TESTS

PREPOSITIONS

1. AT, BY, FOR, IN

1. He sent a copy of his will to his bank ___ safe keeping.

2. The house is to be sold ___ auction.

3. Although I practise quite a lot, I never seem to win very often ___ tennis.

4. Let Paul work it out; he has an aptitude ___ figures.

5. You could tell ___ glance that he was no ordinary speaker.

6. Most people think the government is to blame ___ rising unemployment.

7. Although their marriage was not a happy one, they decided to stay together ___ sake of the children.

8. There has been a sharp increase ___ house prices in recent months.

9. They began to drop out of the race one ___ one.

10. Do you know of a cure ___ baldness?

11. She takes great pride ___ her work.

12. He was the sort of person who immediately made you feel ___ ease.

13. Did she give you any reason ___ her behaviour?

14. I’m sorry, but I’m not ___ liberty to tell you any more.

15. Ann’s got very strange taste ___ clothes, hasn’t she?

16. Could you come back in half an hour? Mr Reed’s ___ lunch at the moment.

17. We didn’t know ___ certain whether they would come or not.

18. Think of a number. Now multiply it ___ seven.

19. Do sit down. Mr Brown will join you ___ a moment.

20. The attendance ___ Sunday’s meeting was very poor.

2. AT, ABOUT, AGAINST, FROM, OF

1. I don’t know her exact age; I can only guess ___ how old she really is.

2. She intended to post my letter, but she forgot all ___ it.

3. How does a frog differ ___ a toad?

4. Tall people are definitely ___ an advantage at a football match.

5. It’s a pity ___ poor old Fred; everyone got a Christmas present except him.

6. After the war, several people were tried for crimes ___ humanity.

7. I know ___ experience that I do my best work early in the morning.

8. Mrs Dale says her husband neglects her. I don’t know what she’s worrying ___ .

9. I am astonished ___ the way my students can spend all night at the disco.

10. On May Day, in a startling departure ___ tradition, the President rode a bicycle.

11. Is it possible to insure yourself ___ nuclear attack?

12. Today I feel really miserable because I cannot find anything to complain ___ .

13. Resulting ___ their exhaustive research into the matter, scientists can now confirm that the climate is getting warmer.

14. I bought an old car cheaply, cleaned it up and sold it next day ___ a profit.

15. Before going to Africa, Graham had himself inoculated ___ tetanus, yellow fever and cholera.

16. At school today, we had a long discussion ___ the best way to learn a foreign language.

17. The best reason for having strict rules at school today is that it gives the pupils something to rebel ___ when they are older.

18. “How can I discourage my boyfriend ___ trying to kiss me all the time?” “Eat plenty of garlic.”

19. Raise the gun to your shoulder, aim ___ the target and try not to kill anyone.

20. Picking your nose in public is not illegal, but it is certainly an offence ___ good manners.

3. IN, INTO, ON, OVER

1. Do you take pride ___ your appearance, or are you just vain?

2. I tripped ___ the cat and fell downstairs.

3. The film “The Magnificent Seven” was based ___ a Japanese story about seven samurai.

4. Don’t kiss the Prince, or he might change ___ a frog.

5. If you can’t finish the report by Friday, please try to get it done ___ the weekend.

6. Father must be ___ a bad temper.

7. All forms of travel are expensive nowadays, but ___ balance, air travel offers the best value for money.

8. Extensive research ___ artificial sweeteners has shown that rats die quickly if you drop large blocks of saccharin on them.

9. There seems to be some confusion ___ what Nelson actually said as he lay dying: Was it “Kiss me, Hardy” or “Kismet, Hardy?”

10. There has been a considerable improvement ___ the flow of traffic since they opened the extra lanes.

11. There’s no point in getting upset ___ things that are beyond your control.

12. The only way to prevent children from getting ___ trouble is to keep them locked.

13. The party’s new policy document puts a strong emphasis ___ public ownership of basic utilities.

14. I am a bit weak ___ science subjects, but I am trying to improve.

15. If you put much effort ___ your studies, you might have a chance.

16. I’ve been ___ your essay, and I wore out three red pens making corrections.

17. Is it true that Peter is currently engaged ___ writing a book about Swedish humour?

18. Do you pride yourself ___ looking smart, or are you simply trying to impress me?

19. Make yourself a drink while I go and slip ___ something more comfortable.

20. His boss takes great pleasure ___ humiliating people.

4. IN, OUT OF, TO, UNDER, WITH

1. ___ luck, we should be in London by 3 o’clock.

