QUESTION 6-10: WORD CHOICE
PRIMALY ENGLISH OLYMPIAD 1 · 5 lessons
As the astronaut travelled through space, he looked out the window and admired the bright ________ shining in the dark sky.
Correct answer: A. stars
Stars are the right answer because they naturally "shine" brightly in the darkness of space—that's what makes them visible. An astronaut in space would see countless stars scattered across the dark sky, which matches the context perfectly.
Why the others don't work:
- Earth doesn't shine on its own; it only reflects the sun's light, so it wouldn't be described as "shining" in this way.
- Sun is too close and intense—an astronaut wouldn't casually "admire" it shining in the dark sky (plus it would be dangerous to look at).
- Planets are visible but they don't shine as brightly as stars and aren't the typical way we describe what an astronaut would see in space.
The wolf lifted its head toward the night sky and let out a long ________, sending a chilling warning to its pack and rivals.
A. Howl ✓
Wolves are famous for their long, eerie howls that carry across distances—perfect for communicating with their pack and warning rivals, exactly as described in the sentence.
B. Growl ✗
A growl is a low, threatening sound made at close range, not a "long" sound sent across distances to communicate with a distant pack.
C. Chirp ✗
Chirping is a small, high-pitched sound made by birds or small animals—completely wrong for a wolf and doesn't fit the "chilling warning" tone.
D. Roar ✗
Roars are made by large cats (lions, tigers), not wolves. While dramatic, it's not the characteristic sound wolves use to communicate with their pack.
The new smartphone had a high-tech ________ that could recognise the user’s face and unlock the phone within seconds.
Why A (camera) is correct:
A camera is the technology that captures visual images of your face, which is what facial recognition systems need to work. The phrase "recognize the user's face" directly tells you it's a visual technology.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (scanner) - While scanners read information, they're not the right term for facial recognition technology
- C (fingerprint) - This describes a different biometric security method; fingerprints aren't recognized by cameras
- D (battery) - A battery provides power but has nothing to do with recognizing faces or unlocking phones
Ryan spent the evening ______ the internet for information about his upcoming trip.
A. surfing ✓
"Surfing the internet" is a well-established idiom meaning to casually explore online content. It's the most natural and commonly used phrase for this activity.
B. browsing ✗
While "browsing" can mean looking through content, it's less commonly paired with "the internet" in this way—you'd more likely "browse the web" or "browse a website."
C. searching ✗
"Searching" implies a specific goal or query, but Ryan is spending "the evening" doing this, suggesting casual exploration rather than a targeted hunt.
D. scrolling ✗
"Scrolling" describes the physical action of moving through content, not the broader activity of exploring the internet for information.
After a cool night, the farmers noticed the morning ________ covering the grass and crops.
Why A is correct:
Dew is water vapor that condenses into tiny droplets on surfaces like grass during cool nights—exactly what the sentence describes.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (mist): Mist is fog that floats in the air; it doesn't "cover" grass and crops on the ground
- C (rain): Rain falls from clouds and would be described differently; it's not specifically a "morning" phenomenon after a cool night
- D (breeze): A breeze is moving air, not a visible substance that covers plants
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