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Health and Lifestyle Collocations: Fitness, Sleep, Diet, and Habits: correct answers

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Health and Lifestyle Collocations: Fitness, Sleep, Diet, and Habits

Do you maintain a balanced diet or keep one? Can you catch a cold or do you get it? English health collocations follow specific patterns that native speakers use naturally — but learners often guess incorrectly.

This challenge covers essential health and lifestyle word partnerships: fitness collocations like "get in shape" and "work out," sleep expressions such as "fall asleep" and "get enough sleep," diet and nutrition phrases including "follow a balanced diet" and "cut down on sugar," illness terminology like "come down with flu" and "make a recovery," and habit-changing language such as "break bad habits" and "give up smoking." You'll encounter real-world scenarios from doctor consultations, fitness journals, and wellness conversations across 24 questions in single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats.

Try the quiz to check your knowledge!

EasyMediumA2 | Elementary | Pre-intermediateA2B1 | IntermediateB1B2 | Upper IntermediateB2AdjectivePast tensePhrasal verbPhrasePrepositionVerbCollocationsVocabulary

Correct answers

Question 1

Complete Jake's story about his recent illness by choosing the correct word for each gap.

Last week I came down with a terrible flu. I had to take time off work for three days. Fortunately, I made a full recovery by the weekend.

Last week I came down with a terrible flu.

"Come down with" is the standard collocation for becoming ill with something.

I had to take time off work for three days.

"Take time off" is the correct collocation meaning to be absent from work, usually for personal reasons.

Fortunately, I made a full recovery by the weekend.

"Make a recovery" is the natural collocation for getting better from an illness.

Question 2

Help complete this student's diary entry about getting sick.
"I think I'm _________________________ down with the flu. I have a _________________________ fever and I _________________________ under the weather. I should probably _________________________ in sick to work tomorrow."

coming down with the flu, high fever, feel under the weather, call in sick

We "come down with" illnesses, have "high" fevers, "feel under the weather" when unwell, and "call in sick" to work.

Question 3

Complete Emma's wellness blog post by choosing the most natural word for each blank.

To maintain good health, I've learned to cope with stress better. I also make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day and get regular exercise at least four times a week.

To maintain good health.

"Maintain good health" is the most common and natural collocation in everyday English.

I've learned to cope with stress better.

"Cope with stress" is the standard collocation for dealing with stress effectively.

I also make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day.

"Stay hydrated" is the most widely used collocation for maintaining proper fluid levels.

And get regular exercise at least four times a week.

"Get exercise" is the most natural collocation for engaging in physical activity regularly.

Question 4

Choose the correct word to complete the doctor's recommendation.

"You need to ___ at least 8 hours of sleep every night for optimal health."

The correct answer is get.

We "get sleep" - this is the most natural collocation when talking about obtaining the right amount of sleep for health. "Take" is used with medicine or breaks, "make" suggests creating something, and "catch" refers to brief naps or sleep when tired, not regular nightly sleep duration.

Question 5

Help Sarah complete her fitness journal by choosing the correct word for each gap.

Yesterday I decided to get in shape for summer. I started with a morning jog to build my stamina, then did some yoga to improve my flexibility.

Yesterday I decided to get in shape for summer.

We use "get in shape" as a common collocation meaning to become physically fit.

I started with a morning jog to build my stamina.

"Build stamina" is the standard collocation for developing endurance and staying power.

Then did some yoga to improve my flexibility.

"Improve flexibility" is the most natural collocation for enhancing range of motion and suppleness.

Question 6

Choose the correct word to complete the nutritionist's advice.

"To stay healthy, you should ___ a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables."

The correct answer is maintain.

We "maintain a balanced diet" - this collocation emphasizes the ongoing effort required to keep eating healthily over time.

Question 7

Help the nutritionist complete her advice! Select ALL the correct dietary recommendations.
For better health, you should:

The correct answers are follow a balanced diet, cut down on sugar, and go on a diet.

We "follow" a diet (not "make"), "cut down on" something to reduce it (not "cut up on"), and we "go on" a diet (not "go in").

Question 8

Complete the wellness coach's advice with the most natural verb combinations.
If you want to _________________________ your immune system, you should _________________________ plenty of vitamins and _________________________ down on junk food. Also try to _________________________ your stress levels through meditation.

build your immune system, consume plenty of vitamins, cut down on junk food, manage your stress levels

We "build" our immune system, "consume" nutrients, "cut down on" unhealthy foods, and "manage" stress levels in these standard health collocations.

Question 9

Complete Tom's bedtime story! Select ALL the phrases that correctly describe good sleep habits.
Tom's doctor recommended that he should:

The correct answers are get enough sleep, fall asleep, and have a good night's sleep.

We "get" sleep (not "take"), we "fall asleep" (not "fall sleeping"), and we "have" a good night's sleep (not "make").

Question 10

Complete Sarah's conversation about her healthy lifestyle goals using the most common English collocations.
"I'm trying to _________________________ weight for summer. I've started to _________________________ on a diet and _________________________ up jogging. I also want to _________________________ up smoking completely."

lose weight, go on a diet, take up jogging, give up smoking

We use the standard collocations: "lose weight" (most common), "go on a diet", "take up" new activities, and "give up" bad habits.

Question 11

Complete Alex's wellness journey! Select ALL the correct health and lifestyle collocations.
To maintain his well-being, Alex tries to:

The correct answers are stay in good health, lead an active lifestyle, maintain a healthy weight, and boost his immune system.

