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PRACTICE – COLLOCATION & PHRASAL VERBS & IDIOMS PART 1
1. My mother told me to do the ________ yesterday but I forgot about it since I had much homework to finish. A. wash-up B. laundry C. childcare D. exercises
2. Most newlyweds nowadays find it difficult to be in charge of the household ________. A. financial B. financially C. finances D. financier
3. It’s not too late to ________ your bad habits and immediately start living a happier, healthier life. A. get rid B. give on C. kick D. shoot
4. Some Vietnamese traditional foods and spices like shrimp paste may ____ your breath for days after a meal. A. damage B. harm C. reduce D. spoil
5. “Do you know an apple a day can help you keep fit, build healthy bones and prevent disease like cancer?” - “Wow! ________” A. I would love to. B. It’s a good idea.
C. That’s incredible. D. You must like apple.
6. My teacher assigned us a writing task about ________of our favorite singers. A. biology B. biography C. biodiversity D. biochemist
7. At MAMA 2019, the best Asian Artist Vietnam ________ went to Hoang Thuy Linh. A. rank B. prize C. reward D. award
8. The young generation today have become well ________ of the problems facing the world such as climate
change, food security, and gender inequality. A. aware B. concerned C. helpful D. interested
9. A/an ________ is a person who needs others to take care of him/her, because of illness that he/she had for a long time. A. patient B. martyr C. invalid D. addict
10. A lot of generous businessmen such as Vingroup CEO Pham Nhat Vuong have ________ valuable
contributions to helping needy people during the pandemic. A. done B. taken C. made D. given
11. On the door of the house where Louis Braille was born are the words ‘He opened the door of ________ to all those who cannot see.’ A. knowledge B. information C. news D. material
12. It is definitely true that nature has inspired ________ inventions and technologies, including the modern plane. A. numbers B. numeral C. numerical D. numerous
13. Students in Vietnam and many other countries are allowed to use phones at school as these personal ________
devices are useful for learning. A. electric B. electrical C. electronic D. electronical
14. Farmers in developing countries contribute to environmental damage by spraying ________ with ________,
which stay in the soil for years. A. agriculture – pesticides B. agriculture - fertilizers C. crops – fertilizers D. crops - pesticides
15. Located about 60 km southwest of Seoul, this eco city has been planned around a central park and designed so
that every resident can walk to work in the business ________. A. district B. area C. location D. organisation
16. The famous cartoon Minions is _______ released at the end of this summer. A. on the verge of being B. on the point of being C. due to be D. about to be
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17. From the cliff top it was a(n) ______ drop to the beach below. A.sheer B.straight C.upright D.erect
18. The old woman ________ her son’s girlfriend up and down, and then asked her in. A.watched B.observed C.noticed D.eyed
19. Many conservatives nowadays still ________ some unusual educational beliefs that are irrelevant in the modern world. A.keeps B.carries C.holds D.takes
20. While the family were asleep, the burglar picked the lock of their front door and crept ________ into their living room. A.lazily B.stealthily C.clumsily D.criminally
21. My younger brother has applied for a (an) ________ lot of jobs but he’s only been short- listed once. A. awful B. dreadful C. enormous D. wide
22. To the amazement of the crowd and ________ disbelief of the Manchester United players, the referee awarded a goal. A entire B whole C utter D full
23. Pharmaceutical factories have been building up collections of antiques made from rhino horn, for the sole
_______ of making the essential ingredient of many of their medicines. A. reason B. intention C. need D. purpose
24. During the ongoing pandemic, many people are dying for _________ of medical treatment. A. need B. absence C. want D. shortage
25. Most adolescents go through a rebellious _________ for a few years but they soon grow out of it. A. stint B. span C. duration D. phase
26. It would help me _______ if you could go to the market and buy some raw meat for me. A. totally B. absolutely C. enormously D. largely
27. The police asked one patient to give a _______ description of all the places that she had visited in 14 days. A. blow by blow B. word for word C. up and down D. in and out
28. Son Tay is a _______ village not far from the center of Ha Noi. A. medium-large B. middle-sized C. medium D. medium-sized
29. In the evening, they threw petrol on to the bonfire and the sudden _______ lit up the whole campsite. A. glow B. twinkle C. spark D. flare
30. Disney Pixar’s Soul 2020 was a fantastic film. My children enjoyed it _______. A. endlessly B. unendingly C. without end D. no end
31. When the children _______ their toys, I donated them to the local charity instead of throwing them away. A. outlasted B. outdated C. outgrew D. outwore
32. At the turn of the 20th century, Edward Muybridge’s pictures of a runner _________ in every history of photography. A. exhibit B. show C. feature D. demonstrate
