limitation ___ well.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: as
Unlike the other comments, it acknowledged a limitation as well. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
The sessions moved too quickly for someone unfamiliar ___ the software.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: with
The sessions moved too quickly for someone unfamiliar with the software. This word completes the prepositional pattern in the sentence.
That qualification made the account more useful, ___ less.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: not
That qualification made the account more useful, not less. Not ... but contrasts what is rejected with what is intended.
I asked the organiser whether introductory materials could ___ provided beforehand.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: be
I asked the organiser whether introductory materials could be provided beforehand. A passive construction requires be + past participle, with the appropriate tense.
Only after receiving an answer ___ I decide to book.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: did
Only after receiving an answer did I decide to book. An inverted conditional uses had + subject + past participle. After a fronted negative expression, put an auxiliary before the subject.
The workshop turned out to suit my needs, although it fell short ___ some reviewers' enthusiastic promises.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: of
The workshop turned out to suit my needs, although it fell short of some reviewers' enthusiastic promises. This is the established combination or expression required by the sentence.
Had I relied on the ratings alone, I might have ___ unrealistic expectations.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: formed
Had I relied on the ratings alone, I might have formed unrealistic expectations. A perfect construction uses have/has/had followed by a past participle.
I now pay more attention to specific details than ___ the number of stars.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
I now pay more attention to specific details than to the number of stars. Keep the grammatical forms parallel on either side of the contrast or comparison.
A criticism can be informative without ___ decisive.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: being
A criticism can be informative without being decisive. This verb, expression or preposition takes an -ing form in this construction.
The most helpful review is one that allows me ___ judge relevance for myself.
Your answer: Unanswered
Correct answer: to
The most helpful review is one that allows me to judge relevance for myself. The construction requires a to-infinitive.
