Question

1. There has been a gradual _____ in people’s attitudes to the environment over the last two decades or so. a) adaptation b) shift c) variation 2. Hemingway’s novel “The Old Man and the Sea” was _____ as a masterpiece when it was first published. a) hurled b) hailed c) hauled 3. When I was thinking of moving to a new town, I _____ settling in the capital because the cost of living there is too high. a) wrote out b) rolled out c) ruled out 4. He is 63; he’s just _____ up for retirement. a) coming b) getting c) turning 5. Poker is played by two or ten players, using a standard _____ of 52 cards. a) suit b) pack c) shuffle 6. I’ve been trying for some time to tell her, _____ , to be more considerate but she just doesn’t seem to get the message. a) in a roundabout way b) way around c) own way 7. The penny farthing was the ______ of the modern bicycle. a) precedent b) prerequisite c) precursor 8. After intensive training, Basil was able to reach speeds ______ 1 kph. a) to extremes b) in excess of c) over the top 9. Arnold was so hungry that he ______ the whole packet of biscuits down in two minutes flat. a) foxed b) wolfed c) pigged 10. My son’s academic performance has undergone a complete _____ since he transferred to the new school. a) alteration b) change c) transformation 11. We were disappointed by the _____ turnout at the meeting. a) bleak b) poor c) heavy 12. I can’t stand the way she’s always ______ , I wish she’d be more positive. a) moaning b) whispering c) stuttering 13. Plumbers really get up my ______ . They are always promising to come at a certain time and nine times out of ten they don’t turn up when they’ve promised. a) anger b) fuss c) nose 14. If you carry on shouting like that, you’ll ______ your voice. a) break b) strain c) fade away 15. The two-hour ______ left him exhausted. a) outbreak b) checkout c) workout 16. Walking ______ a brisk pace can be a wonderful alternative _____ the two-hour ordeal at the gym. a) in, to b) at, for c) at, to 17. Noise must be ______ to a minimum at all times. a) kept b) permitted c) forbidden 18. He’s hoping to put his feet ______ because discipline had broken down. a) around b) up c) on 19. My eldest brother Simon is a rather impulsive _____ , he has a _____ to act hastily. a) attitude, sense b) nature, streak c) type, tendency 20. If you take a seat, I’ll be with you _____. a) easily b) hardly c) shortly 21. You _____ have told me you had a dog. It frightened the life out of me when it jumped on me in the middle of the night. a) must b) could c) may 22. I can’t stand _____ polite conversation and pretending _____ myself. a) making, to enjoy b) to make, enjoying c) making, enjoying 23. _____ I give you a hand with the washing-up? a) will b) shall c) would 24. -What _____ after the course? - I’m going back to Sweden. a) are you doing b) do you do c) will you do 25. It’s my new vase. You _____ at least apologize for breaking it! a) must b) might c) may

Answer 1

1) b 
2) b
3) c
4) a
5) b
6) a
7) c
8) b
9) c
10) c
11) b
12) a
13) a
14) a
15) c
16) b
17) a
18) b
19) c
20) c
21) b
22) a
23) b
24) a
25) b

Answer 2

1. b) shift
2. b) hailed
3. c) ruled out
4. b) getting
5. b) pack
6. a) in a roundabout way
7. c) precursor
8. b) in excess of
9. b) wolfed
10. c) transformation
11. b) poor
12. a) moaning
13. c) nose
14. b) strain
15. c) workout
16. c) at, to
17. a) kept
18. b) up
19. b) nature, streak
20. c) shortly
21. a) must
22. c) making, enjoying
23. b) shall
24. c) will you do
25. a) must