(1) preparation for the party started early.
(2) food preparation
(3) Careful preparation for the exam is essential.

(1) I wonder who she is.
(2) I was just beginning to wonder where you were.
(3) ‘Why do you want to know? ’ ‘No particular reason. I was just wondering. ’

(1) vastly superior
(2) superior intelligence
(3) This model is technically superior to its competitors.

(1) It's cruel to make fun of people who stammer.
(2) She's really fun to be with.
(3) This game looks fun!

(1) They were photographed separately and then as a group.
(2) Last year's figures are shown separately.
(3) Cook each vegetable separately until just tender...

(1) Everyone's fingerprints are unique.
(2) a unique talent
(3) The preview offers a unique opportunity to see the show without the crowds.

(1) a high-security fence with 5 000 volts passing through it
(2) A few other notions: The 20 , 000 volt Death Quiz.
(3) A millivolt is one thousandth of a volt.

(1) Read through your work and correct any mistakes that you find.
(2) [不可数名词]The correctness of this decision may be doubted.
(3) He was looking correctly grave.

(1) brown eyes
(2) brown bread
(3) dark brown shoe polish

(1) This decision is likely to upset a lot of people.
(2) Don't upset yourself about it─let's just forget it ever happened.
(3) It upset him that nobody had bothered to tell him about it.

(1) dressed in violet
(2) violet eyes
(3) The light was beginning to drain from a violet sky.

(1) "He went back to the lab", Iris exclaimed impatiently.
(2) The lab has recently been updated to allow for more advanced courses.
(3) Our chemistry teacher often reduces a compound to its components in lab.

(1) to reveal a secret
(2) Details of the murder were revealed by the local paper.
(3) The report reveals (that) the company made a loss of £20 million last year.

(1) a working model (= one in which the parts move) of a fire engine
(2) a model aeroplane
(3) The architect had produced a scale model of the proposed shopping complex.

(1) temporary relief from pain
(2) I'm looking for some temporary work .
(3) They had to move into temporary accommodation .

(1) a carved doorway
(2) The statue was carved out of a single piece of stone.
(3) The wood had been carved into the shape of a flower.

(1) American capitalists had invested $ 867,200,000 in canadian mines, industries, and railroads.
(2) Clerk : Well , canadian Gifts is on the lower level. It's across from Prime Time Video Rentals.
(3) British and canadian beaches had become a solid Allied grip left flank.

(1) a typical Italian cafe
(2) This is a typical example of Roman pottery.
(3) This meal is typical of local cookery.

(1) The weeks go so quickly!
(2) Most of my money goes on bills...
(3) The money goes to projects chosen by the wider community.

(1) He was anxious to preserve his reputation.
(2) Efforts to preserve the peace have failed.
(3) (humorous)Is he really 60? He's remarkably well preserved .

(1) One li is equal to half a kilometer.
(2) After running half a kilometer, I began to feel tired.
(3) Per square kilometer approximately has 200 residents.

(1) A man came to read the gas meter.
(2) The cab driver left the meter running while he waited for us.
(3) speedometer

(1) The museum houses several of his Cubist masterpieces.
(2) Her work is a masterpiece of (= an excellent example of) simplicity.
(3) His book, I must add, is a masterpiece.

(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) a sly political move
(2) (humorous)You sly old devil! How long have you known?
(3) a sly smile/grin/look/glance, etc.

(1) Life in a small town could be deadly dull.
(2) The first half of the game was pretty dull.
(3) There's never a dull moment when John's around.

(1) a letter of resignation
(2) There were calls for her resignation from the board of directors.
(3) Further resignations are expected.

(1) You shouldn't drink and drive.
(2) He should have been more careful.
(3) A present for me? You shouldn't have ! (= used to thank sb politely)

(1) He got on his bicycle and rode off.
(2) We went for a bicycle ride on Sunday.
(3) I bicycled on towards the sea.

(1) He is in custody awaiting trial .
(2) Her latest novel is eagerly awaited.
(3) A warm welcome awaits all our guests.

(1) put the cases down there, please.
(2) Leaphorn put the photograph on the desk...
(3) She hesitated, then put her hand on Grace's arm...

(1) to become/get accustomed to sth
(2) My eyes slowly grew accustomed to the dark.
(3) She was a person accustomed to having eight hours' sleep a night.

(1) You're not leaving already, are you?
(2) I'm already late.
(3) There are far too many people already. We can't take any more.

(1) My job was to chase up late replies.
(2) The thieves were caught by police after a short chase.
(3) a high-speed car chase

(1) black/white grapes (= grapes that are actually purple/green in colour)
(2) a bunch of grapes
(3) These accusations have been going on for some time now, but it is just sour grapes.

(1) a shoe shop
(2) There's a little gift shop around the corner.
(3) (British English)a butcher's shop

(1) I gave you specific instructions.
(2) ‘I'd like your help tomorrow. ’ ‘Can you be more specific (= tell me exactly what you want) ? ’
(3) children's television programmes aimed at a specific age group

(1) breakfast cereals enriched with vitamins
(2) vitamin deficiency
(3) vitamin pills

(1) an outstanding player/achievement/success
(2) an area of outstanding natural beauty
(3) the outstanding features of the landscape

(1) a hotel room with bath and shower
(2) He's in the shower .
(3) a shower cubicle