PT1

1. No one seems to have predicted the final outcome of the negotiations.

2. Their parents would (often) take them to the zoo as children.
3. The company is on the point / verge of deciding / making a decision whether to
close the Beijing office.
4. We would sooner they hadn’t stayed so long, that’s true.
5. Her remarks simply added fuel to the fire/flames of his rage.
b.
6. We had no difficulty (in) doing the test.
7. The new plans for the road have met with the approval of the local authority.
8. We all had a long discussion about the issue, but came to no decision.
9. I haven’t clapped / set / laid eyes on John for a long time.
10. Whenever we go out for meals, we go half and half (with each other).
PT2
.1. Their personal feeling of degradation was inevitable.
2. At Summer hill seldom is there a case of homesickness.
3. It won’t be long before they arrive.
4. There is no instant solution to the problem.
5. It’s no use crying over spilt milk.
6. She ran down the steps with a group of journalists hot (hard) on her heels.
7. He’s skating on thin ice by lying to the police.
8. Ashley kicked off the meeting / kicked the meeting off with a summary of what
had been discussed last time.
9. Kevin was (just) on the point of leaving the house when the phone rang.
10. There’s every chance / likelihood / possibility I’ll be late if the situation doesn’t
change.
PT3
1. She urged him not to repeat anyone else what he had told him
2. To my surprise, it turned out that the hotel was a long way from the city center.
3. At no time did he suspect (that) the money had been stolen.
4. The moment I got up to dance the band stopped playing
5. The police had already left when/before all the journalists arrived.
6. Sarah wasn’t injured in the accident, in spite of not wearing
7. Despite her disadvantaged background, she felt a sense of achievement about her
life.
8. I am going back to University next week, and this year I’m going to have to study
hard for the final exams.
9. I’ve really enjoyed the course so far, but I’m not sure what to do once I get my
degree.
10. The University arranges career interviews, but I don’t really have a clear idea of
what I want to do,
PT4
1. They are going to do away with all these small shops when they build the new
supermarket.
2. Hal made an unexpected discovery when he cleared out the attic.
3. Kira made no mention of / made no reference to her illness last night.
4. Paul has so much in common with / has so many interests in common with Pete.
5. You would be better off taking an earlier train on Sunday.
6. The new law didn’t meet with anyone’s approval when it was introduced.
7. You must have been surprised when you heard the news.
8. I made my mum a promise that I would work hard this year.
9. The witness mistook me for the thief, but realized she was wrong.
10. No sooner had the new editor been appointed to the post than he fell ill.
PT5
Section I:
1. It is thought that the prisoner was recaptured while drinking in a pub.
→ The prisoner is thought to have been recaptured while drinking in a pub.
2. I’d prefer him not to have said all those embarrassing things about me.
→ I ‘d rather (that) he hadn’t said all those embarrassing things about me.
3. The fourth time he asked her to marry him, she accepted.
→ Only on his fourth proposal did she agree to marry him.
4. Could you watch my bag while I’m away?
→ Could you keep an eye on my bag while I’m away?
5. The Mayor hoped to have a good day for the parade.
→ The Mayor was in (the) hope of having a good day for the parade.
Section II:
1. The success of our local theater has made our city famous.
→ The success of our local theater has put our city on the map.
2. If we tried to force him to repay the debt, we would be wasting of time.
→ There was no point in trying to force him to repay the debt.
3. I resent the way that she clearly feels herself to be superior to me.
→ I resent the way that she looks down her nose at me.
4. We missed the bus because we had overslept.
→ We missed the bus as a consequence of (our) over-sleeping.
(We missed the bus in consequence of (our) over-sleeping.)
5. We were on the point of leaving the house when the telephone rang.
→ We were about to leave the house when the telephone rang.
PT6
1. But for Jim’s greater speed John would have won the gold medal.
2. In the event of a student daring to ask a question, the professor would sigh
wearily.
