(1) The poll gave a popular approval rating of 39% for the President.
(2) Education has been given a high-priority rating by the new administration.
(3) The show has gone up in the ratings.

(1) She seemed to have everything ─looks, money, intelligence.
(2) everything in the capital is now quiet.
(3) ‘How's everything with you? ’ ‘Fine, thanks. ’

(1) We thought the figures were correct. however, we have now discovered some errors.
(2) He was feeling bad. He went to work, however, and tried to concentrate.
(3) however you look at it, it's going to cost a lot.

(1) fewer than 7% of asylum seekers are accepted as political refugees.
(2) The report shows that fewer couples are getting hitched.
(3) Childbirth now held fewer terrors for her than it once had.

(1) I think this band is going to be huge.
(2) This is going to be a huge problem for us.
(3) The party was a huge success.

(1) Generations of students have learnt to parrot the standard explanations.
(2) A different kind of bird, not a parrot, named Puck was tested in 1993.
(3) Not all parrot species are talkers, though.

(1) a reliable method of predicting earthquakes
(2) Nobody could predict the outcome.
(3) It is impossible to predict what will happen.

(1) You're probably right.
(2) It'll probably be OK.
(3) It was the best known and probably the most popular of her songs.

(1) He never even opened the letter (= so he certainly didn't read it) .
(2) It was cold there even in summer (= so it must have been very cold in winter) .
(3) even a child can understand it (= so adults certainly can) .

(1) Do you have any pets?
(2) a pet dog/hamster, etc.
(3) a family/domestic pet

(1) a work of popular fiction
(2) historical/romantic fiction
(3) For years he managed to keep up the fiction that he was not married.

(1) Neil Armstrong is the first astronaut to walk on the moon.
(2) When does a boxer look like an astronaut?
(3) The astronaut was welcomed with joyous , resounding acclaim.

(1) to fly at the speed of sound
(2) A stork flew slowly past.
(3) A wasp had flown in through the window.

(1) Every player gave a hundred per cent tonight.
(2) I still don't feel a hundred per cent.
(3) My family supports me one hundred per cent.

(1) Three years later, after tortuous negotiations and fierce political and popular opposition, Carlyle abandoned the bid.
(2) They came to an accord that profits should be shared equally.
(3) He came back to earth when the teacher told him to pay more attention.

(1) They chose him their leader.
(2) After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.
(3) The earthquake wreaked havoc on the city.

(1) to do the housework
(2) Will they do the housework?
(3) She was tied up with the housework all day.

(1) ...Niagara falls.
(2) He was elected judge in the fall of 1991...
(3) The Supreme Court will not hear the case until next fall.

(1) a job interview
(2) to be called for (an) interview
(3) He has an interview next week for the manager's job.

(1) The assassin said he had acted alone.
(2) Carol felt all alone in the world.
(3) I've been so alone since you went away.

(1) I cut myself on a knife.
(2) I wrote a message to myself.
(3) I found myself unable to speak.

(1) That is no way to treat another human being.
(2) It's only human to want the best for your children.
(3) He's really very human when you get to know him.

(1) an electric motor
(2) an electric light/guitar, etc.
(3) an electric current/charge

(1) It is possible to get there by bus.
(2) Would it be possible for me to leave a message for her?
(3) This wouldn't have been possible without you.

(1) "I think i'll try a hypnotist," I said with sudden resolution.
(2) i'll report back the moment I have located him.
(3) How very thoughtless. i'll give him a piece of my mind.

(1) It was so cold that we were able to go skating on the lake.
(2) Take your skates in case you decide to go skating.
(3) It was crazy of you to go skating on such thin ice.

(1) He felled his opponent with a single blow.
(2) Badly infected trees should be felled and burned.
(3) ...a blow on the forehead which felled him to the ground.

(1) Students often travel hundreds of miles to get here.
(2) hundreds of tightly rolled newspapers were set aflame among the 50,000 crowd.
(3) Their soldiers had to retreat ignominiously after losing hundreds of lives.

(1) less butter/time/importance
(2) He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer.
(3) We have less to worry about now.

(1) You're not leaving already, are you?
(2) I'm already late.
(3) There are far too many people already. We can't take any more.

(1) The children quickly got bored with staying indoors.
(2) There was a bored expression on her face.
(3) I am getting very bored with this entire business.

(1) at a future date
(2) This deal could safeguard the futures of the 2 000 employees.
(3) She has a great future ahead of her.

(1) You should dress for cold weather today.
(2) She always dressed entirely in black.
(3) He was dressed as a woman (= he was wearing women's clothes) .

(1) She'd mentioned it casually once, surprising him by her unconcern.
(2) Johnson was clad casually in slacks and a light blue golf shirt.
(3) They were smartly but casually dressed; possibly students.

(1) a car factory
(2) factory workers
(3) He owned furniture factories in New York State.

(1) air/water pollution
(2) to reduce levels of environmental pollution
(3) beaches covered with pollution

(1) My dream will come true someday.
(2) His wish to become a football star has come true.
(3) How did his dream come true?

(1) tall/old/historic buildings
(2) the building of the school
(3) There's building work going on next door.

(1) He was impossibly handsome (= it was difficult to believe that he could be so handsome ) .
(2) a virtual impossibility
(3) an impossibly difficult problem (= impossible to solve)

(1) in the future the machines will need spare parts and maintenance.
(2) He believes food prices will go up in the future.
(3) I made a silent vow to be more careful in the future.