Regrets and Criticisms
Which of these sentences show a regret?
- It's time you started studying for your test.
- I wish I hadn't eaten the whole pizza.
- If only my marks were better!
- You must lock the door when you leave the house!
- I wish I hadn't eaten the whole pizza.
- If only my marks were better!
Simon is _______ considered to be the smartest person in her class.
noted / considered / suggested
- considered
The speaker _________ detail about her plan to increase sales revenue. She spoke for a very long time and included all the key information.
- went into detail
Which idiom shows someone is taking extra precautions?
- tempt fate
- touch wood
- fingers crossed
- be on the safe side
- third time lucky
- be on the safe side
Which of these sentences are criticisms?
- It's high time you cleaned this flat!
- I would hate to have experienced a natural disaster.
- Bob should have taken the car to the mechanic before the problem got so bad.
- I would prefer to have got a better job.
- It's high time you cleaned this flat!
- Bob should have taken the car to the mechanic before the problem got so bad.
Rewrite the sentence using the passive reporting verb in brackets.
The news report alleged that local teenagers were to blame for the damage to the entrance of the building.
It ______ (allege) in the news report ______ local teenagers were to blame for the damage to the entrance of the building.
- was alleged
- that
The speaker wasn't very good. He didn't _______ his results before he _______ another topic.
present / make / illustrate
concluded / demonstrates / moved on to
- present
- move on to
Which idioms do people say when they hope something good will happen?
- to be on the safe side
- you're tempting fate
- touch wood
- fingers crossed
- third time lucky
- touch wood
- fingers crossed
- third time lucky
Marisol _________ that she _________ a new job years ago.
would have got / wishes / had wished / had got / can wish / got
Marisol wishes that she had got a new job years ago.
Which sentences show that the information may not be true?
- It is alleged that thieves stole a painting worth £500,000 from the museum.
- The police are looking for three men in connection with the theft.
- The thieves are thought to have had help from an employee of the museum.
- The painting has been found in a warehouse 50 kilometres away from the museum.
- It is alleged that thieves stole a painting worth £500,000 from the museum.
- The thieves are thought to have had help from an employee of the museum.
Joe ______ his own right to speak at the city council meeting, even though the council didn't want him to. He was ______ concerns about the crime rate in the city.
demonstrating / voicing / backing up / asserted / summarised
- asseted
- voicing
There are many different traditions in the world to help people avoid bad luck. In Spain, people ______ eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve to bring ______ in the year to come.
customary / persuasively / traditionally
good fortune / magic spells / good luck charms
- traditionally
- good fortune
I ______ my driving licence if I'd practised more when I was a teenager, but I failed the test several times, and I haven't tried again. Now I'm almost 30 years old; I _____ it years ago!
1. might get / might have got / must have got
2. wish i could do / must have done / should have done
- might have got
- should have done
Which sentences do not clearly show where the information has come from?
- My history teacher announced that our final exam will be on Friday.
- It has been said that the test may cover 500 years of European history.
- The final history exam is regarded as one of the most difficult exams in school.
- Several of my friends have told me that they plan to study constantly until the test.
- It has been said that the test may cover 500 years of European history.
- The final history exam is regarded as one of the most difficult exams in school.
You're never going to be able to s _ _ _ the idea of working from home to the boss if you can't b_ _ _ _ _ your arguments with some hard data. She'll respond to studies that show people who work from home are more productive and cost the company less money.
- sell
- back up
Which word describes something that is likely to be true?
plausible / dubious / far-fetched
Which word is the opposite of dubious?
gullible / convinced / far-fetched
- plausible
- convinced
A: I ______ to have camped somewhere safer. You ______ me there were bears in these woods!
B: Relax. We're only camping for one night. I ______ you if ______ you'd complain this much.
A. Wish / would rather / would prefer / could have told / ought to tell / must have told
B. would have invited / wouldn’t have invited / wouldn’t invite / I know / I’d known / I would have known
A: I would prefer to have camped somewhere safer. You could have told me there were bears in these woods!
B: Relax. We're only camping for one night. I wouldn't have invited you if I'd known you'd complain this much.
Rewrite the sentences with passive reporting structures. Use four words in each gap.
People think that skiing is a dangerous sport. People claim to hurt themselves very often while skiing. Skiing ______ a dangerous sport. ______ people hurt themselves very often while skiing.
- is thought to be
- It is claimed that
A: I'm not trying to a______ your policies or say that you're doing a bad job; I'm just trying to a______ my right to speak.
B: I'm sorry, but this is a closed meeting. It's not the right time or place to v______ your concerns. Come back on Tuesday night for the public forum.
- attack
- assert
- voice
The chef's g____ ____ ____ was a special spoon he always used when he was in cooking competitions. He said it helped him cook better than everyone else. His argument was p _______ because he always won the competitions.
- good luck charm
- persuasive