(1) one of the most exciting developments in biology in recent years
(2) They waited and waited for something exciting to happen.
(3) an exciting prospect/possibility

(1) to draw/sheathe a sword (= to take it out/put it into its cover)
(2) ...a candidate who's crossed swords with Labor by supporting the free-trade pact...
(3) The fiercest of rivals, the last time they crossed swords was during the 1980s.

(1) a race between the two best runners of the club
(2) Who won the race ?
(3) He's already in training for the big race against Bailey.

(1) The peculiarities do not end there.
(2) Mrs Anne Sterling did not think of the risk she was taking when she ran through a forest after two men.
(3) I can't think of anything offhand.

(1) a 28p stamp
(2) Could I have three first-class stamps, please?
(3) He has been collecting stamps since he was eight.

(1) The dragon boat festival is one of three major Chinese holidays, along with the Spring and Moon Festivals.
(2) AT length , the Dragon - boat Festival came and went in an atmosphere of unrest.
(3) " It's the Dragon - boat Festival the day after tomorrow. I suppose you've done everything? "

(1) I used to collect stamps.
(2) And some like to collect stamps because they are beautiful or rare.
(3) Where did you learn to collect stamps?

(1) He can't bear to be laughed at.
(2) Her later work does not bear comparison with her earlier novels (= because it is not nearly as good) .
(3) The pain was almost more than he could bear.

(1) (British English)walking boots
(2) (North Amercian English)hiking boots
(3) a pair of black leather boots

(1) Knock the mould against the table to dislodge the mooncake.
(2) She likes to eat the mooncake with nut in it.
(3) Let's have a mooncake.

(1) Many boys explode firecrackers on the lantern festival.
(2) lantern festival and Dragon Boat Festival.
(3) Oh, I see. Then how about lantern festival?

(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) A crowd began to collect in front of the embassy.
(2) Dirt had collected in the corners of the room.
(3) We seem to have collected an enormous number of boxes (= without intending to) .

(1) I have tried to pack a good deal into a few words.
(2) He sweeps up and does a few odds and ends.
(3) In a few words she had put him in his place.

(1) quite big/good/cold/warm/interesting
(2) He plays quite well.
(3) I quite like opera.

(1) a peacock feather
(2) a feather pillow (= one containing feathers)
(3) ...a hat that she had made herself from black ostrich feathers.

(1) The heavy rain driving against the windows made the room prematurely dark.
(2) Weeks of heavy rain have washed away roads and bridges.
(3) The heavy rain has caused floods in many parts of the country.

(1) I did it because he told me to.
(2) Just because I don't complain, people think I'm satisfied.
(3) They are here because of us.

(1) I ran away from home when I was sixteen...
(2) After his beating Colin ran away and hasn't been heard of since...
(3) She ran away with a man called McTavish last year...

(1) to jump into the air/over a wall/into the water
(2) ‘Quick, jump! ’ he shouted.
(3) The children were jumping up and down with excitement.

(1) I must have driven past that place thousands of times.
(2) There are thousands of students absolutely gagging to come to this university.
(3) thousands of refugees are packed into over-crowded towns and villages.

(1) We should take some comfort from the ability of the judicial system to fight back against corruption.
(2) The teenage attackers fled when the two men fought back...
(3) He is still fighting for his life in hospital.

(1) a diamond pin
(2) He supports the group and wears its pin on his lapel.
(3) a 2-pin plug

(1) The style of the Chinese Women's volleyball Team in a competition is indomitable, bold and vigorous.
(2) What ( How ) about the volleyball match?
(3) AI also like the team sports, like volleyball, football, hockey and so on.

(1) This room is twice the length of the kitchen.
(2) The river is 300 miles in length .
(3) The snake usually reaches a length of 100 cm.

(1) My mother taught me how to sew.
(2) to sew by hand/machine
(3) to sew a seam

(1) New recruits to our table tennis club are always welcome.
(2) I like playing football best, but occasionally I play table tennis, too.
(3) Playing ( at ) chess is no fun; let's go to play table tennis.

(1) How much do you weigh (= how heavy are you) ?
(2) She weighs 60 kilos.
(3) These cases weigh a ton (= are very heavy) .

(1) There were thousands of people there.
(2) The cost ran into the thousands.
(3) ...five thousand acres...

(1) Cracks of light filtered through the shutters...
(2) light and water in embassy buildings were cut off...
(3) The janitor comes round to turn the lights out...

(1) The school will only allow this in special circumstances.
(2) Some of the officials have special privileges.
(3) There is something special about this place.

(1) She won a silver medal in the high jump.
(2) He broke the men's high jump world record.
(3) Jumping events include the high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault.

(1) For a child to be born with this disability indicates a defect in obstetric care.
(2) When a woman is in labour, her cervix opens up to allow the baby to be born.
(3) The author of this book was said to be born circa 1080 and die in 1130.

(1) There are excellent facilities for sport and recreation.
(2) I'm not interested in sport.
(3) the use of drugs in sport

(1) a frightening experience/prospect/thought
(2) It's frightening to think it could happen again.
(3) It was a very frightening experience and they were very courageous...

(1) an interesting question/point/example
(2) interesting people/places/work
(3) It would be interesting to know what he really believed.

(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) She began to cry.
(2) It was beginning to snow.
(3) I was beginning to think you'd never come.

(1) one of the great successes of British cinema
(2) the local cinema
(3) I used to go to the cinema every week.

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