1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. The delegates were served (=give sb food or drink)        a wonderful meal.
2. Your women have rights        you.
3. Children are taught to show reverence (=feelings of deep respect or devotion)        their elders.
4. Wear clothes that provide adequate protection (=defence)        the wind and rain.
5. I felt a great affinity (=a close relationship)        the people of the Highlands.
6. She was charged with perverting the course of justice after admitting        burning vital evidence.
7. She is seeking revenge        the murder of her husband.
Answers
1. with 2. over 3. towards/toward 4. against 5. with 6. to 7. for

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. She had never tried to put this feeling        words (=express or state sth in a particular way).
2. You can pay back (=repay) the loan        a period of three years.
3. The number of teachers appointed is proportional (=comparable)        the total number of students.
4. Her accountant was good        exploiting tax loopholes.
5. He received £600        way of (=as a form of) compensation from the company.
6. These items are surplus        requirements (=not needed).
7. She is,        countless stories about her attest, deeply religious.
Answers
1. into 2. over 3. to 4. at 5. by 6. to 7. as

3. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. She waited        an agony (=extreme physical or mental pain) of suspense.
2. The managing director agreed to receive a deputation        the factory.
3. There was a yearning (=want sth very much) look        his eyes.
4. These negotiations are intended to smooth the path (=make it easier for sb/sth to develop or make progress)        a peace treaty.
5. His face was covered        blood.
6. Her voice reverberated (=echo)        the hall.
7. if I can cheer somebody        a word or a song
Answers
1. in 2. from 3. in 4. to 5. in 6. around 7. with

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. People are seeking retribution (=severe punishment)        the latest terrorist outrages.
2. The research showed        doubt that smoking contributes to heart disease.
3. These laws are        effect (=in use) in twenty states.
4. I had nothing on except        (=apart from) my socks.
5. He described himself        ‘an egalitarian (=advocating equal rights for all)’.
6. The exhibition has stimulated (=animate; excite; arouse) interest        her work.
7. The railway line, due        closure, has been granted a six-month reprieve (=a delay before sth bad happens).
Answers
1. for 2. beyond 3. in 4. for 5. as 6. in 7. for

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He had to be content        (=satisfied; adequately happy) third place.
2. to be        a position of responsibility
3. The courts are becoming more severe (=harsh)        young offenders.
4. She was enraged (=make furious)        the injustice of the remark.
5. He was publicly flogged (=beat with a whip)        breaking the country's alcohol laws.
6. It was good to be back        land (=the surface of the earth that is not sea).
7. His face was smeared (=spread something liquid or greasy over a surface)        blood.
Answers
1. with 2. in 3. on 4. at 5. for 6. on 7. with

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. a vigorous (=very active, determined or full of energy) campaign        tax fraud
2. An idea for a novel began to germinate (=grow)        her mind.
3. bank loans        low interest rates
4. You can't lay        hard and fast rules (=formulate a rule).
5. Hot water is converted (=change)        electricity by a turbine.
6. The television comes        a year's guarantee.
7. She rolled her eyes        way of (=for) an answer and left.
Answers
1. against 2. in 3. with 4. down 5. to 6. with 7. by

7. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. He shook his head        disapproval (=dissatisfaction).
2. God invites everyone        the Home of Peace.
3. The newspapers launched a vicious (full of hatred and anger) attack        him, forcing him to resign.
4.        this day (=even now, when a lot of time has passed), I still don't understand why he did it.
5. She tried to force her way        the relentless stream of traffic.
6. How can I ever repay (=requite; reward) you        your generosity?
7. Maggie managed to keep her temper        check (=keep sth under control).
Answers
1. in 2. to 3. on 4. to 5. into 6. for 7. in

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. The hospital has now bought a new body scanner, thanks        the generosity of local fund-raisers.
2. She wields (=have and use power) enormous power        the party.
3. There is a wide range of choices open        you.
4. He was criticized for putting a new tax burden        the poor.
5. They served (=give sb food or drink) a wonderful meal        more than fifty delegates.
6. The government put a levy (=an extra amount of money that has to be paid)        oil imports.
7. Tears poured (=flow quickly in a continuous stream)        his cheeks.
Answers
1. to 2. within 3. to 4. on 5. to 6. on 7. down

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. Historians have concurred (=agree)        each other in this view.
2. The government, when necessary, has recourse (=resort to a possible source of help)        the armed forces.
3. He claimed he had only acted        coercion (=the use of force to make somebody do something against his or her will).
4. We made the journey        land (=the surface of the earth that is not sea), though flying would have been cheaper.
5.        the old maxim (=general truth) goes, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’.
6. the quest        (=a long search for) happiness/knowledge/truth
7. An area of forest equal (=the same in size)        the size of Wales has been destroyed.
Answers
1. with 2. to 3. under 4. by 5. as 6. for 7. to

10. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.
1. We were fully apprised        (=inform of) the situation.
2. She didn't seem perturbed (=make sb worried or anxious)        the change of plan.
3. Campaigners have won a reprieve (=a delay before sth bad happens)        the hospital threatened with closure.

4. He didn't want to cast a shadow        (=spoil) their happiness.
5. It is mandatory (=required by law)        blood banks to test all donated blood for the virus.
6. His only thought was to keep (=protect) the boy        harm.
7. Jack collapsed in agony (=extreme physical or mental pain)        the floor.

Answers
1. of 2. at 3. for 4. on 5. for 6. from 7. on

1. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. Shakespeare's work was popular        the common people in his day.

