1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. She vaulted (= jump)         the gate.

2. She is to be buried         the family vault.

3. Bystanders claim they were manhandled (= handle a person roughly)         security guards.

4. They were manhandled         a waiting truck.

5. They inflicted a humiliating defeat         the home team.

6. We have all become habituated         (= familiar with) thinking and reacting in certain ways.

7. Years of failure have sapped (= weaker; destroy) him         his confidence.

Answers

1. over 2. in 3. by 4. into 5. on 6. to 7. of

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. I take (a) pride (= a feeling of pleasure)         my work.

2. The ship was now just a speck (=a tiny spot)         the distance.

3. specks         dust

4. They suffered the ignominy (= disgrace)         defeat.

5. to have/show a disposition (=an inclination or tendency)         violence

6. people         a nervous disposition (= temperament)

7. Is the public wilfully blind         what is going on?

Answers

1. in 2. in 3. of 4. of 5. towards 6. of 7. to

3. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. He was charged         wilful (= done deliberately) damage to property.

2. a tasty morsel (= a small amount)         food

3. He ate it all, down         the last morsel.

4. The dog was chewing (= bite continuously)         a bone.

5. One of the victims of the fire remains         a critical condition.

6. a stand-off (= deadlock)         the union and the management

7. The sound of the telephone intruded         (= have an unpleasant effect on) his dreams.

Answers

1. with 2. of 3. to 4. on 5. in 6. between 7. into

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. to hold/order an enquiry         the affair

2. A spokesman said the changes were not in reaction         the company's recent losses.

3. The decision provoked an angry reaction         local residents.

4. He has lived         (= experience a disaster or other unpleasant situation and survive it) two world wars.

5. My talk falls naturally         three parts.

6. There was continuous firing         the night.

7. He watched the election results         some apprehension (= anxiety). 

Answers

1. into 2. to 3. from 4. through 5. into 6. throughout 7. with

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The railway is still         construction. 

2. It would be seriously misleading to suggest that television has no effect         children.

3. He was very cautious (= careful) about committing himself         anything.

4. The book gives us fascinating insights (= an understanding of what sth is like)         life in Mexico.

5. I hope you have gained some insight         the difficulties we face.

6. a fresh insight         Picasso's mind

7. Some of the commercial activities were a cover         espionage (= spying).

Answers

1. under 2. on 3. to 4. into 5. into 6. into 7. for

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. I see my role as being a catalyst (= a person that causes a change)         change.

2. He feels more confident         home turf (= the place where sb lives and works).

3. Instead of talking the matter         with him, she allowed her resentment to fester (= become much worse) in her mind.

4. His opinions chimed         (= agree with) the mood of the nation.

5. It was remiss (= careless of duty)         them not to inform us of these changes sooner.

6. She had clearly been remiss (= negligent negligent)         her duty.

7. A writ was served on the firm in respect         (= concerning) their unpaid bill.

Answers

1. for 2. on 3. over 4. in with 5. of 6. in 7. of

7. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. She had clearly been remiss (= negligent negligent)         her duty.

2. They were living         the most deplorable (=shockingly bad) conditions. 

3. ‘Walk’ is the root         ‘walks’, ‘walked’, ‘walking’ and ‘walker’.

4. a writer         transcendent (= extremely great) genius

5. The second team adopted a much more rigorous (= thorough) approach         the problem.

6. Each blind student was paired (= put together)         a sighted student.

7. She is dedicated (= committed)         her job.

Answers

1. in 2. in 3. of 4. of 5. to 6. with 7. to

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions. 

1. The administration was tainted         scandal.

2. to be free         the taint of corruption
3. Satan is ever a betrayer         man.
4. She expended (= use or spend) all her efforts         the care of home and children.
5. He was completely bewitched (= impress)         her beauty.

6. I heard about the sale         (= by means of a particular person, system, etc.) Jane.

7. The news programme came to us         satellite.
Answers
1. with 2. from 3. of 4. on 5. by 6. via 7. via

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. We have been inundated (= overwhelm)         offers of help.

2. Fans inundated the radio station         calls.

3. He brightened         (= feel or look happier) at their words of encouragement.

4. He would never do anything that went         his conscience.

5. I'll lend it         you on condition that you bring it back tomorrow.
6. I think you'll find the wind slows you         a bit.

7. We sat in the yard feasting         (= eat a large amount of food) barbecued chicken and beer.

Answers
1. with 2. with 3. up 4. against 5. to 6. down 7. on

10. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. His comments left me at a loss (= not knowing what to say or do)         words.
2. I'm         a loss what to do next.

3. She did not weaken         her resolve (= resolution).

4. The ice         the river was rock solid (= extremely hard).

5. She doesn't want to make a big emotional commitment (= a promise to do sth)         Steve at the moment.

6. The party has kept its tenacious (= determined) hold         power for more than twenty years.

7. I didn't mean to leave her name         the list; it was an oversight (= inadvertent mistake).
Answers
1. for 2. at 3. in 4. on 5. to 6. on 7. off