English Vocabulary Fill in the Blanks

Blunder means to move clumsily or bump into things accidentally, which fits perfectly with the context of someone in the dark hitting a table. The other options don't make sense: brag (boast), bother (worry/trouble), buy (purchase), and brood (think deeply about something depressing).

Bother means to trouble oneself about something or take the trouble to do it. The sentence means he told her not to worry about or take the trouble with the washing-up because he would handle it himself. Blunder (clumsy mistake), brag (boast), buy (purchase), and brood (think deeply) don't fit this context.

Brag means to boast about or show off one's achievements excessively. This perfectly matches the context of someone talking too much about what they've accomplished. Blunder (mistake), bother (worry), buy (purchase), and brood (think deeply) are unrelated to boasting.

Brood means to think deeply, worry, or dwell on something at length, especially something depressing. When someone is depressed, they tend to brood - think obsessively about their troubles. Blunder (clumsy move), brag (boast), bother (worry), and buy (purchase) don't fit this emotional context.

Buy time is an idiom meaning to delay or stall to gain more time. Union leaders prolonging negotiations to delay action is literally 'buying time' - using stalling tactics. Blunder (mistake), brag (boast), bother (worry), and brood (dwell on thoughts) don't fit this strategic delay context.

Calmed means to soothe or make someone/something quieter and less agitated. A gentle voice would naturally calm a crying baby, reducing their distress. Called (shouted/requested), cadged (begged/borrowed), ceased (stopped), and careered (moved wildly) don't fit this soothing context.

Cadged means to beg, borrow, or obtain something by asking repeatedly (often informally). Someone frequently getting 'lifts' (rides in cars) from friends by asking is cadging them. Called (phoned/shouted), calmed (soothed), ceased (stopped), and careered (rushed) don't match this informal borrowing context.

Ceased means to stop or come to an end. Hostilities (fighting/conflict) stopping at midnight is a formal way to say the fighting ended. Called (summoned), cadged (begged), calmed (soothed), and careered (rushed) don't match this military/formal context about ending hostilities.

Carved means to cut or shape something from a material. Early human tools were literally carved (cut and shaped) from stone and bone. Cast (molded), catered (served food), captivated (fascinated), and challenged (tested) don't fit the context of prehistoric tool-making.

Called round is a phrasal verb meaning to visit someone (often briefly or socially). When you 'call round' to see someone, you're visiting them. Cadged (begged), calmed (soothed), ceased (stopped), and careered (rushed) don't fit this social visiting context.

Careered means to move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way. When a car careers off the road, it's rushing or moving violently out of control into a ditch. Called (summoned), cadged (begged), calmed (soothed), and ceased (stopped) don't convey this uncontrolled, violent movement.

To be captivated means to be fascinated or entranced by something. When someone is captivated by scenery, they are completely absorbed in its beauty. The other verbs (cast, carved, catered, challenged) do not convey this sense of being mesmerized or enchanted.

The phrase 'cast doubt' is a fixed expression meaning to cause uncertainty or skepticism about something. When new evidence casts doubt on a conviction, it creates reasons to question its validity. The other verbs (carved, catered, captivated, challenged) don't form this specific idiomatic expression.

To cater for means to provide what is wanted or needed by a particular group or type of person. A programme that caters for all tastes appeals to everyone's preferences. The other verbs don't convey this sense of accommodating diverse preferences.

To challenge means to question the truth or validity of something. When someone challenges a newspaper story, they are disputing its accuracy. The other verbs (cast, carved, catered, captivated) don't convey this sense of disputing or questioning.

To cheer means to shout encouragement for someone. A crowd cheering someone is actively supporting and encouraging them to win. The other verbs (cherishing, chanting, choking, chatting) don't convey this sense of vocal encouragement and support.

To cherish means to hold something dear or maintain a hope despite its improbability. A forlorn hope is a slim or hopeless prospect, and cherishing it means keeping it alive emotionally. The other verbs don't convey this sense of nurturing a hope or feeling.

To choke means to have difficulty breathing because something is blocking the throat. Being scared of choking on a fish bone is a common fear related to eating fish. The other verbs don't relate to this physical danger while eating.

To chant means to shout or sing something rhythmically and repeatedly, as fans do at sporting events. Fans in stadiums often chant slogans or team names together. The other verbs don't capture this collective, rhythmic vocal expression.

To chat means to have an informal conversation. Getting into chatting with someone is discovering common ground through conversation. The other verbs don't convey this sense of discovering shared history through talk.

To chew means to bite and work food in the mouth. Chewing on the end of a pencil is a common nervous habit while thinking. The other verbs don't describe this repetitive action with an object.

When teeth are chattering, they are knocking together involuntarily due to cold or fear. This is a physical response to extreme cold. The other verbs don't describe this involuntary reaction.

To chase up means to actively pursue something to get it done, especially delayed tasks. Chasing up orders means following up on them to ensure completion. The other verbs don't convey this sense of actively pursuing unfinished work.

The correct answer is 'cheating' because the context of dealing with the taxman for years implies avoiding or evading taxes, which is commonly described as cheating the taxman. 'Chattering' means talking excessively, 'chewing' means biting food, 'chasing' means pursuing, and 'chopping' means cutting into pieces - none of which make sense in this context.

The correct answer is 'chopping' because the context of preparing wood for a fire involves cutting it into smaller pieces. 'Chattering' means talking, 'cheating' means dishonesty, 'chewing' means biting food, and 'chasing' means pursuing - none of which relate to preparing firewood.