IMO Practice Test — Vocabulary: Collocations & Word Families
8 Questions • 15 min • Olympiad level
15:00
Question 1 of 8
Choose the correct word form: 'The scientist's ___ led to a breakthrough. (persevere)'
persevere
perseverance
persevering
perseveres
Explanation: A noun is needed → 'perseverance'.
Question 2 of 8
Which collocation is wrong?
heavy rain
strong coffee
fast food
high mistake
Explanation: We say 'big/serious mistake', not 'high mistake'.
Question 3 of 8
Fill with the right derivative: 'She handled the crisis ___. (decision)'
decision
decide
decisive
decisively
Explanation: An adverb follows the verb 'handled' → 'decisively'.
Question 4 of 8
Choose the formal equivalent of 'ask for':
request
beg
want
look for
Explanation: 'request' is the formal word.
Question 5 of 8
Which sentence uses the correct word family member? '___ is the key to success.'
Determine
Determined
Determination
Determinedly
Explanation: A noun subject is needed → 'Determination'.
Question 6 of 8
Choose the correct collocation: 'They ___ business with several countries.'
make
do
take
have only
Explanation: 'do business'.
Question 7 of 8
Pick the right form: 'His ___ remarks offended many. (thought)'
thoughtless
thought
thoughtfully
thinking
Explanation: An adjective before 'remarks' → 'thoughtless'.
Question 8 of 8
Which is the correct fixed expression? 'The plan was, ___, a failure.' (overall)
by and large
on the contrary
in case
for instance
Explanation: 'by and large' = on the whole / overall.