Using Collocation to Boost Your IELTS Score – Key Word: Possibility

Key Word: possibility

1          Verb + possibility

Choose the more natural collocations:

1. Keep trying. Don’t give up until you have _____________ every possibility. (explored / discovered)
2. Look, we’ve been investigating this case for almost two years now. I think we’ve_____________ all the possibilities. (tried / exhausted)
3. I’m afraid that we can’t give you an exact date for the completion of the building. We have to _____________ the possibility that bad weather may hold up progress. (allow for / prevail on)
4. This new breakthrough_____________ the possibility of finding a cure for MS. (raises / lifts)
5. We can’t_____________ the possibility that the child was swept out to sea by a huge wave. (forget / rule out)
6. Hundreds of police were present at the Cup Final to _____________ any possibility of a repetition of last year’s fighting between rival fans. (evade / avoid)
7. Let’s _____________ a few other possibilities before we book the hotel. We might find somewhere a bit more convenient. (examine / discover)
8. The conviction of John Faulkner _____________ the possibility that other crimes might be solved through the use of DNA evidence. (opens up / suggests)

2          Considering and rejecting possibility

Mark the sentences C if they mean ‘considering the possibility’ and R if they mean ‘rejecting’:

1. They are examining the possibility of a complete five-year ban on fishing in the North Sea.
2. It’s not likely to happen but I wouldn’t rule out the possibility.
3. Have you decided how you’ll travel to the meeting? > No, I’m still considering the possibilities.
4. At this stage of our investigation we can’t exclude the possibility that he may have been murdered.
5. We are also looking at the possibility of converting the old school into a hotel.
6. Before the election the President refused to entertain the possibility of defeat.

3          Likely or unlikely possibilities

Mark the sentences below L if they are likely to happen and U If they are unlikely to happen:

1. I think we should postpone our trip to the seaside. There’s a strong possibility of rain this afternoon.
2. We need to do a number of further tests as there is a remote possibility that it could be cancerous.
3. Cloudy skies are forecast so there’s only a faint possibility that you will see the eclipse of the sun.
4. If sales of our products don’t improve soon, I’m afraid job losses remain a real possibility.
5. There’s a distinct possibility that I will be in London next week. Perhaps we can meet up.

4          Common expressions

Complete the sentences below with the following:

every    various            any      one      endless

1. In order to clear your debts, you have a number of options open to you. Selling your car is just_____________ possibility.
2. Is there_____________ possibility of you giving me a lift to the station tomorrow night?
3. Have you decided what to do? => No, I’m still considering the_____________ possibilities.
4. The cottage is surrounded by huge areas of open countryside. There are _____________ possibilities for hill-walking and fishing.
5. There is_____________ possibility that we will be able to complete the work on time. We’re almost certain to meet the deadline.

ANSWER KEY

Ex 1:

1 explored       2. exhausted               3. allow for      4. raises

5 rule out         6. avoid                       7. examine       8. opens up

Ex 2:  l-C         2-R      3-C      4-R      5-C      6-R

Ex 3:  l-L         2-U      3-U      4-L      5-L

Ex 4:  l. one                 2. any              3. various         4. endless       5. every

Also check :

• IELTS Vocabulary
• Best IELTS Vocabulary books
• Grammar for IELTS
• IELTS Listening words
• Sports Vocabulary IELTS
• English Pronunciation in use Intermediate pdf
• Work Vocabulary IELTS
• Advanced Vocabulary for IELTS