Practice English Vocabulary B2 Exercises – Money and shopping

A. Circle the correct word.

1   My grandfather made a wealth / fortune by investing at the right time.

2   I think you’ll find that the Microcar is really very economic / economical to drive.

3   I’m afraid we can only accept the return of the item if you still have the receipt / bill.

4   If you show this coupon at the checkout / discount, you’ll receive a free gift.

5   I’m not keen on Justin Timberlake so I’ll try to refund / exchange this CD for one by Blue.

6   The assistant called the manager when the note I gave her turned out to be plastic / fake.

7   This unbeatable special offer / bill is only available until the end of the week, so hurry!

8   Excuse me, but I don’t suppose you have make / change for a fifty, do you?

9   I went back to the shop a week later, and the price / cash had gone up by 50%!

B. Complete using the correct form of the phrasal verbs in the box.

1   Of course I’ll pay you back next week. You can …………………… it.

2   Would you please …………………… the cheque to Mr P. Edwards?

3   I try to …………………… a little money each year to spend on a nice holiday.

4   We …………………… a lot of butter in our family every week.

5   Do you fancy coming into town on Saturday to …………………… the shops?

6   The robber couldn’t explain how he …………………… such a large amount of money when the police caught him.

7   Did you hear about the millionaire who …………………… his entire fortune to charity?

C. Write one word in each gap.

A lucky find

When I was young, we always had to do (1) ……………… a lot of things that other kids had. We lived (2) ……………… my dad’s wage, which wasn’t much, but we managed to get (3) ……………… . If we needed anything, we would (4) ……………… up for it, but there was never very much for luxuries. Then, one day, I was helping my mum clean out my great-aunt’s attic after she died when we came (5) ……………… my great-aunt’s will! In it, she had left all her money to my mum, and my great-aunt had been very rich! We had suddenly come (6) ……………… a fortune! Life changed after that, I can tell you. We bought a new house and a new car and went on a great holiday to (7) ……………… up for all the times we hadn’t been able to afford it. They say money isn’t everything, but having money is a lot more fun than not having it!

D. Complete each 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.

1   I suggest not spending all your money now so that you’ll have some later.   for

      What about …………………………………… later?

2   Did your mum gain any money when she sold her business?   profit

      Did you mum …………………………………… when she sold her business?

3   Not many people want this type of bank account.   demand

      There is …………………………………… this type of bank account.

4   I didn’t want to owe Sue money, so I didn’t borrow any.   debt

      I didn’t want …………………………………… Sue, so I didn’t borrow any money.

5   You must have paid a lot of money for such a nice engagement ring, Jim!   fortune

      A nice engagement ring like that must ……………………………………, Jim!

6   Inflation has gone up by 3% this year.   increase

      There has been an …………………………………… 3% this year.

7   You won’t have any money if you keep buying CDs.   it

      You won’t have any money if you keep …………………………………… CDs.

8   Don’t spend money on hiring a limousine at the airport.   expense

      Don’t go …………………………………… hiring a limousine at the airport.

9   I had to pay £50 for breaking the vase in the shop!   charged

      They …………………………………… £50 for breaking the vase in the shop!

10   A lot of money was stolen from the bank in the robbery.   amount

        The bank lost …………………………………… in the robbery.

11   I can’t afford a holiday this year.   enough

        I don’t have …………………………………… on holiday this year.

12   I succeeded through hard work, clever decisions and, finally but importantly, luck.   least

        I succeeded through hard work, clever decisions and, ……………………………………, luck.

13   The shoplifter took a packet of crisps, without the shopkeeper seeing.   notice

        The shopkeeper didn’t …………………………………… a packet of crisps.

14   I’ll go and buy what we need and you start cooking.   shopping

        I’ll go and …………………………………… and you start cooking.

E. Match to make sentences.

A   about the economy.

B   that I pay back my loan immediately.

C   learning that I had the winning ticket.

D   to the girl at the desk and left.

E   for using the hotel pool.

F   to buy a new fridge.

G   to give her some money.

F. Write one word in each gap.

FINANCIAL CRISIS?

Europe is heading for a financial crisis, or so some analysts believe. Although we are spending more money (1) …………… luxury items and recreation than ever before, it is often money we have borrowed (2) …………… a bank. Banks are willing to lend more and more money (3) …………… us because they profit (4) …………… it by charging us interest. We are spending money that doesn’t really belong (5) …………… us, and few of us save much (6) …………… our old age.

G. Each of the words in bold is in the wrong form. Rewrite them correctly.

1   I’d really like to study economy at university. …………………

2   Making lots of money from gambling is a great dream, but the real is that most people lose everything. …………………

3   One of the biggest problems in the developing world is poor. …………………

4   The actress was very expense dressed in an outfit. …………………

5   That current affairs programme was so boring – it seemed end. …………………

6   You can make your pay at any of over 2000 cash machines around the country. …………………

7   The bank manager offered us some financial assist just when we needed it. …………………

8   All employees receive a day allowance to cover the cost of meals. …………………

9   The company is doing much better finance this year than last. …………………

10   There are many problems connected to being extremely wealth. …………………

11   I told the manager I thought the increase in prices was totally accept. …………………

12   I thought the painting was worth a lot of money, but it turned out to be completely value. …………………

13   I’d like to be able to afford the little luxury that make life enjoyable. …………………