Exercise 2. Verbal Communication Skills.

1. Remember that this happened first and was ......... to the episode that happened afterwards.

a) Before; b) since; c) prior; d) previous.

2. As the police saw the accident themselves, the driver avoided the ......... of having to give a detailed report.

a) Need; b) requirement; c) indictment; d) necessity.

3. It's a complete waste of time ......... over who was to blame, the main thing we have to do is decide what to do next.

a) Arguing; b) discussing; c) repeating; d) considering.

4. It was easy to realise why the machine had stopped working since it was a direct ......... of his failure to maintain it.

a) Complement; b) concern; c) consequence; d) conviction.

5. I am completely confused as to why she did it and so it's not ......... to imagine why other people are mystified, too.

a) Definite; b) difficult; c) debatable; d) decided.

6. If you want to try and influence that political party it's best to become a member yourself and then you can argue from the ..........

a) Entrance; b) beginning; c) side; d) inside.

7. I have great ......... for them at this time because I have had a similar experience.

a) Sincerity; b) sympathy; c) sorrow; d) sadness.

8. Feel free to visit anything of interest to you in the exhibition and also you can ......... of any of the refreshments available.

a) Retake; b) undertake; c) partake; d) intake.

9. Many of the people in the crowd were visibly crying because they all ......... with those who had lost relatives in the disaster.

a) Resented; b) regretted; c) rejoined; d) sympathized.

10. I assure you that you will have no problem with the task because it's as easy ......... can be.

a) As; b) than; c) and; d) it.

 

Exercise 3. Ways of commenting.

1. If you want my honest opinion, I thought the play was ..........

a) Litter; b) dust; c) waste; d) rubbish.

2. It was quite a good film but I thought the characters were a bit like ..........

a) Paper; b) cardboard; c) plastic; d) material.

3. It's quite a nice car but there was not very much ......... in the back.

a) Area; b) limit; c) room; d) fullness.

4. She's pleasant enough but not very pretty. In fact I'd say she was rather ..........

a) Plain; b) straight; c) simple; d) casual.

5. The first time you see the view you can't believe it. It almost takes your breath ..........

a) Out; b) over; c) under; d) away.

6. I sat through the concert feeling really bored and sleepy and had to stop myself from ......... several times.

a) Gaping; b) yawning; c) stretching; d) crying.

7. It was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life and I just wanted the ground to ......... up and swallow me.

a) Ease; b) throe; c) open; d) crack.

8. In my opinion no one in their right mind would ever go and pay to see a play ......... that.

a) As; b) same; c) more; d) like.

9. The room was good, the bed was comfortable and the service was excellent but the hotel food left a lot to be ..........

a) Required; b) desired; c) demanded; d) included.

10. To be perfectly honest with you I think that this is the best test I've ever taken in my entire ..........

a) Life; b) days; c) duration; d) stay.

Exercise 4. Ways of disapproving.

1. There is no way that I can agree to you ......... early today.

a) Submitting; b) renouncing; c) leaving; d) departing.

2. I must object and make it clear that I am totally ......... any measures that suggest changes to the original scheme.

a) Up; b) without; c) against; d) off.

3. He has the ......... of always rejecting any idea that will change the current arrangements.

a) Habit; b) custom; c) task; d) job.

4. I cannot condone that sort of ......... in my establishment and would ask you to remember that in future.

a) Routine; b) manners; c) going; d) behaviour.

5. I have no choice really but to turn ......... your recent proposal because it is completely unworkable.

a) Off; b) over; c) down; d) across.

6. They can't possibly go ......... with your suggestions because it will involve too much expenditure.

a) Over; b) along; c) in; d) above.

7. Quite honestly I'd have to be out of my ......... to sanction what is a crazy proposition.

a) Sense; b) balance; c) thought; d) mind.

8. When her father discovered that his daughter wanted to marry a pop singer, he decided to put every ......... in their way to prevent the marriage.

a) Obstacle; b) burden; c) impediment; d) problem.

9. He told me there was definitely no ......... that I would pass my examination until I did some work.

a) Occasion; b) chance; c) opportunity; d) time.

10. You could tell by the ......... he refused to smile that he didn't like the story.

a) Method; b) plan; c) way; d) path.

 

Exercise 5. Ways of greeting.

1. Great to see you again. I haven't seen you ......... ages.

a) By; b) from; c) of; d) for.

2. Welcome to our house. Come in and make yourself ..........

a) Comfortable; b) easy; c) relaxing; d) comforting.

3. How do you do? I don't think we've met ..........

a) After; b) since; c) then; d) before.

4. Hi, Mary. Where have you been ......... yourself all this time?

a) Discovering; b) hiding; c) finding; d) looking.

5. Good morning, sir. I hope you will have an enjoyable ......... in our hotel.

a) Stay; b) halt; c) stop; d) sojourn.

6. Good evening to you all. Let me find you a(n) ......... near the window.

a) Corner; b) angle; c) table; d) part.

7. How are you, David? I must ......... you're looking very well.

a) Declare; b) recite; c) state; d) admit.

8. Hello there. I just don't believe it. You haven't changed a ......... since we last met.

a) Bit; b) piece; c) little; d) section.

9. Ah, you must be Mary's husband. Do come in and ......... everyone.

a) See; b) look; c) find; d) meet.

10. Here you are at last! I hope your ......... here wasn't too horrible.

a) Travel; b) journey; c) trip; d) voyage.

 

Exercise 6. Ways of saying goodbye.

1. I'm afraid it's ......... we left.

a) Occasion; b) time; c) opportunity; d) hour.

2. If you don't ........., I think we'll be cutting along.

a) Care; b) think; c) believe; d) mind.

3. I'll be seeing you then in due ..........

a) Path; b) direction; c) course; d) route.

4. Well, as they say all good things come to an ..........

a) End; b) conclusion; c) finale; d) finality.

5. Thank you so much for ......... us you must come to us next time.

a) Taking; b) getting; c) making; d) having.

6. Good bye then and ......... me to all your family.

a) Remind; b) remember; c) recall; d) repeat.

7. If we don't leave now I'm afraid we'll ......... the last train.

a) Forget; b) fail; c) miss; d) turn.

8. It's been great meeting up again and we mustn't ......... it so long next time.

a) Leave; b) take; c) wait; d) lose.

9. Looks ......... we ought to be going really as it's got so late.

a) As; b) like; c) when; d) for.

10. Well, there's ......... for it but simply to wish you well and say goodbye.

a) Something; b) everything; c) anything; d) nothing.

 

Exercise 7. Ways of approving.

1. I'm quite happy to support you in your ......... for a loan.

a) Subscription; b) indication; c) application; d) abdication.

2. I must admit I think your idea is well ......... considering.

a) Valuable; b) worthy; c) value; d) worth.

3. I shall certainly recommend your ......... for improving safety in the work place.

a) Proposal; b) preference; c) preferment; d) proponent.

4. You can ......... on me for support when the next election comes up.

a) Number; b) count; c) account; d) detail.

5. I would ......... like to endorse your scheme for saving water.

a) Full heartedly; b) open heartedly; c) wholeheartedly; d) complete heartedly.

6. The local council has approved the plans for ......... their house.

a) Developing; b) lengthening; c) widening; d) extending.

7. You can ......... on me to support you when the matter is discussed at the next meeting.

a) Rely; b) trust; c) believe; d) follow.

8. His choice of a new wife ......... with his parents' approval.

a) Struck; b) met; c) hit; d) fell.

9. They all promised they would stand ......... him when he put forward the idea of a strike.

a) On; b) to; c) by; d) through.

10. The meeting unanimously supported the chairman when he suggested that they ......... the meeting.

a) Shut; b) finalise; c) stop; d) close.

Exercise 8. Ways of showing pleasure.

1. Now that's what I call absolutely ..........

a) Perfect; b) finished; c) completed; d) ended.

2. You couldn't have made that drink better if you'd ..........

a) Tested; b) trailed; c) required; d) tried.

3. What a delightful ......... those flowers give off when you touch them.

a) Bloom; b) colour; c) scent; d) smell.

4. Words just ......... me when I try to say how happy I am.

a) Fail; b) miss; c) pass; d) fool.

5. I can ......... say that I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself so much before.

a) Surely; b) safely; c) clearly; d) notably.

6. There's really nothing like it, is there, when you find you've ......... all the answers to the test right?

a) Found; b) seen; c) acquired; d) got.

7. The only problem with your cooking is that the more I eat, the more I want ......... more.

a) Any; b) all; c) some; d) no.

8. I must be ......... because it's all too good to be true.

a) Thinking; b) dreaming; c) sleeping; d) dozing.

9. Just let me try one more of your delicious chocolates and then I'll ......... not to take any more.

a) Promise; b) assure; c) confirm; d) affirm.

10. It's absolute ......... here. I think I'll stay at this hotel one more week.

a) Clarity; b) certainty; c) bliss; d) fortune.