CHUYÊN ĐỀ COLLOCATIONS

(Bài tập bổ trợ cho sách TỔNG ÔN NGỮ PHÁP)

Compiled by Mrs Trang Anh

Facebook: Mrstranganh87

1. Although he wants to hide his feelings from me, what he actually thinks is ____ all over his face.

A. written B. shown C. expressed D. read

2. Because I live in the school dormitory, which is within _____ distance from where I study, I
waste no energy traveling to school.

A. running B. riding C. walking D. going

3. What I like most about this hotel is that it is within easy ____ of the beach, which allows me to
enjoy the sea view every moment I look out the window.

A. touch B. reach C. take D. get

4. The most thing I hate most about him is his win – at – all – costs ____. He can use every way
despite breaking the rule to defeat me.

A. expression B. wanting C. desire D. attitude

5. It’s a complete and frank account of his life, _____ and all.

A. warts B. cards C. carts D. marts

6. I can’t stand living in this utmost____ any longer. Otherwise, I think I will fall sick.

A. filth B. poverty C. decay D. squalor

7. The kids managed to get cigarettes under the _____ to earn money, despite the warning of the
adults.

A. counter B. queue C. vender D. rule

8. This serious criminal will be under _____ and key until there will be an official punishment
coming from the court.

A. lock B. grip C. latch D. hook

9. It was America that _____ the initiatives in the Green Industrial Revolution. After that, other
country followed the steps.

A. made B. took C. created D. got

10. He can take it as ____ that she will object the invitation, so It’s a waste of time persuading her
to join.

A. written B. granted C. read D. spoken

11. The _____ for a new homeland on other planets is an urgent and necessary mission that
requires lots of time and effort because the earth where human beings current live is now
seriously polluted.

A. request B. desire C. need D. quest

12. If you say that someone keeps to the _____ of the law, you mean that they act according to
what is actually written in the law, rather than according to the general principles of it, especially
when you disapprove of this.

A. word B. number C. letter D. email

13. Despite my strong family’s disapprovals, I still decided to take a gap year to discover the _____
and the breadth of Japan – which is the country I always want to live in.

A. length B. height C. depth D. weight

14. The serious criminal that mercilessly murdered his wife with a knife and then buried her in
the house basement received a _____ penalty.

A. dead B. deadly C. death D. died

15. Tomorrow is his ____ day. He will get married with his dream girl whom he has been dating
since he was in college.

A. heavy B. big C. large D. huge

16. I think the sense of humor runs in my family. It’s true to say that the ____ doesn’t fall far from
the tree.

A. orange B. pineapple C. banana D. apple

17. To teach your grandmother to suck ____ means to give advice to someone about the subject
that they already know more about than you.

A. eggs B. fruits C. meat D. pets

18. The disease was such a _____ strike coming unexpected to him while he was in his best period
of the youth.

A. tragic B. tragedy C. tragically D. dead- end

19. Although this is the first time he has tried doing market _____, he rises to occasion and
manages the given task well.

A. assignment B. report C. study D. research

20. That the money was robbed was through no _____ of his own. He shouldn’t have always blame
himself on what had happened.

A. errors B. mistakes C. fault D. wrong

21. Hard as my job is, I still ____ enjoy it myself as this is the very first job that I was offered right
after my graduation.

A. heavily B. extremely C. very D. thoroughly

22. Taking a thorough medical____ in the first month of the year is what I and my parents always
do annually. We all want to assure that we are completely wholesome.

A. exam B. examination C. test D. check

23. It seems that there being someone did rearrange the _____ of the crime. There are some
objects lying in the wrong place.

A. ground B. scene C. background D. truth

24. I cannot make out how he can secure in ____ that he would have a job in the Civil Service
because there are many candidates that own better qualifications than him.

A. knowledge B. mind C. books D. opinions

25. Scarcely had Mrs Frankie received her son’s final test results when she saw ____.

A. blue B. white C. red D. pink

26. His effort to finish the higher education despite his poverty and criticism coming from his
relatives really sets a good ____ for other students.

A. lantern B. pattern C. matter D. mirror

27. Once he sets his ____ on his studying, I believe that he would get surprising results as he is
really talented and active.

A. head B. mind C. heart D. hands

28. After spending days attempting to rearrange all the stuffs in the botanical garden, he thought
it was a waste of time and he should have taken its _____.

A. natural B. easy C. time D. course

29. The doctor did tell him to give himself a break and wait for the medicine to _____ effect, but he
ignored and still worked overtime.

A. get B. come C. work D. take

30. Though my mother always wants me to ____ an English teacher to improve my English level, I
think I prefer studying on my own.

A. get B. study C. assign D. take

31. The war took a heavy ____ of the human life. Its consequence on the soldiers attending the war
will come along them till their death.

