English Today

World Food Maze.pdf

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Apply

1. Apply = put into use

If you learn to apply the rules in Grammar, you will be able to write correctly.

2. Apply for = ask to be given

Have you applied for the post you were interested in?

3. Apply to = concern

The teacher's remarks did not apply to all students.

4. Apply something = put on a surface

You must apply this cream on dry skin.

5. Applied (adjective) = put into practical use

I have never passed an exam on applied mathematics.

6. Apply yourself to something / to doing something  = give all your attention in order to succeed in doing something

She applied herself to cooking and soon became an excellent cook.

 

Account

The word "account" can be used as a noun or verb in a variety of meanings.

A. VERB

1. accounted to be =  considered to be

In English law, a man is accounted innocent until he is proved guilty.

2. account for = explain the cause of

Mary has to account to her parents for every single penny she spends.

The student has been asked to account for his absence.

B. NOUN

1. statement of money

I have an account with the Barkleys Bank

Please put the goods down to my account.

Can I settle my account? (= pay what I owe?)

2. quarrel, dispute

He had an account to settle with his brother.

3. counting, calculation

Jane is quick at accounts.

4. report, description, narrative

You shouldn't believe all newspapers accounts.

The teacher asked us to give an account of our leisure.

5. create an account on an Internet site = sign up with that site

I've just created an account on Facebook.

Easily Confused Words 7

 

ruin / destroy

ruin = cause damage

• The storm ruined the crops.
• He ruined his life when he married that girl.

destroy = break to pieces / make something useless

• The whole city was destroyed by the fire.
• Don't destroy that box! We may put some biscuits in it!

past / passed

• Mary passed her English exams.
• She passed by my house.
• Mary went past my house towards the forest.
• Don't think about it. It's all in the past.

fault /  blame

fault = responsible for a mistake

blame = say that someone or something is responsible for a mistake

• She's not to blame for the accident. It's all my fault.

current / currant

current = happening or existing now

currant = a small dried grape used especially in baking cakes

• I love currant buns for breakfast.
• I don't think her current boyfriend will marry her.
• I need to catch up with current affairs.

English Usage - Test 1- Advanced - Answer Key

A.  Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Use the word given and other words to complete each sentence.  You must use between two and five words. Do not change the word given. The first one has been done for you.

 

1.  They thought the way he jumped the fence was amazing.

(amazed)

They were amazed at the way he jumped the fence.

2. It’s not my decision – it’s yours. (up)

It’s -------up to you to------------------------------- decide.

3. These tests have to be corrected. (need)

These ------tests need to be--------------------------- corrected.

4. He complained about his noisy neighbours. (complaint)

He -----------made a complaint about--------------------------------- his noisy neighbours.

5. Mr Smith is the owner of this house. (belongs)

This ------house belongs to------------------------------------ Mr Smith.

6. He was too scared to enter the haunted house. (bold)

He -------wasn't bold enough--------------------------- to enter the haunted house.

7. They made him admit to his guilt. (was)

He ------was made to admit (to)---------------------------------- his guilt.

8. She paid £5,000 for her new car. (cost)

Her -----new car cost------------------------------ her £5,000.

9. He finds it difficult to address large audiences. (has)

He ------has difficulty (in) addressing------------------------------ large audiences.

10. The station clock showed midnight. (according)

It----was midnight according to-------------------------------the station clock.

11. The Whites arrived here two hours ago. (been)

The Whites -------have been here for------------------------- two hours.

12. Barry finished his homework before the film started. (had)

By the time the film ------started, Barry had finished--------------------------- his homework.

13. She hadn’t expected to get so many presents. (such)

She hadn’t expected to get -----such a lot of-------------------- presents.

14. His decision to marry did not meet with his father’s approval. (approve)

His father ------did not approve of-------------------------------- his decision to marry.

15. It’s too cold for us to go swimming. (warm)

It --------isn't warm enough------------------------- for us to go swimming.