We "stay" in good health (not "keep"), "lead" a lifestyle (not "live"), "maintain" weight (not "keep"), and "boost" means to strengthen or improve (not "push").

Question 12

Complete the health advice with the most natural collocations.
To maintain good health, you should _________________________ regular exercise and _________________________ a balanced diet. It's also important to _________________________ enough sleep every night.

get regular exercise, follow a balanced diet, have enough sleep

We "get exercise" (most natural collocation), "follow a diet" (standard expression for adhering to dietary plans), and "have sleep" (common way to express getting rest).

Question 13

Complete the patient's medical journey! Select ALL the correct expressions about illness and recovery.
During his illness, Jake had to:

The correct answers are catch a cold, come down with the flu, make a full recovery, and get over his illness.

We "catch" illnesses (not "take"), "come down with" means to become ill, we "make" a recovery (not "do"), and "get over" means to recover from illness (not "get around").

Question 14

Choose the correct word to complete the sleep specialist's observation.

"After using the new mattress, patients report falling into a much ___ sleep."

The correct answer is deep.

We have "deep sleep" - this collocation describes the most restful, restorative stage of sleep when we're hardest to wake up.

Question 15

Help Maria describe her new fitness routine! Select ALL the correct collocations that complete her sentences.
Maria wants to improve her health, so she decided to:

The correct answers are get in shape, work out, and stay in shape.

We say "get in shape" (not "make in shape"), "work out" (not "work up"), and "stay in shape" (not "keep in form").

Question 16

Choose the correct word to complete Jake's New Year resolution.

"This year, I'm determined to ___ my bad habit of eating junk food late at night."

The correct answer is break.

We "break a bad habit" - this is the standard collocation for stopping an unhealthy or unwanted behavior pattern.

Question 17

Help David tell his story about changing his lifestyle by choosing the right words for each gap.

I used to lead an unhealthy lifestyle, staying up late and eating junk food. But I finally decided to kick the habit of smoking and give up processed foods completely.

I used to lead an unhealthy lifestyle.

"Lead a lifestyle" is the correct collocation for living in a particular way.

But I finally decided to kick the habit of smoking.

"Kick a habit" is a strong collocation meaning to successfully stop a bad habit.

And give up processed foods completely.

"Give up" is the perfect phrasal verb collocation for stopping or abandoning something.

Question 18

Choose the correct word to complete Maria's fitness goal.

"My main objective this summer is to ___ some weight before my wedding."

The correct answer is lose.

We "lose weight" - this is the most common and natural collocation for reducing body weight through diet and exercise. The other options don't fit the context of wanting to reduce weight before a wedding.

Question 19

Complete Tom's bedtime routine story by choosing the appropriate word for each gap.

Every night I try to get up on sleep since I've been feeling tired lately. I always turn off all devices an hour before bed, then I fall off to sleep while listening to soft music.

Every night I try to catch up on sleep.

"Catch up on sleep" is the correct collocation meaning to compensate for lost sleep.

I always switch off all devices an hour before bed.

"Switch off" is the most natural collocation for turning off electronic devices.

Then I drift off to sleep while listening to soft music.

"Drift off to sleep" perfectly describes the gradual, peaceful process of falling asleep.

Question 20

Help Sarah describe her journey to better health! Select ALL the correct ways to talk about changing bad habits.
Sarah decided to improve her lifestyle by:

The correct answers are giving up smoking, breaking bad habits, cutting back on junk food, and taking up jogging.

We "give up" bad habits (not "give out"), "break" habits (not "crack"), "cut back on" means to reduce (not "cut behind"), and "take up" means to start a new activity.

Question 21

Help Maria describe her healthy eating journey by choosing the correct word for each gap.

Last month I decided to follow a balanced diet. Now I always have a nutritious breakfast and try to cut down on sugar throughout the day.

Last month I decided to follow a balanced diet.

"Follow a diet" is the standard collocation for adhering to a specific eating plan.

Now I always have a nutritious breakfast.

"Have breakfast" is the most common and natural collocation for eating the morning meal.

And try to cut down on sugar throughout the day.

"Cut down on" is the perfect phrasal verb collocation meaning to reduce consumption of something.

Question 22

Choose the correct word to complete Emma's explanation for missing work.

"I couldn't come to the office yesterday because I ___ a terrible cold."

The correct answer is caught.

We "catch a cold" - this is the standard collocation for becoming ill with a cold. We use "catch" with contagious illnesses.

Question 23

Complete the fitness enthusiast's blog post with the appropriate collocations.
Yesterday I _________________________ a marathon and really _________________________ my limits! Now I need to _________________________ my body time to recover. Tomorrow I'll just do some light stretching to _________________________ in shape.

ran a marathon, pushed my limits, give my body time, stay in shape

We "run" marathons, "push" our limits, "give" our body time to recover, and "stay" in shape.

Question 24

Help the doctor complete her patient notes by choosing the correct verb for each medical condition.
The patient has been _________________________ from chronic insomnia for several months now.
She is currently _________________________ off a persistent cold that started last week.
I strongly recommend that she _________________________ the habit of drinking coffee before bedtime.

suffering from insomnia, fighting off a cold, breaks the habit

We "suffer from" medical conditions, "fight off" infections, and "break" bad habits. These are standard medical collocations.

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