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Life Admin Collocations: Money, Shopping, Tech & Daily Errands: correct answers

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Life Admin Collocations: Money, Shopping, Tech & Daily Errands

Do you shop around for deals or shop for deals? Can you run a system scan or do you make a system scan? English collocations — natural word partnerships — are essential for sounding fluent in everyday situations, but they're rarely taught systematically.

This challenge covers the most common collocations you need for daily life admin tasks. You'll practice shopping expressions (shop around, grab bargains, stock up on), money and banking phrases (apply for a mortgage, stick to a budget, pay bills), tech troubleshooting language (run a scan, boot up, back up files), and everyday errands (make appointments, run errands, pick up prescriptions). The 20 questions use single-choice, drop-down, drag-and-drop, and multi-choice formats to test your instinct for natural English combinations.

Try the quiz to check your knowledge!

EasyMediumB1 | IntermediateB1B2 | Upper IntermediateB2AdjectivePhrasal verbPrepositionVerbCollocations

Correct answers

Question 1

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about shopping habits.

Sarah always _____ around for the best deals before making any major purchase.

The correct answer is shops.

"Shop around" is the correct collocation meaning to compare prices and options at different stores before buying something. It's a common phrasal verb in consumer contexts.

Question 2

Help Maria describe her morning tech troubles.
My laptop decided to _________________________ right in the middle of my presentation! I had to quickly _________________________ my backup computer. Thankfully, I always _________________________ my important files to the cloud, so nothing was lost.

crash - when a computer or device suddenly stops working or freezes.

boot up - means to start or turn on a computer system.

back up my important files - means to create copies of files for safety and storage.

Question 3

Join Mike as he organizes his busy day by completing these everyday tasks.

I have to make an appointment with my dentist. Don't forget to pick up your prescription from the pharmacy. I need to drop off these documents at the office.

Make an appointment - We "make appointments" with doctors, dentists, and other professionals.

Pick up your prescription - "Pick up" is used when collecting something that's ready and waiting for you.

Drop off these documents - "Drop off" means to deliver or leave something at a specific place.

Question 4

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about technology troubleshooting.

My laptop has been acting strange lately, so I decided to _____ a system scan to check for viruses.

The correct answer is run.

"Run a scan" is the standard collocation in computing contexts. We "run" programs, scans, diagnostics, and other computer processes.

Question 5

Help Tom navigate online shopping by choosing the most natural collocations for each situation.

I love to browse through different websites before buying anything. Make sure to read the customer reviews before ordering. I need to track my package to see when it will arrive.

Browse through different websites - "Browse" is the most natural collocation for casually looking through websites while shopping.

Read the customer reviews - "Read reviews" is the standard collocation for examining customer feedback.

Track my package - "Track a package" is the specific term used in shipping and delivery contexts.

Question 6

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about household responsibilities.

My mother asked me to _____ the dishes after dinner while she puts the baby to bed.

The correct answer is do.

"Do the dishes" is the standard collocation for washing dishes. We use "do" with many household chores like "do the laundry," "do the cleaning," and "do the shopping."

Question 7

Help Emma solve her technology problems by selecting the correct words.

My laptop won't connect to the Wi-Fi network. I need to charge my phone battery before it dies. Can you help me install this new software on my computer?

Connect to the Wi-Fi - We "connect to" networks, not "link to" or "join to."

Charge my phone battery - "Charge the battery" is the standard way to add power to electronic devices.

Install this new software - "Install software" is the technical term for putting programs on a computer.

Question 8

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about banking activities.

Before buying the house, they needed to _____ for a mortgage at several different banks.

The correct answer is apply.

"Apply for a mortgage" is the standard collocation in banking. You apply for loans, mortgages, credit cards, and other financial products.

Question 9

Complete Lisa's money management sentences with the most natural word choices.

I'm trying to save money for my summer vacation. This month I need to stick to my budget more carefully. I always withdraw cash from the ATM on Fridays.

Save money - "Save money" means to keep money for future use rather than spending it.

Stick to my budget - "Stick to" means to follow something closely, especially a plan or limit.

Withdraw cash - "Withdraw" is the formal term for taking money out of your bank account.

