Understanding Negative Expressions

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: Do you really need to run the tests all over again?

B: I have to. The results from the previous ones were barely reliable.

• They should be announced.

• They should be announced.

• A few of the results are reliable.

• No results are reliable.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: Were the farmers’ crops successful this season?

B: There was scarcely enough rain.

• There were only a few farmers.

• The crops failed.

• The crops succeeded.

• There was enough rain.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: Laura, what do you think of the new academic staff member?

B: Hmm…. He barely manages to finish his assignment on time.

• He will have to finish his assigned tasks at once.

• He can’t manage the tasks assigned to him.

• He is able to finish his tasks on time with difficulty.

• He cannot complete tasks as scheduled.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: Can you lend me some money, Dan?

B: I have only a little. How much do you need?

• He also needs to borrow money.

• He is broke at the moment.

• He wants the woman to lend him some money.

• He might lend the woman money, depending on the amount.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: What’s the matter, Sheila? You look pale.

B: I hardly slept a wink last night.

• She slept only a short while last night.

• She didn’t sleep at all last night.

• She slept all night long.

• She needed to sleep last night.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: It’s unbelievable! I had to wait thirty minutes for the bus.

B: Hardly surprising. Only two out of the ten buses are running today.

• Two of the buses run every thirty minutes.

• Eight buses are not operating today.

• Only eight buses are running.

• None of the buses are running today.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: What! The cafeteria doesn’t serve special lunches on weekends.

B: No, sir. Only on weekdays.

• The cafeteria is serving special lunches today.

• The cafeteria is serving special lunches this weekend only.

• The cafeteria always serves special lunches on weekends.

• The cafeteria serves special lunches from Monday to Friday.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: It’s amazing how much Greg’s French has improved.

B: Yes, I can hardly detect an accent.

• His pronunciation is perfect.

• His accent is slightly noticeable.

• It is not easy to understand.

• It has not improved much.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: Liz, I need to know if Nancy is willing to come this Sunday. We have to rehearse the play once more, you know?

B: Don’t worry. Only rarely has Nancy neglected to come on Sundays.

• Nancy often neglects coming on Sundays.

• Nancy prefers to rehearse the play on Sundays.

• Nancy almost always comes to Sunday rehearsals.

• Nancy has always come to rehearsals on Sundays.

Find the synonym or restatement of the underlined part of sentence below.

A: Are you sure you can afford to live here? It’s among the most expensive apartments in town.

B: Only if I share with a friend.

• He will share the apartment only if it is too expensive.

• He cannot afford to pay the rent by himself.

• He will ask his friends to pay for everything.

• He doesn’t wish to share the apartment with anyone.