Please help me with these questions.
Dear all!
I’ve practiced my English grammar today and there are some questions that I couldn’t figure out. Could you help me with the following questions?

Q103.
The profits we made this quarter were well below the expectations that analysts had made.
1. Over
2. Under
3. Below
4. Ahead of
The answer is 3. Below. But why can I choose over/under/ahead of?

Q107
HTDC Electronics’ involvement in the computer market accounts for two-thirds of the company’s production.
1. Features
2. Takes
3. Accounts
4. Calculates

Can we choose #2 or #4?

Q116
The Internet-based communication system is an effective means of discussing matters with people around the world.
1. Means
2. Approach
3. Technique
4. Instrument

I was totally confused with these four answers…
They have same meanings!!

Question

Please help me with these questions.
Dear all!
I’ve practiced my English grammar today and there are some questions that I couldn’t figure out. Could you help me with the following questions?

Q103.
The profits we made this quarter were well below the expectations that analysts had made.
1.	Over
2.	Under
3.	Below
4.	Ahead of
The answer is 3. Below. But why can I choose over/under/ahead of?

Q107
HTDC Electronics’ involvement in the computer market accounts for two-thirds of the company’s production.
1.	Features
2.	Takes
3.	Accounts
4.	Calculates

Can we choose #2 or #4?

Q116
The Internet-based communication system is an effective means of discussing matters with people around the world.
1.	Means
2.	Approach
3.	Technique
4.	Instrument

I was totally confused with these four answers…
They have same meanings!!

Answer

A long question - should be three separate questions - but I'll give it a burl. :)

In most of these questions, there's a collocation that you just have to know.  Looking at individual definitions will just lead you to the wrong answer.  The other hint is how the word functions grammatically.

103) The expression you need to know is "below expectations". Imagine you're looking at a graph.

107) "Accounts" is the only answer that needs "for" to follow it. The other three answers are transitive verbs, meaning they need a direct object (no preposition).

116) Sorry, they don't have the same meanings. For a start, "instrument" is a physical thing and "technique" is a system.  The preposition "of" gives you the correct answer: means of / approach to / technique for / instrument for.

Answers · 1

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