Practice English Vocabulary C1 Exercises – Time and work

A. Write a word from the box in each gap.

1   ‘I’ll only be working here for a couple of weeks. I’m a ……………………. worker.’

2   ‘It couldn’t have happened at a better time! What a ……………………. arrival!’

3   ‘It depends on the time of year. It’s a ……………………. problem.’

4   ‘I get to work at nine o’clock on the dot every day. I try to be ……………………. .’

5   ‘We both said it at exactly the same time. Our answer was ……………………. .’

6   ‘We can’t use that software on our new computers. It’s …………………….!’

7   ‘It’s the first draft of the text. We can change it later if we want. It’s only ……………………. .

8   ‘They should have sent that to us ages ago. It’s long ……………………. .’

B. Write a word from the box in each gap.

1   We live in a/an ………………….. of mass communication.

2   After a short ………………….. of being unemployed, I decided to set up my own business.

3   It was in the twentieth ………………….. that humans first developed nuclear weapons.

4   Despite advances in technology, no human being will ever live for a ………………….. in my opinion.

5   The council is planning to increase the ………………….. of buses to the city centre.

6   I did a brief ………………….. in the navy, and then decided it wasn’t for me.

7   I’ve got a very short concentration ………………….. .

8   It’s just a ………………….. that most teenagers go through. Don’t worry!

C. Choose the correct word.

Dear Alan,

I am writing to thank the organisation for the (1) ………………… service I received when my membership (2) ………………… . As you may know, I am a (3) ………………… member of the Chavershaw (4) ………………… Car Club, having spent most of my (5) ………………… working with cars built in the (6) ………………… fallowing the First World War

Indeed, I was under the impression that I did not have to renew my subscription each year as I had been granted the status of ‘(7) ………………… member’ for the (8) ………………… I spent as Chairperson of the organisation in the 1970s. I was therefore more than a little surprised to receive a rather (9) ………………… e-mail from the club saying that as three months had (10) ………………… since my membership ran out I was no longer eligible to attend the (11) ………………… dinner next month. I, of course, immediately replied, stating the facts as I saw them.

I received a (12) ………………… e-mail from the same person, apologising for the confusion, explaining that although I did not have to pay to renew my subscription, I still had to renew it. They kindly explained how I could do this online, and I must say I was most impressed with the whole thing, as the change from my being a non-member to being a member again was literally (13) ………………… .

I am now looking forward to meeting up with some of my (14) ………………… at the dinner next week. I hope to see you there.

Warmest regards,

Robert Thompson

1     A prior                     B prompt

2     A postponed          B expired

3     A long-standing     B timely

4     A Vintage                B Antique

5     A spell                     B lifetime

6     A duration              B decade

7     A chronological     B permanent

8     A period                 B interval

9     A interim                B abrupt

10   A lapsed                 B elapsed

11   A annual                B eternal

12   A subsequent        B temporary

13   A simultaneous     B instantaneous

14   A anachronisms    B contemporaries

D. Write a word from the boxes in each gap.

1   Would you like to work for a large ………………….. corporation?

2   How much budget is there for the ………………….. campaign?

3   Charlene is a freelance business …………………..; companies hire her to solve particular problems they are facing.

4   My dad’s a senior ………………….. in a huge American corporation.

5   The advertising campaign was ………………….. in that it increased sales by over 50%.

6   Robots are often much more ………………….. than people because they can work 24 hours a day without getting tired, and they don’t make mistakes!

7   The paper had to make several journalists ………………….. last week due to loss of sales.

8   Darren’s home on ………………….. from the army at the moment.

9   How long is the union planning to ………………….. for?

10   They wouldn’t ………………….. someone just for stealing a bit of stationery, would they?

11   Sue used to work here, but then she was ………………….. by a major law firm.

12   I can’t believe they ………………….. Jack just for taking a few paperclips home with him.

E. Circle the correct word.

If you’re about to graduate but are unsure what to do next, why not consider a career in the (1) state / civil service?

Working in the public (2) area / sector provides job security and job satisfaction. There are excellent (3) prospects / predictions for (4) promotion / progress, and you’ll know you’re doing something to benefit society. You’ll be working with highly experienced and professional (5) colleagues / clients in a modern, friendly working environment, and you’ll receive a competitive salary too. We also respect our staff’s right to be part of a (6) club / union.