A. toll B. roll C. boll D. carl

32. High fashion is no longer suitable for me. I think casual clothes will better suit me ____ to the
ground.

A. up B. down C. in D. on

33. On my first seeing her substituting salt ____ sugar when making that cake, I thought she was
crazy. However, the taste was surprisingly delicious.

A. with B. to C. for D. on

34. Despite the students ‘s disapprovals and non – cooperation, the teacher still ____ asked them
to fully attend the extra – curricular activities.

A. heavily B. strongly C. steadily D. quickly

35. What a shocking state of _____! How can he and his ex – girlfriend run into in such a very
special situation?

A. relationships B. situations C. circumstances D. affairs

36. My anorak has stood me in _____ stead, especially in rainy days.

A. well B. nice C. big D. good

37. Some of my relatives always think that I am ____ my savings when spending them on traveling
rather than buying houses or cars.

A. using B. earning C. squandering D. making

38. He has been suffering from a ____ headache, but he still insists on not going to see a doctor. He
says he hates hospitals.

A. split B. spilling C. splitting D. blind

39. We have been spending hours making a discussion about this ____ topic but we still haven’t
find out any possible resolutions for it.

A. soling B. sole C. splitting D. sub

40. Though this is just a ____ of the symphony, the musician still need to be very careful and
talented because it is really easy to make mistake.

A. piece B. slice C. slide D. snatch

41. He said to me that he had just been suffering a ____ cold the day before because of hours
waiting for the bus in the heavy rain.

A. small B. slight C. short D. light

42. Because this is the black Friday, most of clothes shops _____ the prices, so I think you can get a
good bargain if you go shopping on this day.

A. reduce B. deduct C. lower D. slash

43. His winning the competition and getting the highest rewards are obviously a _____ in his
opponents ‘s faces because they did always sneer at him when he took part in this contest.

A. laugh B. slap C. punch D. kick

44. He is not that kind of person who ____ the duty. I just want you to give him a little time to find
out the solution for this issue.

A. shrinks B. hides C. misses D. forgets

45. Getting accepted in the university that she always dreams about is absolutely her sheer _____
after years burning midnight oil.

A. happiness B. joy C. pleasure D. delightfulness

46. To me, this is just a very ordinary pair of shoes but why it can be that kind of _____ cost.

A. high B. sheer C. up D. big

47. I think it is no worth ____ tears for that kind of guy. He doesn’t deserve my love for him.

A. spilling B. shrinking C. making D. shedding

48. Although I tried to put my favourite pair of shoes out of the _____ ‘s way when the destructive
next door visited my house, they still found it and spoiled it.

A. harm B. harmful C. harmless D. harmlessness

49. To begin with, I will announce in front of you the ____ cost for our next activities and details
about it will be given to you after this meeting.

A. foresee B. coming C. overhead D. future

50. I can allow my friends to _____ in arrears if they are unable to pay back immediately. However,
some of them purposely take advantage of my kindness.

A. give B. take C. pay D. get

51. Motivations can be formed by many ways including ____ pressure, parents, marks and
especially yourself.

A. friends B. peer C. companion D. counterpart

52. Noise pollutions now are being ____ projects that give a serious warning to humans
worldwide about what they have done to the nature.

A. animal B. castle C. pet D. mammal

53. He can exactly ____ the problem I am facing just after seeing my message. What a helpful man!

A. pinpoint B. make out C. point D. give

54. There’s no need worrying for him. I think with his ability, he can pit his ____ against his
opponents.

A. smart B. cleverness C. intelligence D. wits

55. Jane, Can I have any ____ chance to win you back? I really miss you. You mean the world to me.

A. small B. rich C. poor D. impoverish

56. Many people have a funny wonder that when making milky, they ____ milk into tea or vice
versa.

A. put B. pour C. spill D. spew

57. Hardly had they discovered his scandal about dating with a young girl when he decided to
hold a ____ conference to give explanations to his fans.

A. press B. head C. main D. sole

58. I should not have ____ you into spoiling the wall of my neighbor’s house. Now he is hitting the
ceiling and having intention of calling the police to find out who did this.

A. told B. suggested C. provoked D. made

59. Though she wanted to _____ herself together, she still burst into tears when hearing the song
that reminded her of their love.

A. push B. pull C. cut D. stop

60. If my father can put himself in my ____, he will know how pressured I am. I hope he will no
longer impose his opinions on me.

A. place B. position C. state D. counter

61. If you describe something as a_____ success, you mean that it is only partly successful.

A. unqualified B. satisfactory C. satisfied D. qualified

62. The coconut did____ his thirst after hours of walking in the summer day to look for a new
shelter.

A. delete B. quench C. wash D. cut

63. It was he who _____ our hopes about the chance to win the competition, but he was also the
person who firstly withdrew the team.

A. rose B. created C. raised D. got

64. After spending hours discussing in the hall, they finally ____ a consensus about the resolution
for the economic crisis in the company.

