WRITING FOR GIFTED STUDENTS

Exercise 1 (week 1):

1. We couldn’t have managed without my father’s money.
 If it hadn’t been for my father’s money, we couldn’t have managed.
2. I had only just put the phone down when the boss rang back.
 Hardly had I put the phone down when the boss rang back
3. It was Walter Raleigh who introduced potatoes and tobacco into England. (nhờ, công nhận)
 The English owe the introduction of potatoes and tobacco to Walter Raleigh.
4. “If my members agree to that, I’ll be very surprised,” said the union delegate.
 The union delegate observed that he would be very surprised if his members agreed to
that.
5. While I strongly disapprove of your behavior, I will help you this time.
 Despite my strong disapproval of your behaviour, I will help you this time
6. I’m sorry I missed Professor Baker’s lecture.
 I’m sorry not to have attended Professor Baker’s lecture.
7. We may not be able to give the condert.
 The concert may have to be cancelled.
8. I was not surprised to hear that Harry had failed his driving test.
 It came as no surprise to me that Harry had failed his driving test.

Exercise 2:
1. John inflated the tyres of his bicycle. (blew) INFLAT = BLOW UP = THỔI, LÀM PHỒNG
 John blew up the tyres of his bicycle.
2. We’d better leave them a note, because it’s possible they’ll arrive later (case)
 We’d better leave them a note in case they arrive later.
3. Before he came here he worked for Mr/ Smith. (previous)
 Before he came here his prvious boss was Mr Smith.
4. He speaks German extremely well (command) have a command of a language: thông thạo 1
thứ tiếng
 He has an excellent command of German.
5. His criticisms are quite unfair. (justification): sự bào chữa
 There is no justification for his criticisms.
6. I can’t understand why they are reluctant to sign the contract (baffled) be baffled by: khó
hiểu
 I am baffled by theỉr reluctance to sign the contract
7. I always find chess problems like that quite impossible. (defeat): làm ai đó thất bại
 Chess problems like that always defeat me.
8. This must be kept secret. (know)
 You must not let anyone know this secret.
9. I can’t afford a new dress, that old blue one will have to do. (make) make do with sth: miễn
cưỡng chọn
 I can’t afford a new dress, I’ll have to make do with that old blue one.

Exercise 3 (week 2):

1. I only recognized him when he came into the light.
 Not until he came into the light did I recognized him.

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 2. That rumor about the politician and the construction contract is absolutely false.
 There is no truth in that rumour about the politician and the construction contract
3. One runner was too exhausted to complete the last lap of the race.
 One runner was so exhausted that he wasn’t able to complete the last lap of the race.
4. My mother was the most warm-hearted person I’ve ever known.
 I’ve never known a more warm-hearted person than my mother was.
5. They never made us do anything we didn’t want to do.
 We were never made to do anything we didn’t want to do.
6. The only thing that prevented the passing of the bill was the death of the Prime Minister.
 Had it not been for the death of the Prime Minister, the bill would have been passed.
7. It is quite pointless to complain.
 There’s no point in complaining.
Exercise 4:
1. You can’t possibly expect me to have supper ready by 8 o’clock. (question).
 There is no question of having super ready by 8 o’clock.
2. It is my opinion that there is no advantage in further discussion. (see)
 As far as I can see, there is no advantage in further discussion.
3. Please excuse Jane’s poor typing. She’s only been learning for a month. (allowances)
make allowances for: chiếu cố, thông cảm
 Please make allowances for Jane’s poor typing. She’s only been learning for a month.
4. There is no way that young man can achieve success in this test. (bound)
 That young man is bound to fail in this test.
5. Although the dog appeared harmless, it was, in fact, quite dangerous. (contrary)
 Contrary to the dog’s harmless appearance, it was, in fact, quite dangerous.
6. If Smith hadn’t broken his leg, he would have played football for England. (represented).
 If Smith hadn’t broken his leg, he would have represented England.
7. This hotel is inaccessible in winter. (possible)
 It is not possible to access this hotel in winter
8. As far as I know he is still working in Bristol. (knowledge).
 To the best of my knowledge, he is still working in Bristol.