33. The worker started hammering on the adjoining wall but Elsa carried on __________.
A. notwithstanding B. regardless C. irrespective D. nevertheless
34. My digital camera was stolen from my bag at the airport so I __________ a claim on my insurance. A. had B. did C. took D. made
35. I don’t want lots of excuses from you; I just want to hear the ________ truth. A. plain B. clear C. pure D. right
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36. This dog has been maltreated by its previous owner but I find it very ________ to kindness. A. answerable B. responsible C. reactive D. responsive
37. There she was, walking out of customs, __________ a huge Louis Vuitton suitcase behind her- How
fashionable and glamorous she is! A. towing B. manhandling C. pushing D. dragging
38. Camels have either one hump or two humps. The Arabian camel has one hump. The Bactrian camel, ________ has two humps. A. nevertheless B. however C. therefore D. otherwise
39. It’s a very _________ community and people are generally very supportive whenever problems arise. A. close-knit B. diverse C. intermingled D. blending
40. Louis Pasteur worked hard to fulfil his childhood __________ to become a surgeon. A. aspiration B. admiration C. adoration D. inspiration
41. The prolonged drought in the West of Vietnam has made farmers _________ anxious about the harvest. A. absolutely B. completely C. extremely D. totally
42. The preparations for the Olympic Games 2022 in Quatar are on ________ according to the committee in charge. A. goal B. progress C. target D. aim
43. When he examined the gun, detective Edogawa Conan’s suspicion turned into ________. A. certainty B. confirmation C. reality D. conclusion
44. My little sister listened to everything I said and repeated it word ________ word to our mum. A. for B. from C. with D. in
45. At first, the young girl was _________ dumbfounded to hear that her boyfriend wanted to break up, and then
came the stirrings of auto-hypnotic perturbation. A. exceedingly B. out-and-out C. somewhat D. utterly
46. It may be raining cats and dogs, but I’m ________ enjoying myself. A. thoroughly B. highly C. extremely D. desperately
47. We have to stress that the ________ is on you - the parents - to bring up your own children. A. duty B. charge C. onus D. liability
48. Although the twins look identical, they have widely _______ opinions on almost every topic under the sun. A. distinct B. dissimilar C. divergent D. distinguished
49. It is far too easy to lay the blame ________ on the shoulders of the managementeveryone has their own fault, actually. A. flatly B. willingly C. squarely D. perfectly
50. They were the best economic analysts in the United States - a team hand - ________ by the President himself. A. selected B. picked C. named D. chosen
51. Most teachers nowadays have to take private pupils in order to ___________ their virtually insufficient salary. A. augment B. expand C. complete D. inflate
52. The movie ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ takes considerable _________ with the novel that it is based on. A. liberties B. privileges C. enlightenments D. deliverances
53. This old living room could really do with another _________ of paint and a new set of furniture. A. coat B. jacket C. skin D. sliver
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54. This watercolor picture of the Sun looked very impressive but in fact it had been__________ from another. A. imitated B. emulated C. copied D. faked
55. After the year 1945, the Vietnamese government effortlessly fought to eradicate the ________ of starvation caused by the war. A. leftovers B. legacy C. remains D. tradition
56. Elton Musk is the ________ of Project Gutenberg, one of the longest-lasting aerospace manufacturers. A. founder B. author C. architect D. father
57. Being allowed to use mobile phones at school, students have _______ to good resources. A. been accessed B. access C. accessing D. assessed
58. This new medical technology will ________ major changes in the field of COVID 19 prevention. A. bring about B. come up with C.turn into D.come about
59. After the severe 2020 California wildfires, many people are now ________to the cause of forest conservation. A. condemned B. compounded C. battered D. dedicated
60. ‘I brought you something special for your birthday, Janita.’ ‘Diamond earrings! You ________, but I’m really glad you did.’ A.can’t have B.wouldn’t have C.mustn’t have D.shouldn’t have
61. The school committee decided to pay ______ to their famous Nobel-winner alumni by naming the new gym after her. A. esteem B. homage C. honour D. respect
62. This morning, I had to eat my breakfast in great ________ so as not to miss the highspeed train to Tokyo- I
ate up everything in just 5 minutes! A. speed B. pace C. rush D. haste
63. That tie you are wearing doesn’t ______ you. You should wear something brighter. A. appeal B. follow C. match D. suit
64. ‘Britta got a fine for causing that severe collision with a motorbike’ – ‘ Yes, it was proved in court that he had
been ______ while sitting behind the wheel.’ A. negligent B. negligible C. neglected D. neglect
65. It is of ______ importance that this highly confidential information is not revealed to anyone else in the company. A. capital B. foremost C. superior D. paramount
66. Whether that model becomes the next Queen of Beauty or not is a matter of complete ______ to me. A. disinterest B. importance C. indifference D.interest
67. Nonetheless. I suspect that the image of that definitely beautiful girl made the heart of more than one boy ______ a beat. A. slip B. lose C. skip D. jump
68. Kelvin would ________ his classmates into an argument by teasing them and calling their names – He
deserves being heavily punished. A. advocate B. provoke C. prompt D. trigger
