CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the correct use of "burn the midnight oil".
A. The lamp burned the midnight oil because it was electric.
B. He burned oil only at noon.
C. Students often burn the midnight oil before competitive examinations.
D. The phrase means to sleep early.
Correct Answer: C
"Burn the midnight oil" means to work or study late at night.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence in which "break the ice" is used correctly.
A. The mechanic broke the ice in the engine.
B. The host told a light joke to break the ice before the meeting.
C. She broke the ice because the freezer was empty.
D. The sun broke the ice by becoming cold.
Correct Answer: B
"Break the ice" means to reduce social tension and help people feel comfortable.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
Choose the sentence in which "at the eleventh hour" is used correctly.
A. He submitted the application at the eleventh hour, just before the deadline.
B. He wakes at the eleventh hour every day.
C. The clock stopped at the eleventh hour because it was broken.
D. He bought eleven hours at the market.
Correct Answer: A
"At the eleventh hour" means at the last possible moment, so the deadline sentence is correct.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "turn out" most commonly mean?
A. begin suddenly, especially something unpleasant
B. complete missing information
C. search for
D. prove to be or result
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "turn out" most commonly means prove to be or result. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "take up" most commonly mean?
A. stop functioning
B. understand or solve
C. begin a new activity or occupy
D. take care of
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "take up" most commonly means begin a new activity or occupy. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "put up with" most commonly mean?
A. be patient with
B. tolerate
C. visit informally
D. remain at the same level or pace as
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "put up with" most commonly means tolerate. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "keep on" most commonly mean?
A. continue doing something
B. withdraw from an agreement or commitment
C. abolish or get rid of
D. restrain or prevent
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "keep on" most commonly means continue doing something. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "go over" most commonly mean?
A. explain or give a reason for
B. reduce the amount of
C. submit
D. review
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "go over" most commonly means review. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "get by" most commonly mean?
A. prove to be or result
B. produce an idea or solution
C. manage with difficulty
D. experience or examine carefully
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "get by" most commonly means manage with difficulty. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "fall apart" most commonly mean?
A. begin a new activity or occupy
B. break into pieces or lose coherence
C. find or meet by chance
D. pursue
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "fall apart" most commonly means break into pieces or lose coherence. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "come about" most commonly mean?
A. happen
B. tolerate
C. perform or complete
D. stop trying or abandon
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "come about" most commonly means happen. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "bring down" most commonly mean?
A. continue doing something
B. continue
C. yield or surrender
D. reduce or cause to fall
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "bring down" most commonly means reduce or cause to fall. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "write down" most commonly mean?
A. review
B. cancel
C. record in writing
D. recover from
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "write down" most commonly means record in writing. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "work out" most commonly mean?
A. manage with difficulty
B. solve, calculate, or develop successfully
C. mention a topic
D. have a good relationship with
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "work out" most commonly means solve, calculate, or develop successfully. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "turn up" most commonly mean?
A. appear or increase
B. break into pieces or lose coherence
C. cause something to happen
D. discover
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "turn up" most commonly means appear or increase. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "turn down" most commonly mean?
A. happen
B. begin suddenly, especially something unpleasant
C. complete missing information
D. reject or reduce
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "turn down" most commonly means reject or reduce. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "take over" most commonly mean?
A. reduce or cause to fall
B. stop functioning
C. assume control
D. understand or solve
Correct Answer: C
The phrasal verb "take over" most commonly means assume control. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "take off" most commonly mean?
A. record in writing
B. leave the ground or remove
C. be patient with
D. visit informally
Correct Answer: B
The phrasal verb "take off" most commonly means leave the ground or remove. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "take after" most commonly mean?
A. resemble an older relative
B. solve, calculate, or develop successfully
C. withdraw from an agreement or commitment
D. abolish or get rid of
Correct Answer: A
The phrasal verb "take after" most commonly means resemble an older relative. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the phrasal verb "stand for" most commonly mean?
A. appear or increase
B. explain or give a reason for
C. reduce the amount of
D. represent or tolerate, depending on context
Correct Answer: D
The phrasal verb "stand for" most commonly means represent or tolerate, depending on context. Context can sometimes produce additional meanings.