PRACTICE TEST 1

1. The police were baffled by the attack as there seemed to be no apparent ________.
A. design B. principle C. motive D. plot
2. If you want to be sure of receiving a copy of the magazine, I suggest you ________an annual
subscription.
A. put down B. take out C. write off D. send up
3. After feeling off ________for days, Tom finally went to see his doctor.
A. food B. color C. fitness D. balance
4. ________the phone rang later that night did Anna remermnber the appointment.
A. No sooner B. Only C. Not until D. Just before
5. There was ________evidence to bring charges against the man.
A. insubstantial B. inferior C. ineffective D. insufficient
6. The runner got a huge blister on his heel where his new shoes ________.
A. scratched B. rubbed C. scraped D. gripped
7. The size of the pop-star’s personal fortune was the subject of much ________in the press.
A. doubt B. guessing C. speculation D. wonderment
8. Jeremy’s friends were fond of him ________because of his generosity.
A. at least B. still less C. even less D. not least
9. The thick fog ________out any possibility of our plane taking off before morning.
A. ruled B. struck C. stamped D. crossed
10. Looking down at the coral reef, we saw ________of tiny, multi-colored fish.
A. swarms B. flocks C. teams D. shoals
11. Of all the paintings in the gallery, it was this one that really ________my eye.
A. grasped B. snatched C. caught D. seized
12. She had made a firm decision and wasn’t ______by anything I said against it.
A. detracted B. prevailed C. induced D. swayed
13. We might have to change our plans for the weekend and, ________we’ll let you know as soon as
possible.
A. in case B. if so C. providing D. supposing
14. I was reluctant to ________the subject because I thought he wouldn’t want to discuss it.
A. raise B. originate C. advance D. provoke
15. My attempts to solve the problem only ________to make it worse.
A. contributed B. functioned C. served D. attained
16. Can you tell me the ________of these shoes?
A. charge B. price C. amount D. expense
17. It is too early in the ________to expect many visitors to the town.
A. term B. season C. time D. calendar
18. She took up so many hobbies when she retired that she had hardly any time ________.
A. on her hands B. in hand C. at her hand D. at hand
19. Please leave this space ________on the enrolment form.
A. absent B. blank C. missing D. undone
20. After the flash flood, all the drains were over flowing ________storm water.
A. from B. with C. by D. for
21. I would like to ________Mr Fukuyama to present the trophy to the victorious team.
A. call over B. call out C. call upon D. call up
22. My neighbor is ________; he is always showing that he never cares about his bad behavior.
A. grim-faced B. faceless C. face-saving D. barefaced
23. The teacher doled ________the chocolates to his students for having done well in the examinations.
A. off B. on C. out D. away
24. He kept his marriage a secret for years, but eventually the truth ________.
A. came out B. came through C. went out D. turned out
25. “I call ________you at 6 o'clock,” said James.
A. by B. up C. for D. in
26. Many a leader ________fallen due to pride.
A. is B. are C. has D. have
27. If you want a good flat in London, you have to pay through the ________for it.
A. month B. car C. nose D. teeth
28. Employees who have a ________are encouraged to discuss it with the management.
A. hindrance B. disturbance C. disadvantage D. grievance
29. William was as ________as a cucumber when the harsh punishment was meted out to him by the judge.
A. cool B. cold C. placid D. impassive
30. ________of the financial crisis, all they could do was hold on and hope that things would improve.
A. At the bottom B. At the height C. On the top D. In the end
31. Nathalie seems very tough at work. She's a different person at home, ________.
A. though B. although C. as though D. even though
32. I kept out of the conversation because it ________me.
A. wasn't concerned B. wasn't concerning C. didn't concern D. didn't concern to
33. Hats like this may have been fashionable in the 60's, but now they are ________the times.
A. behind B. over C. beneath D. under
34. Henry was overweight, so he went on a strict diet and ________twenty kilos.
A. missed B. lost C. failed D. fell
35. He was arrested because he answered to the description of the ________man.
A. searched B. pursued C. wanted D. hunted
36. Humanity has done great damage to the environment in its search for ________materials.
A. live B. raw C. crude D. rude
37. ________the balcony chairs will be ruined in this weather.
A. Leaving uncovered B. Having left uncovered
C. Left uncovered D. Been left uncovered
38. One way to let off ________after a stressful day is to take some vigorous exercise.
A. cloud B. tension C. steam D. sweat
39. Salaries have not ________inflation in the last few years.
A. Put up with B. taken up on C. done out of D. kept up with
40. After three days in the desert, his mind began to play ________on him.
A. games B. jokes C. tricks D. fun
41. It was the third time in six months that the bank had been held ________.
A. over B. down C. up D. out
42. I know you didn't want to upset me but I'd sooner you ________me the whole truth yesterday.
A. could have told B. told C. have told D. had told
43. As the drug took ________the patient became quieter.
A. effect B. force C. influence D. impact
44. The dawn redwood appears ________some 100 million years ago in northern forests around the world.
A. was flourished B. having to flourish C. to have flourished D. have flourished
45. His comments ________little or no relation to the facts and the figures of the case.
A. reflect B. bear C. give D. possess
46. We're having terrible weather for our holiday. I just can't ________it for much longer.
A. come up with B. fed up with C. keep up with D. put up with
47. His wife is a terrible snob. She ________almostall his friends because they have north country accents.
A. looks up to B. looks forward to C. looks out D. looks down on
48. John: This grammar test is the hardest one we've ever had this semester!
Mary: ________but I think it’s quite easy.
A. I couldn't agree more B. I understand what you’re saying
C. You’re wrong D. I don’t see in that way
49. Nga is very modest, always ________her success.
A. keeping down B. turning around C. playing down D. pushing back
50. I wish you’d do the accounts. I don't have ________for numbers.
A. a head B. a mind C. the heart D. the nerve