Practice English Vocabulary C1 Exercises – Vocabulary Test 2

A. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the space.

The RNLI

The RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) is an organisation (1) ……………………. (DEPEND) of government control, dedicated to saving lives at sea. The RNLI has an active fleet of several hundred lifeboats around the length and (2) ……………………. (BROAD) of Britain’s coastline.

Since it was founded in 1824, the RNLI has had an extremely (3) ……………………. (SIGNIFY) impact on maritime safety, saving over 130,000 lives.

Because the RNLI is not funded by the government, it relies on the (4) ……………………. (GOOD) of the public to cover its costs, its income coming from membership fees and (5) ……………………. (CHARITY) donations. Some people have raised (6) ……………………. (OBJECT) to this, saying that such an (7) ……………………. (VALUE) service should be government-funded.

The lifeboat crews are almost all volunteers. They are generally (8) ……………………. (KNOW) by the British people as being (9) ……………………. (EXAMPLE) in their (10) ……………………. (SELF), frequently putting their lives at risk to save others.

B. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.

11   ‘I haven’t made any firm decisions yet,’ said Laurence. open

        Laurence said he ………………………………………… at that time.

12   Paul and Pete share so many similar interests. common

        Paul ………………………………………… Pete.

13   It would be in your interest to take an earlier train on Sunday. off

        You would ………………………………………… an earlier train on Sunday.

14   I’ve become extremely good at missing the rush hour over the last few weeks. fine

        I’ve got missing the rush hour ………………………………………… over the last few weeks.

15   Although Rudy really didn’t want to play cricket on Sunday, he agreed in the end. dead

        Despite ………………………………………… cricket on Sunday, Rudy agreed in the end.

16   Karen should be made responsible for dealing with customer complaints. charge

        It’s high time Karen ………………………………………… dealing with customer complaints.

17   My parents are furious with me for getting a tattoo and so have grounded me. arms

        My parents, ………………………………………… getting a tattoo, have grounded me.

18   ‘I don’t think we’re going to survive, David,’ I said, but of course we did. tale

        I told David I thought we …………………………………………, but of course we did.

19   I’d prefer to come out on top in the end, though! laugh

        I’d rather ………………………………………… in the end, though!

20   I wish coffee didn’t affect me. effect

        If ………………………………………… me.

C. Write one word in each gap.

Krakatoa

Volcanic eruption has been a constant threat to our natural environment for millions of years, but seldom in recent times (21) …………………….. a volcano erupted with the ferocity of Krakatoa.

Krakatoa, (22) …………………….. is a volcanic island group in Indonesia, erupted on 27th August 1883. (23) …………………….. only was the explosion (24) …………………….. loud that it was heard as far away (more than 3,000 km) as Perth in Australia, but it is also recognised as (25) …………………….. the loudest sound (26) …………………….. recorded.

Tens of thousands of people in the region were killed, many (27) …………………….. in the enormous tsunamis which the eruption produced – tsunamis which eventually reached South Africa and the English Channel.

The explosion also had a major effect on the (28) …………………….. world’s weather system. The volcanic dust in the atmosphere reduced the (29) …………………….. of sunlight reaching the earth’s surface, reducing global temperatures by more than one degree centigrade. Only after five years had passed (30) …………………….. global temperatures begin to return to normal.

D. For each question, write one word which can be used in all three sentences.

31   He’s actually quite a ………………………… name in the world of bathroom fittings.

        It was very ………………………… of you to admit you were wrong.

        There’s no need to make such a ………………………… thing out of this; it’s not that important.

32   Ted’s got a bit of a ………………………… temper so don’t say anything to upset him.

        Why do I always seem to draw the ………………………… straw?

        We’re running ………………………… of sugar again.

33   I’ll be with you in a ………………………… of days.

        That’s not a fact, it’s a ………………………… of opinion.

        No ………………………… how much you try, you’ll never get me to change my mind.

34   You’d better get your ……………………………. together and start learning your lines.

        They were caught in the ………………………… of handing over the drugs.

        Angie was just putting on an ………………………… – she wasn’t really upset.

35   We’re going to be in ………………………… trouble if anyone catches us.

        There was ………………………… silence for a second, then everyone started laughing.

        Turn left at the corner, and the cathedral’s ………………………… ahead.

36   The suffering of those poor innocent people just makes me ………………………… at heart.

        I’m ………………………… and tired of her constant criticisms.

        Where have you been? We’ve been worried …………………………!

37   I hope the judge makes an ………………………… of him and throws him in jail.

        Could you give me a more specific …………………………?