Exercise 5 (week 3):

1. The workers only called off the strike after a new pay offer.
 Only after......
2. He was sentenced to six months in prison for his part in the robbery.
 He received a........
3. You can eat as much as you like for 5$ at the new lunch-bar.
 There is no.......
4. She wore a hearing-aid, even though she could hear the phone ring perfectly well.
 She wasn’t so.....
5. You will never meet anyone more generous than Mrs. Jones.
 Mrs. Jones is.......
6. My parents let me go abroad alone for the first time last year.
 I was...............
7. It was his incompetence which led to their capture.
 If.............

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 8. I’m certainly not going to give you any more money.
 I have no........

Exercise 6:
1. I don’t think there will be any applicants for this post. (likelihood)

2. It was difficult for Susan to believe the good news (hardly)

3. You must make allowances for his inexperience. (account)

4. This contract is not binding until we both sign it. (bound)

5. He wasn’t to blame for the accident. (fault)

6. You shouldn’t take his help for granted. (assume)


Exercise 7 (week 4):

1. Our hotel booking hasn’t been confirmed.
 We haven’t received...........
2. The sales man told me that my new car would be delivered next Wednesday.
 According..........
3. The Yeti has very rarely been seen at this altitude.
 There have.............
4. It’s not certain that Jones will get the job.
 It is open.........
5. Everyone started complaining the moment the announcement was made.
 No sooner.......
6. As I get older, I want to travel less.
 The older.............
7. A house in that district will cost you at least 100,000$.
 You won’t be able............
8. Alan worked too hard at the office, and this led to his illness.
 Alan’s illness...........

Exercise 8:
1. Mr. Bill managed to repair the garage roof only because his neighbor helped him.
(without)

2. Nobody is infallible. (mistakes)

3. The last Olympic Games were held in Seoul. (took)

4. He talked about nothing except the weather (sole)

5. In the end, I felt I had been right to leave the club. (regrets)


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 6. It is stuped of you to refuse Richard’s offer of a loan. (idiot)

7. The company has decided to replace this model. (intention)

8. In the next few years we’ll probably hear a lot more about environmental pollution
(likely)


Exercise 9 (week 5):

1. Keeping calm is the secret of passing your driving test.
 As long as...........
2. Immediately after his appointment to the post, the new editor fell ill.
 No sooner.........
3. The protest has been so vociferous that the committee has had to reconsider.
 There has been.....
4. You think that fat people are always jolly but you are wrong.
 Contrary.............
5. My boss works better when he’s pressed for time.
 The less..........
6. The patient recovered more rapidly than expected.
 The patient made.......
7. There isn’t a pair of thermal socks left in the shop, Madam.
 We are completely..............
8. Their chances of success are small.
 It is not...........

Exercise 10:
1. Their problems are all self-inflicted. (making)

2. The travel agent was able to offer a 50% reductionon holidays to the Costa Brava. (half)

3. If you take that job, you’ll have to get up at 6 a.m every morning. (mean)

4. The only thing they could do was to look for a new flat. (alternative)

5. His last letter to me was written three years ago. (heard)

6. If only one could rely on what she says. (pity)

7. An open fire can’t be compared to central heating. (comparison)

8. I remember very few things about my childhood. (scarcely)


Exercise 11 (week 6):

1. The rail workers do not intend to call off their strike.
 The rail workers have no................

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 2. Mrs. Scott is proud of her cooking.
 Mrs. Scott prides................
3. It was the goalkeeper who saved the match for us.
 If it hadn’t .............
4. It wasn’t a bit surprised to hear that Karen had changed her job.
 It came........
5. You can try to get Tim to lend you his car but you won’t succeed.
 There’s no point..........
6. John didn’t celebrate until he received the offer of promotion in writing.
 Not until........
7. I don’t really like her, even though I admire her achevements.
 Much.......
8. It’s thought that the accident was caused by human error.
 The accident..............

