Authority vs. authorization

Question

Hi! I read the following in a TOEIC book:

"139. Tourists who purchase a travel pass have ______ to ride any bus or subway within the city limits for a period of 24 hours.
A. authorized B. authorization C. authoritative D. authority
(Anwer: B)" ((Hackers TOEIC 1000 questions, Test 1))

Do you agree that B is ONLY correct? How about D?

Thanks in advance.

JohnParis · Accepted Answer

Yes, only B is correct.
Check your dictionary for more details about "authorization" and "authority." They do not mean the same thing, particularly as proposed in question 139.

Niue · Answer

I checked my dictionary and confirmed that BOTH "authority" and "authorization" HAVE THE SAME MEANING, that is, 'PERMISSION'. And I've found the following examples on the internet:

"Do you have authority to ride your quad bike in North Mymms Park? Or wherever you ride your machine?

Certainly not on Gobions Open Space because it is illegal - read the Parish Council By-laws.

My understanding is that you can ride it on a BOAT (Byeway Open to All Traffic) but not on bridle ways, public footpaths, public open spaces etc. If you drive it off the BOAT into fields you are most likely to be trespassing which is breaking the law." ((http://www.brookmans.com/forum/index.php?topic=795.0))

"Masoud had now arrived and after a few warm hugs of hello with me (not appropriate for Lisa) I was knee deep in questions. Who was he? Who were we? Why were we here? Were we with the press? Did we have authorization to ride the motorcycles here? Had we been anywhere near the restricted area to the south of town? Etc, etc."

In the above two examples, don't they mean the same thing? (= PERMISSION)

Thanks in advance.

JohnParis · Answer

As I said in my post, my answer was predicated on the options given in your question, N° 139. Nothing more.

Nelle25 · Answer

Hello! Yes I agree that only B is the right answer.

-have the authority to do something would often involve a single person or a group of people serving in an official capacity that has vested right to give orders and make decisions.

Ex.

The government has the authority to cancel the privileged given to the tourists who purchased the travel pass if they violates certain rules.

-authorization in that sentence means a document, which is the travel pass, giving permission or authority.

Hope it helps!

Clive · Answer

Here's a small extra comment.

More natural English is

eg 139. Tourists who purchase a travel pass can ride any bus or subway within the city limits for a period of 24 hours.

Authority vs. authorization

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