1. The writer doesn't support his opinions with examples.
backed
The writer's __________________________ with examples.
2. I wish I hadn't gobbled up my breakfast
bolted
I'd rather ________________________ my breakfast
3. The destruction of the rainforests has caused a huge amount of environmental damage.
brought
A huge amount of environmental damage __________________________ the destruction of the rainforests.
4. Many schools need better facilities for conducting scientific experiments.
carrying
In many schools ______________________________________________ are needed.
5. Although the invention of his new game looked promising, it never really became popular.
caught
The invention of his new game looked promising. _________________________________.
6. It wasn't until they showed a documentary about it that the police began to understand what he was really doing.
catch
Not until a documentary ____________________________________________ what he was really doing.
7. If I hadn't had work that I should have done earlier, I would have travelled abroad last Christmas.
catch
Had _________________________________________, I would have travelled abroad last Christmas.
8. "Is that the best excuse you can think of?," she asked him.
come
She wanted to ___________________________________________________________________.
9. They asked him to write proposals for reforming the law.
draw
He _____________________________________________________ proposals for reforming the law.
10. He left home after having an argument with his parents.
falling
Had it _________________________________________________________________ left home.
11. My son James has got an old van. I use it for travelling around.
about
James,____________________________________________________, is my son.
12. He disclosed information which was so useful.
gave
He________________________ useful information.
13. No one has admitted to stealing the money from him.
owned
No one _____________________________________ the money.
14. We managed to buy a few bargains at the auction.
picking
We __________________________________ a few bargains at the auction.
15. I wish you had let me stay at your house for a few days
put
I'd sooner ___________________________________ for a few days.
KEY
1. The writer's opinions aren't backed up with examples.
back up: to support somebody/something; to say that what somebody says, etc. is true.
E.g.
I'll back you up if they don't believe you.
There’s no evidence to back up his accusations.
2. I'd rather not have bolted (down) my breakfast
bolt something (down) to eat something very quickly
E.g.
Don't bolt your food (down)!
3. A huge amount of environmental damage has been brought about by the destruction of the rainforests.
bring something about to make something happen. Cause.
E.g.
What brought about the change in his attitude?
4. In many schools better facilities for carrying out scientific experiments are needed.
carry out: to do and complete a task
E.g.
to carry out an inquiry/an investigation/a survey
Extensive tests have been carried out on the patient
5. The invention of his new game looked promising. However/ Nevertheless/ Nonetheless it never really caught on.
catch on to become popular and fashionable.
E.g.
The idea of glasses being a fashion item has been slow to catch on
6. Not until a documentary was shown about it did the police catch on to what he was really doing.
catch on (to something): to begin to understand or realize something.
E.g.
He is very quick to catch on to things.
He doesn't take hints very easily, but he'll catch on (to what you're saying) eventually.
7. Had I not had work to catch up on, I would have travelled abroad last Christmas.
catch up on something to do something you did not have time to do earlier.
E.g.
She's staying late at the office to catch up on some reports.
8. She wanted to know if that was the best excuse he could come up with.
come up with something: to find or produce an answer, a sum of money, etc.
E.g.
She came up with a new idea for increasing sales.
How soon can you come up with the money?
9. He was asked to draw up proposals for reforming the law.
draw something up: to make or write something that needs careful thought or planning.
E.g.
to draw up a contract/list
Make sure the contract is properly drawn up
10. Had it not been for falling out with his parents, he wouldn't have left home.
to argue with someone and stop being friendly with them
11. James, whose old van I use for getting about, is my son.
get about/around: to go or travel to different places
E.g.
She’s 80 now, and doesn’t get about much anymore.
Stuart really gets about—last week he was in Dubai and this week he's in Paris.
12. He gave away such useful information.
give something/somebody away: to tell someone something that you should keep secret
E.g.
He gave away as little information as possible.
I don’t want to give away exactly how the system works.
I don’t want to give the game away (=give information that should be secret) by saying too much.
13. No one has owned up to robbing him of the money.
own up: to admit that you have done something wrong, especially something that is not serious.
E.g.
Come on, own up. Who broke it?
own up to (doing) something
No one owned up to breaking the window.
He was too frightened to own up to his mistake.
He still wouldn’t own up to the fact that he’d lied
14. We succeeded in picking up a few bargains at the auction.
pick something up: to buy something, especially cheaply or by chance.
E.g.
She picked up some real bargains in the sale.
15. I'd sooner you had put me up for a few days
put somebody up
to let somebody stay at your home
E.g.
We can put you up for the night.
