五分鐘英語：英語陷阱：容易混淆的詞語（一）
英語有很多拼寫和發音很接近但含義不同的詞語，用之不妥會貽笑大方，可是拼寫之相近即便英語為母語的人也很常把它們混淆在一起。
下面十二對詞語，您能否區別它們，避免墮入這些“語言陷阱”呢？
（這裡順便提一提，準確的發音可參考筆者博文《英語發音網上學》。）
1. (A) accede (B) exceed
a. If you ____ the baggage allowance for this flight there will be a surcharge.
b. The boss will ____ to the request of the employees and agree to a 30-minute break between presentations.
2. (A) admission (B) admittance
a. ____ to this event is restricted to those with invitations only.
b. This is an open and free event. The will be no ____ charge.
3. (A) adverse (B) averse
a. Old people tend to be set in their ways. They are ____ to change.
b. Failure to comply with this regulation will have ____ consequences.
4. (A) alleged (B) allegedly
It is (a) ____ that the shopkeeper illegally detained the person who (b) ____ stole his merchandise.
5. (A) amoral (B) immoral
a. Many believe that denying refugees temporary shelter is ____.
b. Hollywood often produces films that are violent and ___ because they are hugely profitable.
6. (A) authoritative (B) authoritarian
a. Governments that are not popularly elected are often high-handed and ____ in their dealings with citizens.
b. I know from an ___ source that the election will be held in January.
7. (A) avocation (B) vocation
a. Writing the blogs has become a satisfying ____ for many people on Wanwei.
b. Many young people consider teaching a worthwhile ____.
8. (A) breath (B) breathe
a. The air around here is so thick with pollution we find it impossible to ____.
b. Her views on the subject are so enlightening that it is like getting a ____ of fresh air to hear her speak.
9. (A) collaborate (B) corroborate
a. The accused has no alibi. He is unable to find someone to ____ his story.
b. John’s friends in another university offered to ____ on his research into the human brain.
10. (A) competence (B) competency
a. All nursing personnel have to demonstrate ____ in Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
b. A ____ profile describes the characteristics of someone who can be expected to perform well in his job.
11. (A) complementary (B) complimentary
a. The boss was highly ____ of the way in which Mary handled objections during the staff meeting.
b. Computers and printers are ____ products. As more computers get sold, people will buy more printers.
12. (A) crumbling (B) crumbly
a. There has been no rain for weeks; the soil is dry and ____.
b. The leaky roof, broken windows and ____ cement walls... signs of disrepair are everywhere.
