(1) a highly controversial topic
(2) a controversial plan to build a new road
(3) Winston Churchill and Richard Nixon were both controversial figures.

(1) One day her step - mother decided to be rid of her.
(2) For once the step - mother had nothing to say.
(3) I do not seem to be able to please my step - mother and Isable; more .

(1) a diamond necklace
(2) ...a diamond necklace and matching earrings.
(3) Alleged strike breakers had their houses petrol-bombed or were hacked to death or necklaced.

(1) The corresponding relations between concept algebra and Ontology Web Language ( OWL ) are analyzed.
(2) Schools are urged to prepare more students to algebra by the eighth grade.
(3) The boy haven't absorb arithmetic, not to mention algebra.

(1) sandwiches on a plate
(2) a pile of dirty plates
(3) dinner plates

(1) The party was a real gas.
(2) Step on the gas , we're late.
(3) to fill up the gas tank

(1) please sit down.
(2) Two coffees, please.
(3) Quiet please!

(1) the vitamins that are vital for health
(2) Good financial accounts are vital to the success of any enterprise.
(3) It is vital that you keep accurate records when you are self-employed.

(1) good/poor/sound judgement
(2) She showed a lack of judgement when she gave Mark the job.
(3) It's not something I can give you rules for; you'll have to use your judgement.

(1) I hadn't bargained on them being here.
(2) I didn't bargain on finding them here as well.
(3) When he agreed to answer a few questions, he got more than he bargained for (= he got more questions, or more difficult ones, than he had expected) .

(1) life/car/travel/household, etc. insurance
(2) to have adequate insurance cover
(3) to take out insurance against fire and theft

(1) Go on, ask her; she can hardly refuse.
(2) He flatly refused to discuss the matter.
(3) She refused to accept that there was a problem.

(1) His father was an actor in the Cantonese Opera Company...
(2) You have to be a very good actor to play that part.
(3) If the new actor is no good, kick him out.

(1) She made all the usual excuses.
(2) He came home later than usual.
(3) She sat in her usual seat at the back.

(1) My life seems empty without you.
(2) words that were empty of meaning
(3) She stood staring emptily into space.

(1) Don't elbow me off the sideway.
(2) S & P continues sideway just beneath resistance.
(3) Do not elbow me off the sideway.

(1) We thoroughly enjoyed our time in New York.
(2) Thanks for a great evening. I really enjoyed it .
(3) I enjoy playing tennis and squash.

(1) She looked desperately around for a weapon.
(2) They desperately wanted a child.
(3) I was absolutely desperate to see her.

(1) Simon's a whizz at card games.
(2) He gave up high - stake card games and stayed comparatively sober.
(3) Bridge, poker and whist are card - games.

(1) All flights have been cancelled because of bad weather.
(2) Don't forget to cancel the newspaper (= arrange for it not to be delivered) before going away.
(3) to cancel a policy/subscription

(1) A pigeon emerges, wings flapping noisily, from the tower.
(2) She sat by the window, noisily gulping her morning coffee.
(3) At the sink, Neil noisily gargled something medicinal.

(1) a dark room/street/forest
(2) What time does it get dark in summer?
(3) It was dark outside and I couldn't see much.

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

(1) A peal of church bells rang out in the distance.
(2) a bicycle bell
(3) His voice came down the line as clear as a bell .

(1) The father bear said, " Who has eaten some of my porridge? "
(2) Mother has always loved thick porridge.
(3) During the day, he did odd jobs that were just enough to buy porridge.

(1) You're not your usual cheerful self today.
(2) a cheerful, hard-working employee
(3) a cheerful smile/voice

(1) ...80 million gallons of water a day.
(2) ...a gasoline tax of 4.3 cents a gallon.
(3) One fifth of a gallon or four fifths of a quart of liquor.

(1) Which way is west?
(2) Rain is spreading from the west.
(3) He lives to the west of (= further west than) the town.

(1) Our house is worth about £100 000.
(2) How much is this painting worth?
(3) to be worth a bomb/packet/fortune (= a lot of money)

(1) There will be a run-off between these two candidates on december 9th.
(2) Last december they hunted down and killed one of the gangsters.
(3) The sides must battle again for a quarter-final place on december 16.

(1) a tax assessment
(2) his assessment of the situation
(3) written exams and other forms of assessment

(1) The number of people employed in agriculture has fallen in the last decade.
(2) agricultural policy/land/production/development
(3) The Ukraine is strong both in industry and agriculture.

(1) (figurative)The writer uses her childhood as raw material for this novel.
(2) We have had problems with the supply of raw materials to the factory.
(3) These trees provide the raw material for high-quality paper.

(1) Eat up your greens.
(2) She was dressed all in green.
(3) The room was decorated in a combination of greens and blues.

(1) a company that builds and hosts e-commerce sites
(2) to host a dinner
(3) Germany hosted the World Cup finals.

(1) to write a cheque
(2) to make a cheque out to sb
(3) to pay by cheque

(1) Contemporary photographs are juxtaposed with a sixteenth century, copper Portuguese mirror.
(2) the site of a sixteenth century abbey
(3) We're studying dramatic texts by sixteenth century playwrights.

(1) Once more he smiled, remembering a certain Mid - Autumn Festival.
(2) The Mid Autumn Festival is drawing near.
(3) Well, there are Dragon Boat Festival, Mid - autumn Festival , Chung Yeung Festival and so on.

(1) He graduated with distinction .
(2) Naomi got a distinction in maths.
(3) All groups are entitled to this money without distinction .