        As a teacher, you have to set an ………………………… to the children.

38   Am I ………………………… in thinking you’ve just moved to Basingstoke?

        You’ve got no ………………………… to answer me back like that.

        Do animals have the concept of ………………………… and wrong?

39   Simon, this is Angela, my ………………………… half.

        Let’s play draughts or, ………………………… yet, chess.

        Don’t you think you had ………………………… think about this a bit more carefully?

40   You’re cutting it …………………………, aren’t you? The meeting’s just about to start.

        Make sure you read the ………………………… print before you sign.

        There’s a ………………………… line between good business practice and corruption.

E. Choose the correct answer.

41   My jeans …………………. in the wash and they’re too small for me now.

        A reduced

        B deteriorated

        C shrank

        D diminished

42   Would you like to arrange to pay by direct ………………….?

        A debt           B debit

        C deposit      D dividend

43   I threw some biscuit …………………. on the ground and a whole load of pigeons swooped down and started eating them.

        A grains        B specks

        C flakes        D crumbs

44   The insects looked and tasted so horrible, I …………………. with disgust as I tried to force them down.

        A gloated     B grinned

        C grimaced  D chuckled

45   Have you been …………………. against tetanus in the last ten years?

        A prescribed

        B diagnosed

        C injected

        D inoculated

46   There’s no way the police will be able to …………………. this law.

        A enforce

        B administer

        C dominate

        D reign

47   The union is seriously considering taking industrial …………………. .

        A activity     B action

        C contract    D reactor

48   Has Britain’s influence in the world …………………. since the Second World War?

        A decayed    B worsened

        C declined    D devastated

49   Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is ………………….; if it was destroyed no amount of money could ever replace it.

        A priceless   B worthless

        C valueless   D invaluable

50   I wouldn’t call her a close friend. She’s more of a/an …………………. really.

        A ancestor

        B successor

        C acquaintance

        D peer

F. Complete using the correct form of the verbs in brackets.

51   It’s high time ……………………. (we / get) the house painted.

52   ……………………. (I / listen) to you from the start, I wouldn’t be in this mess now.

53   I do wish ……………………. (you / tell) Jim, but you have so it’s too late now, isn’t it?

54   ……………………. (study) English and American literature at university for three years, she went on to a highly successful career in journalism.

55   Frank told me ……………………. (he / go) to the aquarium several times that year already, so didn’t really want to go again.

56   If ……………………. (I / drive) any faster, I’d be breaking the speed limit!

57   It’s time for ……………………. (you / do) your homework, young man.

58   Would you sooner ……………………. (I / invite) Bill and Trisha round, or don’t you mind if they come?

59   ……………………. (you / be) to hear tomorrow that you’ve been offered the job, how would you react?

60   ……………………. (make) to wait for over an hour to see a customer services officer put me in an extremely bad mood.

G. Write one word in each gap.

61   I hear Lizzie’s taken ……………….. asking people to call her Elizabeth from now on.

62   He may have just lost the leadership election, but I wouldn’t write ……………….. his political career just yet.

63   We need to spread ……………….. in a long line and search the whole field thoroughly.

64   The initial proposals were watered ……………….. by the supervising committee to make them more acceptable to the board of directors.

65   I heard about your father’s illness. He is going to pull ……………….., isn’t he?

66   You mustn’t let the bigger kids push you ………………..!

67   I don’t think Doug’s eating properly. He looks like he’s wasting ……………….. .

68   It didn’t take me long to cotton ……………….. to the fact that Gareth was rather unpunctual.

69   How do you intend to drum ……………….. support for this?

70   I give ………………..! Tell me the answer.

H. Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capitals.

71   Why do they put so many …………………… in processed food? ADD

72   If we …………………… the photo, you’ll see his face in much more detail. LARGE

73   Don’t you think it’s a bit early to …………………… blame? PORTION

74   Your comments may well have done …………………… damage to management-union relations. REPAIR

75   This flat’s a lot more …………………… than the others we’ve seen. SPACE

76   The rumours are completely …………………… and I would urge everyone not to believe them. SUBSTANCE

77   Your credit card bill provides a record of all financial …………………… carried out in the previous month. ACT

78   Although we feel that the earth is stationary, in fact this is …………………… . We’re moving through space, and spinning, all the time. ILLUSION