2. She appeared        television to plead (=argue in support of) the cause of political prisoners everywhere.

3. Be humble (=modest and unassuming) enough to learn        your mistakes.

4. The teacher's system of punishments appealed        the children's sense of justice.

5. Always say        the start of an application that you're applying for such-and-such a job because…

6. one of the worst atrocities        the war

7. a quest        (=a search for) wealth

Answers
1. among 2. on 3. from 4. to 5. at 6. of 7. for

2. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. Try to safeguard the young plants        frost.

2. He had his finger cut        (=remove sth from sth larger by cutting) in an accident at work.

3. an atmosphere        peace and tranquillity

4. The ship's route is clearly delineated (=describe or draw)        the map.

5. Pakistan came into existence        an independent country in 1947.

6. to be        sole occupancy (=the act of living in or using a building)

7. We met        a flight from London to Paris.

Answers
1. from 2. off 3. of 4. on 5. as 6. in 7. on

3. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. Allah’s Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) will arise        the right side of the Heavenly Throne.

2. The belief that we should do our duty is deeply ingrained (=deep-rooted)        most of us.

3. fear        divine retribution (= punishment from God)

4. The country was finally united        one ruler.

5. The sky was void        (=completely lacking) stars.

6. His views are grounded        (=based on) the assumption that all people are equal.

7. She rolled her eyes        way of (=for) an answer and left.

Answers
1. on 2. in 3. of 4. under 5. of 6. on 7. by

4. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. He showed a propensity (=inclination)        violence.

2. Her job added a new dimension (=an aspect)        her life.

3. Those firmly grounded        knowledge say, ‘We believe in it.’

4. I've read the whole book        beginning to end and still can't understand it.

5. if the inner world is inundated (=overwhelm)        peace

6. Both sides        the dispute sent deputations (=a group of people who have been chosen to represent a larger group of people) to the prime minister's office.

7. They were demanding to be treated        the same footing (=the position or status of sb in relation to others) as the rest of the teachers.

Answers
1. for 2. to 3. in 4. from 5. with 6. in 7. on

5. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. Let's start again        the beginning.

2. My teaching style is similar        (=like) that of most other teachers.

3. care        the elderly and infirm (=physically weak, esp. through age)

4. They loaded her        gifts.

5. The United Nations has pleaded for a halt        the bombing.

6. We're going to Japan        the beginning of July.

7. Contemporary accounts attest        (=bear witness to) his courage and determination.

Answers
1. from 2. to 3. for 4. with 5. to 6. at 7. to

6. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. strict adherence        the rules

2. The EU has issued a new set of directives (=an official instruction)        pollution.

3. Environmentalists have expressed outrage (=a strong feeling of shock and anger)        the ruling.

4. The countries drew        accords (=a formal agreement) on economic and technical cooperation.

5. She left early, complaining        (=say that one is suffering from an ailment) a headache.

6. They lost track of each other        the ensuing years.

7. They wore the charm        a protection (=a thing that protects) against evil spirits.

Answers
1. to 2. on 3. at 4. up 5. of 6. in 7. as

7. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The scandal was the beginning of the end of his career        a politician.

2. She's very modest (=not talking much about your own abilities or possessions)        her success.

3. These explanations are not sufficiently grounded        (=based on) fact.

4. I can't go        details (=explain fully) now; it would take too long.

5. He sat        to try and recover his equilibrium (=a calm state of mind and a balance of emotions).

6. her considerable knowledge        antiques (=old object, esp. a piece of furniture, of high value)

7. Some students are exempt        (=not subject to) certain exams.

Answers
1. as 2. about 3. in 4. into 5. down 6. of 7. from

8. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The legal profession is still a largely male world,        evidenced (=prove or show) by the small number of women judges.

2. Illness had taken a heavy toll        (=have a bad effect on) her.

3. The shooting may have been in retaliation (=revenge)        the arrest of the terrorist suspects.

4. Salary is proportional (=in proportion)        years of experience.

5. The party was divided        this issue (=an important topic).

6. This action would not be in accord        (=in agreement with) our policy.

7. The guide conducted (=lead or guide) us        the ruins of the ancient city.

Answers
1. as 2. on 3. for 4. to 5. on 6. with 7. around

9. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The government is aiming (=intend or try)        a 50% reduction in unemployment.

2. You should keep to (=stick to) the law as ordained (=order or command)        God.

3. Keep        (=avoid leaving a path, road, etc.) the track—the land is very boggy (=soft and wet, like a bog) around here.

4. I think we can dispense        the formalities (=speak openly and naturally to each other).

5. There shall be no sin        either of the two if they return to one another.

6. All three teams adopted (=start to use) different approaches        the problem.

7. The plan, as yet, only exists        embryonic (=in an early stage of development) form.

Answers
1. at 2. by 3. to 4. with 5. upon 6. to 7. in

10. Fill in the blanks with suitable prepositions.

1. The crash reverberated (=echo)        the house.

2. She likes verbalizing (=express your feelings or ideas in words)        art.

3. I was perturbed (=make sb worried or anxious)        his lack of interest.

4. They sang        gusto (=enthusiasm and energy).

5. He is motivated (=cause somebody's behavior) entirely        self-interest.

6. The people yearned (=want sth very much)        peace.

7. This is the oldest Hebrew manuscript        existence.

Answers
1. through 2. about 3. by 4. with 5. by 6. for 7. in