LEXICO GRAMMAR 1. The old lady _______ at them kindly when she saw them enter her shop. A. glared B. grinned C. grimaced D. beamed 2. The railway track has been constructed in such a way as to allow space for _______ on a hot day. A. extension B. expropriation C. expansion D. explosion 3. According to Burgess, a novelist should not _______, for sermonizing has no place in good fiction. A. offen B. preach C. distort D. invent 4. At the moment the ruling party is on the _______ of a dilemma. A. hooves B. points C. top D. horns 5. We couldn’t stay long, so we only wished Mark many happy _______ for his birthday and hurried to the airport. A. days B. returns C. moments D. regards 6. Choose the word which is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word in the following sentence: “Once you have started something, you ought to see it through to the end.” A. be persevere with B. be subjected to C. be conspicuous about D. be stuck with 7. Choose the word which is OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word in the following sentence: “The senator chose to incur dislike rather than compromise her principles to win favor with the public.” A. dissent B. negotiate C. articulate D. take away 8. Close your eyes and try to _______ up a picture of a place where you feel at peace. A. store B. eat C. stick D. conjure 9. Martin: “Hey, can you pick me up at 3 p.m?” Peter: “Sorry, I can’t. I don’t have my _______ at the moment!” A. vehicles B. trail C. wheels D. means 10. Please don’t _______ when you talk to me. Open your mouth! A. murmur B. mumble C. stumble D. stutter 11. My teacher _______ for my good marks in the Math test. A. promised me the moon B. coincided with me C. gave me a pat on the back D. showed no sign of remorse 12. Advertisers often aim their campaigns at young people as they have considerable spending _______. A. power B. force C. energy D. capacity 13. Jennifer: “Hey, Tommy. What are you guys doing?” Tommy: “_______” A. We’re just chilling out. Do you want to come around? B. I don’t think it’s a question I can discuss. C. We’re talking to you, Jennifer! D. I’m not sure if we’re doing something much. 14. We sent him to the best school in England and hired the best teachers, but it was all _______ as he had no will to learn at all. A. vain B. incurable C. invalid D. futile 15. I was _______ in an autumn month 18 years ago. A. taken up B. put forward C. given away D. brought forth 16. Choose the word which is CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word in the following sentence: “The construction of mammoth shopping malls has contributed to the decline of small stores in neighboring towns.” A. modern B. gigantic C. numerous D. separate 17. Choose the word which is OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word in the following sentence: “An experiment can be marred by poor planning.” A. disclosed B. qualified C. constructed D. spoiled 18. If I _______ home a bit later, I would never have had a chance to pass the door mat. A. have come B. were to have come C. came D. could have come 19. A trap _______ disguise is what has come to be called a Trojan House. A. offered a gift of B. offers a gift in C. offering a gift to D. offered as a gift in 20. Peter: “Hey, do you want to go out tonight?” Mary: “Sorry I can’t. _______ and I will have to wake up early tomorrow.” A. I’m beat B. I’m cool C. I’m in the cloud D. I’m socked off 21. The company directors asked the government to .................... in the dispute and prevent a strike. A. interpose B. interfere C. intercept D. intervene 22. A delivery driver has been .................a hero since he caught a baby who fell from the 13th storey of a Ha Noi apartment block. A. hailed B. appointed C. named D. become 23. Luckily my wallet was handed in to the police with all its contents..................... A. preserved B. unscathed C. contained D. intact 24. The advantage of this new plastic covering is that it will………………..to fit any size of object. A. change B. stretch C. extend D. expand 25. A washing machine of this type will certainly _________ up to normal domestic use. A. hold B. stand C. come D. take 26. Grain and coffee are major trading…………. A. articles B. materials C. commodities D. stocks 27. This fantastic new gadget has been selling like…………………..cakes. A. birthday B. cream C. wedding D. hot 28. It was the solicitors who persuaded me to make a clean ...................of everything in the court. A. head B. tongue C. breast D. heart 29. I’ll have to take the toy back to the shop to exchange it because the mechanism is…………………… A. blame B. faulty C. false D. defect 30. This set is the only one of its kind, so none of the cups can be…………… A. copied B. exchanged