Feedback January-February

Question 1

For a long time her mother and her grandmother had hardly been _ speaking _. (= they fell out and stopped talking to each other)

Answer 1

For a long time her mother and her grandmother had hardly been on speaking terms.

Question 2

They _ him to join the company by offering him a huge salary and a company car.

Do you feel _ to take a vow of silence?

= соблазнилась, хотите ли вы

Answer 2

They tempted him to join the company by offering him a huge salary and a company car.

Do you feel tempted to take a vow of silence?

Question 3

[pronunciation]
then it’s not 100% and experiment

Answer 3

/e/

Question 4

You need to get _ your _ horse and realize that your way isn’t the only way. Let’s be open to new ideas.”

= behave in a way that shows you think you are better than other people

Answer 4

You need to get off your high horse and realize that your way isn’t the only way. Let’s be open to new ideas.

Question 5

Я сегодня с Макбука.

Answer 5

I’m on a Mac today.

Question 6

She goes on and on and won’t stop and it’s _ (exhaust >> adjective).

Answer 6

She goes on and on and won’t stop and it’s exhausting.

Question 7

It’s not good, to be honest, but it / what.

= уж как есть

Answer 7

It’s not good, to be honest, but it is what it is.

= уж как есть

Question 8

[stress]
communicate
during the negotiations

Answer 8

comMUnicate
during the neGOtiations

Question 9

[pronunciation]
Sometimes a crisis could be good.

Answer 9

/ˈkraɪsɪs/

Question 10

[stress]
being isolated in an appartment was the worst situation I’d ever experienced

Answer 10

/ˈaɪsəleɪtɪd/

Question 11

[stress]
I was concentrated on my personal issues.

Answer 11

CONcentrated

Question 12

This crisis brought out the best _ these people.

Answer 12

This crisis brought out the best in these people.

Question 13

[stress]

In the end, it was advantageous because it helped me become independent.

Answer 13

/ˌædvənˈteɪdʒəs/

Question 14

[reformulate with ‘there’s’ + experience]

Sometimes a crisis could be good.

Answer 14

There’s something to be said for experiencing a crisis.

Question 15

This problem can occur _ (if? in case?) you have a strained relationship with your brother.

Answer 15

This problem can occur if you have a strained relationship with your brother.

in case = на случай

Question 16

[pronunciation]
beat around the bush

Answer 16

/bʊʃ/

Question 17

If you’re selling a car, sometimes you might decide to _ _ some information if the buyer doesn’t ask you directly.

= недоговорить

Answer 17

If you’re selling a car, sometimes you might decide to hold back some information if the buyer doesn’t ask you directly.

Question 18

I don’t know how to break this to you but I’m afraid your performance wasn’t funny’.

Answer 18

I don’t know how to break this to you but I’m afraid your performance didn’t work for us.

we didn’t find it funny

Question 19

Maybe he’s trying to make her _ (feel) guilty.

Answer 19

Maybe he’s trying to make her feel guilty.

make sb do sth

Question 20

Maybe he’s trying to make her feel guilty.

reformulate with ‘he might…’

Answer 20

He might be trying to make her feel guilty.

Question 21

[fix the bit in bold]

Maybe the reason they don’t call you back isn’t your appearance? They don’t like your portfolio.

Answer 21

They might not like your portfolio.

Question 22

Hi, how are you? What’s new?

Reformulate with ‘up’.

Answer 22

What have you been up to?

Question 23

[pronunciation]

Maybe let’s go over your resume together?

Answer 23

/ˈrezjuːmeɪ/
/ˈrezəmeɪ/

Question 24

[pronunciation]
social media

Answer 24

/ˈmiːdiə/

Question 25

Sibling 1: I don't have any secrets from you! Sibling 2: Well, **I \_**! = а у меня есть

Answer 25

Sibling 1: I don't have any secrets from you! Sibling 2: Well, **I do**!

Question 26

**(straight? straight out? straightforward?)** 1. I'll tell you **\_**. 2. You shouldn't be so **\_** with your colleagues.

Answer 26

1. I'll tell you **straight**. I'll tell you **straight out**. 2. You shouldn't be so **straightforward** with your colleagues.

Question 27

I've tried dropping hints but this didn't seem to work so I've got to be **\_** with you.

Answer 27

I've tried dropping hints but this didn't seem to work so I've got to be **frank** with you. or: **I've got to be upfront with you**

Question 28

Someone asked you to proofread their email and it’s full of **\_ (= опечаток)** (and a few very rude turns of phrase)

Answer 28

Someone asked you to proofread their email and it’s full of **typos** (and a few very rude turns of phrase) /ˈtaɪpəʊz/

Question 29

**something / you / know**. I think your boyfriend is cheating on you.

Answer 29

**There's something you should know**. I think your boyfriend is cheating on you.

Question 30

We **\_ (have)** a cracked glass panel in our staircase's front door **for \_ last 6 months**.

Answer 30

We**'ve had** a cracked glass panel in our staircase's front door **for the last 6 months**. time period => a **perfect** tense

Question 31

[preposition] Have you thought about writing to the company yourself. You know, what if they are still **unaware \_** the issue?

Answer 31

Have you thought about writing to the company yourself. You know, what if they are still **unaware of** the issue?