69. Justin Bieber was ________ in choosing his friends, so his birthday parties were attended by vastly different
and sometimes bizarre personalities. A. indispensable B. indiscriminate C. inadvertent D. indisputable
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70. The child’s ______ display of tears at school did not impress his teacher, who felt he should try to control her emotions. A. aertful B. flamboyant C. plausible D. schematic
71. When it comes to the ________, Elisabeth always supports her friends both financially and mentally. A. point B. crunch C. crisis D. finale
72. Many Covid-19 patients were ______ ill at first, but fortunately, they are now making a slow but steady recovery. A. genuinely B. deeply C. fatally D. seriously
73. Many local authorities realize there is a need to make ________ for disabled people in their housing programmes. A. assistance B. conditions C. admittance D. provision
74. During my first year at university, I was so ________ under with deadlines – it was so awful! A. snowed B. iced C. rained D. fogged
75. While the best souvenirs are often found rather than purchased, _____ for souvenirs can also be a fun holiday activity. A. browsing B. seeking C. surfing D. pursuing
76. As an active person, he always feels he’s in a ________ in his boring job as a proofreader - he needs a change. A. ridge B. rut C. ditch D. tunnel
77. This love scene is not suitable for children – in a few more moments it would have reached the ________ of no return. A. peak B. point C. apex D. tip
78. Having to stay at home all day during the lockdown is no _____ matter amidst Covid19 pandemic. A. trolling B. spitting C. laughing D. gossiping
79. From my viewpoint, the changes to the education systems at primary level in our country has been to good _______. A. influence B. outcome C. upshot D. effect
80. Nicolaus Corpenicus was extremely defiant when some scientists _______ doubt on his heliocentric theory. A. cast B. flung C. tossed D. hurled
81. I hope you didn’t _______ exception to my comments- it is just my personal opinion, anyway. A. find B. make C. take D. put
82. When he sent me flowers and a note, I was over the __________. A. sky B. moon C. sun D. cloud
83. Some of his business activities are illegal, but local police tend to turn a __________ to them. A. hard nose B. white face C. blind eye D. cold shoulder
84. Your boss is a tyrant but the things that led to your dismissal were of your own __________. A. doing B. making C. tasting D. trying
85. The places they travel to on holiday are usually well off the beaten __________. A. street B. line C. road D. track
86. We’ve got the loan from the bank so we are home and __________ with our new business. A. safe B. fine C. dry D. cool
87. An opportunity to sell at this price may never come __________ again, so make the most of it. A. into B. through C. up D. under
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88. The business partners vowed that nothing would come __________ them and that the company would survive. A. across B. between C. down D. off
89. The housing director's remark that 'the homeless could do more to help themselves' was unfortunate to __________ the least. A. tell B. say C. utter D. voice
90. The problem with losing weight is that, if you succeed, all your clothes need to be_________. A. cut down B. taken in C. made down D. let down
91. Demand for the product is expected to peak five years from now and then to _________. A. taper off B. fall down C. set back D. drift away
92. Lack of sleep over the last few months is finally _________ Jane. A. coming over B. getting on with C. putting on D. catching up with
93. Stella’s parents decided to _______ out on a reception for 500 people at her wedding. A. crash B. smash C. thrash D. splash
94. We’re going to have to _______ a lot of money next year to have the house repaired. A. stock up B. knock off C. fork out D. put back
95. The heavy rain lashed down continuously through the night without letting_________. A. out B. over C. on D. up
96. The company had to cough _________ a lot of money to indemnify for the victims in the accident. A. up B. out C. into D. away
97. Don’t be __________ by false advertisements. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is. A. put off B. given up C. taken in D. put down
98. I must _________ my Spanish before I go to Seville. A. make up for B. break out of C. brush up on D. cut out for
99. When Tet Holiday comes, Vietnamese people often feel inclined to ________ their houses. A. do over B. do in C. do through D. do up
100. He had such a bad stomach that he was _________ with pain. A. bent down B. folded over C. snapped off D. doubled up
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PRACTICE – COLLOCATION & PHRASAL VERBS & IDIOMS PART 2
101. They had to _______ at the back of the garden for two hours to find the missing car keys. A. bed out B. ransack C. root around D. turn upside down
102. Because of the old man’s poor health, it took him a long time to ________ his bad cold. A. throw off B. throw away C. throw down D. throw over
103. We intend to ________ with the old computer system as soon as we have developed a better one. A. do up B. do away C. do in D. do down
104. He was so mean that he couldn’t bear to _________the smallest sum of money for the charity appeal. A. pay off B. part with C. give in D. let out
105. When the funds finally ___________, they had to abandon the scheme and inevitably went bankrupt. A. faded away B. clamped down C. petered out D. fobbed off
106. To get his proposal accepted, the Finance Manager had to ________ heavy pressure from his colleagues. A. fend off B. laugh off C. send off D. push off
107. He is a conman who makes a habit of_________ people’s savings- The local police should crack down on this problem, really.
