Practice English Vocabulary B2 Exercises – Vocabulary Review 9

A. Write one word in each gap.

The Exam

It may sound strange, but Ben was looking forward to the English exam. Now, don’t imagine that Ben was a great student. He was always slow to catch (1) …………… in class and couldn’t really keep (2) …………… with the other students. And he hadn’t even studied (3) …………… the exam. The real reason he thought he was going to sail (4) …………… was that he had all the answers!

Two days before, he had found a piece of paper with all the questions and answers on it on his teacher’s desk. It suddenly (5) …………… his mind that maybe for once he could pass the exam. ‘What’s the point (6) …………… studying?’ he asked himself. After thinking it (7) …………… for a second, he (8) …………… his mind up. He copied the piece of paper and his teacher (9) …………… no idea what had happened.

When the exam started, Ben sat down and turned the question paper over. He looked, and then looked again. It was the wrong paper! It dawned (10) …………… Ben that he had copied the wrong exam paper! His teacher was looking at him, so Ben thought he’d better get (11) …………… with it. He knew he would never succeed (12) …………… passing the exam. Not all of it (13) …………… sense to him, but he did his best.

The next day, his teacher gave him his paper back and said ‘Well done, Ben. Much better.’ Ben couldn’t believe it! he had passed with a B! He realised he had (14) …………… an important lesson. With a little work, who knew what he would be capable (15) ……………?

B. Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capitals when this is necessary.

16   I passed the exam, but I’m still waiting to get my …………………… (CERTIFY).

17   Have you done any …………………… (REVISE) for the test?

18   Please pay …………………… (ATTEND), Rita, when I’m explaining what your homework is.

19   I spent a long time on the maths problem but I still came up with the wrong …………………… (SOLVE).

20   One of my classmates was suspended for a week for bad …………………… (BEHAVE).

21   Well, Mrs Turner, you’ll be pleased to hear that Georgia has made a big …………………… (IMPROVE) in geography.

22   I’m hoping to study English …………………… (LITERATE) at university.

C. Complete the second sentence using the word given, so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Write between two and five words in each gap.

23   The headmaster made the pupil wait outside his door.   made

        The pupil ……………………………………… outside the headmaster’s door.

24   Please don’t leave your books on my desk.   rather

        I ……………………………………… leave your books on my desk.

25   I didn’t understand what my teacher was trying to express so I asked her again.   getting

        I didn’t understand what my teacher ……………………………………… so I asked her again.

26   Counting the words in your composition is a waste of time.   point

        There ……………………………………… the words in your composition.

27   I just can’t decide whether to go to university or not.   minds

        I’m ……………………………………… whether to go to university or not.

28   My cousin has decided that he isn’t going to finish his engineering course.   drop

        My cousin has decided ……………………………………… his engineering course.

29   All Emma’s teachers say that she is able to do much more.   capable

        All Emma’s teachers say that she ……………………………………… much more.

30   I was really pleased that I managed to pass the exam.   succeeded

        I was really pleased that I ……………………………………… the exam.

D. Choose the correct answer.

31   I didn’t expect our history teacher ………… us so much homework.

        A giving        B give

        C to give       D to giving

32   Do you remember ………… to school for the very first time?

        A go              B to go

        C of going    D going

33   I started doing my homework when I got home from school but I stopped ………… my favourite show.

        A watch        B to watch

        C watching   D from watching

34   Please don’t forget ………… your essays during Friday’s lesson.

        A handling in

        B to hand in

        C hand in

        D to hanging in

35   Our teacher made the whole class ………… after the lesson because we had been so noisy.

        A staying      B to stay

        C for staying

        D stay

36   ‘What was Derek’s reaction to the accusation?’

        ‘Well, he denied ………… anywhere near the house at the time.’

        A being         B to be

        C be               D of being

E. Choose the correct answer.

37   I was very proud when I was told that I’d been made into a ………… .

        A pupil          B student

        C prefect      D classmate

38   With a little hard work, I’m sure you’ll ………… a lot this year.

        A reach         B succeed

        C achieve     D qualify

39   Who ………… you how to cook so well?

        A taught       B learned

        C made         D explained

40   Lee didn’t do so well in the test because he hadn’t ………… .

        A written      B studied

        C read           D learned

41   I think you need to ………… your ideas more clearly so that the reader doesn’t get confused.

        A dawn on

        B get on with

        C set out      D give in

42   Oh, no! We’ve got a double maths ………… next!

        A subject      B interval

        C lesson        D task