C1 What is in name?

After the scandal, she had to ... her name.

• clean

• claim

• clear

• care

Answer explanation

The correct expression is ''to clear one's name''. Many students confuse ''clear'' with ''clean'', which seems logical. Others tend to use the phrasal verb ''to clear up''. Pay attention not to make these mistakes.

How long ... we ... (wait)

for this train? It seems like hours.

• did we wait

• have we waited

• have we been waiting

• will we be waiting

Answer explanation

The next sentence ''it seems like hours'' implies that the speaker emphasis the duration of the action, not its' result. Also, when a question starts with ''how long'', we usually use a perfect continuous tense. Hence, present perfect continuous is the correct answer.

Dad, I ... if I could borrow your car this weekend.

• am wondering

• wonder

• wondered

• was wondering

Answer explanation

When you want to ask for something politely, use "I was wondering". The past continuous here is actually the unreal conditional, which we use to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations.

I wonder is usually used to express genuine questions that you ask yourself.

They ... (see) each other for six months.

• saw

• have been seeing

• are seeing

• were seeing

Answer explanation

When you see "for" or "since'' in a sentence, you should use Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous.

Researchers are trying to decipher this language, but its' secret is lost...

• in the mists of time

• as an act of defiance

• promptly

• a mixed blessing

The most common surname in the world is Lee. Whilst the most common given name is:

• Muhammad

• Chang

• Alexander

• Superman

I am ... to hear back from you.

• striking

• conclusive

• eager

• cut and dried

Bill Gates is a very famous businessman. He ... by selling personal computers.

• lived up to his name

• is a household name

• put his name forward

• made a name for himself

Many people consider that smartphones are ... because, on the one hand, they make life much easier, but on the other, they offer you a lot of distractions.

• absolutely baffled

• a mixed blessing

• generating an impression

• outlandish

He ... (always complain) about the neighbours. It's starting to get on my nerves.

• He is always complaining

• He always complains

• He has always complained

• He has always been complaining

Answer explanation

When you talk about an annoying habit, and you want to emphasis how annoying it is, you can use the Present Continuous (very often with the adverb always).

In other cases, always should be used with Present Simple, as it can refer to a habit.