(1) a table, two chairs and a desk
(2) Sue and I left early.
(3) Do it slowly and carefully.

(1) Zhang Qiang takes fruit out of the schoolbag.
(2) That large green leather schoolbag is really cool.
(3) Circle the bigger and heavier schoolbag, please.

(1) a pair of silk stockings
(2) ...a pair of nylon stockings.
(3) Two faces grotesquely disfigured in nylon stocking masks looked through the window.

(1) ...about twenty kilometres from the border...
(2) The fire destroyed some 40,000 square kilometres of forest.
(3) After jogging a kilometre he was panting and sweating.

(1) The job requires skill and an eye for detail.
(2) What made him remarkable as a photographer was his skill in capturing the moment.
(3) We need people with practical skills like carpentry.

(1) His father intended to set him up as a greengrocer.
(2) The greengrocer said: " why do you steal my carrot? "
(3) By placing the sign greengrocer said: " I do not want trouble. "

(1) personally, I prefer the second option.
(2) ‘Is it worth the effort? ’ ‘Speaking personally, yes. ’
(3) All letters will be answered personally.

(1) She was born in the fifties.
(2) He retired in his fifties.
(3) I probably look as if I'm in my fifties rather than my seventies.

(1) I don't want to become a burden to my children when I'm old.
(2) They have burdened themselves with a high mortgage.
(3) I don't want to burden you with my worries.

(1) He's still recovering from his operation.
(2) It can take many years to recover from the death of a loved one.
(3) The economy is at last beginning to recover.

(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) We should be there by noon.
(2) The conference opens at 12 noon on Saturday.
(3) the noon deadline for the end of hostilities

(1) a rare disease/occurrence/sight
(2) It's extremely rare for it to be this hot in April.
(3) It is rare to find such loyalty these days.

(1) He walked out of the room and slammed the door.
(2) They were in the next room and we could hear every word they said.
(3) a dining/living/sitting room

(1) to listen to music
(2) listen! What's that noise? Can you hear it?
(3) Sorry, I wasn't really listening.

(1) fishing ports
(2) Rotterdam is a major port.
(3) a naval port

(1) (British English)All prices include postage and packing .
(2) (North Amercian English)All prices include postage and handling .
(3) an increase in postage rates

(1) woollen/cotton cloth
(2) bandages made from strips of cloth
(3) the cloth industry/trade

(1) We were greatly encouraged by the positive response of the public.
(2) Banks actively encourage people to borrow money.
(3) They claim that some computer games encourage violent behaviour in young children.

(1) the iron and steel industry
(2) The frame is made of steel.
(3) The bridge is reinforced with huge steel girders.

(1) We put some ointment and a bandage on his knee...
(2) His chest was swathed in bandages.
(3) Apply a dressing to the wound and bandage it.

(1) County People's Government of Chengguan real town, postcode: 748500, telephone area code: 0939.
(2) In the English class, the teacher asked us to write down our home address and postcode.
(3) Please add the postcode.

(1) She's been off work because of sickness.
(2) insurance against sickness and unemployment
(3) altitude/travel/radiation, etc. sickness

(1) She was angling for sympathy.
(2) The programme is angled towards younger viewers.
(3) We need a new angle for our next advertising campaign.

(1) His friend was killed and he knows he is lucky to be alive.
(2) She was lucky enough to be chosen for the team.
(3) You were lucky (that) you spotted the danger in time.

(1) He declared that he was in love with her.
(2) Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime.
(3) She declared herself extremely hurt by his lack of support.

(1) a front/back garden
(2) children playing in the garden
(3) garden flowers/plants

(1) a born loser (= a person who always loses or is unsuccessful)
(2) Oh yeah? I wasn't born yesterday, you know.
(3) a born athlete/writer/leader

(1) We sat baking in the sun.
(2) baked apples
(3) I'm baking a birthday cake for Alex.

(1) The baby was banging the table with his spoon.
(2) She banged on the door angrily.
(3) Don't bang the door when you go out!

(1) an attractive woman
(2) I like John but I don't find him attractive physically.
(3) a big house with an attractive garden

(1) a rail/road/canal network
(2) a network of veins
(3) a communications/distribution network

(1) a field of corn
(2) ears/sheaves of corn
(3) corn-fed chicken

(1) to have a vague impression/memory/recollection of sth
(2) They had only a vague idea where the place was.
(3) She's a little vague about her plans for next year.

(1) to rob a bank
(2) The tomb had been robbed of its treasures.
(3) A last-minute goal robbed the team of victory.

(1) We are very sad to hear that you are leaving.
(2) I was sad that she had to go.
(3) She looked sad and tired.

(1) to treat sb with kindness and consideration
(2) I can never repay your many kindnesses to me.
(3) We have been treated with such kindness by everybody.

(1) This research is based on anecdote not fact.
(2) amusing anecdotes about his brief career as an actor
(3) Pete was telling them an anecdote about their mother...

(1) hand/eye movements
(2) She observed the gentle movement of his chest as he breathed.
(3) Loose clothing gives you greater freedom of movement.

(1) a colleague of mine from the office
(2) We were friends and colleagues for more than 20 years.
(3) the Prime Minister and his Cabinet colleagues