CHUYÊN ĐỀ VIẾT LẠI CÂU (DỄ)

ANSWER KEY
TEST 1
1. She is proud of her cooking.

- She prides herself on her cooking.

- Pride oneself on something: to feel a satisfaction at a quality or a skill that

you have.

2. The loss of the account was not our fault.

- We are not to blame for the loss of the account.

- Be to blame for something: used to say that someone or something is

responsible for something bad

3. She found her book so interesting that she didn’t even hear me.

- She was so engrossed in her book that she didn’t even hear me.

- Be engrossed in something: giving all your attention to something

4. Julian is proud of his stamp collection.

- Julian takes pride in his stamp collection.

- Take pride in something: be proud of something

5. We ought to have dropped in on Muriel when we were in town.

- We ought to have paid Muriel a visit when we were in town.

- Pay someone a visit: visit someone

6. Amanda always turns shy when there are adults around.

- Amanda always turns shy in the presence of adults.

- In the presence of someone: when someone is present

7. He said I could concentrate on more important matters.

- He said I ought to turn my attention to more important matters.

8. Jason and I shared the driving.

- Jason and I took turns to do the driving.

- Take turns to do something: to alternate in doing something

9. Roger is now responsible for the whole sales department.

- Roger is now in charge of the whole sales department.

- Be in charge of: be responsible for

10. This matter has nothing to do with her.

- This matter is no concern of her.

- No concern of someone: none of someone’s business

11. Suppose they don’t grant him his right to see a lawyer?

- What if they deprive him of his right to see a lawyer?

- Deprive someone of something: take something away from someone

12. Time is precious, so can we please hurry?

- We are running short of time, so can we please hurry?

- Run short of something: something is being used up

13. If you carry out your threat, there’s a good chance that you will be
prosecuted.

- If you carry out your threat, you run the risk of being prosecuted.

- Run the risk of something: risk having something

14. According to the newspaper, there are plenty of jobs going in Australia.

- According to the newspaper, there is an abundance of jobs in Australia.

15. I travelled through France for a week.

- I spent a week travelling through France.

16. Andrew enjoys teasing his sister all the time.

- Andrew takes delight in teasing his sister all the time

- Take delight in something: have fun doing something.

17. Noel seems to enjoy making people feel uncomfortable.

- Noel seems to take pleasure in making people feel uncomfortable.

- Take pleasure in doing something: enjoy doing something

18. Picasso played a major role in the development of the 20 th century art
movement.

- Picasso made a major contribution to the development of the 20th century

art movement.

- Make a contribution to something: play a major role in something

19. He always had everything he wanted as a child.

- Never did he go short of anything he wanted as a child.

- Go short of something: to begin to not have enough of something

20. We don’t need to buy any more detergent just yet.

- We have enough detergent to be going on with.

TEST 2
1. Sergeant Tucker is away until the end of the month.

- Sergeant Tucker is on leave until the end of the month.

2. The two models are much the same.

- There is nothing to choose between the two models.

3. David should concentrate more on his studies.

- David should apply himself more to his studies.

4. If he continues to be rude to her, she’s going to give him a piece of her

mind.

- If he persists in being rude to her, she’s going to give him a piece of her
mind.

5. It’s really worth knowing people in high places sometimes.

- It pays to know people in the high places sometimes.

6. Your father will never allow you to marry Alec.

- Your father will never give his consent to your marrying Alec.

Give consent to something: approve of something

7. Judging by the outside of the house, very rich people live here.

- By the look of the outside of the house, very rich people live here.

8. That the socialists won the election was totally unexpected.

- The socialists’winning the election came as a surprise.

9. The police will keep him in custody until they have proof he is not a
terrorist.

- He will not be set free until they have proof he is not a terrorist.

10. Women all over the world copied the Princess Diana look.

- Princess Diana set a trend that women all over the world copied.

11. Many people do not approve of the new measures to control crime.

- Few people go along with the new measures to control crime.

Go along with something: approve of something

12. If only I could read music.

- I would love to be able to read music.

13. It is very difficult to stay up-to-date with technology.

- It is very difficult to keep pace with technology.

Keep pace with something: to go as fast as something

14. Apparently we ‘ll have to start from scratch.

- By the looks of it, we ‘ll have to start from scratch.

15. A lot of people have been talking about his new film lately.

- His new film has been the subject of much debate lately.

