5. For questions 1-15 read the text below and decide which answer (a,b,c or d) best fits each gap.

Travel Books of the Year

The best travel books of this year (1) …fall……… into three main categories; purely informational, narrative, and what, for (2) ……want…. of а better term, I'll call 'anecdotal'. Between these broad categories, however, the boundaries are blurred. One problem with putting travel writers into genres is that they are (3) … loath …….to be pigeon-holed. Many of them see their role as а mixture of the documentary and the creative. Some (4) … contend……. to be more like novelists, employing some of the elements of fiction writing. Others regard themselves as sociologists, exploring the customs and mores of other societies. At the end of the day, what (5)……signifies…… is how readable or useful the book is, and in many cases, how well it is presented. However, it is quite clear that travel and books were (6) …… given…… for each other.

1 Аland Вline Сsort D fall

2 Аwant Вabsence Сshortage D need

3 Аwary Вloath Сcautious D resistant

4 Аallege Вhold Сclaim D contend

5 Аcounts Вreckons Сbears D signifies

6 Аgiven Вcut Сlent D made

6. Read the text and choose the correct collocations.

I have always had itchy (1) hands / feet / fingers and last summer I had the amazing opportunity to travel to the - for me at least- (2) unexplored / unplanned / unprepared territory of the Gobi Desert. My budget wouldn't (3) spread / stretch / afford totravelling on a normal flight but I couldn't find a (4) low-cost / low-key / low-cut airline to fly me there. In the end, I got a (5) stand-up / stand-off / standby ticketand it was not too expensive. Once there I joined a group and we made a journey on horseback into the desert.You wouldn't believe the sheer (6) very / mere / epic grandeurof the region. If you keep your eyes (7) peeled / scaled / washed you can see all sorts of amazing plants and creatures. We were lucky with the weather. We were told that the previous group had had to (8) meet / face / address severe weather (9) circumstances / coincidences / conditions.Our main problem was that one day we got (10) hopelessly / fearlessly / carelessly lost and they had to end out a search (11) group / party / set to find us. We felt so stupid. Anyway, the Gobi Desert may not be everyone's choice of holiday destination but I can assure you that it (12) does / gets / has a very special charm of its own.

7. Complete the idioms and other expressions in bold in sentences 1 – 15

with one word. The meaning ofeach idiom / expression is explained in italics at the end of each sentence.

1. If you tell her the truth, you run the gauntlet of making her angry. (to do something that may have a badresult)

2. I've been working hard all day, and I'm beginning to run out of steam. (to become too tired to finish something)

3. Derek's had several run-__?___ with the management recently. (arguments)

4. I should call a doctor. Jamie's running a very high fever. (to be very hot because you are ill)

5. I must hurry. I'm running a bit late this morning. (doing things or arriving in places later than planned)

6. I think that you're being too ambitious. You shouldn't try to run before you can walk. (to try toachieve something very difficult immediately, without first doing more basic things)

7. Outside teaching hours the classrooms are shut and locked, but students have time to run of the library, the computer room, the restaurant and the gardens. (to be allowed to go anywhere in a placeand do what you want)

8. Would you mind running your eye over this report? (to look at or read something very quickly)

9. If you asked Susan for date, she would probably run a mile. (an informal expression which means thatsomeone would try to avoid a situation because he / she is frightened or embarrassed)

10. I wish you would stop trying to run my _____! (to keep telling someone what they should do in a way that is annoying)

11. Things are becoming difficult at work. Perhaps I should cut and run. (to get out of a situation whenit becomes too difficult or unpleasant)

12. I've been running the company for forty years and I've had a good run for my money, but now it'stime to retire. (to have a long period of time when you are successful or happy)

13. I've been feeling a bit run-in recently. (so tired that you do not feel well)

14. Sampera was confident at the beginning of the game, but Waterman has won all the sets and is running circles around him. (to do something much better than someone else)

15. They aren't very good parents. They let their children run amok all the time. (to behave in an uncontrolled way)

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