delay vs. lateness

[Jorge Andres]

Test No. incompl/inter-46 "Speaking 3 (At the Station)", question 2

Unfortunately it is now 11 o'clock and so there is a ......... of 15 minutes already.

(a) waiting
(b) lateness
(c) space
(d) delay

Test No. incompl/inter-46 "Speaking 3 (At the Station)", answer 2

Unfortunately it is now 11 o'clock and so there is a delay of 15 minutes already.

Correct answer: (d) delay

Your answer was: incorrect
Unfortunately it is now 11 o'clock and so there is a lateness of 15 minutes already.
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Plaease why not lateness?

Thanks

[Alan]

Here we are talking about how MUCH later the time is and therefore we need the word delay, which covers that length of time.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple