Unit 5 Exercises    Unit5-ex1.mp3

Exercise 5.1 Match the different meanings a-f of "take in" with the appropriate sentences 1-6 below. a) make smaller b) allow in through a hole c) deceive d) give a bed to e) include f) understand the meaning or importance

1. Because so many passengers were stranded at the airport, some local families offered to take them in overnight.

2. The news is so shocking - I still can't take it in.

   
   

3. The excursion will take in two of the most beautiful castles in the region.

   
   

4. Marie has lost weight - she's going to have to take in a lot of her clothes.

   
   

5. Rob was totally dishonest but he was so charming that I was taken in by him.

   
   

6. We'd better return to the shore at once - the boat seems to be taking in water.

Exercise 5.2 These pairs of sentences show phrasal verbs which can be used in both literal and metaphorical ways. Explain the two meanings and the connection between them.

1. a) I stepped in a puddle of water and my feet are soaking now. b) She stepped in to stop the argument from becoming more serious.

   
   

2. a) This programme is rubbish. I wish you'd switch off the TV. b) The lecture was so boring that I switched off.

   
   

3. a) There's a hole in my bag. I think my pen must have dropped out. b) He dropped out of college and became a mechanic.

   
   

4. a) We tied the boxes down on the roof of the car. b) Mark dreams of travelling but he feels tied down by his family and work responsibilities.

Exercise 5.3 Use your knowledge of the basic verb in the underlined phrasal verbs, as well as the context of the sentence, to work out the meanings of the phrasal verbs.

1. What are you driving at? I wish you would say exactly what you mean!

2. The teacher did all she could to drum the vocabulary into her pupils before the exam.

3. The old education system used to cream off the best pupils and teach them in separate schools.

4. The noise of the children's music completely drowned out the television.

Exercise 5.4 Write a one-word formal equivalent for each of the underlined phrasal verbs.

As the rain didn't let up, the football game was called off. So the team got down to discussing its strategy for the next match instead. We didn't get out of the clubhouse until the cleaners turned up in the evening.