UNDERSTAND IDIOMS AND EXPRESSIONS Choose the word or phrase with

the same meaning.

1. It’s hard to patch things up after a breakup.
a. repair a relationship
b. have financial problems
c. get a divorce

2. I didn’t realize they’d split up.

a. separated
b. gotten back together
c. gotten out of touch

3. Lyn and Ed had a falling out about the children.

a. argued
b. agreed not to talk
c. made strict rules
4. Our relationship started going downhill last year.
a. improving
b. getting worse
c. getting back together

5. Anne hit the nail on the head when she figured

out the underlying problem.

a. realized what the real reason was

b. became violent
c. made a lot of money

6. A husband and wife should discuss their problems before things start to fall
apart.

a. get bad
b. get interesting
c. get better

7. When you talk about someone behind their backs, It’s a gossip.

a. so they know what you think about them

b. so they don’t know what you say about them
c. so they’re thankful
EXAMPLES:
1 The older people are when they marry, the fewer children they have.

2 The higher the life expectancy, the larger the elderly population is.
3 The harder people work, the more successful they are.
4 The better the quality of health care is, the lower the death rate.

EXERCISES
5 (develop) the country is, _________(low) the life expectancy.
6 __________ (young) women are when they have children, ________ (likely) they are
to get a higher education.