PREPOSITIONS

53
1. Laboratory tests carried ______ by three independent teams of experts have given similar results.
A. out B. about C. forth D. up
2. He agreed with my opinion that we should not be fully satisfied ______ what we heard.
A. from B. of C. with D. about
3. Two young men were arrested on suspicion of setting fire ______ a police van.
A. in B. on C. with D. to
4. First we have to find out to what extent the drop in car imports is related ______ the increase of interest rates.
A. to B. with C. upon D. over
5. After so many years of work I’m really tired ______ ordinary people’s egoism and lack of consideration.
A. with B. of C. at D. by
6. We don’t want my father to know about the trip. Please, don’t give us ______
A. off B. on C. away D. in
7. Customs duty ______ wallpaper is almost 50% so I don’t think it is a good idea to buy it aboard.
A. for B. on C. at D. of
8. Keep your mouth shut ! Remember that what you say may be taken ______ and used against you.
A. down B. over C. through D. into
9. His wish to enjoy complete freedom ______ social obligations seems rather immoral to me.
A. of B. against C. from D. towards
10. The robbers packed the diamonds into a suitcase and ______ in a van that waited for them in the street.
A. put through B. rolled over C. carried away D. made off
11. I don’t need a car; we live ______ easy reach of the shops.
A. upon B. within C. at D. towards
12. When Mr Hunt took ______ from his father, the firm was near bankruptcy. He managed to prevent it.
A. out B. on C. up D. over
13. I will be ______ a business trip tp China for two weeks; please e-mail me if you need to get in touch with me
______ that time.
A. around – in B. on – during C. though – for D. over – at
14. The collision occurred about two miles ______ the Spanish coast and the rescue operation was mounted by
helicopters of the Spanish coastguard.
A. off B. of C. out of D. from
15. Don’t expect that the changes brought ______ by the new law wll make everyone happy.
A. around B. over C. up D. about
16. Speaking quite frankly, their present accident rate is nothing to be proud ______ .
A. about B. at C. of D. with
17. We couldn’t figure ______ why the headmistress had changed her mind about the tour.
A. out B. up C. down D. though
18. As Joe’s roommate I find him a fairly nice fellow, even if at times it is not easy to ______ his noisy behaviour.
A. put down for B. put up with C. put off with D. put in for
19. As far as I can judge, she was completely unaware ______ the seriousness of the situation.
A. of B. about C. concerning D. with
20. All the patients suffering ______ bronchitis were given the same course of injections.
A. with B. on C. from D. of
21. After some debate the Moors have agreed to exclude abstract art ______ their daughter’s wedding list.
A. out of B. from C. off D. beyond

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22. Wine is made______ grapes.
A. out of B. of C. with D. from
23. It was Friday afternoon and the shops were full ______ customers.
A. of B. in C. by D. with
24. If you don’t switch the lights off for the day, you risk running the battery ______ before the end of the trip.
A. out B. off C. down D. through
25.______ being a little messy, she will be a good flat mate for you.
A. Far away B. At length C. Beside D. Apart from
54
1. I must admit that the problem of noise rarely, if ever, comes______ at the Council meetings.
A. round B. off C. up D. though
2. What makes Jocelyn so attractive for children is her extraordinary gift ______ imitating animals’ voices.
A. of B. for C. at D. in
3. From my children’s point of view, our new home was clearly a change ______ better.
A. to the B. on the C. on D. for the
4. In a hospital, the case was diagnosed as pneumonia. Before she had been treated ______ hay fever.
A. for B. on C. against D. from
5.I’m afraid starting the race today is ______ the question. Look at this snow.
A. beyond B. out of C. none D. away
6. We certainly didn’t expect that so many people would turn ______ to see the match.
A. in B. over C. out D. round
7. The air craft, which originally headed ______ Heathrow, had to make an emergency landing at Orly.
A. for B. on C. at D. into
8. Professor Knight came ______ this extraordinary document in the archives of the War Office.
A. to B. through C. along D. across
9. The whole operation was a failure. Due to a technical fault in the detonator the bomb didn’t ______ at all.
A. come off B. go off C. burst off D. break off
10. He sometimes forgets to wind ______ his alarm-clock and then gets to school at the last moment.
A. up B. on C. back D. for
11. We never saw him again because soon afterwards he died in Singapore ______blood-poisoning.
A. off B. of C. with D. for
12. This time of day all the lines are engaged, so I doubt whether she’ll be able to ______to us.
A. get about B. get down C. get through D. get over
13. The school wrote to all the parents asking them if they would help to paint the library during the next half
term. Well, the sad truth is that no parent has come ______ .
A. forward B. ahead C. through D. down
14. On the last day we went to see the show, which, contrary ______ the sceptics’ opinions, was fairly amusing.
A. against B. off C. from D. to
15. Why don’t we meet in the evening? I can have a beer with you when I am ______ duty but not now.
A. off B. out of C. after D. outside
16. Now that we are ______ danger, we no longer need police protection.
A. off B. away from C. out of D. outside
17. I am rather reluctant to use methods which have not been tried ______ before.
A. for B. up C. on D. out
18. The best wood for building this type of canoe is oak. But since no oak is available, we’ll have to ______
without it.

