Despite the cancellation of the excursion, the students still waited at the school gate.

Analyze the question The underlined word is cancellation (in "the cancellation of the excursion"). You need the option closest in meaning to it.

Explain the concept To cancel something is to call it off, meaning you decide it will no longer take place. So cancellation means the act of calling off or discontinuing a planned event.

Check each option

• A. delay: This means postponing to a later time. The event still happens, so it is not the same as cancellation.
• B. abandonment: This means giving up on something completely and not going ahead with it. It is the closest match to calling off a planned excursion.
• C. lifting: This means removing a restriction or ban, as in "lifting the ban". It does not fit.
• D. abortion: This means stopping something before it is completed, usually in the context of pregnancy or a failed mission. It is not the natural synonym here, though it is sometimes used for an aborted plan. Abandonment is the safer, more standard choice.

Answer The correct option is B. abandonment.

Exam tip Replace the underlined word with each option in the sentence. "Despite the abandonment of the excursion..." makes sense. "Despite the delay of the excursion..." changes the meaning, because the trip would still happen. Also watch out for words that sound related but carry a different meaning, such as delay and lifting.