Exercises C1 : Advanced false friends in English (answers)

These exercises will help you identify and correctly use advanced false friends — words that appear familiar but carry entirely different meanings in professional and academic English contexts.

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Exercice 1 — Spot the False Friend

Choose the option that correctly explains the meaning of the underlined word as used in the sentence. Beware of false friends that may mislead you.

1. The committee decided to table the proposal until further evidence was provided. What does 'table' mean here?
2. Her candid remarks about the merger were considered quite sensible by the board. What does 'sensible' mean here?
3. The professor eventually conceded that his argument was flawed. What does 'eventually' mean here?
4. The scientist's latest findings appear to controvert the established theory. What does 'controvert' mean here?

Correction

1. B) To postpone or shelve the proposal indefinitely — in American English, 'to table' means to set aside, unlike British English where it means to bring forward for discussion.
2. C) Practical and showing good judgment — 'sensible' in English means rational and reasonable, not 'sensitive' as it is often mistaken for by French or Spanish speakers.
3. C) After a period of time, in the end — 'eventually' means finally or in the end, not 'possibly' as speakers of Romance languages often assume.
4. B) To dispute or contradict with evidence — 'controvert' means to oppose or refute, and should not be confused with 'convert' or 'contravert'.

Exercice 2 — Match the False Friend to Its True Meaning

Match each advanced false friend (Column A) to its correct definition in English (Column B). Do not rely on surface-level similarity to other languages.

1. Column A: 'Sympathetic' — Column B: Which definition applies?
2. Column A: 'Actual' — Column B: Which definition applies?
3. Column A: 'Demand' — Column B: Which definition applies?
4. Column A: 'Consistent' — Column B: Which definition applies?

Correction

1. B) Showing kindness and understanding toward someone's feelings — 'sympathetic' does not mean 'nice' or 'likeable' (as in French 'sympathique'), but rather compassionate or supportive.
2. C) Real or existing in fact — 'actual' in English means genuine or real, not 'current', which is how it is often misread by speakers of French or Spanish.
3. B) To request something with authority or urgency — 'demand' in English implies forcefulness and should not be used as a neutral synonym for 'ask', unlike in some other European languages.
4. C) Behaving or performing in the same way over time — 'consistent' means reliable and uniform, and should not be confused with 'consisting of', which refers to composition.

Exercice 3 — Complete the Sentences with the Correct Word

Fill in each blank with the correct English word. Each sentence contains a context clue that will help you avoid choosing the false friend.

1. Despite working in the same field for years, the two researchers remained completely ___ of each other's publications. (ignorant / unaware — choose the one that fits naturally in formal academic writing without sounding pejorative)
2. The report was ___ in its scope, covering not only the financial risks but also the ethical implications of the policy. (comprehensive / comprehensible — choose the one that fits the meaning of 'thorough and wide-ranging')
3. The CEO's decision to restructure the company proved to be highly ___, generating significant controversy among shareholders. (controversial / controvertible — choose the word commonly used to mean 'causing strong disagreement')
4. His ___ attitude toward the new regulations surprised his colleagues, who had expected more resistance from him. (eventual / pragmatic — choose the word that best reflects an acceptance based on practical reasoning rather than time)

Correction

1. Despite working in the same field for years, the two researchers remained completely unaware of each other's publications — 'unaware' is the neutral, appropriate choice here, as 'ignorant' carries a condescending tone in English that 'ignorant' in French does not.
2. The report was comprehensive in its scope, covering not only the financial risks but also the ethical implications of the policy — 'comprehensive' means thorough and wide-ranging, while 'comprehensible' means easy to understand, a distinction often missed by learners.
3. The CEO's decision to restructure the company proved to be highly controversial, generating significant controversy among shareholders — 'controversial' is the standard adjective meaning 'causing strong disagreement or debate' in both formal and general usage.
4. His pragmatic attitude toward the new regulations surprised his colleagues, who had expected more resistance from him — 'pragmatic' reflects practical acceptance, whereas 'eventual' incorrectly mirrors 'éventuel' in French, which means 'possible', not 'final'.