1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. I had to smile        (=was amused by) his optimism.
2. All this luxury was a far cry        (=a very different experience from) the poverty of his childhood.
3. Sooner or later they are seized for their disdainful (=scornful) rebellion        the Most Gracious Lord.
4. Forbidden        you is carrion, and blood, and the flesh of swine, and that over which any name other than God's has been invoked.
5. You have to persevere (=continue steadfastly)        difficult students.
6. The movie bears little resemblance        the original novel.
7. He did his best to infuse (=instil) good humour        his voice.
Answers
1. at 2. from 3. against 4. to 5. with 6. to 7. into

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. Justice will prevail (=triumph)        tyranny.

2. We have narrowed down (=reduce the number of choices) the list        four candidates.

3. Their policies would wreak havoc        (=do great damage to) the economy.

4. The cream is easily absorbed        the skin.

5. Opposition MPs charged (=accuse sb publicly) the minister        neglecting her duty.
6. She's the ideal (=most suitable) candidate        the job.
7. We watched        the fire slowly kindled (=start burning).
Answers
1. over 2. to 3. on 4. into 5. with 6. for 7. as

3. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. It was her teacher who kindled (=arouse or inspire) her interest        music.

2. Calm descended (=arrive and begin to affect)        the crowd.
3. He claims to be descended        (=be related to) a Spanish prince.

4. The surrounding small towns have been absorbed        the city.
5. a new approach patterned        (=model on) Japanese ideas

6. If he loses this referendum, it will sound the death knell (=an omen of death or destruction)        his leadership.

7. the kernel (=central part)        her argument
Answers
1. in 2. on 3. from 4. into 5. on 6. for 7. of

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. The earth is illuminated (=shine light on)        the sun.
2. It was not the ideal (=perfect) solution        the problem.
3. I'm sure he could be prevailed        (=persuade) to give a talk.
4. She was engrossed (=occupy fully)        conversation.
5. an unequalled (=better than all others) record        success
6. The study seems to show that nurture (=bringing up) is more important than nature        shaping a child's character and future prospects.
7. She thought that having his child would bind (=unite) him        her forever.
Answers
1. by 2. to 3. upon 4. in 5. of 6. in 7. to

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. She has been asked to abridge (=shorten) the novel        radio.
2. Posterity (=succeeding generations) will remember him        a great man.
3. Despite a number of setbacks, they persevered (=persist determinedly)        their attempts to fly around the world in a balloon.
4. He kept his distance as though afraid propinquity (=proximity) might lead him        temptation.
5. His works        far transcend (=exceed) anything that has gone before.
6. Preference will be given        graduates of this university.
7. The vase splintered (=shatter)        a thousand pieces.
Answers
1. for 2. as 3. in 4. into 5. by 6. to 7. into

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. A spokeswoman        the government denied the rumours.
2. The country was descending        (=gradually get into a bad state) chaos.
3. The room was charged (=fill with an emotion)        hatred.
4. The aim is to give people more power        their own lives.
5. The author was interested        the Victorian era.
6. He sometimes fantasized (=imagine)        winning the gold medal.
7. There's nothing to stop (=prevent) you        accepting the offer.
Answers
1. for 2. into 3. with 4. over 5. in 6. about 7. from

7. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He was actuated (=motivate) entirely        malice.
2. She struggled to keep control        her voice.
3. These facts have only just been brought        light (=make new information known to people).
4. The opening scene reveals Iago's deep resentment        Othello.
5. The company's position        regard to (=concerning) overtime is made clear in their contracts.
6. We were brought up to be respectful (=feeling respect)        authority.
7. He bequeathed his entire estate (=all his money and property)        his daughter.
Answers
1. by 2. of 3. to 4. towards 5. with 6. of 7. to

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. She had repented        what she had done.
2. Her work is infused (=fill)        an anger born of pain and oppression.
3. The two sides are locked (=be involved)        a bitter dispute.
4. Exercising regularly will pay dividends (=produce great advantages)        the end.
5. Charles decided to shave        (=remove a beard or moustache) his beard.
6. The police were unable to gain entrance (=the opportunity to enter)        the house.
7. Our junior employees are being groomed (=prepare or train)        more senior roles.
Answers
1. of 2. with 3. into 4. in 5. off 6. to 7. for

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. She found it hard to live        his high ideals (=principle).
2. Their music has been preserved        posterity (=succeeding generations).
3. His speech emphasized (=stress) the importance of attracting industry        the town.
4. They lived together        husband and wife (=as if they were married) for years.
5. She put the baby        her breast.
6. a society sending its menfolk (=men of a particular community)        to war
7. The dog gave her a painful nip (=a small bite)        the leg.
Answers
1. up to 2. for 3. to 4. as 5. to 6. off 7. on

10. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. a country's laws        regard to (=concerning) human rights
2. Jane and I are related        marriage.
3. David Cameron must ally himself        moderate Muslims.
4. They prostrate themselves        worship.
5. The land is forbidden        them for forty years.
6. He had a big smile        his face.
7. He cradled the child        his breast.
Answers
1. in 2. by 3. with 4. in 5. to 6. on 7. against