Idioms
It’s his first week at the company, so he needs some time to ______________ before taking on more responsibilities.
a) get his act together
b) learn the ropes
c) take the lead
d) show his true colors
b.
The teacher told the students to concentrate / hesitate so they could finish their assignments on time.
concentrate
This meal doesn’t require much / many effort, so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy it with your friends or family!
much
Jake has an older sister. She works as a professional photographer.
Jake has an older sister who works as a professional photographer.
"Please don’t leave me alone in this dark house," Lucy said to her brother.
begged
Lucy begged her brother not to leave her alone in the dark house.
The salary at that company is terrible! They expect people to work long hours but only ______________.
a) pay peanuts
b) give away breadcrumbs
c) throw out the leftovers
d) cut costs
a.
If you want to be successful in your career, you must pursue / postpone your goals with determination.
pursue
If you want to make a quick and easy pasta dish but don’t have many / much time, this recipe is perfect for you. You only need a little / a few ingredients, and it takes less than 20 minutes to prepare.
much, a few
Emily’s brother is a professional athlete. His team just won the championship.
Emily’s brother, whose team just won the championship, is a professional athlete.
"I will not allow you to borrow my car this weekend," said my mother.
refused
My mother refused to allow me to borrow her car this weekend.
You can’t save all your money and go on luxury vacations at the same time. You can’t ______________.
a) take the best of both worlds
b) hold both ends of the rope
c) have one’s cake and eat it
d) win the race without running
c.
A good leader can admire / inspire others to work hard and achieve great things.
inspire
First, boil some / any water in a large pot. Add salt and let it come to a rolling boil before putting in the pasta. If you don’t have much / many pasta left, you can always add more vegetables to make the dish more filling.
some, much
My grandmother was born in Italy. She moved to England when she was 20.
My grandmother, who was born in Italy, moved to England when she was 20.
or
My grandmother, who moved to England when she was 20, was born in Italy.
"Stay away from that dangerous dog," the neighbor said to the children.
warned
The neighbor warned the children to stay away from that dangerous dog.
The football team has many talented players, but Jake is definitely ______________.
a) the tip of the iceberg
b) the cream of the crop
c) the icing on the cake
d) the king of the castle
b.
Some people become obsessed / addicted to video games and spend hours playing instead of studying.
addicted
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and mix it with the sauce. Let it sit for a few / few minutes to absorb the flavors. If you have a lot of / lots guests coming over, just double the ingredients to make extra portions.
a few, a lot of
This is the café. We met here for the first time.
This is the café where we met for the first time.
"I assure you that I will finish my homework before dinner," Jake told his parents.
promised
Jake promised his parents that he would finish his homework before dinner.
Despite waking up early, Lisa was ______________ all morning, chatting and laughing with her colleagues.
a) walking on eggshells
b) on the edge of her seat
c) out of her shell
d) full of beans
d.
Regular exercise can greatly benefit / maintain your physical and mental health.
benefit
While the pasta is cooking, heat up some / few olive oil in a pan and add chopped garlic. Stir for a little / a few seconds until fragrant, then toss in your choice of vegetables or protein. Don’t forget to season with a little / a few salt and pepper!
some, a few, a little
That was the summer. We went on a road trip across Europe.
That was the summer when we went on a road trip across Europe.
"Can you tell me how to get to the train station?" the tourist asked the passerby.
wanted
The tourist wanted to know how to get to the train station.