Grammar

1. Rewrite the sentences beginning with the words in brackets. Do not change the meaning.
1. We had only just begun opening our presents when there was a knock at the door. (Hardly)
_________________________________________________________________________
2. The shopping centre won’t be closed under any circumstances. (Under no circumstances)
_________________________________________________________________________
3. They haven’t tried to make such an expensive movie as this before. (Never)
_________________________________________________________________________
4. Fiona Watson took part in an international singing contest just the once. (Only once)
_________________________________________________________________________
5. We aren’t going to see our cousins until the New Year. (Not until)
_________________________________________________________________________

2. Complete the text with the missing articles. Write (–) if no article is needed.

An unusual family
1
___________ Indian man called Ziona, who lives in the state of ___________2

Mizoram, is ___________ father of 94 children. He also has 39 wives and over thirty
3

grandchildren. It is believed to be ___________ biggest family in the world. They all

4

live together in ___________ brightly-coloured house which has over a hundred

5

rooms.

3. Complete the sentences with the words below. There are three extra words.
both either every a few many much neither none

1. I have two sisters, but ___________ of them live at home. They have got married and moved away.
2. ___________ of my classmates went to the party. That’s why I didn’t recognise anybody there.
3. Do you think that ___________ Paul or Sam would help?
4. ___________ of the garden has been flooded because of all the rain.
5. There are only ___________ people in the cinema.

4. Complete the text with the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

Paracetamol
Paracetamol _______________________ (discover) in 1877, and it _______________________ (use)
1 2

ever since. Today, in Europe and the USA, it _______________________ (often / prescribe) to treat fever
3

and pain. Although nobody knows exactly how it works, it is popular because, unlike aspirin, it is safe for
both children and pregnant women. Strangely, paracetamol is lethal to snakes. They die if they eat it, even
in small doses. In 2010, news sources reported a strange story. The story said that, at that very moment,
dead mice full of paracetamol _______________________ (drop) on an American island that
4

5
_______________________ (colonise) by thousands of snakes. The aim was to kill all the snakes with the
drug-filled mice!
5. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first.
1. Many people know that saturated fats are bad for your health.
Saturated fats _____________________________________________________________ .
2. A think tank estimates that half the population will soon be overweight.
It _____________________________________________________________ .
3. People think the native islanders died from malnutrition.
The native islanders _____________________________________________________________ .
4. Somebody should have carried out the study more carefully.
The study _____________________________________________________________ .
 6. Should we criticise doctors when we are responsible for our own diets?
Should doctors _____________________________________________________________ ?
Vocabulary
1. Choose the correct verbs to complete the sentences.
1. I felt ___ when Dan told me how good he thought I was at science. But I didn’t really believe him – I knew he
just wanted to copy my homework!
a nagged b lectured c flattered
2. On the way home, some boys ___ me in the street. They shouted rude things, and I felt very upset.
a insulted b praised c warned
3. The head of English ___ our class for working hard, and doing well in the exams.
a flattered b nagged c praised
4. In school assembly yesterday, the head teacher ___ the whole school about using their mobile phones for
personal reasons in class. It was so boring. She just talked on and on.
a offended b teased c lectured
5. My sister was ___ for not cleaning her room. I’m not surprised. She never tidies anything, and Mum and Dad

get so annoyed.
a told off b insulted c complimented

2. Choose the correct phrasal verbs to complete the sentences.

1. I ___ with my boyfriend because we didn’t really get on very well anymore.
a put through b turned down c split up
2. Tom and Jo didn’t ___ to the party until midnight because they got lost on the way.
a called off b turn up c make up
3. Kerry should stop ___ . One day, she says she loves him, and the next she doesn’t. It’s not fair on Mick.
a messing Mick about b taking Mick up c getting Mick on
4. At the meeting, we were surprised that Jenny ___ the subject of banning trainers on the school’s premises.
Nobody was prepared to discuss the subject.
a put up b asked out c brought up
5. Tina doesn’t fancy Tom. She ___ an excuse about having to visit her aunt when he asked her out.
a made up b put up c took up
6. Sally is ___ the twins this evening while their parents are out celebrating their anniversary.
a taking after b looking after c picking after
3. Choose the correct verbs to complete the sentences.
1. Andy ___ aerobics three times a week.
a goes b keeps c does
2. ___ weights is a great way of building up your muscles.
a Attending b Lifting c Beating
3. I try to ___ myself to the limit when I’m in the gym.
a push b pedal c play
4. We ___ the other team 3–0. It was a fantastic victory!
a played b beat c won
4. I ___ fit by going jogging.
a keep b play c do
3. Complete the sentences. Use compound adjectives formed from a word in A and a word
in B below. There is one extra word in each box.
A bleary breath half highly thought well

B blowing hearted known provoking respected taking

1. Simon only made a __________________ attempt to prepare for the race. He should have spent a lot more
time training.
2. Sir John Smith is one of the most __________________ judges in the country. Everybody thinks he has a
very good reputation for being intelligent, fair and honest.
3. In a __________________ performance, Anderson won the race in a time that nobody has ever achieved
before.
4. A __________________ TV presenter visited our school last week. It was amazing. I’d never met anyone
famous before.
5. We watched a __________________ documentary about over-fishing in the oceans. It really made me
consider whether we shouldn’t stop fishing altogether.