allocate vs. arrange

[minna]

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #17 "At the Computer", question 2

The aim of the office manager is to ......... enough room on the building plans so that each employee can have space for a personal computer.

(a) arrange
(b) accord
(c) allocate
(d) organize

Business English Lesson, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #17 "At the Computer", answer 2

The aim of the office manager is to allocate enough room on the building plans so that each employee can have space for a personal computer.

Correct answer: (c) allocate

Your answer was: incorrect
The aim of the office manager is to arrange enough room on the building plans so that each employee can have space for a personal computer.
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please what's meaning of allocate here and why not arrange?

minna

[Mister Micawber]

.
'Room' means available space-- it cannot be 'arranged', as it is a fixed volume; parts of it, however, can be 'allocated' (distributed according to a plan or set apart for a special purpose).
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber