1. The government announced today that they intend to ……….

the rise of
crime in the inner cities by increasing police budgets in the areas most
affected.
a. beat b. win c. retaliate d. counter
2. There was a veritable …………….. of angry phone calls from members of the
public complaining about the new controversial series on TV.
a. gale b. flood c. storm d. earthquake
3. Did you ever ………….. for anything when you were a child or did you have
everything you desired?
a. lack b. miss c. want d. ask
4. The company has a lot of problems but they all seem to ………. to money.
a. boil down b. cook up c. lead over d. reason out
5. We took Bill ………….for a couple of months after the fire at his home. It was
no trouble as we have the extra bedroom up in the converted loft.
a. in b. out c. up d. off
6. 1. As soon as the problem at work blew up, he instantly thought about how
he could come out of it looking good. He is such a ……………person.
a. self-evident b. self-conscious c. self-centred d. selfless
7. We carried on down the path, …………of the notice warning of avalanche
risk.
a. careless b. carefree c. heedless d. blind
8. The judge declared a …………today due to unfair media coverage and the
trial will be restarted again early next year.
a. postponement b. annulment c. cancellation d. mistrial
9. "Do you want any of these company lottery tickets, Barry?" "Oh, yes. Put me
…………… for three. I will get a couple for my wife too."
a. up b. in c. out d. down
10. Not many people have the ……………to combine both a highly successful
business career and a happy marriage.
a. capacity b. ability c. panache d. know-how
11. The team threw on all their substitutes in the last five minutes, all to no
…………. as they lost the game narrowly by three points.
a. use b. gain c. avail d. benefit
12. You might have failed twice, but I think you should …………..and you will
eventually succeed.
a. insist b. prevail c. persuade d. persevere
13. His performance was so spectacular that he was ………….out for praise by
the team manager at the end of the game.
a. singled b. filtered c. distinguished d. selected
14. OK, I just made "turnip" for 18 points, Gary. Now, it's your …………...
a. game b. pass c. try d. go
15. Harold's problems began when he fell …………….. the wrong type of person
and he ended up becoming a criminal himself.
a. out with b. in with c. for d. back on
16. I didn't break anything when I fell over, but I ended up with a great purple
…………….on my thigh.
a. fracture b. wound c. injury d. bruise
17. I wish you kids would just shut up for five minutes. I have got a ……………
headache!
a. drumming b. splitting c. hammering d. beating
18. The robbery was carried out in ………………. daylight and with hundreds of
witnesses present.
a. open b. wide c. broad d. clear
19. That car is a bit on the costly ……………I think I will think about it for a few
days.
a. part b. front c. side d. level
20. The consequences of this terrorist attack will be ………………World peace is
truly under threat.
a. dire b. stringent c. absurd d. callous
21. Most of the examination is written but there is also a(n) ……….part which I
am really worried about.
a. vocal b. verbal c. oral d. wordy
22. ………………..with anger, Mr. Jensson stormed into the local tax office and
demanded to see someone about his case which had dragged on for nearly
three years.
a. brimming b. pouring c. stewing d. seething
23. Wow! That was delicious Marny! I have to …………….it to you: yours is the
best tiramisu in the world!
a. hand b. praise c. reward d. allow
24. Once we knew he didn't take ……………to being imitated, we stopped
immediately.
a. kindly b. fondly c. nicely d. warmly
25. Harry thought about betting $200 on a horse called Lucky Harry in the
year's biggest horse race but lost his ………………at the last moment.
Fortunately, it fell at the first hurdle!
a. head b. nerve c. mind d. heart
26. The company's financial …………….was so serious that investors were
warned that they could lose all their money.
a. plight b. dead-end c. impasse d. breakdown
27. I have done more than my fair ……………of work. Now I am having a rest.
a. portion b. ration c. share d. division
28. When I say I want you to be here at six o'clock, I mean six o'clock
……………. You cannot be late under any circumstances!
a. on the edge b. at the moment c. on the dot d. in detail
29. The opposition protests against the government now threaten to get out of
……………and the security forces are likely to make arrests around the country
today.
a. reach b. kilter c. hand d. the ordinary
30. I can't stand opera. I can't even …………..myself to listen to five minutes of
it on a CD.
a. take b. give c. make d. bring
31. Don't worry about those two rowing. They have a long history ……………
back to when they were at college together. I think they even enjoy arguing.
a. stretching b. lying c. returning d. coming
32. ………on by my husband, I applied for the job I had always dreamt of
having.
a. begged b. obliged c. urged d. pleaded
33. Morale at the football club began to decline as the ……………departure of
the coach approached.
a. future b. predictable c. nearby d. forthcoming
34. Out upon the cloud covered hills, we only caught the occasional glimpse of
the town lights ………… far below in the valley.
a. sparkling b. glimmering c. flashing d. beaming
35. Here's something that will give you ……………for thought. Every year, there
are 90 million more people on the Earth than the year before!
a. stop b. break c. reason d. pause
36. Haiti is by far and ……………the most beautiful place I have ever been to.
a. above b. over c. along d. away
37. James Dean became something of a(n) …………..for rebellious teenagers
across America in the 1950s.
a. model b. figure c. icon d. status symbol
38. I drove through the soft light of dusk, ………….. by the beauty of steep green
wooded hills with alpine meadows.
A. digested B. absorbed C. dissolved D. immersed
39. ………….. impoverished persons, by definition, are not capable of producing
enough material goods for themselves and their families
A. Severely B. Strictly C. Sharply D. Harshly
40. Image is paramount in Holllywood. You drive a car that ………… of money,
you wear clothes that scream success.
A. remarks B. suggests C. speaks D. tells
41. We underestimate the destructiveness of war at our ……………
A. risk B. peril B. harm D. danger
42. The robber was caught when someone …………… the police.
A. teased out B. tipped off C. taken in D. led on
43. Her claim was supported by the ………….. of several witnesses
A. statement B. testimony C. proof D. petition
44. We were afraid that success would spoil her, but she just took it in …………..
A. stride B. pace C. step D. tread
45. Poverty is a ……………. theme in her novels.
A. imminent B. incessant C. looming D. recurrent
46. If you're up for some ……………. and stomach-churning laughs, grab The
Everything Kids' Gross Jokes Book as fast as you can!
A. side-splitting B. heart-rending C. space-lifting D. breath-taking
47. Fingerprints are the most ………… types of evidence used in criminal cases
because it’s one of the most reliable forms of identification
A. culpable B. incriminating C. liable D. offending
48. The police ……………….. an armed suspect near the scene of the crime.
A. apprehended B. captivated C. confisticated D. abducted
49. The park was ………….. with bottles and cans after the concert.
A. congested B. littered C. scattered D. dispersed
50. The newsletter is a useful …………… of communication between teacher and
students.
A. passage B. channel C. branch D. course