Read the text and decide which answer (A, B, C or D) best fits each space.

Reports that the government is about to (1) ..C the go ahead to plans for the
building of a new runway at London's Gatwick airport have angered local
(2) and raised fears of increased noise and exhaust pollution. The
(3) plans also include permission for additional night flights and will
(4) the compulsory purchase of farmland, (5) the demolition of a
number of private homes. According to sources close to the Ministry of
Transport, the government is known to be concerned by the increasing
(6) of traffic at London Heathrow, where there are no plans for further
runways in the foreseeable (7) Gatwick is widely (8) as a better
(9) for expansion than London's third airport, Stansted, which still
(10) from poor transport links. A spokesperson for the Keep Gatwick
Quiet association, (11) up of local people, accused the government of
(12) back on promises made before the General Election. 'We were told
then that the airport authority had no (13) of building another runway,
and we believe that the government has a duty to (14) its pledges.'
Prominent figures in the government are also believed to be concerned at the
news, although the Prime Minister, interviewed last night, is (15) as
saying that reports were 'misleading'. However, he would not give an assurance
that plans for building a runway had definitely been rejected.
1) A sign B make C give D approve
2) A inhabitants B dwellers C occupants D residents
3) A controversial B debatable C notorious D doubtful
4) A involve B concern C assume D need
5) A further to B as well as C moreover D what's more
6) A sum B size C volume D length
7) A years B period C time D future
8) A regarded B believed Cfelt Dheld
9) A potential B outlook C prospect D likelihood
10) A affects B undergoes C experiences D suffers
11) A made B set C brought D taken
12) A getting B falling C going D turning
13) A desire B intention C wish D objective
14) A bear out B count on C pull off D stand by
15) A quoted B known C thought D written

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 VOCABULARY 3 NEWS E V E N T S

2 Both options make sense. Underline the one which forms a common collocation.

a) The two men, disguised/transformed as security guards, overpowered staff at

the bank and escaped with £150,000.
b) The pilot was the one/sole survivor of the crash.
c) The fire extensively/widely damaged the 500-year-old building.
d) Mr Johnson was taken to Maidstone General Hospital where his condition
was described as 'critical/perilous'.
e) The government spokesperson declined to speak about/comment on the matter.
f) A woman and a man were later detained/arrested for questioning.
g) The findings/results of the committee are due for publication this week.
h) The government agreed that the problem must be removed/tackled at once.
i) We must be very careful with sensitive/difficult issues such as this, to avoid
giving offence,
j) A police spokesperson admitted that detectives were baffled/upset by Mr Day's
disappearance, but were hoping to come up with an explanation.

3 Complete each sentence with one of the words from the box.

a) With Smith out injured, there is little .prospect of City reaching

the next round.
b) After heavy rain, during the race were hazardous.
c) It is common that Douglas intends to retire at the end of
the season.
d) Two French and two English forwards were involved in an ugly
just before half-time.
e) Miss Schmidt easily secured her in the next round with a
confident display of power tennis.
f) The final day begins with the Australian team on the of
victory.
g) Whether Alberto was offside is a matter of , in my view.
h) I have every that Jack Wood is the man to lead our team
to victory.
i) There is no concrete that anyone in the team has taken
drugs.
j) The club has disclaimed for the damage, blaming it on
supporters from London.

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ADVANCED LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Complete the collocation or fixed phrase in sentences (a-j) using endings (1-10).

a) The union is drawing up 6

b) The managing director said that recent events had put
c) No one holds out
d) He went on to say that the company prided
e) Both sides have agreed to meet on a regular
f) The union has since challenged
g) Others believe that both sides would jump at the
h) It is unlikely that the union will moderate
i) The management stated that the problem had been exaggerated out of ...

j) The minister said that he put himself at the

1 ... basis from now on, he added.
2 ... all proportion, and that an agreement was close.
3 ... a strain upon everyone employed by the company.
4 ... its demand for a shorter working week.
5 ... the figures given to the press by the financial director.
6 ... new proposals to put to the employers.
7 ... disposal of both sides in the dispute.
8 ... itself on its good relations with all its employees.
9 ... chance to resume negotiations without delay.
10 ... much hope for the success of the discussions.

Replace the words underlined in each sentence with one of the collocations or
fixed phrases from the box.

a) I am not thinking of resigning at the moment.

b) Everybody is aware that Smith has a criminal record
c) We all know what caused the closure of the factory.
d) The report has made people afraid that others may be at risk from the
disease
e) We shall try hard, although there is not much chance of winning.

f) A hospital spokesperson refused to confirm that the injured man had been
shot
g) Some conservationists advocate an immediate ban on hunting.

h) Commenting on the weekend travel chaos, the rail company attributed this
to a combination of snow and high winds

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 VOCABULARY 3 NEWS EVENTS

6 In each headline, replace the word or words underlined with one of the
'headline' words from the box.

bid clash held toll boost cleared looms set vows

a) Miners' union promises to fight over local pay deals. ..Y.Q№.

b) Change to school funding aims to increase teacher numbers
c) Newspapers and union going to clash over pay claim
d) Man found innocent in bank robbery case
e) British attempt to aid refugees turned down
f) Woman arrested by police after pub shooting
g) Number of people killed rises to six
h) Rail strike approaches.
i) Ministers in disagreement over pay rises

7 Complete each space in the text with a word formed from the words in capitals.

Press (1) ...speculation. continues over whether the Prime SPECULATE

Minister is on the point of calling a General Election. An
(2) is expected shortly from government ANNOUNCE
headquarters. Political (3) believe that the ANALYSE
timing of an election is crucial to the (4) of SURVIVE
the government. Michael Lee of the 'Independent' commented:
'We've had repeated (5) from the Prime ASSURE
Minister that no election would be called this year, but present
circumstances may just cause him to change his mind.' Six
months ago this would have been (6) THINK
An election would have been (7) suicide, and POLITICS
would certainly have led to the (8) of the DOWN
government. The government was coming in for severe
(9) because of its education policy. It was also CRITICISE
widely attacked for its (10) involvement DISASTER
in the arms export scandal, and for its (11) FAIL
to address the problem of (12) But EMPLOY
according to recent opinion polls, the electorate is impressed at
the way the PM has restored party (13) and UNITE
overcome the internal (14) which were DIVIDE
threatening to rip the party apart. Michael Lee comments:
There would be some (15) in calling an JUSTIFY
election pretty soon. In fact, I wouldn't be at all surprised if it
happens within the next day or two.'

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