Difference between collect and assemble

[Strawberry girl]

Test No. incompl/inter-26 "The Ants and the Grasshopper", question 3

Sensibly as all ants do, they had ......... the grain during the summer.

(a) assembled
(b) assumed
(c) brought
(d) collected

Test No. incompl/inter-26 "The Ants and the Grasshopper", answer 3

Sensibly as all ants do, they had collected the grain during the summer.

Correct answer: (d) collected

Your answer was: incorrect
Sensibly as all ants do, they had assembled the grain during the summer.
_________________________

Hi, Alan!
What are the differences between collect and assemble?What circumstance do they use?

Thanks!
Strawberry girl

[Alan]

Hi Strawberry,

Collect means get things you want to keep over a period of time. This is often used when people want to get all the books written by a particular author - they collect all their books. Assemble means bring together - to arrange things in a certain order. You often use this verb when you ask people to come together in one place and then again it is used without an object: Crowds assembled in the square to meet the new Pope.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Make or Do?

[Ildiko]

what does sensibly mean here?
thanks,
ildiko

[Alan]

Hi,

'Sensibly' means being sensible or practical - doing the right thing.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A New Season