LEXICO-GRAMMAR

1. All the jobs are on the _______ so we should stick together and try to do something to stop the closure.
A. line B. house C. market D. dot
2. Her close personal friends never _______ in their belief in her; whatever was written in the press.
A. derided B. taunted C. faltered D. reneged
3. His application was _______ because he didn’t have necessary qualifications for the job.
A. turned off B. turned down C. sent off D. thrown down
4. For many young people, driving cars at high speed seems to _______ a rather fatal
fascination.
A. reserve B. wield C. weave D. hold
5. Lose this important match; _______.
A. or you will have been sacked
B. you will be fired
C. so you will be sacked immediately
D. and you will be fired right away
6. The president was eventually _______ by a military coup.
A. disbarred B. supplanted C. deposed D. subverted
7. Poor Mary, all her colleagues teased her; she was the ______ of all their jokes.
A. hubbub B. butt C. bulk D. brunt
8. The firefighters fought the blaze while the crowd _______.
A. walked out B. kicked back C. sit about D. looked on
9. We do not 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
10. Derek had no experience of white-water canoeing, so it was extremely _______ of him to try and shoot
the rapids.
A. treacherous B. intrepid C. perilous D. foolhardy
11. The road is packed with vehicles! That’s _______ at rush hour.
A. a going concern B. a hue and cry
C. part and parcel D. par for the course
12. He wanted to know whose car I had borrowed _______ .
A. yesterday evening B. the last evening
C. last night D. the previous night
13. Minister of Interior has recently disclosed why the nation’s passport administration was still
______ with fraud, racketeering and delay.
A. thick B. fraught C. imbued D. brimming
14. When a show is popular, everyone is content but if its popularity ______. It is likely to be scrapped.
A. subsides B. dims C. fades D. weakens
15. As we were in an urgent need of syringes and other medical equipment, the aid
organisation promised to deliver them _______ the double.
A. in B. at C. with D. over
16. Artists have been ______ by people who stream music without paying.
A. short-dated B. short-changed
C. short-circuited D. short-handed
17. People could donate money to non-governmental organisations that feed Palestinians or channel as
medical aid to people who have suffered from the ________ of war.
A. blows B. hardships C. calamities D. adversities
18. You will have to learn to face up to a few _______, my boy, before it’s too late.
A. home truths B. odd jobs
C. second thoughts D. kid gloves
19. Owning and living in a freestanding house is still a goal of young adults, _______
earlier generations.
A. as did B. as it was of C. like that of D. so have
20. The new regime determined to _______ compulsory military service.
A. strike into B. phase out C. end up D. check off
21. The government needs to _____ businesses that have been trying to evade the tax.
A. put the screws on B. get into gear
C. put one over on D. wipe off the map
22. Being a _____ entrepreneur, you will have to make a special effort for people to take
you seriously.
A. successful B. budding C. blossoming D. flowering
23. My mother decided to _____ early yesterday while I stayed up to watch Korean
movies.
A. doze off B. let up C. get off D. turn in
24. What I like about this amusement park is that there is _____ parking space right
outside it.
A. copious B. ample C. expanded D. manifold
25. Last weekend, _____ nothing to watch on TV, we played chess together.
A. there being B. there having C. having had D. being
26. The major political party is _____ the campaign for tighter gun controls in the wake of last month’s
shooting.
A. procuring B. solidifying C. spearheading D. fulfilling
27. Scientists warn that global warming will soon go beyond _______.
A. the U-turn B. the firing line
C. the red line D. the point of no return
28. The prime minister tried to _____ the country’s deep-seated problem for fear of being criticized.
A. blot out B. stow away C. paper over D. salt away
29. I’d sooner you ______ a noise last night; I couldn’t get to sleep.
A. wouldn’t make B. didn’t make
C. haven’t made D. hadn’t made
30. On 6th August 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, killing thousands of citizens and
almost _____
the city.
A. overthrowing B. annulling C. eradicating D. annihilating
31. After living one month in New York, I finally _____.
A. get into the swing of things B. get in on the ground floor
C. get a grip on myself D. get ahead of myself
32. The students, _____ are graduating this year, are as thick as thieves.
A. of whom five B. five of whom
C. whose five D. A and B are correct
33. The community should take the doctor’s advice into consideration since he’s in
_____ earnest about the epidemic.
A. mortally B. fatally C. deadly D. gravely
34. His fight to ______ four black men of the rape of a seventeen year old white girl two years ago partially
inspired the group to protest.
A. exculpate B. exonerate C. bereave D. misappropriate
35. When the cost was ______ the advantages, the scheme looked perfect.
A. set against B. pit against
C. counted against D. weighed up against
36. Lionel Messi was ______ over his team’s victory against Brazil.
A. delighted B. ecstatic C. jubilant D. blissful
37. That old building hasn’t been used for nearly four decades, hence it looks so _____.
A. decrepit B. battered C. glitchy D. derelict
38. When the long holiday ends, we will go ______.
A. back on our feet B. back to square one
C. back to the salt mines D. on the back burner
39. On his desk ______, which he usually sits in front of and looks at.
A. stood the picture of us B. the picture of us stands
C. standing the picture of us D. stands the picture of us
40. After getting a 7.5 score in IELTS, Ha hardly makes significant progress but she is ______ nicely.
A. propping up B. ticking over
C. wading through D. forging ahead
41. Whether there’s truth in it or not, I can’t stand that _______ “follow your heart”.
A. old chestnut B. old soak
C. old wives’ tale D. old money
42. My neighbors seem to be very proud of their _______ new kitchen.
 A. spanking B. roaring C. whacking D. thumping
43. The police ______ a good deal of criticism over their handling of the demonstration.
A. brought about B. came in for C. went down with D. opened up
44. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I accidentally heard this odd ______ of conversation on the bus.
