TÀI LIỆU BỒI DƯỠNG HSG 12

I. VOCABULARY
I. Use the correct form of each of the words given in parentheses to fill in the blank in each
sentence.
Exercise 1.
1. The unresponsive audience made the lecturer somewhat ............................. (heart). What a same.
2. She’s quite an .................................. (eye)!
3. His family suffered from his ......................................... (expend).
4. The ..................................... (edit) staff consists of ten experienced journalists.
5. This leads to more pressure being put on the ........................................ (adequate) public transport system.
6. Switzerland is a .................................... (mountain) country.
7. The nineteenth-century faith in the power of science is now very ........................... (question).
8. A person with an ................................ (inferior) complex can be very disagreeable.
9. There was loud ................................... (laugh) as the clown fell off the ladder.
10. Although he is now middle-aged, he still looks quite ................................. (youth).
Exercise 2.
1. Alison’s ................................. (shy) made it hard for her to speak in public.
2. He had the ............................. (annoy) habit of borrowing books and then fogetting to return them.
3. Remind me of my appointment. I am ................................. (forget).
4. For one who has spent his life in town, a trip into the mountains could prove an ....................................
(forget) experience.
5. He had been ............................... (expect) delayed at the office and was now in a hurry to keep his
............................. (appoint) with the dentist.
6. Recently health foods have increased in ............................... (popular).
7. The old lady hid all her ............................... (save) under the floor.
8. The gas from the chemical factory was extremely ............................ (harm).
9. Unless something is done about unemployment, the ............................ (look) for the future is not good.
10. The ................................. (conclude) is that the plan will fail.
Exercise 3.
1. Bill was given a medal in .................................. (recognise) of his services.
2. All ................................... (apply) must be received before July 20th 2007.
3. Karen and Catherine are ................................... (identity) twins.
4. You look rather ............................... (occupy). Are you worried about something?
5. I’m sure that the whole problem is a simple ................................. (understand).
6. Going swimming everyday would have very ............................ (benefit) effects.
7. It’s much more ............................... (economy) to buy large size packets.
8. My ankle is really .............................. (swell) and I can’t walk easily.
9. The government’s ........................... (compromise) approach has brought criticism.
10. The meeting adopted a .............................. (resolve) calling for Smith to resign.
Exercise 4.
1. Please ................................. (know) our letter of the 14th. We have not had a reply.
2. Keith’s exam results turned out to be ............................... (disaster).
3. There will be no pay rises in the .................................. (see) future.
4. Jim is one of the most ................................. (speak) members of the committee.
5. What are the entry ................................ (require) at this university?
6. Jackie suffered as a child from a very strict ................................ (bring).
7. I think that your ................................. (assume) about the cost are wrong.
8. This statue ............................. (memory) the soldiers who died in the war.
9. The idea that the sun ‘rises’ is a popular ................................ (conceive).
10. Ruth has gone back to college to get a teaching .............................. (qualify).
Exercise 5.
1. The villages in the mountains are quite .............................. (access) during winter.
2. The inquiry decided that the police were not entirely .............................. (blame).
3. Sam was accused of stealing some ................................ (confidence) documents from the safe.
4. You do not have to go. Your decision must be entirely ........................ (volunteer).
5. How do you like my latest .............................. (acquire) for my stamp collection?
6. The minister gave .......................... (evade) answers to the interviewer’s questions.
7. The two prisoners are to be ............................. (trial) next month.
8. Most people agree that Cristmas has become too ............................ (commerce).
9. The dancer’s movements were extremely ............................... (grace).
10. The cost of ................................ (admit) to the show is quite reasonable.
Exercise 6.
1. People used to suffer from their life-time physical ................................. (normal).
2. Unless we do research on .......................... (sun) energy, wind power, ....................
(tide) power ..., our fossil fuels will run out.
3. In my opinion, this book is just .................................. (intellect) rubbish.
4. The alpine .................................. (land) is very dramatic.
5. The slight .............................. (form) in his left hand was corrected by surgery.
6. It may be .................................... (produce) to force them into making a decision,
and if you upset them they’re quite likely to overact.
7. Like oil, gas is a fossil fuel and is thus a ........................ (renew) source of energy.
8. Various ............................... (practise) by police officers were brought to light by the enquiry.
9. Tourists forget their ................... (conceive) ideas as soon as they visit our country.
10. They won the case because of the .................... (appear) in court of the defendant.
Exercise 7.
ANTHROPOLOGY
One of the most (0) .......challenging...... (challenge) aspects of the science of anthropology comes from its
fieldwork. Certainly, in its (1).....................(infant) as a profession, anthropology was distinguished by its
concentration on so-called “primitive societies” in which social (2)...........................(institute) appeared to be
fairly limited and social interaction to be conducted almost (3)................................(exclude) face-to-face.
Such societies, it was felt, provided anthropologists with a valuable (4)...........................(see) into the
workings of society that contrasted with the many complexities of more highly developed societies.
There was also a sense that the ways of life represented by these smaller societies were rapidly
(5)..............................(appear) and that preserving a record of them was a matter of some urgency.
The (6)..........................(commit) of anthropologists to the first-hand collection of data led them to some of
the most (7)............................(access) places on earth. Most often they worked alone. Such lack of contact
with other people created feelings of intense (8)............................(lonely) in some anthropologists,
especially in the early stages of fieldwork. Nevertheless, this process of (9)........................(immense) in a
totally alien culture continues to attract men and women to anthropology, and is (10).....................
(deny) the most effective way of understanding in depth how other people see the world.
Exercise 8.
EXTRACT FROM AN ARTICLE
Silicon Valley Millionaires
Although the Internet is still probably only in embryonic form in (1)............................(compare) to what it
will be like in the future, there is no doubt that many Internet businesses have been extremely
(2)............................... (profit). San Francisco has the highest (3)................................ (concentrate) of self-made
Internet millionaires. Some have made their money from clever (4).......................... (invest) in Internet
businesses while others have used their skills to create (5)............................... (innovate) Internet products.
Regardless of how they became (6)........................ (wealth), one thing these people share is an almost
(7)................................... (obsess) dedication to their work. Many work at home in luxurious houses and flats.
(8)......................... (fortunate), this influx of very rich young people has pushed property values beyond the
means of many others.
EXTRACT FROM AN ENCYCLOPEDIA
How Sociable Are Cats?
The cat is often characterised as a solitary, (9)........................... (self) animal, walking alone and coming
together with other cats only to fight or mate. Wild cats fit this picture (10)............................ (reason) well,
but they are (11)........................... (able) of changing their ways in more crowded situations. Living in cities
and towns, and in the homes of their human owners cats show a remarkable and (12)..............................
(expect) degree of sociability. Anyone doubting this must remember that, to a pet cat, we ourselves are
gaint cats. The fact that domestic cats will share a home with a human family is, in itself
(13).............................. (prove) of their social flexibility. But this picture is (14)................................ (complete).
There are many other ways in which cats demonstrate co-operation, mutual aid and (15)...........................
(tolerate).
Exercise 9.
THE SPIRAL AND THE HELIX
They are everywhere, graceful, curving shapes whose incredible (1)........................... (regular) contrasts so
sharply with the random world around them. We call them spirals and helices but that hardly does
(2)............................ (just) to their diversity or their significance. Over the centuries, (3)................................
(mathematics) have identified many different types, but the most intriguing are those that (4)....................
(repeat) occur in the natural world.
The need to (5)................................. (ravel) the mysteries of the existence of spirals and helices has exercised
some of the best scientific brains in the world and opened the way to a number of (6)................................
(break) in fields as widely varied as genetics and (7).................................. (meteor).
The most (8)................................... (spectacle) spirals on earth are also the most unwelcome hurricanes. Their
(9)............................ (awe) power comes from the sun’s heat, but they owe their shape to the force caused by
the rotation of the earth. After innumberable years of study, however, Nature’s spirals and helices have
yet to (10)........................................ (close) all their secrets. For example, why, astronomers wonder, are so
many galaxies spiral-shaped?
Exercise 10.
TRAINING FOR A MARATHON
A successful marathon training programme starts slowly, (1)......................... (intense) gradually and then
tapers off before the big race to (2)....................... (sure) maximum energy. A typical schedule for a beginner
lasts six weeks, which is enough time to build up the endurance and (3)........................ (strong) needed to
run twenty-six miles while avoiding (4)................................ (injure). Before you begin training you should be
capable of (5)................................ (comfort) running for 45 minutes. The most important element in the
programme is long runs, as these allow you to develope the physical and mental (6).........................(tough)
that will enable you to run for several hours without (7)................................ (interrupt). To be fresh for the
race, make your final run two or three weeks before the marathon.
