Vocabulary Lesson 12: Error and Confusion

Error and Confusion Vocabulary Lesson 12

​People generally try to do their best, but everybody makes errors. As Alexander Pope commented, "To err is human." Occasionally, errors have positive consequences. When Alexander Fleming accidentally let mold grow on his bacteria cultures, he discovered penicillin. The words in this lesson will help you describe errors and confusion.

Multiple Choice

Jake’s mother knew that something was amiss when he didn’t come home from school on time.

• wrong

• vacant

• false

Multiple Choice

Jake’s mother knew something was amiss when he didn’t return home from school on time.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

The roller-coaster accident was caused by controls that went amiss.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​adjective

• wrong, faulty; out of proper order

adverb

• in a bad, defective, or improper way​

amiss

Multiple Choice

The crowd looked on in bewilderment when the referee called a foul.

• bad judgment

• difficult situation

• confusion

Multiple Choice

The crowd looked on in bewilderment when the referee called a foul.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

It bewildered the history teacher that his students were not interested in politics.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​noun

• the state of being puzzled or confused​

verb - bewilder​

bewilderment

Multiple Choice

Buying the worthless car was a blunder that cost Malcolm several thousand dollars.

• problem situation

• amazement

• foolish mistake

Multiple Choice

Buying the worthless car was a blunder that cost Malcolm several thousand dollars.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Caroline blundered around her room in the dark until she found the lamp.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​noun

• a foolish or careless mistake

verb - blunder​

​

blunder

Multiple Choice

There were several erroneous conclusions in the detective’s sloppy report.

• mistaken

• confusing

• wreckless

Multiple Choice

There were several erroneous conclusions in the detective’s sloppy report.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​adjective

• wrong, mistaken, false​

adverb - erroneously​

erroneous

Multiple Choice

All human beings are fallible; no one is perfect.

• difficult

• puzzled

• faulty

Multiple Choice

All human beings are fallible; no one is perfect.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Political polls demonstrate their fallibility when they incorrectly predict election results.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​adjective

• able to be mistaken, wrong, or in error​

noun - fallibility​

​

fallible

Multiple Choice

Michael made a faux pas by forgetting to introduce his mother to his friends.

• social error

• problem

• benefit

Multiple Choice

Michael made a faux pas by forgetting to introduce his mother to his friends.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​noun

• a minor social error that may cause embarrassment​

faux pas

(foe paa)​

Multiple Choice

After he missed an easy shot, the basketball player became flustered and started to make even more mistakes.

• confident

• nervous

• angry

Multiple Choice

After he missed an easy shot, the basketball player became flustered and started to make even more mistakes.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Lila did not let the arrival of unexpected guests fluster her.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

The teacher's question put the student in a fluster.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​adjective

• ​nervous and confused

verb - fluster

noun - fluster​

flustered

Multiple Choice

A miscalculation in the recipe prevented the bread from rising.

• social error

• math error

• foolish error

Multiple Choice

The producer made a miscalculation about the appeal of the new TV show.

• bad judgment

• embarrassing error

• difficult situation

Multiple Choice

The producer made a miscalculation about the appeal of the new TV show.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• a

Multiple Choice

The teacher was embarrrassed whe she realized that she had miscalculated the math problem.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​noun

• an error in math or in estimation​

• a bad judgment

verb - miscalculate​

​

miscalculation

Multiple Choice

After Lionel misinterpreted the word’s definition, he proceeded to write a faulty sentence.

• confused

• moved

• misunderstood

Multiple Choice

After Lionel misinterpreted the word’s definition, he proceeded to write a faulty sentence.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

Multiple Choice

Greg's misinterpretation of the map led him to take a wrong turn.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​verb

• to understand incorrectly

noun- misinterpretation​

misinterpret

Multiple Choice

Linda found herself in a predicament when she wanted to invite two friends who were not speaking to each other to the same party.

• social error

• difficult situation

• misunderstanding

Multiple Choice

Linda found herself in a predicament when she wanted to invite two friends who were not speaking to each other to the same party.

• noun

• verb

• adjective

• adverb

​noun

• a difficult or unpleasant situation​

​

predicament