Fill in the blanks. This grammar exercise tests your understanding of phrasal verbs.
1. You should ............................. down on your sugar intake if you want to be healthy.
To cut down on something is to reduce it.
2. It is a good offer so don't turn it ................................
To turn something down is to decline it.
3. He slowed ................................ the car as if he was about to stop.
To slow down is to reduce speed.
4. I don't like people who talk .............................. to me.
To talk down to somebody is to talk to someone as if you were their boss.
5. She refuses to dress .......................... even when she is on a holiday.
To dress down is to wear simple clothes.
6. The police must crack ........................... on smugglers.
To crack down on criminals is to be strict with criminals.
7. None of them showed .............................. at the party.
To show up is to arrive.
8. The battery blew ............................... while I was charging it.
To blow up is to explode.
9. Slow down! I can't keep .............................. with you.
To keep up with somebody is to continue at the same rate as them.
10. The doctor advised him to give ............................... smoking.
To give up smoking is to quit smoking.
11. I ended .............................. paying a lot more than I expected to.
To end up doing something is to do it eventually.
12. Women make .............................. 60 percent of the total staff.
Make up can mean comprise or compose.
Answers
1. You should cut down on your sugar intake if you want to be healthy.
2. It is a good offer so don’t turn it down.
3. He slowed down the car as if he was about to stop.
4. I don’t like people who talk down to me.
5. She refuses to dress down even when she is on a holiday.
6. The police must crack down on smugglers.
7. None of them showed up at the party.
8. The battery blew up while I was charging it.
9. Slow down! I can’t keep up with you.
10. The doctor advised him to give up smoking.
11. I ended up paying a lot more than I expected to.
12. Women make up 60 percent of the total staff.
