Danger, hazard or threat?

[John]

Synonyms Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #111 "Synonyms for danger", question 1

In winter months there is always a ......... of catching cold.

(a) danger
(b) peril
(c) jeopardy
(d) hazard

Synonyms Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #111 "Synonyms for danger", answer 1

In winter months there is always a danger of catching cold.

Correct answer: (a) danger
_________________________

why danger and not hazerd or threat , dont they meen the saem

john

[Yankee]

Hi John

Your question (with spelling and punctuation improvements):
Why danger and not hazard or threat? Don't they mean the same thing?

My answer:
Yes, the words hazard and threat do have similar meanings. I'd say that the word threat could also be used in the test sentence, however threat was not one of the options.

You need to decide which choice is best not only based on definition but also based on "normal" or "typical" collocation and danger of catching a cold is definitely a much more typical collocation than hazard of catching a cold. In my opionion, a native speaker would never say hazard of catching a cold.

On the other hand, saying that something is "a health hazard" would be a typical collocation.

Amy