(1) gradually, the children began to understand.
(2) The weather gradually improved.
(3) gradually we learned to cope.

(1) The typhoon sank a ferry, drowning over 200 people.
(2) A typhoon is now approaching Hong Kong.
(3) The typhoon uprooted numerous trees.

(1) He chopped some wood for the fire.
(2) a plank of wood
(3) All the furniture was made of wood .

(1) [可数名词, 不可数名词]an evaluation of the health care system
(2) We need to evaluate how well the policy is working.
(3) Our research attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of the different drugs.

(1) (British English)I need to go to the toilet (= use the toilet) .
(2) a toilet seat
(3) toilet facilities

(1) a small town set in a valley
(2) a wooded valley
(3) the valley floor

(1) Following her recent appointment to the post…
(2) his appointment as principal
(3) a permanent/first appointment

(1) The couple was/were married in 1976.
(2) Do you need any more glasses? I've got a couple I can lend you.
(3) (North Amercian English)It's only a couple blocks away.

(1) Always chew food well before swallowing it.
(2) The pills should be swallowed whole.
(3) I had a sore throat and it hurt to swallow.

(1) Primakov was in Japan meeting with the chairwoman of the Socialist Party there.
(2) KMT : 1 . chairwoman Tsai, you are an expert on international economics and trade.
(3) FDIC chairwoman Sheila Bair says this will be a seamless transition for the bank's customers.

(1) a cartoon character
(2) a Walt Disney cartoon
(3) ...one of Britain's best-loved cartoon characters, Rupert the Bear.

(1) Why should they get first call on the best property?
(2) He called me over the Tannoy.
(3) I made a phone call to the United States to talk to a friend...

(1) He scolded them for arriving late.
(2) [常用单数形式]I got a scolding from my mother.
(3) If he finds out, he'll scold me...

(1) Many scholars have argued thus.
(2) The universities have expanded, thus allowing many more people the chance of higher education.
(3) He is the eldest son and thus heir to the title.

(1) the present government's policy on education
(2) The company has adopted a firm policy on shoplifting.
(3) We have tried to pursue a policy of neutrality.

(1) a systematic approach to solving the problem
(2) a systematic attempt to destroy the organization
(3) The prisoner was subjected to systematic torture.

(1) We feared that an advance on the capital would soon follow.
(2) recent advances in medical science
(3) We live in an age of rapid technological advance.

(1) The main criterion is value for money.
(2) What criteria are used for assessing a student's ability?
(3) The most important criterion for entry is that applicants must design and make their own work...

(1) He's always begging off at the last minute.
(2) ‘Just go away. ’ ‘I beg your pardon! ’
(3) She begged that she be allowed to go.

(1) Do you believe in magic?
(2) He suddenly appeared as if by magic .
(3) A passage was cleared through the crowd like magic .

(1) Cook over a gentle heat.
(2) We went for a gentle stroll.
(3) a little gentle exercise

(1) boats of every description /all descriptions
(2) Their money came from trade of some description.
(3) medals, coins and things of that description

(1) Try to support each other when one of you is feeling down...
(2) I have been down since the injury happened...
(3) That's down to pure hard work.

(1) It was in aid of a worthwhile cause (= a charity, etc.) .
(2) The smile on her face made it all worthwhile.
(3) High prices in the UK make it worthwhile for buyers to look abroad.

(1) My heart was in my mouth when I walked into her office.
(2) He appealed to his countrymen not to lose heart.
(3) I tried to learn some lines but my heart wasn't really in it.

(1) He dived below the surface of the water.
(2) Please do not write below this line.
(3) Skirts will be worn below (= long enough to cover) the knee.

(1) ...the boys' dormitory...
(2) The latest refugees were housed in makeshift dormitories.
(3) She lived in a college dormitory.

(1) The newspapers branded her a hypocrite.
(2) They were branded as liars and cheats.
(3) an unorthodox brand of humour

(1) a pair of gloves/shoes/earrings, etc.
(2) a huge pair of eyes
(3) The vase is one of a matching pair .

(1) a doctor of Philosophy/Law
(2) doctor Franks (= as a title/form of address)
(3) He was accused of doctoring the figures.

(1) a stout pair of shoes
(2) He put up a stout defence in court.
(3) He was tall and stoutly built.

(1) We stopped for something to eat.
(2) Give me something to do .
(3) There's something wrong with the TV.

(1) Who's chairing the meeting?
(2) an old man asleep in a chair (= an armchair )
(3) She takes the chair in all our meetings.

(1) a bike's inner tube
(2) the cardboard tube from the centre of a toilet roll
(3) a tube of toothpaste

(1) a pencil sharpener
(2) a knife sharpener
(3) ...a pencil sharpener.

(1) a chemical element
(2) the chemical industry
(3) chemical reactions/processes

(1) I don't know. He has a headache, a bad stomachache and a fever.
(2) I have a headache ( stomachache ).
(3) Excuse me, my friend has a stomachache. Let me call the Emergency Center.

(1) Good management benefits employers and employees alike.
(2) My sister and I do not look alike.
(3) They tried to treat all their children alike.

(1) a colour/black-and-white photo
(2) a passport photo
(3) a photo album (= a book for keeping your photos in)

(1) We contributed £5 000 to the earthquake fund.
(2) Would you like to contribute to our collection?
(3) Do you wish to contribute?