A. buzz B. hum C. snippet D. snatch
45. There ________ between 4000 and 6000 languages in the world, depending on how you count them.
A. have been said to have B. are said that
C. are said to be D. are said to have been
46. Because of the children involved, they want to resolve the court case as quickly and
________ as possible.
A. grudgingly B. discerningly C. discreetly D. judiciously
47. The new movie’s plot has more holes than _______ cheese.
A. Greek B. Italian C. Swiss D. French
48. The two countries met at the conference to ________ their differences.
A. dispense with B. ease off C. fix up D. iron out
49. _______ Brian realize that he was in the wrong room. He left the room without saying a word.
A. Only after he had entered and looked around
B. It was not until he had entered and looked around did
C. Not until he had entered and looked around did
D. No sooner had he entered and looked around than
50. From the top of the hill of the village looks quite close, but distances are ________.
A. deceptive B. deceitful C. illusory D. false
51. I know you never lend things, but _______ and let me borrow your book. I will take
good care of it.
A. stretch a point B. have it in for me
C. take your pick D. come to the point
52. _______, the diners settled the bill and left the restaurant.
A. Having hunger satisfied B. Their hunger satisfied
C. Hunger been satisfied D. Satisfying their hunger
53. Apart from a parking fine ten years before, she had an ______ driving record.
A. unsullied B. unalloyed C. unblemished D. untarnished
54. Everyone was ______ with him after he missed the penalty in the last 2 minutes of the final match.
A. lamenting B. commiserating C. condoling D. identifying
55. We shall need also to ______ the foundations of mathematics, and even to question the very nature of
physical reality.
A. pertain to B. touch on C. delve into D. slur over

56. When she saw me nearly dropped the precious vase, she _______ in horror.
A. grasped B. grunted C. grumbled D. gasped
57. They have ______ a beautiful film by making these changes.
A. disfigured B. mutilated C. defaced D. amputated
58. You can try reformatting your computer, but once you open that ______, you’ll
probably be working on it for days.
A. apple of discord B. can of worms
C. load of cobblers D. spot of bother
59. _______ nocturnal creature(s).
A. Owl is a B. An owl is a C. The owl is a D. The owls are
60. It’s natural for students to worry about whether they will _______ or not at a new
school.
A. measure up B. sprout up C. show up D. dig up
61. It seems our application has been refused ________.
A. point blank B. carte blanche C. bull’s eye D. long shot
62. The silence of the public library was _______ by the sound of transistor radio.
A. smashed B. fractured C. crushed D. broken
63. You could tell that she wasn’t happy about the news by the way she _______ her face in disapproval.
A. crossed out B. blew up C. blacked out D. screwed up
64. Although we cannot be sure of the exact purposes of the early cave paintings, pictorial images seem to be
______ linked to human culture as we understand it.
 A. inexorably B. inextricably C. indubitably D. indomitably
65. He gave up hope of passing the examination, _______.
A. it failing twice already B. having already failed it twice
C. already to have failed twice D. it had been failed twice already
66. It is far too easy to lay the blame ______ on the shoulders of the management.
A. solidly B. flatly C. rightly D. squarely
67. _______ by venting about all the reasons you’re leaving is not a good idea when you do decide to quit
your job.
A. Burning bridges B. Wagging the dog
C. Giving yourself airs D. Passing the buck
68. Until this evening, Hannah is still ______ away at her unfinished report.
A. hammering B. grinding C. whiling D. axing
69. Although ________, she tried her best to realize her dream of becoming a sports woman.
A. being disabled B. her disability
C. she is disabled D. disabled
70. Anticipating renewed rioting, the authorities erected ______ to block off certain streets.
A. barrages B. barricades C. ditches D. dykes
71. It’s time we change the _______ regarding the roles in the family.
A. idée fixe B. hoi polloi C. avant garde D. faux pas
72. The government intends to introduce a new bill on taxation, _______.
A. whose provisions will be the work of experts on both sides of the House will be study
B. of which the study of its provisions will be the work of experts on both sides of the House
C. the work of experts on both sides of the House will be the study of its provisions
D. the study of whose provisions will be the work of experts on both sides of the House
73. Sheila often borrowed wellingtons from her sisters, even though they were about three _______ too big.
A. sizes B. figures C. pairs D. numbers
74. I’ve got such a _______ headache that I can’t concentrate on the lecture.
A. beating B. drumming C. hammering D. thumping
75. You’d better ask the doctor to give you a few shots while you’re ______ it.
A. in B. at C. on D. with
76. My grandparents fell deeply in love with each other from the moment they met; my
grandpa, in particular, always described feeling ______ with my grandma from the first time he saw her.