BORN TO BICKER
It seems so petty and (8)...................... (child)! While we expect sibling (9).................(rival) among our
children we’re often embarrassed to find similar emotions ourselves. Yet we do sometimes have
(10)............................ (pain) animosities that can cause some of the most (11).............................. (resolve)
problems of adult life.
(12)............................. (compete) is inherent in all aspects of life. If nations compete, it shouldn’t be
surprising that siblings do too – for their parents’ affection and then for the (13)................................ (admire)
of bosses, peers and friends. As we grow older we usually find that there is enough love and
(14)........................... (recognise) to go round. Some siblings may be more (15).............................. (assert) while
othershave more urgent needs for love and attention and this can produce conflict.
Exercise 11.
WEDDING OF STRANGERS
A wedding between two strangers who met for the first time when they exchanged marital vows during
a peak time radio broadcast has come in for widespread (1)................................. (critic). Carla Germaine and
Greg Cordell were married after winning each other in a ‘lonely heart’ competition organized by BRMB
radio station. The service, perhaps (2)................................... (surprise), attracted the highest ratings figures of
the year. The model and salesman were (3)..................................... (dismiss) of their critics and say they have
made a serious (4)................................ (commit) to make their marriage work. ‘Everyone seems to have the
(5)................................. (expect) that we will split up, but we’re going to prove them wrong,’ Cordell said
(6)............................ (defy).
The couple were selected from 200 (7)..................................... (hope) candidates by a panel including
(8)............................... (relate) counsellors and an astrologer. As well as each other, they won a free
honeymoon in the Bahamas, a sports car and a luxury two bedroom apartment.
ANIMALS
Most cat ansd dog owners would swear their pet was virtually human. It’s pleased to see you and shows
its disapproval when they go. It may not be particularly (9).................................... (talk) or a genius
mathematics but it sees grass as green and inhabits as rich world of smells (10).............................. (imagine)
to us. Until recently such notions of a pet’s inner life, with (11)................................... (similar) to our own in
some ways would have been met with a (12).................................... (know) sneer in many respected
(13)...........................(science) circles. Nowdays in fact, claiming (14)................................ (conscious) for your
pets is commonplace. The problem now is providing an adequate (15)............................... (define) of what
this actually means. Is it about having sensations like hunger and pain, or is it more about the ability to
be aware that you are experiencing something?
Exercise 12.
HARD TO BELIEVE !
Albert and Betty Cheetham hit the headlines recently thanks to an astonishing lists of coincidences. On
holiday in Tunisia, the (1)................................ (retire) couple found themselves dinning opposite another
retired couple - Albert and Betty Rivers. And, also (2)..................................... (coincidence), Mr Cheethan and
Mr Rivers had both previously worked for a railway company, while Mrs Cheethan and Mrs Rivers had
both worked for the post office. The two couples also made the (3)............................(discover) that they both
had two sons and five grandchildren and, to their (4)........................ (amazing), that the date and time of
their (5)...................... (marry) was exactly the same i.e. 2p.m. August 15th, 1942.
A more sustained coincidence is that seven of the eight US presidents who died in office were elected at
exactly 20 year intervals between 1840 and 1960. Its was eventually Ronald Reagan, beginning his
(6)............................................ (president) in 1980, 20 years after John. F. Kennedy, who broke the cycle after
surviving an (7)...................... (assassinate) attempt and finishing his last term (8)................. (live).
OUT FOR THE COUNT
‘You are what you think you are,’ says self-hypnotist Jonathan Atkinson. So there are 20 of us lying on
our backs trying to communicate with our (9)...................................(conscious) minds. We start by describing
our problems. I’ve got the usual (10).......................... (complain): tiredness, insomnia, (11)..........................
(anxious).
Six years ago, Jonathan was a typical 40 cigarettes-a-day executive under too much (12)..............................
(stressful). Then he learnt self-hypnosis. What is particularly (13)........................... (impress) is that he can
stop the bleeding when he cuts himself shaving, and have his teeth filled without needing an
(14)............................... (inject).
Gradually what started off as weird becomes (15)................................... (understand).
Why in hypnosis, Jonathan tells us that whenever we count to ten, with the (16).................................. (intend)
of going into self-hypnosis, we’ll be able to do it. Amazingly, it seems to work.
Exercise 13.
FOOD MILES
In Britain, what is described as ‘food miles’, the distance which food is transported from the place where
it is grown to its point of sale, continues to rise. This has major economic, social and environmental
consequences, given the traffic congestion and pollution which (1)............................ (variable) follow.
According to (2)......................... (press) groups, the same amount of food is travelling 50 percent further
than twenty years ago. What’s more, the rise in the demand for road haulage over this period has mostly
been due to the transport of food and drink. The groups assert that the increase in the number of lorry
journeys is (3)......................(exceed) and that many of these are far from (4)...................... (essence).
In the distribution systems employed by British food (5)............................. (retail), fleets of lorries bring all
goods into more (6).................................. (centre) located warehouses for redistribution across the country.
(7)............................... (logic) as this moght appear, the situation whereby some goods get sent back to the
same areas from which they came is (8)................................... (avoid).
In response to scathing (9)........................ (critic) from environmentalists, some food distributors now aim
to minimise the impact of food miles by routing vehicles, wherever possible, on motorways after dark.
This encourages greater energy (10)................................ (efficient) whilst also reducing the impact on the
residential areas through which they would otherwise pass.
Exercise 14.
More than half the world’s population consider (1).................................... (them) shy,delegates to the first
international (2).................................. (confer) on shyness, being held in Cardiff, will be told today. One in 10
cases is severe. Effects include mutism, speech problem, (3).................................. (lonely), blushing, shaking
and trembling, lack of eye contact, (4)................................ (difficult) in forming relationships and social
phobia – the most extreme form of shyness, defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a
pronounced and (5).............................. (persist) fear of social or performance situations in which
(6).................................. (embarrass) may occur. Shy people tend to blame themselves for social
(7)............................ (fail) and attribute success to (8)................................ (out) factors. They expect their
behaviour to be (9)................................. (adequate), remember only negative information about themselves
and accept without challenge adverse comments from others.
The cause are complex and not fully understood. The latest theory is that it can be traced to genes as
well as to social (10)................................ (condition). One estimate, based on research with twins, is that
around 15 percent of the population are born with a (11).............................. (dispose) to shyness. Some
(12).................................... (psychology) believe there are two types: an early developing, fearful and shyness
and a later developing, (13)............................ (conscious) shyness. The fearful version emerges often in the
first year of life and is (14)............................... (think) to be (15)............................... (part) inherited.
Exercise 15.
THE LIFE OF A FOOTBALL FAN
Being a fan is not a vicarious pleasure, all appearances to the contrary. Our fun is not a
(1)............................(water) – down version of the team’s fun, even though they are the ones that get to
score the goals. The (2)..................................... (excite) we feel on occasions like this is not a
(3)......................................... (celebrate) of others’ good fortune, but it is truly our own. And when there is a
(4)................................. (disaster) defeat the sorrow that engulfs us is, in effect, self-pity. The players are
merely our (5)................................... (represent). I am a part of the club, just as the club is part of me; and I
say this with total (6)..................................................... (aware) that the club (7)......................... (regard) my views,
and treats me (8)............................................... (appalling) on occasions.
THE ART OF FENCING
Fencing is popular sport that demands (9)............................ (agile) and quick reflexes. It is,
(10).........................(basic), the modern version of the (11)...........................(equivalence) of the everyday
swords of the past. The ‘foil’ is the weapon distinguished by its (13).............................. (light) and hits are
made only on the trunk of the body, not the limbs or head. The ‘epée’ is most like the old duelling sword
and is stiffer and more solid. It is (14).................................... (permit) with this to make hits anywhere on the
body, head or limbs. The ‘sabre’ is like the old cavalry sword and has proved its (15)................................
(effective) in cutting as well as thrusting. Fencers wear masks and thick waistcoats for
(16)............................... (protect) from injuries which can occur during matches.
II. Choose the best word from A, B, C or D that fits each blank.
1. The hotel room was ...................... furnished with only a bed, a wardrobe, and an ancient armchair.
A. thinly B. sparsely C. lightly D. sketchily
2. The main disadvantage to our house is that the only .................... to the garden is through a bedroom.
A. passage B. doorway C. access D. communication
3. The demonstrations .................... in one hundred students being arrested.
A. culminated B. erupted C. escalated D. concluded
4. Although he was a hardened criminal, his one ...... feature was his love of children.
A. saving B. redeeming C. recovering D. acquitting
5. Following the accident, he was prosecuted for ........................... driving.
A. rash B. heedless C. irresponsible D. reckless
6. In many places in Wales we found that place-names in English had been ...............with green paint – the
work of ardent Welsh Nationalists.