C. replaced D. substituted 31. I would like passersby to be excited by the sculpture and to feel it has not a __________ value but a timeless feel to it. A. conclusive B. swindling C. twisting D. superficial 32. _________ recent incidents, we are asking our customers to take particular care of their personal belongings. A. Considering B. Bearing in mind C. After all D. In the light of 33.But most people will not assess the small print setting out changes to a(n) _________ and little understood institutional structure. A. ambiguous B. raucous C. intricate D. lively 34.Every time she is in a _________, she rings her father and asks for help. A. chance B. trouble C. difficulty D. fix 35.The world’s first boot camp for teenagers addicted to the Internet may be the _________ of things to come. A. draft B. formula C. character D. shape 36.Teachers aim to help children become _________ learners. A. autonomous B. withdrawn C. susceptible D. composed 37.Sam was born in the country and had a deep _________ with nature. A. credence B. stature C. guile D. affinity 38.When her tears had _________ their course, she felt calmer and more in control. A. run B. put C. take D. set 39.His emotional problems _________ from the attitudes he encountered as a child. A. flourish B. stem C. root D. spout 40.She _________ scorn on his plans to get rich quickly. A. threw B. splashed C. spread D. heaped 41.He quickly learned the _________ of the job. A. by and large B. fair and square C. ins and outs D. odds and ends 42.The picking of the fruit, _________, takes about a week. A. whose work they receive no money B. for which work they receive no money C. they receive no money for it D. as they receive no money for that work 43.She made _________ telling him exactly what she thought of him. A. the best of B. no bones about C. a splash D. a clean sweep of 44.My patience is beginning to _________. A. make waves B. hold water C. wear very thin D. stay afloat 45.For the first few months the babies looked so alike I couldn’t tell _________. A. who is whom B. which is which C. which from which D. whom with whom 46._________ invisible to the unaided eye, ultraviolet light can be detected in a number of ways. A. Although is B. Despite C. Even though it D. Although 47. You can imagine how upset I was after the closure of the magazine. Since the first day on its staff I _________ it as my best job ever. A. have considered B. considered C. had considered D. was considered 48. The boss shouted at me as if _________. A. I had been the only one who were to blame B. I were the only one to be to blame C. nobody but I am to blame D. only I had been blamed 49. If I were you, I would regard their offer with considerable _________ because it seems too good to be true. A. suspicion B. doubt C. reservation D. disbelief 50. I love to do things for children because I get a _________ out of it. A. pass B. shoot C. kick D. move 51. Most people feel a slight _______of nostalgia as they think back on their schooldays. A. feeling B. surge C. pang D. chain 52. The cost of a new house in the UK has become _______high over the last few years. A. totally B. astronomically C. blatantly D. utterly 53. The entire staff was thrown off _______when the news of the takeover was announced. A. composure B. disarray C. stable D. balance 54. Mr Simkins is the big _______ in the company as he has just been promoted to the position of Managing Director. A. bread B. cheese C. apple D. meat 55. Of all entries received, his was _______ out for special raise. A. isolated B. brought C. opted D. singled 56. I was in a _______ as to what to do. If I told the truth, he would get into trouble, but if I said nothing I would be more in trouble. A. doubt B. quandary C. hitch D. complexity 57. The matter has been left in _______until the legal ramifications have been explored. A. recess B. suspension C. abeyance D. criticism 58. It was an extremely hostile article which cast _______on the conduct of the entire cabinet. A. criticism B. aspersions C. disapproval D. abuse 59. He's so lazy! We all have to work harder because he's always _______ his duties. A. evading B. shirking C. ducking D. dodging 60. I found the information for the project in the encyclopedia but I couldn't give ______and verse on it. A. chapter B. unit C. poem D. extract 61. The engineer _______the machine with a hammer and, miraculously, it roared back to life. A. slapped B. smacked C. whacked D. punched 62. The Oscar winning actress simply _______charm and professionalism in her acceptance speech. A. exuded B. excluded C. expunged D. extricated 63. The carrots are ready; could you drain them in the _______and put them in the serving dish? A. casserole B. colander