A. enchanted B. venerated C. armored D. enamored
77. The two men had a disagreement when they first met. That disagreement set the
_______ for the lifelong hostility between them.
A. agenda B. heather C. scene D. bar
78. Financial aid is being provided to the country _______ of the World Bank.
A. under the auspices B. by the book
C. on the blink D. at the hands
79. If nobody in the house is going to eat that pasta, _______ refrigerate the leftovers so that the food stays
fresh.
A. they ought to B. they should
C. someone should D. he or she ought to
80. Our utility bill runs _______ thousands of dollars a year.
A. into B. up to C. around D. over
81. It seems Richard did not wanted to wear that shirt so he spilled ketchup over it
_______-on-purpose.
A. accidentally B. unintentionally
C. accidental D. unintentional
82. To save money for ______ purposes is altogether different from saving it for
economical purposes.
A. avaricious B. dolorous C. pugnacious D. ominous
83. He had such a bad stomach that he was ______ in pain.
A. bent down B. folded over C. snapped off D. doubled up
84. International ________ agencies are asking for donations to help people living in poverty.
A. assistance B. relief C. helping D. support
85. It’s unlikely that two students would write identical compositions without _______.
A. one who copies the other B. one copying from the other
 C. one to copy the other’s D. each other’s copying
86. While most people regard Bragg as ______, Gaunt is aware that Bragg has a kind of silent intelligence,
and that he may in fact be one of the cleverest men in the regiment.
A. slow off the mark B. all brawn and no brains
C. at the bottom of the ladder D. larger than life
87. The main cause of the strike was the management’s refusal to give further consideration to the question
of pay _______.
A. nuances B. discrepancies C. differences D. differentials
88. As soon as he read the letter, tears _______ in his eyes.
A. soaked up B. welled up C. filled up D. tanked up
89. In the northern and central parts of Idaho and Churning rivers ________.
A. majestic mountains are found B. found majestic mountains
C. are found majestic mountains D. finding majestic mountains
90. I had a small accident with the car. One of the wings is a little ________.
A. stained B. dented C. jammed D. cracked
91. Incoherence, or word _______, refers to speech that is unconnected and conveys no
meaning to the listener.
A. salad B. blend C. roll D. soup
92. “Do you like chicken or fish?” “I don’t like ______ of them. I prefer pork”.
A. either B. neither C. both D. any
93. One of the organisation’s aims is to ________ information about the disease so that
more people know of its symptoms.
A. dissipate B. disseminate C. distribute D. disperse
94. I turned and made my way out through the swirling _______ of dust into the bright
sunlight of the street outside.
A. flakes B. specks C. motes D. mites
95. The government has brought _______ a new law in an effort to prevent further
environmental deterioration.
A. in B. about C. up D. on
96. Churchill, Beveridge and their colleagues recognized that insurance dealt only with the most ______ tip
of the unemployment problem.
A. tractable B. pliable C. malleable D. suggestible
97. Fame made her lead a rather ______ life, in her own private world.
A. loose B. cloistered C. far-away D. seclusive
98. I heard people shouting at each other, and suddenly all hell ______ loose.
A. kicked B. shut C. broke D. cut
99. We are aware that, _______, the situation will get worse.
A. unless dealing with carefully B. if dealt not carefully with
C. if not carefully dealt with D. if not carefully dealing with
100. I hate the way he ______ around looking so self-important.
A. struts B. scampers C. slithers D. slinks
101. The proposal drew many negative comments as it ______ common sense.
A. struck a hard bargain against B. reinvented the wheel of
C. threw the book at D. flew in the face of
102. Older people who declared social support from ________ or neighbors were more
helpful to their own household.
A. cronies B. confidants C. confederates D. oppoes
103. They ________ a two-month tour of the US with a party in Washington.
A. set forth B. brought off C. kicked off D. sallied forth
104. My boss is always having a _______ at me. He always seems to find something to
criticise me for.
A. gun B. dig C. pitch D. hit
105. ________, only people who agree with her are real Jews.
A. We can infer how she is concerned
B. Inferred from what she is concerned
C. We can infer that as far as she is concerned
D. We can infer what she is concerned
106. I must confess I was ________ myself with rage.
 A. beyond B. beside C. over D. above
107. Those mediocre singers seem to be _______, but they will soon fade into obscurity.
A. having their work cut out B. riding on the crest of a wave
C. standing firm D. laying down their life
108. The starter motor was ______ again, which got on my nerves.
A. firing away B. playing up C. sounding out D. harping on
109. She ________ fainted when she heard that her son had died.
A. rather than B. nothing but C. all but D. near
110. Still doubtful of the success of the ________“flying machines”, the writer mused
that “comparatively few of us have any desire to float in the air at a great height from the earth.”
A. bedraggled B. newfangled C. credentialed D. bespectacled
111. Will development ever again be the _______ of burden pulling the region out of
economic malady?
A. beast B. load C. glutton D. chief
112. We all decreed that ________.
A. there be an end to their quarrel B. their quarrel should put an end to
C. they ended their quarrel then D. their quarrel be coming to an end
113. With a feeling of dark ________, I went home straight despite our plans to play football.
A. intuition B. foreboding C. premonition D. herald
114. A special conference has been ______ to discuss the organization of a standardized national
examination.