Be the subject of something: the main topic of something

16. At first sight, it seems like a worthwhile plan of attack, but we’ll see.

- On the face of it, it seems like a worthwhile plan of attack, but we’ll see.

17. Very few employees agree with the new proposals.

- Very few employees are in favor of the new proposals.

18. They blamed her for the error, even though she had been absent at the
time.

- She was held responsible for the error, even though she had been absent at
the time.

Be held responsible for something: be blamed for something

19. I think this difficult situation will resolve itself after a while.

- I think this difficult situation will sort itself out after a while.

Sort something/somebody out: to deal successfully with a problem

20. If my mother calls, tell her I’m on my way home.

- Should my mother happen to call, tell her I’m on my way home.

TEST 3
1. She damaged the car badly when she backed into the tree.

- She did great damage to the car when she backed into the tree.

2. These old laws should be abolished.

- These old laws should be done away with.

Be done away with: be abolished, eliminated

3. It’s such a shame that Terry and Carla broke up.

- If only Terry and Carla hadn’t gone their separate ways.

4. Judy‘s thinking about moving to France.

- Judy’s giving some thought to moving to France.

5. There are several categories of people who do not have to pay the new
tax.

- There are several categories of people who are exempt from paying the
new tax.

6. Terry did not agree with me about the best way to proceed.

- Terry did not share my views on the best way to proceed.

7. It seems highly unlikely that the weather will improve during the next few
days.

- The weather shows no signs of improvement during the next few days.

8. The open-air concerts in the park take place on alternate Sundays.

- The open-air concerts in the park take place every other Sunday.

9. John was quite frank about his criminal record.

- John made no secret of his criminal record.

10. Our bus timetable may vary from one month to the next.
- Our bus timetable is subject to monthly change.

11. There have been a lot of redundancies in that area.

- A lot of jobs have been lost in that area.

12. The number of places offered on the course has been drastically reduced
owing to lack of funds.

- Lack of funds has led to a drastic reduction in the number of places

offered on the course.

13. Doesn’t anyone but me care about this issue?

- Am I the only one who cares about this issue?

14. I was amazed at the speed with which Chris learned to drive.

- I found it amazing how quickly Chris learned to drive.

15. When you go to the city, watch out for pickpockets.

- When you go to the city, be on the lookout for pickpockets.

Be on the lookout for something: to be watching carefully in order to find,

obtain or avoid something

16. Several flights have had to be cancelled because of heavy snowfalls.

- Heavy snowfalls have resulted in the cancellation of several flights.

17. Nobody knows what happened to the money.

- It is a mystery what happened to the money.

18. It took three hours to get there, but we all agreed we were happy we had
done it.

- Although it took three hours to get there, we all thought it had been worth
it.

19. The only thing I can do is to tell Monica everything.

- I have no alternative other than to tell Monica everything.

20. It was the first time Lenny had used a computer.

- Lenny had no previous experience of using a computer.

TEST 4
1. Do you understand what he’s written at the end?

- Can you make any sense of what he’s written at the end?

Make sense of something: understand something

2. If the referee hadn’t intervened promptly, a fight would have developed

on the pitch.

- But for the referee’s prompt intervention, a fight would have developed on
the pitch.

3. Don’t play with that ball indoors anymore, or you will break something.

- If you carry on playing with that ball indoors, you’ll break something.

Carry on doing something: continue to do something

4. How can you bear him?

- How can you put up with him?

Put up with someone/ something: endure something

5. You are old enough to stand on your own two feet.

- It’s high time you stood on your own two feet.

It’s high time V 3/ed : It’s about time that someone do something

6. The house seemed to have been unoccupied for several months.

- It looked as if the house had been unoccupied for several months.

7. The Prime Minister would prefer to use diplomatic discussion when faced
with a crisis.
- The Prime Minister would rather make use of diplomatic discussion when
faced with a crisis.

8. You’ve no chance of succeeding if you’re going to be so pessimistic.

- You are bound to fail if you’re going to be so pessimistic.

9. It is said that he has been to prison several times.

- He is reputed to have been to prison several times.

10. You stand little chance of passing with such low marks.

- You are unlikely to pass with such low marks.

11. You could be arrested for not giving a blood sample to the police, you
know.

- Refusal to give a blood sample to the police could lead to your being
arrested , you know.

