Which word fits the three sentences?

He's like his father in so many ways and is a real chip off the old .........
They live in a ........ of flats in the city centre.
I had a complete mental ........ and couldn't remember the registration number of my car.

Which word fits all sentences?

An over-protected childhood meant that at the age of 22 she had no idea about the ________ world.

I'm now on my way and I'll be there in three hours at the __________.

There's still an _________ chance that Scotland will get through into the World Cup


Hmm I like doing this!!!! xoxo

Which word fits all sentences?

If we can raise enough money, there's a _________ chance (that) we can save the project

Don't take no for an answer - where's your __________ spirit?

At 73, she's still _________ fit, walking five miles a day.

xoxo

Speaking Task: Sport and Fitness

Useful language:

To get the most of
State of the art facilities
Indoor and outdoor facilities
A wide range of activities
To have equipment for hire
To book facilities/sessions
To run taster sessions
Highly-qualified staff
To devise personal exercise programmes
To carry out fitness assessments
Membership fees
To take care of yourself
To have a healthly lifestyle
To burn off calories
To lose weight

Taken from: Splendid Speaking

Possibility and Probability

1)I think we need to leave ........ the possibility that Simon has decided not to come to the party.

a) open
b) vacant
c) free



2)
Your dog ate your homework? That's a ........ story!

a) realistic
b) possible
c) likely

3)There's a ........ chance I won't be at work tomorrow. I might have to stay at home to wait for a delivery.

a) fine
b) slim
c) thin

Gable

A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used (which is often related to climate and availability of materials) and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable.

Portuguese: "Gablete"

Learning

1)Schools should go back to ........ and make sure children can read, write and do simple maths.

a) fundamentals
b) basics
c) bases

2)
Nobody thought he would make the ........ but he surprised them all and ended up going to university.

a) grade
b) level
c) mark


3)
I've been reading these instructions again and again but I just can't ........ my head around them.

a) put
b) get
c) make

Business

1)I've just spoken to their sales department and they think they can supply us with what we need. But they have got a track record of not delivering the ........

a) products
b) goods
c) items

2)
We had a salesman in the office earlier trying to give us the ........ sell with a new photocopier. We just couldn't get rid of him.

a) strong
b) heavy
c) hard



3)
I'm enjoying having my own business but if there's one thing I hate doing it's cold ........ to try to get new orders.

a) calling
b) phoning
c) ringing

Money

1)Frank used to make a ........ selling insurance before he went into teaching.
a) income
b) wage
c) living

2)
If you'd like to make a ........ buck do you fancy helping me with a job on Saturday?

a) quick
b) rapid
c) speedy


3)
We're beginning to ........ the pinch since Graham started to work part-time.

a) have
b) see
c) feel

Agreeing and Disagreeing

1)Sorry, but I've got to ........ issue with you over something you said earlier.
a) raise
b) make
c) take

2)
This discussion could go on for hours. Shall we just agree to ........ and move on?

a) differ
b) argue
c) disagree



3)
The two sides in the dispute are ........ odds over how to deal with the problem.

a) at
b) in
c) on

CPE Collocations

Complete each of the following sentences with the word that collocates with the words in bold.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. Victoria has a working ........ of Chinese, which she needs for her job as an international corporate lawyer.

2. The defendant told the judge that she accepted full ........ for her actions and that she would plead guilty.


3. After William realised his mistake he was forced to ........ his pride and apologise.


4. I thought I ........ my position absolutely clear. Either he goes or I do!


5. Tanya came away from the interview with the overriding ........ that she wouldn’t get the job.


6. Although my mother’s in her seventies she is still very young at ........


7. When the shop assistant refused the customer a refund, he was met with a torrent of ........


8. The drowning boy was pulled out of the river and ........ the kiss of life by a medic.

Moods and Emotions

Complete the following colloquial expressions:


