CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "break the ice"?
A. regret something that cannot be changed
B. watch or monitor carefully
C. make people feel more relaxed in a social situation
D. understand an implied meaning
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "break the ice" means make people feel more relaxed in a social situation. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "between the devil and the deep sea"?
A. unrealistic dreams or plans
B. caught between two difficult choices
C. over a long period of time
D. do things in the wrong order
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "between the devil and the deep sea" means caught between two difficult choices. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "beat about the bush"?
A. avoid coming directly to the point
B. win or succeed
C. in written or printed form
D. take a dangerous risk
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "beat about the bush" means avoid coming directly to the point. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "back to square one"?
A. speak plainly and directly
B. describe or identify something exactly
C. an essential or integral part
D. back to the starting point after failure
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "back to square one" means back to the starting point after failure. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at the eleventh hour"?
A. very rapidly
B. make more effort than is normally expected
C. at the last possible moment
D. unexpectedly
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "at the eleventh hour" means at the last possible moment. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at one's fingertips"?
A. generally or on the whole
B. readily available or easily accessible
C. choose to believe someone despite uncertainty
D. suddenly and without planning
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "at one's fingertips" means readily available or easily accessible. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "at sixes and sevens"?
A. in a state of confusion or disorder
B. work or study late into the night
C. become nervous and lose courage
D. very rarely
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "at sixes and sevens" means in a state of confusion or disorder. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a storm in a teacup"?
A. make people feel more relaxed in a social situation
B. honestly and according to the rules
C. stop something at an early stage
D. great excitement about a trivial matter
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "a storm in a teacup" means great excitement about a trivial matter. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a fish out of water"?
A. caught between two difficult choices
B. accept the unpleasant consequences of one's actions
C. a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings
D. exaggerate a small problem
Correct Answer: C
The idiomatic phrase "a fish out of water" means a person who feels uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a far cry from"?
A. avoid coming directly to the point
B. very different from
C. set a limit beyond which one will not go
D. manage expenses within one's income
Correct Answer: B
The idiomatic phrase "a far cry from" means very different from. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a bone of contention"?
A. a subject or issue causing disagreement
B. back to the starting point after failure
C. do something cheaply or carelessly by avoiding proper procedures
D. make every possible effort
Correct Answer: A
The idiomatic phrase "a bone of contention" means a subject or issue causing disagreement. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What is the meaning of the idiomatic phrase "a blessing in disguise"?
A. at the last possible moment
B. make a poor or embarrassing impression
C. earn enough to survive
D. something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial
Correct Answer: D
The idiomatic phrase "a blessing in disguise" means something that seems bad at first but turns out beneficial. It should be understood figuratively rather than literally.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "All things considered" mainly provide in "All things considered, the plan was successful."?
A. a direct object
B. the main finite verb
C. sentence-level qualification
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: C
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides sentence-level qualification.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "All things considered" in "All things considered, the plan was successful."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Absolute phrase
C. Prepositional phrase
D. Adverb clause
Correct Answer: B
"All things considered" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds sentence-level qualification; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "The lights turned off" mainly provide in "The lights turned off, the hall became dark."?
A. background condition
B. a direct object
C. the main finite verb
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: A
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides background condition.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "The lights turned off" in "The lights turned off, the hall became dark."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Prepositional phrase
C. Adverb clause
D. Absolute phrase
Correct Answer: D
"The lights turned off" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds background condition; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "His voice trembling" mainly provide in "His voice trembling, he answered the question."?
A. a direct object
B. the main finite verb
C. accompanying condition
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: C
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides accompanying condition.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "His voice trembling" in "His voice trembling, he answered the question."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Absolute phrase
C. Prepositional phrase
D. Adverb clause
Correct Answer: B
"His voice trembling" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds accompanying condition; it is an absolute phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What does the absolute phrase "The road being clear" mainly provide in "The road being clear, we reached on time."?
A. reason/background
B. a direct object
C. the main finite verb
D. a noun complement only
Correct Answer: A
An absolute phrase adds circumstantial information to the whole clause; here it provides reason/background.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Phrases
What type of phrase is "The road being clear" in "The road being clear, we reached on time."?
A. Appositive phrase
B. Prepositional phrase
C. Adverb clause
D. Absolute phrase
Correct Answer: D
"The road being clear" is grammatically independent of the main clause and adds reason/background; it is an absolute phrase.