1. There has been a gradual _____ in people’s attitudes to the environment over the last two decades or so.
a) adaptation
b) shift
c) variation

2. Hemingway’s novel “The Old Man and the Sea” was _____ as a masterpiece when it was first published.
a) hurled
b) hailed
c) hauled

3. When I was thinking of moving to a new town, I _____ settling in the capital because the cost of living there is too high.
a) wrote out
b) rolled out
c) ruled out

4. He is 63; he’s just _____ up for retirement.
a) coming
b) getting
c) turning

5. Poker is played by two or ten players, using a standard _____ of 52 cards.
a) suit
b) pack
c) shuffle

6. I’ve been trying for some time to tell her, _____ , to be more considerate but she just doesn’t seem to get the message.
a) in a roundabout way
b) way around
c) own way

7. The penny farthing was the ______ of the modern bicycle.
a) precedent
b) prerequisite
c) precursor

8. After intensive training, Basil was able to reach speeds ______ 1 kph.
a) to extremes
b) in excess of
c) over the top


9. Arnold was so hungry that he ______ the whole packet of biscuits down in two minutes flat.
a) foxed
b) wolfed
c) pigged

10. My son’s academic performance has undergone a complete _____ since he transferred to the new school.
a) alteration
b) change
c) transformation

11. We were disappointed by the _____ turnout at the meeting.
a) bleak
b) poor
c) heavy

12. I can’t stand the way she’s always ______ , I wish she’d be more positive.
a) moaning
b) whispering
c) stuttering

13. Plumbers really get up my ______ . They are always promising to come at a certain time and nine times out of ten they don’t turn up when they’ve promised.
a) anger
b) fuss
c) nose

14. If you carry on shouting like that, you’ll ______ your voice.
a) break
b) strain
c) fade away

15. The two-hour ______ left him exhausted.
a) outbreak
b) checkout
c) workout

16. Walking ______ a brisk pace can be a wonderful alternative _____ the two-hour ordeal at the gym.
a) in, to
b) at, for
c) at, to


17. Noise must be ______ to a minimum at all times.
a) kept
b) permitted
c) forbidden

18. He’s hoping to put his feet ______ because discipline had broken down.
a) around
b) up
c) on

19. My eldest brother Simon is a rather impulsive _____ , he has a _____ to act hastily.
a) attitude, sense
b) nature, streak
c) type, tendency

20. If you take a seat, I’ll be with you _____.
a) easily
b) hardly
c) shortly

21. You _____ have told me you had a dog. It frightened the life out of me when it jumped on me in the middle of the night.
a) must
b) could
c) may

22. I can’t stand _____ polite conversation and pretending _____ myself.
a) making, to enjoy
b) to make, enjoying
c) making, enjoying

23. _____ I give you a hand with the washing-up?
a) will
b) shall
c) would

24. -What _____ after the course?
- I’m going back to Sweden.
a) are you doing
b) do you do
c) will you do



25. It’s my new vase. You _____ at least apologize for breaking it!
a) must
b) might
c) may