(1) the early morning
(2) my earliest memories
(3) The project is still in the early stages.

(1) The gunman took aim (= pointed his weapon) and fired.
(2) The government is aiming at a 50% reduction in unemployment.
(3) They're aiming at training everybody by the end of the year.

(1) [不可数名词]I could hear the sound of clapping from the other room.
(2) Give him a clap! (= to praise sb at the end of a performance)
(3) a clap of thunder

(1) a nuclear submarine
(2) a submarine base
(3) submarine plant life

(1) He's got no right to keep dumping his problems on me.
(2) Just dump your stuff over there─we'll sort it out later.
(3) Did you hear he's dumped his girlfriend?

(1) Reading and writing are important skills.
(2) On the new television sets, the color is locked in so that you don't need to keep changing the control.
(3) She differs from her sister in the color of her eyes.

(1) How long have you been living in this country?
(2) Well, make up your mind. Which do you want? this one or that one?
(3) I think you'll find these more comfortable than those.

(1) She has acquired a good knowledge of English.
(2) He has acquired a reputation for dishonesty.
(3) I have recently acquired a taste for olives.

(1) the sole surviving member of the family
(2) My sole reason for coming here was to see you.
(3) This is the sole means of access to the building.

(1) ‘Please don't go, ’ he said, gripping her arm.
(2) Sometimes I feel I'm losing my grip.
(3) a country in the grip of recession

(1) a stupid mistake
(2) It was a pretty stupid thing to do.
(3) I was stupid enough to believe him.

(1) Do you want your address printed at the top of the letter?
(2) I'm printing a copy of the document for you.
(3) He started to print his own posters to distribute abroad...

(1) to undergo tests/trials/repairs
(2) My mother underwent major surgery last year.
(3) Some children undergo a complete transformation when they become teenagers.

(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) middle age
(2) There's a big age gap between them (= a big difference in their ages).
(3) ways of calculating the age of the earth

(1) The movie will be released on video in June.
(2) Do we have a blank video ?
(3) a video of ‘ET ’

(1) the formation of a new government
(2) evidence of recent star formation in the galaxy
(3) rock formations

(1) everybody knows Tom.
(2) Have you asked everybody?
(3) Didn't you like it? everybody else did.

(1) during the first/next/last phase
(2) the initial/final phase of the project
(3) a critical/decisive phase

(1) a leadership contest
(2) The party thrived under his leadership .
(3) leadership qualities/skills

(1) in past years/centuries/ages
(2) in times past
(3) The time for discussion is past.

(1) to look at the stars through a telescope
(2) Three episodes have been telescoped into a single programme.
(3) It's hoped that the telescope will enable scientists to see deeper into the universe than ever before.

(1) The performance starts at seven.
(2) an evening performance
(3) a performance of Ravel's String Quartet

(1) to moan in/with pain
(2) The injured man was lying on the ground, moaning.
(3) ‘I might never see you again, ’ she moaned.

(1) It's four minutes to six.
(2) I'll be back in a few minutes.
(3) Boil the rice for 20 minutes.

(1) She denies neglecting her baby.
(2) The buildings had been neglected for years.
(3) Dance has been neglected by television.

(1) a salad/fruit/sugar, etc. bowl
(2) a washing-up bowl
(3) a bowl of soup

(1) ‘Does he still work there? ’ ‘I believe so/not . ’
(2) Three sailors are missing, believed drowned.
(3) believe me, she's not right for you.

(1) Draw a line down that page's center.
(2) ...a dotted line...
(3) He has a large, generous face with deep lines.

(1) a helicopter pilot
(2) a police helicopter
(3) He was rushed to the hospital by helicopter .

(1) a denim/tweed jacket
(2) I have to wear a jacket and tie to work.
(3) potatoes baked in their jackets

(1) Sales are up by roughly 10%.
(2) We live roughly halfway between here and the coast.
(3) They all left at roughly the same time.

(1) He was sent to prison for five years.
(2) She is in prison , awaiting trial.
(3) to be released from prison

(1) What was his reaction to the news?
(2) My immediate reaction was one of shock.
(3) A spokesman said the changes were not in reaction to the company's recent losses.

(1) a wealthy nation
(2) The couple are said to be fabulously wealthy.
(3) They live in a wealthy suburb of Chicago.

(1) Under no circumstances should you lend Paul any money.
(2) Don't open the door, in any circumstances.
(3) The ship sank in mysterious circumstances.

(1) self-catering holiday apartments
(2) You can visit the whole palace except for the private apartments.
(3) ...the private apartments of the Prince of Wales at St James's Palace.

(1) a job interview
(2) to be called for (an) interview
(3) He has an interview next week for the manager's job.

(1) particularly good/important/useful
(2) Traffic is bad, particularly in the city centre.
(3) I enjoyed the play, particularly the second half.

(1) Cutting our costs is the only way forward .
(2) We are not getting any further forward with the discussion.
(3) The project will go forward (= continue) as planned.