A. getting down to B. getting off to C. running off with D. going through with
108. The short-tempered man does not _________ his fellow-workers and there are often disagreements between them. A. get on with B. put up with C. go on with D. keep up with
109. I have been trying to ring him up all day and I could not _________ through. It must be because of the
severe storm last night that disrupt the line. A. get B. take C. look D. hang
110. You look tired after completing loads of work. Why don’t we _________ and have a good rest? A. call its name B. call on C. call it a day D. call of
111. Because the conference will start soon, I may only have time to dip _________ the report. A. into B. down C. through D. in
112. I don’t think anyone understood what I was saying at the meeting, did they? I totally failed to get my point _________ . A. around B. along C. across D. about
113. My mother told me to _________ for an electrician when her fan was out of order. A. send B. write C. rent D. turn
114. As they came under heavy fire, the captain ordered his men to _______. A. fall away B. fall over C. fall back D. fall out
115. As my secretary will be away for a couple of days, would you be kind enough to _________ my correspondence? A. play back B. bring off C. take care of D. return to
116. As the weather is getting more severe, governments should _______ international laws against
overexploitation of natural resources to combat climate change. A. bring up B.bring about C. bring in D. bring back
117. Only a few students who have excellent life skils can manage to eke _________ their student loan till the end of the year. A.off B. out C. in D. through
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118. Working to _________through with my university years did, in retrospect, prepare me for life after graduation. A. get B. pull C. see D. make
119. I’ve never been lazing _____ and have already crammed as much into each day as I could- the entrance
exam takes place in just 2 months. A. away B. around C. round D. off
120. As she did not have much time left, she only ______ a quick letter to her beloved family and friends. A. put off B. dashed off C. come off D. paid off
121. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels _______ up a friendship the very first time they met. A. struck B. launched C. cropped D. settled
122. Despite all the interruptions from the background, he was still able to ______ with his work. A. stick at B. hold on C. hang out D. press on
123. With Internet connection, students and professionals will be able to ______ and explore the world as they have never done before. A. log on B. take on C. log off D. switch on
124. I have been meaning to _____ going to the local hospital to donate blood for ages. A. get round to B. get out of C. get up to D. get on to
125. Before you run _____ other people, it is as well to consider your own fault. A. over B. up C. down D. after
126. Donald Trump is a tough character and won’t let anyone push him ________ no matter what happens. A. up B. off C. around D. through
127. At the theater last night, everyone creased ______ when the actor walked in wearing a dress! A. up B. off C. on D. out
128. He wasn’t sure if he’d be any good at gardening, but actually he took ____ it immediately. A. to B. after C. on D. in
129. The hotel we stayed at in Da Nang was so awesome ! – I could just _____ on this scenic view the whole weekend. A. bliss out B. bliss into C. bliss upon D. bliss across
130. After the accident, everyone started to _______ around the old woman on the floor, but no one offered her any help. A. crowd B. spread C.put D. hang
131. I’ve been revising all day for the exam but I don’t think much of it has _____ in. A. come B. gotten C. dived D. sunk
132. Your grumpy boss will surely tick you _____ if you’re late for work again. A. up B. at C. on D. off
133. The engine keeps ______ out. I think it’s time we bought a new car. A. cutting B. putting C. crying D. making
134. He ________ a great job straight after university because his father is a big fish in city politics. A. came into B. got through C. walked into D. ran up
135. My student forgot to do the homework again! He still ________the same old excuses last time this happened. A. made out B. wheeled out C. blotted out D. cut out
136. When she accused him of stealing her Gucci handkerchief, he _______ that he hadn’t done it. A. swore off B. swore out C. swore by D. swore down
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137. They kept saying they were interested in my presentation, but they were just _________. A. stringing me along B. laying me around C. catching me out D. taking me on
138. The truth finally _______ about the death of that famous actress when it was broadcast on TV. A. found out B. hovered out C. sank in D. showed out
139. The live concert has been so successful that they have ________ for another fortnight. A. held it over B. ticked it off C. blown it over D. carried it off
140. When he’s depressed, he needs someone like a good friend to ________. A. hammer on B. pour out C. dump on D. drum out
141. Old and conservative people are always _______ cliches like ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ and so on. A. giving out B. putting out C. butting out D. trotting out
142. Kim Jisoo has an unbelievable voice. Her singing is absolutely _______. A. out of this life
B. beyond this world C. out of this world D. beyond this life
143. Please don’t ______ yourself out. A sandwich will do. A. let B. take C. put D. leave
