[Unit 2A][Social interaction]

Question 1

Talking is a way of fitting _ – y’know, a way of showing that we belong to a social group. (= trying to similar to others and to be accepted)

Answer 1

Talking is a way of fitting in – y’know, a way of showing that we belong to a social group.

Question 2

How would I come _ _ other people? (= what would they think of me?)

Answer 2

How would I come across to other people? = what will they think of me?

Question 3

… people go into some kind of retreat to _ themselves _ from the outside world. (= отгородиться, разорвать связи)

Answer 3

… people go into some kind of retreat to cut themselves off from the outside world.

Question 4

… when someone held a door open for me and a little ‘thank you’ s_ _. (= you said it without intending to)

Answer 4

… when someone held a door open for me and a little ‘thank you’ slipped out.

Question 5

The most interesting thing was the way other people related _ me.

Answer 5

The most interesting thing was the way other people related to me.

Question 6

She b_ me _ questions. (=asked me loads of questions)

Answer 6

She bombarded me with questions.

BrE /bɒmˈbɑːd/
AmE /bɑːmˈbɑːrd/

Question 7

He always goes _ and _ _ something when I go and see him … (talks and talks and talks)

Answer 7

He always goes on and on about something when I go and see him … [negative]

Question 8

He usually likes to r_ _ some politician or other. (=be very critical)

Answer 8

He usually likes to run down some politician or other.

Question 9

I often felt that my silence brought _ the best _ people. (made other people behave well)

Answer 9

I often felt that my silence brought out the best in people.

Question 10

(During my weekend of silence) I often wanted to (respond to people), but I had to hold myself _. (stopped myself from saying something)

Answer 10

I often wanted to, but I had to hold myself back.

Question 11

I hate the way Mike treats his daughter. He’s always _ her _ in front of other people. (criticising her)

Answer 11

I hate the way Mike treats his daughter. He’s always running her down in front of other people. (criticising her)

Question 12

He _ his son _ without a penny. They never saw each other again.

Answer 12

He cut his son off without a penny. They never saw each other again.

Question 13

I’m not sure we should hire John. He’s never done this type of work before; I’m not sure how he’ll _ _ with the other people. (= if he’ll be a good match)

Answer 13

I’m not sure how he’ll fit in with the other people.

Question 14

The children _ her _ questions. (asked her LOADS of questions)

Answer 14

The children bombarded her with questions.

Question 15

Don’t be so critical on yourself. You mustn’t keep _ yourself _. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder.

Answer 15

Don’t be so critical on yourself. You mustn’t keep running yourself down. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder.

Question 16

I like Harry Styles’s songs, but he _ _ as a bit of a bore in his interviews. (= seems to be, creates an impression of a bore)

Answer 16

I like Harry Styles’s songs, but he comes across as a bit of a bore in his interviews.

practice pronouncing this sentence fluently, i.e. with consonant-vowel linking!

Question 17

Our product needs an image that people can _ _. (= something that represents them)

Answer 17

Our product needs an image that people can relate to.

Question 18

It’s no surprise she’s leaving the company - she never really _ _. (= never was part of the team, really)

Answer 18

It’s no surprise she’s leaving the company - she never really fitted in.

Question 19

I’m sorry I said that. It just _ _. (= I said this accidentally)

Answer 19

I’m sorry I said that. It just slipped out.

Question 20

We have been _ _ letters of complaint. (we’ve been receiving loads of them)

Answer 20

We have been bombarded with letters of complaint.

Question 21

He admitted that something had gone wrong, but he _ _ the details (= stopped himself from telling the complete truth).

Answer 21

He admitted that something had gone wrong, but he held back the details (= stopped himself from telling the complete truth).

Question 22

We are _ daily _ propaganda about what we should eat.

Answer 22

We are bombarded daily with propaganda about what we should eat.

Question 23

I didn’t mean to say it. It just _ _.

Answer 23

I didn’t mean to say it. It just slipped out.

Question 24

Many adults can’t _ _ children. (don’t really understand their feelings and don’t find them interesting)

Answer 24

Many adults can’t relate to children.

Question 25

Pressure can _ _ the worst in people.

Answer 25

Pressure can bring out the worst in people.

Question 26

Don’t be so critical on yourself. You mustn’t keep running yourself down. C_ yourself some _. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder.

Answer 26

Don’t be so critical on yourself. You mustn’t keep running yourself down. Cut yourself some slack. Give yourself a pat on the shoulder.

Question 27

I just wish he’d stop _ _ about how brilliant his daughter is.”

“Yes, he does _ _ a bit, doesn’t he?”

Answer 27

I just wish he’d stop going on about how brilliant his daughter is.” “Yes, he does go on a bit, doesn’t he?”

Question 28

I wish you’d stop _ _ at me (= criticizing me repeatedly) about my haircut.

Answer 28

I wish you’d stop going on at me (= criticizing me repeatedly) about my haircut.

Question 29

I’ve never met anyone quite so insecure. He’s always _ himself _.

Answer 29

I’ve never met anyone quite so insecure. He’s always running himself down.

Question 30

He spoke slowly, to _ _ his growing anger.

Answer 30

He spoke slowly, to hold back his growing anger.

Question 31

I like Harry Styles’s songs, but he comes across as _ bit _ _ _ (= he’s a bit boring) in his interviews.

Answer 31

I like Harry Styles’s songs, but he comes across as a bit of a bore (= he’s a bit boring) in his interviews.

Question 32

Spending time with creative people really _ _ my artistic side.

Answer 32

Spending time with creative people really brings out my artistic side.

Question 33

She comes across _ very confident during presentations, even when she’s nervous.

Answer 33

She comes across as very confident during presentations, even when she’s nervous.

Question 34

It took a while, but I finally feel like I f_ _ _ my colleagues at the new job. (= I’m really part of the team, we gel well)

Answer 34

“It took a while, but I finally feel like I fit in with my colleagues at the new job.

Question 35

I didn’t m_ to reveal the surprise, it just slipped out in conversation.

Answer 35

I didn’t mean to reveal the surprise, it just slipped out in conversation.

Question 36

It’s not healthy to constantly r_ _ your own abilities; you have so much to offer.

Answer 36

It’s not healthy to constantly run down your own abilities; you have so much to offer.