This grammar exercise tests your understanding of phrasal verbs using the word cut.
Fill in the blanks.
1We need to cut ............... on luxuries.
Wrong!
Use "back" in "cut back on" to mean reduce spending or use.
2You need to cut ............... on sugar because you are diabetic.
Wrong!
Use "back" in "cut back on" to mean reduce the amount you consume.
3Environmentalists oppose the project because they do not want the government to cut ............... trees to make room for a theme park.
Wrong!
Use "down" in "cut down trees" to mean make trees fall by cutting them.
4If you want to lose weight, you should cut ............... on your calorie intake.
Wrong!
Use "down" in "cut down on" to mean reduce the amount of something.
5If my dad hadn't cut me ..............., I would never have found a job.
Wrong!
Use "off" in "cut someone off" to mean stop giving that person financial support.
6That rude man cut me ............... just as I was about to finish my presentation.
Wrong!
Use "off" in "cut someone off" to mean interrupt someone who is speaking.
7Cut ............... the power to the lamp before you repair it.
Wrong!
Use "off" in "cut off the power" to mean stop the supply of electricity.
8The health scare made him cut ............... smoking.
Wrong!
Use "out" in "cut out smoking" to mean stop doing it completely.
9The generator suddenly cut ..............., and the house plunged into darkness.
Wrong!
Use "out" when a machine "cuts out" and suddenly stops working.
10We cut ............... the woods and got home in less than an hour.
Wrong!
Use "through" in "cut through" to mean take a shorter route through a place.
11He was badly cut ............... by his attackers.
Wrong!
Use "up" in "cut up" to mean badly injure someone with cuts.
12The critics cut ............... the movie mercilessly in their reviews.
Wrong!
Use "up" in "cut up" to mean criticize something severely.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- We need to cut back on luxuries.
- You need to cut back on sugar because you are diabetic.
- Environmentalists oppose the project because they do not want the government to cut down trees to make room for a theme park.
- If you want to lose weight, you should cut down on your calorie intake.
- If my dad hadn’t cut me off, I would never have found a job.
- That rude man cut me off just as I was about to finish my presentation.
- Cut off the power to the lamp before you repair it.
- The health scare made him cut out smoking.
- The generator suddenly cut out, and the house plunged into darkness.
- We cut through the woods and got home in less than an hour.
- He was badly cut up by his attackers.
- The critics cut up the movie mercilessly in their reviews.
