CAE Vocabulary units 1-7

Match the words with their definitions.

1. bustling

2. crude

3. cosmopolitan

4. aboriginal

a. relating or belonging to the original race of people who lived in Australia

b. full of people and activity

c. consisting of people and things from many different countries

d. rude and offensive

• 1 - a, 2 - b, 3 - c, 4 - d

• 1 - b, 2 - d, 3 - c, 4 - a

• 1 - b, 2 - c, 3 - a, 4 - d

• 1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - a

Complete the sentence.

There was one piece of ______ chocolate cake left in the tin.

• stale

• rotten

• rancid

Which word means 'a pleasant smell'?

• stench

• scent

Choose the correct idiom for the definition.

to try to understand someone’s real feelings or intentions from what they say or write

• scratch beneath the surface

• tip of the iceberg

• read between the lines

• take the world by storm

Choose the correct phrasal verb.

to finally be in a particular place or situation

• come up with

• end up

• catch on

• look down on

Match the idioms with their correct definitions.

1. deliver the goods

2. bridge the gap

3. call the shots

4. hog the limelight

a. to get more attention than anyone or anything else in a situation

b. to be in the position of being able to make the decisions which will influence a situation

c. to produce what is wanted

d. to connect two things or to make the difference between them smaller

• 1 - c, 2 - a, 3 - b, 4 - d

• 1 - d, 2 - c, 3 - b, 4 - a

• 1 - a, 2 - d, 3 - c, 4 - b

• 1 - c, 2 - d, 3 - b, 4 - a

Put the idioms into the correct blank.

(skeletons in the cupboard, took the biscuit, my lips are sealed, over the hill)

1. My life is incredibly boring, but today ________: absolutely nothing happened.

2. I just turned sixty — I'm officially ______.

3. Oh and please don't tell him you saw me here." "Don't worry. _______.

4. He asked if she had any _________ that might affect her political campaign.

Choose the correct definition for the word 'demean'

• to make a man feel less male by taking away his power and confidence

• to cause someone to become less respected

Choose the correct definition for the word 'mediocre'

• causing strong feelings of sadness or sympathy

• not serious

• not wanting to show what you are thinking or feeling

• not good in quality

Choose the correct order.

1. He was unemotional, quite quiet, and _____

2. If farming is to make sense it has to be a ______ business

3. He was _____ with his wife from the moment he saw her.

• reserved, smitten, viable

• viable, smitten, reserved

• reserved, viable, smitten

• smitten, reserved, viable