Tài liệu Tài liệu bồi dưỡng hsg tiếng anh lớp 12

TÀI LIỆU BỒI DƯỠNG HSG KHỐI 12 I. 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 1 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 ......................... of patience 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 2 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. 3 A. on insertingB. 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 left for 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 go to 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 4 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. 5 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. 6 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. underminedD. 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. 7 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 8 190. 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. deliberationC. scrutiny D. investigation 9 215. 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 10 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 11 264. 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. 12 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 13 311. 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. recompenseD. 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. anaestheticsD. anaesthetists 331. Before their restoration, parts of the medieval building were in a state of ……. . A. debris B. dilapidationC. devastation D. 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 14 336. 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 15 359. 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 16 385. 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. predisposedC. 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 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). 17 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, 18 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? 19 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 others have 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)............................ 20