Vocabulary

Choose the word (A, B, C or D) which can be used in both sentences, a and b. There is
an example at the beginning (0).
0 a Thirty years ago the ____ of life used to be much slower.
b Our company is finding it hard to keep ____ with the rapid changes in the market.
A speed B pace C step D motion
1 a The species has gradually ____ to its new environment.
b This popular children’s story has been ____ for television.
A led B revised C adapted D converted
2 a A number of employees have been ____ to another branch of the company.
b Large sums of money were ____ to Swiss bank accounts.
A transferred B transformed C relocated D assigned
3 a Recently there has been a ____ in public opinion regarding advertising by the
pharmaceutical industry.
b Media attention has experienced a ____ away from social issues and is now
focused on the economy.
A variation B slip C shift D transfer
4 a Reaching the peak proved to be an impossible ____ .
b We were convinced he would rise to the ____ of swimming right round the island.
A ambition B hurdle C challenge D assignment
5 a The sales launch of our new product was a dismal ____ .
b The complete ____ of the government’s housing policy has led to an increase in
homelessness.
A failure B collapse C disaster D breakdown
6 a You really don’t stand a/an ____ of being offered the job.
b There’s a slim ____ he might just get here in time for the meeting.
A chance B opportunity C likelihood D probability
7 a His first film was a resounding ____ .
b Investment in the Chinese market helped make the company a/an ____ .
A victory B success C triumph D achievement
8 a I’m afraid I can’t tell you, I’m sworn to ____ .
b A veil of ____ surrounds the government’s decisions on whether to close down the
nuclear power plant.
A confidentiality B silence C secrecy D conspiracy
9 a The students voiced their strong ____ over the increase in the fees for all
undergraduate degree courses.
b My parents were unable to hide their ____ of my relationship with an older woman.
A disapproval B criticism C rejection D disagreement
10 a Staff at the hospital have expressed their ____ with the proposals for a longer
working day.
b ____ in the workplace has a negative effect on efficiency.
A annoyance B anxiety C complaint D dissatisfaction
Vocabulary
Complete the sentences with a word from the box.

dab drifted stuck saw stumbled largely let rocky strain flair
quite slightly caught lost left

1 The exam was _____________ more difficult than I’d expected.

2 That necklace is ____________ exquisite.

3 The country’s revenue comes _______________ from tourism.

4 I was really scared when I got _______________ in the lift for five hours with total
strangers.

5 I remember when I got ______________ behind because I spent too long in the
souvenir shop.

6 Sorry I’m late, but I got ______________ up in a traffic jam.

7 I think some of the funny parts of the film got ______________ in translation.

8 My teenage daughter’s behaviour put a ___________ on our relationship.

9 I wasn’t surprised when Ann and Dave broke up, they’ve always had a
______________ relationship.

10 I hardly ever cook because my husband is such a _____________ hand in the kitchen.

11 Andrew has a ______________ for teamwork and is an excellent communicator.

12 Patients feel they have been _____________ down by doctors and nurses at the
hospital.

13 My sister’s not a very good liar; I _________________ through her story straightaway.

14 I ______________ on some really useful information on the Internet which I can use
in my economics assignment.

15 She lay on the beach listening to the lapping waves and ______________ off to sleep.

Vocabulary
For sentences 1–15 underline the correct alternative.

1 I’m working too hard. I really need to take/set/make aside more time for myself.

2 In theory, advances in technology should bring/pull/free up more time for leisure.

3 We need to give the employees more flexibility over when they can take/set/leave/
time off for holidays.

4 After all the help I’ve given Susan I was really put out when she gave me the cold
back/eye/shoulder at the conference.
5 We need to keep an ear to the floor/earth/ground so that we pick up on any
consumer complaints.

6 I’m not one to point/direct/place the finger, but I feel the problem lies with the sales
department.

7 I can’t stand the stale fragrance/odour/scent of sour milk.

8 The cake had loads of sugar in it, so it was too sickly/pungent/sour for me, but the
kids loved it.

9 The house had been shut up for a while so the carpets smelt rather
musty/stuffy/bitter.

10 It took me a while to compile/gather/access up the courage to confront my assistant

over the missing funds.

11 We need to congregate/accumulate/draw up a list of all our best customers.

12 My grandmother has an incredible assembly/collection/compilation of antique furniture.

13 When the kids put on their little show they were absolutely priceless/amusing/funny.

14 My daughter is unable/incompetent/incapable of arriving anywhere on time.

15 We are looking for candidates with expertise/aptness/facility in web design.