Exercise 12:
1. Some people say that Tsiolkovsky invented the space rocket. (credited)

2. I daren’t turn on the TV because the baby might wake up. (fear)

3. Some people will do anything to lose weight. (lengths)

4. The two theories appear to be completely different. (common)

5. Several members of the committee said they were worried abot the chairman’s proposals.
(concern)

6. The river Volta overflowed last year. (burst)

7. He doesn’t appreciate his wife. (granted)

8. The number of people out of work has been going down little by little. (gradual)


Exercise 13 (week 7):

1. House prices have risen dramatically this year.
 There has......
2. This affair does not concern you.
 This affair is no...........
3. You must submit articles for the magazine by June 18th.
 The final date............
4. Although Jimmy was the stronger of the two, his attacker soon overpowered him.
 Despite his..........
5. What a surprise to see you here!
 Fancy..........
6. I don’t intend to apologise to either of them.
 I have ...........

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 7. It was only when I left home that I realized how much my father meant to me.
 Not until............
8. The only reason the party was a success was that a famous film star attended.
 Had it not.........

Exercise 14:
1. Gerald never had enough to live on until he married that rich businesswoman. (short)

2. William decided that an actor’s life was not for him. (cut)

3. The President arranged for me to use his chauffeur-driven car whenever I liked.
(disposal)

4. My cat has lost its appetite. (off)

5. The children made every effort to please their father (best)

6. His behavior was rather a shock to me (aback)

7. They decided not to go by boat because they thought they would be seasick. (fear)

8. The bank robbers escaped in a stolen car. (getaway)


Exercise 15 (week 8):

1. Alice and Charles did not decide to move to a bigger house until after the birth of their
second child.
 Only when............
2. You’re under no obligation to accept their offer.
 Your can please.......
3. Martin may not be very well but he still manages to enjoy life.
 Martin’s poor............
4. The company presents a gold watch to each of its retiring employees.
 Each.......
5. The only thing that kept us out of prison was the way he spoke the local dialect.
 But for his command......
6. The Pacific Ocean is on average deeper than the Atlantic.
The average.........
7. My father finds maps hard to follow.
 My father has............
8. Under no circumstances should you phone the police.
 The last............

Exercise 16:
1. People don’t want to buy cars with large engines any more. (call)

2. Twenty years ago this region produced twice as much coal as it does now. (halved)


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 3. The prime Minister is unlikely to call an early general election (likelihood)

4. Nobody could possibly believe the story he told us (beyond)

5. The project received the unanimous approval of the committee. (favour)

6. Scientists say forests are being destroyed by air pollution. (blame).

7. His reactions are quite unpredictable (knows)

8. There are several categories of people who do not have to pay the new tax. (exempt)


Exercise 17 (week 9)
1. The film star wore dark glasses so that no one would recognize him.
The film star avoided...
2. I am amazed by the mistakes he makes.
What....
3. We weren’t surprised by his success.
 It came......
4. “That’s a lovely new dress, Jean” said her mother.
 Jean’s mother complimented......
5. We couldn’t relax until all the guests had gone home.
 Only......
6. We couldn’t find Geoge anywhere.
 George was.........
7. Customs officials are stopping more travellers than usual this week.
 An increased........
8. She listens more sympathetically than anyone else I know.
 She is a........

Exercise 18:
1. The minister’s popularity suffered as a result of the scandal. (effect)

2. The teachers agreed to introduce the new methods. (agreement)

3. Jenny didn’t feel like going to the party. (mood)

4. The councilor answered every question frankly. (frank)

5. It is said that he has been to prison several times (reputed).

6. Most stores will accept a credit card instead of cash. (alternative).

7. Our opinions on the subject are identical. (difference)

8. Local residents said they were against the new traffic scheme. (disapproval)


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Exercise 19 (week 10):
1. No one has challenged his authority before.
 This is the first time...........
2. “If Brian doesn’t train harder, I won’t select him for the team,” said the manager.
 The manager threatened....
3. The hurricane blew the roof off the house.
 The house....
4. You’ll certainly meet lots of people in your new job.
 You are....
5. I left without saying goodbye as I didn’t want to disturb the meeting.
 Rather.....
6. There aren’t many other books which explain this problem so well.
 In few other books......
7. I dislike it when people criticize me unfairly.
 I object.....
8. Robert is sorry now that he didn’t accept the job.
 Robert now wishes.................

