I didn’t want to make a decision (a)   , so I said I’d like to think about it.

A. in one go B. there and then C. at a stroke D. on and off

We are not in a (a)   hurry so let’s have another coffee.

A. dashing B. racing C. rushing D. tearing

She’s a bit down in the (a)   at the moment – her husband has just lost his job.

A. world B. dumps C. heart D. bottom

The new company had been (a)   with one problem after another and looked as if it were about to go under.

A. glorified B. tainted C. fraught D. bewildered

Mike decided that election to the local council would provide a (a)   to a career in national politics.

A. milestone B. springboard C. highway D. turning point

As a poet, I think she (a)    comparison with the greatest this century. .

A. stands B. makes C. leads D. matches

When disaster (a)   , organisations such as Oxfam quickly provide help.

A. comes B. approaches C. arrives D. strikes

I was scared (a)   when I looked down from the top of the cliff.

A. tight  B. stiff  C. hard  D. solid

Recent defeats have (a)   his confidence in himself as a player

A. undermined B. disable C. impeded D. hampered

The company cannot accept (a)   for injuries resulting from improper use of rental equipment

A. validity B. liability C. compensation D. privilege

Jack never cheats or tricks anybody when he plays. He always goes by the (a)  

A. book B. instructions C. principles D. method

I'm in a bit of a (a)   as to what to wear to the wedding.

A. loss B. quandary C. problem D. bewilderment

Money was short and people survived by (a)   and saving.

A. scrimping B. scavenging C. scouring D. scrounging

She didn’t show even a (a)   of emotion when the court found her guilty.

A. gleam B. wink C. flicker D. flash

Few people can do creative work unless they are in the right (a)   of mind.

A. trend B. frame C. attitude D. tendency

The delight in treasure finding doesn’t always (a)   acquiring tremendous amounts of valuables.

A. dwell on      B. poke around   C. lay about    D. hinge upon

The luxurious office accentuated the manager's position (a)   . It enhanced his power and his sense of his own worth. And it made other people feel small.

A. on the pecking pole B. in the nibbling line

C. at the nipping post D. in the pecking order

We had been looking for the nest for hours before we  (a)    lucky.

A. hit B. made C. struck D. came

Ask David to give you a hand moving the furniture. He’s strong as (a)   .

A. an elephant B. a mountain C. a gorilla D. a horse

At all events, it was this group of the  (a)   (possess) that gave the first successful impetus to the Revolution.

Attracting the banks are the  (a)    (surge) economy and reforms that have opened up industries to foreign capital.

The demise of the industry has caused  (a)   (tell) misery to thousands of hard-working tradesmen.

When you come down on him too hard, you may only intensify his own (a)   (critic)

They were now faced with seemingly (a)   (mount) technical problems.

Our staff take pride in providing  (a)    service.

A. mundane B. atrocious C. impeccable D. lousy

He's just getting up my (a)   so much at the moment.

A. feet B. chest C. nose D. mind

The littlest thing tends to anger my mother, so I feellike I have to walk on  (a)    whenever I'm at her house.

A. eggshells B. nutshell C. bombshells D. seashells

It was a  (a)   move to buy your house just before property prices started to rise.

A. astute B. crafty C. shrewd D. wily

She got very  (a)   working such long hours

A. tumble-down     B. downcast             C. run-down         D. down - and – out

 The Secretary of State handled the matter  (a)    and prevented a war.

A. adroitly B. intensely C. abjectly D. slightly

The Prime Minister will decide whether to release the prisoner or not; that’s his (a)   .

A. prerogative B. derogatory C. abdication D. humanity

It was an extremely hostile article which cast (a)   on the conduct of the entire cabinet.

A. criticism B. aspersions C. disapproval D. abuse

We've made some great improvements over the past three months, but we're still not out of the (a)   .

A. jungle B. bush C. dark D. woods

From football to fashion, from TV to stage, we name the (a)   stars whose careers are likely to rocket in  the future.

A. out and about                                           B. up and coming

C. down and out         D. in and out

How do you calculate the distance to the horizon? As a (a)   , it’s 7 miles + 1 mile per 100 ft above sea level.

A. trick of the trade   B. golden rule          C. free hand            D. rule of thumb

Just because we’ve had a good year, this does not mean that we cannot do better: we must not (a)  

A. have our head in the clouds                           B. bury our heads in the sand

C. count our blessings                                       D. rest on our laurels

The headmaster at my last school was was a stern disciplinarian and made sure we (a)   the line.

A. drew B. faced C. touched D. toed

John and Sarah lived in the back of (a)   and it always took us a whole day to drive there.

A the country B isolation C nowhere D beyond

As she didn’t understand the teacher’s question, she merely gave him a (a)   look.

A. clear B. dim C. blank D. hopeless

The Conservatives declared their intention of (a)   the whole Act once they came into power.

A. repulsing  B. repelling  C. impelling  D. repealing

Not only is little Jonny’s grammar incoherent and his spelling atrocious but also his pronunciation (a)   .

A. slothful B. sluggish C. hazard D. haphazard

There’s nothing to (a)   as it’s a general knowledge quiz.

A. come round to B. face up to C. swot up on D. come up with

You’ve got to (a)   to succeed in advertising.

A. go to your head B. have your wits about you

C. have your head in the clouds D. gather your wits

The ordinary reader is impressed by the tone and manner of publication, and the words chosen to (a)   it. (HEAD)

He is a (a)   critic of the president's stance on abortion. (VOICE)

She came to the party wearing a(n) (a)   costume and blond wig. (LAND)

He gazed at her with (a)   eyes, wishing she wasn't married. (SMELL)

An (a)   number of workers have already been exposed to the danger. (DETERMINE)