The news of his success in the examination pleased his parents very much.

--

The news that (a)  

The only way you can become a good athlete is by training hard every day.

--

Only by (a)  

He was suspended for two matches for swearing at the referee.

--

Swearing at the referee earned (a)  

My parents find fault with everything I do.

--

No matter (a)  

I write to him almost every day.

--

Hardly (a)  

The only thing that prevented the passing of the bill was the death of the Prime Minister.

--

Had it not (a)  

My parents let me go abroad alone for the first time last year.

--

I was (a)  

The patient recovered more rapidly than expected.

--

The patient made (a)  

John didn’t celebrate until he received the offer of promotion in writing.

--

Not until (a)  

I don’t intend to apologize to either of them.

--

I have (a)  

The Pacific Ocean is on average deeper than the Atlantic.

--

The average depth (a)  

We couldn’t find George anywhere.

--

George was (a)  

There aren’t many other books which explained this problem so well.

---

In few other books (a)  

The noise next door did not stop until after midnight.

--

It was not (a)  

They had to wait for twelve hours before the flight left.

--

Only after a (a)  

The result of the match was never in doubt.

--

At no time (a)  

There are more people out of work in this country than ever before.

---

Never (a)  

Provided your handwriting is legible the examiner will accept your answer.

--

So long as the examiner (a)  

‘It certainly wasn’t me who took your card!’ said Bob.

--

Bob denied (a)  

Mary told the police about the burglary.

------

Mary reported (a)  

It is quite pointless to complain.

--

There’s no (a)  

It was his incompetence which led to their capture.

---

If (a)  

A house in that district will cost you at least $100,000.

--

You won’t be able (a)  

I don’t really like her, even though I admire her achievements.

--

Much (a)  

I dislike it when people criticise me unfairly.

--

I object (a)  

He speaks more persuasively than his brother.

--

He is a (a)  

He never suspected that the money had been stolen.

--

At no time (a)  

Their teacher is making them study hard.

---

They are (a)  

We left quietly, so that we wouldn’t disturb the children.

--

So as (a)  

The chances are that the whole thing will have been forgotten by next term.

----

In all (a)  

He’ll settle down. Then his performance will improve.

---

Once (a)  

Although Judy was severely disabled, she participated in many sports.

---

Despite her (a)  

People who haven’t been abroad shouldn’t criticise foreign customs.

---

Nobody who (a)  

Simon hadn’t expected that he would feel so weak after the operation.

---

The operation left. (a)  

I was not surprised to hear that Harry had failed his driving test.

---

It came (a)  

It’s thought that the accident was caused by human error.

--

The accident is (a)  

The only reason the party was a success was that a famous film star attended.

---

Had it not (a)  

Both of the lifts were out of order.

---

Neither (a)  

I left without saying goodbye as I didn’t want to disturb the meeting.

Rather than (a)  

Mary distrusts modern technology strongly.

----

Marie has (a)  

Regarding payment, most major credit cards are acceptable.

----

As far (a)  

The police now think he invented the story to protect his girlfriend.

---

He is now (a)   the story to protect his girlfriend.

Having a holiday together was a mistake because we argued all the time.

----

I wish (a)   on holiday together because we argued all the time.

The collision didn’t damage my car much.

---

Not a great (a)  

He said that he had won as a result of good luck.

---

He attributed (a)  

To pass the time, I looked through some magazines.

----

I whiled (a)  

The value of sterling has fallen considerably in the past week.

--

There (a)  

Suppose we make no changes at all for the time being?

---

What (a)   ?

That rumor about the politician and the construction contract is absolutely false.

---

There is (a)   about the politician and the construction contract

He had no idea what was going to happen to him.

------

Little (a)  

It’s rumored that we will have a new manager.

---

Rumor has (a)  

You are all welcome to take any food you like.

---

Help (a)  

If I were you, I wouldn’t tell anybody about the discovery.

--

You had (a)  

Alan is both a good sprinter and a skilled jumper.

---

Besides (a)  

I haven’t lent my new lawn mower to anybody.

---

Nobody (a)  

I expected the book to be far better because it had been written by such a good novelist.

---

The book fell (a)  

Alternative medicine is a complete mystery to some people.

----

Some people are (a)  

Many creatures will survive and thrive in the harsh conditions of the deserts.

----

Harsh (a)   many creatures will survive and thrive.

The thought passed through his mind and the decision was taken moments later.

----

The thought had no (a)