A. suppressed B. disguised C. obliterated D. destroyed
7. She took up so many hobbies when she retired that she had hardly any time ...........
A. on her hands B. in hand C. at her hand D. at hand
8. He was hardened criminal without a scrap of ...................... for his crimes.
A. pity B. reproach C. remorse D. penance
9. We might just as well have stayed at home ......................... the enjoyment we had.
A. on account of B. as far as C. for all D. concerning
10. Don’t stick your elbows out when you eat. ....................... them in by your sides.
A. tuck B. bend C. place D. turn
11. Nothing was arranged – it was all very ......................................... .
A. take away B. worn out C. slapdash D. slap up
12. She gave me the same advice ............................ you did.
A. like B. than C. as D. who
13. He was ............................ with an extraordinary musical ability.
A. ensured B. entrusted C. entreated D. endowed
14. Not being able to find my phone number is a pretty .................... excuse for not contacting me.
A. fragile B. frail C. feedble D. faint
15. Fearing for his life, he .............................. the muggers for mercy.
A. pleaded B. petitioned C. urged D. begged
16. I am sorry to have bothered you – I was under the ....................... that you wanted me to call you.
A. mistake B. miscalculation C. misconception D. misapprehension
17. A special committee was set up to ........... on the problem of football hooliganism.
A. investigate B. inform C. research D. report
18. After the flash flood, all the drains were overflowing ........................ storm water.
A. from B. with C. by D. for
19. The factory is working below ......... because of the shortage of essential materials.
A. range B. scope C. capacity D. density
20. If the work-force respected you, you wouldn’t need to ............................... your authority so often.
A. assert B. affirm C. maintain D. inflict
21. I’ve had my car examined three times now but no mechanic has been able to ........the problem.
A. pinpoint B. focus C. specify D. highlight
22. Our hosts had prepared a ............ meal withseven courses to celebrate our arrival.
A. generous B. profuse C. lavish D. spendthrift
23. I explained that I wanted to ........................... my legal right to consult a solicitor.
A. entertain B. exercise C. grant D. insist
24. We were all rather in awe ........................... the new computers when they arrived.
A. about B. before C. by D. of
25. The case was ................................... by the judge for lack of evidence.
A. disallowed B. dismissed C. abandoned D. discarded
26. Once she’s ............................... a few tears she’ll resign herself to the situation.
A. shed B. split C. sobbed D. released
27. .................... the regular written work, you will be required to submit a long essay.
A. Apart from B. Beside C. In addition D. Beyond
28. ........................... the difficulty of the task, I shall be lucky to complete it by May.
A. Regarding B. Given C. Presuming D. Accepted
29. He was so .......... in answer to my questions that I knew he has something to hide.
A. effusive B. elusive C. allusive D. evasive
30. There is no ....................... for hard work and perseverance if you want to succeed.
A. alternative B. substitute C. equivalent D. imitation
31. People in this village have got an ................................. appetite for now.
A. inexorable B. inevitable C. insatiable D. inedible
32. Hardly had he sat down ................................... he was sent for again.
A. when B.than C. after D. that
33. Many children who get into trouble in their early teens go on to become ...............offenders.
A. persistent B. insistent C. consistent D. resistent
34. Race regulations in this country are unlikely to improve until people overcome their ........................
feelings of hostility towards foreigners.
A. interior B. internal C. inverted D. innate
35. Here is an example of an accident ............................ Chinese vase.
A. beautiful B. tiny C. patterned D. exotic
36. Even the other convicts considered it a ............................. crime.
A. guilty B. hard-bitten C. heinous D. hell-bent
37. Working with the mentally handicapped requires considerable ......................... ofpatience and
understanding.
A. means B. resources C. stocks D. provisions
38. The book took me the ............................... part of a year to write.
A. most B. greatest C. best D. largest
39. I utterly ..................... your argument. In my opinion, you have distorted the facts.
 A. confound B. dispute C. decline D. refute
40. I offer you my most ................................ apologies for offending you as I did.
A. repentant B. servile C. candid D. abject
41. Having decided to rent a flat, we ........................ contacting all all accommodation agencies in the city.
A. set to B. set off C. set out D. set about
42. Don’t thank me for helping in the garden. It was .............................. pleasure to be working out of doors.
A. plain B. mere C. simple D. sheer
43. The school authorities ....................... the child’s unruly behaviour on his parents’ lack of discipline.
A. attribute B. accuse C. blame D. ascribe
44. After months of bitter arguing the couple had to accept that they were ................ .
A. incongruous B. incompatible C. dissident D. disaffected
45. My sunburnt nose made me feel rather .......... for the first few days of the holiday.
A. self-effacing B. self-centred C. self-conscious D. self-evident
46. The peace of the public library was ..................... by the sound of a transitor radio.
A. smashed B. fractured C. demolished D. shattered
47. Anticipating renewed rioting, the authorities erected ...................... to block off certain streets.
A. barrages B. barricades C. ditches D. dykes
48. In the hands of a reckless driver a car becomes a ......................... weapon.
A. lethal B. fatal C. mortal D. venal
49. What the company needs is a .................. actor who can take on a variety of roles.
A. variable B. changeable C. versatile D. diverse
50. With their modern, lightweight boat, they soon ......... the older vessels in the race.
A. outstripped B. caught up C. overran D. exceeded
51. The feuding families have been ........................... enemies for years.
A. sworn B. promised C. cursed D. blood
52. Not only was there no tea, .......................... there was no food either.
A. and B. nor C. but D. so
53. He ..................... so much harm on the nation during his regime that it has never fully recovered.
A. indicted B. inferred C. induced D. inflicted
54. Please don’t ...................... it amiss if I make a few suggestions for improvement.
A. think B. assume C. take D. judge
55. It’s a shame they didn’t pick you, but it doesn’t ........................ out the possibility
You might get a job in a different department.
A. rule B. strike C. cancel D. draw
56. When facing problems, it is important to keep a sense of ................................. .
A. proportion B. introspection C. relativity D. comparison
57. The hotel, though obviously grand in it days, appeared rather neglected and .........when we checked in.
A. tumbled-down B. downcast C. run-down D. down-and-out
58. In order to explore the city .......................... I left my luggage at the station.
A. unladen B. unencumbered C. undeterred D. unrestrained
59. The air-sea search operation is continuing although hopes of finding survivors are ............................... .
A. dimming B. fading C. dissolving D. reducing
60. If you ............................ in arriving late, I shall have to report you to the Manager.
A. persist B. persevere C. insist D. prevail
61. I meant to sound confident at the interview but I’m afraid I ............... as dogmatic.
A. came out B. came through C. came off D. came over
62. The switchboard at Television Centre was so ..................... by complaints about the programme that
they had to take on extra staff.
A. overrun B. overcome C. overwhelmed D. overhauled
63. She had ................. mind which kept her alert and well-informed even in old age.
A. an examining B. a demanding C. an enquiring D. a querying
64. The police decided to ...................... the department store after they had received a bomb warning.
A. abandon B. evacuate C. evict D. expel
65. There were so many people ..................... me in the crowd that I couldn’t hold the camera steady.
A. jostling B. jerking C. obstructing D. agitating
66. “Frankly, I couldn’t care less!” he said with a ........................... of his shoulders.
A. twitch B. flick C. hunch D. shrug
67. I’m not by ............................. a particularly ambitious man.
A. inclination B. habit C. character D. tendency
68. After the robbery, the shop installed a sophisticated alarm system as an insurance ...........................
further losses.
A. for B. from C. against D. towards
69. He still suffers from a rare tropical disease which he .................... while in Africa.
A. infected B. complained C. gained D. contracted
70. I was proud to be ........................ out for special praise for my performance.
A. selected B. singled C. separated D. distinguished
71. When .......................... money into the slot, be sure to use undamaged coins.
A. on inserting B. having inserted C. to insert D. inserting
72. The mother sat by her ............................. child’s bedside all night.
A. asleep B. sleep C. sleeping D. overslept
73. It’s much more expensive if you use the phone at ............................. rate.
A. high B. busy C. peak D. heavy
74. The politician gave a press conference to deny the charges that had been .............at him.
A. targeted B. levelled C. accused D. blamed
75. People in financial difficulties sometimes fall ............................ to unscrupulous money lenders.
A. prey B. fool C. scapegoat D. sacrifice
76. If you ....................... too much of your energy on the climb, you’ll have none leftfor the descent.
A. spend B. lose C. expend D. invest
77. He was caught using forged bank notes to pay for goods and charged with .......... .
A. deception B. fraud C. embezzlement D. theft
78. I can lend you five pounds to help you ....................... until you’ve had time to goto the bank.
A. by B. up C. on D. out
79. The restaurant is popular with film stars and the ................................. .
A. like B. same C. similar D. such
80. Although I explained the situation he didn’t seem to ........................ the degree of danger he was in.
A. seize B. grab C. catch D. grasp
81. The company was declared bankrupt when it had ...................... more debts than it could hope to repay.
A. inflicted B. incurred C. entailed D. evolved
82. Architectural pressure groups fought unsuccessfully to save a terrace of eighteenth century houses
from ............................ .