3. He shouldn’t have been so savagely criticized for his efforts to find a solution.
4. Under the cover of darkness, the soldiers entered the castle.
5. They decided on the spur of the moment to go away for the weekend.
6. The young actress had butterflies in her stomach before the audition.
7. You will have to turn over a new leaf if you want to succeed.
8. He is making quite a name for himself as an entertainer.
9. He left the stage to the accompaniment of loud applause.
10. Harry was within an ace of winning the big race.
PT7
1. We wouldn’t have been reimbursed if we hadn’t taken legal advice.
2. The inhabitants are nowhere near as badly - off as they were twenty years ago.
3. Not until I noticed it was a formal dress was it too late.
4. I need someone to stand in for me at the ceremony.
5. Mass tourism is partly to blame for the problem.
6. Jane seems to have changed her mind about coming this evening.
7. Failure to observe the company’s dress code could (can) result in your dismissal.
8. He cannot come to terms with the fact that he will never race again.
9. His outrageous conduct did great harm to the regiment’s reputation.
10. It’s all the toing and froing with all the cases that I can’t stand about holidays.
PT8
1. Her primus stove gave its last gasp on the last day.
2. The tourists were none the worse for their experience in the train crash.
3. You should never look a gift horse in the mouth.
4. There was more to the expedition than simply mapping the mountain ranges.
5. In the end I was left to foot the restaurant hill.
6. The south coast took / bore the brunt of the gale.
7. Due to the bad weather, some international flights are / will be subject to possible
delay.
8. Such was the controversy caused by the film that it was banned in several parts of the
world.
9. There is a strong likelihood that the house will be pulled down
10. The volume of traffic makes it difficult for local traders to go about their work.
PT9
1. Gita’s parents put me at my ease with the warmth of their greeting
2. Oskar was in no mood / wasn’t in the mood for going out / to go out last night.
3. Throughout his life he was deceitful and treacherous.
4. Daisy informed her father that what she did with her money was no concern of his.
5. Under no circumstances will we ever do business,
6. I doubt whether Paul knows the answer.
7. Ever since his accident, Philip has been unable to make his decision.
8. Further information can be obtained / given by sending an SAE to the above
address.
9. Knowledge of the details is limited / restricted to the managing director and the
chief.
10. The new plans for the school have been met with authorities’ approval
PT10
1. The world press got wind of the story from a government official.
2. He shouldn’t have been so savagely criticized for his efforts to find a solution.
3. Julia soon pulled herself together and explained her problem.
4. When it come to technical knowledge, I am no match for Mary.
5. Mike never shrinks from making tough decisions as a manager,
6. What the politician was saying fell on deaf ears last night.
7. But for his father’s early retirement, Richard would not have taken over the family
business.
8. The Mountain Rescue Team doesn’t hold out much hope for the missing climbers.
9. Watchfully standing behind the president were his bodyguards.
10. The sales director kept / left his / the staff (completely / totally) in the dark about
the new marketing post.
PT11
1. It was inevitable that he would fail his exams.
2. Failure to obey the regulations may lead to / result in disqualification.
3. Through no fault of her own, Melanie ended up breaking the law.
4. Further information can be obtained by sending a self-addressed envelop to the
above address.
5. She will be showered with congratulations if she wins.
6. The new minister seems to have a flair for yielding awkward questions.
7. It’s all the toing and froing with all the cases that I can’t stand about holidays.
8. We were over the moon when our first grandchild was born
9. This house is a far cry from the little flat we used to live in
10. That wasn’t what I meant at all. You’ve got (hold of) the wrong end of the stick
PT12
1. Jill’s success can be put down to hard work.
2. I can’t work out the total without a calculator.
3. You shouldn’t look down your nose at everyone.
4. When she sold the jewelry at such a low price, she was taken in for a ride.
5. If the Prime Minister got caught up in this scandal, it would be a disaster
6. Whether they like it or not. I’m not going away with my parents this year.
7. What happened was that Jane shut the door with her keys still inside.
8. Peter drew my attention to the mistake
9. But for his father’s early retirement Richard would not have taken over the family
business.
10. The chances are that the meeting will not end before 7.00 / that the meeting will not
end before 7.00 are not high / are low.
PT13
1. Considerable concern has been caused by / expressed at the failure of the
authorities to provide adequate warning.
2. The first priority for the council is the restoration of communications and essential
services.
3. The older he got, the more his memory failed him.
4. It took tremendous strength of character to trudge through malaria-infested
swamps.
