(1) The political situation remains highly unstable.
(2) chemically unstable
(3) After the fall of Pitt in 1801 there was a decade of unstable government...

(1) We've got plenty of time; there's no need to rush.
(2) the sound of rushing water
(3) Don't rush off, I haven't finished.

(1) We visited towns and villages all over Spain.
(2) a fishing/mountain/seaside village
(3) (especially British English)the village shop

(1) He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.
(2) Finally he caught sight of the young man's light overcoat in the distance.
(3) Is your overcoat made to order or ready made?

(1) a scar on his cheek
(2) Will the operation leave a scar?
(3) scar tissue

(1) The nurse shook the thermometer and put it under my armpit...
(2) shake the rugs well and hang them for a few hours before replacing on the floor...
(3) As soon as he got inside, the dog shook himself...

(1) The changes were made with surprisingly little difficulty.
(2) He spoke slowly and with great difficulty.
(3) We found the house without difficulty .

(1) You are making a big mistake.
(2) She took the stage for her big moment .
(3) (informal)Do you really think we can take on the big boys (= compete with the most powerful people) ?

(1) the power of the human spirit to overcome difficulties
(2) to be in high/low spirits
(3) You must try and keep your spirits up (= stay cheerful) .

(1) He was jailed for five years as an alleged british spy.
(2) Mr Olaechea has british residency by virtue of his marriage.
(3) We definitely wanted to salvage some pride for british tennis.

(1) the upper/lower storey of the house
(2) a single-storey/two-storey building
(3) a four-storeyed building

(1) You can pass with as few as 25 points.
(2) (formal)few will argue with this conclusion.
(3) I recognized a few of the other people.

(1) I completely misunderstood her intentions.
(2) Don't misunderstand me─I am grateful for all you've done.
(3) I thought he was her husband─I must have misunderstood.

(1) This is Carla. Do you remember her?
(2) I don't remember my first day at school.
(3) He still remembered her as the lively teenager he'd known years before.

(1) This command deletes files from the directory.
(2) (British English)Mr/Mrs/Ms ( delete as appropriate )
(3) [不可数名词, 可数名词]He made several deletions to the manuscript.

(1) a hostile takeover bid
(2) hostile territory
(3) hostile conditions for plants to grow in

(1) She had no personal vanity (= about her appearance) .
(2) the vanity of human ambition in the face of death
(3) Politics is too often concerned only with the personal vanities of politicians.

(1) a business/thank-you, etc. letter
(2) a letter of complaint
(3) (British English)to post a letter

(1) ...people carrying bundles of dried sticks to sell for firewood.
(2) He looks old and walks with a stick...
(3) Crowds armed with sticks and stones took to the streets.

(1) They arrived in Belgium by airplane .
(2) an airplane crash/flight
(3) a commercial/jet/military airplane

(1) Attempts are being made to solve the problem of waste disposal.
(2) to solve an equation/a puzzle/a riddle
(3) to solve a crime/mystery

(1) tender words
(2) What he needs now is a lot of tender loving care (= sympathetic treatment) .
(3) This meat is extremely tender.

(1) lime juice
(2) slices of lime
(3) an avenue of limes

(1) too many rules and regulations
(2) fire/safety/building, etc. regulations
(3) to comply with the regulations

(1) Two spacecraft are being launched to probe the atmosphere of Venus.
(2) I placed in the peaceful spacecraft.
(3) The Viking spacecraft consisted of two orbiters.

(1) nitrogen is the most important for high yield of rice.
(2) However, remained organic matter was not enough for the denitrification of nitrogen nitrate.
(3) The amide nitrogen of glutamine or asparagine functions more effectively than ammonia.

(1) Philip went into his room and shut the door behind him.
(2) I can't shut my suitcase─it's too full.
(3) She shut her eyes and fell asleep immediately.

(1) to perform an experiment/a miracle/a ceremony
(2) She performs an important role in our organization.
(3) This operation has never been performed in this country.

(1) an automobile accident
(2) the automobile industry
(3) Each of the outstanding automobile design is the perfect combination of aesthetics and engineering.

(1) The curriculum was too narrow and too rigid.
(2) His rigid adherence to the rules made him unpopular.
(3) rigid attitudes

(1) It's good to meet people from different parts of the country .
(2) open/wooded, etc. country
(3) superb walking country

(1) a peaceful protest/demonstration/solution
(2) They hope for a peaceful settlement of the dispute.
(3) a peaceful atmosphere

(1) a pavement cafe
(2) a mosaic pavement
(3) Two cars skidded on the icy pavement.

(1) They thought she had married beneath her (= married a man of lower social status) .
(2) Her careful make-up hid the signs of age beneath.
(3) They found the body buried beneath a pile of leaves.

(1) The book sold 20 000 copies within two weeks.
(2) The subeditors prepare the reporters' copy for the paper and write the headlines.
(3) This will make great copy for the advertisement.

(1) He was wearing shoes that were totally unsuitable for climbing.
(2) They were unsuitably dressed for the occasion.
(3) Amy's shoes were unsuitable for walking any distance.

(1) He is receiving treatment for shock.
(2) She is responding well to treatment .
(3) to require hospital/medical treatment

(1) to accept/reject a recommendation
(2) The committee made recommendations to the board on teachers' pay and conditions.
(3) I had the operation on the recommendation of my doctor.

(1) These results demonstrate convincingly that our campaign is working.
(2) Let me demonstrate to you some of the difficulties we are facing.
(3) His sudden departure had demonstrated how unreliable he was.

(1) to fly a kite
(2) to kite checks
(3) check kiting