A. disruption B. abolition C. demolition D. dismantling
83. Before I went to drama school, I had to .................... quiet a lot of family pressure for me to study
medicine.
A. resist B. restrain C. refuse D. reconcile
84. Strong protests were made .................. with demands for an international enquiry.
A. joined B. added C. coupled D. included
85. His English was roughly ......................... with my Greek, so communication was rather difficult !
A. level B. on a par C. equal D. in tune
86. What her problems all seemed to ............................. to was lack of money.
A. analyse B. condense C. boil down D. sum up
87. The radio received was .............................. regular messages.
A. giving over B. giving off C. giving out D. giving up
88. If the door had jammed, there’s no point in trying to force it open. You’ll probably .......................... the
handle off !
A. gouge B. wrench C. pluck D. drag
89. The job requires a(n) .............................. for hard work in difficult conditions.
A. ability B. skill C. faculty D. capacity
90. He left the meeting early on the unlikely ............ that he had a stick friend to visit.
A. claim B. excuse C. pretext D. motive
91. That song ............................ me of my youth.
 A. recalls B. remembers C. reminds D. recollects
92. Giving up smoking is just one of the ways to ............................ heart disease.
A. push off B. put off C. ward off D. throw off
93. The girl felt ................................. with hunger.
A. faintly B. fainting C. fainted D. faint
94. ............................. you are, the more you laugh.
A. The happier B. More happy C. The happy D. Happier
95. All equipment must be sterilized and germ ................................ .
A. vacant B. free C. vacuous D. vacated
96. During the war, the black market in luxury goods .................................. .
A. flourished B. flowered C. bloomed D. blossomed
97. He looks much older. His financial worries seem to have taken a terrible ..............on his health.
A. burden B. toll C. strain D. tax
98. I haven’t got the time to do my own work ........................... help you with yours.
A. leaving aside B. not counting C. let alone D. apart from
99. A statement will be made after the police have finished ................... the evidence.
A. straining B. sifting C. shredding D. sieving
100. You should be grateful to have opportunities which were .......................... to me at your age.
A. refused B. declined C. denied D. restricted
101. In my view, the changes to the education system have been to good .................. .
A. influence B. outcome C. upshot D. effect
102. As a full story ..............................., the public reacted with shock.
A. uncovered B. unfolded C. unwrapped D. undid
103. This song is not ......................... as original as their previous ones.
A. almost B. virtually C. nearly D. practically
104. In any transport system, the safety of passengers should be ............................ .
A. paramount B. eminent C. chief D. prime
105. It is expectedly that all members will ....................... to the rules of the club.
A. comply B. concede C. conform D. compromise
106. It was decided that the cost of the project would be ...... and so it was abandoned.
A. repressive B. prohibitive C. restrictive D. exclusive
107. Karen was terribly nervous before the interview but she managed to pull herself............................ and
act confidently.
A. through B. over C. together D. off
108. It just so ........................ that I was in their area that day, so I went to visit them.
A. occurred B. happened C. chanced D. arose
109. We ...................... up a friendship the very first time we met.
A. struck B. launched C. cropped D. settled
110. I left the company by .........................., not because I was forced to.
A. choice B. option C. selection D. preference
111. Tessa was determined to become wealthy and to that ......................... she started her own company.
A. view B. aim C. end D. object
112. I can’t understand why you have to make such a ...................... about something so unimportant.
A. mess B. stir C. fuss D. bother
113. If you don’t want to that wardrobe, I’m sure I could put it to good ..................... .
A. value B. use C. benefit D. worth
114. Even though it was clear that that he was wrong, he was unwilling to ..................and admit it.
A. take back B. stand down C. draw back D. back down
115. The police are looking into new ways of ........................... major crime.
A. contending B. wrestling C. combating D. striving
116. He made a number of ...................... remarks about my cooking, which upset me.
A. slashing B. stabbing C. chopping D. cutting
117. ......................... it or not, I’ve just been given a totally unexpected pay rise !
A. Believe B. Accept C. Presume D. Allow
118. Recent defeats have ........................... his confidence in himself as a player.
 A. undermined B. disabled C. impeded D. hampered
119. The plumber agreed that he had made a mistake and promised to put it .............................. the next day.
A. correct B. proper C. sound D. right
120. Poor management brought the company to the ......................... of collapse.
A. brink B. rim C. fringe D. brim
121. Why don’t the police take ........................... measures against crime?
A. affective B. ineffective C. effective D. efficient
122. The strikers agreed to stick .......................... a substantial pay rise.
A. up for B. out for C. together D. up to
123. As she is so heavily overworked, there is a ...................... possibility that she will have a nervous
breakdown.
A. distinctive B. distinct C. little D. manifest
124. When Mr. Spendthrift ran out of money, he ........................ his mother for help.
A. fell in with B. fell upon C. fell behind D. fell back on
125. You will have to give ............................ to the manager for your actions.
A. report B.account C. narrative D. explanation
126. The truant was ........................ from school for unbecoming behaviour.
A. dispelled B. repelled C. expelled D. compelled
127. What he did was the height of bad ...................................... .
A. manner B. conduct C. actions D. behaviour
128. The ................ of two houses prove such a financial burden that they were forced to sell one.
A. upkeep B. upshot C. upsurge D. uproar
129. Of course he can lift that! He’s as .......................... as a horse.
A. tough B. big C. heavy D. strong
130. ...................... to the invention of the steam engine, most forms of transport were horse-drawn.
A. Akin B. Prior C. In addition D. With reference
131. There is no doubt about the outcome of the trial. The man is a .............. criminal.
A. self-conscious B. self-contained C. self-confessed D. self-centred
132. My husband’s continual .......................... keeps me awake at night.
A. sneering B. snoozing C. snarling D. snoring
133. There was a ....................... of brakes as the car took the corner too quickly.
A. squawk B. squelch C. screech D. scream
134. I’m afraid I’m rather ....................... about the existence of ghosts.
A. sceptical B. partial C. adaptable D. incapable
135. You must pay import ....................... on certain goods brought into this country.
A. fees B. surcharges C. supplement D. duties
136. Her hands were swollen and wrinkle, but she still had her nails ........... regularly.
A. manufactured B. manicured C. maintained D. managed
137. The girl’s large, heavy earrings had ......................... her earlobes permanently.
A. displaced B. dismayed C. disfigured D. diseased
138. More and more people are having satellite dishes ......................... on their roofs.
A. installed B. introduced C. implanted D. inserted
139. Cut flowers may ........................... through lack of water.
A. faint B. collapse C. wilt D. drop
140. The actor was so nervous that he could only remember small ........... of dialogue.
A. shreds B. pieces C. patches D. snatches
141. Her business must be going rather well, ........................ by the car she drives.
A. deducing B. deciding C. inferring D. judging
142. My cousin obviously didn’t ........................ much of an impression on you if you can’t rememeber
meeting him.
A. create B. do C. make D. build
143. I was kept awake for most of the night by the ................ of a mosquito in my ear.
A. whine B. moan C. groan D. screech
144. If you would like to wait for a moment, sir, I will just ...................... your file on the computer screen.
A. call up B. pull down C. bring in D. pick up
145. He looks very aggressive and threatening, so his soft, gentle voice is rather ...... .
A. disembodied B. disconcerting C. dismissive D. discordant
146. If I were you, I would regard their offer with considerable ........, because it seems too good to be true.
A. suspicion B. doubt C. reservation D. disbelief
147. My sister’s confidence in her ability to play the piano was badly .................... by her last music teacher.
A. subsided B. weakened C. undermined D. loosened
148. Fearing for his life, he ......................... the mugger for mercy.
A. pleaded B. petitioned C. urged D. begged
149. I am sorry to have bothered you – I was under the ...................... that you wanted me to call you.
A. mistake B. miscalculation C. misconception D. misapprehension
150. I am not convinced that financial advisers always act in their clients’ best ......... .
A. advantage B. interest C. intention D. result
151. Many children who get into trouble in their early teens go on to become .............offenders.
A. persistent B. insistent C. consistent D. resistant
152. Race relations in this country are unlikely to improve until people overcome their ......................
feelings of hostility towards foreigners.