144. It was our mistake not to ______ there being so much traffic, and we missed the train to Ha Noi. A. bargain on B. favor on C. carry it away D. carry it on
145. Their predictions were not _______ by subsequent events. In fact, the very opposite occurred. A. carried out B. borne off C. borne out D. carried off
146. Many people on board died in the film Titanic as there were not enough life jackets to go _______. A. about B. round C. through D. on with
147. I remember the first time I met John when we were in grade 5. We ______ immediately, and we’ve been friends ever since. A. struck it off B. struck it up C. hit it off D. hit upon it
148. It must be very difficult to _____ our boss _____ to fixing a date for the meeting – You might have to turn
up on that day whatever happens. A. put down B. strike down C. pin down D. heel down
149. Ho Chi Minh ______ a full account of his time at Quang Tay prison in his book Nhat Ky Trong Tu. A. brought about B. took on C. caught out D. wrote up
150. The noise from Vietnamese fans celebrating their football team’s victory at SEA Games didn’t ______ until early in the morning. A. shut off B. give away C. let up D. fall over
151. The contemptibly overproud employee got it into his head he was being ______ for promotion. A. passed over B. got over with C. smoothed over D. taken over
152. Last month, beaches in Scotland were ______ as police searched for canisters of toxic waste from the damaged ship. A. sealed off B. cut off C. washed off D. tapered off
153. According to historians, dozens of rebellions ______ across Viet Nam in the early years of the eighteenth
century, which led to a civil war. A. rose up B. turned out C. came up D. broke out
154. The famous singer’s performance was so exciting that many of his fans were _______ enthusiasm. A. carried away with B. flooded out with C. taken back with D. stirred up with
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155. Her back is playing her _______ during her period! She can do virtually nothing while it’s so painful. A. on B. in C. up D. against
156. The pessimistic girl threatened to do herself ______ when her boyfriend ran away with her best friend! A. on B. in C. up D. down
157. The policeman was really quick and experienced! He even managed to ______ the registration of the car as it sped away. A. spot up B. jot down C. dot off D. slot up
158. As the class monitor, I will have to ______ students _______ on what’s been happening in their absence
when they come back from sick leave. A. bring…up B. carry…on C. catch…up D. fill…in
159. Everything is sold out quickly! – Many people believe that they need to ______ food before the lockdown. A. stock up on B. knock up on C. club up on D. fork up for
160. I wish my strict English teacher wouldn’t _____ me about neglecting the homework - I was really busy with
other matters yesterday, to be honest. A. talk down to B. have it out with C. play down to D. keep on at
161. As a _________, politicians and other public figures should avoid making direct statements that could be used against them. A. show of hands B. word of mouth C. rule of thumb D. change of heart
162. To make a profit, we’ll have to add a few thousand new customers to our list, which is __________.
A. a piece of cake B. out of order C. out of our depth D. a tall order
163. The thieves took ___________ when they heard a police car approaching. A. retreat B. flight C. escape D. getaway
164. By the ___________ of it, the economy will improve over the next few months. A. face B. impression C. evidence D. look
165. No matter how serious the sporting event, once an animal becomes involved , it will almost certainly steal the ___________. A. highlight B. limelight C. footlight D. spotlight
166. Mark decided to follow in his father’s ___________ and became a dentist. A. advice B. way C. road D. footsteps
167. Like more and more women, she believes marriage would ___________ her style. A.restricts B. impedes C. obstructs D. cramps
168. If you are going to town, keep your eyes ________ for that book I was telling you about. A. peeled /SKINNED B. clean C. wide D. fresh
169. As his whole family were doctors, it was in his ___________ to take up that profession A. blood B. spirit C. soul D. heart
170. The Higg Boson became hot ___________ talk following the release of a series of Hollywood movies based
loosely around the discovery of a so-called “God Particle”. A. common B. topic C. table D. subject
171. The project has progressed in ___________and starts due to a constant change in funding. A. wits B. bits C. fits D. sits
172. When I got stuck in the elevator, I was scared out of my ________. A. brains B. head C. wits D. nerves
173. After a month, I will ___________ the ropes and won’t keep bothering you for help. A. show B. learn C. get D. finish
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174. - Nadine: “I’ve been offered $550 for my stereo. Should I take it or wait for a better one?” Kitty: “Take the $550. ______.”
A. Actions speak louder than words.
B. Kill two birds with one stone.
C. The early bird catches the worm.
D. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
175. I do wish you would stop cracking your fingers; it ______ my teeth on edge. A. gets B. makes C. puts D. sets
176. Owing to the heavy traffic on the road to the airport, it was ________ whether we would be in time to catch our plane. A. win or lose B. touch and go C. come and go D. on and off
177. Volunteers will risk life and ______ in an emergency when they are called on to rescue foolhardy or unlucky climbers. A. limb B. blood C. bone D. flesh