(15 marks)

 

B. Fill in the correct  particle. The first one has been done for you.

1. By stealing, Mark brought  about  his dismissal from work.  

2. The music brings -back-------- happy memories.

3. The author will bring ----out----- his new novel soon.

4. We managed to bring him -------round----- by splashing his face with water.

5. The meeting has been brought ---forward----- to tomorrow evening.

6. She was eventually brought ---round------ to my point of view.

7. They had to call--off------ the football match because of the weather.

8. My boss is calling ---on------- us tonight at 8 o’clock.

9. All men over 18 will be called --up----- to fight in the war.

10. This situation calls -for-------- immediate action.

(10 marks)

 

C. Fill in the correct preposition. The first one has been done for you.

1. Dave was very bad at maths and always failed the tests.

2. Sally was very bad --to---- her brother.

3. Dad can’t come to the phone. He’s busy ---with---- cooking.

4. The film is based --on------- a true story.

5. You can’t blame me ---for---- the accident; I wasn’t even there!

6. She always puts the blame --on---- me for things I haven’t done.

7. There will be an extra charge --for---- delivering the goods to your home.

8. The suspect has been arrested and charged --with----- robbery.

9. It’s very important nowadays to care ---about---- our environment.

10. Sarah was fond of Peter and cared ---for---- him very much.

11. You should take care --of----- your teeth.

12. Jane was clever -at---- history and always received the highest marks.

13. It was very clever --of---- you to find the answer.

14. The patient was complaining --of---- a pain in his chest.

15.The secretary was always complaining ---about--- having too much work.

(15 marks)

 

D. For questions 1-15, read the text below and choose the word which best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).

1. Passengers travelling ( travelling/going/waiting/wanting) on a flight from Washington to London were in 1) ---for----- (for / at / on / with) a very long wait.  They had 2) --already---- (still/already/however/yet) been waiting eight uncomfortable hours for takeoff, only to be 3) -told-- (said/told/mentioned/announced) that the flight was 4) ---delayed-- (late/retarded/delayed/behind) even further.  The cabin crew advised passengers to take pillows and blankets from the overhead lockers in 5) --order--- (case/order/time/turn) to sleep inside the airport terminal.

Many passengers 6) -lost---- (mislaid/wasted/missed/lost) their tempers and fights broke. 7) -out---- (up/off/out/down). People shouted and 8) --demanded--- (asked/applied/demanded/took) information. A member of the staff panicked  and called airport security guards. A 9) -few---- (few/number/couple/little) lucky passengers were put on alternative flights. 10) -although----- (although/even/in spite/despite) about 100 others spent the next day in the airport.  Many people missed connecting flight and 11) -would--- (should/would/could/had) be delayed for several days.

First-class passengers were 12) --more---- (still/many/more/much) fortunate. They were put 13) -up---- (up/off/out/about) in luxury hotels and provided with food and drink. Other passengers had to be content with vouchers for a meal, as the airline staff were not able to find hotels with 14) -enough---- (much/enough/too/a lot) free rooms to accommodate them. One woman carried a silver horseshoe for 15) ---luck-- (fortune/chance/luck/probability). As she said: “ It didn’t work this time!”

(15 marks)

SOURCE : Round-Up 6 by Virginia Evans

English Usage - Test 1 - Advanced

A.  Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence. Use the word given and other words to complete each sentence.  You must use between two and five words. Do not change the word given. The first one has been done for you.

 

1.  They thought the way he jumped the fence was amazing.

(amazed)

They were amazed at the way he jumped the fence.

2. It’s not my decision – it’s yours. (up)

It’s -------------------------------------- decide.

3. These tests have to be corrected. (need)

These --------------------------------- corrected.

4. He complained about his noisy neighbours. (complaint)

He -------------------------------------------- his noisy neighbours.

5. Mr Smith is the owner of this house. (belongs)

This ------------------------------------------ Mr Smith.

6. He was too scared to enter the haunted house. (bold)

He ---------------------------------- to enter the haunted house.

7. They made him admit to his guilt. (was)

He ---------------------------------------- his guilt.

8. She paid £5,000 for her new car. (cost)

Her ----------------------------------- her £5,000.

9. He finds it difficult to address large audiences. (has)

He ------------------------------------ large audiences.

10. The station clock showed midnight. (according)

It-----------------------------------the station clock.

11. The Whites arrived here two hours ago. (been)

The Whites -------------------------------- two hours.

12. Barry finished his homework before the film started. (had)

By the time the film --------------------------------- his homework.

13. She hadn’t expected to get so many presents. (such)

She hadn’t expected to get ------------------------- presents.

14. His decision to marry did not meet with his father’s approval. (approve)

His father -------------------------------------- his decision to marry.

15. It’s too cold for us to go swimming. (warm)

It --------------------------------- for us to go swimming.

