CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH / ADVANCED / CAE / USE OF ENGLISH / Key word transformations

 

 

For questions 1-6, complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and six words, including the word given.

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1. [first=" Would it be possible to talk to her privately for a second?" word="HAVING" beginning="Is there any " answer="possibility of having a#likelihood of having a#chance of having" ending=" a private word with her?"]

2. [first=" Deborah was driving so fast that the police wasn't able to catch up with her." word="SUCH" beginning="Deborah was driving " " answer="at such a speed" ending=" that the police wasn't able to catch up with her."]

3. [first=" 'I can't believe it - I've just won the first prize!' Angela said." word="LUCK" beginning="Angela couldn't " answer="believe her luck" ending=" when she won the first prize."]

4. [first=" I missed the bus because I came to the bus station late." word="BY" beginning="The bus " answer="had already left by the time#had left by the time" ending=" I came to the bus station."]

5. [first=" Nobody wanted to offer a helping hand to me." word="DEVICES" beginning="I was " answer="left to my own devices" ending=" by everybody."]

6. [first=" I'm going to eat less junk food this year." word="DOWN" beginning="I'm going to " answer="cut down on the amount of" ending=" junk food this year."]

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ANSWER KEYS

 

1)    POSSIBILITY/LIKELIHOOD/CHANCE OF HAVING
LIKELIHOOD THERE IS LIKELIHOOD OF 
The degree to which something can reasonably be expected to happen:
There was very little likelihood of her getting the job.
 
2)    AT SUCH A SPEED
FIXED PHRASE  AT A SPEED
The rate at which somebody/something moves or travels:
The truck was travelling at a speed of 50 mph.
 
3)    BELIEVE HER LUCK
IDIOM  NOT BELIEVE YOUR LUCK
To be very surprised and very pleased:
She couldn't believe her luck when she saw the place was empty.
 
4)    HAD (ALREADY) LEFT BY THE TIME
PAST PERFECT HAD + III FORM + BY THE TIME
The particular minute, hour, day etc when something happens or should happen:
The phone was ringing but by the time she got indoors, it had stopped.
 
5)    LEFT TO MY OWN DEVICES
IDIOM LEAVE SB TO THEIR OWN DEVICES
To leave somebody alone to do as they wish, and not tell them what to do:
Students were left to their own devices. 
 
6)    CUT DOWN ON THE AMOUNT OF
PHRASAL VERB + PHRASE CUT DOWN ON + AMOUNT OF
To reduce the size, amount or number of something:
The doctor told him to cut down on the amount of alcohol.