CAE Use of English Part 4

always come easily to

As learning new languages had never been a problem for her, Katy didn't expect to have any difficulties when she went to live abroad. (COME) Learning new languages had ____ her so Katy didn't expect to have any difficulties when she went to live abroad.

sooner had the tennis players gone

As soon as the tennis players went onto the court, it started raining. (HAD) No ____ onto the court than it started raining.

had to be put off

'We'll have to postpone the meeting until next week, as a lot of people are on leave', the manager said. (OFF) The manager said the meeting ____ until the following week, as a lot of people were on leave.

they had in mind

'What are you thinking of doing for the college's centenary celebration?' the tutor asked the students. (MIND) The tutor asked the students what ____ for the college's centenary celebration.

not to let her children watch

'You should stop your children watching so much television', Mary's sister told her. (LET) Mary's sister advised her ____ so much television.

unless I came early

'You won't get a good seat if you come late', said Leslie to me. (UNLESS) Leslie said that ____, I wouldn't get a good seat.

Many things have

A lot has happened since you've been away. (MANY) ____ happened since you've been away.

nowhere near as good at playing

Alan in much better pianist than Jenny. (NOWHERE) Jenny is ____ the piano as Alan is.

get along with one

Although Karen and Mark have very different personalities and interests, they seem to have a good relationship. (ALONG) Although Karen and Mark have very different personalities and interests, they seem to ____ another very well.

no choice but to

As visibility was getting worse and worse, Bob and Jane had to cut short their sailing trip. (BUT) As visibility was getting worse and worse, Bob and Jane had ____ cut short their sailing trip.

feels the effects of

At this time of year, the area is affected by violent storms. (FEELS) At this time of year, the area often ____ violent storms.

agreement had been reached on

By the end of the meeting, the committee had agreed on the next step. (REACHED) By the end of the committee meeting, an ____ what to do next

far too expensive for Colin to

Colin couldn't possibly afford any of the paintings in that gallery. (FAR) The paintings in that gallery are ____ buy.

illness resulted in him abandoning

Dan abandoned his studies at university because he was ill. (RESULTED) Dan's ____ his studies at university.

any objection to John('s) joining

Do you mind if John joins us for the meeting? (TO) Do you have ____ us for the meeting?

was held in such regard

Dr Rasmesh's colleagues regarded him so highly that they forgave his inability to remember people's names. (HELD) Dr Ramesh ____ by his colleagues that they forgave his inability to remember people's names.

would sooner watch football than play

During the winter I prefer watching football to playing it. (SOONER) During the winter I ____ it.

time that Emily had her hair

Emily's hair badly needs cutting. (TIME) It is high ____ cut.

what matters most to

For many teenagers, their looks are their highest priority. (MATTERS) Appearance is ____ many teenagers.

is no place I would rather

For me this is the best place to live. (RATHER) There ___ live.

fact that Flora was born in

France may be Flora's birthplace but she has never lived there. (BORN) Despite the ____ France, Flora has never lived there.

takes any notice of what people

George never listens to what people tell him. (NOTICE) George never ____ said to him.

make any recommendations for

Guests are welcome to suggest any improvements at Reception. (RECOMMENDATIONS) Guest are welcome to ____ improvements at Reception.

came as a disappointment

Harry was disappointed to hear the news that the match had been cancelled. (CAME) News of the cancellation of the match ____ to Harry.

barely remembered

I almost forgot to bring my keys with me. (BARELY) I ____ to bring my keys with me.

did not strike me as being

I didn't get the impression that he was all upset. (STRIKE) He ____ at all upset.

can't possibly have run

I don't believe that Jane ran that distance in only five minutes! (POSSIBLY) Jane ____ that distance in only five minutes!

is of no consequence to

I don't care which days you work next week. (CONSEQUENCE) It ____ me which days you work next week.

little likelihood of us seeing

I don't think we'll see Simon before he goes to New York. (LIKELIHOOD) There's ____ Simon before he goes to New York.

not in the habit of making

I don't usually make such foolish mistakes. (HABIT) I'm ____ such foolish mistakes.

there is a small chance of

I doubt that Simon will lend us the money. (CHANCE) I think ____ Simon lending us the money to us.

have no head for heights

I enjoyed the view from the top of the tower despite the fact that I hate being in high places like that. (HEAD) Although I ____ I enjoyed the view from the top of the tower.

sooner had I got home than

I had only just got home when the phone rang. (SOONER) No ____ the phone rang.

