(1) a first-rate swimmer
(2) The food here is absolutely first-rate.
(3) People who used his service knew they were dealing with a first-rate professional.

(1) The period of validity of the agreement has expired.
(2) We had doubts about the validity of their argument.
(3) Shocked by the results of the elections, they now want to challenge the validity of the vote...

(1) a cluster of stars
(2) The plant bears its flowers in clusters.
(3) a leukaemia cluster (= an area where there are more cases of the disease than you would expect)

(1) He showed a reckless disregard for his own safety.
(2) She was a good rider, but reckless.
(3) He had always been reckless with money.

(1) I could hear Paul snoring in the next room.
(2) [不可数名词]loud snoring
(3) She lay awake listening to his snores.

(1) charcoal grilled steaks
(2) a charcoal drawing
(3) The allotropes of carbon include diamond, graphite and charcoal, all with the same chemical properties.

(1) a jazz groove
(2) ...Latin and African grooves.
(3) Their wheels left grooves in the ground.

(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) the replacement of worn car parts
(2) replacement windows
(3) a hip replacement

(1) A mood of melancholy descended on us.
(2) melancholy thoughts/memories
(3) The melancholy song died away.

(1) She preached to the congregation about forgiveness.
(2) The minister preached a sermon on the parable of the lost sheep.
(3) to preach the word of God

(1) His persistence was finally rewarded when the insurance company agreed to pay for the damage.
(2) It was her sheer persistence that wore them down in the end.
(3) the persistence of unemployment in the 1970s and 1980s

(1) I couldn't reach the pedals on her bike.
(2) She pressed her foot down sharply on the brake pedal.
(3) I saw her pedalling along the towpath.

(1) The company is forging ahead with its plans for expansion.
(2) She forged into the lead (= in a competition, race, etc.) .
(3) He forged through the crowds to the front of the stage.

(1) a grove of birch trees
(2) an olive grove
(3) Elm grove

(1) (especially North American English)Kerry's concession speech (= when he admitted that he had lost the election)
(2) the concession of university status to some colleges
(3) tax concessions

(1) We discerned the figure of a man cling to the mast of the wrecked ship.
(2) The mast went in the storm.
(3) It was a day of national mourning with flags flying at half mast everywhere.

(1) a noted dancer
(2) He is not noted for his sense of humour.
(3) The lake is noted as a home to many birds.

(1) The bigger girls used to chase me and tickle me.
(2) Stop tickling!
(3) His beard was tickling her cheek.

(1) Hindu scriptures
(2) scriptural references
(3) ...a quote from scripture.

(1) He also has problems with a heart valve.
(2) Two types of substitute valves are available: a mechanical valve or a biological valve.
(3) The sealing points on the nipple and valve outlet are comprised of highly polished torroidal beads.

(1) hot and cold water pipes
(2) lead/plastic pipes
(3) a leaking gas pipe

(1) an opening/introductory paragraph
(2) Write a paragraph on each of the topics given below.
(3) See paragraph 15 of the handbook.

(1) to ask/answer a question
(2) question 3 was very difficult.
(3) In the exam there's sure to be a question on energy.

(1) a football/cricket/rugby pitch
(2) The rugby tour was a disaster both on and off the pitch.
(3) a frenetic pitch of activity

(1) a mighty warrior
(2) He struck him with a mighty blow across his shoulder.
(3) the mighty Mississippi river

(1) We've put down a 5% deposit on the house.
(2) They normally ask you to pay £100 (as a) deposit.
(3) to pay a deposit

(1) an analogue circuit/computer/signal
(2) Scientists are attempting to compare features of extinct animals with living analogues.
(3) No model can ever be a perfect analogue of nature itself.

(1) ...Aaron Copland, who was known as the dean of American composers.
(2) She was dean of the Science faculty at Sophia University.
(3) ...Alan Webster, former dean of St Paul's.

(1) He ordered that Matilda's body should be buried in the family vault.
(2) He could easily vault the wall.
(3) The old patrician was buried in the family vault.

(1) That section of the road is still closed.
(2) The library has a large biology section.
(3) the tail section of the plane

(1) Then, for no apparent reason , the train suddenly stopped.
(2) My parents were concerned at my apparent lack of enthusiasm for school.
(3) It was apparent from her face that she was really upset.

(1) ...a prototype system which produces 25 kilowatts of power.
(2) At last, The trial of mine sweeping by using kilowatt class fiber laser was presented.
(3) The most important advantage of the gasoline engine is its lower weight per kilowatt.

(1) Mike is responsible for designing the entire project.
(2) Even where parents no longer live together, they each continue to be responsible for their children.
(3) Who's responsible for this mess?

(1) The ice cracked as I stepped onto it.
(2) He has cracked a bone in his arm.
(3) Her lips were dry and cracked.

(1) a troublesome cough/child/problem
(2) He needed surgery to cure a troublesome back injury...
(3) Parents may find that a troublesome teenager becomes unmanageable.

(1) The exhibition is held annually.
(2) Annual costs, tuition and fees, £6,600...
(3) The electronic and printing unit has annual sales of about $80 million.

(1) international/foreign trade
(2) trade between the two countries has increased.
(3) the international trade in oil

(1) A spectrum is formed by a ray of light passing through a prism.
(2) Red and violet are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
(3) the electromagnetic/radio/sound spectrum

(1) A very high temperature often denotes a serious illness.
(2) In this example ‘X ’ denotes the time taken and ‘Y ’ denotes the distance covered.
(3) The red triangle denotes danger.