CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH examinations / PROFICIENCY EXAM / CPE / 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 eight words, including the word given.

 

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1. [first=" The whole truth didn't come out until after Obama's resignation." word="THAT" beginning="It " answer="wasn't until after Obama's resignation that#was not until after Obama's resignation that" ending=" the whole truth came out."]

2. [first=" We weren't at all surprised when we heard that Peter had been dismissed." word="HEAR" beginning="It came "  answer="as no surprise to us to hear about" ending=" Peter's dismissal."]

3. [first=" The castle had been extensively restored and looked as good as new." word="UNDERGONE" beginning="The castle " answer="had undergone extensive restoration" ending=" and looked as good as new."]

4. [first=" Many people believe that all plants are green, but they're wrong." word="POPULAR" beginning="Contrary " answer="to popular belief not all" ending=" plants are green."]

5. [first=" Things went wrong at once after his departure." word="HAD" beginning="Hardly " answer="had he departed when#had he departed before" ending=" things went wrong."]

6. [first=" In spite of all my efforts, I couldn't persuade Joe to come to the pub." word="HOW" beginning="No matter " answer="how hard I tried, I could not talk#how hard I tried, I couldn't talk" ending=" Joe into coming to the pub."]

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ANSWER KEYS

 

1)    WASN'T (WAS NOT) UNTIL AFTER MARTIN'S RESIGNATION THAT
EMPHASIS IT WASN'T UNTIL ... THAT ...
To create extra focus on time adjuncts, we can front them using a phrase 'it was not until':
It wasn't until I did my homework that I could go out.

 
2)    AS NO SURPRISE TO US TO HEAR ABOUT
PHRASE COME AS A SURPRISE TO SOMEBODY
To make someone feel surprised:
The news will come as no surprise to her friends.

 
3)    HAD UNDERGONE EXTENSIVE RESTORATION
VERB UNDERGO SOMETHING
To experience something, especially a change or something unpleasant:
My father underwent major surgery a few weeks ago. 

 
4)    TO POPULAR BELIEF NOT ALL
IDIOM CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF
Something that you say before you make a statement that is the opposite of what most people believe :
Contrary to popular belief, women cause fewer road accidents than men.

 
5)    HAD HE RESIGNED WHEN (BEFORE)
INVERSION HARDLY HAD ... WHEN/BEFORE ...
If the second event occurs immediately after the first, we can express that idea using the structure:
Hardly had she reached the bus stop when the bus came.

 
6)    HOW HARD I TRIED, I COULDN'T (COULD NOT) TALK
CONCESSION NO MATTER + HOW + ADJECTIVE + SUBJECT + VERB
Used to emphasize that something is always true, or that someone must do something:
No matter how nice he may be, I don't like him.