CPE Use of English by Virginia Evans
A. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. The cinema which was adjacent to bank was badly damaged in the earthquake.
2. The child showed no animosity towards her new stepmother.
3. What you’re saying amounts to blackmail.
4. Mr Parker was arrested for exceeding the speed limit.
5. She is finding it difficult to adjust to the climate.
6. Your calculations do not accord with mine.
7. She was very appreciative of all the support she got from her friends.
8. I was totally abashed by/at his rude manner. (embarrassed/ashamed)
9. His abstinence from caffeine lasted only two months.
10. I have an aversion to spiders.
11. The recommendations are based on a recent Home Office report.
12. My little sister still believes in Father Christmas.
13. Beware of the strong currents when swimming in this area.
14. I bumped into an old school friend in town last week.
15. The tourists bartered for the souvenirs at the local market. (exchanged)
16. When the children arrived at the fair, they made a beeline for the ghost train.
17. There’s a ban on using hosepipes during the drought.
18. The cat basked in the warm sunshine. (sit or lie in a relaxed way)
19. He continually boasts about/of his fantastic job.
20. The man begged his wife for forgiveness.
B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first
sentence, using the word given, which must not be changed. Use between
three and eight words, including the word given.
1. The suspect could not explain why he had sand in his boots.
account
The suspect could not account for the sand in his boots.
2. What he told me made me very curious to hear the rest of the story. appetite
What he told me whetted my appetite for the rest of the story.
3. I don’t mind staying in on a Saturday night if I have good company.
averse
I’m not averse to staying in on a Saturday night if I have good company.
4. Miss Hayes will explain the day-to-day running of the office to you.
acquaint
Miss Hayes will acquaint you with the day-to-day running of the office.
5. I don’t know how I can make it up to you for spoiling your plans.
amends
I don’t know how to make amends for spoiling / how I can make amends for
spoiling your plans.
6. It is a foregone conclusion that Mark will get the job. (certain to happen)
saying
It goes without saying that Mark will get the job.
7. Our teacher doesn’t like it when we leave the classroom without asking first.
approve
Our teacher doesn’t approve of our leaving the classroom without asking
first.
8. Those official files cannot be seen by the public until the end of the decade.
access
The public cannot have access to those official files until the end of the
decade.
9. Being her only niece, Ann is very precious to her.
apple
Being her only niece, Ann is the apple of her eyes.
C. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. Please take care of your sister while I’m out.
2. You have no choice in the matter. You have to do what he says.
3. Your alibi is consistent with our report.
4. Does this CD belong to anyone?
5. He aimed at the target, squeezed the trigger and fired.
6. The board was agreeable to the proposal.
7. You’re very careless about locking the house; anyone could walk in.
8. She was bored with the tedious conversation and tried to change the subject.
9. If you concentrate more on your school work, your grades would improve.
10. My grandmother is confined to a wheelchair so she doesn’t go out very much.
11. She didn’t like flying and was apprehensive about making the journey alone.
D. Choose the best alternative.
1. Did you notice the for sale / on sale sign outside the house next door?
2. There’s no point trying to talk to Stuart; he’s totally absorbed by / absorbed in
that magazine.
3. The agent is believed to have been in possession of / in the possession of
the documents all along.
4. The social worker received an anonymous letter, warning him not to meddle
with/ meddle in other people’s business.
5. As soon as the leopard came in sight / on sight, the hunter pulled the trigger.
6. This letter is to advise you of / advise you on the fact that your overdraft
currently stands at £6,435.
7. Some people believe that the end of the world is at hand / in hand.
8. The most upsetting part of her relationship with her parents was that they rarely
supported her with / supported her in her decisions.
9. Even though they knew each other on sight / by sight, they had never
exchanged words.
10. When the magician was asked the secret of his trick, he responded with /
responded to a secretive smile.
E. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. The children were late and had to make a dash for the school bus.
2. The woman exulted in her son’s success as a writer.
3. We’ll have to economise on heating or we won’t be able to pay the bill.
4. I dream of becoming a millionaire and buying a big yacht.
5. The student was eligible for a full grant to study at university.
6. The employee showed total disregard for the company rules and was
dismissed.
7. The driver was distracted by the commotion and didn’t notice that the traffic
lights had changed.
8. John was so engrossed in the film that he forgot about the cake that was in the
oven.