178. It stands to reason that a touch of humour and optimism can work _________.
A. on all cylinders B. spectacles C. wonders D. your finger to the bones
179. I can’t imagine Mary dancing on a table - she’s much too prim and ____________. A. perfect B. correct C. right D. proper
180. Revenge at last! I always said I would ____________ my own back on Steve, and now I have. A. turn B. get C. do D. make
181. Mary always hands in her homework on time and is given a lot of praise from her teacher. The other
students think she’s such a ____. A. teacher’s toy B. teacher’s jewel C. teacher’s pet D. teacher’s sweet
182. What’s wrong with our boss today? Did he get out of bed on the wrong ____? A. end B. side C. foot D. edge
183. This mozzarella cheese pizza is so delicious. It’s ______. A. a done thing B. done to a turn C. a done deal D. done and dusted
184. In spite of working their fingers to the _________, all the staff have been made redundant during the pandemic. A. nail B. edge C. flesh D. bone
185. The cold winter weather is really playing ______ with the spread of many pneumonia-like viruses. A. along B. cat and mouse C. havoc D. trick
186. “Why don’t we go to the nursing home to visit the elderly this weekend?” “That’s what I was just about to
suggest. Great minds ________.” A. think alike B. think the same C. meet each other D. meet likewise
187. Don’t throw that old sweater away – it might ______ one day. A. come into use
B. come into handy C. come in use D. come in handy
188. I’ve been racking my _______ to remember the answer to that History question but it still won’t come. A. mind B. thoughts C. brain D. ideas
189. The Ministry of Health is working ___________ with local hospitals in an effort to stamp out the pandemic. A. hand in glove B. hand over fist C. hand in hand D. head over heals
190. Many workaholic individuals are extremely successful in their career, but it is often ___________ of their marriage. A. no end B. at the expense C. in the hope D. a means to an end
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191. Although many Vietnamese doctors had never used a RT-PCR system before, they soon got the. ___________ of it. A. touch B. swing C. hang D. feel
192. News of the new coronavirus cases spreads like ___________ on social media. A. the plague B. butter C. wildfire D. a flood
193. Billie Eilish’s punk hairstyle and oversized clothes showed she was not one for following the ___________. A. flock B. herd C. swarm D. group
194. I’m determined to finish revising for the test by the end of the week, come rain or ____________. A. shine B. sun C. sunny D. dry
195. Despite all the evidence, the strong headed boy wouldn’t admit that he was in the ___________. A. fault B. error C. wrong D. slip
196. Buying shares in this company is as safe as ___________. There’s no way you can lose your money. A. houses B. a bank C. gold bars D. a vaul
197. I couldn’t get a wink of sleep last night, so I’m not really on the ___________ today. A. mark B. fringe C. ball D. weakness
198. I know it’s difficult to accept such a harsh truth but you’ll just have to_________and bear it. A. grind B. smile C. grin D. chuckle
199. Children born out of ___________ shouldn’t be made fun of, especially in the academic environment. A. marriage B. marriage license C. wedlock D. home
200. As the maestro lifted his baton the theater was so still you could hear _________. A. his heartbeat B. a pin drop C. bird wings D. the drum beating
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PRACTICE – COLLOCATION & PHRASAL VERBS & IDIOMS PART 3
201. I was impressed by how he ___________ the interview in his stride- nothing seems worrying to him at all! A. did B. saw C. took D. made
202. When several companies showed interest in buying the film rights to his novel, he knew he had __________. A. upped the ante B. scooped the bag
C. caught the fat one D. hit the jackpot
203. When I got stuck in the dark elevator on my own, I was scared out of my ________. A brains B head C wits D nerves
204. Should you fail, the sacrifices made by your family would be meaningless and reside _______. A. on your conscience B. at your wits’ end C. off your own boat D. under your thumb
205. I’ve just heard that argument between you and Jerry 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
206. If the overindulged baby doesn’t get what she wants, she throws a ___________, stamping her feet and screaming her head off. A. outburst B. tantrum C. steam D. rage
207. I’m afraid we got our ___________crossed. I thought my husband would be picking up the children and he thought I was doing it. A. minds B. purposes C. fingers D. wires
208. Life is so full of both good fortune and misfortunes that you have to learn to take the rough with the________. A. smooth B. ready C. calm D. tough
209. Don’t take it as ________ that you’ll be promoted in your job; other colleagues stand a good chance too A. fixed B. standard C. read D. word
210. Leilia said she found learning to play the saxophone as easy as __________. She had a gift for it. A. sliding off a branch B. falling off a log C. diving off a climb D. branching off a bough
211. Of course I’ll come to your birthday party my dear friend– You won’t need to ___________. A. hold my hand B. pull my leg
C. lend me your ear D. twist my arm
212. With such lack of financial support during the pandemic, they miraculously managed to run their business ________. A. at stake B. on a shoestring C. in a nutshell D. under siege
213. Don’t go to the centre of Ha Noi during rush hour. You will surely be ______ like sardines. A. canned B. packed/ SQUASHED C. pressed D. pushed
214. Failing to submit the paper to the boss before the meeting was _______ for him. A. a nail in the coffin B. a real kick in the pants C. a leap in the dark D. an open and shut case
215. Once the kids have all ________ the nest, we will sell this house and move somewhere smaller. A. fled B. kicked C. rushed D. flown
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216. Seldom does she refuse to do her friends a good ___________, but on that occasion she was too busy to pay
attention to other people’s problems. A. assistance B. turn C. aid D. backing
217. Like almost everyone else, Jenny has her ______ of course but on the whole, she's quite satisfied with life. A. ups and downs B. ins and outs C. safe and sound D. odds and ends
