Idioms / Phrasal Verbs
We were so looking forward to stretching out on the beach in the sunshine, but it ____________ the whole time we were there.
A. poured with rain
B. rained dogs and cats
C. dropped in the bucket
D. made hay while the sun shined
A. poured with rain = rained cats and dogs
What does 'scanty' means?
The aboriginal people of Australia are experts at survival in an environment with scanty resources.
limited
All the applicants for the post are thoroughly ________ for their suitability.
A. searched B. vetted
C. investigated D. scrutinized
B. vetted
They knew that it was just not feasible ______ such a small firm to compete with the big boys.
A. in B. at C. for D. about
C. for
Fill in the blank with a word: She made as if ...... speak but then stopped.
to
Jimmy always takes the ________ by the horns at every chance in order to become a famous pop star, which is why he is so successful now.
A. bull B. horse C. cow D. buffalo
A. bull
The final winner will be the one who breaks through ______ and survives till the last minutes.
A. obstacles B. difficulty
C. hindrance D. impediment
A. obstacles
The committee is _______ of well-known mountaineers.
A. contained B. comprised
C. included D. consisted
B. comprised
Of 30 countries inspected for airline safety, only 17 received a _________bill of health.
A. clear B. clean C. pure D. dirty
B. clean
____________ the ability to delay normal cognitive decline as we age, there are significant social benefits to lifelong learning.
A. Aside from B. In addition
C. Moreover D. Furthermore
Your store needs a bold sign that will catch the _____ of anyone walking down the street. That may help to sell more products.
A. eye B. peek C. flash D. glimpse
A. eye
A new TV show has sparked ________ by showing the positive side of dropping out of college.
A. controversy B. argument
C. contention D. debate
A. controversy
This ticket ____ you to a free meal in our new restaurant.
A. allows B. grants C. entitles D. credits
C. entitles
Choose the correct word to fill in the blank:
If we lose the case we may be _______________ for the costs of the whole trial.
A. compatible B. liable
C. available D. accessible
B. liable
When we went to Egypt he knew ______________ no Arabic, but within six months he had become extremely fluent.
A. entirely B. barely C. virtually D. scarcely
C. virtually
Fill in the blank with a word: I was going to have a go at parachuting but I lost my ............... at the last minute.
nerve
Despite the tough _______ in the sector, our little store managed to break _________ its first year in operation.
A. contest/level B. competition/equal
C. competition/even D. opposition/equal
C. competition/even
Solar power is ____________________ to become the world's largest source of electricity by 2050.
A. estimated B. antedated C. anticipated D. awaited
C. anticipated
The contract includes a 35-cent per hour increase in night shift ____________ pay.
A. difference B. different
C. differential D. differentiate
C. differential
Tom is always blowing his trumpet that he is a qualified electrician, but the truth is quite_______.
A. or else B. instead C. though D. otherwise
D. otherwise
If it had not been for the couch's decision to strike while the iron is hot, the team would not have won the game so easily.
A. take advantage of an opportunity
B. miss the boat
C. face the music
D. put others first
A. take advantage of an opportunity
In ________________, I must acknowledge that we were guilty of errors of judgment.
A. retrospect B. review C. experience D. hindsight
A. retrospect
____ as it was at such a time, his work attracted much attention.
A. Being published B. Published
C. Publishing D. to be published
B. Published
He has been given work as a window cleaner even though he has no head ............... heights.
A. for B. of C. in D. over
A. for
The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved ____ of ourselves.
A. regardless B. in spite
C. in case D. instead
B. in spite