9. We were totally entranced by the prima ballerina’s dancing.
10. The doctor told me I was deficient in iron and would have to take supplements.
11. Michael was delighted with his promotion to office manager.
12. We sold the house at a profit; we made £2,000.
13. He put the car in / into gear and drove off.
14. She’s working as a waitress for the time being, but her ambition is to become
an actress.
15. I’ve met Elizabeth Taylor in the flesh. I even shook her hand.
16. She’s been on a diet for weeks, but she hasn’t lost much weight.
17. We have a car on loan until ours has been repaired.
18. Strictly off the record, his work is below standard.
19. The workers have been on strike for three weeks.
20. I realised something was out of the ordinary when Ann didn’t show up for work
today.
21. We were shocked when she called him an idiot to his face.
22. He was in pain after the operation.
23. At times he wishes he had never become a doctor.
24. By/From all accounts, he is the best basketball player in the association.
F. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. My cousin has a flair for languages and can speak more than six. (ability to do
sth. well)
2. The factory owner is not in the habit of fraternizing with his workers.
3. All the animals in the forest fled from the fire.
4. If you have a grievance against/with the company, please lodge a formal
complaint. (complaint)
5. My car is guaranteed against rust for eight years.
6. The teacher told me to stop fidgeting about/around and to sit still and
concentrate. (making continuous movements)
7. I was furious with my sister about her always borrowing my clothes without my
permission.
8. His glee at the news of his success was a joy to see. (happiness)
9. You mustn’t grieve over one trivial mistake.
10. He has a fixation on becoming the best doctor in the world.
11. She does nothing but fret about her being overweight yet never tries to diet.
(worry)
12. His fidelity to the firm has won him great respect.
13. He is always gloating over/about his meteoric rise as an actor. (showing too
much pleasure)
14. He is certainly good at maths, if not much else.
15. Her sales methods have been criticized as being at odds with company policy.
16. I found the ring in the street purely by luck.
17. I didn’t go to see him for fear of catching his cold.
18. That house has been up for sale for two years.
19. Come to the party, by all means.
20. We regard this atrocity as an offence against humanity.
21. In all, I spent £500 on holiday.
22. Margot prefers not to buy goods on credit.
23. He went to the meeting in disguise so as not to be recognized.
24. There were a lot of problems at the beginning of the school year, but in the end
everything was all right.
25. He was so surprised by the news that he was at a loss for words.
26. Our teacher was in a bad mood today; he shouted at everyone.
27. Try to get the photograph in focus this time.
28. They were on the trail of the Yeti when the blizzard started.
29. In answer to your question, the meeting will take place next Tuesday.
G. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. You should not use aerosols because they’re harmful to the environment.
2. Surgeons operated on her last night; her condition is said to be satisfactory.
3. The teacher was deaf to Nick’s explanation of why he hadn’t done his
homework.
4. It was so cold in the tent that the children had to huddle up together to keep
warm.
5. She haggled with the shopkeeper over the price of the souvenir.
6. We still haven’t heard from the insurance company about our claim.
7. Commuters found themselves faced with a lengthy public transport strike.
8. I’ve received an invitation for/to the annual nurses’ conference in Glasgow.
9. Mr Smith is becoming increasingly impatient with this class as they never pay
attention.
10. I’m indebted to my husband for his support in my new business venture.
11. The computer in the reception is inferior to the one in my office.
12. He says he’s feeling a bit off colour today.
13. With regard to your request, I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do about it.
14. She wasn’t allowed in the cinema because she was under age.
15. The castaways were stranded on an island for nearly a week.
16. He is a solicitor by profession.
17. This coat was in a sale when I bought it so it was very cheap.
18. He is in arrears with his loan repayments. (fallen behind)
19. I will lend you the money on condition that you pay it back within the month.
20. Strawberries are only in season in May and June.
21. He is an expert in name only; he actually knows very little about the subject.
H. Fill in with the correct preposition.
1. I’m sure there’s a jinx on this dress. Whenever I wear it, I have a terrible time.
(sth. causing bad luck)
2. Terry McWoddle has been named as the new chairman of the football club.
3. Several flights were delayed and so the departure lounge was jam-packed with
angry travelers.
4. The harassed mother juggled with four bags of shopping, a pushchair and a
dog in the middle of the busy high street. (anxious and tense)
5. Many vegetarians argue that there is no justification for eating meat in this day
and age.