C. whisk D. blender 64. Sue went for a _______when she injured her foot and broke several toenails. A. manicure B. pediment C. foot massage D. pedicure 65. What I find most ________ about it is that he didn’t even have a decency to say that he was sorry. A. galling B. furious C. touchy D. blazing 66. I’m hoping that this work experience will stand me in _______in my future career. A. good grounding B. good stead C. fine precedent D. stable footing 67. A meal in that restaurant costs the _______but still it is always packed. A. world B. soil C. earth D. moon 68. Terry is an old _______of mine. We split up nine years ago but we’ve stayed friends. A. fire B. spark C. flame D. blaze 69. Take the doctor's advice into consideration. He's in _______ earnest about the epidemic. A. deadly B. fatally C. gravely D. mortally 70. What's that horrible noise downstairs?' 'It's only Sam. He always screams _______ murder when we take him to the dentist.' A. red B. black C. yellow D. blue 71. The vegetation on the island was ___. A. exuberant B. chivalrous C. overcast D. ingenious 72. We had been looking for the nest for hours before we ___ lucky. A. hit B. made C. struck D. came 73. This evidence should prove ___ that he was telling the truth. A. once and for all B. now and then C. over and above D. from time to time 74. Have you considered applying for a job with the ___ service? A. civil B. civic C. national D. governmental 75. In all ___, he’s already left. A. odds B. probability C. certainty D. possibilities 76. We failed to lay eyes on a tiger during our expedition, ___ film one. A. let alone B. not to mention C. apart from D. but for 77. We don’t have a secretary ___, but we do have a student who comes in to do a bit of filing. A. as such B. the least bit C. whatsoever D. little more 78. I would like to welcome you all on this auspicious ___, the 25th anniversary of the founding of our company. A. occasion B. moment C. meeting D. gathering 79. The football team Manchester United paid ___ to sign up the Brazilian twins Rafael and Fabio Da Silva when they were only eighteen. A. their heart in it B. an arm and a leg C. a good heart D. their eyes to eyes 80. Why are you so mad? You ___ me you weren’t coming to dinner. I waited for you for two hours. A. should tell B. should have told C. ought to tell D. should be told 81. What he told me was a ___ of lies. A. load B. mob C. flock D. pack 82. When I ___ at my suitcase, I could see that somebody ___ to open it. A. look/ try B. looked/ tried C. looked/ had tried D. looked/ trying 83. She’s decided to ___ her German by attending an evening course. A. brush up B. patch up C. polish off D. dust off 84. Do you think there will be any chance of your brother ___ his job? A. quit B. to quit C. quitting D. for quitting 85. Choose the answer which most closely expresses the meaning of the underlined word in the following sentence: Soot can penetrate closed window. A. make dirty B. stick to C. erode D. enter 86. I just can’t give you the answer on the ___ - I’ll have to think about it for a few days. A. place B. minute C. bet D. spot 87. Mrs. Lan went to ___ school to meet her son’s teacher. A. zero article B. a C. an D. the 88. You may borrow as many books as you like, provided you show them to ___ is at the desk. A. whoever B. who C. whom D. which 89. Would you be ___ to hold the door open? A. too kind B. kind enough C. as kind D. so kind 90. I’ll enter the competition if you ___. A. would B. should C. will D. shall 91. The increasing popularity of the telephone has been rather _____to the art of letter writing. A. Negative B. detrimental C. destructive D. prejudicial 92. The director uses a variety of techniques to ____up suspense in the film. A. Make B. arouse C. build D. develop 93. Live theatre has proved to be very _____art form. A. durable B. lengthy C. elongated D. constant 94. The book was so _______that he stayed up until 4 a.m to finish it. A. Grasping B. grabbing C. gripping D. holding 95. The film was ___near as good as the novel. A. Not B. no C. nothing D. nowhere 96. If I had invented the book, I would be ____as a genius. A. Accosted B. hailed C. exalted D. addressed 97. The film was a bit ____on plot but the special effects were great. A. Poor B. bad C. short D. small 98. Some authors use their novels as a ____to put over a message. A. Carriage B. method C. cover D. vehicle 99. Her eyes were tired from gazing at the ____screen of her computer all day. A. Flickering B. twinkling C. glimmering D. sparkling 100. They were able to ____over their meal and enjoy it instead of having to rush back to work. A. Loiter B. stay C. linger D. dwell 101. He's an exceptionally ______ violinist and has won several prizes in