218. All the others at the meeting last night were experts and I was out of my _____ in the conversation. A. level B. depth C. limit D. range
219. Well, it should not be ______the wits of man to resolve our fiery argument! Let’s have a talk over the coffee and settle it! A. beneath B. under C. above D. beyond
220. Before every important exam like this one, I always feel like there’s a cloud ______. A. hanging above B. casting towards C. hanging over D. flying over
221. The beefsteak at this luxurious restaurant looked so tender and delicious- but it was as tough as ______! A. a belt B. a saddle C. old boots D. rubber
222. Poor her! Her family has just abandoned her in the middle of New York City with no food or money - she
has been left ___________ and dry! A. cold B. out C. high D. low
223. I heard the news ______ the horse’s mouth, Jack himself told me he was going to marry Kim in two months! A. straight from B. right in C. out of D. into
224. Most struggling companies can expect to treble their turnover once the postpandemic sales get into full _____. A. force B. flight C. speed D. swing
225. I think I have well understood the nuts and ______ of the lecture on Artificial Intelligence- It is not too
difficult as many might think. A. screws B. hammer C. bolts D. nails
226. All universities in the Ivy League set a lot of ______ by the success of their alumni and students. A. prize B. honor C. value D. store
227. Since he is too old to continue working as a shipper, the company has decided to put him out to _______. A. the door B. grounds C. grass D. the kerb
228. The entire military troop of the Ming was thrown off ___________ when the news of Xuong Giang victory
was announced in 1927, and they were soon defeated by our heroes. A. composure B. disarray C. stable D. balance
229. I was in a _______ as to what to do. If I told the truth, my friends would get into trouble, but if I said
nothing I would be more in trouble. A. doubt B. quandary C. hitch D. complexity
230. The interviewees are supposed to give their answers to the job offers ______, which requires them to think very quickly. A. on the spot B. all in all C. beyond the joke D. within reach
231. Many students have been a night owl _______ up late before the entrance exam, hitting the sheets anytime between 12 and 3 a.m. A. finishing B. getting C. staying D. waking
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232. Nguyen Ngoc Minh Anh was the most effective speaker at Truong Teen 2019 and her audience seemed to _____ on her every word. A. catch B. hold C. hang D. cling
233. The Prime Minister has already _______ new proposals for discussion with top health experts. A. made out B. set down C. drawn up D. worked in
234. The infamous Chinese actress Tring Sang would not _______ any further on such a sensitive matter as her current scandal. A. hint B. quote C. disclose D. elaborate
235. The plane _______ down 20 minutes later than scheduled because of bad weather conditions. A. put B. flew C. landed D. touched
236. We’ll have to _______ with cloth face masks as all medical face masks are out of stock. A. make B. do up C. make do D. make over
237. The library at our school is _________ students who have irresponsibly lost their books. A. cracking down on B. stepping up C. going down with D. coming up against
238. Many employees in this company are sick and tired of being kicked________by my boss. A. off B. up C. around D. in
239. Medical privacy laws _______ of health care providers that they be careful with protected information. A. conceive B. devise C. envisage D. require
240. Janny didn’t get a place at university, so she has _______ a job at the local bank. A. taken up B. tied down C. filled out D. settled for
241. This essay should have delved deeper ________ the solutions to increasing crime rate in the city. A. about B. in C. into D. on
242. On the top of this building, you can gain breathtaking views and watch birds ________. A. of prey B. in predation C. on prey D. on predator
243. He said that he would take care of his children but his words didn’t _______ with his deeds. A. combine B. agree C. connect D. accord
244. We are searching for a CEO who can _______ our company in Malaysia. A. run B. do C. make D. work
245. She has set her ______ on becoming a doctor since she was only a child. A. head B. lung C. heart D. thought
246. I decided to buy this house because I thought it had a/an _______ price. A. reasonable B. dependable C. respectable D. comfortable
247. His efforts have finally _______ fruition after days of burning the midnight oil. A. come to B. reached to C. arrived at D. jumped to
248. Building a culture _______ with national identity is one of the main goals in Vietnam. A. enhanced B. saturated C. permeated D. imbued
249. The company has made _______ profits thanks to its new financial policy. A. impressive B. beautiful C. handsome D. attractive
250. The World Wildlife Fund is committed to protecting _______ species like tigers, rhinos, whales, and marine turtles. A. dangerous B. endangered C. dangering D. endangering
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251.Only those over 70 are _______ for the special payment so I am sorry that I cannot accept your demand. A. eligible B. able C. necessary D. specific
252. _______ traffic is a feature of this city. You will always get caught in traffic jams on big roads here. A. strong B. heavy C. weighty D. crowded
253. He is a _______ spender and he can spend all the money in his pocket when shopping. A. huge B. high C. fat D. big
254. In order to _______ off the economic recession during the pandemic, the government in Vietnam has given
money to small businesses and ordinary people. A. shut B. stave C. reduce D. cut
255. I’m on a diet but I'm afraid I succumbed _______ temptation and had a burger. A. to B. for C. with D. in
256. My father is very technologically _______. He can master a new programming language in just three days. A. declined B. inclined C. constructed D. mindless
257. Nowadays, students have more choices than those in the past. In addition to academic pursuits, they can opt for _______ education. A. training B. optional C. vocational D. theoretical
258. With the help of technology, people can even gain qualifications just through _______ learning. A. distant B. distance C. distancing D. equidistant
259. On my birthday, my father gave me a new laptop, which made me feel _______ excited. A. extremely B. correctly C. perfectly D. suitably
