Difference between supressed and muffled

[Strawberry girl]

Test No. incompl/inter-42 "Keeping it Quiet", question 9

The villagers complained about the noise from the daily bell ringing practice from the church and asked if it could somehow be ..........

(a) suppressed
(b) stifled
(c) muffled
(d) wrapped

Test No. incompl/inter-42 "Keeping it Quiet", answer 9

The villagers complained about the noise from the daily bell ringing practice from the church and asked if it could somehow be muffled.

Correct answer: (c) muffled

Your answer was: incorrect
The villagers complained about the noise from the daily bell ringing practice from the church and asked if it could somehow be suppressed.
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Hi,Alan
I confuse on those two words.In this sentence, in my opinion,I think the villager must want to stop the bell ringing.Muffle means deaden the sound while suppress means put down.Am I right?
Thanks for your help!

[Alan]

Yes, this means deaden the sound. Suppress is to keep down abstract ideas like emotions/opposition/laughter.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
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[Saneta]

Please explain to me: ,,from the daily bell ringing practice from the church '' - what does the word:,, practice'' have a sense in it? Thanks.

[Alan]

Hi Saneta,

'Practice' is something you do regularly in order to improve a particular skill. You can practise playing the piano every day in order to play the piano better. Note in British English we make a distinction between 'practice' noun and 'practise' verb.

Alan
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English as a Foreign Language
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