Question 32

[preposition] I want to get some **clarity \_** what's going on.

Answer 32

I want to get some **clarity about** what's going on. or: get some clarity **on**.. get some clarity **regarding**..

Question 33

[context: talking about your son's trouble at school] Have you thought about switching schools or homeschooling him? **\_ (a linker)** It would be better for his and your mental well-being to switch to homeschooling, don't you think?

Answer 33

Have you thought about switching schools or homeschooling him? **I mean,** It would benefit both your and his mental well-being to switch to homeschooling, don't you think?

Question 34

It's up to me **\_ (работать или нет)**.

Answer 34

It's up to me **whether to work or not**.

Question 35

[pronunciation] Try to cut down on **caffeine**.

Answer 35

/ˈkæfiːn/

Question 36

I always **figured**

Answer 36

BrE /ˈfɪɡəd/ AmE /ˈfɪɡjərd/

Question 37

I looked into bike rental prices because I wanted to **\_ (= ездить)** in a forest.

Answer 37

I looked into **bike** rental prices because I wanted to **ride** in a forest.

Question 38

[context: Saturday lesson] Fix the question: Zhanna, **how was your day**?

Answer 38

Zhanna, **how has your day been**?

Question 39

My dad can't eat **\_ (углеводы)**.

Answer 39

My dad can't eat **carbs**. formal: carbohydrates /ˌkɑːbəʊˈhaɪdreɪts/

Question 40

I **look like** my grandfather. **=** I take .....

Answer 40

I **take after** my grandfather **in terms of** appearance.

Question 41

Unlike most of my friends, I've never **\_ \_ any loans**.

Answer 41

Unlike most of my friends, I've never **taken out** any **loans**.

Question 42

[fix this] Unlike Maria’s sister, who's quite reserved, Maria loves social gatherings.

Answer 42

Unlike **her** sister, who's quite reserved, **Maria** loves social gatherings.

Question 43

[add punctuation] Unlike my brother who thrives on stress I prefer a calm environment.

Answer 43

Unlike my brother, who thrives on stress, I prefer a calm environment.

Question 44

[pronunciation] ar**ch**itect

Answer 44

BrE /ˈɑːkɪtekt/ AmE /ˈɑːrkɪtekt/

Question 45

[pronunciation] I need to pay off all my **debts**.

Answer 45

/dets/ 'bt' is too difficult for the English to pronounce, without a dou**bt**!

Question 46

[pronunciation] There is a non-zero chance that the country will be plunged into **crisis**.

Answer 46

/ˈkraɪsɪs/

Question 47

[pronunciation] He lives in **London**.

Answer 47

/ˈlʌndən/

Question 48

Они не боятся муравьёв.

Answer 48

They **aren't afraid** of ants. afraid is an adjective, not a verb

Question 49

That's the **\_ (обратная стороная)** of being a celebrity.

Answer 49

That's the **flip side** of being a celebrity.

Question 50

[pronunciation] That's a **hypothetical** situation.

Answer 50

/ˌhaɪpəˈθetɪkl/

Question 51

Would you ever invest in a friend's business venture? This depends on the **n\_ \_ the business**. = что это вообще за

Answer 51

This depends on the **nature of the business**.

Question 52

[pronunciation] colleague

Answer 52

/ˈkɒliːɡ/

Question 53

[pronunciation] and also...

Answer 53

/ˈɔːlsəʊ/

Question 54

This depends on **\_ (насколько involved)** you are.

Answer 54

This depends on **how involved** you are.

Question 55

This depends on how well you're organized as a manager. Reformulate: **This depend on how organized...**

Answer 55

This depends on **how organized a manager** you are. This depends on how organized you are as a manager

Question 56

[pronunciation] I could move, but I'd never earn **as much as I** earn here.

Answer 56

zzzzzzz@ az mu cha zi

Question 57

[pronunciation] It **also** depends on how lucky you are.

Answer 57

/ˈɔːlsəʊ/

Question 58

[combine - start with the part in bold] **In spite of my husband** + fell asleep, I still enjoyed the evening.

Answer 58

In spite of **my husband falling asleep**, I still enjoyed the evening.

Question 59

[which one is better?] **Despite my sleeping husband**, I enjoyed the evening. **Despite my husband falling asleep**, I enjoyed the evening.

Answer 59

**Despite my husband falling asleep**, I enjoyed the evening.

Question 60

[articles] I've just returned from vacation.

Answer 60

I've just returned from **my** vacation.

Question 61

The educational programs are available for all workers on our online platform \_ makes the process of enrolling easy and convenient. (= что делает процесс..)

Answer 61

The educational programs are available for all workers on our online platform**, which** makes the process of enrolling easy and convenient.

Question 62

Although the company's educational system currently provides a wide range of different courses for employees, **the sh\_ abundance of these options** has become a problem recently.

Answer 62

Although the company's educational system currently provides a wide range of different courses for employees, **the sheer abundance of these options** has become a problem recently. **used to emphasize the size, degree or amount of something** Examples: The area is under threat from **the sheer number of tourists** using it. We were impressed by **the sheer size of the** cathedral.

Question 63

Some workers claim that they can hardly understand which course among **the multitude \_ on the platform** they should opt for.

Answer 63

Some workers claim that they can hardly understand which course among **the multitude available on the platform** they should opt for.