TEST
PUZZLE TIME
1. NOUNS FOLLOWING “AT”
Guess the noun by filling in the blanks using the spelling clues given.
01. The car came round the corner at full _ p _ _ _ .
02. I’m not exactly sure how old he is, but at a _ _ e s _ I’d say about forty-five.
03. He was a very good shot and could kill an elk at a _ i _ t _ _ _ _ of 300 metres.
04. We decided to leave at d _ _ _ in order to get there before midday.
05. He was very reluctant to do it at _ _ _ _ t , but in the end he agreed.
06. Although we had not met before, my host soon made me feel completely at _ _ m _ .
07. Despite what people might hope, women are still at a d _ _ _ _ v _ _ t _ _ _ when it comes to getting a top job.
08. The normal price was $45, but since I knew him, he let me have them at a d _ s _ _ _ _ _ .
09. Working in a bank isn’t the most exciting job in the world, perhaps, but at _ e a _ _ it pays the rent.
10. In Britain it is very common to put the cat out at _ _ _ h _ .
11. Between 1939 and 1945, Britain was at _ _ r with Germany.
12. At _ _ s _ , after being turned down by ten publishers, he managed to get his novel accepted.
13. I’m afraid Ms Simpson’s not here at the _ _ m _ n _ . Could you call back later?
14. There was a large notice in the school cloakroom that said: Coats left here at your own r _ _ _ .
15. He went out to India to experience at first _ a _ _ the Indian way of life.
2. NOUNS FOLLOWING “BY”
Guess the noun by filling in the blanks in the following sentences.
01. I didn’t mean to do it; it was by _ c _ _ _ _ n t .
02. I’m sorry, but Dr Salmon sees patients by a _ p _ _ _ t _ _ _ _ only.
03. By all _ e _ _ s bring your girlfriend with you to the party on Sunday.
04. I’d hate to go from England to Australia by _ o _ _ . Just imagine being seasick for six weeks!
05. He didn’t have any cash, so he paid by _ h _ _ u _ .
06. Hotels have to have fire escapes by _ _ w .
07. I know her by _ _ m _ , but I’ve never actually seen her.
08. Statistically, the safest way of travelling is by a _ _ .
09. I usually buy my eggs by the d _ _ _ _ .
10. As the troublemakers wouldn’t leave the disco, they had to be removed by _ _ r _ _ .
11. The announcement that the company had been taken over took all the
employees by
_ u _ p _ _ _ _ .
12. By the _ _ y , my name’s James Samuels. I’m Miss Thompson’s assistant.
13. He was a doctor by _ _ _ f _ s _ _ _ _ .
14. My cousin is related to the Archbishop of Canterbury by _ _ r r _ _ _ _ . Her husband is the Archbishop’s brother.
15. She was a shy, retiring person by _ _ t _ _ e who hated being the centre of attention.
3. NOUNS FOLLOWING “IN”
Guess the noun by filling in the blanks in the following sentences.
01. The most popular game in England in the _ u _ _ e _ is cricket.
02. This car may be old, but it’s still in very good _ _ _ d _ t _ _ _ .
03. Keep away from Simon; he’s in a really bad _ _ o _ this morning.
04. I can’t stop, I’m afraid. I’m in a _ _ _ _ y .
05. All school fees must be paid in _ _ v _ _ c _ .
06. In an _ m _ r _ _ _ _ y dial 999.
07. That joke was in very bad t _ _ _ _ , Colin. You should be ashamed of yourself.
08. You’d better take some extra money with you in _ a _ _ you need to take a taxi home.
09. During the Second World War, most messages were sent in _ _ d _ .
10. What I’m about to tell you is in c _ _ f _ _ _ _ c _ . So please don’t say anything to anyone else.
11. The secret service tried to warn the President that his life would be in _ _ _ g _ r if he carried out his plan to visit South Africa.
12. I’m afraid the bank can’t lend you more money, Mrs Jarvis. You’re already over $1000 in _ _ b _ .
13. I always stay in _ e _ until 12 o’clock on Sundays.
14. In _ o _ _ l _ _ _ _ n , may I say how grateful I am to everyone for making today such a big success.
15. There’s nothing wrong with drinking alcohol as long as it’s done in _ _ d _ r _ t _ _ _ .
16. The detective asked the witness to describe the scene of the crime in _ _ t _ _ l .
17. My mother is in _ _ s _ _ t _ _ at the moment with a broken leg.
18. This is the only copy of the book in _ x _ _ t _ _ _ _ . All the others were destroyed in a fire.
19. In my _ _ i _ i _ _ , Fawlty Towers with John Cleese was the funniest television comedy series ever made.
20. He told us that if we were ever in _ _ f _ _ _ _ l _ _ , we could rely on him for help.
21. I don’t dislike classical music at all. In _ a _ _ , I often go to the opera.
22. “I’ll overlook it this time,” said the teacher. “But remember to do your homework in _ u _ u _ _ .”