Exercise 20:
1. If interst rates are cut, the economic situation may improve. (reduction)

2. The architect’s new design was heavily criticized. (criticism)

3. Very little money was raised by the charity appeal. (response)

4. Ours is the only company allowed to import these chemicals. (monopoly)

5. The coach’s tactics were directly responsible for the team’s defeat. (consequence)

6. We have no idea where he is. (whereabouts)

7. The policeman acted quickly and averted an accident. (prompt)

8. This new record is certain to sell a lot of copies. (doubt)


Exercise 21 (week 11):

1. I am having a lot of trouble now because I host my passport last week.
 If I.....
2. When the police caught him, he was climbing over the garden wall. \
3. The police caught........
4. It’s sad, but unemployment is unlikely to go down this year.
 Sad.......
5. It is believed that the man escaped in a stolen car.
 The man is.........
6. Since we had nothing else to do, we decided to go for a walk.
 Having......

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 7. “Nothing will persuade me to sleep in that haunted house,” she said.
 She flatly........
8. It wasn’t necessary for them to call for help after all.
They.........
9. You won’t find a more dedicated worker anywhere than Mrs Jones.
 Nowhere.........

Exercise 22:
1. I want to be left alone (disturbed)

2. He took the company to court on the grounds of unfair dismissal. (unfairly)

3. We’re likely to be a little late, I’m afraid. (every)

4. The Committee said they liked the first proposal best. (preference)

5. I really must answer all these letters. (get down)

6. It’s not your fault. (blame)

7. People seem to be criticizing the police quite a lot nowadays. (criticism)

8. In a nutshell, the man’s an idiot. (bluntly).

Exercise 23 (week 12)
1. She had hardly begun to speak before people started interrupting her.
 Hardly........
2. It was a bit difficult to get into work this morning.
 Getting.........
3. We regret to inform you that your application has not been successful.
 Much to ......
4. He knows really everything there is to know about whales.
 There’s .......
5. If we can solve the problem soon, it will be better for an concerned.
The sooner.........
6. The demand was so great that they had to reprint the book immediately.
 So........
7. I’m absolutely sure that they weren’t playing in this weather.
 They can’t.........
8. “I didn’t steal the car,” he said, “I just borrowed it”.
 He denied.........but admitted.........

Exercise 24:
1. I’m dying to meet them (wait)

2. They lay on the beach the whole week sunbathing. (spent)


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 3. I seriously doubt whether this will work. (doubts)

4. He’s always found it very difficult to learn English. (difficulties)

5. I have no intention of giving up now. (intend)

6. They’ve always been allowed to do what they want. (freedom)

7. This is quite a common occurrence. (frequently)

8. Something told me to say exactly what I thought, but I didn’t. (sorely)


Exercise 25 (week 13):

1. I only made that terrible mistake because I wasn’t thinking.
If I............
2. We had planned to visit grandmother, so we left early in the morning.
 We were........
3. Someone rang the alarm as soon as the burglars left the building.
 No sooner.........
4. As television programmes become more popular, they seem to get worse.
 The more.........
5. “I think the whole idea’s ridiculous,” he said.
 He dismissed.........
6. The authorities will prosecute anyone they find trespassing on this land.
 Anyone found.......
7. I prefer going out for a meal to staying at home.
 I’d rather........
8. It would have been a super weekend if it hadn’t been for the weather.
 But............

Exercise 26:
1. I was told the film would be very good. (led)

2. She apologized for having to go so early, and left. (apologies)

3. You have to register by 1st April at the latest. (deadline)

4. The refugees are in serious need of warm clothes. (badly)

5. I was mystified by the whole thing. (baffling)

6. You don’t have to buy one if you don’t like it. (obligation)

7. If you promise not to laugh, I’ll show you our holiday snaps. (long)

8. How do you think the present negotiations will turn out? (outcome)


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Exercise 27 (week 14):
1. “You should have waited for us,” the team leader said to John.
The team leader criticised.........
2. It’s possible that he didn’t get my letter.
 He might......
3. The last time it snowed here was six years ago.
 It.............
4. I only realized what I had missed when they told me about it later.
 Only when.........
5. There weren’t nearly as many people there as I had expected.
 There were far........
6. When the Minister was asked about the strike, he declined to comment.
 On..........
7. There was no need for you to have gone to all that trouble.
 You................
8. Please don’t say things like that.
 I wish.........