12. It would have been inconsiderate if I hadn’t invited the neighbors to the
wedding.

- Not to have invited he neighbors to the wedding would have been

inconsiderate.

13. She is likely to be the next president.

- The chances of her being the next president are quite good.

14. Could you please type these letters before you go to lunch?

- Would you mind typing these letters before you go to lunch?

15. I fully intend to find out who is responsible for the graffiti.

- I have every intention of finding out who is responsible for the graffiti.

16. It wasn’t easy for Christine to get used to living in the country.

- Christine had some trouble in getting used to living in the country.

17. You can try to get Tim to lend you his car but you won’t succeed.

- There’s no point in trying to get Tim to lend you his car.

18. Mrs. Wilson says she’s sorry she didn’t attend the meeting yesterday
morning.

- Mrs. Wilson send her apologies for not attending the meeting yesterday
morning.

19. The proposal has received unanimous support from the members.

- The members were united in supporting the proposal.

20. They wouldn’t let the former chairman attend the conference.

- The former chairman was barred from attending the conference.

Bar (v): to prevent something or someone from doing something or going

somewhere

TEST 5
1. While the boss is away, I’ll be in charge.

- I’ll be in charge in the absence of the boss.

2. The northwest of Britain has more rain each year than he southeast.

- The annual rainfall in the northwest of Britain is greater than that of the
southeast.

3. Running those last ten miles in the marathon was really hard.

- The most strenuous part of running the marathon was those last ten
minutes.

4. I had underestimated the changes I would find in my hometown.

- My home town had changed to a greater extent than I had expected.

5. I knew he would get into trouble again.

- It came as no surprise to me that he got into trouble again.

6. Immediately I heard from her, I left for London.

- No sooner did I hear from her than I left for London.

7. I began to understand that he was only interested in his own career.

- I came to realization that he was only interested in his own career.

8. A taxi will get there in a third of the time it takes the bus.

- The bus will take three times as long as a taxi.

9. It makes no difference to me whether we go to France or Spain.

- I’d just as soon go to France as go to Spain.

10. I’ve never met such a vain person as Sally.

- Sally is by far the vainest person I have ever met.

11. Although Judy was severely disabled, she participated in many sports.

- Despite her having a severe disability, she participated in many sports.

12. When the police searched the car, they knew they had been taken in.

- Upon searching the car, the police knew they had been taken in.

13. When we receive the money, we’ll ship the goods.

- On receipt of the money, we’ll ship the goods.

14. He doesn’t want to be disturbed unless something urgent happens.

- Unless something urgent comes up, he doesn’t want to be disturbed.

Come up: happen, occur

15. She didn’t see the point of waiting anymore.

- No longer did she see the point of waiting.

16. She could hardly remember her childhood.

- She had only a faint memory of her childhood.

17. He moved so clumsily that she was afraid he would break everything in
the shop.

- His were such clumsy movements that she was afraid he would break
everything in the shop.

18. The price of a litre of petrol is going up by two cents.

- There is going to be a two-cent rise in the price of a litre of petrol.

19. We have been trying to sell our house for well over six months.

- Our house has been for sale for well over six months.

20. The restaurant was even better than I had expected.

- The restaurant surpassed my expectations.

Surpass one’s expectations: be more than one’s expectations

TEST 6
1. I rarely see my sister these days.

- I only see my sister once in a blue moon these days.

Once in a blue moon: very rarely

2. It’s a pity you didn’t tell him, firmly and finally, that he can’t stay here.
- If only you had told him, once and for all, that he can’t stay here.
Once and for all: completely and finally

3. The government is trying to conceal the truths.

- The government is trying to cover up the truths.

Cover up something: hide something so that others don’t know

4. I found my job because I subscribe to that magazine.

- Had it not been for my subscription to that magazine, I wouldn’t have
found my job.