A. stirred B. summoned C. initiated D. inaugurated
115. By now the passengers were getting _______ with the delay.
A. palmed off B. fobbed off C. browned off D. nodded off
116. Some of the mathematical ideas which can be experienced with the most general _________ are
suggested here.
A. apparatus B. tools C. paraphernalia D. gizmos
117. Most sociologists agree that the problem of discrimination is not _______ to any country.
A. typical B. peculiar C. unusual D. particular
118. The captain knew that if his team lost another match he would get his ________.
A. marching orders B. credit crunch
C. hush money D. golden handshake
119. _______ around stones that are sunwarmed, even the smallest of stones creates tiny currents of warm
air.
A. The cool air B. If the air is cool
C. That the air cools D. The cooler the air
120. Although he always gave the impression he was hard up, it was well known that he had a large amount
of money stashed ______ in the bank.
A. out B. back C. up D. away
121. Fear of media runs through it like a broad _______ streak.
A. yellow B. green C. blue D. pale
122. The difficulty we face is __________ our intentions into concrete action.
A. changing B. converting C. translating D. interpreting
123.This great song has always ________ memories of Daisy’s schooldays.
A. tracked down B. conjured up
C. brought in D. coupled with
124. The official record for the fastest ________ of a rubik’s cube belongs to a Japanese
student who completed it in just under 15 seconds.
A. undoing B. unraveling C. unscrambling D. unwinding
125. ______, all the students couldn’t do it well.
A. At short notice did the teacher give the test
B. The teacher gave the test at short notice
C. Giving the test at short notice
D. The teacher giving the test at short notice
126. Compared to conventional heating, underfloor heating systems ________ far less fuel and are therefore
also more eco-friendly.
A. consume B. devour C. gulp D. gobble
127. There are enough facts and figures in this book to keep even the most obsessive
________ fascinated for hours.
A. nut B. anorak C. dog D. armchair
128. In the past, schoolteachers regularly _______ physical punishment to their pupils.
A. battened on B. shoved around
C. meted out D. bailed out
129. She denied the accusation ______ true. She felt innocent.
A. to be B. being C. to being D. of being
130. He had to retire from the match suffering from a _______ ligament.
A. torn B. broken C. slipped D. sprained
131. Being a fertile ground for film production, Los Angeles is ______ with would-be actors.
A. bulging at the seams B. flying by the seat of its pants
C. wearing the trousers D. burning a hole in its pocket
132. ______ are considered humorous is mainly due to his characters’ use of slang.
A. That Damon Ruyan’s stories B. Damon Ruyan’s stories, which
C. Damon Ruyan’s stories D. Because Damon Ruyan’s stories
133. A(n) ______ love of country lays the foundation for sustainable development and complete harmony.
A. ingrained B. indelible C. abiding D. established
134. It is necessary that they ______ a bit and examine the history of the problem.
A. backfire B. backtrack C. backlash D. backwash
135. Demand for the product is expected to peak five years from now and then to ____.
A. taper off B. fall down C. set back D. drift away
136. Her comments cast a _______ on the integrity of his employees.
A. blot B. slur C. stain D. drag
137. To apply for this position, each candidate has to submit a _______ photo besides other required
documents.
A. full-bodied B. full-scale C. full-length D. full-fledged
138. During the early period of ocean navigation, ________ any need for sophisticated instruments and
techniques.
A. so that hardly B. when there hardly was
C. hardly was D. there was hardly
139. Although the task is basically a no-brainer, she’s making such a ________ weather of it.
A. heavy B. weighty C. stormy D. rough
140. Although colouring books for adults may raise a few eyebrows, more and more people are seeking them
________ as a way to relax and de-stress.
A. up B. on C. by D. out
141. Business leaders predict a hard year ahead with the economy ________.
A. on the rocks B. on the cards C. in the black D. in the doldrums
142. A punctual man himself by nature, he detested the thought of any _______ delays, and so roused Peter
as early as he dared.
A. groundless B. unfounded C. improper D. untoward
143. In preparation for a lucky New Year, my parents decorate the living room, while my sister and I
_______ the attic.
A. conk out B. clam up C. turn out D. back into
144. Prosperity and happiness arrive to reward her confidence in a _______ economy.
A. floating B. buoyant C. dynamic D. fluid
145. Global warming has progressed ________ glaciers everywhere are shrinking.
A. too much that B. enough to cause
C. to such an extent that D. so great an extent that
146. The authority is going to great lengths to _______ war on dangerous driving.
A. launch B. stage C. boot D. wage
147. During the rush hour, the traffic in big cities is _______.
A. devil B. crime C. fire D. murder
148. The problem with losing weight is that, if you succeed, all your clothes need to be
________.
A. taken in B. cut down C. decked out D. made down
149. In bas-relief sculpture, a design projects very slightly from its background, ______ some coins.
A. as on B. with which C. outwith D. similarly
150. Shell decoration is an effective _______ for demonstrating artistic skills, especially in Easter.
 A. method B. means C. vehicle D. drive
151. It’s so unfortunate to have a boss who ______ all the time.
A. follows your nose B. breathes down your neck
C. keeps your temper D. draws your eyes
152. Not until Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave had been completely explored in 1972 ____.
A. when was its full extent realized B. that its full extent was realized
C. was its full extent realized D. the realization of its full extent
153. James didn’t take ________ to your suggestion that he was mean with money.
A. kindly B. pleasantly C. agreeably D. cheerfully
154. Even though it’s still easy to ______ digital copy protection, most users can’t do it.
A. outflank B. deflect C. circumvent D. oscillate
155. Sending a reporter against the families' wishes only ensures that we will _______ those families
______.
A. walk/over B. tick/off C. push/around D. turn/on
156. They say that even the police hesitate before entering some of the city’s most
lawless _____.