5. I enjoy being a big fish in a small pond.
6. He (modestly) play down his part in the rescue.
7. We have broken even this year.
8. Unlikely as it may seem / seems (to you), I don’t know how to chat on the
Internet.
9. We must not / never lose sight of the fact that luck plays a large part in many
scientific breakthroughs.
10. As far as friendship is concerned, I’d rather have a few close friends than many
acquaintances.
PT14
1. This state of affairs shouldn’t be allowed to get worse by the government.
2. The work was to have been completed by the end of last week.
3. Had she not received so much support from social workers, she wouldn’t be
leading such a normal life now.
4. The very thought of his face at that moment makes me laugh.
5. He let it be known that he disapproved of the behavior of his supporters
6. Pauline is in great demand as an after-dinner speaker.
7. I don’t think you are in earnest about helping me.
8. At first I was a bit in awe of the new computer.
9. William decided that he was not cut out to be an actor.
10. I felt at the back of my mind that something was wrong, but what was it?
PT15
1. This bottle-opener is a dead loss.
2. This big shot will pay an official visit to our village.
3. That car is beyond my means.
4. It’s about time you did your homework.
5. Drinking too much will tell on your health/ tell on you.
6. You must keep a straight face in the pagoda.
7. Their problems are of their own making.
8. Regardless of the rain, we will not delay voyage.
9. He laughed off his latest business failure.
10. Kate soon pulled herself together and explained her problem.
PT16
1. If only life weren’t so difficult!
2. Someone has run off with my jewelry!
3. I don’t care what you do with the money.
4. The chances are that the project will be finished on Thursday.
5. You might have phoned me to say you’d be late.
6. The thief almost certainly came in through the window.
7. He attributed his win/victory/triumph/success to good luck.
8. I cast my mind back to what has happened all those years before.
9. I whiled away the time (by) looking through some magazines.
10. I came very close/near to giving up at one point.
PT17
1. Ever since (he had) his accident, Jim has been unable to make decisions.
2. Not until it was almost dark did we get home.
3. The new building has been under construction for the past two years.
4. The dog was tied up in case it escaped.
5. He hated how his private life came under scrutiny from the media.
6. You have to play to your strengths if you want to succeed.
7. Although I am not averse to (eating) snails, they wouldn’t be my first choice.
8. We were over the moon when our first grandchild was born.
9. Tom is (always) the life and soul of parties.
10. Russ was at odds with his fellow workers over / concerning the new management
policies
PT18
A. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one.
1. Male insurance agents outnumber female agents.
2. I am interested in learning more about world religions.
3. Whatever Jean does is all right with Frank
4. What people rumor is that he is rich but stingy.
B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first one.
* Use the word given
1. He lost his voice because he had been performing in a play.
2. You will be asked to show the contents of your suitcase.
3. Am I to infer that he is a thief?
4. The plumber’s advice to me was not to use the faulty appliance.
5. The Member of Parliament did everything he could to take advantage of the
situation.
6. We are through the worst
PT19
A. Finish each of the sentences in such a way that it means exactly the same as the
sentence printed before it. (5 points)
1. Once the opera had begun (began), latecomers had to wait before taking their
seats.
2. The quicker we get there the sooner you will be able to relax.
3. There is no point in considering such a ridiculous proposal seriously.
4. Sally came up with the best solution.
5. Brenda has fallen out with her next-door neighbour.
B. Write a new sentence using the word given. (5 points)
1. For fear of being / getting seasick they decided not to go by boat / For fear that
they would / might be / get seasick they decided not to go by boat.
2. Five years had passed (by) / had gone by before I saw her again.
3. He was indebted to a passer-by for his rescue.
4. Don’t come to / draw the conclusion that this job is easy.
5. (the use of) The main college car park is restricted to final-year students.
PT20
1. On no account should this door be (kept) locked.
2. The price of the book may prevent it (from) becoming / being a bestseller, its
becoming / being a bestseller.
3. It was so impressive a painting that I had, an irresistible urge to buy it.
4. What most irritates me about him is his clothes.
5. I can’t put up with his rude behavior.
6. He bought a new jacket on-the spur of the moment.
7. This plant is prone to attack / getting I being attacked by insects.
8. Do you have any objection to my watching you while you paint?
9. They were getting nowhere until / but then / then John came up with a bright idea.
10. The young actress had butterflies in her stomach before the audition,
PT21
A. Rewrite the following sentences in such a way that the second sentences has the
same meaning as the first one. (10 points)
1. I can barely see any mark(s)/ make out the mark(s)/ distinguish a mark on that
dress.
