7

Idioms: nature
READING AND USE OF ENGLISH
4 Do the exam task.
1 Match these idioms with their meanings. Are any of them
similar in your first language? Exam task
1 play with fire
For questions 1–6, complete the second sentence so that it has
2 down to earth
a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do
3 over the moon not change the word given. You must use between three and
4 out of the blue six words, including the word given. Here is an example (0).
5 a drop in the ocean
6 a breath of fresh air Example:
7 the tip of the iceberg
8 keep your head above water 0 The government’s announcement of investment in tidal
energy came as a complete surprise.
a a small part of a big problem BLUE
b new, different and exciting The government ANNOUNCED OUT OF THE BLUE that
c completely unexpectedly there would be investment in tidal energy.
d tiny amount compared to what is needed
e have just enough money to live on 1 Immediately after the storm began, lightning struck the
f take a foolish risk roof.
g delighted about something SOONER
h sensible and practical No lightning struck the roof.

2 There seems little chance of paper shopping bags

2 Complete the sentences with idioms from Exercise 1.
becoming popular with consumers.
1 Frieda was when she passed ON
her music exam. Paper shopping bags seem unlikely
2 Creating a new virus in the laboratory is an example of consumers.
scientists .
3 Visitors are not allowed to approach the animals in the
3 It isn’t easy when you’re
Reserve, for whatever reason.
living on a student’s income.
SHOULD
4 One person using solar energy is
Under no the animals in the
but if everyone does so it’ll make a difference.
Reserve.
5 I hadn’t heard from Jody in years, but
I had an email from him. 4 Alone in that small boat, I had no idea what time it was
6 Lee’s ideas are fine in theory but don’t work in practice. any more.
Selma, though, is far more . TRACK
7 So far we’ve only found a few trees with the disease, but Alone in that small boat, I had completely
sadly they’re likely to be . time.
8 After so many years at school, I’m finding life at
5 Those trucks cause air pollution and they make a
university is .
terrible noise, too.
Part 4 ONLY
Not the air, they make a terrible
noise, too.
Quick steps to Reading and Use of English Part 4
6 Ollie’s attempt to make his in-laws feel relaxed by
• Look for any other changes you need to make, e.g.
adjective to adverb. telling a joke was not a success.
• Make sure your answer fits the words both before and
ICE
after the gap. Ollie tried with his in-laws by telling
• Write no more than six words and no fewer than three. a joke.

Exam tip
3 Look quickly at the exam task. Which questions mainly
test: a) a phrasal verb? b) an idiom? c) inversion of subject Sometimes more than one answer is possible, but you
and verb? must only give one of them.
Example: 0 idiom

reading and use of englisH unit 7 61