PROVERBAIL PROBLEMS

There is a word missing from each of these proverbs. Choose the correct one from the three possibilities.

1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the ______ .

bush, tree, sky

2. Let sleeping dogs ______ .

sleep, dream, lie

3. Many ______ make light work.

servants, hands, cooks

4. Curiosity killed a ______ .

mouse, kitten, cat

5. Prevention is better than ______ .

cure, punishment, medicine

8. ______ is thicker than water.

Coffee, Blood, Soup

7. An Englishman’s home is his ______ .

security, castle, palace

8. Birds of a ______ flock together.

family, cage, feather

9. It’s no use crying over ______ milk.

sour, spilt, tinned

10. ______ begins at home.

Charity, Learning, Love

11. Every ______ has its day.

flower, event, dog

Answers: 1. bush; 2. lie (a proverb means that one should not search for trouble or that one should leave well enough alone); 3. hands; 4. cat (it is dangerous to be curious); 5. cure; 6. Blood (one should have more loyalty to people who are related to one than to other people); 7. castle; 8. feather (such people are usually very friendly); 9. spilt; 10. Charity (one should be kind to one’s own family, friends before trying to help others); 11. dog (everyone will get a chance)

DOUBLE DEFINITIONS

Some words have several different meanings. Answer these clues and find the words.

1. Something you can smoke; a musical instrument; and a tube to carry things such as liquids.

2. Another word for a species or kind of thing; printed words.

3. A part of the body; the boss of a firm or a school; and the side of a coin with a picture of the country’s ruler on it.

4. Not very heavy; and something that helps you see when it is dark.

5. One of the symbols in the English alphabet; or something you might receive in the post.

6. A statement of facts; an achievement in sport; and a piece of music played on the radios.

7. A design or shape; instructions for knitting a sweater; or pieces of paper used for cutting out shapes of material to make a dress.

8. A gift; and the opposite of past.

9.Part of a river where it meets the sea; and part of the face.

10.A tree whose leaves are used in cooking; a curve in the seashore; or the cry of a hunting dog.

Answers: 1. pipe; 2. type; 3. head; 4. light; 5. letter; 6. record; 7. pattern; 8. present; 9. mouth; 10. bay

TENSES: MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Alex didn’t come to see the film last night because he _____ it before.

a) saw

b) had seen

c) has seen

d) was seen

2. A cold wind ____ for the last three days.

a) has been blowing

b) blows

c) is blowing

d) blew

3. I ____ as ill as I do now for a long time.

a) wasn’t feeling

b) haven’t been feeling

c) didn’t feel

d) haven’t felt

4. I wish I _____ younger.

a) had been

b) would be

c) were

d) have been

5. She said she _____ to me, but she didn’t.

a) would have written

b) will have written

c) would write

d) will write

6. If he _____ lucky, he could get the job.

a) is

b) had been

c) would be

d) would have been

7. She told him that if he _____ his promise, she _____ speak to him again.

a) breaks; would never

b) breaks; will never

c) broke; will never

d) broke; would never

8. You _____ a six-month contract when you are offered a permanent position elsewhere. What will you do?

a) have just started

b) had started

c) were starting

d) started

9. I’ll see you in August when I _____ back.

a) will come

b) came

c) will have come

d) come

10. They claimed they _____ the law.

a) haven’t broken

b) were not breaking

c) hadn’t broken

d) wouldn’t breaking

11. My friend _____ whe n the lesson started.

a) hasn’t arrived

b) wasn’t arrived

c) hadn’t arrived

d) wasn’t arriving

12. He _____ on the bank fishing when he _____ a man’s hat floating down the river.

a) has sat; had seen

b) was sitting; saw

c) sat; was seeing

d) was sitting; has seen

13. July 10th is my wedding anniversary. Next month, my husband and I will _____ for twenty years.

a) marry

b) have married

c) be married

d) have been married

14. Who _____ the boss tell him that?

a) did hear

b) does hear

c) hears

d) heard

15. Something extremely strange ________ yesterday while we were out jogging.

a) was happened

b) happened

c) has been happening

d) has happened

16. I _______________ this letter around for days and haven’t even looked at it.

a) carry

b) have been carrying

c) am carrying

d) was carrying

17. Ouch! I __________ my thumb!

a) have cut

b) am to cut

c) had cut

d) had been cut

18. I _____ the flowers yesterday morning.

a) have been watering

b) watered

c) have watered

d) did watered

19. As soon as you ____________ that, I’d like you to go to bed.

a) did

b) will do

c) will have done

d) have done

20. By then I _____ my driving test, I hope.

a) pass

b) will have passed

c) will be passed

d) have passed

By Elek Mathe

VERBS: FILLING THE GAPS

Complete the story by supplying the correct form of verb

One day I _______1_______ (to return) home later than usual – I _______2_______ (to have) a lot of work to do at the office that day. I _______3_______ (to walk) along London streets _______4_______ (to look) for a cafe _______5_______ (to have) supper: I _______6_______ (to go) down Bond Street, _______7_______ (to turn) left and _______8_______ (to find) myself in a quiet street. I _______9_______ (to see) a small cafe. I _______10_______ (to die) of hunger as I hardly _______11_______ (to have) anything to eat that day. So I _______12_______ (to feel) happy when I _______13_______ (to see) light in the windows and _______14_______ (to come in). The owner _______15_______ (to welcome) me warmly and hardly I _______16_______ (to say) a word when he _______17_______ (to bring) a hot supper and a cup of tea for me. It _______18_______ (to be) just what I _______19_______ (to dream) of all the way. After supper I _______20_______ (to thank) him and _______21_______ (to ask):

“Why your cafe still _______22_______ (to open)? It _______23_______ (to be) nearly midnight, eh?”

“The thing _______24_______ (to be)”, – _______25_______ (to answer) the man, – “that one of my customers _______26_______ (to fall) asleep here at the table”.

I _______27_______ (to look around) and really _______28_______ (to see) a man _______29_______ (to sleep) at the table with a bottle of whisky on it. “ Why _______30_______ (not to wake up) you him up?”

“I _______31_______ (to try) to”. “He _______32_______ (to refuse) to pay?”

“Just the contrary. Every time I _______33_______ (to try) _______34_______ (to wake) him up, he _______35_______ (to pay) the bill, _______36_______ (to give) me a tip and _______37_______ (to fall) asleep again. So I _______38_______ (not to think) I _______39_______ (to close) my cafe until he _______40_______ (to wake) up himself, _______41_______ (to understand) what _______42_______ (to happen) around him and _______43_______ (to leave) the cafe.”

I _______44_______ (to come) across a lot of smart people in my life, but upon my word, I don’t think I ever _______45_______ (to know) a cunning man like him.