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 A. make B. do C. take D. come
19. The project, which many people believed to be a major breakthrough, ended ______ failure.
A. with B. by C. in D. upon
20. If you tell the examiners you’re allergic ______ poetry, they won’t be amused.
A. for B. to C. against D. on
21. If they don’t______ my sight at once, I’ll you mad or shoot them.
A. get away from B. go out from C. get out of D. go off
22. For a person who has ______ Harvard, she has a rather low salary.
A. graduated B. graduated on C. graduated at D. graduated from
23. I went to see Aunt Mathilda yesterday and found her wearing her best dress. She said she was waiting for her
insurance agent who’d said he would ______ .
A. call her off B. call at her C. call on her D. call her out
24. This news is too good to be true. I’m afraid George has ______ it up himself.
A. brought B. did C. put D. made
25. I’m afraid he couldn’t help being jealous ______ his brother’s good fortune.
A. of B. about C. at D. over
55
1. A number of bad contracts and last year’s deep recession finally drove him ______ business.
A. off B. out of C. from D. outside
2.______ Working very long hours, John strives to exercises at least twice a week.
A. Regardless of B. On behalf of C. Because of D. However
3.______ the dissonance between the employees, our office became an obnoxious place to work.
A. Since B. In spite of C. In place of D. Due to
4. You should not try to ski on your own ______ having a few lessons from a certified instructor.
A. while B. without C. after D. instead of
5. “Guess who is responsible ______ this mess ! It’s the man you are looking forward to ______ !”.
A. about – see B. for – see C. of – seeing D. for – seeing
6. We arrived ______ our village ______ a lovely night ______ October.
A. in – on – in B. to – in – in C. at – at – on D. at – on – in
7. Last night I came ______ my teacher at the cinema, but she didn’t talk to me!
A. into B. by C. across D. down on
8.______ the critics, the film is almost as good as the novel itself.
A. With regard to B. Concerning C. In comparison to D. According to
9. The next meeting will be held ______ February, probably ______ the second Tuesday of the month.
A. at – in B. in – at C. in – on D. at – on
10. I am afraid there is something wrong ______ my ear. I can’t hear you properly.
A. from B. of C. at D. with
11. Jane has lost the gold brooch her mother gave her ______ a wedding present.
A. as B. such as C. for D. like
12. It is important to concentrate ______ the questions during the exam if you want to score high marks and get
______ a good university.
A. with – on B. at – at C. on – into D. around – to
13. Physicians often prescribe supervised weight training ______ a means regaining strength and coordination
______ an illness or injury.
A. with – upon B. as – after C. around – to D. by – since