Exercise 28:
1. I’d like you to waid until they bring out a new model. (rather)

2. We couldn’t find the cat anywhere. (nowhere)

3. What finally ended the dispute was the fact that the union agreed to go to arbitration.
(agreement)

4. He won’t let anyone else touch his records (objects)

5. The fact that nobody said anything at the time surprised me. (what)

6. The referee first blew the whistle 30 minutes into the game. (playing)

7. I admitted it was my fault for burning the toast. (blame)

8. It’s becoming extremely expensive to maintain the museum. (unkeep)


Exercise 29 (week 15):

1. This is the best essay I have ever written.
 Never......
2. I assumed that she would learn how to take shorthand after this course.
 I took it........
3. I am terribly sorry; I thought you were a friend of Anna’s.
 I took............
4. Although she was busy, she managed to find the time to proofread for me.
 Busy.........

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 5. I would prefer you to do computer science.
 I’d rather..........
6. He didn’t get his visa until last Monday.
 It was............
7. They continued to say that I was to blame.
 They persisted............
8. Vietnamese coffee is considered to be one of the best in the world.
 Vietnamese coffee.......
9. If you ask me well in advance I’ll be willing to work over time.
 Provided you...............
10.“I never used bad language,” she said.
 She denied..............

Exercise 30:
1. He failed his exam because he missed classes so often. (consequence)

2. Send me a postcard as soon as you arrive. (minute)

3. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to. (obligation)

4. I tried as hard as I could but I still failed my driving tests. (however)

5. I felt that it had been a big mistake to give up that job. (regretted)

6. Strangers are not to be let in. (account)

7. He joined the army as soon as he had finished school. (sooner)

8. If it weren’t for the weather, I would enjoy working here so much (but)

9. It rained torrentially all day yesterday, which really depressed me. (got)

10.I wrote this book because I want to help students with their writing. (view)


KEY
Key to exercise 1:
1. If it hadn’n been for my father’s money, we couldn’t have managed.
2. Hardly had I put the phone down when the boss rang back.

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 3. The English owe the introduction of potatoes and tobacco to WR
4. The union delegate observed that he would be very surprised if his members agreed.
5. Despite my strong disapproval of your behavior, I will help you this time.
6. I’m sorry not to have heard/attended Pro Baker’s lecture.
7. The concert may have to be cancelled.
8. It came as no surprise to me that Harry had failed his driving test.

Key to exercise 2:
1. John blew up the tyres of his bicycle.
2. We’d better leave them a note in case they arrive later.
3. Before the came here, his previous boss/employer was Mr. Smith.
4. He has an excellent command of German.
5. There is no justification for his criticisms.
6. I am baffled by their reluctance to sign the contract.
7. Chess problems like that (always) defeat me!
8. You mustn’t let anyone (else) know (this).
9. I can’t afford a new dress. I’ll (have) to make do with that old blue one.

Key to exercise 3:
1. Not until he came into the light did I recognize him.
2. There is (absolutely) no truth in that rumor about the politician and the construction
contract.
3. One runner was so exhausted (that) he couldn’t/was unable to complete the last lap of the
race.
4. I’ve never known a more warm-hearted person than my mother (was).
5. We were never made to do anything we didn’t want to.
6. Had it not been for the death of the PM the bill would have been passed/got through.
7. There’s no point in complaining.

Key to exercise 4:
1. There is no question of supper being ready by 8 o’clock.
2. As far as I can see, there is no advantage in further discussion.
3. Please make allowance for Jane’s poor typing; she’s only been learning for a month.
4. That young man is bound to fail in this test.
5. Contrary to (its) (harmless) appearance, the dog was in fact quite dangerous.
6. If Smith hadn’t broken his leg, he would have represented England.
7. It’s not possible to get to/to reach this hotel in winter.
8. To (the best of) my knowledge, he is still working in Bristol.

Key to exercise 5:
1. Only after a new pay offer did the workers call off the strike.
2. He received a sentence of six months for his part in the robbery.
3. There is no limit/restriction to how much you eat at the new lunch-bar.
4. She wasn’t so deaf/hard of hearing that she couln’t hear the phone.
5. Mrs. Jones is the most generous person you will/could ever meet/ (be likely) to meet.
6. I was allowed to go abroad alone for the first time last year.
7. If he hadn’t been so imcompetent they wouldn’t have been captured.

