Confusing words

The sentences below are all missing one word. Four possible answers follow each sentence. Choose the best answer in each case. Note that each set of answers includes some words that are often confused with one another, either because: (a) they are related to the same topic, but have a different meaning; (b) they look similar but have a different meaning; (c) they are English words which have a similar-looking word in another language but which have a different meaning (we call these words false friends).

1. Try to make your report as __________ as possible: only give us the facts, and not your opinions.

2. Environmental inspectors regularly __________ our kitchens and other food preparation areas to make sure they conform to regulations.

3. __________ workers are often rewarded with higher salaries and other benefits.

4. Airlines are already increasing their prices on the __________ that fuel prices are going to rise.

5. The fire caused a lot of __________ to the building and factory machinery.

6. Government subsidies helped to __________ many companies being forced to close down.

7. The manager made it clear that he intended to __________ down some new rules to enforce workplace discipline.

8. Cuts in advertising will have a serious __________ on sales.

9. If you want to take photographs, you will need to apply for a __________.

10. At the meeting, the manager talked __________ about the need for better attendance and punctuality.

11. The office will be closed __________ it is being decorated.

12. Can you __________ me on the best course of action to take?

13. Economic __________ slowly stagnated as the recession became worse.

14. __________ their regular daytime job, many people do extra work in the evening.

15. The computer system crashed on Monday, then again on Wednesday and finally today. These ________ breakdowns are wasting us time and costing us a lot of money.

16. She was very __________ of our efforts to help.

17. The manager said he believed we would win the contract, but I knew that we didn't really stand a / an __________.

18. The proposals he put forward were excellent. __________, it quickly became apparent that they would work when put into practice.

19. We need to remain __________ to the needs of our customers, and react accordingly.

20. A __________ amount of working hours are lost every year because of illness and absenteeism.

21. The new salesman refused to wear a tie on __________.

22. Nobody raised any __________ when we insisted on opening an hour earlier.

23. The museum contains several __________ works of Renaissance art, including two paintings by Raphael, one by Dürer, one by Titian, and an early sketch by Tintoretto.

24. Despite the recent economic recovery, many people are still looking for __________.

25. The Avicenna Partnership is a __________ company with a long and successful sales history.

26. Because of increased operating costs, we have been forced to __________ our prices.

27. The bank has said it will be happy to __________ us the money provided we have suitable collateral.

28. When we leave the office tonight, __________ me to turn everything off and lock up properly.

29. Because of the current __________ situation, we have been forced to close down several of our city center outlets.

30. Shortly before you hold a meeting, it is a good idea to send everyone in the office a __________ outlining the main points to be discussed.