A. suburbs B. crowds C. ghettoes D. allotments
157. Rising temperatures are said to be _______ the habitats and feeding patterns of
penguins.
A. marring B. dotting C. shifting D. altering
158. Some _______ left the door open overnight. How stupid!
A. scum of the earth B. bright spark
C. live wire D. nasty piece of work
159. The school of fish, hiding among the jagged coral, _________ by the hammerhead
shark, despite the gloomy camouflage of the surroundings.
A. were easily seen B. was easily seen
C. seen D. being seen
160. Supermarkets were _______ one supplier _______ against another to get the lowest price.
A. playing/off B. lousing/up
C. gnawing/away D. fouling/up
161. After having children, the woman starts to _______.
A. go to seed B. come up smelling of roses
C. push up the daisies D. gild the lily
162. Reliable salesmen do not make ________ claims for their product.
A. unbridled B. extravagant C. madding D. unruly
163. Eva likes to have a dictionary _____ hand when she's writing.
A. at B. on C. off D. by
164. With the blistering pace of technological advancements in recent years, both workers and employers
have a myriad of choices, and _____ access to education.
A. exhaustive B. profuse C. bottomless D. unfettered
165. It’s amazing how Jenny acts as though she and Darren _______ serious problems at the moment.
A. aren’t having B. hadn’t had
C. weren’t having D. hadn’t been having
166. The winning team were ______ criticized by the local media for the way in which they had gloated over
the losing team.
A. shrilly B. decidedly C. roundly D. cheaply
167. He's a(n) _______ piece of nothing at the office; no one even knows he exists.
A. two-bit B. abbreviated C. venial D. tinpot
168. I ______ his telephone number while he was still talking.
A. jotted down B. wrote up C. set down D. dashed off
169. I feel _______ to inform the head teacher that a number of students and parents are
annoyed with the decision.
A. my duty B. this my duty C. it my duty D. that my duty
170. A cute kid is ______ a lot of attention on the internet thanks to his uncanny
resemblance to a famous Kpop idol.
A. amassing B. raking C. garnering D. gathering
171. Government becomes no longer the servant of the people but in the thrall of big money, lobbyists and a
media happy to live off its fancy leftovers in a ______ of gossip and shallow speculation.
 A. feeding frenzy B. second wind
C. fever pitch D. buffer zone
172. Were ________ my sister, I would never have tried to apply for the scholarship in the first place.
A. it for B. it to be for
C. it hadn’t been for D. it not for
173. No matter what kind of visit is selected, the Antarctic never fails to ________ on its promise of
the holiday of a lifetime.
A. deliver B. follow C. regard D. announce
174. Anyone handing in the homework late has to _______ a note explaining the reason for the delay.
A. accrue B. append C. tag D. bolt
175. He ________ his presentation with diagrams and statistics to increase the persuasiveness of the climate
change message.
A. factored in B. folded in C. beefed up D. explained away
176. For being absent without leave, the corporal was ________ to private.
A. appointed B. deputed C. exalted D. relegated
177. He has been _________ for gross misconduct.
A. impounded B. impeached C. impelled D. impaled
178. Not getting the promotion felt like a real kick in the _______ as I’d put in so much
hard work for the company.
A. head B. teeth C. back D. leg
179. China, which has been producing cars _______ joint ventures with foreign partners, is now launching its
own brand _____ the global market.
A. through/on B. for/over
C. of/throughout D. alongside/ in
180. Everyone in the company detests getting close to him because he’s always trying to
________ the boss.
A. suck up to B. cry out for C. pin down to D. fall over to
181. I decided to _______ and turn professional, seeing how I got on.
A. go for broke B. put my head above the parapet
C. play chicken D. pull a stunt
182. He became determined to stop at nothing to ________ his lust for power, even if it
involves backstabbing his colleagues.
A. satiate B. sate C. fill D. gloat
183. He was so lucky to _______ an eminent professor to help him with the dissertation.
A. bail out B. bargain for C. light on D. root up
184. ________ your favorite songs or your important files onto CDs.
A. Lift B. Burn C. Rip D. Scan
185. The examinee couldn’t understand the question, so he asked _________ from the
supervisor.
A. for clarification B. to clarify
C. for clarifying D. to be clarified
186. We’re on an _______ drive at home for the breadwinner of the family - Dan - lost his job.
A. economy B. economical C. economic D. economized
187. Mike can always be depended on to ________ when a friend of his needs help.
A. keep a stiff upper lip B. go out of his way
C. be a fair-weather friend D. pass the buck
188. A huge crowd _________ in the pouring rain to cheer the president.
A. turned up B. turned out C. bubbled up D. clocked in
189. The museum is just a short walk from here. _______ you go, it will take you no more than ten minutes.
A. No matter how B. Wherever
C. No matter the way D. Whichever the way
190. In certain industries, the workers’ ________ is not only cumbersome but also quite heavy.
A. garment B. tog C. apparel D. attire
191. To those who are pragmatic and have their feet firmly ________ on the ground, the
Chinese art of feng shui may sound like just another bohemian fad to be scoffed at.