5. I tried as hard as I could to convince them to stay.

- I did my best to convince them to stay.
6. The teacher used such difficult words that no one could understand him.
- Such difficult words did the teacher use that no one could understand him.
7. I finally met her by chance.
- Only by chance did I finally meet her.
8. He hasn’t been to the college since May.
- The last time he went to the college was in May.
9. When did he last write a book which was a best seller?
- How long has it been since he wrote a book which was a best seller?
10. I don’t think she will agree to your terms.
- It’s doubtful whether/that she would agree to your terms.
11. If you don’t comply with the rules, you’ll be expelled from the school.
- Don’t comply with the rules and you’ll be expelled from the school.
12. If there is no frost this spring, the crop will be good.
- The crop will be good provided that there is no frost this spring.
13. You may need to call the agency again, so keep their card.
- Keep the agency’s card in case you need to call them again.
14. It’s a pity she did not accept my proposition.
- I wish she had accepted my proposition.
15. I don’t want you to disturb me while I’m working.
- I’d rather you didn’t disturb me while I’m working.
16. I know you want to drive there, but how about flying instead?
- I know you want to drive there, but suppose you flew there instead?
17. Could you please move your car?
- Would you be kind enough to move your car, please?
18. He pretended that he had not heard of the new regulations.
- He pretended not to have heard of the new regulations.
19. He survived the train crash but died of a heart attack the following day.
- He survived the train crash only to die of a heart attack the following day.
20. We are expecting Mr. Westwood’s arrival at any moment.
- Mr. Westwood is due to arrive at any moment.

TEST 7
1. I began to feel really scared when the dog came close.

- The closer the dog came, the more scared I felt.

2. His biggest fear is losing his sight.

- What he fears most is losing his sight.

3. Your son isn’t stupid but he’s very lazy, I’m afraid.

- Your son is more lazy than stupid, I’m afraid.

4. The path was so slippery that we couldn’t carry on walking up the

mountain.

- It was too slippery a path to carry on walking up the mountain.

5. Press that button and the lift will start.

- The lift will start the moment you press that button.

6. Despite the fact that she had problems, she was a very happy person.

- For all her troubles, she was a very happy version.

7. However hard I try, I can’t please the new supervisor.

- Try as I might, I can’t please the new supervisor.

8. Despite our efforts, the company couldn’t pay its debts and had to close.

- No matter how hard we tried, the company went bankrupt anyway.

9. He studied so hard to get his degree that he became ill.

- He succeeded in getting his degree at the expense of his health.

10. She learned French so that she could get a job in Paris.

- She learned French with the aim of getting a job in Paris.

11. “Let’s invite them down to the cottage for the weekend” said Rachel.

- Rachel suggested our having them down to the cottage for the weekend.

12. He’s accepted more work than he can finish in a week.

- He’s taken on more work than he can finish in a week.

Take on: to begin to have, use or do something

13. I think I gained five kilos on that holiday.

- I must have put on five kilos on that holiday.

Put on: increase (weight)

14. This is a bi-monthly magazine.

- This magazine comes out twice a month.

15. His English seems to be improving.

- His English is coming along quite nicely.

Come along: improve; enhance

16. Let’s continue with these corrections, shall we?

- Can we get on with these corrections, please?

Get on with something: continue something after interruptions

17. No matter how hard I try, I can’t find the time or energy to paint the
fence.

- No matter how hard I try, I can’t get round to painting the fence.

Get round to something: begin to give serious attention to something

18. He’s determined to have a few days break.

- He’s determined to get away for a few days.

19. She is no longer young, is she?

- She is getting on, is she?

Get on: become old

20. Where did you get this information?

- Where did you come by this information?

Come by: obtain, receive accidentally

TEST 8
1. Such behavior is unforgivable.

- There is no excuse for such behavior.

2. Only if you work hard now do you have any chance of success.

- Your success depends entirely on you working hard now.

3. She gets on well with all her students.

- She has a good relationship with all her students.

4. He’s unlikely to come to the party.

- It’s doubtful whether he will come to the party.

5. Anne doesn’t have her own phone at the moment as she’s just moved
house.
- Anne is not on the phone at the moment as she’s just moved house.

6. This essay is better than your last one.

- This essay is an improvement on your last one.

7. Everyday our town becomes more polluted.

- Our town is becoming more and more polluted everyday.

8. Andy used to be careless, but he’s not anymore.

- Andy is much more careful than he used to be.

9. Don’t pay any attention to what he says.

- Don’t take any notice of what he says.

10. The new plans for the library have been approved by the authorities.

- The new plans for the library have met with approval of the authorities.

11. They will have to accept your offer.

- They will have no option but to accept your offer.

12. That’s none of your business.

- That’s nothing to do with you.

13. Money counts for little on a desert island.

- Money is of little value on a desert island.

14. Most people know that the country’s economy is dependent on oil.

- It’s common knowledge that the country’s economy is dependent on oil.