international competitions. A. gifted B. artful C. ingenious D. competent 102. You'd better pack those glasses extremely carefully if you want them to arrive ______. A. entire B. intact C. whole D. complete 103. "A special feature of the room is the huge picture window which ______ a splendid view of the Quantock hills." A. allows B. affords C. enables D. presents 104. Sheila will inherit everything ________ her uncle’s death. A. on account of B. in spite of C. in the event of D. in place of 105. His poor handling of the business ________ on negligence. A. neared B. edged C. approached D. bordered 106. The job wasn’t giving the ________ of the experience he wanted. A. width B. depth C. length D. breadth 107. He still suffers from a rare tropical disease which he _______ while in Africa. A. infected B. complained C. gained D. contracted 108. Some people prefer to watch a film first, and then read the ______ in the paper. A. critic B. revue C. review D. criticism 109. All the ______ from the jumble sale will be given to charity. A. proceeds B. expenses C. income D. rewards 110. We want everyone to begin the test ________. A. simultaneously B. unexpectedly C. indefinitely D. continuously 111. After its engine failed, the small boat _______ with the current. A. waved B. tossed C. hastened D. drifted 112. In the last century, it was widely ______ that Indian fakirs were capable of superhuman feats. A. held B. grasped C. kept D. shaken 113. There is a rumor that the National Bank is going to ____ the company I work for. A. take on B. overtake C. take over D. take off 114. Why don’t you have a night out? It would take your ______ off your worries. A. thoughts B. heart C. mind D. head 115. Down ________ for three days. A. the rain poured B. poured the rain C. did the rain pour D. do the rain poor 116. Can I ________ your brains for a moment? I can’t do this crossword by myself. A. have B. pick C. mind D. use 117. The newspaper report contained ...... important information A. many B. another C. an D. a lot of 118. She refused to eat meat under any .......... A. circumstances B. occasion C. opportunity D. reason 119. I left my last job because I had no ........ to travel A. place B. position C. opportunity D. possibility 120. He missed the lecture, so I had to lend him my notes ....... A. after B. afterwards C. at last D. finally 121. He waited in the ________ for the front door to open. A. perch B. threshold C. porch D. crypt 122. As the sky darkened it soon became obvious that a violent thunderstorm was _______. A. imminent B. instantaneous C. immediate D. eminent 123. A half-savage mongrel went ________ the tramp as the man approached the farm. A. at B. against C. upon D. for 124. The clumsy boy tripped and sent the whole pile of metal plates _______ to the ground. A. clattering B. tinkling C. thudding D. pattering 125. In some countries, confrontation between police and strikers on ________ has become a feature of life in the eighties. A. dole queues B. picket lines C. back benches D. assembly lines 126. They were ____ tempted to relieve the shopkeeper of his three juiciest-looking apples. A. badly B. sorely C powerfully D. utterly 127. His appearance at the reception with the late Mayor’s widow caused something of a __________. A. confusion B. rumour C. wonder D. stir 128. Certain details in the contract still remain to be ________ out. A. fluttered B. dealt C. ironed D. borne 129. A boycott of other countries’ sporting events appears a politically more expedient form of protest than trade _________. A. treaties B. actions C. blocks D. sanctions 130. The low, unbroken __________ of the machine next door gradually bored its way into his brain. 131. At the start of the course, everyone is assigned a(n) ____ of studies. A. advisor B. consultant C. counsellor D. guide 132. You are bound to find information on the stock market crash of 1987 in the newspaper ........... A. files B. archives C. records D. collections 133. I knew my mother would ...............a face the minute she saw my new haircut. A. drag B. lift C. pull D. raise 134. The government decided to ............... down on income tax evasion. A. press B. crack C. push D. snap 135. After the concert, everyone had to ............... home through the thick snow. A. trudge B. tread C. trace D. trickle 136. ……. comes a time when you have to make a decision and stick to it. A. It B. Here C. There D. That 137. There is no point in phoning him. He’s certain ……..by now. A. to leave B. to have left C. left D. having left 138. The lawyer claimed that the tests had been carried out by experienced scientists but this is not necessarily …….. A. so B. the way C. thus D. the method 139. If you don’t stop smoking, you ………the