(15 marks)

 

B. Fill in the correct  particle. The first one has been done for you.

1. By stealing, Mark brought  about  his dismissal from work.  

2. The music brings --------- happy memories.

3. The author will bring --------- his new novel soon.

4. We managed to bring him ------------ by splashing his face with water.

5. The meeting has been brought -------- to tomorrow evening.

6. She was eventually brought --------- to my point of view.

7. They had to call-------- the football match because of the weather.

8. My boss is calling ---------- us tonight at 8 o’clock.

9. All men over 18 will be called ------- to fight in the war.

10. This situation calls --------- immediate action.

(10 marks)

 

C. Fill in the correct preposition. The first one has been done for you.

1. Dave was very bad at maths and always failed the tests.

2. Sally was very bad ------ her brother.

3. Dad can’t come to the phone. He’s busy ------- cooking.

4. The film is based --------- a true story.

5. You can’t blame me ------- the accident; I wasn’t even there!

6. She always puts the blame ------ me for things I haven’t done.

7. There will be an extra charge ------ delivering the goods to your home.

8. The suspect has been arrested and charged ------- robbery.

9. It’s very important nowadays to care ------- our environment.

10. Sarah was fond of Peter and cared ------- him very much.

11. You should take care ------- your teeth.

12. Jane was clever ----- history and always received the highest marks.

13. It was very clever ------ you to find the answer.

14. The patient was complaining ------ a pain in his chest.

15.The secretary was always complaining ------ having too much work.

(15 marks)

D. For questions 1-15, read the text below and choose the word which best fits each space. There is an example at the beginning (0).

1. Passengers travelling ( travelling/going/waiting/wanting) on a flight from Washington to London were in 1) -------- (for / at / on / with) a very long wait.  They had 2) ------ (still/already/however/yet) been waiting eight uncomfortable hours for takeoff, only to be 3) --- (said/told/mentioned/announced) that the flight was 4) ----- (late/retarded/delayed/behind) even further.  The cabin crew advised passengers to take pillows and blankets from the overhead lockers in 5) ----- (case/order/time/turn) to sleep inside the airport terminal.

Many passengers 6) ----- (mislaid/wasted/missed/lost) their tempers and fights broke. 7) ----- (up/off/out/down). People shouted and 8) ----- (asked/applied/demanded/took) information. A member of the staff panicked  and called airport security guards. A 9) ----- (few/number/couple/little) lucky passengers were put on alternative flights. 10) ------ (although/even/in spite/despite) about 100 others spent the next day in the airport.  Many people missed connecting flight and 11) ---- (should/would/could/had) be delayed for several days.

First-class passengers were 12) ------ (still/many/more/much) fortunate. They were put 13) ----- (up/off/out/about) in luxury hotels and provided with food and drink. Other passengers had to be content with vouchers for a meal, as the airline staff were not able to find hotels with 14) ----- (much/enough/too/a lot) free rooms to accommodate them. One woman carried a silver horseshoe for 15) ----- (fortune/chance/luck/probability). As she said: “ It didn’t work this time!”

(15 marks)

SOURCE : Round-Up 6 by Virginia Evans

Vocabulary - Ways of Moving

To stumble = to hit your foot against something

The child stumbled over a stone and fell.

To stagger = to walk unsteadily as if drunk

He has been drinking. That's why he is staggering across the room.

To creep = to move quietly / secretely

I'll leave the door open. Just creep in so as not to wake the baby.

The cat crept towards the bird and caught it.

To dash = walk in a hurry, almost run

We're late. Let's just dash to work.

To slip out = move quietly or quickly without attracting attention

She slipped out of the room without being seen.

To jog = to walk very quickly or run

As she wants to keep fit, she jogs 20 minutes every day.

To limp = to walk slowly and with difficulty because one leg is hurt or injured

I've hurt my leg. That's why I've been limping for two days now.

To crawl =

1.  move slowly along the ground as snakes do

2. move on the hands and knees like a baby

The thief crawled along the garden and broke into the house.

All babies crawl before they walk.

To trudge = walk heavily, often because of an obstacle

They trudged through deep snow for hours before arriving at the nearest village.

I was so tired that I had to trudge all the way home.

To lurch =

1. move suddenly forward or sideways, usually beacause you can't control your movements

2. to stop with a sudden uncontrolled movement

The drunken man was lurching and staggering across the street.

