Use of English for advanced learners 1 Recognising and using idioms - Thấm Tâm Vy

Thẩm Tâm Vy, April 16th, 2020 USEOF ENGLISH FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS - 01

USE OF ENGLISH FOR ADVANCED LEARNERS 01 RECOGNISING AND USING IDIOMS I. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. 1. If you don’t get your focus / act together, you’ll never get a good role. 2. On top of being the leading role, it also pays big / large money. 3. Jeffrey is suffering from writer’s block / stop and can’t finish the script for the play. 4. With weeks of touring with her theatre company still yet to come, Julie felt there was no end in sight / mind. 5. Never in a hundred / million years did I think I’d achieve such fame as an actor! 6. If there are any snags with the production, I’ll be there at the drop of a shoe / hat. 7. We don’t go to the theatre often, only once in a red / blue moon. 8. Her performance was revolutionary; she really broke the shell / mould. 9. After getting the green / bright light from the financial backers, the show got under way. 10. The characters audiences admire are those that seem larger / greater than life. II. Write a word from the list below in each gap to complete the sentences.

arms ■ course ■ milk ■ nerves ■ nick ■ piece ■ pieces ■ rain ■ sailing ■ skinned 1. The whole theatre company was up in..........when it turned out they wouldn’t be paid for three months. 2. Jessica did some breathing exercises to steady her..........before going on stage. 3. If you’re disappointed with my performance, just, say your..........and then leave! 4. So you missed a few dance steps in the performance. Don’t worry about it - there’s no point crying over spilt.......... 5. Even though the production was badly reviewed, the theatre owner let it run its.......... 6. If you’ve memorised your lines and practised all your moves, your performance in the play ought to be plain.......... 7. Nancy fell to..........after reading the scathing remarks critics made about her. 8. We didn’t realise there was a curtain call after we left the stage, so we only got back on to bow in the..........of time. 9. Come..........or shine, this production will go ahead as planned. 10. You’ve got to be thick-..........to deal with negative criticism. III. Choose the correct word to complete each sentence. 1. After the playwright rewrote the script, the story began to take.......... A. set B. form C. shape D. part 2. Anyone who criticises the lead is simply asking for.......... A. trouble B. pain C. difficulty D. discomfort 3. Don’t worry, you’ll do splendidly tonight - just go out there and break a.......... A. limp B. leg C. mould D. step 4. Sophie was feeling a bit..........on her luck after not getting the part, so Frank bought her lunch. A. down B. under C. below D. behind

5. The play is simply a vehicle for its stars and falls..........of having a decent plot, A. fast B. short C. quick D thin 6. Anna’s friend knew the casting director, so she pulled a few..........to arrange an audition. A. ropes B. wires C. threads D. strings IV. Choose the correct definition for each phrase in bold. 1. Terrence focused on minor details so much he couldn’t see the wood for the trees. A. see the big picture B. see the finer elements 2. Such detailed stage directions exist because some actors can’t put two and two together. A. do maths easily B. figure out something simple 3. The famous actor showed up out of the blue and demanded to be in the play. A. with the utmost respect b. without prior notice 4. Martin went to acting school to learn the tools of the trade. A. how to pick up acting skills B. how to build stage props 5. If you think the character should be played more aggressively, stick to your guns and maybe the director will come round. A. follow your principles B. make a threatening scene 6. We’d like to stage performances every night, but the powers that be won’t allow it. A. those who are in charge B. the audience V. Each of the words in bold is in the wrong sentence. Write the correct word on the line. 1. Nobody expected Fred to make it as a …