B1 plus - Cycle 1

Question 1

(phrasal verb)

To disapprove of

The teacher ________ students coming late.

Answer 1

frown upon

Question 2

(phrasal verb)

To feel excited about something happening in the future. It is often used at the end of an email.

I’ve ______________ to meeting you for awhile.

Answer 2

look forward to

Question 3

A phrase that means to tell someone you say hello, in a formal way.

Answer 3

give my regards to

Question 4

(phrasal verb)

To think of an idea for

The employee ________ a way to work more efficiently.

Answer 4

come up with

Question 5

(phrasal verb)

To be very noticeable; to do something better than others

There are lots of good applicants for the job, but a few _________ from the rest.

Answer 5

stand out

Question 6

(phrasal verb)

to do someone else’s work for them

Juan was sick, so I _________ him

Answer 6

fill in for

Question 7

(phrasal verb)

to help out: contribute to a common endeavor

The team had a lot of work to do, so some people from other teams decided to _________.

Answer 7

to pitch in

Question 8

(phrasal verb)

to get upset about something

It’s easy to _________ when you’re tired and everything seems to be against you.

Answer 8

to get worked up

Question 9

(phrasal verb)

to be as good as what was expected or promised

The beautiful scenery certainly _______ to expectations.

Answer 9

to live up to

Question 10

(phrasal verb)

to consider something carefully

I need to __________ my vacation plans before making a final decision.

Answer 10

to think through

Question 11

(phrasal verb)

to fail

The presentation __________ because I hadn’t planned it out very well.

Answer 11

to fall apart

Question 12

(idiom)

to split the bill when you go out to dinner, especially on a date. Commonly known in Colombia as the American plan.

At the end of the meal, we decided to _______.

Answer 12

go Dutch

Question 13

(idiom)

keep your position even if people try to criticize you

He ________ even when all around him are opposed.

Answer 13

stick to your guns

Question 14

(idiom)

do something for someone because they have done something for you

You helped me last week, so I’ll ________ and help you out today.

Answer 14

return the compliment

Question 15

(idiom)

protect your reputation

She managed to _______ in front of the clients because her co-worker brought the product out in time.

Answer 15

save face

Question 16

(idiom)

do what other people are doing

Everyone at the party was wearing costumes, so we had to ______.

Answer 16

follow suit

Question 17

(idiom)

change your position in order to make it easier to reach an agreement

There is reluctance to __________ on our own social and political views.

Answer 17

give ground

Question 18

(idiom)

taken out for expensive meals

It is common in some countries for companies to _____ their new clients.

Answer 18

wine and dine

Question 19

(idiom)

misunderstand

I was trying to be polite, but he __________.

Answer 19

get the wrong idea

Question 20

(verb)

an upward or downward movement of the head

Answer 20

nod

Question 21

(noun)

a person who arrives late

Brazilians believe that _______are more likely to be commercially successful.

Answer 21

latecomer

Question 22

(noun)

a sudden burst of uncontrolled childish anger

The child had a _______ when her mother didn’t give her the candy.

Answer 22

tantrum

Question 23

(verb)

make someone feel nervous or uncomfortable

She was __________ by the fast drivers on the highway.

Answer 23

unnerve

Question 24

(collocation)

extremely timid

As a child, she was ________ ____ and had a difficult time participating in class activities.

Answer 24

painfully shy

Question 25

(collocation)

the ability that you have to form creative and details pictures or ideas in your mind

She has a ______ ________ and is able to create very interesting artwork.

Answer 25

vivid imagination

Question 26

(collocation)

friendly and sociable

This group of friends gets along well because they are all friendly, extroverted, and have ________ _________.

Answer 26

outgoing personality

Question 27

(collocation)

to reveal one’s true personality

Three months into the relationship, Rogers began to

___ ___ _____ _______.

Answer 27

show one’s true colors

Question 28

(collocation)

to carry out a trick or practical joke

Children often ____ __ _____ on their teacher on April Fool’s day.

Answer 28

play a prank

Question 29

(collocation)

to have resent towards someone

The man ____ ___ ______ against his friend for years after he embarrassed him in front of his co-workers.

Answer 29

hold a grudge

Question 30

(collocation)

to not think favorably about yourself or have much confidence in yourself and your abilities.

She didn’t think very highly of herself, so she had ____ _________:

Answer 30

low self-esteem

Question 31

(collocation)

to make someone notice something or someone.

She jumped and shouted to _____ ______to herself.

Answer 31

draw attention

Question 32

(collocation)

to become less shy

When she studied abroad in Canada, it took her a few weeks to _____ ___ __ __ ____.

Answer 32

come out of one’s shell

Question 33

(collocation)

an ability to keep from getting upset or offended by the things other people say and do

She ___ ___ ____ ____when it comes to criticism.

Answer 33

have (a) thick skin

Question 34

(collocation)

to say what one really thinks

If you don’t agree with him,

don’t be afraid to ___ ____ ____.

Answer 34

speak one’s mind

Question 35

(collocation)

to think extremely highly of oneself

Peter has a ____ ____ which causes him to have an inflated sense of his own intelligence.

Answer 35

superiority complex

Question 36

(collocation)

to consider the needs of other people before your own needs

Maria is very kind and generous.

She always ____ ____ ____.

Answer 36

put others first

Question 37

(expression)

used to say that you do not think that something is very difficult to do

It takes a while to learn how to speak English, but really it’s ____ _____ _______.

Answer 37

it’s not rocket science

Question 38

(expression)

To go beyond what is necessary or expected

Mike always does his best at work and ____ ___ ____ _____.

Answer 38

to go the extra mile

Question 39

(expression)

to gain a new strength or energy to

continue something that is an effort

I planned to stop working at 9, but then I ____ ___ _____ _____ and just kept going.

Answer 39

to get a second wind

Question 40

(expression)

To learn, master, or understand something perfectly

Tom ______ his work ___ ___ __ ______, so it isn’t very difficult for him anymore.

Answer 40

to have something down to a science

Question 41

(expression)

something permanent that can’t be changed

The plan for the project isn’t ___ __ ___, it’s ok if we need to make some last-minute changes.

Answer 41

to be set in stone

Question 42

(expression)

practical and realistic

She is very ___ __ ____ person, not at all attracted by the glamour world.

Answer 42

down to earth

Question 43

(collocation)

to upset someone and make them feel bad

Sophia didn’t mean to ____ her friend’s ______ when she told her that she couldn’t sing very well.

Answer 43

hurt someone’s feelings

Question 44

(adjective)

funny and clever

Answer 44

witty

Question 45

(collocation)

to take a risk and hope for the best

She ____ __ ___ ___ when she travelled around the world.

Answer 45

take a leap of faith

Question 46

(collocation)

to establish a company

He ____ __ ___ _______ in the restaurant industry because he loves cooking.

Answer 46

set up a business

Question 47

(collocation)

receive the necessary financial resources

In order to ____ ___ _____ for his new restaurant business, he had to sell his house.

Answer 47

get the funds

Question 48

(collocation)

to ignore the most important elements

Answer 48

lose sight of the big picture

Question 49

(collocation)

the best deal for your money

They’re very careful when they spend money, and they’re going to insist on getting the ___ ___ ___ ____ ____.

Answer 49

best bang for your buck