Some of the words in today's quiz may not be all that common, but they can still create problems when confused with similar-sounding words.
You know the drill: ten questions, two minutes, correct answers at the end of the post. (For explanations, examples, and exercises, visit our Glossary of Usage: Index of Commonly Confused Words.)
- Amused or Bemused
Balding, jowly, and dumpy, he has the _____ look of a Norwegian farmer lost in the big city. - Chord or Cord
The governor touched a responsive _____ with voters of both parties, especially with his promise to veto any budget plan that included an increase in taxes. - Click or Clique
The vice president of China belongs to a _____ known as the "princelings," descendants of prominent communist officials. - Climactic or Climatic
The new music director favors full-bodied, robust sound, which can build to daring decibel levels in _____ moments. - Collaborate or Corroborate
The prosecutor closed the case, admitting that he was unable to find witnesses to _____ the allegations made against Mr. Soprano. - Dazed or Dazzled
_____ by months of gladhanding and posturing, the candidates stumbled around the stage like finalists in a dance marathon. - Noisome or Noisy
Nearly 100,000 tons of uncollected garbage lay in _____ heaps on sidewalks and in doorways. - Official or Officious
Julia Child once grabbed a pepper mill from the hands of an _____ waiter before he had a chance to spoil her carefully ordered dish. - Premier or Premiere
We decided to wait for the play to _____ before protesting it. - Riffled or Rifled
With quiet precision, the thief _____ the pouch, placed most of its contents in a briefcase, and walked confidently out of the embassy.
Answers
- bemused
- chord
- clique
- climactic
- corroborate
- Dazed
- noisome
- officious
- premiere
- rifled
More Quizzes on Commonly Confused Words:
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