Words for Ideas - Unit 4: Problem Words

The civil war has contributed to the country's worst economic ______ in recent years.

• crisis

• situation

• mystery

• limitation

The main ______ of the study is the failure to address how the results of the new policy will affect the poor.

• flaw

• limitation

• mystery

• situation

The refugees' ______ worsened as heavy rains brought with them the risk of disease.

• drawback

• situation

• flaw

• question

It is still a ______ to scientists why there should be two main patterns in embryo cell division.

• mystery

• dilemma

• drawback

• limitation

The refugees were faced with the _____ of whether or not to return to their country.

• limitation

• mystery

• dilemma

• flaw

A problem for evolutionary biologists concerns how genetic factors arose. There is, in fact, some disagreement about this ______.

• drawback

• crisis

• question

• mystery

Upon closer examination, it is apparent that there are a number of very serious _____ in his argument.

• flaws

• dilemmas

• crises

• situations

The main ______ of the proposed site was that road access was restricted, but this was outweighed by its many advantages.

• crisis

• situation

• drawback

• question

As a result of the publicity generated by his extra-marital affair, his political career suffered a serious ______.

• mystery

• hitch

• setback

• predicament

• limitation

After overcoming a series of minor administrative _____ the expedition finally got under way.

• mysteries

• hitches

• setbacks

• predicaments

• limitations