Teaching and Learning of Idiomatic Expressions and Multi-word Verbs of English in The Context of Sudan

Appendix- 5.a

PRE-TEST FOR STUDENTS OF ENGLISH AT SUDANESE UNIVERSITIES

(3^RD YEAR STUDENTS)

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Answer all the questions in the spaces provided.

Question 1

Passage Completion

a. Complete the passage choosing the suitable multi-word verbs from the following list (the 20 banks should be filled by all the 20 multi-word verbs given in the list):

Put up with give up carry out pick (it) up

Backed away rang up set up found out

Look after take on took to boiled over

Answer (me) back give in called at fell out

Went for make up for ordered about turned up

The passage :

When war broke out William Smith was called up. He didn’t exactly jump at the change of being a soldier, but he hadn’t any choice in the mater. He never really 1__________ being a soldier.

He learnt to 2________ his rifle and his uniform and to 3_________orders, but it didn’t interest him very much and was glad when peace was made and he was demobilized.

A week after his return home Mr. White, a friend of his parents and manager of the local hardware shop, 4___________ his house. ‘One of my assistants is leaving next week’, he said to William. How would you like to 5___________ his job?’

‘I don’t know anything about hardware’, said William. Oh you’d soon 6_______. It’s not difficult. After discussing that with his parents, William accepted and started work at once. He was allowed to bring his dog to the shop with him. ‘He’ll keep down the rats,’ he said to Mr. White.

One day, however, Mr. White was moved to a bigger branch and a new man, Mr. Green, was appointed. Unluckily he had a dog too, a bad tempered animal who 7_________ William’s dog. The customers 8______________ from the fighting dogs, Mr. Green told William that he must 9___________ bringing his dog to the shop.

Very soon Mr. Green and William 10____________ over another matter. You spend too much time talking to customers, Smith, he said. ‘But they like talking’ said William.

‘Don’t 11_______ ; from now on there is to be less talk and more work. You must 12__________ the time you’ve wasted.

I was 13________ for five years in the army said William angrily, but I didn’t expect to have it in civilian life, and I’m not going to 14________ it. William was angry enough about this but when he 15_________ that Mr. Green was advertising for a new assistant, he 16_______ with rage.

‘I wish I had enough money to 17_________ on my own’, said William sadly.

Strangely enough, soon after, a distant cousin died and left William his chicken farm. William was delighted. He 18_________ all his friends and said ‘I’m taking up chicken farming. Don’t buy eggs from any one but me’.

Next day he 19___________ at the shop with his dog and said to Mr. Green, ‘I want to 20___________ my resignation’.

(10 marks)

b. Transformation:

(I) Passive forms : Transform the following sentences into passive (when transformation can not be applied, write not possible).

1. The clouds soon cleared away and it became quite warm.

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Jane arrived after her uncle, who was early.

_____________________________________________________________________

3. His daughter always looked after him when he was ill.

_____________________________________________________________________

4. They have let the cat out of the bag.

_____________________________________________________________________

5. It was raining cats and dogs.

_____________________________________________________________________

(5 marks)

(II) Nominalized forms : Rewrite the following sentences changing the underlined multi-word verbs into nominalized forms (derived noun-forms). When transformation cannot be applied, write “not possible”.

1. She has started making up her face.

_____________________________________________________________________

2. The supply of food has broken down.

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Robert drew out twenty pounds from his savings account.

_____________________________________________________________________

4. Students are sitting in at the university.

_____________________________________________________________________

5. Our plane took off very smoothly.

_____________________________________________________________________

(5 marks)

Question Two : Substitution

Give the meanings of the underlined idiomatic expressions in the given spaces by choosing the suitable definitions/synonyms from the following list:

helped…to get over diminished

discuss angrily with to be careful to

a condition of great excitement thought constantly about

forever final annoyance

convinced…about obtained…from

have free time off make plans as sth develops

informal conversation become responsible for

to achieve an expected standard revealed a secret

uncommunicative clearly stated

discuss…with repeatedly

deceive have trust in

kind untruth blame

pause routine

discover tolerate

to use for one’s personal benefit generally

illegal form

advanced to resembles

sensible accomplished

family risky

all the details invented

1. For three days the wind blew hard and strong, but on the fourth day it died down.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Please hold on; I’d like to ask a question before you continue your lecture.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. I believe in my wife because she always opens up to me and shows her love.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. In both physical appearance and personality, John takes after his father.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. I can put up with some noise while I’m studying, but I can’t accept loud noise.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. Because he did a very poor job and came up with bad results, his boss felt that he hadn’t lived up to his responsibilities.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Tom began as a local salesman, but after thirty years with the same company he had worked up to sales manager.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

8. Nothing he told me was true; I’m angry that he made up the whole story.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. You have always carried out your duties well so I am going to give you a raise.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

10. I’ve been working too hard lately, it’s time for me to take off a couple of weeks of vacation.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

11. If you believe in telling the truth, you should never lead someone on.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