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14. The businessman was very impressed ______ the young artist’s work and commissioned a painting ______
his office.
A. at – to B. for – around C. with – for D. upon – at
15.I’m very interested ______ drawing, but unfortunately, I’m no good ______ it.
A. to – for B. in – at C. at – with D. about – on
16. Factories which produce a lot of toxic fumes are contributing ______ the destruction ______ the
environment.
A. for – around B. by – against C. into – upon D. to – of
17. I know where the post office is. Can you give me the directions to your house ______ the post office ?
A. in relation to B. according to C. for instance D. by all means
18. David sat across ______ Ashley rather than next to her so that he could gaze ______ her eyes.
A. to – around B. from – into C. with – at D. by – to
19. You shouldn’t worry ______ things that are beyond your control; it is a waste ______ time.
A. about – of B. on – over C. with – against D. from – within
20. Don’t forget to thank your grandmother ______ the gift; she brought it all the way ______ Germany for you.
A. about – in B. from – into C. for – from D. with – over
21. The philosopher wrote twenty books dealing ______ such topics ______ politics, human nature, ethics and
love.
A. with – as B. to – around C. over – about D. for – like
22. Kenya spends a quarter ______ its income every year ______ oil imports.
A. on – for B. of – on C. in – over D. about – through
23. I happened to find that picture you were looking ______ when I was cleaning ______ the garage yesterday.
A. to – up B. upon – in C. for – out D. after – off
24. There is a rumor ______ circulation that the director had a big argument ______ the manager at the last
meeting.
A. on – about B. around – to C. within – towards D. in – with
25. In reference ______ your letter ______ complaint, we apologize for any inconvenience that you may have
suffered.
A. to – of B. for – with C. towards – about D. with - for
56
1. The teacher asked us to ______ the test questions ______ our answers so that the next class wouldn’t see
them.
A. turn over – to B. take up – outside
C. hand in – with D. hand over - from
2. You shouldn’t be angry ______ her being promoted ______ you; perhaps you will get the next promotion.
A. during – with B. from – beside
C. by – for D. about – before
3. Mrs. Robinson, my high school anatomy teacher, had a great influence ______ my decision to study medicine;
it is thanks ______ her that I am a doctor today.
A. on – to B. about – for C. over – with D. to – from
4.______ taking the class through the process step ______step, Mr. Jones was able to effectively demonstrate
the procedure for dissecting the frog.
A. For – with B. By – by C. Upon – from D. In – in
5. When you hang the paintings ______ the walls, please make sure that they are aligned ______ the other
frames already there.
A. on – with B. to – behind C. from – around D. against – towards

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6. If you drink and drive, you put everyone’s safety ______ risk, so you should have someone to drive for you
______ such occasions.
A. for – in B. at – on C. through – for D. to – under
7. Yogurt is supposed to be effective ______ reducing the pain caused ______ burns.
A. in – by B. about – from C. upon – with D. for – in
8. There is a great need ______ adequate medical facilities in Third World countries, and this need is hard to
meet ______ assistance from developed countries.
A. of – over B. with – within C. from – through D. for – without
9. There are many superstitious signs that one can use to ______ the evil eye, if you believe ______ such things.
A. come up – about B. ward off – in
C. let out – with D. look out – over
10. Traditionally Indian agriculture was mainly for subsistence, but from the 19 th century ______, there has been
a great increase ______ commercial farming.
A. onwards – in B. since – with C. beyond – for D. down – from
11. Many charitable organizations provided emergency supplies ______ the victims______ the earthquake.
A. to – outside B. with – within C. for – of D. by – inside
12. The staff wanted the retirement party for Mr. Wilson to be a surprise, so they told everyone the details
______ word ______ mouth rather than using written invitations.
A. Through – with B. about – for C. with – on D. by – of
13. Many people do not realize that the popular movie “Ten Things I Hate______ You” was adapted ______
Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew.
A. About – from B. For – through C. Towards – on D. Over – for
14. Whether you’ll go to the concert or not will depend ______ you behaviour______ the next week; you will not
be allowed to go if you misbehave.
A. over – for B. with – around C. upon – during D. through – over
15. The old man drove the burglars______ his home ______ firing his gun at them.
A. towards – upon B. from – by C. into – with D. out of – in
16. Even though the actor suffers ______ a paralyzing disability, he has not ______ his career; he continues to
work and he even won an award recently.
A. about – taken on B. in – got off
C. from – given up D. with – picked out
17. Even though we discussed the problem ______ during the department meeting, no one was able to come up
______ a solution.
A. at times – under B. for short – to
C. by all means – for D. at length – with
18. Mandy was born ______ the 4th______ July, the day that Independence Day is celebrated in America.
A. at – to B. during – in C. on – of D. in – on
19. My uncle was notorious ______ his wild character ______ his youth.
A. about – through B. for – in C. of – during D. on – at
20. My landlord has said that he won’t turn ______ the central heating ______ the end of the month.
A. over – by B. off – away C. on – until D. out – from
21. You promotion definitely calls ______ a celebration; let’s go ______ to a nice restaurant tonight and have a
bottle of champagne.
A. for – out B. about – by C. to – round D. up – down
22. Her famous chocolate chip cookies mainly ______ flour, eggs, sugar, vanilla, butter and chocolate chips, but
she won’t reveal ______ anyone what it is that makes them so specials.

