1)That year British Aluminium added about 1,000 workers to its UK _________ . payslips payoffs payloads payroll pay packet 2)If someone is _________ -mouthed it means that their language contains unacceptable words such as swear words and rude words. free blunt forth foul freak 3)If it’s any consolation, you’ve been ________ by the best-known swindler in the business. overwhelmed overcome outsmarted output overruled 4)___________ of geraniums stood on the window-sill. Bowls Pots Kettles Pans Pot bellies 5)He took out a cigar and after ________ off the end, he lit it. snipping sniffing sniffling snickering sneering 6)In 1995 he went to prison for illegal ________ of timber. smouldering smudging snatching smuggling snagging 7)John has a _________ this morning; he drank a lot of alcohol last night. hangout hangover hang-up hang around hang back 8)The walls were so strong that they _________ the high winds. withstood repressed withheld held back suppressed 9)A set of tool, a batch of bread, a ________ of grapes. bunch hand string clutch bench 10)They had always loved and respected uncle Bill. Whenever they saw him, an expression of ___________ animated their faces. austerity glamour awe prestige contempt 11)A bird lives in a rest, a horse in a stable and a bee in _________ . an eyrie a lodge a burrow a hive a den 12)The first duty of the state is to ________ that law-abiding people are protected from crime. ensue insure assure reassure assume 13)A very small stain, mark or shape can also be called a _________ . specimen species speck spare spray 14)They are completely subject to the ________ and moods of a single superior. whiffs whirls whims whimpers whines 15)If you need some ________ there are some on the bulletin board. nails tacks safety pins clips notices 16)Clothes that are old, torn and dirty are said to be __________ . ruined wretched jagged ragged crooked 17)A group of ducks, a school of whales and a _________ of cattle. herd swarm hive flock troop 18)A flight of steps, a pack of cards and a _________ of bananas. clump bush bunch batch clutch 19)The basement is so ________ and dark that mushrooms grow there. mild parched dry arid moist 20)You have made a ________ of a very serious matter by ridiculing it. model throng mistake mockery sham 21)Penny isn’t really a bad child but she does tend to get ________ . mischievous well-behaved joyful miscarried tedious 22)A safety helmet __________ the effects of a blow. maximizes mitigates amplifies wipes out heals 23)The blacksmith’s appearance led people to believe he was a _______ man. No one would ever believe he could bend a steel bar with his bare hands. frail mighty temperate powerful bitter 24)I’m sorry! I stepped on your sore foot by accident, not ________ malice. from out of for by with 25)After being left out in the rain the pages of the book were all _________ . flabby soggy soft flexible stiff 26)The bullet struck the wall with such impact that it __________ . went through wobbled up tumbled over bounced off went right cross 27)John is so talkative. He’s always _______ on about something. raking rambling rattling rapping ranking 28)It’s a good idea to set high goals but there is no point in reaching _________ . for the planets an accord for the sky first base for the clouds 29)If you have a cold or the flu, play _______ and go to bed. hooky it cool it safe hard the get dumb 30)I’m not complaining. Not me. Not in the ________ . least long rum last most best 31)This kind of crystal _______ . It’s very rare. is well looked after is much in evidence is not half bad is much sought after doesn’t hold water 32)I have to work overtime to make ______________ . way both ends meet good time life miserable the most of it 33)These flowers will live through the winter more often than __________ . rarely never less not seldom 34)This whole project will fail; _______ my words. In time you’ll see I was right. quote sign write mark weigh 35)We have two victims to take to the nearest hospital. Please make ______ for the stretchers. space wave way room track 36)Come on, don’t make a mountain out of a _________ . It’s not that important mole mohair molehill hill mollusc 37)I’m sorry to make ________ but I do need an answer to my question. a fuss an exception cracks a run for it a clean sweep 38)Excuse me, I lost my __________ of thought. What was I talking about? process track line train source 39)He was waiting there like _________; a perfect target for a mugger. a three-ring circus a needle in a hay stack a sitting duck one of the family water off a duck’s back 40)It’s very difficult to keep Bill in line. He’s sort of _____________ . regal cultivated rowdy polished matchless 41)Sally got