Finish vs. end

[KYTTIE]

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", question 2

They wanted their daughter to improve her social skills and sent her to the famous ......... school in Switzerland.

(a) ends
(b) ending
(c) finishes
(d) finishing

Test No. incompl/elem-5 "Finish/End", answer 2

They wanted their daughter to improve her social skills and sent her to the famous finishing school in Switzerland.

Correct answer: (d) finishing

Your answer was: incorrect
They wanted their daughter to improve her social skills and sent her to the famous ending school in Switzerland.
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Dear Alan,

Could you please explain more about the difference between "finishing school" and "ending school"?

Thank you very much and Best regards
KYTTIE

[Alan]

Ending school is not used I'm afraid and as far as I know doesn't exist. Finishing School is the standard name given to schools where young people (usually girls) go to complete their education very much along the lines of developing cultural and social skills. I suppose finishing is used because it is often used for refining materials such as wood and we also speak about a piece of quality furniture having a good finish meaning a high specification.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story In short

[Hoa]

I see, It's the same question that I intend to ask.

Thanks Alan,

Regards,
Hoa

[dapitius]

Hi Alan,

Thank you for your explanation. Now I know what a finishing school is.
Regards,
D