I was so scared that I lurched across the park.

To stroll = to walk leisurely

We have been strolling allong the beach all morning

To march = walk quickly with firm, regular steps as in a parade

The soldiers marched along the street to celebrate the National Day.

 

The Elixir of Life - Modals of Deduction

In a village in the mountains, a little old man with a beard and a young girl set up a stall in the market place one day, selling bottles of homemade medicine, labelled ‘The Elixir of Life’.
   ‘Come on, everyone!’ the old man called out. ‘Don’t miss your chance to beat ageing. This is your opportunity to buy Archie’s miracle medicine. It’s the only medicine that cures old age. You only have to look at me to see the proof. I’m two hundred and five years old.’
   A crowd quickly gathered around the market stall, and the old man and the girl were kept busy handing out the bottle of medicine and taking the money.
   There were two younger men in the crowd, and one of them said to the other, ‘You don’t really think he’s genuine, do you?’
   ‘I don’t know. He might be telling the truth. He’s got an honest face.’
   ‘You’ve got to be kidding! said the man. ‘He must be lying. It has to be a trick.’
   ‘Well, why not ask his assistant, then, if you don’t believe it?’ suggested his friend. So the man approached the girl and asked. ‘He can’t really be that old, can he? That’s completely ridiculous. Tell me the truth, is he really two hundred and five years old?’
   ‘I’m sorry, sir, but I can’t really say.’ the girl replied, ‘I’ve only been working for him for the past seventy five years.’

Grammar: modal verbs of deduction

When you make logical deductions and draw conclusions from evidence you can use these forms. The choice of verb communicates how certain or uncertain you are about your guesses.

I’m sure it’s true.	I’m not sure.	I’m sure it’s impossible.
It must be true.	It might be true.	It can’t be true.
It has to be true.	It may be true.
It’s got to be true.	It could be true.

Note that the opposite of It must be… is It can’t be…, [not It mustn’t be…]

Complete these sentences with must be, might be or can’t be.

1.   A: Is Dave at work at the moment?
       B: No, he _________ at work today. He never works on Sundays.

2.  A: Do you think there is anyone inside that apartment?
       B: Yes, there _________. There are a lot of lights on.

3.  A: Where’s Kathy?
       B: I really don’t know, but she _________ at the dentist's.

4.  A: Look at that woman! Do you think she’s a model?
       B: I’m not sure. She _________ a model, a singer or an actor. I’ve no idea.

5.  A: I passed all my exams!
       B: You _________ very pleased with yourself!

6.  A: You know that Henry is in Mexico today.
       B: That’s impossible! He_________! I saw him in his office five minutes ago.

7.  A: I can’t work out this number here. Your handwriting is really bad!
       B: I know. It  _________  a five or an eight, but  I can’t really tell.

8.  A: Have you seen how many sport prizes Karl has?
       B: Yes. He _________ a real athlete.

Vocabulary exercises

Match the broken sentences.

1.   The delicious smell of homemade…	A.   place in the centre of the city
2.   I bought this watch from a market…	B.   stall last week
3.   The doctor said it was nothing but old…	C.   opportunity and you’ll be sorry later.
4.   If you don’t buy it now it will be a missed…	D.   bread filled the house.
5.   The bank is near the market….	E.   age so there was nothing he could do.

 

There’s one mistake in each of these expressions. Find it and correct it.

6.    You’ve got to be kid.
7.    Don’t miss your change.
8.    You’ve got the honest face.
9.    Say me the truth.
10. That’s ridiculous completely.

 

Choose the correct preposition to complete these sentences.

11.   Will took some papers from his briefcase and handed them by / out / at to everyone round the table.
12.   The farmer decided to set up / off / in a stall to sell his produce directly to the public.
13.   If you want to see some magic, gather off / in / round and be amazed!
14.   Sam went down / at / up to the girl at the bar and asked her out.
15.   My brother works by / for / of a large computer software company in the city.

Source : esl jokes.net

 

ANSWER KEY

Complete these sentences with must be, might be or can’t be.

1.   A: Is Dave at work at the moment?
       B: No, he __can't be_______ at work today. He never works on Sundays.

2.  A: Do you think there is anyone inside that apartment?
       B: Yes, there ___must be______. There are a lot of lights on.