12. Fifty states, including Alaska and Hawaii, make up the United States.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

13. When you looked into the matter in the library, did you find out any answer.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

14. He tried hard to get ahead, so I can’t hold his failure against him.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

15. The successful student drew pleasure from the fact that he had passed all his exams.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

16. When the alcoholic was considering suicide, the helpful psychiatrist pulled him through this difficult period.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

17. If you have an American roommate, take advantage of him for carrying on conversation and answering questions.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

18. Because I was late to class, I made a point of apologizing to the teacher after class; she appreciated my concern.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

19. If you leave the business to your efficient assistant, he’ll take charge of it and do a fine job.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

20. I was very concerned about my problems; I had them on my mind all the time.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

21. At first, the criminal left out part of his crime in his confessions, but eventually he brought the whole thing into the open.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

22. The unpredictable situation might change at any moment, so we’d better play it by ear as it develops, instead of deciding now.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

23. At first he stuck to his own opinion stubbornly, but finally we brought him around to our way of thinking.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

24. He wanted to go into the matter more deeply so he asked to talk it over with me next week.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

25. Because Alice couldn’t hold back her deep anger any more, she decided to open up and have it out with her selfish boyfriend.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

26. All three of his children look just like him because they are his own flesh and blood.

…………………………………………………………...………………………………………

27. The movie was so scary that the audience was constantly on pins and needles; they were sitting on the edges of their seats.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

28. That older politician is very successful because he knows the ins and outs of government business well.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

29. Joe has borrowed money three times without paying me back, and now he wants $50!. That’s the last straw!

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

30. When I said I liked her dinner, which really was terrible, I told a white lie because I didn’t want to hurt her feelings.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

31. At most parties, people socialize by engaging in a lot of informal small talk.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

32. Tom had seen the movie three times before, so the outcome was rather cut and dried the fourth time.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

33. When the Immigration Service learned that George’s wife was not a U.S. citizen, it declared the marriage null and void.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

34. The heart operation was so difficult that most of the time it was touch and go.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

35. To me, the points in his lecture were clear-out; he was not just full of hot air.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

36. The policeman managed to stay level-headed in the confrontation with the armed bank robbers.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

37. Tom had second thoughts about sharing his problem with his family, so he decided to remain close-mouthed about it.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

38. Even though I’ve tried many times to repair my ear, time and again it won’t start.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

39. John finally was able to quit smoking for good; he’ll never touch another cigarette.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

40. By and large, Tom is an easy-going person in almost everything he does.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………...

(20 marks)

QUESTION NO.3 : ERRORS IDENTIFICATION

Which of the following sentences are correct and which are not: Indicate your answers by ticking (tick ü ) the correct sentences and crossing ( X ) the wrong ones, in the given boxes.

1. The student got ahead his school.

2. The student got ahead in school.

3. My friend caught slowly on.

4. The teacher touched quickly on many ideas.

5. The teacher quickly touched on many ideas.

6. The teacher touched on quickly many ideas.

7. A student came up a question.

8. A student’s question came up.

9. The president cleared carefully up the problem.

10. The president cleared up it.

11. The lawyer stuck to it.

12. I can tell the twins apart easily.

13. I can tell apart the twins easily.

14. The student found it out quickly.

15. The student found out it quickly.

16. The senator put the bill through Congress.

17. The senator put the bill Congress through.

18. I carefully kept an eye on the child.

19. I kept a careful eye on the child.

20. I carefully kept eyes on the child.

21. I kept careful eyes on the child.

22. Mary put her scholarship to good uses.

23. Mary put her scholarship to good use.

24. I turned it over to my associates.

25. I turned over it to my associates.

26. You should set time aside for a meeting.

27. You should set aside time for a meeting.

28. The manager put his heart or soul into his work.

29. The manager put his heart and soul into his work.

30. The car suffered a lot of wear and tear.

31. The car suffered a lot of tear and wear.

32. The race – car driver had many closer calls.

33. The race – car driver had many close calls.

34. The lecturer’s speech was sweet and short.

35. Tom and Jerry had a man-to-man talk.

36. Tom and Jerry had a men-to-men talk.

37. Fatima and Sara had a women-to-women talk

38. Fatima and Sara had a heart-to-heart talk.

39. Day in and day out, Bob stays at home.

40. Day out and day in, Bobstays at home.

(20 marks)

QUESTION NO.4 : Multiple – Choice (items).

Choose the idiom, which has the best meaning in the context below, by drawing a circle round the letter of the correct answer.