2. Charming as/ though Tony is/ maybe, I wouldn’t trust him.
3. I came very close/ near to giving up at one point.
4. No matter how much louder he can shout, I still won’t take any notice.
5. If it hadn’t been for the goal keeper we’d have lost the match.
B. Rewrite the following sentences with the given words in such a way that the
second sentence has the same meaning as the first one. Do not change the form of the
words in brackets. (10 points)
1. Local residents expressed/ voiced their disapproval of the new traffic scheme.
2. Jenny wasn’t in the mood/ was in no mood to go/ for going to a party.
3. Some interesting new information has come to light.
4. I am/ find myself at a loss to understand/ comprehend/ explain Harold’s behaviour.
5. He always makes heavy weather of everything.
PT22
A.
1. We were at a loss for words.
2. He has taken up swimming as a (new) hobby.
3. Janet talked me out of selling my house.
4. Members of the audience started sending up the speaker.
5. I can’t run to such expensive clothes on my salary.
B.
1. I wasn’t in the office yesterday, so it must have been my assistant (that) you spoke
to.
2. He has no intention of giving up his hobby.
3. My friendship with Susan dates back to 1999.
4. The government’s tax policy has been under reviewed for some time.
5. It was only when he mentioned his surname that I realized we had been at school
together.
PT23
1. These shoes are too small for me to get my feet into.
2. Sad as it is, unemployment is unlikely to go down this year.
3. Her success must have made her parents feel wonderful.
4. On no account must you leave the iron switched on for a long time
5. Matthew took no notice of his doctor’s advice.
6. The film didn’t live up to my expectations at all.
7. It is common knowledge that becoming an actor is difficult.
8. All the witnesses said I was to blame for the accident.
9. I told him there was no point (in) worrying about the past.
10. That man bears a great/ strong resemblance to my father.
PT24
1. The more I listened to the music, the more my request for the composer increased.
2. Reluctant though she was to take the job at first, she’s got on very well.
3. He met Jane, who was later to become his wife, when he was at Cambridge.
4. Robert confessed to forgetting to turn on the alarm system.
5. The politician tried to drum up support for his campaign to help the homeless.
6. Martin has reached the pinnacle of his career.
7. Being her only niece, Ann is the apple of her eye.
8. How much did the supermarket bill amount to a total?
9. She loves animals and tends to see red when she sees one being badly treated.
10. Carol has trouble getting her ideas across.
PT25
1. I should have known better than to trust a stranger with my saving.
2. I wouldn’t have been given promotion but for a / the recommendation.
3. There was such a rapid improvement in his condition he went home- four days
after the operation.
4. Under no circumstances must you mention this to him.
5. His father blew his top when he heard he had damaged the car.
6. The young actress had butterflies in her stomach before the audition.
7. Martin has reached the pinnacle of his career.
8. Margaret has a reputation for being a very good cook
9. People show no / little concern about the mistreatment of animals
10. You must take steps to make sure / ensure that this doesn’t happen again.
PT26
1. Sad as it is, unemployment is unlikely to go down this year.
2. Not until he came into light did I recognise him.
3. Had it not been for the attendance of a famous film star, the party wouldn’t have
been a success.
4. The last thing you should do is (to) phone the police.
5. She’s very fussy about the kind of hotels she stays in.
6. I bought it on the spur of the moment.
7. We must come to terms with the fact that we haven’t made much progress in the
struggle against poverty.
8. His legs being cut off did not/could not prevent him from competing in the
Olympic Games and winning a medal.
9. It suddenly dawned on them that they were on the verge of a bankrupt.
10. Most salaried people haven’t been able to/ can’t cope with the rocketing prices.
PT27
1. There being no more questions, I think we can end the meeting.
2. Has anybody come to any harm in the road collision?
3. The statement boils down to making the public aware of the present situation.
4. Lisa doesn’t interest Jack so much as her parents’ big fortune.
5. The community sang the recently elected mayor’s praises.
6. I wanted to prevent all my good work from going to waste in that way.
7. The press has poured scorn on the handling of the matter.
8. Joan had misgivings about employing such young staff.
9. The fact that they survived the accident was nothing short of a miracle, in my
opinion.