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 8. I have no intention of giving you any more money.

Key to exercise 6:
1. There is little/no likelihood that there will be applicants for this post.
2. Susan could hardly believe the good news.
3. You must take his experience into account/ You must take account of his experience.
4. Neither (one) of us is bound by this contract until we both sign it.
5. The accident was not his fault.
6. You should /do not assume (that) he will help you.

Key to exercise 7:
1. We haven’t received confirmation of/about our hotel booking (yet)
2. According to the salesman my new car would/will be delivered next Wednesday.
3. There have been very few sightings of the Yeti at this altitude.
4. It is open to question (as to) whether Jones will get the job.
5. No sooner had the announcement been made than everyone started complaining.
6. The older I get the less I want to travel.
7. You won’t be able to buy/get a house in that district for less than/under $100.000.
8. Alan’s illness was caused by/brought about/due to/the result of his working too hard at
the office.

Key to exercise 8:
1. Without the help of his neighbor, Mr. Bill would/could not/never have repairted the
garage roof.
2. We all make mistakes/ Everyone makes mistakes/Everyone can make mistakes.
3. The last Olympic Games took place in Seoul.
4. His sale topic/subject of conversation was the weather.
5. I had no regrets about/on/over leaving the club in the end.
6. You are an idiot to refuse Richard’s offer of a loan.
7. It’s the company’s intention to replace this model.
8. We’re likely to hear a lot more about environmental pollution in the next few years.

Key to exercise 9:
1. As long as you (can) keep/stay calm, you will/should/ought to pass your driving test.
2. No sooner had he been/was he appointed to the post than the new editor fell ill.
3. There has been such a vociferous protest that the committee has had to reconsider.
4. Contrary to your belief/opinion, fat people are not always jolly.
5. The less time my boss has, the better he works.
6. The patient made a more rapid/a quicker/faster recovery than expected.
7. We are completely (sold) out of thermal socks, Madam.
8. It is not (very) likely (that) they will succeed.

Key to exercise 10:

1. Their problems are all of their own making.
2. The travel agent was able to offer half-price holidays to the Costa Brava.
3. Taking that job will mean (that) you’ll have to get up at 6a.m every morning.
4. They had no alternative but to look for a new flat.

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 5. I haven’t heard from him for 3 years/I last heard from him 3 years ago.
6. It’s a pity (that) one/we cannot rely on what she says.
7. There is no comparison between an open fire and central heating.
8. I can scarcely remember anything /a thing about my childhood.

Key to exercise 11:

1. The rail workers have no intention of calling off their strike.
2. Mrs Scott prides herself on her cooking/on being a good cook.
3. If it hadn’t been for the goalkeeper we could/would have lost the match.
4. It came as no surprise (to me) (to hear) that Karen had changed her job.
5. There’s no point (in) (you/your) trying to get Tim to lend you his car/to borrow Tim’s
car.
6. Not until John (had) received the offer of promotion in writing did he celebrate.
7. Much as I admire her achievements, I don’t really like her.
8. The accidient is thought/believed to have been caused by human error.

Key to exercise 12:

1. Tsiolkovsky is/has been credited with the invention of the space rocket.
2. I daren’t turn on the TV for fear of waking up the baby.
3. Some people will do any/great leangs to lose weight.
4. The 2 theories (appear to) have (got) nothing in common/no common ground.
5. Several members of the committee expressed concern about/at/over the chairman’s
proposal.
6. The river Volta burst its banks last year.
7. He takes his wife for granted.
8. There has been a gradual decrease/decline/fall in the number of people out of work.

Key to exercise 13:

1. There has been a dramatic increase in (the) house prices this year.
2. This affair is no concern/business of yours.
3. The final date for you to submit articles for the magazine is June 18th.
4. Despite his (superior) strength Jimmy was (sson) overpowered by his attacker.
5. Fancy seeing you here.
6. I have no intention of apologizing to either of them.
7. Not until (after) I (had) left home did I realize how much my father meant to me.
8. Had it not been for the attendance/appearance of a famous film star the party would have
been a failure.

