EXERCISES

A Here are some more compound nouns based on phrasal verbs. Guess the meaning of the underlined word from its context.

1. Because of the accident there was a three-mile tailback along the motorway.

2. Police are warning of an increased number of break-ins in this area.

3. The papers are claiming the Prime Minister organised a cover-up.

4. Unfortunately, our plans soon suffered a setback.

5. I’m sorry I’m late. There was a terrible hold-up on the bridge.

6. The robbers made their getaway in a stolen car.

B Which of the words studied on the opposite page qould be most likely to follow the adjectives given below?

1. radioactive ..................

2. nervous ......................

3. computer ...................

4. annual .......................

5. final ..................

6. sales ..................

7. positive ..................

8. drastic ..................

C) Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word from above on the left column.

1. A and C Ltd, have made a .................. bid for S and M plc.

2. The Prime Minister yesterday announced a .................. of the Cabinet.

3. The negotations aim to end the 10-day-old ..................

4. She provided some very valuable .................. to the discussion.

5. CIRCUS LION IN HORROR ..................

6. There’s terrible queue at this .................. Let’s find another one.

7. There has been a disturbing .................. of violence in prisons recently.

8. The office wall was covered in ..................

D) Here are some more words of this type. In each case, the preposition element of the noun is given but the other part is missing. Choose from the list of possibilities.

work hand hold clear write lie turn press

1. Their car was a .......................... -off after the accident

2. The lecturer distributed .......................... - outs before she started speaking.

3. Jack does a daily .......................... -out at the gym, starting with 20 .......... ................ -ups.

4. There is an interesting .......................... -up of the match in today’s paper.

5. I’m giving my office a major .......................... -out this week.

6. Did you read about the .......................... -up at our bank?

7. There was a surprisingly large .......................... -out at the concert.

8. I love having a .......................... -in on Sundays.

A) 1. queue of traffic

2. burglaries

3. attempted to conceal information

4. obstacle in the way of progress

5. delay to traffic

6. escape

B) 1. Some possible answers:

1. radioactive fallout

2. nervous breakdown

3. computer printout

4. annual turnover

5. final output (or outcome)

6. sales outlets

7. positive feedback

8. drastic cutbacks C) 1. takeover

2. shake-up

3. walkout

4. input

5. BREAK-OUT

6. check-out

7. outbreak

8. pin-ups

D) 1. write

2. hand

3. work; press

4. write

5. clear

6. hold

7. turn

8. lie