2. Would you like to contribute ___ our campaign fund?

3. It’s not like John to lose his temper. It’s completely ___ character.

4. “You are ___ arrest, sir.”

5. The match resulted ___ a goalless draw after over time.

6. With increasing competition from overseas, several factories are threatened ___ closure.

7. The talks broke down when the Cubans decided to pull ___ negotiations and go home.

8. “Are all the preparations made?” “Don’t worry, everything is ___ hand.”

9. You look really ___ the weather. Are you ill?

10. I told her ___ her face exactly what I thought of her.

11. He has started to take an interest ___ girls.

12. We have a good working relationship ___ the local authorities.

13. The proposal to introduce a local income tax is still ___ discussion.

14. The car went over the brow of the hill and was soon ___ sight.

15. I was ___ the impression that you had to be twenty-one to vote in general elections.

16. My neighbour’s garage, which is adjacent ___ my house, is full of rubbish.

17. This is supposed to be a socialist country, but it is socialist ___ name only.

18. What it amounts ___ is this: the word “socialist” means what the government want it to mean.

19. I’ve got a pet African buffalo because I wanted something a little ___ the ordinary.

20. Are you familiar ___ Professor’s work on maths?”

5. AFTER, AT, IN, ON

1. “Who destroyed the Temple of Jerusalem?” “I don’t know, sir, but I expect they will blame it ___ me.”

2. When the offer of a free trip to Holland was made, John was very quick ___ the mark, and managed to get the first ticket.

3. Most people would jump ___ the chance to spend a year in America, all expenses paid.

4. I asked him not to involve me ___ his personal affairs.

5. Was he named ___ his grandfather?

6. If trains always leave ___ schedule, why do so many of them arrive late at the other end?

7. The survivors of the Titanic were ___ sea for several days before being rescued.

8. My husband brought some flowers today. He must be ___ something!

9. We were all very excited ___ the prospect of a free trip to Paris.

10. Does it matter what a national politician does ___ private as long as he performs well in his job?

11. Susan is disabled but she likes to do things for herself: she hates to be dependent ___ people.

12. ___ careful consideration, the government has decided not to put up the price of ice-cream.

13. Don’t get annoyed ___ people who push past you without saying “Excuse me.”

14. There’s a man over there with binoculars. Do you think he is spying ___ us?

15. The public is taking a lot of interest ___ the new courses being offered by the Open University.

16. Please, Father, may I go to the cinema with John tonight? ___ all I am twenty years old now.

17. Professor Jonah Newt is a specialist ___ marine biology.

18. When I met my wife, it was love ___ first sight.

19. “Would you like a drink, officer?” “Not while I’m ___ duty, sir.”

20. Professor Tones is absorbed at the moment ___ a study of the feeding cats.

KEYS:

1. 1. for; 2. by/at; 3. at; 4. for; 5. at; 6. for; 7. for; 8. in; 9. by; 10. for; 11. in; 12. at; 13. for; 14. at; 15. in; 16. at; 17. for; 18. by; 19. in; 20. at

2. 1. at; 2. about; 3. from; 4. at; 5. about; 6. against; 7. from; 8. about; 9. at; 10. from; 11. against; 12. about; 13. from; 14. at; 15. against; 16. about; 17. against; 18. from; 19. at; 20. against

3. 1. in; 2. over; 3. on; 4. into; 5. over; 6. in; 7. on; 8. into, on; 9. over; 10. in; 11. over; 12. into; 13. on; 14. in; 15. into; 16. over; 17. in; 18. on; 19. into; 20. in

4. 1. with; 2. to; 3. out of; 4. under; 5. in; 6. with; 7. out of; 8.  in; 9. under; 10. to; 11. in; 12. with; 13. under; 14. out of; 15. under; 16. to; 17. in; 18. to; 19. out of; 20. with

5. 1. on; 2. off; 3. at; 4. in; 5. after; 6. on; 7. at; 8. after; 9. at; 10. in; 11. on; 12. after; 13. at; 14. on; 15. in; 16. after; 17. in; 18. at; 19. on; 20. in

Compiled by Elena Kisunko, Moscow, School No. 651