LEXICO AND GRAMMAR (30 pts)
Part 1: Choose the answer A, B, C, or D that best completes each of the
following sentences. Write your answers in the corresponding numbered
boxes. (10 pts)
1. After the earthquake, the entrance hall was turned into a _______ Casualty
ward.
A. mainstay B. makeshift C. piecework D. wayside
2. A: “I’ve had a _______ pain in my side all day.”
B: “It’s probably indigestion.”
A. whimpering B. nagging C. moaning D. muttering
3. I know budgets are tight, but where safety is concerned I don’t think we should
cut _______.
A. rounds B. ways C. corners D. lines
4. The real test of your relationship will come when you start to see your new
boyfriend _______ and all.
A. warts B. spots C. moles D. faults
5. I’m opting out of the _______ race and going to live on a small farm in the
countryside.
A. horse B. dog C. rat D. cat and
mouse
6. Stella’s parents decided to _______ out on a reception for 500 people at her
wedding.
A. crash B. smash C. thrash D. splash
7. Many diseases that used to be considered _______ of mankind are now easily
treatable with antibiotics.
A. scourges B. tortures C. blights D. thorns
8. We’re going to have to _______ a lot of money next year to have the house
repaired.
A. stock up B. knock off C. fork out D. put back
9. I’m not surprised people are arguing- they are at the __________ of their tether.
A. end B. limit C. finish D.
termination
10. Materialism traps us __________ in a world of possessions hag-ridden by
irrational fears of likely loss and lurking dangers.
A. impromptu B. off the cuff C. on a whim D. unawares
11. Egypt is a fantastic country for tourists. It’s absolutely ______ in history.
A. soaked B. drenched C. steeped D. saturated
12. I wanted to talk, but she was determined to sweep the matter under the ______.
A. cupboard B. table C. carpet D. bed
13. The newspaper story was based on an interview which had been done off the
______.
A. script B. record C. key D. tape
14. Before you make a decision you should ______ all the issues involved.
A. weigh through B. weigh out C. weigh up D. weigh down
15. I’m afraid that cycling is off the ______ until the weather improves.
A. record B. card C. track D. menu
16. I read some pretty ______ news about the economy today.
A. challenging B. jumpy C. disconcerting D. cutting
17. He spent too much on his credit card, and now he can’t ______ the minimum
payments.
A. keep on B. keep in C. keep to D. keep up
18. Her condition is improving, but she's not out of the ______.
A. dark B. cupboard C. woods D. fire
19. Some electric cars have a ______ of 150 kilometres.
A. run B. distance C. range D. scope
20. ______, I’d like to say how much I’ve enjoyed our meeting.
A. Finally B. At last C. Eventually D. After all
21. I’d give up my job ______ if only I could find a better one.
A. at one swoop B. at the drop of a hat
C. on the dot D. on the spur of the moment
22. The hotel, though obviously grand in its day, appeared rather neglected and
______ when we checked in.
A. tumble-down B. downcast C. down-and-out D. run-down
23. If you’d like to take a seat in the waiting room till the doctor can see you,
you’ll find plenty of magazines to ______.
A. refer to B. browse through C. look over D. stare at
24. I’d say let’s meet on Saturday, but I’m none ______ sure what’s happening at
the weekend.
A. so B. very C. that D. too
25. Since we had only one day left, we decided to make an ______ effort to finish
the run in record time.
A. all-in B. all-out C. overall D. all-round
26. As he was caught ______ an offensive weapon, he was immediately a suspect.
A. in possession of B. on ownership of C. with handling with D. out of control
with
27. We might just as well have stayed at home ______ the enjoyment we had.
A. on account of B. as far as C. for all D. concerning
28. You should only make serious accusations like that if they have a sound
______ in fact.
A. basis B. foothold C. framework D. principle
29. He hadn’t prepared a speech; he just made a few remarks ______.
A. off the cuff B. at first sight
C. up his sleeve D. out of the back of his neck
30. Martin needs to get a ______ on his finances if he’s not to face serious
difficulties with the bank.
A. grasp B. clutch C. grip D. clasp
