A. “Used to do” or “be/get used to doing”? Fill in the blanks with the appropriate form of “be” or “get” where necessary. Sometimes the meaning is negative.

1. When he was a boy he used to play football.

2. - Wouldn’t you like to sit down? - No, thank you. I am used to standing.

3. – I don’t like the food here. – You will soon get used to it.

4. At first I made very slow progress, because I wasn’t used to the system.

5. We used to go out more often before the baby was born.

6. – Didn’t you find it difficult to concentrate with the radio on? – No. I am used to it.

7. The witch used to wear her hair long.

8. They say one can get used to everything.

9. The donkey felt very lonely, as he wasn’t not used to living by himself.

10. The children got used to the new teacher by the end of the month.

11. I can’t get used to the new machine.

12. My father used to read a lot before his eyesight got so bad.

13. He was very annoyed by her remark, because he wasn’t used to being spoken to like that.

14. She used to dream of becoming a famous actress.

15. It took me a long time to get used to the new methods.

16. This street used to be called Horseguards Avenue.

17. There was no letter from David but Janet did not worry. She was / had got used to his thoughtlessness.

18. Motorists from abroad often have difficulty in Britain, because they aren’t used to driving on the left.

B. The words in this exercise look simple enough, but watch out. They are frequently misused because of the similarity in their appearance. In each of the following sentences choose the correct word enclosed in brackets.

1. You should speak to someone else (beside/besides) Helen.

2. He always works on (alternate/alternative) days: Monday, Tuesday, Friday.

3. The kingdom is in a problematic (economic/economical) state.

4. Please, keep (quiet/quite).

5. You should go through the official (canals/channels) if you want the administration to help.

6. He partly walked but (most/mostly) ran to the station to be on time for the train.

7. The sign “(continual/continuous) performance” means that there is a short pause between the end of one showing of the film and the beginning of the next.

8. His chances looked (bad/badly).

9. The witch (accepted/excepted) the invitation with joy.

10. That’s a mistake he (most/almost) always makes.

11. He seems to have but a (general/generous) idea of the subject.

12. The (imminent/eminent) Doctor Jones cured her of her sickness.

13. Helen, now a school teacher, was (formerly/formally) a typist.

14. The prince and the princess danced in a (specious/spacious) hall.

15. The jury believed the witness because his story sounded so (credible/credulous).

16. The pirates had (averse/adverse) winds throughout the voyage.

17. Jesse James was a (noted/notorious) criminal.

18. The sermon was a good (stimulus/stimulant) to noble action.

19. His argument sounded (plausible/plosive), but it was untrue.

20. Did Joan’s marriage (proceed/precede) or follow her graduation from University?

21. The witness for the (persecution/prosecution) did not turn up in court.

22. Dictators are generally (contemptible/contemptuous) of their people’s wishes.

23. All the critics acclaimed the (exceptionable/exceptional) merit of the young painter’s landscapes.

24. Collecting stamps in his spare time was the dwarf’s (avocation /vocation).

25. I always (rise/raise) at seven o’clock.

Date: 2016-03-03; view: 987