no difficulty recognising

I hadn't seen Martha for over 20 years, but I didn't find it difficult to recognise her at the airport. (DIFFICULTY) I hadn't seen Martha for over 20 years, but I had ____ her at the airport.

have thought about

I really messed up the first question in the exam. I wish I had considered it more carefully before answering. (THOUGHT) I really messed up the first question in the exam. I should ____ it more carefully.

to have been misinformed about

I think that we owe this passenger an apology, as she was apparently given incorrect train times by our call centre staff. (MISINFORMED) I think we owe this passenger an apology, as she seems ____ train times by our call centre staff.

had the impression that Sue

I thought Sue's original plan was to move to Australia. (IMPRESSION) I ____ was originally planning to move to Australia.

was on the point of calling

I was just about to call you to see what time you were coming. (POINT) I ____ you to see what time you were coming.

caught sight of a boy taking

I was looking out of the window when I saw a boy take something from a man's pocket. (SIGHT) I was looking out of the window when I ____ something from a man's pocket.

brother's account of

I was very shocked when my brother told me what had happened the previous day. (ACCOUNT) I was very shocked by my ____ what had happened the previous day.

Do you think that

I was wondering if you could take us to the airport. (THINK) ____ you could take us to the airport?

no matter what decision

I will support you whatever you decide to do. (MATTER) I will support you ___ you take.

I could take back what

I wish I hadn't said that to her. (TAKE) If only ___ I said to her.

no hesitation in employing

I would be very happy to employ your company in future. (HESITATION) I would have ____ your company in future.

make up for forgetting

I'd like to invite you to dinner to say sorry for forgetting your birthday. (MAKE) I'd like to ____ your birthday by inviting you to dinner.

did away with

I'm not sure which year saw the abolition of capital punishment in this country. (DID) I'm not sure when they ____ capital punishment in this country.

fell short of my expectations

If I'm being honest, I have to say that the play wasn't as good as I'd expected. (SHORT) The play ____, to be honest with you.

unlikely event that her party wins

If her party wins the election, which is unlikely, she'll become President. (EVENT) In the ____ the election, she'll become President.

for the help you gave me

If you hadn't helped me, I could never have moved the wardrobe. (HELP) But ____, I could never have moved the wardrobe.

decision does not matter

It doesn't make a difference to me what you decide to do. (MATTER) Your ___ to me.

is the possibility of

It looks like it might be sunny later. (POSSIBILITY) There ____ sunshine later.

as if you didn't have

It looks like you didn't sleep well last night. (IF) You look ____ much sleep las night.

what made the greatest/strongest impression on

It was the film's music that impressed me most. (IMPRESSION) The film's music was ____ me.

you had better not miss

It's a long walk home, so I advise you not to miss the last train. (BETTER) It's a long walk home, so ____ the last train.

could count on

It's a pity Nico is so unreliable. (COUNT) I wish I ____ Nico.

not only talent but enthusiasm

It's encouraging to discover that the group is both talented and enthusiastic. (ONLY) It's encouraging to discover that the group shows ____ as well.

have made up

Jack has such a vivid imagination, it is possible that he invented the whole story. (MADE) Jack has such a vivid imagination that he might ____ the whole story.

her not to pay attention to

Jane's lawyer suggested that she ignored all the reporters. (ATTENTION) Jane's lawyer advised ____ all the reporters.

from time to time

Jill and I go for a stroll in the countryside occasionally. (TIME) Jill and I go for a stroll in the countryside ____

must have made

Karen says it takes less than an hour to drive there, but I'm sure she has got it wrong. (MUST) Karen says it takes less than an hour to drive there, but she ____ a mistake.

go on foot to the store

Let's walk to the store, instead of driving. (FOOT) Rather than going by car, let's ____

having flu Lucy managed to pass

Lucy succeeded in passing her driving test, even though she had flu. (MANAGED) Despite ____ her driving test.

twice as many men as women

Men outnumber women by two in this profession. (TWICE) There are ____ in this profession.

don't graduate until the age

Most medical students study for their degrees until they are 25. (GRADUATE) Most medical students ____ of 25.

having a reputation for being

Mr Smith was well-known as a bad-tempered man, but he was also fair. (REPUTATION) Despite ____ bad-tempered, Mr Smith was also fair.

have a lot in

My brother and I are alike in many ways. (LOT) My brother and I ____ common.

her responsible for

Nina was driving the car at the time, but I don't think the accident was her fault. (RESPONSIBLE) Nina was driving the car at the time, but I don't hold ____ the accident.

of the loveliest cities that I have

Of all the cities I know, there are few that are more beautiful than St Petersburg. (LOVELIEST) St Petersburg is one ____ visited.