1. An elephant in a circus really_____________.

a. falls through

b. shows up

c. stands out

d. stands in

2. Because San Diego has poor bus system, it is difficult to _________________ if you

Don’t have a car.

a. come about

b. get around

c. get ahead

d. break in

3. Don’t leave without me! Please ________________

a. get ahead

b. hold on

c. catch on

d. fall through

4. I prefer to ______________one topic in great detail, instead of touching on many

topics.

a. run over

b. come on

c. catch on

d. go into

5. He’s so stubborn that he __________ all his opinions.

a. sticks to

b. goes without

c. takes after

d. sticks for

6. It’s hard to __________ in a car when the streets are very crowded.

a. get ahead

b. go through

c. get around

d. get through

7. Joe tries hard, but he doesn’t catch on easily; sometimes it’s difficult to ________

him.

a. get through to

b. look forward to

c. try for

d. take after

8. I’ll go back to work, when I ___________ this sickness.

a. turn into

b. go without

c. get over

d. get about

9. They work hard, and too quickly for me to _____________ them.

a. get over

b. look up to

c. work up to

d. keep up with

10. Do you ever fail to do your duties or do you always ______________ them?

a. carry out

b. believe in

c. live up to

d. carry in

11. It took many years for me to ______________ an important position in my company.

a. keep up with

b. work up to

c. settle down

d. make out

12. Did the policeman ___________ the mistake you made?

a. point out

b. take off

c. make up

d. take in

13. I asked him to go to the research center to ___________ some information _________

for me.

a. find________ out

b. look _______ out

c. make _______ out

e. look_________ up

14. A big office jam came about when a drunk driver _____________ an accident.

a. look out for

b. brought about

c. brought up

d. came about

15. I understand the first three grammar rules, but please _____________ the last rule for me again briefly.

a. fill in

b. get through to

c. touch on

d. touch in

16. After you left France, did you __________ French in school?

a. take up

b. do over

c. engage in

d. take on

17. A four-foot person __________ anywhere he goes.

a. turns to

b. stands out

c. goes out

e. turns in

18. The parents didn’t like yard work so they ___________ it __________ their sons.

a. drew _______ from

b. touched ______out

c. filled _________ in

d. left __________ to

19. The salesman _______________ the customer _____________ a long discussion.

a. drew _______ from

b. left ________ to

c. engaged _______ in

d. engaged _______about

20. The bill for our expensive dinner _________ $200.

a. turned to

b. came to

c. took off

d. lent to

21, You shouldn’t ______________ a serious problem; deal with it as though it were very

important.

a. find fault with

b. make light of

c. take charge of

d. keep an eye on

22. I made so many mistakes that I had to ___________ my work ______________.

a. do ________ over

b. put ____ to good use

c. play _____ by ear

d. lay _________to rest

23. I’m so tired and tied down in my work that I can’t _________________ my work life

and my home life ___________.

a. lay ________ to rest

b. put ________ above

c. tell _________apart

d. do __________ over

24. After the debater found fault with his opponent, his opponent completely ___________ the debater’s criticisms ____________ and won the debate easily.

a. did _________ over b. pointed _______ out

c. pulled ____ to pieces

d. put ________ above

25. The class was so good that I _______ a lot _________ it.

a. put __________ above

b. got _________ out of

c. put _________ to use

d. put _________ out

26. I want to get the problem off my chest so I’ll __________ it __________ him.

a. have _______ out with

b. engage _________ in

c. leave __________ upto

d. go ____________ out

27. The engine needed repair because it was ___________ too much smoke.

a. drawing from

b. giving off

c. giving away

d. giving up

28. Tom won’t buy that old car because it has too much ___________ on it.

a. ups and downs

b. odds and ends

c. wear and tear

d. give and take

29. Alone in the house at night without electricity, I was on ______________

a. hear and soul

b. ups and downs

c. pins & needles

d. part and parcel

30. The sixth time he called me at midnight was the ___________________

a. lost cause

b. last straw

c. hot air

d. big shot

31. The criminal was ignored completely by his own _______________

a. big shot

b. old hand

c. flesh & blood

d. part and parcel

32. When it’s a matter of _______ I’m usually the one who has to compromise.

a. ins and outs

b. give and take

c. white lie

d. heart and soul

33. Students usually dislike homework because often it’s simply too ___________

a. pins & needles

b. last straw

c. cut and dried

d. up and about

34. I hope that the teacher doesn’t declare my test _____________ because I cheated.

a. hot air

b. null and void

c. last straw

d. free and easy.

35. It was the _______ when my neighbour played his stereo loudly for the length

time at night.

a. part and parcel

b. last straw

c. ups and downs

d. ins and outs

36. He went _______ to put his heart and soul into it.

a. neck and neck

b. first-rate

c. all-out

d. spick and span

37. From his clear-cut answers, I can tell the professor is an _______________ at

responding to questions from his students.

a. eager beaver

b. in and out

c. old hand

d. all-out

38. That speeding motorist almost didn’t see me; that was a ______________

a. hot air

b. close call

c. lost cause

d. big shot

39. An eager beaver will work very hard _____________

a. all-out

b. day in & day out

c. now and again

d. first-date

40. At first I accepted his suggestion, but later I had __________ about it.

a. second thoughts

b. heart and soul

c. small talks

d. neck and neck

(20 marks)