In each of the following sentences, there is one word underlined and one gap. From the list of words lettered A - D, choose the word that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentences.

At first we found life in the town very exciting but soon it became rather..............

A. tiring

B. disturbing

C. burdensome

D. boring

When we were busy discussing weighty matters, James introduced a .........issue.

A. light

B. meaningless

C. common

D. trivial

By working hard, Benjamin outshone his elder brother instead of being...............

A. overshadowed

B. defeated

C. demoted

D. submerged

The delegates found it better to resort to consultation rather than...............

A. conflict

B. confrontation

C. reconcilation

D. consent

This house which was sealed off years ago has now been................

A. re-opened

B. rebuilt

C. re-roofed

D. restored

The government has decided that,from next year military service will no longer be compulsory: it will be........................

A. free

B. optional

C. open

D. conditional

Co-operating with teachers promotes learning, it does not help to be........................

A. destructive

B. confrontational

C. defensive

D. irrational

Only two months after the honour was conferred on the Minister, his dishonesty made the Head of State ...................it.

A. recall

B. reverse

C. revoke

D. reclaim

Despite all my attempts to refute the charges against me, my sister tried to............them

A. defend

B. prove

C. investigate

D. maintain

The government's efforts to improve the economy of the country rather...............it

A. destroyed

B. spoilt

C. complicated

D. worsened

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences:

I really like working in that office; I found the..........very friendly.

A. condition

B. atmosphere

C. air

D. situation

Our teacher's main aim was to ..................us with his good work

A. impress

B. influence

C. instruct

D. improve

Problems in the city have multiplied with the ...........of people from the rural areas

A. entrance

B. influx

C. intrusion

D. admission

It was so hot in the house that the boys rushed to the beach to enjoy the............

A. breath

B. wind

C. breeze

D. air

The thief ran so fast that my attempt to get him was in......

A. failure

B. waste

C. futile

D. vain

The hungry refugees had to queue for their.............`

A. allownces

B. needs

C. supplies

D. parcels

This land is very dry; we have to.....................the plants

A. wet

B. sprinkle

C. shower

D. water

It is not right for you to insult your parents; you will just.............trouble for yourself.

A. invite

B. increase

C. create

D. produce

The meeting of the warring factions ended on a ..............note

A. cautious

B. prosperous

C. conciliatory

D. definite

We cannot tell which of the historian's ............is true.

A. narrations

B. versions

C. comments

D. suggestions

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.

Now that Michael has become rich, Nancy has begun to make much of him. This means that Nancy

A. now rules Michael

B. now gets a lot of money form michael

C. only recently married Michael

D. no longer wants to leave Michael