6. I’ve been asked to key this information in/into the computer immediately.
7. Te businessman insisted that he had no knowledge of the missing currency.
8. When I was abroad, I longed for a traditional English Sunday lunch.
9. My husband’s always lazing about while I’m always busy.
10. The donkey climbed the steep track laden with bags of oranges.
11. Sarah is jealous of her sister because she is much more popular.
12. She is looking out/around for a new job, but hasn’t found anything yet.
13. No one is kinder to children than he is.
14. I think we should limit this discussion to the facts.
15. My uncle lectures on the History of Art at the university.
16. You mustn’t judge people by the way they dress.
17. Their new baby is being named after his father.
18. The man kept his child by his side throughout the journey.
19. He’s not very clever academically but he’s good at D.I.Y.
I.
Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. To everyone’s astonishment, she arrived at the party in a Rolls Royce.
2. Mary was impatient for the Christmas holidays to arrive.
3. Their school building is under repair, so they are having lessons in the old
library.
4. She was on the point of leaving when the phone rang.
5. People were chosen at random to try the new product.
6. In answer to your question, the meeting will take place next Tuesday.
7. Don’t be so impatient with Sue. She’s only 10 and doesn’t understand things
quickly.
8. On no account must you open your book during the test.
9. Gill wasn’t her usual cheerful self today. She was under the weather.
10. On the whole, I think your work is quite satisfactory.
11. As there was little time left, he outlined his plans in brief.
12. Jam oozed from the doughnut when she bit into it. (flowed slowly in small
quantities)
13. He is proud of his new sports car.
14. The driver was oblivious to the red light and went straight through it.
15. The schoolchildren were overburdened with homework.
16. My mother has an obsession with cleanliness and is forever doing the
housework.
17. The surgeon operated on the woman with the fractured hip.
18. My brother is so mean that he hates to part with a single penny!
19. The villagers left their homes in the valley and moved to higher grounds as a
precaution against flooding.
20. The shop sent me the cooker on approval as I wasn’t sure it was the model I
wanted.
21. He has a proclivity to being dishonest in business.
22. Mrs Heath pleaded with her husband not to resign from his job.
J. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. Susan’s quest for a satisfying job was at last realised.
2. We had to queue up before we could get into the cinema last night.
3. Heavy rain resulted in widespread flooding.
4. I was reminded of my childhood when I heard that nursery rhyme.
5. Green vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals.
6. She is quick at doing mental arithmetic.
7. Queen Victory reigned over Britain and Ireland for more than sixty years.
8. The sight of the snake made him recoil with horror.
9. His style of writing is reminiscent of Thomas Hardy’s.
10. There has been a sharp rise in unemployment this year.
11. Please keep in touch after you’ve gone back to America.
12. As she didn’t have a lot of cash, she bought the fridge on credit.
13. They live on the outskirts of a large industrial town.
14. On average, English students study at university for three years.
15. Mike is not really in tune with the rest of the group.
16. The writer is very much in favour with the public at the moment.
17. What is on the agenda for today’s meeting?
18. On the one hand, he’s a dependable worker, but he is also very slow.
19. Are you in the mood for a walk on the beach?
K. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. While running to answer the phone, I tripped over my brother’s briefcase.
2. Being new to the neighbourhood, they were able to find where the
greengrocer’s was.
3. That’s typical of Peter to refuse to help!
4. I’m having trouble with my car; it keep stalling. (stopping suddenly)
5. Jenny is terrified of flying.
6. Our neighbours are very tolerant of the noise we make.
7. My father is fascinated with cars. In fact, he’s in the garage tinkering with the
old Ford right now. (making some small changes to it)
8. Tuck your shirt in(to) your trousers!
9. The river was teeming with trout. (cramped)
10. She is so thirsty for success that she would do anything.
11. He triumphed over his competitors by flooding the market place with
advertising.
12. She’s patient with children and so is a very good teacher.
13. The neighbours are very anxious for their missing daughter to phone home.
14. Don’t tell me you like his taste in clothes! He looks terrible!
15. Working flexitime has many advantages over regular working hours.
16. This summer, admission to most cinemas is double what it was last year.
17. The customer was very angry at the assistant’s casual attitude towards him.
18. Young children are awkward at dancing as they can’t co-ordinate their
movements well.
19. Her admission of guilt shocked everyone; no one thought she was capable of
fraud.
20. My husband is so awkward with a needle that I have to sew on all his shirt
buttons myself.