A. interior B. internal C. inverted D. innate
153. The real test of your relationship will come when you start to see your new boyfriend ............ and all.
A. faults B. spots C. moles D. warts
154. It’s a shame they didn’t pick you, but it doesn’t ...................... out the possibility that you might get a
job in a different department.
A. rule B. strike C. cancel D. draw
155. The case against the bank robbers was ........................... for lack of evidence.
A. discarded B. dismissed C. refused D. eliminated
156. Please ........................ from smoking until the plane is airborne.
A. refrain B. exclude C. resist D. restrain
157. We’re planning a holiday in Hong Kong when Peter retires but I don’t know whether it’ll really ever
come .......................... .
A. on B. out C. off D. round
158. No matter how angry he was, he would never ....................... to violence.
A. resolve B. recourse C. exert D. resort
159. The best soil was ........................ away by a torrential rainstorm.
A. gushed B. flowed C. flooded D. washed
160. Five readers ......................... the correct solution to our recent competition.
A. communicated B. qualified C. submitted D. subscribed
161. People who take on a second job inevitably ............. themselves to greater stress.
A. offer B. subject C. field D. place
162. The building work must be finished by the end of the month ................. of cost.
A. ignorant B. thoughtless C. uncaring D. regardless
163. Sarah’s friends all had brothers and sisters but she was a(n) ....................... child.
A. singular B. individual C. single D. only
164. ............................ from being embarrassed by his mistakes, the lecturer went on confidently with
his talk.
A. Distant B. Far C. A long way D. Miles
165. The increased pay offer was accepted although it ...................... short of what the employees wanted.
A. fell B. arrived C. came D. ended
166. The old lady’s savings were considerable as she had ..................... a little money each week.
A. put by B. put in C. put apart D. put down
167. His poor handling of the business ............................ on negligence.
A. bordered B. edged C. approached D. neared
168. After the accident, there was considerable doubt ...... exactly what had happened.
A. as to B. in the shape of C. for D. in the question of
169. Price increases are now running at a(n) ........................ level of thirty per cent.
A. highest B. record C. uppermost D. top
170. The police ...... a good deal of criticism over their handling of the demonstration.
 A. came in for B. brought about C. opened up D. went down with
171. The stage designed was out of this ..................... but unfortunately the acting was not so impressive.
A. moon B. planet C. world D. earth
172. To discuss this matter with anyone else would ......... our professional regulation.
A. contradict B. counteract C. contrast D. contravene
173. I ......................... on the grapevine that George is in line for promotion.
A. heard B. collected C. picked D. caught
174. This monument is ................... to the memory of distinguished former students.
A. erected B. dedicated C. commissioned D. associated
175. To begin studying chemistry at this level, you must already have proved your ability in a related ......
A. line B. discipline C. region D. rule
176. This sad song movingly conveys the ...................... of the lovers’ final parting.
A. ache B. argument C. anxiety D. anguish
177. Do you expect there will be a lot of ..... to the project from the local community?
A. rejections B. disapproval C. disagreement D. objections
178. As a .................. parent, my main concern is balancing the needs of a small child with the need to earn
a living.
A. solo B. single C. sole D. solitary
179. By the time we got home, we were .......................... frozen and starving hungry.
A. extremely B. very C. absolutely D. exceedingly
180. She says that unfortunately, in the .................... circumstances, she cannot afford to help us.
A. ongoing B. contemporary C. actual D. present
181. Mr. Average was just a run-of-the- ........................ worker.
A. road B. mill C. week D. wheel
182. The masterpiece ....................... of four parts.
A. constitutes B. composes C. comprises D. consists
183. Mr. Lightfinger was charged with ..................... the funds of several charities.
A. mislaying B. mistaking C. misplacing D. misappropriating
184. He was ....................... with emotion at seeing his team win the championship.
A. carried over B. carried forward C. carried out D. carried away
185. Romeo’s family had been at ....................... with Juliet’s for generations.
A. struggle B. contention C. variance D. discord
186. Of course, the price of the flat was a big ................. in my decision as to whether to buy it or not.
A. portion B. factor C. aspect D. element
187. It was confirmed that the accident was caused by human ............................ .
A. error B. slip C. fault D. blunder
188. It has been established ......................... dispute that this disease can be cured.
A. past B. over C. beyond D. outside
189. All candidates will be treated equally, .................... of their age or background.
A. discounting B. irrelevant C. irrespective D. notwithstanding
190. Despite all the interruptions, he ........................... with his work.
A. stuck at B. held on C. hung out D. pressed on
191. In the .............. of security, personnel must wear their identity badges at all time.
A. requirement B. interests C. demands D. assistance
192. The strike was .............. owing to a last-minute agreement with the management.
A. called off B. broken up C. set back D. put down
193. Lindsay’s excuses for being late are beginning to ........................ rather thin.
A. get B. turn C. wear D. go
194. ......................, the people who come to this club are in their twenties and thirties.
A. Altogether B. To a degree C. Virtually D. By and large
195. My cousin was nervous about being interviewed on television, but she rose to the ..........................
wonderfully.
A. event B. performance C. incident D. occasion
196. The police carried out a .......................... search for the missing diplomat.
A. thorough B. through C. throughout D. thoughtful
197. He was fined ........................... parking near a pedestrian crossing.
A. at B. by C. with D. for
198. Don’t forget ......................... the bank first thing tomorrow morning.
A. to phone B. phoning C. having phoned D. to have phoned
199. I’m ......................... having to pay yet another visit to the dentist.
A. dreading B. frightened C. terrified D. afraid
200. I wish I could give you the ........................... to your problems.
A. reply B. conclusion C. answer D. end
201. The ....................... cheered when the final goal was scored in the match today.
A. viewers B. onlookers C. spectators D. audience
202. Most people ........................... family heirlooms and keep themselves safe.
A. cosset B. cherish C. nourish D. nurture
203. The man’s laugh had a very cruel ............................. to it.
A. ring B. boom C. resonance D. noise
204. The job you’ve been offered is a(n) ......... opportunity to travel and meet people.
A. sole B. only C. unique D. single
205. He ............................. a yawn as the actor began yet another long speech.
A. squashed B. suffocated C. submerged D. stifled
206. The rock was so heavy that it was only with the greatest difficulty that the climbers could
........................... it out of their way.
A. heave B. fling C. throw D. cast
207. The barriers suddenly collapsed and the crowd of supporters ................. forward on to the pitch.
A. swirled B. gushed C. surged D. trickled
208. The crowed roared with excitement when Benson ........................ his partner off her feet and carried
her above his head around the skating rink.