Key to exercise 14:

1. Gerald was (always) short of money until/before he married that rich businesswoman.
2. William (decided that he) was not cut out to be an actor.
3. The president put/placed his chauffeur-driven car at my disposal.
4. My cat has gone/is off its food.
5. The children did/tried their best to please their father.
6. His behavior took me aback/ I was taken aback by his behavior.
7. For fear of being/getting seasick they decided not to go by boat.

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 8. The bank robbers made/effected their getaway in a stolen car.

Key to exercise 15:

1. Only when A and C (had) had their second child did they decide to move to a bigger
house.
2. You can please yourself/yourselves about whether you accept their offer or not.
3. Martin’s poor health does not stop/prevent him from enjoying life.
4. Each of the company’s retiring employee is represented a gold watch.
5. But for his command of (the) local dialect we would have been jailed/put into jail.
6. The average depth of the Pacific (Ocean) is greater than that of the Atlantic.
7. My father has difficulty/difficulties in following the maps.
8. The last thing you should/must/ought to do is to phone/phoning the police.

Key to exercise 16:

1. There isn’t much call for cars with large engines.
2. Coal production/The coal produced in this region has (been) halved in the last 20 years.
3. There is little likelihood of the PM calling a(n) (early general) election.
4. The story he told us is/was beyond belief.
5. The whole committee was/were in favour of the project.
6. Scientists blame our pollution for the destruction of the forests.
7. One never knows how he is going to/will/may/might react.
8. There are several categories of people who are exempt from (paying) the new tax.

Key to exercise 17:

1. The film star avoided recognition/being recognized by wearing dark glasses.
2. What amazes me is/are the mistakes he makes.
3. It came as no surprise to us (to hear) (that) he was/had been successful.
4. Jean’s mother complimented Jean on her lovely new dress.
5. Only after/when all the guests had gone home/could we relax/were we able to relax.
6. George was nowhere to be found.
7. An increased number of travellers is/are being stopped by customs officials this week.
8. She is a more sympathetic listener than anyone else I know.

Key to exercise 18:

1. The scandal had a bad/negative effect.
2. There was (an) agreement among the teachers to introduce new methods.
3. Jenny wasn’t in the mood to go to the party/for (going to) the party.
4. The councilor gave frank answers to every question.
5. He is reputed to have been (sent) to prison.
6. Most stores will accept a credit card as an alternative to cash.
7. There is (absolutely) no difference in/between our opinions on the subject.
8. Local residents expressed/voiced then disapproval of the new traffic scheme.

Key to exercise 19:

1. This is the first time (that) someone has challenged his authority.
2. The manager threatened not to select Brian (if he didn’t train harder/unless he trained
harder).

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 3. The house had its/the roof blown off by/in/during/because of the hurricane.
4. You are bound/sure/certain to meet lots of people.
5. Rather than disturb the meeting, I left without saying goodbye.
6. In few other books would one see this problem so well explained.
7. I object to people criticizing me unfairly.
8. Robert now wishes (that) he had taken/accepted the job.

Key to exercise 20:

1. A reduction of/in interest rates may improve the economic situation.
2. There was a heavy criticism of the architect’s new design.
3. There was very little response to the charity appeal.
4. Our company has got (the/a) monopoly of/on/over the importation of these chemicals.
5. The team’s defeat was a/the direct consequence of the coach’s tactics.
6. We don’t know his whereabouts/His whereabouts is/are unknown to us.
7. The prompt action of the policeman averted an accident.
8. There is no doubt that this new record will sell a lot of copies.

Key to exercise 21:

1. If I hadn’t lost my passport last week, I wouldn’t have been having so much trouble now.
2. The police caught him (as he was) climbing over the garden wall.
3. Sad though/as it is, unemployment is unlikely to go down this year.
4. The man is believed to have escaped in a stolen car.
5. Having nothing else to do, we decided to go for a walk.
6. She flatly refused to sleep in that haunted house.
7. They didn’t have/need to call for help after all.
8. You won’t find a more dedicated worker than Mrs. Jones.

