21.12.2020

 

Common Idioms List

Set 1

Common Idioms	Definitions
It cost me an arm and a leg to take my trip to Australia.	Very expensive
I was over the moon when he asked me to marry him.	Extremely pleased or happy
You are taking your IELTS test next week?? Aren’t you jumping the gun. You’ve only just started studying.	Doing or starting something too early
He comes round to see me once in a blue moon.	Happening very rarely
He’s got a chip on his shoulder.	Feeling inferior or having a grievance about something
I reckon getting a band 7 in IELTS will be a piece of cake! I’m very good at English.	Very easy
The money sent by comic relief to help poverty in Africa is just a drop in the ocean. They need far more than this.	A very small part of something much bigger
Getting a low score the first time I took IELTS was a blessing in disguise. It forced me to study extremely hard so I got a much better score the next time.	Something positive that isn’t recognized until later
We have to actually do something about global warming. Actions speak louder than words.	It’s better to actually do something rather than just talking about it
I bumped into Jenny in town the other day. It's a small world.	Meeting someone you would not have expected to

    

Often you are asked to compare a situation now with the same situation in the past.

One way of describing how things have changed is to use “used to”.  We use it to refer to facts or situations that were true in the past but are not true now.  When the change occurred is not important. Example:

“Vietnam used to be a colony of France, (but now it is independent)”

“Jimmy Carter used to be the President of the United States, (but now he isn’t.)”

This can, of course be used to give personal information.

“I used to smoke, (but I gave up 2 years ago.)”

“Mike used to be a detective in the CID, (but now he’s a teacher)”

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Comparatives

In these types of questions the function being tested is “compare”, so using comparatives is obviously a good way of answering the question and speaking about change.

Example:

"Thirty years ago, the streets were much quieter than now.”

“I think that reading was much more popular in the past.”

When talking about how things are different now, the present perfect is often used as well as the present simple.

“The streets have become much noisier these days.” (Notice, a specific time is not needed)

“Reading is much less popular than it was in the past.”

_________________________________________________ How have shopping habits changed over recent years? https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/upper-intermediate-b2/comparing-two-charts 

 

  

 

Question 1-6

Complete the form below.

Write NO MORE THREE WORDS AND OR/NUMBERS for each answer

Hotel Information
Example answer Name of accommodation:	(0) Carlton Hotel
Length of stay:	3 nights
Ages of children:	(1)
Rooms available:	Two en-suites at £270
Price inclusive of:	(2)
Payment method:	credit card
Name:	Michael (3)
Date of birth:	(4) 1968
Address:	273, Stanton Court, London.
Post code:	(5)
Telephone:	08773 (6)

 

Questions 7-10

Complete the table below.

Write NO MORE THREE WORDS AND OR/ A NUMBER for each answer

Transport Options
Mode of Transport	Cost	Arrangements	Travel time to town
Taxi	Approximately (7) £	Pick up from the hotel	10 minutes
Bus	£2 per person	Walk down Oak Tree (8)	15 minutes
Walking	--------	Walk through (9)	(10)

 

 

Choose the correct letter, A, B, or C. for each answer

11 The company expanded in

A 2000

B 2007

C 2014

12 The number of permanent staff is

A 75

B 90

C 150

13 Most volunteers join the program

A in Winter

B in July

C when it is best for them

14 Time Abroad receives all its income from

A partner organisations

B volunteers

C the govenment