CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "do away with" most commonly mean?
A. have a good relationship with
B. admire or respect
C. abolish or get rid of
D. represent or tolerate, depending on context
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "do away with" most commonly means abolish or get rid of. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "cut down on" most commonly mean?
A. discover
B. reduce the amount of
C. investigate
D. resolve or organize
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "cut down on" most commonly means reduce the amount of. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "come up with" most commonly mean?
A. produce an idea or solution
B. complete missing information
C. search for
D. arrive or appear
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "come up with" most commonly means produce an idea or solution. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "come across" most commonly mean?
A. understand or solve
B. take care of
C. establish or arrange
D. find or meet by chance
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "come across" most commonly means find or meet by chance. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "carry out" most commonly mean?
A. visit informally
B. remain at the same level or pace as
C. perform or complete
D. use all of something
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "carry out" most commonly means perform or complete. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "carry on" most commonly mean?
A. abolish or get rid of
B. continue
C. restrain or prevent
D. meet unexpectedly
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "carry on" most commonly means continue. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "call off" most commonly mean?
A. cancel
B. reduce the amount of
C. submit
D. extinguish
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "call off" most commonly means cancel. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "bring up" most commonly mean?
A. produce an idea or solution
B. experience or examine carefully
C. postpone
D. mention a topic
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "bring up" most commonly means mention a topic. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "bring about" most commonly mean?
A. find or meet by chance
B. pursue
C. cause something to happen
D. draw attention to
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "bring about" most commonly means cause something to happen. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "break out" most commonly mean?
A. perform or complete
B. begin suddenly, especially something unpleasant
C. stop trying or abandon
D. collect, acquire, or learn
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "break out" most commonly means begin suddenly, especially something unpleasant. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "break down" most commonly mean?
A. stop functioning
B. continue
C. yield or surrender
D. die
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "break down" most commonly means stop functioning. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "bear with" most commonly mean?
A. cancel
B. recover from
C. invent or reconcile, depending on context
D. be patient with
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "bear with" most commonly means be patient with. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "back out" most commonly mean?
A. mention a topic
B. have a good relationship with
C. withdraw from an agreement or commitment
D. admire or respect
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "back out" most commonly means withdraw from an agreement or commitment. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "account for" most commonly mean?
A. cause something to happen
B. explain or give a reason for
C. discover
D. investigate
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "account for" most commonly means explain or give a reason for. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "wild-goose chase"?
A. a futile search or pursuit
B. readily available or easily accessible
C. regret something that cannot be changed
D. watch or monitor carefully
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "wild-goose chase" means a futile search or pursuit. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "turn over a new leaf"?
A. in a state of confusion or disorder
B. unrealistic dreams or plans
C. over a long period of time
D. begin behaving in a better way
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "turn over a new leaf" means begin behaving in a better way. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "take the bull by the horns"?
A. great excitement about a trivial matter
B. win or succeed
C. deal with a difficult situation directly
D. in written or printed form
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "take the bull by the horns" means deal with a difficult situation directly. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "pull someone's leg"?
A. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
B. joke with or tease someone
C. speak plainly and directly
D. describe or identify something exactly
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "pull someone's leg" means joke with or tease someone. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "on cloud nine"?
A. extremely happy
B. very different from
C. very rapidly
D. make more effort than is normally expected
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "on cloud nine" means extremely happy. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "make head or tail of"?
A. a subject or issue causing disagreement
B. generally or on the whole
C. choose to believe someone despite uncertainty
D. understand something
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "make head or tail of" means understand something. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.