21. I was very angry at being woken up in the middle of the night by an alarm bell.
22. My new computer has the advantage of being more compact than my old one.
23. The government was anxious about the influx of refugees into the country.
L. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition. (p6 ex 10)
1. The food at that restaurant was labeled “unfit for human consumption” by the
environmental health officer.
2. Your visa is valid for one year and will subsequently need renewing.
3. She felt very uneasy about leaving the baby with Miriam for the evening.
4. After suffering a major illness, he was very vulnerable to minor ailments such as
colds.
5. He didn’t just express his aversion to cloning but also argued against it in a very
persuasive way.
6. I can vouch for Sandra’s integrity, so I recommend we include her in our
discussions. (guarantee)
7. The boys ran down to the garden and vaulted over the fence at the bottom.
(jumped over it while putting a hand on top)
8. Clara in unswerving in her determination to become a lawyer.
9. Tom’s absorption in his studies means he has no social life.
10. Eating too much fat and sugar is detrimental to your health.
11. The amount of water absorbed by cotton wool is greater than that by paper.
12. The bank wrote to me to advise me of their new overdraft facilities.
13. If you need advice about exam techniques, any of our trained staff will help you.
14. He cared about the environment and gave an inspiring speech on the issue.
15. At the Chinese restaurant we started with spare ribs, then had chicken chop suey
and coconut ice cream to finish.
16. I’m very wary of riding that horse, it’s been known to shy at traffic.
17. The schoolboy winced at the sight of the cane in the headmaster’s hand.
18. She yearns for a relaxing holiday in the sun.
19. You won’t solve your problems by wallowing in self-pity. (rolling about in)
20. The student wrestled with the difficult mathematics problem.
21. Wind and rain have whittled away at the old stone wall for the past three centuries.
(eroded)
22. Ray winked at us to show that he wasn’t being serious.
23. After six months in the countryside, Alan has a yen for the bright lights of the city.
(a strong desire)
24. The woman yelled at the boys when they ran through her garden.
25. She tried not to yield to temptation and have another piece of cake.
M. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition, then make sentences using
them.
1. to have an intention of helping sb.
2. to fail in an attempt
3. to bestow gifts on someone
4. to result in an accident
5. a visitor to the city
6. to sigh with pleasure
7. a sequel to a film
8. to stay for good
9. fruits in season
10. to resign from your job
11. the matter in hand
12. death by drowning
13. to struggle for your rights
14. to feature at the cinema
15. to have a talent for acting
16. entry into the EU
17. to keep sth secret from a friend
18. to take a shot at the enemy
19. to buy sth at a discount
20. bags of shopping
21. to be satisfied with the results
22. a choice of dishes
23. to trip over a stone
24. a doctor by profession
25. freedom of speech
26. to be valid for five years
27. to fall in love at first sight
28. the bearer of good news
29. a decline in standards
30. a bus crowded with tourists
31. the bottom of the sea
32. to admit to a fault
33. to be full of life
34. to be in trouble with the law
35. to live in the suburbs
36. on top of the world
37. to fall into despair
38. a series of disasters
39. to dance on the dance floor
40. to sing at the top of one’s voice
41. to have your heart in your mouth
42. to live on the outskirts
43. to stand for president
N. Fill in the blanks with the correct preposition.
1. Having always been good at maths, he decided to study at university.
2. He doesn’t seem to be very happy with / in his new job; he always looks rather
worried and depressed these days.
3. As she handed over the gift, she said that she hoped we would be very happy
in our new home.
4. It will be good for Thomas to have a strict teacher; he’s never had any
discipline at home.
5. The dispute occurred because the manager is so hopeless with people; he has
absolutely no idea of how to handle his workforce.
6. We’ve just heard of his unexpected promotion.
7. Nervous about facing an interview panel, she hesitated at the door and took a
deep breath before entering the room.
8. A strong draught blew into the room through the gap under the door.
9. Ruth was a genius at mathematics and was awarded a scholarship to
Cambridge when she was only fourteen years old.
10. Have you heard of the lake “Loch Ness” in Scotland?
11. He’s a genius with a pencil and can capture a likeness in a few deft strokes.
(skilful and quick)
12. His new stereo system was expensive but it’s guaranteed for fifteen years so it
was worthwhile paying more.
13. My friend is worried because she hasn’t heard from her sister for days.
14. She has a real genius for languages and has already mastered the rudiments
of Greek!