Possibility and Probability

1)I think we need to leave ........ the possibility that Simon has decided not to come to the party.

a) open
b) vacant
c) free

2) Your dog ate your homework? That's a ........ story!

a) realistic
b) possible
c) likely

3)There's a ........ chance I won't be at work tomorrow. I might have to stay at home to wait for a delivery.

a) fine
b) slim
c) thin

Learning

1)Schools should go back to ........ and make sure children can read, write and do simple maths.

a) fundamentals
b) basics
c) bases



2)
Nobody thought he would make the ........ but he surprised them all and ended up going to university.

a) grade
b) level
c) mark



3)
I've been reading these instructions again and again but I just can't ........ my head around them.

a) put
b) get
c) make

Business

1)I've just spoken to their sales department and they think they can supply us with what we need. But they have got a track record of not delivering the ........

a) products
b) goods
c) items



2)
We had a salesman in the office earlier trying to give us the ........ sell with a new photocopier. We just couldn't get rid of him.

a) strong
b) heavy
c) hard



3)
I'm enjoying having my own business but if there's one thing I hate doing it's cold ........ to try to get new orders.

a) calling
b) phoning
c) ringing

Money

1)Frank used to make a ........ selling insurance before he went into teaching.
a) income
b) wage
c) living


2)
If you'd like to make a ........ buck do you fancy helping me with a job on Saturday?

a) quick
b) rapid
c) speedy



3)
We're beginning to ........ the pinch since Graham started to work part-time.

a) have
b) see
c) feel

Agreeing and Disagreeing

1)Sorry, but I've got to ........ issue with you over something you said earlier.
a) raise
b) make
c) take

2)
This discussion could go on for hours. Shall we just agree to ........ and move on?

a) differ
b) argue
c) disagree



3)
The two sides in the dispute are ........ odds over how to deal with the problem.

a) at
b) in
c) on

Homework suggestions

Please, check the comments for this post to get a a list of suggested exercises in your workbook.
Cheers!

CPE Collocations

Complete each of the following sentences with the word that collocates with the words in bold.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Victoria has a working ........ of Chinese, which she needs for her job as an international corporate lawyer.

2. The defendant told the judge that she accepted full ........ for her actions and that she would plead guilty.


3. After William realised his mistake he was forced to ........ his pride and apologise.


4. I thought I ........ my position absolutely clear. Either he goes or I do!


5. Tanya came away from the interview with the overriding ........ that she wouldn’t get the job.


6. Although my mother’s in her seventies she is still very young at ........


7. When the shop assistant refused the customer a refund, he was met with a torrent of ........


8. The drowning boy was pulled out of the river and ........ the kiss of life by a medic.

Moods and Emotions

1)
If you need any help just ........ the word and I'll be round immediately.
a) speak
b) say
c) utter



2)
Look, if there's something the matter just get it off your ........ and stop sitting there with a long face!

a) chest
b) head
c) stomach



3)
The builder was late again today. If he's not here at 9.00 tomorrow I'm really going to give him a ........ of my mind.

a) piece
b) bit
c) part

Moods and Emotions

1)The children have been in ........ spirits since we told them about the holiday we've booked.

a) high
b) wide
c) deep



2) I'm as pleased as ........ to be nominated for the award.

a) punch
b) push
c) pull


3)
One minute Sue was quite happy and the next she stormed off in a ........ of pique about a comment someone had made.

a) act
b) fit
c) sign

Character Traits

1)Anna is the ........ of the earth and very popular with all her colleagues.
a) stone
b) soil
c) salt


2)
Our daughter's teacher has got a heart of ........ and is always prepared to spend extra time with the children to help them with their work.

a) silver
b) gold
c) jewels


3)
I'd be careful what you say to Stephan. He's got rather a ........ temper.

a) fast
b) quick
c) snappy

Activity

1)We were sitting in the hospital waiting room twiddling our ........ for hours until we were seen.

a) fingers
b) thumbs
c) hands



2)
We've been up to our ........ in work lately. I've never known it to be so busy.

a) nose
b) hair
c) eyes



3)
You'll never persuade him to help you with the garden. He's bone ........ .

a) idle
b) lazy
c) still

DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

1)We were sitting in the meeting when the boss ........ the bombshell and told us the business was being sold.

a) ignited
b) exploded
c) dropped

2)
I put a brave ........ on things but I was actually feeling quite sad.

a) look
b) face
c) view



3)
Rather than trying to fight a losing ........ you should accept you were wrong and move on.

a) battle
b) war
c) struggle

Power and Politics

1)Dad's ........ his soapbox again, going on about what the Government's doing wrong.

a) at
b) on
c) in

2)
I really don't know who to vote for. Can't I just ........ on the fence?

a) sit
b) stand
c) lie

3)
Mathew is a useful person to know as he has friends in ........ places.

a) main
b) big
c) high

Vocabulary Exercise based on Objective Proficiency

Romance

1)Paul has been using the Internet to search for an old ........ of his.
a) spark
b) light
c) flame


2)
Clare shouldn't really be thinking about meeting someone new yet as she's still ........ the rebound.

a) on
b) in
c) at



3)
You won't get any sense out of Alex at the moment. He's head over ........ in love.

a) toes
b) heels
c) feet

Angela's Challenge - 2 medals each - totalling six good ones

a)
1. The brutal military regime has .... fear into the whole population.
2. She ... a match and lit another cigarette.
3. The management and the employees eventually ... a bargain.

b)
1. She’s been ... a grudge against her boss ever since her transfer was refused.
2. ... criminals is an offence in law.
3. I’m certainly not ... a secret passion for that man, if that’s what you’re thinking.

c)
1. Her doctor was at ... in not sending her straight to the specialist.
2. It’s depressing to have someone always finding ... with your work.
3. I can’t phone my Dad - there seems to be a ... on the line.

Time and Frequency

1)You were supposed to be here at 9.00 o'clock! Never mind. Better ........ than never.

a) late
b) delayed
c) overdue

2
What are you waiting for? Give her a call now. There's no time like the .........

a) reality
b) immediacy
c) present



3
We just popped into the travel agent on the spur of the ........ and booked a holiday.

a) instant
b) moment
c) time

Shopping

1)Have you got any loose ........ on you? I've only got notes.
a) money
b) change
c) cash





2
Have you seen that new car Salvatore has bought? That must have cost a ........ penny.

a) pretty
b) nice
c) shiny


3
Instead of paying through the ........ for expensive designer clothes why don't you look around in one of the ordinary shops?

a) eyes
b) nose
c) mouth

Objective Proficiency Answers

Well, I think the answers are:

4. swallow
5. pinch
6. dropped

Work

1)If you keep working all the ........ God sends you're going to burn yourself out.

a) periods
b) time
c) hours




2)
Edward was my right- ........ man during my time with the company.

a) hand
b) arm
c) side



3)
There's a very clear pecking ........ in the organisation and everybody knows their place.

a) order
b) level
c) system

Snack time

Hey everyone!

Who's taking the snack this Friday?

xxx

Checking pronunciation

Hi, folks! Here's a link to check pronunciation. It's worth trying it!
I hope you enjoy it.

http://www.oddcast.com/home/demos/tts/tts_example.php?sitepal

Cheers,
Fatima