A. skimmed B. ripped C. hurtled D. swept
209. After several ferocious punches both boxers were .......... unsteadily on their feet.
A. bouncing B. lunging C. swaying D. swinging
210. A burst tyre caused the car to ........................... off the road and into the river.
A. swerve B. fire C. curve D. skate
211. It is not yet known what made the aeroplane stall and then ............... into the sea.
A. swoop B. dip C. hurl D. plummer
212. She didn’t ............................ the idea of having to go to the party on her own.
A. savour B. agree C. relish D. delight
213. Many athletes have reached their ........................... by the time they are twenty.
A. summit B. top C. point D. peak
214. Many famous people resent their private lives being held up to public ............... .
A. observation B. deliberation C. scrutiny D. investigation
215. You could make a formal complaint to the committee, but I wouldn’t go down that ...... if I were you.
A. lane B. street C. avenue D. road
216. Oliver Twist had already had his fair ............................... of food.
A. ratio B. help C. ration D. division
217. Some great men have had an ............................. school record.
A. indistinct B. indistinguishable C. extinguished D. undistinguished
218. Buyers and sellers were ............................... over prices.
A. hacking B. hugging C. heckling D. haggling
219. Within a few weeks all this present trouble will have blown ......................... .
A. along B. over C. out D. away
220. The six (and last) volume in the series is ....................... with its predecessors.
A. uniform B. similar C. like D. identical
221. Politicians often promise to solve all a country’s problems ............................. .
A. thick and fast B. on the whole C. of set purpose D. at a stroke
222. When the detectives finally trapped him, he had ........................ to lying.
A. resource B. retort C. resort D. recourse
223. My late grandmother ........................... me this silver teapot.
 A. bequested B. willed C. bequeathed D. inherited
224. It was getting ............................. midnight when he left.
A. on B. on to C. to D. past
225. In his student days he was as poor as a church ............................... .
A. beggar B. miser C. mouse D. pauper
226. She may have been poor, but she was ............................... honest.
A. finally B. in the end C. at least D. at last
227. The manager was very ....................... with me about my prospects of promotion.
A. sincere B. friendly C. just D. frank
228. The unmarried ladies regard him as a very ............................ young man.
A. ineligible B. illegible C. illicit D. eligible
229. Mr Lazybones ............................. to work harder in future.
A. excepted B. agreed C. accorded D. accepted
230. He believed that promotion should be awarded on ........, not on length of service.
A. equality B. merit C. characteristics D. purposes
231. It is a criminal offence to ................................... the facts.
A. oppress B. suppress C. repress D. express
232. He ....................... the cart before the horse by buying the ring before he had proposed to her.
A. fastened B. tied C. put D. coupled
233. Every delicacy Miss Cook produces is done ................................... .
A. there and then B. at will C. sooner or later D. to a turn
234. She tells her small boy everyday not to be rude, but it’s like water off a duck’s ...................... .
A. wings B. beak C. back D. feathers
235. Announcing that he was totally done ........................., Grandfather retired to bed.
A. out B. with C. in D. down
236. Several passengers received minor injuries when the train unexpectedly came to a ............................... .
A. delay B. stand C. brake D. halt
237. John refused to put his career in ......................... by opposing his boss.
A. jeopardy B. hazard C. risk D. stake
238. Angela’s work was praised for its .......................... attention to detail.
A. meticulous B. significant C. subtle D. concentrated
239. Motorists should ........................... well in advance of changing lanes.
A. sign B. signal C. flare D. flicker
240. The student had no money left and took out a loan to ...................... him over until the end of term.
A. last B. tend C. keep D. tide
241. The climbers sought .............................. from the storm.
A. escape B. refuge C. solace D. defence
242. The tour guide had a brightly-coloured company badge pinned to the ..................of her jacket.
A. lapel B. border C. edge D. hem
243. It was her first conference as party leader, and she was determined to ..................her authority on the
proceedings.
A. press B. thrust C. stamp D. mark
244. It was .......................... of a surprise to Andrew that he got the job.
A. rather B. something C. quite D. much
245. The last bus had gone so we were ....................... with the problem of how to get home that night.
A. affronted B. caught C. trapped D. faced
246. The transport minister .......................... recent statistics to support the case for a reduction in the
speed limit.
A. named B. quoted C. summoned D. claimed
247. The amount Sarah earned was ......................... on how much she sold.
A. related B. connected C. dependent D. secured
248. The plan received ........................ support although none of the committee spoke openly in its favour.
A. tacit B. mute C. silent D. quiet
249. The junior staff were ........................ from all aspects of decision making.
A. excluded B. limited C. confined D. restricted
250. When the funds finally ........................, they had to abandon the scheme.
A. faded away B. clamped down C. petered out D. fobbed off
251. The party leader travelled the length and .............................. of the country in an attempt to spread his
message.
A. width B. distance C. diameter D. breadth
252. During the riots, there were ..................... between local residents and the police.
A. sieges B. demonstrations C. rallies D. clashes
253.Shally has an ........................... command of the Chinese language.
A. extreme B. utter C. outstanding D. intensive
254. I am ........................... aware of the need to obey the rules of the competition.
A. well B. far C. much D. greatly
255. Richard started the race well but ran out of ........................ in the later stages.
A. power B. steam C. force D. effort
256. I .......................... that you won’t be inviting that awful woman to the meeting.
A. assume B. instruct C. entrust D. rely
257. He has put his car entirely at our ............................ for the holiday.
A. usage B. disposal C. pleasure D. disposition
258. His bank had never been .......................... of his change of address.
A. contacted B. notified C. acquainted D. communicated
259. The police were very ......................... in their examination of the building.
A. exhausting B. intense C. thorough D. concentrated
260. The roadworks made ...................... to the hotel from the main road difficult.
A. entrance B. approach C. access D. ways in
261. After he set fire to the library, the boy was ............................ from school.
A. expelled B. excluded C. exiled D. extracted
262. The museum wishes to ...................... an assistant curator for its fossil collection.
A. appoint B. commission C. authorise D. assign
263. They can’t .............................. on the name for the baby.
A. conclude B. decided C. consent D. assent
264. They could find no ....................... of the missing car despite an extensive search.
A. clue B. remnant C. indication D. trace
265. I am never free on Tuesday evenings as I have a .............................. arrangement to go to the cinema
with a friend.
