Money and decisions · B1. Distinguish “budget” (plan limiting income and spending) from “debt” (money owed to another person or organisation). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “savings” means money kept rather than spent; “loan” means money borrowed with an agreement to repay. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
Complete 24 original tasks. Use the situation to choose the intended meaning, practise the form, then apply it in a fresh context.
The garden committee reserved part of its budget for repairs.
The garden committee reserved part of its budget for repairs.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “set a budget” as a whole phrase. Here “budget” has the sense plan limiting income and spending.
Distinguish “budget” (plan limiting income and spending) from “debt” (money owed to another person or organisation). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “savings” means money kept rather than spent; “loan” means money borrowed with an agreement to repay. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
We agreed on a monthly budget.
Distinguish “refund” (money returned after payment) from “deposit” (initial payment securing an agreement). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “interest” means charge for borrowing money; “instalment” means one of several scheduled payments. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The shop offered a full refund.
Distinguish “bargain” (purchase offering unusually good value) from “affordable” (within the amount someone can pay). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “fee” means payment for a service; “donation” means money or goods given to support a cause. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
This used desk was a real bargain.
We made a plan setting the maximum amount we can spend each month.
Distinguish “refund” (money returned after payment) from “deposit” (initial payment securing an agreement). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “interest” means charge for borrowing money; “instalment” means one of several scheduled payments. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
The shop offered a full refund.Distinguish “bargain” (purchase offering unusually good value) from “affordable” (within the amount someone can pay). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “fee” means payment for a service; “donation” means money or goods given to support a cause. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
This used desk was a real bargain.Distinguish “budget” (plan limiting income and spending) from “debt” (money owed to another person or organisation). Read the situation before choosing; these words are not interchangeable. Additional contrast: “savings” means money kept rather than spent; “loan” means money borrowed with an agreement to repay. Compare their uses in the learning cards.
We agreed on a monthly budget.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
plan limiting income and spending
money owed to another person or organisation
money returned after payment
initial payment securing an agreement
purchase offering unusually good value
within the amount someone can pay
money kept rather than spent
money borrowed with an agreement to repay
charge for borrowing money
one of several scheduled payments
payment for a service
money or goods given to support a cause
Opening an answer records help for that question.
We made a plan setting the maximum amount we can spend each month.
Look at “maximum amount we can spend”. Here we need “plan limiting income and spending”: “budget”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “We agreed on a monthly budget.”.
They owed the bank money and gradually paid back the outstanding amount.
Look at “owed the bank money”. Here we need “money owed to another person or organisation”: “debt”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “They repaid the debt gradually.”.
The shop offered to return all the money paid for a faulty item.
Look at “return all the money”. Here we need “money returned after payment”: “refund”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “The shop offered a full refund.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “reserve the flat”. Here we need “initial payment securing an agreement”: “deposit”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “We paid a deposit to reserve the flat.”.
The used desk was excellent quality and much cheaper than similar desks.
Look at “much cheaper”. Here we need “purchase offering unusually good value”: “bargain”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “This used desk was a real bargain.”.
The rooms cost an amount our limited income can cover. The gap needs an adjective meaning within our means.
Look at “limited income can cover”. Here we need “within the amount someone can pay”: “affordable”. The question names ability to pay the price. Availability and crowding concern access or space, not whether the price fits an income. Completed sentence: “The hostel offers affordable rooms.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “spending plan”. Here we need “plan limiting income and spending”: “budget”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “Our spending plan allows only fifty pounds for travel; that is our travel budget.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “not been repaid”. Here we need “money owed to another person or organisation”: “debt”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “The loan has not been repaid, so it remains a debt.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “money back”. Here we need “money returned after payment”: “refund”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “The item was faulty, so I asked for my money back: a refund.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “now and the rest later”. Here we need “initial payment securing an agreement”: “deposit”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “To secure the booking, pay a ten-percent deposit now and the rest later.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “excellent quality and cost very little”. Here we need “purchase offering unusually good value”: “bargain”. Check the money role: spending limit, money owed, money returned, advance payment, unusually good value or a price you can manage. Completed sentence: “The coat was excellent quality and cost very little; it was a bargain.”.
Complete the sentence with the expression that matches the stated situation.
Look at “fits our limited income”. Here we need “within the amount someone can pay”: “affordable”. The question names ability to pay the price. Availability and crowding concern access or space, not whether the price fits an income. Completed sentence: “The fee fits our limited income, so the course is affordable.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “put aside”. Here we need “money kept rather than spent”: “savings”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The money I had gradually put aside over several years was my savings.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “must repay”. Here we need “money borrowed with an agreement to repay”: “loan”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The bank gave her a loan of 5,000 pounds, which she must repay over two years.”.
The sentence names the borrowing charge calculated as an annual percentage of the outstanding amount, not a fixed service payment.
Look at “annual percentage”. Here we need “charge for borrowing money”: “interest”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The lender charges interest at five per cent a year on the amount borrowed.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “100 pounds for six months”. Here we need “one of several scheduled payments”: “instalment”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The sofa costs 600 pounds; I will pay one monthly instalment of 100 pounds for six months.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “preparing this legal document”. Here we need “payment for a service”: “fee”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The solicitor charges a fixed fee for preparing this legal document.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “expected nothing in return”. Here we need “money or goods given to support a cause”: “donation”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “She gave a voluntary donation to the charity and expected nothing in return.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “previous earnings”. Here we need “money kept rather than spent”: “savings”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “She used her savings, money kept in the bank from previous earnings, to pay for the trip.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “borrow money”. Here we need “money borrowed with an agreement to repay”: “loan”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “He applied for a loan because he needed to borrow money to buy the equipment.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “percentage of the outstanding loan over time”. Here we need “charge for borrowing money”: “interest”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “Borrowers pay back the original sum plus interest, an extra amount calculated as a percentage of the outstanding loan over time.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “twelve parts”. Here we need “one of several scheduled payments”: “instalment”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The payment plan divides the cost into twelve parts, and the first instalment is due today.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “delivery”. Here we need “payment for a service”: “fee”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “There is a small delivery fee for bringing your order to your home.”.
Choose the expression that matches the situation.
Look at “required no repayment or service”. Here we need “money or goods given to support a cause”: “donation”. Separate saved money, repayable borrowing, a time-based borrowing charge, one part-payment, a service charge and a voluntary gift. Completed sentence: “The museum received a generous donation from a supporter who gave the money freely and required no repayment or service in return.”.