5
 A. from – through B. of – to C. about – at D. with – into
23. Randy fell ______disfavour______ his teacher after she caught him cheating during the exam.
A. off – from B. down – to C. upon – for D. into – with
24. She cares ______ him so much that she is willing to make many sacrifices in order to be ______ him.
A. for – about B. about – with C. in – after D. from – around
25. Since Istanbul is so different ______ the place where I grew ______ for a while, I had difficulty adapting to the
life here.
A. on – out B. with – into C. to – off D. from – up
57
1. It will cost you ______ five thousand dollars to get the procedure done; I don’t think it is worth that much
money, but it is ______ to you to make the decision.
A. at least – up B. by all means – about
C. on average – with D. at times – for
2. The journalists asked the chairman if he wanted to comment ______ the scandal, but he declined and walked
______ .
A. with – through B. on – away C. to – off D. in – on
3. The person to fill this position should possess certain characteristics; he or she, ______, must be able to work
well under pressure.
A. for instance B. on average C. at once D. on occasion
4. Be careful when you speak ______ him; if you put too much pressure ______ him, he will make the wrong
decision.
A. about – with B. on – to C. to – on D. with – into
5. The painting was valued ______ a family treasure even though it wasn’t worth much ______ the art market.
A. as – on B. on – through C. by – with D. about – around
6. Because they feed ______ agricultural crops such as fruits, corn, and other grains, crows are a nuisance______
farmers.
A. over – with B. from – among C. down – for D. on – to
7. The hunter accidentally shot his dog when he was shooting ______ the ducks; a stray bullet ______ his rifle
killed the poor thing instantly.
A. at – from B. in – out C. off – on D. out – in
8. In many instances ______ home burglary, the thieves enter the house ______ an unlocked window or door.
A. about – with B. of – through C. as – inside D. on – from
9. When a teacher chooses a life ______ crime and drug use, poor parenting is often ______ the root of their
problems.
A. within – beneath B. between – for
C. into – among D. of – at
10. The crime rate in this city has increased ______ ten percent last year ______ thirty percent this year due to
the influx of the gang element.
A. within – beyond B. by – upon C. from – to D. over – under
11. To qualify ______ a senior citizen discount, you must be ______ the age of 55.
A. with – between B. for – over C. to – around D. in – through
12. I’ll ask the boss for a few days______ work next month to go ______ this trip with you.
A. with – along B. from – away C. off – on D. on – for
13.______ our way to Aberville, we drove ______Camette and stopped at a roadside restaurant for dinner.
A. To – by B. On – through C. Across – up D. During – to

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14. Someone working ______ a financial organization, such as a bank, may easily gain assess ______ the
company’s computers and transfer funds to his own for a friend’s account.
A. among – with B. over – by C. within – to D. at – for
15. I know he is desperately ______ need of money, but for some reason, he turned ______ our job offer.
A. for – out B. from – in C. to – off D. in – down
16. Will you please stop walking ______ the room like that? I can’t focus______ my work.
A. round – on B. over – with C. from – by D. across – in
17.______ such an educated woman, she has very little common sense. Don’tyou agree ______ me?
A. Of – about B. From – to C. Through – upon D.For – with
18. It was obvious ______ the expression on his face that Mike was quite surprised ______ the result of his exam.
A. to – about B. about – with C. from – at D. for – by
19. Fortunately, the ambulance crew arrived______ the scene ______ minutes and took the injured man to the
hospital.
A. on – for B. at – within C. to – from D. for – in
20. Because I didn’t want my sister to know that I was going ______ I tiptoed ______ the corridor quietly.
A. out – along B. off – across C. on – by D. in – on
21. Although they are twins, the difference ______ Katie and Jasmine is great; Katie is intelligent and
sophisticated while Jasmine is simple minded and uncultured.
A. among B. around C. between D. towards
22.______ an effort to settle the dispute ______ the two countries, the United Nations will take part in the
negotiations.
A. With – among B. For – with C. From – for D. In – between
23. I didn’t allow my son to stay home ______ his own until he was ______ ten.
A. by – under B. on – over C. of – below D. with - above
24.What’s the difference ______ these two pictures? Actually, they look exactly the same ______ me.
A. from – for B. like – as C. between – to D. to – with
25. Although the boss had decided to increase salaries ______ ten percent, the workers were still not satisfied
______ the amount.
A. for – about B. to – from C. from – in D. by – with

______ THE END______