Complete Advanced - emphasis

1 know you're busy, but I ​ (a)   you could have helped me with the decorating.

2 It's ​ (b)   certain that the president will be re-elected.

3 You may have lots of restaurants where you live, but there are ​ (c)   in this part of town.

4 I told you ​ (d)   , about the leaking pipes, but you wouldn't listen.

5 You don't seem ​ (e)   interested in my problems!

• do you think
• by no means
• none at all
• time and time again
• the least bit

6 Strange ​ (a)   , the bus is actually faster than the train.

7 In the end, ​ (b)   was to call a plumber.

8 We ​ (c)   all day, but Chris never turned up.

9 Nicola was ​ (d)   bothered by our turning up so late.

10 It ​ (e)   Jim that you saw; he is in Germany at the moment.

• as it may seem
• what we did
• waited and waited
• not at all
• can't have been

Match the following

• It was because I spoke well at the interview that I got the job.

•  It wasn't so much my qualifications that impressed them.

•  What I did in the end was to ask for a pay rise. 

•  I found that I was spending more time staying late at the office

• What really gets on my nerves is people who push into the queue.

•  Actually, my fridge is in quite good condition, considering its age.

•  It was after 10.00 when I finally got home.

• All of the trains were delayed by fog.

•  What I really need is a new washing machine.

•  I don't find that the buses are especially late, actually.

Match the following

•  It was Sarah who taught me how to make bread.

•  I don't find watching television particularly relaxing.

• It must have been my assistant who you dealt with. 

•  I've decided to buy a new stereo after all.

•  What I like most is a long walk in the country.

•  This book didn't teach me everything I know about cooking.

•  It was when I got off the plane that I felt ill. 

• The flight itself didn't really bother me at all.

•  Where I am going to get the money from is another matter. 

• Actually, I wasn't in the office yesterday.

Jane: Well, did you see Western Warrior at the cinema?

Ben: Yes, and I thought it was very good (1)​ (a)   A lot of people had warned mete the plot got a bit far-fetched, but I didn't notice anything like that (2) ​ (b)   . What about you?

• indeed
• at all
• certainly
• certainly
• surely
• by no means
• absolutely

Jane: No, I'm afraid I wasn't interested (3) ​ (a)   I find these action films (4) ​ (b)   unbelievable and over the top. Give me Love on the Danube any day. I could watch that film (5) ​ (c)  

• in the least
• utterly
• over and over again
• slightly
• whatever
• sheer
• very
• whatsoever
• at the very moment

Ben: Well, I (6) ​ (a)   hope you'll come with me to see The Fall of Julian.

Jane: It hasn't exactly done very well, has it?

Ben: (7) ​ (b)   makes you think that? I heard it's been very popular. Some newspaper critics have (8) ​ (c)   suggested it'll win several Oscars.

• do
• Whatever
• even
• would
• utterly
• Whatsoever
• Whoever
• quite

Jane: Well, I think it's (9) ​ (a)   not possible to predict these things. You never know what the judges will go for. Last year I was certain that The Leaping Lady would sweep the board, but in the end it got no awards (10) ​ (b)  

• simply
• whatsoever
• completely
• utterly
• at least
• indeed

What really makes me furious is the sort of language used in official letters. For example, I can't make any sense of this letter from the council at all. It's (2) ​ (a)   nonsense, if you ask me. (3) ​ (b)   the council can't write in plain English is beyond me. (4) ​ (c)   I really can't stand is this kind of long-winded, complicated English. In my opinion, what they're doing (5) ​ (d)   systematically destroying the language with all this new jargon - 'input', 'time window', 'feasibility study' - (6) ​ (e)   are they talking about?

• utter
• why
• what
• is
• whatever

(7). ​ (a)   we get is the same meaningless drivel over and over (8) ​ (b)   . Listen to this: 'Difficult (9) ​ (c)   it may be for all parties concerned, this is the most viable solution on offer.' I have no idea, none (10) ​ (d)   , what that means. Can nobody write  in plain English nowadays? Or is there something wrong with me? 

• all
• again
• as
• whatsoever