Economic or Economical?
Explore the difference between matters of the economy and choices that save money, materials, or effort.
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Questions with solutions-
1. 空欄を埋めてください。
The report measures ___ growth by looking at how much the country produces.
- economic
- economical
The sentence concerns the country's economy.
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The report measures economic growth by looking at how much the country produces.
“Economic growth” means an increase in the goods and services an economy produces.
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2. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does “economical” emphasize about the car?
“This car is economical: it uses very little gas.”
- It plays an important role in the national economy.
- It uses fuel efficiently, keeping running costs low.
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- It uses fuel efficiently, keeping running costs low.
For vehicles, “economical” commonly describes low fuel use and low running costs.
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3. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What makes this an “economic” policy?
The government is reviewing its economic policy on taxes and trade.
- It is designed to cost as little as possible.
- It concerns only the government's office expenses.
- It deals with how the economy works.
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- It deals with how the economy works.
Taxes, trade, and employment are common subjects of economic policy.
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4. 空欄を埋めてください。
The clothing pattern wastes almost no material, so the designer calls it “___ with fabric.”
- economical
- economic
The focus is on avoiding waste.
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The clothing pattern wastes almost no material, so the designer calls it “economical with fabric.”
“Economical with” can describe careful use of a resource, not just money.
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5. 正しい答えを選んでください。
Which description matches the lifetime cost comparison?
An LED bulb costs more to buy than an older bulb, but it uses less electricity and costs less overall during its lifetime.
- The older bulb is more economical over its lifetime.
- The LED bulb is more economical over its lifetime.
- Both bulbs are equally economical over their lifetimes.
The purchase price is only part of the total cost.
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- The LED bulb is more economical over its lifetime.
A higher-priced product can be more economical when its running costs are lower.
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6. 空欄を埋めてください。
Her summary is ___ with words: it explains the main idea clearly in just two sentences.
- economic
- economical
Think about how much language the summary uses.
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Her summary is economical with words: it explains the main idea clearly in just two sentences.
“Economical with words” describes clear expression without unnecessary wording.
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7. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does “economic” refer to here?
The storm had serious economic consequences: shops closed and workers lost income.
- The storm's effects on businesses and earnings.
- The money saved by carrying out repairs cheaply.
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- The storm's effects on businesses and earnings.
“Economic” does not suggest a benefit: economic effects can include losses and hardship.
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8. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does “economical” describe in this example?
“I combined three errands into one trip. That was an economical use of my time.”
- Earning more money for each hour of work.
- Avoiding unnecessary travel and effort.
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- Avoiding unnecessary travel and effort.
“Economical” can describe saving time or effort even when no financial saving is mentioned.
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9. 正しい答えを選んでください。
Why could the policy be described as both “economic” and “economical”?
The policy supports local businesses, and its simple application process uses very little staff time or public money.
- Both adjectives always mean inexpensive.
- Both adjectives apply only to government decisions.
- It concerns the economy and is efficient to administer.
The two adjectives can describe different aspects of the same policy.
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- It concerns the economy and is efficient to administer.
The words are not opposites: something can concern the economy and also use resources efficiently.
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10. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What is the report examining?
The housing report focuses on economic inequality, not on economical ways to build homes.
- Differences in people's income and wealth.
- Methods of constructing homes at low cost.
Notice which noun follows each adjective.
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- Differences in people's income and wealth.
“Economic inequality” concerns unequal financial resources; “economical” building methods reduce costs or waste.
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11. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does “economical” mean under this condition?
“The annual pass is economical only if you visit regularly. For occasional visits, individual tickets cost less overall.”
- The pass must have a low purchase price.
- The pass offers better value only when used often enough.
- The pass saves money regardless of how often it is used.
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- The pass offers better value only when used often enough.
Whether a choice is economical can depend on how someone uses it, not just its listed price.
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12. 正しい答えを選んでください。
What does this wording tell us about the subsidy?
The article calls the subsidy “an economic measure,” but it never calls it “economical.”
- It wastes money because the article does not call it economical.
- It is inexpensive because economic and economical mean the same thing.
- It relates to the economy; its cost efficiency is not stated.
A missing description does not prove its opposite.
Show solution
- It relates to the economy; its cost efficiency is not stated.
Not calling something “economical” does not mean it is wasteful; that question remains open.