1)
If you need any help just ........ the word and I'll be round immediately.
a) speak
b) say
c) utter



2)
Look, if there's something the matter just get it off your ........ and stop sitting there with a long face!

a) chest
b) head
c) stomach



3)
The builder was late again today. If he's not here at 9.00 tomorrow I'm really going to give him a ........ of my mind.

a) piece
b) bit
c) part

1)The children have been in ........ spirits since we told them about the holiday we've booked.

a) high
b) wide
c) deep


2)
I'm as pleased as ........ to be nominated for the award.

a) punch
b) push
c) pull


3)
One minute Sue was quite happy and the next she stormed off in a ........ of pique about a comment someone had made.

a) act
b) fit
c) sign

Character Traits

1)Anna is the ........ of the earth and very popular with all her colleagues.
a) stone
b) soil
c) salt



2)
Our daughter's teacher has got a heart of ........ and is always prepared to spend extra time with the children to help them with their work.

a) silver
b) gold
c) jewels


3)
I'd be careful what you say to Stephan. He's got rather a ........ temper.

a) fast
b) quick
c) snappy

Activity

1)We were sitting in the hospital waiting room twiddling our ........ for hours until we were seen.

a) fingers
b) thumbs
c) hands



2)
We've been up to our ........ in work lately. I've never known it to be so busy.

a) nose
b) hair
c) eyes


3)
You'll never persuade him to help you with the garden. He's bone ........ .

a) idle
b) lazy
c) still

DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

1)We were sitting in the meeting when the boss ........ the bombshell and told us the business was being sold.

a) ignited
b) exploded
c) dropped


2)
I put a brave ........ on things but I was actually feeling quite sad.

a) look
b) face
c) view



3)
Rather than trying to fight a losing ........ you should accept you were wrong and move on.

a) battle
b) war
c) struggle

Power and Politics

1)Dad's ........ his soapbox again, going on about what the Government's doing wrong.

a) at
b) on
c) in



2)
I really don't know who to vote for. Can't I just ........ on the fence?

a) sit
b) stand
c) lie

3)
Mathew is a useful person to know as he has friends in ........ places.

a) main
b) big
c) high

When things cannot be said...

Well, I must confess, I´m really into make up and fashion... but, this blog is all about CPE, isn´t it?!
Well, I read this text on the same day, to be more precise, some hours before taking the test, now, I really feel like sharing it with you!

"A lingua inglesa faz parte do meu dia a dia, as vezes quase que com exclusividade. Mesmo tendo um nivel de ingles avancado, nao sao raras as vezes em que me vejo em situacoes nas quais nao consigo me comunicar. E nao porque nao conheco o vocabulario, mas porque as palavras parecem fugir da minha cabeca.

Conto isto porque ha um tempo atras tive uma situacao dessas. Tinha acabado de voltar de um jantar e estava caminhando para a porta da minha casa, quando notei que um cara colocou a latinha vazia de cerveja em cima da minha caixa de correios e saiu andando normalmente. Como se a minha caixa de correios fosse apoio de lixo de bebado.

Eu sinceramente nao tenho a minima paciencia para a falta de consideracao dos outros. Tenho certeza que se fosse a caixa de correios da casa dele, ele nao teria colocado a sua lata de cerveja vazia. Mas como nao e a casa dele, pouco importa.

Geralmente eu engulo a seco este tipo de coisa, mas dessa vez eu dei um basta ao meu silencio. Minha vontade era de gritar pra ele: - Escuta aqui seu folgado! Ta achando que a minha casa e lugar de voce jogar lixo? Pois nao e nao! Pode voltar e buscar a sua latinha aqui.

Como voces podem ver, meu texto mental era perfeito. Mas na hora que abri a boca para falar em ingles a unica coisa que saiu foi isso: - Hey, you forgot something here!

