HANDOUT – Unit 2

Spend it or Save it

1. Complete the following text with a/an, the or (-) when no article is needed:
Most people would agree that (1) ...........credit cards can be invaluable in (2) ........ emergency or when
travelling abroad. But (3) ...........main problem with them is that some people overuse them and eventually end up
deep in (4) ...........debt. If you find yourself in this situation, it is important to plan how you are going to pay it off.
Firstly, you need to make (5) ...........real effort to pay more than (6) ...........minimum required each month. Examine
your daily routine; there must be (7) ...........few sacrifices you can make. Take (8) ........sandwiches to (9) ..........work,
for example, instead of eating out. Look at your debts carefully too and make sure that you pay off (10) ............one
with (11) ...........highest interest rate first. And in future? If you think that there is (12) ............chance that your
spending will get out of (13) ...............control again, perhaps you should cut (14)..................... credit cards up. After
all, living without them is probably better than living in (15) ............fear of those bills every month. 15p

2. Complete the sentences using a relative pronoun from the box. Use each pronoun once only.
1. Duncan Reed, .............. appeared in the famous jeans commercial, is now hosting a quiz show.
2. Did you speak to the lady ............ handbag was stolen?
3. The question .............. you must ask before you make any purchase is 'Do I really need it?'
4. Starbucks, .......... was launched in the 1970s, has become one of the most successful chains of coffee
shops.
5. The building ................. the event is being held is actually a disused power station. 10p

3. Correct the punctuation mistake in each of the following sentences. You can either add or delete a
punctuation mark.

1. He reported that, the charity had received over £10,000 in donations.

2. Mrs. Howard's necklace, which had been in her family for generations was put up for auction.
3. She fell in love with the house when she saw it's beautiful gardens.
4. The money, that I put aside for the rent has disappeared.
5. People who buy cheap second-hand clothes should ask themselves how long they want them to last? 10p

4. For the following questions think of one word only which can be used appropriately in all three
sentences:
1. It is ......... to assume that the shares will increase in value in the long term .
She did not know what to buy for his birthday but thought a book token would be a ....... bet.
I can't give you any money now because it's all locked away in the...........

2. She was born in the ........ north of Scotland.

Unfortunately, profits fell ........ short of what was expected.
Her explanation sounded rather .......... -fetched and I don't think I believe it.

3. A train crashed into a car on the ........... . -crossing last night.

He's a very ...... .. .. -headed person and never panics in a crisis.
The book only analyses the data on a very basic

4. After winning the quiz, the team were in ...... spirits.

The minister made a ...... -profile visit to the north of the country.
It's...... time you settled down to some serious studying.

5. The plans to build a new airport do not take into ........... its effect on the environment.
On no ......... are you to leave the office door unlocked.
I keep most of my savings in a deposit ........... 15p

5. Complete the following sentences using the correct form of the word in bold.
1. It is very important to take steps to reduce energy .................................. CONSUME
2. The minister was strongly criticised for showing ................................. to his party. LOYAL
3. They have a system which allows you to take back .................. goods to be recycled. WANT
4. Some patients may develop an emotional................. to their nurse or counsellor. ATTACH
5. The live music and the costumes made the festival a very ................... occasion. MEMORY
6. Examiners can use their............................. over whether to award a pass to unfinished scripts. DISCERN
7. I would like to work freelance but I am worried about the............................... SECURE
8. With the increase in our mortgage rate, we will be forced to ................................ ECONOMY
9. It was a nice bright room, but the furnishings were very........................................... ATIRACTIVE
10. The current political situation is unstable and .................................. very dangerous. POTENT 20p

6. Choose the most suitable alternative to complete the sentences:

1. Buying a flat to rent out was a very......... investment.

a) firm b) rich c) sound d) sturdy
2 You should put some money aside for a .......... day.
a) wet b) rainy c) cold d) dull
3 The company made a good profit in its first year but now it's over 10 thousand pounds in the.........
a) red b) black c) pink d) green
4 I think we need to ......... a different approach to the problem.
a) mind b) raise c) nourish d) adopt
5 If you .........................around on some of the market stalls, you can find some real bargains.
a) ransack b) browse c) rummage d) surf
6 It is important to plan your spending and.......................... yourself a budget.
a) set b) lay c) place d) establish
7 By the end of their studies, many students were ............... in debt.
a) highly b) widely c) heavily d) intensely
8 In total, the repairs will cost somewhere in the .......... of £3000.
a) region b) field c) area d) zone
9 She won't be pleased by your decision but you 'll just have to bite the......... and tell her.
a) nail b) bullet c) needle d) key
10 He wrote me a cheque but, to my annoyance, last week I found that it had..............................
a) jumped b) sprung c) bounced d) leapt 20p