We want to (7) recruit / elect the brightest and the best. If you think you fit the bill, fill in an application form today

F. Choose the correct word.

1   I’m so …………….. under with work at the moment – it’s awful!

      A iced         B rained

      C snowed   D fogged

2   The company’s announced it’s …………….. off over 1,000 workers.

      A leaving    B laying

      C setting    D giving

3   They’re planning to …………….. down their operation in Greece and concentrate on Eastern Europe.

      A wind        B tie

      C roll           D stretch

4   I’m not sure if I’m doing it right, but I’ll try to …………….. ahead with it anyway.

      A drive       B bang

      C touch      D press

5   Something’s …………….. up, so I’m afraid I won’t be able to make it this afternoon.

      A shown    B pulled

      C cropped D cut

6   Could you lend me some money to …………….. me over to the end of the month?

      A hand       B tide

      C get           D make

7   I didn’t …………….. out to be a millionaire – I just wanted to run a successful business.

      A set           B go

      C begin       D watch

8   Mona’s going to leave early this afternoon but she says she’ll …………….. up the hours tomorrow.

      A find         B make

      C catch       D bring

G. Write a phrasal verb from the box in the correct form in each gap.

1   If the business does well, I’ll hopefully be able to …………………. a part-time assistant in the spring.

2   We …………………. having to scrap the whole advertising campaign and start again.

3   Let’s …………………. this session by introducing ourselves, shall we?

4   Josh can …………………. a whole day playing online computer games with his mates.

5   No teenager really knows what …………………. for them career-wise in the future.

6   That’s enough TV! It’s time to …………………. and get on with your homework now.

7   I usually …………………. work at about half five so I’m home by six thirty most nights.

8   As soon as the food was brought out, everyone …………………. and helped themselves.

H. Phrasal verbs with away, such as while away, are often connected to the idea of an action continuing for a long time. Which of these phrasal verbs with away are also connected to this idea?

1   Mary was beavering away at her desk when I last popped in to see her.

2   Let’s break away from the main crowd and go over there for a while.

3   You can’t explain it away as a simple mistake. You did it on purpose!

4   I think I’ll give these old clothes away. Do you know any charity shops around here?

5   My fingers are tired! I‘ve been hammering away at this keyboard for hours.

6   I’m sorry to tell you that your great-grandfather passed away during the night.

7   Keep plodding away and you’ll finish your novel eventually.

8   Can we have a break? We’ve been slaving away all morning.

9   We can hear Carol typing away at her keyboard from the living room.

10   Don’t disturb your father. He’s working away on some designs at the moment.

I. Write one word in each gap.

1   The President’s just been elected to a second term ……………….. office.

2   I don’t know how anyone can sit in front of a computer for hours ……………….. end.

3   My great-grandmother used to work ……………….. a servant in a huge mansion.

4   My exam results should come ……………….. day now.

5   Applicants must be at least 18 years ……………….. age.

6   You’d better start working a bit harder or you’ll be ……………….. of a job!

7   Never mind ……………….. you get paid for it or not, you can’t work this weekend. We’re going to a wedding!

8   ……………….. the time Jeremy got there, we’d already left.

J. 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.

1   The government needs to stop this ridiculous bureaucratic system. put

      The government needs to ……………………………….. this ridiculous bureaucratic system.

2   No one except Jake has ever beaten me at a game of chess. only

      Jake ……………………………….. beat me at a game of chess.

3   It’s time we began to sort through these cupboards. start

      It’s time we ……………………………….. through these cupboards.

4   Julie asked for a second’s thinking time before she answered. just

      ‘Could ……………………………….. think before I answer?’ asked Julie.

5   I can’t really remember the last time I had a day off. ages

      It feels ……………………………….. I had a day off.

6   Sorry, Alan, but right now I’m rather busy. in

      Sorry, Alan, but at ……………………………….. I’m rather busy.

7   They painted the wall very well. made

      They ……………………………….. the wall.

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

1   Jenny, …………………….. you’ve been here for three years, we need to start thinking about your promotion.

      I’m sure Harold was here just …………………….., wasn’t he?

      You can share my computer for …………………….., but they’ll have to get you your own quite soon.

2   Thanks so much for the flowers – they really made my …………………….. .

      My grandparents love going on …………………….. trips to towns by the sea.

      You’d think that, in this …………………….. and age, a 25 year old would know what a blog is.

3   I was just …………………….. to go home, but that’s okay.

      It’s …………………….. time you got home – we’ve been worried sick!

      We’re definitely going to have to do something …………………….. increasing our market share.

4   I should get a reply from them any …………………….. now.

      It’ll only take them a …………………….. to update the website.

      Now is the …………………….. of truth!

5   We’re definitely living in the …………………….. of information.

      This particular wine doesn’t really mature with …………………….. .

      It’s time you started acting your …………………….., young man!

6   It’s just a typical 1960s …………………….. block.

      The media start prying into your private life when you run for public …………………….. .

      You’d better talk to Derek at head …………………….. .

7   I began to realise in the …………………….. of the meeting that my proposal was not going to be accepted.

      We’re going to have to decide on a …………………….. of action to take.

      All they said was that they’d contact me in due …………………….. .