A. stood B. rooted C. placed D. planted
192. Tina would rather you _______ your son as she is too tired after the three-day
conference.
 A. had picked up B. did pick up
C. would pick up D. picked up
193. Despite his reputation as a tough guy, he admits that he was scared _______ when he first arrived in
New York.
A. bananas B. dozy C. witless D. half dead
194. The protest began nearly two weeks ago and was initially sparked by plans to ________ a park to build
a shopping center.
A. desiccate B. unmake C. extirpate D. bulldoze
195. The man in the market was selling leather coats very cheaply: they were such bargains that were soon
_______.
A. snapped up B. cleared off C. done for D. sold up
196. If you ask an artist how she draws so well, she is _______ to say, “Well, I just look at something and
draw what I see”.
A. prone B. predisposed C. loathe D. liable
197. The police arranged to ______ with their informant at a disused warehouse.
A. decouple B. rendezvous C. reconnoitre D. corroborate
198. I’ve just heard that argument before and quite frankly it just doesn’t ______!
A. face the music B. hit the nail on the head
C. carry weight D. hold water
199. Unfortunately, ________ stamping out the drugs trade, these programs are simply
forcing drug growers to move into more inaccessible regions.
A. besides B. rather than C. as for D. in converse to
200. I don’t like to make friends with the person who always ____ people _____ behind their backs.
A. slag/off B. slap/ around C. strike/out D. hate/on
201. Mr and Mrs Jones are such permissive parents that their son can _______ no matter
what he insists.
A. jump on the bandwagon B. go against the grain
C. make their blood boil D. wind them around his little finger
202. You are bound to find information on the stock market crash of 1987 in the newspaper ______.
A. files B. archives C. records D. collections
203. If you never put oil into your car engine, one day it will ________.
A. run off B. flake out C. shut down D. seize up
204. If the market does not improve, these businesses may not be able to ________ their
debts, and we may see more bankruptcies.
A. disgorge B. milk C. indemnify D. service
205. The mini dress was _______, but now it is making a comeback.
A. a fad once thought to be finished
B. once thought a fad to be finishing
C. thought a fad to be finished once
D. once thought to be a finishing fad
206. Lying can be used to _______ the character of a brother or to flatter a friend.
A. backbite B. impugn C. spurn D. abnegate
207. In order to create a society where people suffering the torment of depression can reach out and
talk openly, we need to ________ when it comes to talking about such difficult issues instead of ignoring
them.
A. do the balancing act B. grasp the nettle
C. keep our heads above water D. make waves
208. He was so lonely he _________ the sound of a human voice.
A. angled for B. ached for C. egged on D. fussed over
209. _______ earning a great deal of money as a painter, Ivan Aivazovsky opened an art
school and gallery in his hometown of Feodosiya.
A. For B. Until C. Since D. Upon
210. We gained possession of the ball when Russ _______ a forward pass.
A. adjourned B. interrupted C. broke D. intercepted
211. Many families are forced to live in tiny apartments with not enough room to swing a _______.
A. cat B. mouse C. dog D. rabbit
212. After Patrick played tennis, his clothes _______ sweat.
A. was ranking in B. was ranked with
 C. was ranked in D. was rank with
213. The authority is developing a new Corruption Prevention Strategy to deal with the small number of
corrupt staff who allow _______ in provincial prisons.
A. spin-off B. me-too C. contraband D. boondoggle
214. Depending on which version is told, this curse is either a result of a witch’s ________, or because
gravestones
were used as building materials.
A. malediction B. riposte C. annotation D. sideswipe
215. The tide will begin to come ________ at eleven.
A. up B. over C. forth D. in
216. The integrity of a marine ecosystem could be _________ due to the impact of coastal reclamation.
A. compromised B. conceded C. conciliated D. confronted
217. It was truly miraculous that the child was _______ after falling five storeys.
A. unscathed B. intact C. unbroken D. unyielding
218. After I implemented that important initiative, the boss asked me to ________ on our next big project.
A. carry all before me B. carry the can
C. carry the ball D. carry the day
219. My aunt gave me a __________ cake.
A. round Italian bread-like Christmas
B. sponge square Dutch wedding
C. layer moist chocolate birthday
D. lovely pink round graduation
220. “Have you got a copy of Gone with the Wind?”
“You’re ______ luck. We’ve just one copy left.
A. by B. with C. in D. off
221. The strike at the bank left customers high and ________over the weekend, with many unable to make
withdrawals.
A. shy B. fly C. sly D. dry
222. It is high time the government ___________ the education system to ensure the hands-on knowledge
and skills provided for students.
A. refurbished B. revamped C. revivified D. revitalized
223. When the going gets tough, although he might panic for a moment, he’s able to
_______ that panic with self-command.
A. beat down B. stamp out C. shave off D. damp down

224. The roads were busy as we drove out of town, but after that it was _______ sailing.
A. straight B. even C. sound D. smooth
225. In the last century, it was widely ________ that Indian fakirs were capable of
superhuman feats.