23. Winning $2 million on the football pools made it possible for him to live in c _ _ _ _ _ t for the rest of his life.
24. He didn’t want anyone to recognise him, so he went to the party in _ _ _ g _ i _ _ .
25. Are you sure the projector’s in f _ _ _ _ ? Everything looks very blurred to me.
26. Pam can’t concentrate on anything these days. She’s fallen in _ _ v _ again, I’m afraid.
27. Although the soldier was obviously in great _ _ _ n , he never once complained.
28. Ask your solicitor if you’re in _ _ u _ t about anything in the contract.
29. I see that long hair is in _ a _ h _ _ _ again.
30. In g _ _ _ r _ _ , women are more sensitive than men.
4. NOUNS FOLLOWING “ON”
Guess the noun by filling in the blanks in the following sentences.
01. The soldiers had the orders to shoot the deserter on _ i _ _ t .
02. “On no _ c _ _ _ _ t are you to accept lifts from strangers,” said the mother to her child.
03. We’d all better arrive on _ _ m _ tomorrow; otherwise we might miss the train.
04. I see Brian’s put his house on _ a _ _ . Mind you, I don’t think it’ll be very easy to sell.
05. The suspect was released from prison on b _ _ _ .
06. Your book hasn’t come yet. But it’s on o _ _ _ _ , so it should arrive by Friday.
07. “You’re going to go on a long _ o _ r _ _ _ ,” said the fortune-teller.
08. I’ve put on a lot of weight lately. I think I’d better go on a _ _ _ t again.
09. All her friends were busy, so she had to go to the party on her _ _ n .
10. Tonight is important. So remember, be on your best b _ _ _ v _ _ _ r .
11. Before buying anything, he sent for a sample on _ p _ r _ _ _ l .
12. I hate planning things; it’s much more fun to do everything on _ _ p _ l _ _ .
13. I never pay cash; I always buy on _ r _ _ _ _ .
14. Ms Temple isn’t here this week. She’s gone to Japan on _ _ s _ _ _ _ s .
15. Don’t write to me between 1 and 16 June, as I shall be on _ o _ _ d _ _ then.
5. WHAT NOUN FOLLOWS THE PREPOSITION?
Guess the noun by filling in the blanks in the following sentences.
01. I don’t mind a bit of fun, but putting salt in Grandma’s coffee is beyond a _ _ k _ .
02. How long can you stay under w _ _ _ _ before you have to come up for air?
03. John is in Saudi Arabia at p _ _ _ _ _ t , but he should be home next week.
04. Before we were married, you said that you would love me for _ v _ _ .
05. The idea looks good on _ a _ e _ , but will it really work?
06. The parcel that the postman threw on to my desk has fragile, handle with _ _ r _ written on it.
07. The orchard is beautiful in spring, when all the fruit trees are in _ _ _ s s _ _ .
08. I can see from your tie that you had a boiled egg for _ _ _ _ k _ _ _ t .
09. When I went down on my _ _ e e _ and asked her to marry me, she said that I was not tall enough.
10. I didn’t get a rise: the boss said that it was out of the _ u _ _ _ _ _ n this year.
11. Practical training is often known as “on the _ _ b ” training.
12. This encyclopedia is out of _ _ t _ : it says that the present ruler of France is a Corsican.
13. When the police told him he was under _ r r _ _ _ for bigamy, my grandfather was delighted.
14. The park is safe during the day, but you should not go there after _ _ r _ .
15. When you park, don’t just put on the handbrake. Leave your car in _ e a _ as well.
KEYS
1. 1. speed; 2. guess; 3. distance; 4. dawn; 5. first; 6. home; 7. disadvantage; 8. discount; 9. least; 10. night; 11. war; 12. last; 13. moment; 14. risk; 15. hand
2. 1. accident; 2. appointment; 3. means; 4. boat; 5. cheque; 6. law; 7. name; 8. air; 9. dozen; 10. force; 11. surprise; 12. way; 13. profession; 14. marriage; 15. nature
3. 1. summer; 2. condition; 3. mood; 4. hurry; 5. advance; 6. emergency; 7. taste; 8. case; 9. code; 10. confidence; 11. danger; 12. debt; 13. bed; 14. conclusion; 15. moderation; 16. detail 17. hospital; 18. existence; 19. opinion; 20. difficulty; 21. fact; 22. future; 23. comfort; 24. disguise; 25. focus; 26. love; 27. pain; 28. doubt; 29. fashion; 30. general
4. 1. sight; 2. account; 3. time; 4. sale; 5. bail; 6. order; 7. journey; 8. diet; 9. own; 10. behaviour; 11. approval; 12. impulse; 13. credit; 14. business; 15. holiday
5. 1. joke; 2. water; 3. present; 4. forever; 5. paper; 6. care; 7. blossom; 8. breakfast; 9. knees; 10. question; 11. job; 12. date; 13. arrest; 14. dark; 15. gear