A. long-standing B. long-lived C. long-range D. long-lasting
266. After the accident, there was considerable doubt ........................... exactly what had happened.
A. as to B. in the shape of C. for D. in the question of
267. Price increases are now running at a(n) ....................... level of thirty percent.
A. highest B. record C. uppermost D. top
268. The police ............................. a good deal of criticism over their handling of the demonstration.
A. came in for B. brought about C. opened up D. went down with
269. Whenever we plan to go for a picnic, it ............................. rains.
A. continuously B. invariably C. unavoidably D. interminably
270. If you are ........................ of hearing, you will find our hearing aids invaluable.
A. short B. hard C. poor D. weak
271. I know you didn’t want to upset me but I’d sooner you .................. me the whole truth yesterday.
A. tell B. told C. have told D. had told
272. The prospective buyer had decided to look ........................... the property before committing himself.
A. about B. out C. over D. up
273. I didn’t really want to see the film, but my wife was so ....................... to go that I finally agreed.
A. willing B. sincere C. keen D. energetic
274. Send for our free brochure by ............................. the coupon below.
A. answering B. responding C. completing D. filling
275. The judge imposed a light sentence in view of the .................... circumstances.
A. unfair B. extensive C. extenuating D. qualifying
276. He bought that house, .......... that he would inherit money under his uncle’s will.
 A. considering B. assuming C. estimating D. accounting
277. The postal services were ................................ for several weeks by the strike.
A. disrupted B. perturbed C. disarrayed D. deranged
278. I wished that I could cry but, because of my upbringing I was too ..................... .
A. shy B. inhibited C. rigid D. prevented
279. Since the child had no proper excuse for missing school, her absence should be treated as ................... .
A. desertion B. neglect C. abstention D. truancy
280. All visitors are requested to .............................. with the regulations.
A. agree B. comply C. assent D. consent
281. This is a most peculiar letter. What do you .......................... of it?
A. gather B. make C. get D. feel
282. Now that we’ve identified the problem, we must decide on an appropriate course of ............................. .
A. action B. progress C. solution D. development
283. He was blinded by the ....................... of the approaching car’s headlights.
A. glare B. gleam C. glow D. flare
284. Mary gives one account of the conversation, and Fred another; it’s difficult to.......... the two versions.
A. reconcile B. identify C. adjust D. coincide
285. His reputation has been greatly ....................... by the success of his new book.
A. expanded B. enhanced C. enlarged D. heightened
286. If this animal had escaped from its cage it could ....................... have killed or maimed several people.
A. equally B. both C. well D. severely
287. Time was running out, so the committee had to make a ..................... decision.
A. brief B. snap C. sharp D. curt
288. Because of an unfortunate ........................ your order was not despatched by the date requested.
A. hindrance B. oversight C. negligence D. transgression
289. Motorists ......................... of speeding may be banned from driving for a year.
A. convicted B. arrested C. charged D. judged
290. If you walk along this lane you will see the signpost ...................... to the beach.
A. pointing B. showing C. directing D. indicating
291. She didn’t .................. doing the ironing, as she hadn’t wanted to go out anyway.
A. object B. matter C. care for D. mind
292. The decision was ......................... to a later meeting.
A. cancelled B. arranged C. deferred D. delayed
293. Tempers began to ............................. as the lorries forced their way through the picket lines.
A. break B. fray C. grate D. fire
294. The old ship will be towed into harbour and ............................... .
A. broken up B. broken down C. broken in D. broken off
295. Making private calls on the office phone is severely .......... on in our department.
A. frowned B. criticised C. regarded D. objected
296. Apart from the ........................... cough and cold. I’ve been remarkably healthy all my life.
A. odd B. opportune C. irregular D. timely
297. I had to take out a bank loan when I started up in business and it took me two years to pay it ............. .
A. out B. up C. over D. Off
298. Apart from the ........................... cough and cold. I’ve been remarkably healthy all my life.
A. odd B. opportune C. irregular D. timely
299. I had to take out a bank loan when I started up in business and it took me two years to pay it ............. .
A. out B. up C. over D. off
300. He’s applied for a(n)……………. lot of jobs but he’s only been short-listed one.
A. dreadful B. awful C. enormous D. wide
301. I’ve been working …………………. quite a lot of pressure lately.
A. in B. with C. on D. under
302. The smoke ……………….. from the burning tyres could be seen for miles.
A. bulging B. radiating C. billowing D. sweeping
303. Several of the advertising hoardings had been …………. by anti-sexist slogans.
A. deleted B. mutilated C. erased D. defaced
304. The theft of my father’s camera cast rather a ……………… on the holiday.
A. blight B. curse C. misfortune D. misery
305. I’m afraid I can’t tell you what he said. It would be a …………. of confidence.
A. rupture B. break C. rift D. breach
306. There’s no point in telephoning him. He’s certain ………………. by now.
A. to leave B. to have left C. left D. having left
307. If you don’t stop smoking, you …….. the risk of developing chronic bronchitis.
A. bear B. suffer C. make D. run
308. He’ll believe anything. He’s so ………………….. .
A. garrulous B. gullible C. credible D. believable
309. At …………………. time did I ever promise you pay a rise.
A. any B. no C. all D. some
310. As his aunt’s only beneficiary, he came ……………….. a fortune on her death.
A. upon B. across C. into D. up against
311. As he walked along the landing, he ……………….. himself in the mirror at the top of the stairs.
A. glimpsed B. glanced C. gazed D. glared
312. I’ve got such a ……………….. headache that I can’t concentrate on the lecture.
A. beating B. drumming C. hammering D. throbbing
313. The rules are dearly stated and admit ………………… no confusion.
A. to B. for C. of D. from
314. I was in no way prepared for the ……………… of criticism my play received.
A. onslaught B. onset C. offensive D. assault
315. The doctor prescribed tablets to help ………………… the pain.
A. lighten B. calm C. relieve D. rid
316. There is a feature of dialect …….. to Bristol by which an ‘I’ is added to the ends of some words.
A. original B. peculiar C. particular D. proper
317. It is essential to be on the ……… for any signs of movement in thr undergrowth since there are
poisonous snakes in the area.
A. guard B. care C. alarm D. alert
318. The railway line has been closed for ten years and the station buildings are now sadly ………. .
A. decrepit B. derelict C. decomposed D. discarded
319. We can’t eat this bread. It’s …………………….. .
A. mouldy B. rotten C. bad D. rancid
320. She’s decided to ………………….. her German by attending an evening course.
A. brush up B. patch up C. polish off D. dust off
321. Will you …………………… the baby for a minute, while I make a phone call?
A. control B. settle C. attend D. mind
322. Unfortunately, I’m rather …………..…….. to forgetfulness in my old age.
A. apt B. prone C. open D. prey
323. You would be well advised to ……………….. clear of the casinos in the city.
A. stray B. stick C. steer D. veer
324. If you reprimand him, he’ll probably ……….. by behaving even worse in future.
A. retort B. resist C. recompense D. retaliate
325. After the church service, several people ……………….. outside the chat.
A. loitered B. lagged C. lingered D. lapsed
326. I think you’ll find that the inconvenience of the diet is ………. by the benefits.
A. outranked B. overthrown C. overbalanced D. outweighed
327. We started off walking ……….. but had slowed to a snail’s pace after an hour.
A. heartily B. briskly C. sharply D. crisply
328. He’s got plenty of …………. experience as he’s worked in that field already.
A. second-hand B. first-hand C. primary D. tertiary
329. She’s …………….. about her nursing exams, but I’m sure she’ll do well.
A. alienated B. keen C. stressed D. apprehensive
330. In the days before the widespread use of …………….. having an operation must have been a grueling
experience.
 A. aesthetes B. aesthetics C. anaesthetics D. anaesthetists
331. Before their restoration, parts of the medieval building were in a state of ……. .
A. debris B. dilapidation C. devastationD. destruction
332. New consumer protection legislation comes into ……………… next April.
A. law B. force C. statute D. act
333. It’s twenty years since I worked in Germany and my German is pretty … now.
A. scratchy B. scruffy C. rusty D. sloppy
334. Only after buying the cottage did we discover that it was ……….. with mice.
A. inflicted B. infested C. invaded D. infected
335. She ………..… affection from her children but they neglected her shamefully.
A. yearned B. craved C. hungered D. desired
336. Soldiers were warned that anyone caught ……………the shops in the deserted in the deserted town
would be severely punished.
A. stealing B. raiding C. embezzling D. looting
337. The BBC has …………… a young composer to write a piece of music for the Corporation’s centenary.
A. ordered B. consulted C. commissioned D. decided
338. Police have warned people to be ……………when strangers call at the door and to ask to see proof of
identity.
A. choosy B. cagey C. wary D. scarey
339. Every Christmas of my childhood was the same. My father …………… late for lunch, weighed down
with presents for the family.
A. would arrive B. had arrived
C. was arriving D. was used to arriving
340. It …………….. me as strange that my front door was open when I got home.
A. seemed B. occurred C. appeared D. struck
341. As a result of careless washing, the jeans had .................... to a child’s size.
A. shrunk B. faded C. reduced D. dwindled
342. He told the court that it was his desperate poverty that had ............ him to crime.
A. driven B. brought C. induced D. compelled
343. The villa has excellent ....................... for cooking and for washing clothes.
A. facilities B. amenities C. utilities D. conveniences
344. I’m afraid I had to have ........ to a dictionary in order to complete the translation.
A. application B. avail C. resort D. recourse
345. The windows don’t fit very well and it makes the room awfully .................... .
A. airy B. draughty C. breezy D. ventilated
346. She gave up nursing training when she found she had no ................... for looking after the sick.
A. vocation B. mission C. service D. ambition
347. There’s no point in ................. about all day. Cheer up and try to find a new job!
A. moping B. mourning C. brooding D. sulking
348. You’ll feel better after you’ve taken a ........................ of cough medicine.
A. ration B. helping C. dose D. portion
349. There’s a small hard .................... on my wrist. I think I’d better see the doctor.
A. swelling B. lump C. bruise D. rash
350. All the way along the winding street .................................. .
A. he came B. came he C. did he come D. comes he
351. Don’t worry about making a noise. The children are wide ........................... .
A. waking B. awake C. woken D. awoke
352. She’s always been one of your ........................... critics.
A. fiercest B. most violent C. wildest D. hardest
353. ...................... has such a stunning achievement been recorded.
A. Always B. Seldom C. Today D. Recently
354. The woman was ……... from hospital yesterday only a week after her operation.
A. eject B. expelled C. evicted D. discharged
355. ……………….. further rioting to occur, the government would be forced to use its emergency powers.
A. Should B. Did C. Were D. Had
356. Of all the paintings in the gallery, it was this one that really ................... my eye.
A. grasped B. snatched C. caught D. seized
357. She had made a firm decision and wasn’t ................ by anything I said against it.
A. detracted B. prevailed C. induced D. swayed
358. We might have to change our plans for the weekend and, ......., we’ll let you know as soon as possible.
A. in case B. if so C. providing D. supposing
359. I was reluctant to .... the subject because I thought he woudn’t want to discuss it.
A. raise B. originate C. advance D. provoke
360. My attempts to solve the problem only ...................... to make it worse.
A. contributed B. functioned C. served D. attained
361. Can you tell me the ....................... of these shoes?
A. charge B. price C. amount D. expense
362. I don’t feel well-but I don’t know what’s the matter ....................... me.
A. of B. for C. to D. with
363. It is too early in the ....................... to expect many visitors to the town.
A. term B. season C. time D. calendar
364. .......................... is a complete mystery how they ever got there in that car.