8   I do hope we’re going to arrive …………………….. time.

      How anyone could work in that office for years …………………….. end I just don’t know.

               Jim bet me that Doug was going to get the sack so I immediately said: ‘You’re ……………………..!’

L. Each of the words in bold is incorrect. Rewrite them correctly.

1   I haven’t seen Carol in monkey’s years. I wonder what she’s doing these days.

2   When I started work here, we didn’t have e-mail or even fax machines. That was long before your moment.

3   I was talking to Sandra in the Personnel Department the recent day and she didn’t mention redundancies.

4   I nearly sent that e-mail to Dave by mistake, but luckily I realised in the bill of time.

5   Tina’s happy with her job for the time coming, but I expect she’ll start looking for a new one in a year or so.

6   The boss might take you out for a meal once in a blue planet, but don’t expect it to happen any time soon!

7   Sheila says she’s given up smoking with good and that she’ll never have another cigarette as long as she lives.

8   I get to go on business trips from once to time, but it’s certainly not a regular occurrence.

9   I invited Graham to dinner on the edge of the moment. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first.

10   Let me know if you need help and I’ll be there at the drop of a pen!

11   ‘Have you finished the reports yet?’ ‘Not yet. All in nice time!’

12   The photocopier still worked, but I thought it needed a service. You know what they say: ‘a repair in time saves nine’ and all that!

M. Each of the words in bold is in an incorrect form. Rewrite them correctly.

1   The salary they offered me exceeded my wildest expecting!

2   I hope I last his previous secretary – she only worked here for a week!

3   Once you’ve been self-employed for a while, it’s very difficult to become just another company employer again.

4   Hargreaves & Son are one of our main competitions.

5   There were over 100 appliers for the position, apparently.

6   Your supervisor will be checking up on you period.

7   If this project’s successful, the possibilities for expansion are unending.

8   A good business suit is timely – it never goes out of fashion.

9   The building looks a bit future from the outside but it’s quite traditional inside.

10   You have to be prepared for every event in this line of work.

11   Getting angry with your boss is productive because it’ll just make a bad situation worse.

N. The prefix counter-, as in counterproductive, is sometimes used with nouns, adjectives and verbs to suggest the idea of ‘opposite’. Write each of these words with counter- in the correct gap.

1   As a spy during the war, I was often involved in …………………………, where we tried to stop the enemy from discovering our secrets.

2   The government will have to take some ………………………… to stop inflation from increasing.

3   The reports by independent journalists will hopefully ………………………… the government’s inaccurate propaganda.

4   The army’s planning to mount a ………………………… later today.

5   You’ll have to speak to my ………………………… in the New York office.

6   We have to ………………………… this rise in crime by toughening up the sentencing laws.

7   I’m not interested in mainstream art; I’m far more concerned with art produced in the ………………………… .

8   If he accuses me of lying, I’m going to ………………………… by saying I know he lied about the sales figures last month.

1   Doctors’ handwriting is usually illegible.

2   There’s a beautiful illustration on page six.

3   People who are illiterate may need some help filling in forms.

4   She had an illustrious career as a local politician.

5   It’s a totally illiberal law that’s just going to restrict our freedoms further.

6   Several senior politicians have resigned over the illegality of the war.

7   Illegitimate children were given very little social recognition in the past.

8   The magician didn’t really cut his assistant in two – it was only an illusion.

9   The lights illuminated the building beautifully at night.

O. Use the word given in capitals at the end of the line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line.

Margaret Thatcher

Few British politicians have aroused more passion than Margaret Thatcher, who was Prime Minister from 1979 until 1990. It is not (1) ………………………. (INCIDENT) that, during her premiership, Britain went through a period of (2) ………………………. (MOMENT) change. Those who support Thatcher’s policies say she was responsible for changing Britain’s (3) ………………………. (ANTIQUE) union laws and smashing union power, paving the way for the creation of a modern, (4) ………………………. (COMPETE) economy which required much higher (5) ………………………. (PRODUCE), efficiency and wage-restraint on the part of the (6) ………………………. (WORK) than in the past. One of her core beliefs was that it was (7) ………………………. (MANAGE) which was responsible for running companies, rather than unions or the government.

Critics of Margaret Thatcher point to the very high (8) ………………………. (EMPLOY) figures of the 1980s -the official (9) ………………………. (JOB) total had risen from just over one million people out of work in 1979 to over three million by 1982.

When Margaret Thatcher realised that she had lost the support of many of her MPs in November 1990 and stood down as Prime Minister, the nation was split. Some saw her resignation as (10) ………………………. (TIME), and wished she would continue. Others felt it could not have come too soon. Even today, (11) ………………………. (HISTORY) and economists are divided as to whether her legacy was positive or negative overall.