260. We are having a wonderful time here, especially in the morning when we can enjoy _______ of nature.
A. broken sunshine B. unbroken sunshine C. unbroken clouds D. unbroken light
261. As she turned to go, Baby Suggs _______ a glimpse of something dark on the bedsheet. A. caught B. gained C. got D. had
262. The old town is a conservation area and it has a lot of _______ old buildings dating back to the city’s foundation in the 1500s. A. quaint B. acquaint C. new D. ancient
263. He has a thirst for _______. He has gone to unexplored wilderness and many places around the world. A. adventure B. eating C. water D. spending
264. He said that he would pay my money back this week but I knew it was just a(n) _______ promise. A. vacant B. empty C. mouth D. shallow
265. Victoria Park, in east London, has played _______ to several music festivals. A. crowd B. host C. birth D. mother
266. Mario has now _______ to the point where his English is almost fluent. A. arrived B. approached C. advanced D. reached
267. She is always _______ the subject of money when in an argument with her husband. A. taking up B. looking up C. turning up D. bringing up
268. Charles Darwin has _______ a valuable contribution to the theory of evolution of humankind. A. done B. created C. caused D. made
269. He was asked to _______ for his presence at the scene of the crime. A. account B. exchange C. explain D. complain
270. They have the same opinion with _______ to money and marriage. A. connection B. regard C. relation D. concern
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271. It seems that they had had a ________ row, as she had locked him out of the apartment all night long. A. warming B. grieving C. blazing D. freezing
272. The recent heavy rains have helped to ease the water ________ that has persisted for over two months. A. supply B. poverty C. plenty D. shortage
273.There are all kinds of giveaway which could be used ________ product samples. A. in lieu of B. in need of C. in advance of D. in point of
274. By the year 2025 Vietnam will have succeeded in ________ illiteracy in not only big cities but also some remote areas. A. eradicating B. eroding C. erupting D. extracting
275. So many different ideas are milling about ________ my head, but I can’t settle down to work on any of them. A. in B. on C. of D. at
276. Hanoi is one of the most ________ populated cities that has been faced with severe unemployment and environmental pollution. A. closely B. overly C. densely D. thickly
277. What my ex told me was a ________ of lies, which disappointed me so much. A. pack B. herd C. bundle D. load
278. Normally, a ________ of lions comprises two to 40 lions—including up to to three or four males, a dozen or so females, and their young. A. flock B. herd C. pride D. team
279. His designs at the International fashion week are ________ new trends in women’s fashion. A. making B. building C. setting D. leading
280. Corruption has grown so widespread and sophisticated that it threatens to undermine our social ________. A. fabric B. clothing C. issue D. insight
281. If you want to achieve extraordinary things in your life, you have to ________ the rules that limit you. A. crush B. break C. rip D. stop
282. There is no rule to remember these formulas easily, you need to learn them by ________. A. heart B. mind C. head D. eye
283. Elle or Vogue is a ________ magazine that boasts shiny pictures of famous models. A. catchy B. glossy C. sturdy D. leafy
284. A lot of conspiracy theorists don’t believe in ________ media that has created divisiveness in our societies. A. prevalent B. common C. mainstream D. regular
285. The street is filled with teenagers who have ________ astray because of domestic violence and lack of parental care. A. gone B. done C. made D. driven
286. One recipe for success is to stay focused and ________ to whatever you do. A. assign B. attach C. apply D. adhere
287. The scientists are working on a drug capable of ________ the spread of cancerous cells. A. arresting B. catching C. seizing D. grasping
288. The number of people on unemployment ________ has dropped over the last two months. A. benefits B. advantages C. profits D. charities
289. ________ workers do work related to strength or physical skill rather than office work. A. Blue-collar B. White-collar C. Heavy D. Mental
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290. The aroma of freshly baked bread in the morning has always ________ memories of his childhood home. A. promoted B. evoked C. incited D. encouraged
291. Keith’s _______ income looks impressive, but once tax and social security contributions are deducted, it’s not so much. A. full B. grand C. net D. gross
292. If you need help, please don’t hesitate to call me. I can be there _______. A. in a fix B. in a flash C. in a daze D. in the bag
293. To say it is the best novel written in the last twenty years is going far _______. A. a long way B. over the top C. through a bad patch D. to great lengths
294. Getting away from the stresses of work would do you a _______ of good. A. sense B. taste C. virtue D. power
295. Somehow I managed to _____ my physics exam. The pass mark was 5 and I got 6. A. scrape through B. shake off C. sit through D. slip off
296. Don’t _______ him on to join a gang: nothing could be worse for him! A. egg B. toast C. butter D. knife
297. I had spent two months worrying about it and I was glad to get it off my _______. A. shoulders B. head C. chest D. mouth
298. Having lost her home, Lucy got ______ a gang of people who hang around causing trouble. A. in with B. up to C. on with D. by on
299. Saving up for a nest ______ is an important part of life and should not be ignored, no matter how young or how well-off you are. A. egg B. stone C. seed D. pit
300. Charlotte ______ the new girl immediately, within hours of meeting each other they were best of friends.
A. took issue with B. took heart from C. took a shine to D. took his hat off to
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