A. There B. That C. It D. This
365. I love this paiting of an old man. He has such a beautiful, .................. smile.
A. childhood B. childish C. childless D. childlike
366. Please leave this space .......................... on the enrolement form.
A. absent B. blank C. missing D. undone
367. You shouldn’t have criticised him in front of his friends. It was extremely .......................... of you.
A. unfortunate B. insensitive C. insensible D. unconscious
368. He will only pass the examination if there is a(n) .................... in his class work.
A. progress B. increase C. rise D. improvement
369. Come and see me when you ......................... your report.
A. finish B. will finish C. had finished D. having finished
370. I often miss the bus because my watch is .................................... .
A. overdue B. late C. slow D. behind
371. It .......................... during our conversation that Anita was extremely unhappy.
A. emanated B. revealed C. divulged D. emerged
372. I know this is a big disappointment but don’t take it to .............................. .
A. soul B. mind C. spirit D. heart
373. I was told yesterday that the car had been fixed but it’s broken down ........ again!
A. even B. still C. yet D. right
374. Simon ..................... in me on the understanding that I wouldn’t tell anyone else.
A. confided B. intimated C. confessed D. disclosed
375. Eventually the list of candidates for the job was ..................... down to three.
A. narrowed B. lowered C. wound D. dropped
376. She has given a firm ........ not to reveal any of the company’s secret information.
A. reassurance B. stipulation C. confirmation D. undertaking
377. They were ....................... in conversation and didn’t notice me leaving the room
A. deep B. thoroughly C. solidly D. far
378. We weren’t close friends but she ...................... me well when I left the college.
A. hoped B. aspired C. wished D. bade
379. This evidence should prove ........................ that he was telling the truth.
A. once and for all B. now and then
C. over and above D. from time to time
380. A new computer has been produced, which will .................. all previous models.
A. overdo B. supersede C. excel D. overwhelm
381. I was really looking forward to going to the game and I could hardly wait until the .............. day came.
A. grand B. big C. major D. huge
382. This disagreement is likely to ...................... relations between the two countries.
A. disaffect B. alienate C. sour D. estrange
383. Their flat is ........................... of a place I used to live in.
A. mindful B. reminiscent C. memorable D. retrospective
384. As the evening ..................... on, I became more and more bored.
A. passed B. drew C. stuck D. wore
385. He was ...................... of the press because they had written some terrible things about him in the past.
A. alert B. wary C. guarded D. tentative
386. If you wish to take photograghs you’ll have to have .................................. .
A. an application B. a permit C. an allowance D. an admission
387. Come ....................., children! Get your coats on or you’ll be late for school.
A. to B. across C. along D. over
388. She tried to prevent the dog ……………… running into the road.
A. from B. to C. against D. for
389. My main ………………. to the new bypass is that it will spoil the countryside.
A. object B. objection C. objective D. objecting
390. You’d better leave for the airport now …….. there’s a lot of traffic on the way.
A. in fact B. in time C. in order D. in case
391. It was clear from the beginning of the meeting that Jack was ……………… on causing trouble.
A. inclined B. predisposed C. bent D. off
392. I should like to thank you, ………………. my colleagues, for the welcome you have give us.
A. on account of B. on behalf of C. because of D. instead of
393. It’s very dry today. Will you help me …………………. the plants?
A. moisten B. wet C. water D. sprinkle
394. It’s no use ……………… a language if you don’t try to speak it too.
A. to learn B. learned C. learning D. learn
395. All her hard work paid ……………… in the end and she’s now very successful.
A. up B. out C. back D. off
III. Finding and correcting mistakes:
Exercise 1.
Read the following text. In each numbered line where is a word or phrase used wrongly. Find them
and correct them .
THE BOSS FROM HELL
Before I went for my interview for the job with Cramer and Blake Services,
I talked to a few people and found out some informations about the company. 1.
This strategy worked very effective as it gave the impression that I was keen and 2.
committal and I was offered the job by the personnel manager in the spot. 3.
I was very delighted at first, but soon I discovered that my new boss, 4.
Tom, worked totally hard, spending all his time in the office and never 5.
leaving before 8 p.m. He expected the same grade of commitment from 6.
his employees – the workload he expected every and each one of us to 7.
carry was deeply unreasonable. He accused anyone who didn’t work 8.
overtime regularly of not making their fair share and letting then team 9.
down. I decided to put up to the situation without complaining for a 10.
while but lastly I fell I had to confront Tom. I told him I wasn’t prepared 11.
to work so hard for such a low salary. Tom said that I had large potential 12.
and could easily get to the top if I was prepared to have an effort. 13.
However, he thoroughly refused to reduce my workload and so in the end 14.
I decided to hand out my resignation. 15.
Just a week later I got another job in Cramer and Blake’s main competitors. 16.
Now I’m earning twice as high as my old boss, and my job’s twice as 17.
interesting. I work exactly as long hours – but I’m glad I moved. I haven’t 18.
got to the top yet – but I’m far on the way! 19.
20.
Exercise 2.
The following paragragh has 12 mistakes. Identify the mistakes in the lines and correct them. Write
your answer in the space provided.
Who were the people responsible for collection and sending plants from one country to another? And
why did they do it? Initially they were travellers with another purpose: traders, colonists, pilgrims and
missionaries have all been important in providing new plants for English gardens. They sent back
indigenous wild plants,
or sometimes, as in the cases of visitors to China and Japan, plants which have been cultivated and
improved for hundreds of years. This worked, of course, in both directions: English gardens were
making in the most unlikely places.
Travellers did not always recognise an interesting plant on seen it – interesting, that is, to the collector at
home. So in the 16th and 17th century, attempts were made to collect on a most professional basis,
either by patrons sending collections into the field, or by subscriptions to finance local enthusiasts in the
most promised areas.
By 1611 John Tradescant was travelling and collecting in France and other parts of Europe. Lately, Peter
Collinson, a London merchant, who had seen the richness of
the plant material sending back by Tradescant, organised a syndicate to finance the amateur botanical
John Bartram. Before long, special collectors were being dispatched to all parts of the world by
institutions such as the Chelsea Physic Garden.
Exercise 3.
The following paragragh has 10 mistakes. Identify the mistakes and correct them. Write your
answer in the space provided.
Simply be bilingual does not qualify anyone to interpreting. Interpreting does not merely a
mechanical process of converting one sentence in language A into a same sentence in language B. Rather,
it is a complex art in that thoughts and idioms which have no obvious analogues from tongue to tongue –
or words which have multiple meanings- must quickly be transformed in many a way that the message
is clearly and accurately expressing to the listener.
There was two kinds of interpreters, simultaneous and consecutive, each requires separate talents.
The former, sitting in an isolated booth, usually at a large multilingual conference, speaks to listeners
wearing headphones, interpreting that a foreign-language speaker says as he says it – actually a
sentence afterwards. Consecutive interpreters are the one most international negotiators use. They are
mainly employed for smaller meetings without sound booths, headphones, and another high-tech gear.
Answer keys:
Exercise 1.
Read the following text. In each numbered line where is a word or phrase used wrongly. Find them
and correct them .
THE BOSS FROM HELL
Before I went for my interview for the job with Cramer and Blake Services,
I talked to a few people and found out some informations about the company. This strategy 1.
worked very effective as it gave the impression that I was keen and committal and I was 2.
offered the job by the personnel manager in the spot. 3.
I was very delighted at first, but soon I discovered that my new boss, Tom, worked totally 4.
hard, spending all his time in the office and never leaving before 8 p.m. He expected the same 5.
grade of commitment from his employees – the workload he expected every and each one of 6.
us to carry was deeply unreasonable. He accused anyone who didn’t work overtime regularly 7.
of not making their fair share and letting then team down. 8.
I decided to put up to the situation without complaining for a while but lastly I fell I had to 9.
confront Tom. I told him I wasn’t prepared to work so hard for such a low salary. Tom said 10.
that I had large potential and could easily get to the top if I was prepared to have an effort. 11.
However, he thoroughly refused to reduce my workload and so in the end I decided to hand 12.
out my resignation. 13.
Just a week later I got another job in Cramer and Blake’s main competitors. Now I’m earning 14.
twice as high as my old boss, and my job’s twice as interesting. I work exactly as long hours – 15.
but I’m glad I moved. I haven’t got to the top yet – but I’m far on the way! 16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
Exercise 2.
The following paragragh has 12 mistakes. Identify the mistakes in the lines and correct them. Write
your answer in the space provided.
Who were the people responsible for collection and sending plants from one country to another? And
why did they do it? Initially they were travellers with another purpose: traders, colonists, pilgrims and
missionaries have all been important in providing new plants for English gardens. They sent back
indigenous wild plants,
or sometimes, as in the cases of visitors to China and Japan, plants which have been cultivated and
improved for hundreds of years. This worked, of course, in both directions: English gardens were
making in the most unlikely places.
Travellers did not always recognise an interesting plant on seen it – interesting, that is, to the collector at
home. So in the 16th and 17th century, attempts were made to collect on a most professional basis,
either by patrons sending collections into the field, or by subscriptions to finance local enthusiasts in the
most promised areas.
By 1611 John Tradescant was travelling and collecting in France and other parts of Europe. Lately, Peter
Collinson, a London merchant, who had seen the richness of
the plant material sending back by Tradescant, organised a syndicate to finance the amateur botanical
John Bartram. Before long, special collectors were being dispatched to all parts of the world by
institutions such as the Chelsea Physic Garden.
Exercise 3.
The following paragragh has 10 mistakes. Identify the mistakes and correct them. Write your
answer in the space provided.
Simply be bilingual does not qualify anyone to interpreting. Interpreting does not merely a
mechanical process of converting one sentence in language A into
a same sentence in language B. Rather, it is a complex art in that thoughts and idioms which have no
obvious analogues from tongue to tongue – or words which have multiple meanings- must quickly be
transformed in many a way that the message is clearly and accurately expressing to the listener.
There was two kinds of interpreters, simultaneous and consecutive, each requires separate talents.
The former, sitting in an isolated booth, usually at a large multilingual conference, speaks to listeners
wearing headphones, interpreting that a foreign-language speaker says as he says it – actually a
sentence afterwards. Consecutive interpreters are the one most international negotiators use. They are
mainly employed for smaller meetings without sound booths, headphones, and another high-tech gear.