risk of developing chronic bronchitis. A. bear B. suffer C. make D. run 140. Marcus never writes the timetable down. He keeps it in his …….. A. brain B. mind C. head D. heart 141. He was a pickpocket and had to spend many years behind ------. A. windows B. prisons C. cells D. bars 142. Mr Jones knew who had won the contest, but he kept it under his ------ until it was announced publicly. A. cap B. tongue C. hat D. umbrella 143. Because of road works, traffic is restricted to one …………. in each direction. A. lane B. row C. alley D. path 144. What stands out from The Voice Kids is that many young children are ............... with natural talent for music. A. bestowed B. conferred C. endowed D. vouchsafed 145. With the economic situation looming large, many families find it difficult to rear their ............ A. descendant B. lineage C. offspring D. successor 146. That Mary is an ............... liar: you must take what she says with a small grain of salt. A. incorrigible B. incurable C. irredeemable D. irremediable 147. Employees who have a ………………… are encouraged to discuss it with the management. A. hindrance B. grievance C. disadvantage D. disturbance 148. Men still expect their jobs to take ................ A. superiority B. imposition C. priority D. seniority 149. The police have been ordered not to ………………… if the students attack them. A. combat B. rebuff C. retaliate D. challenge 150. The police finally arrested the ……………… criminal A. famous B. renowned C. respectable D. Notorious 151. Tamara has set her _______ on becoming a ballet-dancer. A. feet B. brain C. heart D. head 152. If you say you'd like _______ of cream on your strawberries then you don't want very much cream. A. a dash B. oodles C. lashings D. a dollop 153. The UN has called for an immediate _______ of hostilities. A. cessation B. cancellation C. deletion D. ceasefire 154. I felt an _______ with the writer from his descriptions of a world that seemed to have a great deal in common with my own. A. affection B. adherence C. acknowledgement D. affinity 155. In such a plight _______ that we had no choice but to radio for help. A. we found ourselves B. we ourselves found C. did we find ourselves D. did we ourselves find 156. The old lady came near to _______ of pneumonia but to everyone's amazement she pulled through. A. death B. dying C. being dead D. die 157. The book _______ to a number of interesting research studies which I would really like to find out more about. A. hints B. cites C. declares D. alludes 158. I take great exception _______ the implication that I was not telling the truth. A. against B. from C. to D. with 159. The children's interest in playing the game soon _______ A. flagged B. tottered C. stumbled D. thawed 160. Ever year many small companies get _______ up by large multinationals. A. swallowed B. burnt C. digested D. drowned 161. Serena is still _______ ignorant of the fact that she is about to be made redundant A. delightedly B. blissfully C. jubilantly D. ecstatically 162. The nuclear industry _______ most of the country's electrical power. A. generates B. engenders C. originates D. initiates 163. The country has few natural resources and its economy has been _______ for some time now. A. diseased B. unwell C. sickening D. ailing 164. In her speech the Prime Minister _______ tribute to the valuable contributions to society made by voluntary organizations. A. paid B. sent C. brought D. gave 165. Not many people are good at assessing their own abilities and Mark must be _______ for recognising that he would never become a great musician. A. merited B. commended C. advocated D. talented 166. One of the most powerful pressure groups in the country is the road and car _______, which opposes any legislation that will increase taxes specifically for them. A. folder B. branch C. segment D. lobby 167. I'm looking forward to meeting your new boss — you've been _______ his praises ever since he arrived. A. calling B. shouting C. singing D. crying 168. Tamara has set her _______ on becoming a ballet-dancer. A. feet B. brain C. heart D. head 169. Most critics praise that actor's work but I think he's rather _______. A. over-played B. over-rated C. over-blown D. over-priced 170. Marlene is quite _______ - I don't know she manages to fit everything in. A. inexhaustible B. tiresome C. inexorable D. indefatigable 171. ______ speaking, everything is going on as well as we have predicted. A. Unsuccessfully B. Impossibly C. Generally D. Unfortunately 172. We’d better hurry. There’s a ______ to Uncle Timothy’s patience. A. top B. bottom C. border D. limit 173. Mick has been in trouble with the police a few times, but now he as promised his parents that he will turn over ______. A. a