10. If Mary is left to her own devices. I’m sure she’ll finish the project on time.
PT28
1. Such is the popularity of the play that the theatre is likely to be full every night.
2. No matter how often I invite him for a weekend with us, he’s always too busy to
come.
3. He exclaimed with delight that he had passed the first exam. I congratulated him
and wished him luck with the second.
4. Had it not been for the attendance/ presence/ appearance of a famous film star the
party would not have been a success.
5. She gave me an implausible explanation for her behaviour.
6. Everything went according to plan during my trip to France.
7. You have hit the nail on the head.
8. He stood / kept/ held his ground against his adversary.
9. The house was dirty because no one took the trouble to keep it clean.
10. I was sorely tempted to say exactly what I thought.
PT29
A.
1. At a guess, there are about twenty applications for the job.
2. Promise them a reward and they will work hard.
3. Ann takes great pleasure in painting her landscapes.
4. However much you offer to pay, he’ll never sell the family memorabilia.
5. Julia realized her boss got out of bed on the wrong side when he snapped at her
before she had even said “good morning”.
B.
1. Since she met that boy, she’s been wrapped up in him.
2. My husband will go through / hit the roof when I tell him.
3. One of my guests made a quick exit from the room.
4. I can put in a good word for you to the manager; I’m a friend of his.
5. The press has poured scorn on the handling of the matter.
PT30
1. Not a great deal/ amount of damage was done/ caused to my car in/ by the
collision.
2. What conclusions have you drawn/ come to from/ as a result of/ because of this
experience?
3. I whiled away the time (by) looking through some magazines.
4. The very thought of his face at that moment makes me laugh.
5. That young man used to have a monkey on his back.
6. That guy was a snake in the grass.
7. He’s got a frog in his throat.
8. The new science building is well under way.
9. The new musical has taken theatre audiences by storm.
10. We cannot make any definite plans at this stage.
PT31
1. It was the lack / absence of (any) leadership that caused most of the problems of
the committee.
2. Working as a primary school teacher calls for a great / good deal of patience these
days.
3. Only by operating immediately can we save your eyesight.
4. Further information can be obtained by sending a self-addressed envelope to the
above address.
5. Pauline hasn’t been let in on the secret.
6. Sam was on tenterhooks, waiting to see if he had got a place in the cricket team.
7. We want to rejuvenate this project.
8. I think people who help the old, sick and homeless are the salt of the earth.
9. If you want to be a successful gardener, of course you’ve got green fingers.
10. This brochure has a wide array of choices.
PT32
1. I beg you, from the bottom of my heart, to spare his life.
2. A wind of change
3. The climber was on the point of death when they found him.
4. We seem to be missing some students this morning.
5. Those responsible for this crime will be severely punished.
6. I’m not so foolish as to believe that.
7. In case he one day kills her, she has to run away.
8. She was under the impression that someone was dogging her steps.
9. The government must be seen to be whiter than white.
10. To this day, I still don’t understand why he did it
PT33
1. I am on very good terms with my bank manager.
2. Anyone can apply for a job with us irrespective of race, creed or color.
3. The directors of the company put their heads together to formulate a new
scheme.
4. All his schemes ended in smoke.
5. The police left no stone unturned to trace the culprits.
6. I paid him back in his own coin.
7. You’ve hit the nail on the head.
8. Steady work is sure to be rewarded in the long run.
9. This puts me in mind of an amusing incident.
10. He stood / held / kept his ground against his adversary.
PT34
1. My brothers is in two minds about moving to live in the country.
2. There is no limit to her finding fault with those she doesn’t like.
3. He was at ease in his new job.
4. Isn’t it high time you greased the hinges?
5. His colleague will go to any lengths to avoid confrontation.
6. It was your /you lying about your training background that upset him. (It was the
fact that you lied about your training background that upset him)
7. Nothing is expected to go wrong at tomorrow’s conference.
8. Showers are known better for you than baths.
9. No longer are the construction projects in Southampton under our control.
10. The hijackers haven’t set any of the hostages free.
PT35
A.
