Fill in the blanks. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of phrasal verbs.
1Cut ............... on your calorie intake if you want to lose weight.
Wrong!
Use "down" because "cut down on" means reduce the amount of something.
2Although I was an eligible candidate, my application was ............... .
Wrong!
Use "turned down" because it means rejected.
3People who lead highly stressful lives need to ............... a bit.
Wrong!
Use "slow down" because it means become less busy, active, or hurried.
4He was a bad boss who always talked ............... to his subordinates.
Wrong!
Use "down" because "talk down to" means speak to someone as if they are less important or intelligent.
5Whenever I stay at home, I make it a point to dress ............... .
Wrong!
Use "down" because "dress down" means wear informal clothes.
6The police are cracking ............... on drug dealers.
Wrong!
Use "down" because "crack down on" means take strong action to stop something illegal or wrong.
7Although I had invited him to my party, he didn't show ............... .
Wrong!
Use "up" because "show up" means arrive or appear.
8Be careful when you charge the battery; it might blow ............... .
Wrong!
Use "up" because "blow up" means explode.
9He turned ............... a new leaf and stopped drinking and smoking.
Wrong!
Use "over" because "turn over a new leaf" means start behaving in a better way.
10He pretended to be a casting director, and she was taken ............... .
Wrong!
Use "in" because "take someone in" means deceive them.
11Women make ............... roughly 50% of the world's population.
Wrong!
Use "up" because "make up" means form or constitute part of a whole.
12I ended ............... paying through the nose.
Wrong!
Use "up" because "end up" means finally be in a particular situation, often unexpectedly.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- Cut down on your calorie intake if you want to lose weight.
- Although I was an eligible candidate, my application was turned down.
- People who lead highly stressful lives need to slow down a bit.
- He was a bad boss who always talked down to his subordinates.
- Whenever I stay at home, I make it a point to dress down.
- The police are cracking down on drug dealers.
- Although I had invited him to my party, he didn’t show up.
- Be careful when you charge the battery; it might blow up.
- He turned over a new leaf and stopped drinking and smoking.
- He pretended to be a casting director, and she was taken in.
- Women make up roughly 50% of the world’s population.
- I ended up paying through the nose.
