persevere vs. pursue

[Foka]

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #72 "How to encourage", question 5

I'm sure if you ........., you'll succeed.

(a) pursue
(b) proceed
(c) propel
(d) persevere

Business Idiom in English, Intermediate level

ESL/EFL Test #72 "How to encourage", answer 5

I'm sure if you persevere, you'll succeed.

Correct answer: (d) persevere

Your answer was: incorrect
I'm sure if you pursue, you'll succeed.
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i don't understand!!! i answered pursue in this question..and i'm sure for that.. how come that my answer became "perseverance"!!! So i missed the point..!!! Not only in this question but aslo from others!!!! you'll better check it!!! i think yuo are fooling me!!!

Foka

[Mister Micawber]

.
Pursue normally requires an object, Foka: she pursued her degree; I tried to stop the argument, but she insisted on pursuing it. The given sentence needs some sort of object: I'm sure if you pursue your dream, you'll succeed.

Persevere means to continue trying without respite. This verb works well in the given sentence: I'm sure if you persevere, you'll succeed.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Cornelius]

:)

[Eugene2114]

But will you agree how good does it sound with ' proceed'.
Regards.

[Alan]

Hi,

In that particular sentence 'proceed' would simply indicate 'go forward' 'continue what you have started' and that doesn't work very well when you then refer to 'succeed'. You need a verb that suggests that you have to make an effort or try hard.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Eugene2114]

Yes, well, but then: I'm sure if you ('continue what you have started' = don’t give it up ), you'll succeed.
Regards.