1. Contrary to his preconceptions / to what he thinks, not all nurses are women.
2. I object to being told what to do by people I don’t respect.
3. The hotter it gets, the more water I drink.
4. We have nothing / very little in common with one another.
5. Only after a long time did the patient recover completely from his illness.
B.
1. There is no need to make such a song and dance about it.
2. His tomato plants are his pride and joy.
3. I’m sure this new film will appeal to young children.
4. The final version of the report bore no resemblance to the initial draft.
5. She gave an implausible explanation.
PT36
1. Nobody took any notice of Jack despite his strange clothes.
2. He made threats of violence against the officers.
3. You must have no contact/ communication with anyone involved in this case.
4. There was severe criticism (by many people) of the proposals for the new
motorway.
5. The operation left Simon feeling weaker than he (had) expected.
6. There’s no need to shed any tears over the result.
7. I’d be grateful if you could cast an eye over these figures.
8. Although he is young, he is by no means/ by no means is he the youngest minister.
9. The house is dirty because no one takes the trouble to keep it clean./ The reason
the house is dirty is that no one takes the trouble to clean it.
10. Jane stand a good chance of being promoted.

PT37
Part 1: Write a new sentence similar in meaning to the one given, using the word
given in brackets. Do not alter the word in any way.
1. I’m not in the mood for the party / I’m in no mood for going (to go) the party.
2. With five children to look after, her aunt has a lot on her hands / has her hands
full.
3. You could hardly make out the ships through the thick fog.
4. The acrobats gave a good performance at the circus.
5. He was unable to cope with the job because of his ill health.
* Part 2. Finish the second sentence in such a way that it means exactly the same as
the sentence printed before it.
1. We shouldn’t have come to Madrid in July.
2. The person who is called John wanted to talk to you on the phone this morning.
3. It was some mistakes in spelling that were found in the essay by the students / that
the students found in the essay.
4. If they hadn’t solved the pollution problem in the region, there would have been a
disaster./ If the pollution problem in the region hadn’t been solved, there would...
5. Our son is excited at the thought of going to Disney world.
 PT38
1. There’s no one in Japan but speak Japanese.
2. The proposed motor-way extension has been a BONE of contention for years.
3. Coal production/the coal produced in this region has been halved in the last 20
years.
4. The orphanage left no stone unturned in their attempt to find the boy’s parents.
5. Scientists blame air pollution for the destruction of (the) forests/According to
scientists, air pollution is to blame for destroying (the) forests.
6. Not a tear did she shed when the story ended in tragedy.
7. Should terrapins survive their first year, they may live to be twenty.
8. Norman confessed to murdering Alan.
9. Neither of the lifts was working.
10. There was no question of drugs being involved, whatever the methods used to
obtain the result.
PT39
TASK 1 (10 pts)
Question 1: Pauline is in great demand as an after-dinner speaker.
Question 2: Someone has run off with my jewelry!
Question 3: Tom is (always) the life and soul of parties.
Question 4: He was indebted to a passer-by for his rescue.
Question 5: Some interesting new information has come to light.
TASK 2 (10 pts)
Question 6: It is common knowledge that becoming an actor is difficult.
Question 7: The young actress had butterflies in her stomach before the audition.
Question 8: The community sang the recently elected mayor’s praises.
Question 9: The new musical has taken theatre audiences by storm.
Question 10: To this day, I still don’t understand why he did it.
PT40
1. The authorities are clamping down on drug dealing.
2. Paying the rent really eats into my salary every month.
3. Please don’t take Minnie’s comments amiss because she meant well.
4. I would not have missed out on such an experience for all the world.
5. You must submit your entry by next Tuesday.
5. Who would be the first heir has been settled among all the members of the family
by their burying the hatchet.
6. He has had a grudge against me ever since I was promoted over him.
7. That he has won a scholarship to study overseas gives/has given him a new lease
of life.
8. First and foremost I need regular practice because sometimes I have (got) a
memory / mind like a sieve.
9. It is Maldivies’(s) beach resorts and round-the-clock bustling nightlife that hordes
of tourists are attracted to.
10. What the politician was saying fell on deaf ears last night.