79   Too many families in this country still suffer from financial …………………… . HARD

80   Being the hardest natural substance, diamond is practically …………………… . DESTROY

I. Each of the words in bold is in the wrong sentence. Rewrite them correctly.

81   I don’t mind whether we go out or stay in. It’s six of one and half a blot of the other, really. ………………….

82   That new office block really is a face on the landscape, isn’t it? ………………….

83   What’s it like living right in the middle of the commuter strings? ………………….

84   I hope Dad doesn’t fly off the pride when I tell him I crashed the car. ………………….

85   I found it hard to keep a straight tape when Mr Taylor was telling us off. ………………….

86   If I pull a few dozen, I don’t think you’ll have any problems getting planning permission. ………………….

87   We were hoping to open next Thursday, but we’ve been delayed by all the red wavelength. ………………….

88   This hotel really is the last handle in luxury. ………………….

89   This trophy here definitely takes word of place in my collection. ………………….

90   I’m glad we’re on the same belt over this; it would be awful if we disagreed. ………………….

J. Complete using the words in the box in the correct form. There is one word you will not need.

91   …………………… down on illegal immigration is this government’s number one priority.

92   The report completely …………………… over the problem of the shortage of nurses; it just doesn’t deal with it at all.

93   Shopkeepers in the town centre have …………………… up windows in anticipation of rioting during the demonstration.

94   We’re having a solar-panelled water-heating system …………………… in next week.

95   The Prime Minister …………………… back at critics accusing her of being soft on crime.

96   Three firefighters have been …………………… out for bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

97   I’m thinking of …………………… out that new jazz club tonight. Do you want to come along?

98   Dad was completely against me getting my ears pierced but I …………………… him down in the end.

99   Mrs Thompson’s leaving at the end of term. Shall we …………………… together and get her a leaving present?

100   I don’t know how I’m going to …………………… up the courage to tell George he can’t stay here after all.

K. Write one word in each gap.

Jenny:   Hi Penny! Long time no (101) ……………………!

Penny:   Hi Jen! Yeah, it has been a long time, hasn’t it? I haven’t had much free time recently. I’ve got such a lot (102) …………………… at work at the moment.

Jenny:   Getting on (103) …………………… of you, is it?

Penny:   That’s about the (104) …………………… of it, yes. The truth is I’m my own (105) …………………… enemy. I take on far too many projects for my own good. I’m going to have to cut back in the very (106) …………………… future, otherwise I’ll go mad!

Jenny:   Well, as a (107) …………………… of fact. I’m glad I ran into you. Sharon and I are having a little get-together on Friday night. Do feel (108) …………………… to come along. We’d love to see you.

Penny:   Thanks! I’ll certainly (109) …………………… my best.

Jenny:   You’re in for a (110) …………………… if you do make it. Sharon’s doing her wonderful lamb curry!

Penny:   Lovely!

L. Match a word from the box with each phrase. You will not need one of the words.

111   a specialising doctor …………………

112   someone who is cruel to people smaller or weaker than they are …………………

113   someone who relies on you for financial support …………………

114   a husband or wife …………………

115   someone who did your job before you …………………

116   someone who looks after objects in a museum …………………

117   a relative of someone from a previous generation …………………

118   someone who is lively in social situations …………………

119   a brother or sister …………………

120   a king or queen …………………

M. Circle the correct word.

121   I want you to give this the tallest / highest priority.

122   At long last / end, a washing powder that really does clean whiter than white.

123   Good hairdressers are a bit thin on the land / ground round here.

124   Why don’t you table / chair a proposal at the next meeting?

125   Cleaner air would really improve our quality / standard of life.

126   It’s just a stomach / gut reaction but I’d say he’s lying.

127   The King in his graciousness will deign to consent / grant your request, Bolitho.

128   Teenagers who start smoking often do so as a result of peer pressure / force.

129   That’s a model / brand new Rolls Royce!

130   The typical nuclear / atomic family consists of two parents and two children.

N. Write one word in each gap.

131   Tony doesn’t really fancy going out tonight and ………………… do I, to be honest.

132   If you haven’t got ………………… money to buy ice creams as well as chocolate, just get the chocolate.

133   If ………………… the flight got in at a reasonable time.

134   ………………… as we wanted to take the flat, we just couldn’t arrange a mortgage in time.

135   Even ………………… you do feel better tomorrow, it’s probably better if you don’t go to school.

136   The Prime Minister said that we should all carry on as normal ………………… the increased risk of attack.

137   The film is ………………… near as good as the book.

138   I do find ………………… hard to believe that it will be possible one day to travel through time.

139   You’re talking as ………………… you understood what Sean’s going through. You don’t, you know!

140   ………………… did we realise that we were next on the list.