(1) the provinces of Canada
(2) The show will tour the provinces after it closes in London.
(3) a shy young man from the provinces

(1) This poster is offensive and degrades women.
(2) ...the ability of these enzymes to degrade cellulose.
(3) This substance degrades rapidly in the soil.

(1) The hourly charge is currently £35.
(2) currently, over 500 students are enrolled on the course.
(3) All the options are currently available .

(1) to come to/reach a climax
(2) the climax of his political career
(3) The festival will climax on Sunday with a gala concert.

(1) fragrant herbs/flowers/oils
(2) The air was fragrant with scents from the sea and the hills.
(3) The air was fragrant with the smell of orange blossoms.

(1) He was killed in a tragic accident at the age of 24.
(2) Cuts in the health service could have tragic consequences for patients.
(3) It would be tragic if her talent remained unrecognized.

(1) Most of the wine was unfit for human consumption.
(2) Mr Abel's doctor has said he is unfit to travel.
(3) He had a third examination and was declared unfit for duty.

(1) You're not still brooding over what he said, are you?
(2) ...a large brood of children.
(3) I guess everyone broods over things once in a while...

(1) The doctor gave me a prescription for antibiotics.
(2) (British English)Antibiotics are only available on prescription .
(3) (North Amercian English)Antibiotics are only available by prescription .

(1) a bus/theatre/plane, etc. ticket
(2) free tickets to the show
(3) tickets are available from the Arts Centre at £2.50.

(1) He leaned forward, his hands clasped tightly together.
(2) They clasped hands (= held each other's hands) .
(3) I stood there, clasping the door handle.

(1) My sight is failing, and I can't see to read any more...
(2) I use the sense of sound much more than the sense of sight.
(3) I faint at the sight of blood...

(1) The surface corrosion was worst where the paint had flaked off.
(2) All planes are being inspected for possible cracking and corrosion.
(3) corrosion is not covered by the warranty.

(1) hums and buzzes from the amplifier
(2) The buzz of conversation suddenly stopped when she came into the room.
(3) Bees buzzed lazily among the flowers.

(1) There were several simultaneous attacks by the rebels.
(2) simultaneous translation/interpreting
(3) The game will be broadcast simultaneously on TV and radio.

(1) the emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere
(2) emission controls
(3) The government has pledged to clean up industrial emissions.

(1) This tulip wasn't like other tulips, it hid a dark secret.
(2) The Netherlands is the tulip kingdom.
(3) At last she believed that the tulip bed was under the protection of the fairies.

(1) a nice day/smile/place
(2) nice weather
(3) Did you have a nice time ?

(1) If people keep telling you you're incapable, you begin to lose confidence in yourself.
(2) He was found lying in the road, drunk and incapable.
(3) The children seem to be totally incapable of working by themselves.

(1) British colonials in India
(2) life in colonial times
(3) Western colonial attitudes

(1) the emergence of new technologies
(2) [不可数名词]the island's emergence from the sea 3 000 years ago
(3) She emerged from the scandal with her reputation intact.

(1) to negotiate a peace settlement
(2) The management and unions have reached a settlement over new working conditions.
(3) an out-of-court settlement (= money that is paid to sb or an agreement that is made to stop sb going to court)

(1) an obscure German poet
(2) He was born around 1650 but his origins remain obscure.
(3) I found her lecture very obscure.

(1) an initial payment of £60 and ten instalments of £25
(2) in the initial stages (= at the beginning) of the campaign
(3) My initial reaction was to decline the offer.

(1) harp not for ever on the same string.
(2) harp not forever on the same string.
(3) Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.

(1) ...gigantic rocks...
(2) A gigantic task of national reconstruction awaits us.
(3) The earth may be thought of as a gigantic magnet.

(1) Doctors issued a warning against eating any fish caught in the river.
(2) to give sb fair/advance/adequate warning of sth
(3) The bridge collapsed without (any) warning .

(1) the jugular vein
(2) a vein of gold
(3) They had tapped a rich vein of information in his secretary.

(1) a series of sex scandals
(2) to cause/create a scandal
(3) The scandal broke (= became known to the public) in May.

(1) a shoulder seam
(2) They struck a rich seam of iron ore.
(3) (figurative)The book is a rich seam of information.

(1) domestically produced goods
(2) The police were called to sort out a domestic.
(3) I'm not a very domestic sort of person.

(1) There was an echo on the line and I couldn't hear clearly.
(2) The hills sent back a faint echo.
(3) the echo of footsteps running down the corridor

(1) an earthenware bowl
(2) ...earthenware pots.
(3) ...colourful Italian china and earthenware.

(1) The school pays for heating and the maintenance of the buildings.
(2) car maintenance
(3) the maintenance of international peace

(1) an ornamental fountain
(2) The chimney pots are purely ornamental.
(3) ...ornamental trees.

(1) diversions will be signposted.
(2) The party will make a pleasant diversion.
(3) The city is full of diversions.

(1) The story was completely untrue and was successfully challenged in court.
(2) She does not like anyone challenging her authority.
(3) This discovery challenges traditional beliefs.

(1) a widely held belief
(2) The idea is now widely accepted.
(3) He has travelled widely in Asia.

(1) There were fine wrinkles around her eyes.
(2) She wrinkled up her nose in distaste.
(3) He wrinkled his brow in concentration.

(1) The hours of the job are incompatible with family life.
(2) These two objectives are mutually incompatible .
(3) New computer software is often incompatible with older computers.