B2

Phrasal Verbs Exercises PDFSet 7: Phrasal Verbs vs Formal Equivalents & Mixed Review

20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included

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Preview: Questions

Fill in the blank with the correct option.

1.The meeting has been ___. (= postponed)

a) put onb) put upc) put outd) put off

2.We need to ___ how much this project will cost. (= calculate)

a) work upb) work onc) work outd) work off

3.The company plans to ___ 200 workers. (= dismiss / make redundant)

a) lay offb) lay outc) lay downd) lay on

4.She ___ a new word every day from reading. (= learns informally)

a) picks outb) picks upc) picks ond) picks at

5.Scientists are trying to ___ what causes the disease. (= discover)

a) check outb) figure outc) look outd) find out

... and 15 more questions in the PDF

Preview: Answers

1.put off

2.work out

3.lay off

4.picks up

5.find out

... and 15 more answers in the PDF

Preview: Explanations

1."put off"(d)

'Put off' is the phrasal verb equivalent of the formal word 'postpone'. 'Put on' = wear. 'Put out' = extinguish. 'Put up' = accommodate or build.

2."work out"(c)

'Work out' is the phrasal verb equivalent of 'calculate' or 'figure out'. 'Work on' = spend time improving. 'Work up' = develop gradually. 'Work off' = get rid of by effort.

3."lay off"(a)

'Lay off' means to dismiss workers, usually because there is not enough work. Formal equivalent: 'make redundant'. 'Lay out' = arrange. 'Lay down' = establish rules. 'Lay on' = provide.

4."picks up"(b)

'Pick up' is the informal phrasal verb for 'acquire' or 'learn casually'. 'Pick out' = choose/select. 'Pick on' = bully. 'Pick at' = eat without appetite.

5."find out"(d)

'Find out' is the phrasal verb equivalent of 'discover' — used with information, facts, or clauses (find out what/why/how). 'Figure out' = solve/understand after thinking. 'Look out' = be careful. 'Check out' = examine or leave a hotel.

... and 15 more explanations in the PDF

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