15. You are not alone in finding this subject rather difficult.

- You are not the only person to find this subject rather difficult.

16. The advertisement completely deceived her.

- She was completely taken in by the advertisement.

17. The test showed that the girl could hear perfectly well.

- The test showed that there was absolutely nothing wrong with the girl’s
hearing.

18. We don’t have too much time to go sightseeing.

- We have very little time to go sightseeing.

19. I don’t know much about feng-shui, I’m afraid.

- I have little knowledge of feng-shui, I’m afraid.

20. The Tourist Board advised us on where to stay.

- The Tourist Board gave us advice on where to stay.

TEST 9
1. The surgeon didn’t start until the anaesthetic had taken effect.

- Not until the anaesthetic had taken effect did the surgeon start.

2. She had all her jewellery insured by Lloyd’s.

- She had every piece of her jewellery insured by Lloyd’s.

3. Peter said the operation was completely painless.

- Peter said he didn’t suffer any pain during the operation.

4. The expiry date on the passport is March 5th, 2004.

- The passport is valid until March 5th, 2004.

5. We closed the club as membership had fallen steadily.

- We closed the club due to a steady decline in membership.

6. If she weren’t so patient, she wouldn’t be such a good teacher.

- It is because she is patient that she is such a good teacher.

7. If you hadn’t helped us, we wouldn’t have finished on time.

- But for your help, we wouldn’t have finished on time.

8. If you aren’t careful, the engine will seize up.

- The engine will seize up unless you are careful.

9. If you bump into him, give him my love.

- Give him my love should you happen to bump into him.

10. She didn’t see anything because she was asleep.

- Had she not been asleep she would have seen something.

11. There is no way you can justify his actions last night.

- There is no justification for his actions last night.

12. Whatever you do, don’t panic.

- The last thing you should do is panic.

13. Not many people wants typewriters nowadays.

- Typewriters aren’t much in demand nowadays.

14. You’d better leave early to avoid the rush hour.

- It would be better if you left early to avoid the rush hour.

15. If you don’t tell them, you will be severely punished.

- You had better tell them or you will be severely punished.

16. The staff would sooner have a shorter lunch break and leave earlier.

- The staff would prefer to have a shorter lunch break and leave earlier.

17. I’m afraid I didn’t catch your name.

- Would you mind repeating your name?

18. We don’t seem to have any coffee left.

- We seem to have run out of coffee.

19. Robert is in the wrong in this instance.

- Robert is at fault in this instance.

20. I always make the same mistake.

- I keep on making the same mistake.

TEST 10
1. They don’t let me stay out after midnight.

- I’m not allowed to stay out after midnight.

2. The police allege that the managing director of the bank has been
embezzling money for years.

- It is alleged that the managing director of the bank has been embezzling
money for years.

3. He is sure to pass the exam.

- It’s very likely that he will pass the exam.

4. Well, eventually we arrived at a small town.

- Well, in due course we arrived at a small town.

5. “The opening ceremony will just be beginning then”, he said to us.

- He told us that the opening ceremony would just be beginning then.

6. “I’ll fill in the form for you”, said Claire.

- Claire offered to fill in the form for me.

7. Malcolm admitted having caused the damage.

- Malcolm confessed to causing the damage.

8. The greenhouse effect seriously threatens life on this planet.

- The greenhouse effect poses a serious threat to life on this planet.

9. His business collapsed so he owes a lot of money.

- He is heavily in debt since his business collapsed.

10. It takes six hours to fly from here to Toronto.

- It’s a six-hour flight from here to Toronto.

11. Someone is fixing my television today.

- I am having my television fixed today.

12. I don’t care what you do with the money.

- It doesn’t matter to me what you do with the money.

13. I owe my success to my mother.

- It is thanks to my mother that I have succeeded.

14. He was woken by a noise soon after he had dropped off.

- Hardly had he dropped off when he was woken by a noise.

15. Such things rarely happen.

- Seldom do things like this happen.

16. Jack seems like a very friendly man to me.

- Jack strikes me as being a very friendly man.

17. Nobody has heard from Julia since she left home.

- There has been no news from Julia since she left home.

18. The smell of the sea always made me hungry as a child.

- The smell of the sea always gave me an appetite as a child.

19. After thinking about it again, I will go with you.

- On second thoughts, I will go with you.

20. I should have guessed you’d be in here.

- I might have known you’d be in here.