Cade a parte do folgado? Cade a parte do venha aqui buscar? Cade a parte da indignacao de fazer a minha casa de lixo? Tudo sumiu! Na hora so consegui dizer "Ei, voce esqueceu algo aqui" e entregar a latinha na mao dele. Me senti uma tonta por nao ter conseguido exprimir em ingles o que eu estava pensando naquele momento. Mas tambem, como traduzir a palavra folgado? Como conseguir dar o mesmo sentido da frase, sem perder nenhuma entonacao?

O final dessa historia e que o cara pegou a latinha na mao e saiu andando, como se nada tivesse acontecido. Ele nao mostrou cara de arrependido nem de sem graca. Ai algumas horas depois voltou la na minha casa e devolveu a latinha na minha caixa de correios.

Ingenuidade da minha parte achar que ele pudesse ter aprendido um pouco de civilidade com essa experiencia. De fato quem aprendeu algo fui eu: mesmo fluente, o inglesa ainda e uma lingua estranha a mim.

Dia desses olhando uns videos no YouTube encontrei uma entrevista do comediante Fabio Porchat, na qual ele conta uma experiencia em que ele tentou dar um esporro em ingles. O video e divertido e vale a pena ser conferido!"

This text was written by Larissa Morato, the blog owner, the video mentioned above can be watched there.
And if you´re interested in make up, itá also a great place to go!

Romance

1)Paul has been using the Internet to search for an old ........ of his.
a) spark
b) light
c) flame



2)
Clare shouldn't really be thinking about meeting someone new yet as she's still ........ the rebound.

a) on
b) in
c) at



3) You won't get any sense out of Alex at the moment. He's head over ........ in love.

a) toes
b) heels
c) feet

Which one word fits all three sentences?

a)
1. The brutal military regime has .... fear into the whole population.
2. She ... a match and lit another cigarette.
3. The management and the employees eventually ... a bargain.

b)
1. She’s been ... a grudge against her boss ever since her transfer was refused.
2. ... criminals is an offence in law.
3. I’m certainly not ... a secret passion for that man, if that’s what you’re thinking.

c)
1. Her doctor was at ... in not sending her straight to the specialist.
2. It’s depressing to have someone always finding ... with your work.
3. I can’t phone my Dad - there seems to be a ... on the line.

Which one word fits all three sentences?

1. The French railway ... is the most advanced in Europe.
2. Massive investment is needed to improve the country’s telephone ... .
3. The country’s extensive ... of secret agents has kept the government informed of its opponents’ activities.

Time and Frequency

1)You were supposed to be here at 9.00 o'clock! Never mind. Better ........ than never.

a) late
b) delayed
c) overdue



2) What are you waiting for? Give her a call now. There's no time like the .........

a) reality
b) immediacy
c) present



3
We just popped into the travel agent on the spur of the ........ and booked a holiday.

a) instant
b) moment
c) time

Which one word fits all three sentences?

1. I wonder if this new clue will ..... any further light on the mystery.
2. If you are caught driving without a licence, the police will .... the book at you.
3. We have decided to .... a party to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

Shopping

Have you got any loose ........ on you? I've only got notes.
a) money
b) change
c) cash



2
Have you seen that new car Salvatore has bought? That must have cost a ........ penny.

a) pretty
b) nice
c) shiny


3
Instead of paying through the ........ for expensive designer clothes why don't you look around in one of the ordinary shops?

a) eyes
b) nose
c) mouth

Work

Complete the following colloquial expressions:
1)If you keep working all the ........ God sends you're going to burn yourself out.

a) periods
b) time
c) hours
Well done! If you 'work all the hours God sends' you work extremely long hours. Sorry, try again.Your answer has been saved.



2)
Edward was my right- ........ man during my time with the company.

a) hand
b) arm
c) side
Well done! A 'right-hand man' is a very important assistant at work. Sorry, try again.Your answer has been saved.



3)
There's a very clear pecking ........ in the organisation and everybody knows their place.

a) order
b) level
c) system