LEXICAL –GRAMMAR

EXERCISE 1
1. I ____ my eyes around the room but could not see her.
A. flung B. tossed C. threw D. cast
2. I know we're told to shuck our routines and live spontaneously, but I’m ___ - it’s just easier when
you know exactly how each day will pan out.
A. a nasty piece of work B. a creature of habit C. a soft touch D. clock-watcher
3. Many modern refrigerators never need to be ___.
A. frosting B. frosty C. defrosting D. defrosted
4. Many old people don’t like change. They are very set in their ___.
A. lives B. habits C. routine D. ways
5. The river is just ___ in the dry season.
A. deep-knee B. knee-depth C. depth knee D. knee-deep
6. Although they hold similar political views, their religious beliefs present a striking contrast.
A. minor comparison B. interesting resemblance
C. significant difference D. complete coincidence
7. Of the two new teachers, one is experienced and ___.
A. the others are not B. another is experienced
C. the other is not D. other lacks experience
8. Owen's second goal was ____ because he was off-side.
A banned B. disqualified C. disallowed D. outlawed
9. Lennon’s sardonic music with lyrics written in the first person, and McCartey’s songs that created
scenarios with off beat individuals, contributed to the character of the music produced by the
group.
A. sceneries B. situations C. life stories D. love themes
10. My father often does ___ with people from other countries in the region.
A. finances B. business C. affair D. economy
11. There is too much ___ in this world.
A. greediness B. greed C. greedy D. greedness
12. Hotel rooms must be ___ by 10 a.m, but luggage may be left with the porter.
A. vacated B. evacuated C. abandoned D. left
13. He is one of the founders of the company so he has the rules ____
A. by his fingertips B. at his fingertips C. in his fingertips D. on his fingertips
14. Jane: “Don’t forget to drop me a line when you settle down.” – Jack: “Trust me. ___”
A. I will. I’ll keep you in touch. B. I won’t. I’ll keep you posted.
C. I don’t. I’ll keep you in touch. D. I drop out a line when I settle down.
15. Mauritius was a British colony for almost 200 years, ___ the domains of administration and
teaching, the English language was never really spoken on the island.
A. barring B. besides C. but saving for D. with the exception of
16. “Can I use your phone?” - “___”
A. I’m afraid so B. Might as well C. Be my guest! D. Serves you right.
17. Laos has a land area ___ are members of hill tribes ensconced in the virtually inaccessible mountain
valleys of the north.
A. about the same as Great Britain but a population of only four million people, many of them
B. comparable to that of Great Britain but a population of only four million people, many of whom
C. comparable to the size of Great Britain, but only four million in population, and many of them
D. of about the same size as Great Britain is, but only four million in population, and many of whom
18. We must be careful not to put the cart before the ____.
A. bull B. horse C. pony D. cabbage
19. Jimmy: “'What did Professor Spencer say when you asked him if the final exam could be postponed?
Kate: “He said that it was out of ____ because there's no time to reschedule the test.”
A. all proportion B. order C. the question D. reach
 EXERCISE 2
1. 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
2. This disagreement is likely to _____ relations between the two countries.
A. disaffect B. alienate C. sour D. estrange
3. I don’t want to be too _____ on Alice, but I think I should tell that her work isn’t good enough.
A. strict B. firm C. stern D. hard
4. Once the story _____ the headlines , everyone was talking about it.
A. crashed B. struck C. smashed D. hit
5. If I’m late for work again .I’ll be_____ a severe warning from my boss.
A. up to B. in for C. into D. after
6. Their flat is _____ of a place I used to live in .
A. mindful B. reminiscent C. memorable D. retrospective
7. Of all the paintings in the gallery, it was this one that really _____ my eye.
A. grasped B. snatched C. caught D. seized
8. Both the favourite and then the second favourite pulled out. Naturally, we thought we were ________
a chance..
A. un with B. in for C. in with D. up for
9. Despite all the interruptions, he _____ with his work
A. stuck at B. held on C. hung out D. pressed on
10. Nobody is quite sure what_____ him to such extreme behavior
A. shoved B. thrust C. pressed D. drove
11. I can’t understand why you have to make such a _____ about something so unimportant.
A. mess B. stir C. fuss D. bother
12. Despite being a very good student , she didn’t fulfill her _____later in life.
A. makings B. potential C. capability D. aptitude
13. You’re having problems now but I’m sure things will change _____the better soon.
A. on B. to C. by D. for
14. You can’t ______that criticism to all teachers!
A. apply B. employ C. associate D. lay
15. It’s not easy to make Stanley furious, the boy is very gentle by ______ .
A. himself B. personality C. reaction D. nature
16.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
17. If you _____any problems when you arrive at the airport, give me a ring.
A. come about B. catch on C. run into D. face up
18. The Kenyan runner set off with a _____ in the 5000 metres.
A .blistering speed B. dizzy speed C.. blistering pace D. dizzy pace
19. Poor management brought the company to the _____of collapse.
A. brink B. rim C. fringe D. make for
20. Josh was terribly nervous before the exam but he managed to pull himself _____and act confidently
A. through B. over C. together D. off

EXERCISE 3
1. Environmental pollution has ________ many species to the verge of extinction.
A. sent B. thrown C. brought D. driven
2. Luggage may be placed here ____________ the owner’s risk.
A. by B. under C. with D. at
3. Cable TV revolutionized communications; ______, the very existence of that service is now threatened
by satellites.
A. moreover B. consequently C. eventually D. nevertheless
4. Helen was ________ disappointed when she learnt that she hadn’t won the beauty contest.
A. seriously B. bitterly C. strongly D. heavily
5. If he tries to…….ignorance as his excuse, just tell him we’ve got a copy of the authorization with his
signature on it.
A. defend B. plead C. pretend D. protest
6. John: “Our teacher, Mr. Jones, is not very flexible. He always requires us to submit his assignments
on time.”
Jack: “ _________. He should know that we have to learn many subjects.”
A. I can’t disagree with you more B. I can’t agree with you more
C. That can be true D. I am not with you here
7. It was ______of a surprise to Andrew that he got the job.
A. rather B. something C. quite D. much
8. The more expensive carpet is a good choice ______it will last longer.
A. by means of B. due to C. in that D. in view of
9. It was decided that the cost of the project would be ______ and so it was abandoned.
A. repressive B. prohibitive C. restrictive D. exclusive
10.I left the company by ______, not because I was forced to.
A. choice B. option C. selection D. preference
11. When will it _______ on you that I am right and you're wrong?
A. descend B. come C. dawn D. arise
12. Living by the ocean really ___ your ___. Once you’ve lived there, you never want to leave.
A. came in - heart B. get in- heart C. get in- blood D. came in- blood
13.Sam has always taken the ______that there is more to life than money.
A. outlook B. view C. belief D. opinion
14. 7. I wrote to them a fortnight ago but _____I haven’t had a reply
A. as yet B. these days C. so long D. just now
15. Wait a minute, there is an answer from the Federal Bureau with _____ to your previous inquiry.
A. consideration B. reflection C. attention D. regard
16. Tamara has set her _______ on becoming a ballet-dancer.
A. feet B. brain C. head D. heart
17.“I think we ought to see the rest of the exhibition as quickly as we can, _____ that it closes in half an
hour.”
A. granted B. assuming C. given D. knowing
18. Several passengers received minor injuries when the train unexpectedly came to a ______.
A. delay B. stand C. brake D. halt
19. I’m so ______ under with work at the moment – it’s awful!
A. snowed B. iced C. rained D. fogged
20. A good newspaper story must come right ______ and save the details for later.
A. to date B. to the good C. to the point D. to the bone