Afford vs. calculate

[Goran]

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #5 "Learning tips and instructions", question 7

If you can ......... the cost of travel, there is of course no substitute for visiting the country itself.

(a) afford
(b) spend
(c) expend
(d) calculate

English Language Proficiency Tests, Advanced Level

ESL/EFL Test #5 "Learning tips and instructions", answer 7

If you can afford the cost of travel, there is of course no substitute for visiting the country itself.

Correct answer: (a) afford

Your answer was: incorrect
If you can calculate the cost of travel, there is of course no substitute for visiting the country itself.
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why should use afford?

Goran

[Mister Micawber]

.
You must look at the context: the second clause indicates that actually visiting the country is the best experience. Visiting a country, however, is expensive, so you must decide whether you can afford (= have enough money) to travel. Merely calculating the expense is not an adequate activity to rationalize the 'then' clause of this conditional sentence.
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Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber

[Alan]

Hi Goran,

The two verbs have a relationship with one another. If you want to buy somehting (in this case a holiday), you first have to calculate (work out the details) the cost. Having made that calculation, you then have to decide whether you can afford it - whether you have sufficient money.

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