A. held B. kept C. grasped D. received
226. I could see the tip of his cigarettes ________ in the darkness.
A. glowing B. sparkling C. gleaming D. glinting
227. Having maintained a carnivorous diet for long, he soon realizes that tofu is not a
substitute to meat by any _______ of the imagination.
A. ground B. reach C. patch D. stretch
228. She’s usually very good; James must have _______ cheating in the exam.
A. worn her down to B. brought her round to
C. talked her into D. put her up to
229. Round and round ________.
A. the wheels of the engine went B. did the wheels of the engine go
C. went the wheels of the engine D. going the wheels of the engine
230. Here in the Kaziranga National Park, the river Brahmaputra floods over every year,
fertilizing the entire plain with silt so rich that the vegetation is among the most ______.
A. ebullient B. exuberant C. sprightly D. vivacious
231. When it comes to love, 50% of people ________ straight, so automatically 50% of people are
disqualified.
A. have their head screwed on B. are old heads on young shoulders
C. are no flies D. are victory for common sense
232. I have meetings with the organizing team _______ - Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
A. any day B. the other day
C. day in, day out D. every other day
233. Food and water are just ________ necessities of life.
A. naked B. pure C. bare D. sole
234. The monitor ordered the student to go to the end of the line, but the teacher ______ the order.
A. rescinded B. countermanded
C. overturned D. repealed
235. I called ____ the Post Office and arranged to send a parcel to my boyfriend in Thai.
A. to B. at C. in D. up
236. The Chinese Communist Party detained a Uighur man in Qatar and was going to deport him back to
China, so he made a(n) _______ plea over social media.
A. compassionate B. dispassionate
C. encompassed D. impassioned
237. _______, the balcony chairs will be ruined in this weather.
A. Left uncovered B. Leaving uncovered
C. Having left uncovered D. Been left uncovered
238. My husband just won't be told. He'll argue about something till he's _______ in the face.
A. red B. black C. blue D. white
239. The film was expected _________ by the end of the month.
A. to being completed B. to have completed
C. having been completed D. to have been completed
240. At first Tom insisted he was right, but then began to back _______.
A. down B. off C. away D. out
241. I was surprised to hear that he had a girlfriend. That’s _______.
A. a turn-up for the books B. a nice turn of phrase
C. an about-turn D. a funny turn
242. Decisions there _______ around the globe with a force unmatched anywhere else.
A. extrapolate B. vindicate C. reverberate D. subjugate
243. Simon hasn’t got a job, and isn’t trying to get one. He just _______ his friends.
A. meddles with B. sponges on C. tarts up D. sweeps along
244. Failing to stand a ______ state-run organization, Jimmy decided to switch job.
A. symphonic B. monolithic C. gargantuan D. concordant
245. _________ chair the meeting.
A. John was decided to
B. It was decided that John
C. There was decided that John should
D. John had been decided to
246. Annabel and Insidious 3 are not James Wan’s best movies by far and those would be ________ between
any other sequels on air, but they are pretty incredible.
A. kiss-offs B. summings-up C. tip-offs D. toss-ups
247. She ________ when the teacher made her speak in front of the whole class.
A. had rosy cheeks B. turned as red as beetroot
C. went scarlet D. painted the town red
248. _______ by their new finds, the archaeologists say they had made dramatic new finds of Viking
settlements.
A. Buoyed up B. Irked out C. Sounded off D. Perked up
249. I wish she __________ me all the time about the broken vase.
A. wouldn’t nag B. didn’t nag C. hadn’t nagged D. doesn’t nag
250. I was _________ tempted to report his incompetence to my line manager otherwise the whole team
would suffer.
A. Highly B. sorely C. greatly D. urgently
251. He was disappointed by his result, but later he ________ himself to having to re-take the exam.
A. exposed B. submitted C. reconciled D. subdued

252. All his friends _______ him when the man went bankrupt.
A. forsook B. abdicated C. deserted D. ceded
253. 25 people have replied to the invitation, but I've ________and put out 30 chairs.
 A. teetered on the brink B. erred on the side of caution
C. been on a razor’s edge D. been in the teeth
254. Localized tensions had developed into ________ slaughter of innocent people.
A. systemic B. mass C. wholesale D. full-blown
255. She has written more than three self-help books and continue to ________ books to
this day.
A. stir up B. work up C. move out D. churn out
256. Desks can often show aspects of character otherwise hidden from general view ________, if analyzed in
detail,
will reveal their owner’s innermost secret.
A. and which B. but where C. these D. however
257. The car screeched to a(n) _______ at the junction and two men jumped out and ran
down the street.
A. halt B. stop C. end D. standstill
258. I was gripping the bathroom sink as _________ pain ripped through my chest.
A. excruciating B. agonizing C. maddening D. shooting
259. In front of the door ____________.
A. a dog sat B. was seated a dog
C. seated a dog D. was a dog seating
260. They’re establishing a rule called ‘superdelegate’ in an effort to _______ outsider
candidates.
A. clear off B. take against C. finish with D. squeeze out
261. Try as he might, he only has a ________ of beating the big guy in my school.
A. fat chance B. narrow squeak
C. sticky end D. cleft stick
262. It seems ______ that everyone would benefit from a better scientific education.
A. axiomatic B. pragmatic C. chromatic D. enigmatic
263. John first dabbled_______ buying old maps for his collection.
A. on B. in C. at D. for
264. If power goes out, you’re pretty ______.
A. In a vacuum B. in abeyance
C. up and running D. up the creek
265. Tourists ______ when large numbers of middle class people _______ to join the
more wealthy aristocratic travellers.