3.  A: Where’s Kathy?
       B: I really don’t know, but she __might be_______ at the dentist's.

4.  A: Look at that woman! Do you think she’s a model?
       B: I’m not sure. She __might be_______ a model, a singer or an actor. I’ve no idea.

5.  A: I passed all my exams!
       B: You _must be________ very pleased with yourself!

6.  A: You know that Henry is in Mexico today.
       B: That’s impossible! He___can't be______! I saw him in his office five minutes ago.

7.  A: I can’t work out this number here. Your handwriting is really bad!
       B: I know. It  _  might be________  a five or an eight, but  I can’t really tell.

8.  A: Have you seen how many sport prizes Karl has?
       B: Yes. He ___must be______ a real athlete.

Vocabulary exercises

Match the broken sentences.

1.   The delicious smell of homemade…(D)	A.   place in the centre of the city
2.   I bought this watch from a market…(B)	B.   stall last week
3.   The doctor said it was nothing but old…(E)	C.   opportunity and you’ll be sorry later.
4.   If you don’t buy it now it will be a missed…(C)	D.   bread filled the house.
5.   The bank is near the market….(A)	E.   age so there was nothing he could do.

 

There’s one mistake in each of these expressions. Find it and correct it.

6.    You’ve got to be kid. kidding
7.    Don’t miss your change. chance
8.    You’ve got the honest face. an honest face
9.    Say me the truth. Tell me the truth
10. That’s ridiculous completely. That's completely ridiculous!

 

Choose the correct preposition to complete these sentences.

11.   Will took some papers from his briefcase and handed them by / out / at to everyone round the table.
12.   The farmer decided to set up / off / in /  a stall to sell his produce directly to the public.
13.   If you want to see some magic, gather off / in / round and be amazed!
14.   Sam went down / at / up to the girl at the bar and asked her out.
15.   My brother works by / for / of a large computer software company in the city.

 

Word Games

I know that most of you have been working hard lately for your English exams - FCE, IGCSE, IELTS - so I thought I'd give you a break from grammar and vocabulary, listening , reading and writing by suggesting some English word games. While you are having fun, you can also improve your vocabulary. And good luck to all those of you who are taking the FCE today.

Photo Credit

A. Words within Words

This is a very common game. The aim is to make as many words as possible from one single word. You can only use the letters from that word and use each letter only once in the new word. For example, from the word STRANGER you can make the following new words:

strange, range, great, grate, grant, anger, stag, gnat, seat, stage, rage, etc

How many words can you make from the following words?

EXAMINATION / UNIVERSAL / INSTITUTION

B. Anagrams

An anagram uses all the letters of a word and rearranges them to make another word.

Example:

READ = DARE, DEPART = PARTED

Anagrams are often used as clues in crosswords. Can you work out from the clues what these anagrams are?

LEAP - not very dark

MELONS - feeling rather serious and subdued

PRAISED - hopelessness

CARTHORSE - a number of people making music

EXCITATION - to make someone drunk

C. Rebus

A rebus uses words, numbers, symbols or pictures to represent words or syllables.

Example:

T42 = tea for two

Can you work out the following?

IOU

B4

NE1

NME

2 good 2B4 gotten

YYUR YYUB ICUR YY4me

Download WORD-GAMES-ANSWERS

 

Vocabulary: Differences in Seeing

Today's vocabulary deals with some common words and phrases relating to the way we see and their differences in meaning:

1. to glance at

= to have a short, quick look

As she was in a hurry, she just glanced at the newspaper before going to work.

2. to stare at

= to look at in a very fixed and open way

It's bad manners to stare at people.

3. to catch a glimpse of

= to have a short, indistinct look, especially of something moving

Fans were waiting at the airport hoping to catch a glimpse of Beyonce and her new boyfriend.

4. to peer through

= to look carefully, especially in the dark

As the light was off, I peered through the room trying to see the switch.

5. to peep through

= to look secretely

The thief hid behind the bushes and peeped through the window.

6. to wink

= to close or open one eye

She winked at me to call my attention to the teacher entering the classroom.

7. to scan

= to look attentively

The shipwrecked sailor scanned the horizon to see if a ship was coming to his rescue.

8. to blink

= (i) make an effort to see by opening and closing the eyes quickly

He had forgotten his glasses, so he kept blinking his eyes all the time.

= (ii) for lights: go on and off unsteadily

The lights of the ship were blinking in the horizon.

The light on your answering machine is blinking.