A. take B. reach C. get D. find

65. He can _____ between the lines in my speech right after we have an eye contact. He is the
person who understands me most.

A. see B. look C. read D. get

66. Redeeming _____ is a good quality that somewhat makes up for the bad qualities in
a person or thing.

A. characteristic B. character C. feature D. detail

67. After his father’s passing away, he has to learn how to ___ a business though his major is art.
In the end, he still rose to occasion.
A. own B. start C. lead D. run

68. After many years contributing all efforts and time to the company, my father was assigned
the position as a _____ manager.

A. sales B. selling C. product D. sale

69. It goes without ____ he will not turn up on time for this event. He is not that kind of punctual
person.

A. telling B. saying C. seeing D. announcing

70. It never crossed my ____ that he would become so famous just after one night. All is thanks for
his character in the new drama.

A. head B. idea C. mind D. brain

71. _____ the queue just shows that you are a very discourteous and silly.

A. Crossing B. Jumping C. Spoiling D. Deleting

72. I am really grateful to Jane who did keep me ____ when I was in the biggest hardship of my life.

A. accompany B. company C. firm D. companion

73. When I make a timetable for the new semester, I always ask myself to keep ____ of it to get the
best result.

A. race B. road C. rail D. track

74. One of my perennial favourite activities to ____ time is reading books. It seems that I can
spend a whole day long just sitting and reading my favourite ones.

A. delete B. use B. kill D. pass

75. I did lay ____ in wrong place when I lent him all of my savings when he begged me for mercy.

A. believe B. trust C. belief D. heart

76. The book really _____ itself to being turned into a film. I think it can become a blockbuster.

A. sends B. turns C. gets D. lends

77. He is too dependent on his parents. I think he cannot get up on time, let ____ set a suitable
timetable himself.
A. aloneness B. lonely C. alone D. interest

78. I think it high time we let it ____ that all of the money was stolen last night.

A. declare B. claim C. speak D. announce

79. Nobel couldn’t believe that what he had invented and considered to be a captivate inventions
of human kind could become a ____ weapon.

A. dead B. fatal C. lethal D. deadly

80. After the head of the company made ____ on the employees, many will be made redundant.

A. drawbacks B. cutbacks C. cut – down D. cut – off

81. Although he tried to explain with a very clear voice to make _____ of tail of the issue, no one in
the hall could make out what he implied.

A. brain B. mind C. idea D. head

82. Moving up the____ is awesome—a bigger salary, more ownership and respect. But it also
comes with a lot of responsibility, which most people don't realize.

A. ladder B. seat B. hummer D. painter

83. We _____the list of candidates down from ten to three after considering their experience and
also qualifications.

A. lowered B. narrowed B. enlarged D. widened

84. I'm nowhere _____ finishing the book - I'm only half-way through it, so please do not urge me.

A. close B. far B. near D. slow

85. Though getting a slight cold is just something that is odd ____, his mother considers it as a
storm in the teacup.

A. tooth and nail B. fresh and blood C. rank and file D. cough and cold

86. This contract is of his own ____. No one forces him to sign in, so he has to take all the
responsibility if infringing.

A. accord B. record C. reclaim D. freedom

87. It is ____ the record that our head teacher will be replaced with a new comer coming to our
school last week, so please do not breathe any words to others.
A. on B. off C. up D. down

88. I think our opponent’s products are on a ____ with ours, so we should be more careful in our
marketing strategy.

A. bar B. pair C. par D. chart

89. The entire film was shot on ____ in the north of Vietnam.

A. position B. location C. place D. destination

90. Though he and his family all begged for mercy, the police still decided to punish them on _____.

A. principal B. principle C. law D. rule

91. He always tells something on the ____ for his mistakes and promises not to retake them again.

A. preview B. review C. pretext D. recollect

92. There’s no need for you to worry. I am sure that we can handle your problem one way or ____.

A. the other B. another C. others D. other

93. She received a(n) ____ prison for exceeding the speed limit and driving after drink alcohol.

A. close B. open C. death D. closed

94. He must be out of the ____. He had been in the heavy rain for hours.

A. weather B. condition C. climate D. season

95. We all knew exactly what had happen as he did give a (n) emotional ____ of it.

A. consideration B. account C. foundation D. explanation

96. I can't quote you ____ and verse but I think it's a line from "Macbeth".

A. episode B. period C. chapter D. slide

97. When combing my mother’s hair, I unexpectedly saw that she did go _____.

A. dark B. grey B. green D. blue

98. Though he did go to _____ lengths to finish the task, he still couldn’t manage it as the content
was too professional and academic.

A. powerful B. wonderful C. great D. big

99. It high time Jones _____ the opportunity after months preparing for its coming.

A. grasped B. seized C. took D. all are correct

100. She always has a ____ for being a bread maker, but her mother imposes her opinion that she
must become a teacher on her.

A. hunger B. urge C. thirst D. peak