A. have originated/ have begun
B. had originated/ began
C. could have originated/ have begun
D. originated/ began
266. Gustav Klimt posed models on a bed so that their ______ bodies could suggest floating, a motif that’s
very important in his art.
A. flagging B. listless C. languorous D. phlegmatic
267. She was tempted to ________, hardly able to believe he’d carry out his threat.
A. stick his neck out B. call his bluff
C. hedge his bets D. dig his heels in
268. Jenny decided to draw a line _______ her recent breakup and move on.
A. at B. under C. over D. with
269. Jimmy asked Lily about her favorite celebrity.
Jimmy: “You don’t like Taylor Swift, do you?”
Lily: “_________”
A. No, I don’t B. Yes C. Yes, I don’t D. A & B are correct
270. Such unspecified fears are ones capitalized on by monster movies, by ________
Hollywood productions with psycho killers, loony aliens or grossly exaggerated natural
disasters.
A. flat-footed B. lowbrow C. shamefaced D. slow-witted
271. There are a few ________ which will help you in painting a room.
A. eyes in the back of your head B. cuts and pastes
C. tricks of the trade D. kicks in the teeth
272. He started hammering on the adjoining wall but Mary carried on _______.
 A. notwithstanding B. regardless
C. irrespective D. however
273. The two young fighters fought toe to toe and both showed _______ determination.
A. grim B. strong C. harsh D. mean
274. I would like to welcome you all on this auspicious ________, the 25th anniversary of the founding of
our company.
A. moment B. occasion C. greeting D. gathering
275. These stiff trainers take weeks to _______.
A. look through B. put up with C. take to D. break in
276. The regular appearance of sex and violence on TV undoubtedly has a _______ influence on teenagers.
A. pernicious B. parsimonious C. precipitous D. propitious
277. She drinks too much and starts to grow _______ about her ex-boyfriend.
A. mawkish B. lachrymose C. maudlin D. gushing
278. The country is an economic ______ with chronic unemployment and rampant
crimes.
A. lost cause B. dark horse C. false dawn D. basket case
279. The endless parade of _______ on TV has made today’s young girls obsessed with
their bodies.
A. celebrities enhancing surgically B. surgically-enhanced celebrities
C. surgical celebrities enhanced D. enhanced surgically celebrities
280.That car must have set Joe _________ quite a bit; it’s top of the range.
A. away B. back C. in D. down
281. Eminem ________ considering his estimated worldwide sales of over 220 million
records.
A. jumped through hoops B. grabbed the brass ring
B. wiped the floor D. went off the rails
282. Certain kinds of plant can grow only in _______ soil.
A. loose B. slack C. sparse D. scarce
283. Dave is a cold-hearted boss who always palms the worst job ______ his assistant.
A. out with B. up for C. off on D. onto
284. What makes corruption possible on such a global scale isn’t just greed, the misuse of power or
that _______ phrase “weak governance”.
A. purple B. flowery C. wordy D. nebulous
285. This one is knitted in a linen-mix yarn which ______ well and feels especially soft to touch.
A. can be washed B. is washed C. washing D. washes
286. When I retired, I am going to do an ________ course in local history at the city university.
A. intramural B. extramural C. extraneous D. outbound
287. What makes me so sad about our divorce is that we used to be _______.
A. in deep water B. head over heels
C. in the pink D. here and there
288. Democrats ________ a lot about the inability to deduct interest rates on student loans.
A. cotton on B. harp on C. impinge on D. soldier on
289. As the baby had cried himself ______, his mother sighed with relief.
A. sleeping B. to sleeping C. into sleeping D. to sleep
290. Greyson says the meal at the restaurant was only _______; he does not enjoy it as
much as the dishes at home.
A. satisfactory B. satisfying C. unsatisfied D. insatiable
291. He agreed to bring her along, as long as she promised to be on her best _______.
A. behavior B. manner C. demeanor D. conduct
292. What’s all this crying _________?
A. without the aid of B. in aid of
C. with the aid of D. within the aid of
293. My father was ________ mad when he found out my loss of ID card two days prior to the National
University Entrance Exam.
A. barking B. hopping C. skipping D. shouting
294. Jane’s flat affords _________ views over the valley and mountains beyond.
A. expanded B. extensive C. widespread D. sweeping
295. The organization had to _______ its emergency fund in response to the unexpected catastrophe.
 A. fall upon B. set aside C. dip into D. take up
296. On the brink of a loss of reputation, all those who are not our intimates become sources of sure-fire
_______ judgment.
A. damning B. wilting C. withering D. decaying
297. He tries to _______ himself with everyone by paying them compliments.
A. ingratiate B. insinuate C. brown-nose D. commend
298. Tens of thousands of jobs have already been lost, and hundreds of thousands more
_________.
A. sweep the board B. play devil’s advocate
C. up the ante D. hang in the balance
299. I don’t know ______ the new manager.
A. what to get of B. what to make of
C. how to get of D. how to make of
300. I yielded to the temptation of sleeping comfortably on my bed and decided to ________ from work.
A. sag off B. write off C. dust off D. bump off