Advanced level - Test 26

1. Lend me 20 $, please, John. I'm ________ at the moment.
(A) broke
(B) down the drain
(C) stuck up
(D) a bit thick
2. I haven't had an accident yet but I had a number of ________ shaves.
(A) narrow
(B) near
(C) close
(D) tiny
3. I've heard that argument before and quite frankly it just doesn't ________!
(A) face the music
(B) hit the nail on the head
(C) carry weight
(D) hold water
4. I don't like turning down work, but I'll have to, I'm afraid. I've got far too much ________ at the moment.
(A) up my sleeve
(B) on my plate
(C) on my mind
(D) in effect
5. Unfortunately, somebody spoke to a reporter, and the whole thing ________.
(A) poured forth
(B) spilled over
(C) leaked out
(D) splashed down
6. He waited in the ________ for the front door to open.
(A) perch
(B) threshold
(C) inlet
(D) porch
7. A child will ________ half an hour of your complete attention.
(A) delight
(B) appreciate
(C) consider
(D) compensate
8. Driving with ________ brakes endangers not only yourself but also all other road users you encounter.
(A) deficient
(B) insufficient
(C) inadequate
(D) defective
9. From his palace, this subtle and abstemious man ________ an immense power.
(A) practises
(B) wields
(C) sways
(D) manages
10. The new safety regulations were agreed on after ________ with the work-force.
(A) conference
(B) participation
(C) intervention
(D) consultation
11. When I learned that I had passed the examination I felt ________ and relaxed.
(A) careless
(B) troublefree
(C) negligent
(D) carefree
12. The old house had low ceilings supported by thick wooden ________.
(A) beams
(B) girders
(C) sticks
(D) rafters
13. If you put too many potatoes in that bag, it will ________.
(A) separate
(B) demolish
(C) crack
(D) burst
14. The Minister declared that a further period of pay ________ was essential during the present economic crisis.
(A) deflation
(B) constraint
(C) restraint
(D) devaluation
15. There are some interesting old ________ on the tombstones in St Mary's churchyard.
(A) epigrams
(B) epitomes
(C) epitaphs
(D) epigraphs
16. Everything possible was done to ________ the suffering of the wounded soldiers.
(A) alleviate
(B) pacify
(C) modify
(D) console
17. That unfortunate woman was ________ to insults from all her fellow workers.
(A) subjected
(B) subdued
(C) submitted
(D) subjugated
18. The witness told many lies in court and so committed ________.
(A) perjury
(B) forgery
(C) quackery
(D) hypocrisy
19. Peter tells me he is ________ the Queen's horse in the Derby.
(A) wagering
(B) betting
(C) backing
(D) staking
20. The new trainee had been very slack in his work, and was told to ________ or he would be out of a job.
(A) pull his socks up
(B) gain the upper hand
(C) raise his sights
(D) take the plunge