clearly explained the procedure

Once Dr. Smithers had given us a clear explanation of the procedure, we were able to go ahead with the experiment. (EXPLAINED) Once Dr. Smithers had ____, we were able to go ahead with the experiment.

only a matter of time until/before

One day she is going to lose her temper with him. (MATTER) It is ____ she loses her temper with him.

not been for the timely arrival

Only the timely arrival of the police prevented the fight from escalating. (BEEN). Had it ____ of the police, the fight would have escalated.

is supposed to be an efficient

People say that, if you run, you burn calories efficiently. (SUPPOSED) Running ____ way of burning calories.

would rather not be

Please tick this box if you don't want us to inform you about future events. (RATHER) Please tick this box if you ____ sent any information about future events.

were passed over due

Several of the applicants were not considered because of their age. (PASSED) Several of the applicants ____ to their age.

in order to be

She decided to move to a part-time job so that she could spend more time with her young children. (ORDER) She decided to move to a part-time job ____ able to spend more time with her young children.

herself on her ability

She is proud of being able to write clearly. (ABILITY) She prides ____ to write clearly.

no circumstances can you

Signing the contract without the director's approval is not allowed. (CIRCUMSTANCES) Under ____ sign the contract without the director's approval.

and I have a difference of

Simon doesn't agree with me about which slogan is best for the campaign. (DIFFERENCE) Simon ____ opinion over which slogan is best for the campaign.

had great difficulty

Simon found the recipe book very hard to follow. (DIFFICULTY) Simon ____ in following the recipe book.

are required to fill

Students wishing to enrol on the course should complete all sections of the application form (REQUIRED) Students wishing to enrol on the course ____ in all sections of the application form.

order to avoid leaving

The burglar wore gloves so as not to leave any fingerprints behind. (AVOID) The burglar wore gloves in ____ any fingerprints behind

was of no consequence

The change in the company's logo didn't make any difference to the majority of its customers. (CONSEQUENCE) The change in the company's logo ____ to the majority of its costumers.

was a gradual rise in

The employment rate rose gradually as the economy began to recover. (GRADUAL) There ____ the employment rate as the economy began to recover.

has succeeded in cutting

The factory has been able to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50% in the last year. (SUCCEEDED) The factory ____ back its CO2 emissions by 50% in the last year.

have been imposed as a

The fire at the oil depot has led to the imposition of stricter safety regulations. (IMPOSED) Stricter safety regulations ____ result of the fire at the oil depot.

with the exception of

The government has banned all exports to the country except for food and medicine. (EXCEPTION) The government has banned all exports to the country ____ food and medicine.

to be a thorough revision of

The guidelines for the appointment of new staff need to be thoroughly revised. (THOROUGH) There needs ____ the guidelines for the appointment of new staff.

gave a faultless performance

The ice-skater performed faultlessly and received full marks. (GAVE) The ice-skater ____ and received full marks.

tended to be keener

The judges were generally less keen on portraits painted from photos than portraits painted from life. (TENDED) The judges ____ on portraits painted from life than portraits painted from photos.

make it illegal to drive

The local council wants to impose a ban on driving at more than 30 kilometres per hour anywhere in his area. (ILLEGAL) The local council wants to ____ at more than 30 kilometres per hour anywhere in this area.

makes no difference to

The other students don't mind whether you give your presentation on Thursday or Friday. (DIFFERENCE) It ____ the other students whether you give your presentation on Thursday or Friday.

any difference between

The photo and the portrait look identical to me. (DIFFERENCE) I can't see ____ the photo and the portrait.

was weeks before

The trees blown down in the storm were not cleared away for weeks. (BEFORE) It ____ the trees blown down in the storm were cleared away.

has not changed

The voting process is the same as it was last year. (CHANGED) The voting process ____ since last year.

bound to be a simple explanation

There must be a simple way to explain what happened. (BOUND) There is ____ for what happened.

did they bring up

They didn't mention the subject of unpaid holidays until the end of the interview. (BRING) Not until the end of the interview ____ the subject of unpaid holidays.

does not look like it

This painting does not appear to be finished. (LOOK) This painting ____ is finished.

Tom had left on time

Tom missed his plane because he was late leaving for the airport. (TIME) If only ____ for the airport, he wouldn't have missed the plane.

already started by the time

We were late arriving at the cinema and so missed the start of the film. (BY) The film had ____ we arrived at the cinema.

no chance of winning

You definitely will not win the lottery. (CHANCE) You have got ____ the lottery.