new page B. a new leaf C. a corner D. the towel 174. I can’t afford to buy a new coat this winter. I’ll ave to ______ the one I have. A. make amends C. make myself at home with B. make light with D. make do with 175. The unpleasant smell in the restaurant _____ me off my dinner. A. set B. put C. sent D. took 176. Although he was completely ______ as a furniture maker, he produced the most beautiful chairs. A. unable B. untrained C. incapable D. uneducated 177. The President visited the area to see the devastation ______. A. on first hand B. at first hand C. on first hands D. at first hands 178. Because of road works, traffic is restricted to one ______ in each direction. A. lane B. row C. alley D. path 179. They are going to tear down those old warehouses to ______ for a big new hotel. A. make path B. do way C. do path D. make way 180. He enjoyed the dessert so much that he accepted a second _____ when it was offered. A. sharing B. pile C. helping D. load 181. As an ecotourism ______, the park provides visitors with beautiful landscape. A. land B. park C. place D. site 182. In spite of our big effort, we have not managed to ______ enough money for renovation of the school buildings. A. raise B. compose C. rear D. score 183. Nobody took any _____ of the warning and they went swimming in the contaminated water. A. information B. notice C. attention D. sight 184. On no account ______ in the office be used for personal materials. A. the photocopy machines C. should the photocopy machines B. the photocopy machines should D. does the photocopy machines 185. I was immensely ______ to hear that none ofmy relatives was kill in the bus accident. A. healed B. improved C. recovered D. relieved 186. Mr. Roboson’s job is to teach the young officers _____ their duty in the right way. A. operate B. perform C. commit D. proceed 187. ______ dangerous the situation is, Jim always indulges himself in it head first. A. In spite of B. However C. No matter what D. Though 188. The Internet has led to the faster and more effective _____ of information. A. spread B. coverage C. dissemination D. expansion 189. “I saw you studying at the library last night.” “You ______. I wasn’t there.” A. wouldn’t have B. have C. might have D. can’t have 190.By 1890, there were over 60 steamboats on the Mississippi River ______ were quite luxurious. A. many of which B. many of them C. which many D. many those 191. Jack has egg ______ because he couldn't remember how to spell "Batman"! A. on his teeth B. on his face C. on his shirt D. on his fingers 192. As the maestro lifted his baton the theater was so still you could hear ______ . A. his heartbeat B. a pin drop C. bird wings D. the drum beating 193. I don't agree with you, but your idea certainly gives me food _____. A. for fun B. for consider C. for thought D. for thinking 194. I think I understand the nuts and ______ of the operation. A. screws B. hammer C. nails D. bolts 195. I'll be back in the twinkling of ______ . A. an eye B. a lighting bolt C. a smile D. a laugh 196. Look, I will pay you back. Would you please call the ______?! A. hunters off B. tigers off C. dogs off D. apes off 197. Ever since he married Jane, he's had a new ______ on life. A. rent B. lease C. title D. loan 198. Oh, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I guess I really put my ______ in my mouth. A. foot B. hand C. elbow D. knee 199. You need to keep a stiff ______ no matter what! Don't get nervous! A. nose B. right arm C. eyebrow D. upperlip 200. I think you can take what he says at ______ value. A. real B. face C. true D. straight 201. I wish you'd be honest with me. Don't lead me down the ______ . A. hiking path B. garden path C. hiking trail D. garden trail 202. I'd like to start the meeting and get down to ______ tacks. A. silver B. brass C. copper D. gold 203. I've been working here for two months and have got into the ______. A. swing of things B. groove of things C. rut of things D. swing of routine 204. I really wasn't ready for the presentation, but was saved by the ______ when Jack took over for me. A. tone B. bang C. bell D. ring 205. We need to tighten our ______ and start saving some money. A. shoes B. tie C. belt D. shoelaces 206. Bob's so stupid. He doesn't know enough to come in out of the _____. A. rain B. snow C. wind 207. I had to ______ the class all the answers to the test. D. sleet A. fork-feed D. happily feed B. knife-feed C. spoon feed 208. She needs to take a vacation. She's been working her fingers to the _____. A. bone B. skin C. blisters 209. Ask Tom, he's got money to ______ . A. throw B. eat C. burn 210. I told you not to tell her! Now you've let the _____ out of the bag. A. dog B. mouse C. fly D. nails D. cut D. cat