Key to exercise 22:

1. I don’t want to be disturbed.
2. There’s every likelihood/possibility (that) we’ll be late.
3. The committee expressed a preference for the first proposal.
4. I really must get down to answering all these letters.
5. Don’t blame yourself/You’re not to blame/ You musn’t blame yourself.
6. There’s quite a lot of criticism directed at the police nowadays.
7. Quite bluntly/To put it bluntly/Put bluntly/Putting it bluntly/Bluntly, the man’s an indiot.

Key to exercise 23:

1. Hardly had she begun to speak before/when beople started interrupting her.
2. Getting into work this morning was a bit difficult.
3. Much to our regret, we have to/must inform you that your application hasn’t been
successful.
4. There’s hardly anything he doesn’t know about whales.
5. The sooner we (can) solve the problem, the better it will be for all concerned.
6. So great was the demand that they had to reprint the book immediately.
7. They can’t (possibly) have been playing in this weather.
8. He denied stealing/having stolen the car but admitted borrowing/having borrowed it.

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Key to exercise 24:
1. I (just) can’t wait to meet them.
2. They spent the whole week lying on the beach sunbathing.
3. I have serious doubts as to whether this will work.
4. He’s always had difficulties in learning English.
5. I hon’t intend to give up now.
6. They’ve always had/been given/been allowed the freedom to do whay they want.
7. This (sort of) thing happens/occurs quite frequently.
8. I was sorely tenpted to say exactly what I thought.

Key to exercise 25:

1. If I had (only) been thinking, I wouldn’t have made that terrible mistake.
2. We were planning to visit grandmother, so we left early in the morning.
3. No sooner had the burglars left the building than someone rang the alarm.
4. The more popular TB programmers become, the worse they seem to get.
5. He dismissed the whole idea as (being) ridiculous.
6. Anyone found trespassing on this land will be prosecuted (by the authorities)
7. I’d rather go out for a meal than stay at home.
8. But for the weather, it would have been a super weekend.

Key to exercise 26
1. I was led to believe the film would be very good.
2. She made/offered her apologise and left early.
3. The deadline for registration si 1st Apr.
4. The refugees badly need warm clothes.
5. I found the whole thing baffling.
6. You’re under no obligation to buy one if you don’t like it.
7. As/Song long as you promise not to laugh, I’ll show you our holiday snaps.
8. What do you think the outcome of the present negotiations will be?

Key to exercise 27:

1. The team leader criticized John for not waiting/having waited for them.
2. He might not have got my letter.
3. It last snowed here six years ago.
4. Only when they told me about it later did I realize what I had missed.
5. There were far fewer people there than I had expected.
6. On being asked about the strike, the Minister declined to comment.
7. You didn’t need to go to all that trouble.
8. I wish you wouldn’t say things like that.

Key to exercise 28:

1. I’d rather you waited until they bring/brought out a new model.
2. The cat was nowhere to be found.
3. What finally ended the dispute was the union’s agreement to go to arbitration.
4. He objects to anyone else touching
5. What surprised me was (the fact) that nobody said anything at the time.
6. They had been playing for 30 minutes when the referee first blew his whistle.

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 7. I admitted I was to blame for burning/having burnt the toast.
8. The upkeep of the museum is becoming extremely expensive.

Key to exercise 29:

1. Never had I written such a good essay/a better essay than this.
2. I took it for granted that she would learn........
3. I took you for a friend of Anna’s, I’m sorry.
4. Busy as/though she was, she............
5. I’d rather you did computer science.
6. It was not until last Monday that he got his visa.
7. They persisted in saying that I was to blame.
8. Vietnamese coffee is regarded as one of the best in the world.
9. Provided you aske me well in advance, I’ll...........
10.She denied using/having used bad language.

Key to exercise 30:

1. As a consequence of missing classes so often, he failed his exam.
2. Send me a postcard the minute you arrive.
3. You’re under no obligation to do it if you don’t want to.
4. However hard I tried, I didn’t pass my driving tests.
5. I regretted ever having given up that job.
6. On no account are strangers to be/must strangers be let in.
7. No sooner had he finished school than he joined the army.
8. But for the weather, I would enjoy working here so much.
9. The torrential rain all day yesterday really got me down.
10.I wrote this book with a view to helping students with their writing.

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