Question 10

Tom is describing his shopping trip to a friend. Select ALL the natural collocations he might use about his purchases.

The correct answers are I got a good deal on those shoes, The groceries were on sale, and I paid by credit card.

We "get a deal" on items, items are "on sale" (not "in sale"), and we "pay by credit card" (the preposition "by" is used for payment methods, not "with").

Question 11

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about household finances.

Don't forget to _____ the electricity bill before the due date, or they'll charge us a late fee.

The correct answer is pay.

"Pay the bill" is the correct collocation for settling financial obligations. We pay bills, invoices, and other charges.

Question 12

Help Sarah complete her thoughts about managing her monthly finances.
I need to _________________________ my budget this month because I overspent last week. I'm trying to _________________________ unnecessary expenses like takeout coffee. My goal is to _________________________ my emergency fund before the holidays.

stick to my budget - means to follow or adhere to your planned spending limits.

cut back on unnecessary expenses - means to reduce or decrease spending on non-essential items.

build up my emergency fund - means to gradually increase or accumulate money in savings.

Question 13

Lisa is planning her busy day. Select ALL the standard collocations that are most commonly used in everyday English.

The correct answers are make an appointment, run errands, and do the shopping.

We typically "make" appointments (not "create" them), "run errands" (not "walk errands"), and "do the shopping" (not "make the shopping"). These are standard collocations in everyday English.

Question 14

Complete Jake's conversation about his weekend shopping adventure.
I managed to _________________________ some amazing bargains at the mall yesterday! There was a huge sale, so I decided to _________________________ winter clothes. The best part was when I _________________________ a designer jacket at 70% off - I couldn't believe my luck!

grab some amazing bargains - means to quickly take advantage of good deals.

stock up on winter clothes - means to buy and store a large quantity of items for future use.

spotted a designer jacket - means to notice or discover something, especially something good.

Question 15

Maya is having tech troubles at work. Select ALL the correct collocations she might use to describe her problems.

The correct answers are My laptop crashed, The Wi-Fi is down, and I need to charge my phone.

Computers "crash" (not "break down" like cars), Wi-Fi goes "down" (not "broken"), and we "charge" devices (not "load" them).

Question 16

Complete Emma's thoughts about her monthly financial responsibilities.
I always _________________________ my bills on time to maintain a good credit score. This month I need to _________________________ my credit card debt before the interest kicks in. I'm also planning to _________________________ some money for my summer vacation fund.

pay my bills - means to make payments for services or debts owed.

settle my credit card debt - means to pay off or clear what you owe completely.

put aside some money - means to save or reserve money for a specific purpose.

Question 17

Complete Jake's shopping adventure by choosing the right words for his grocery trip.

I need to make a shopping list before I go to the store. Don't forget to pick up some milk from the dairy section. I always compare prices before buying anything expensive.

Make a shopping list - The standard collocation is "make a list," not "do a list."

Pick up some milk - "Pick up" means to collect or buy something, especially when it's a quick task.

Compare prices - We "compare prices" to see which option costs less or offers better value.

Question 18

Alex is troubleshooting his internet connection at home. Select ALL the natural collocations he might use to describe his tech issues.

The correct answers are The internet is slow, I need to restart the router, and The connection keeps dropping.

Internet is "slow" (not "lazy"), we "restart" devices (not "start again"), and connections "drop" (not "fall").

Question 19

Choose the correct word to complete the sentence about online account management.

After moving to a new address, remember to _____ your profile information on the digital platform to reflect your current location.

The correct answer is update.

"Update your profile information" is the standard collocation in digital contexts. You "refresh" a page, "revise" a document, and "upgrade" to a better version, but you specifically "update" profile information, account details, and personal data on digital platforms.

Question 20

Help David explain his experience returning an online purchase.
The shoes I ordered online didn't fit properly, so I had to _________________________ the package. Luckily, the company has a generous _________________________ policy that covers shipping costs. I should _________________________ my refund within 5-7 business days according to their website.

send back the package - means to return items to the seller by mail or delivery.

return policy - refers to the rules and conditions for returning purchased items.

get my refund - means to receive back the money you paid for returned items.

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