(1) I can scarcely believe it.
(2) We scarcely ever meet.
(3) scarcely a week goes by without some new scandal in the papers.

(1) His father was a drunken brute.
(2) You've forgotten my birthday again, you brute!
(3) brute force/strength

(1) (figurative)Climbing plants clothed the courtyard walls.
(2) They clothe their children in the latest fashions.
(3) the costs of feeding and clothing a family

(1) exercises to develop the flexibility of dancers' bodies
(2) [不可数名词]Computers offer a much greater degree of flexibility in the way work is organized.
(3) flexible plastic tubing

(1) conditions of abject/extreme poverty
(2) to alleviate/relieve poverty
(3) Many elderly people live in poverty .

(1) a flower seller
(2) The law is intended to protect both the buyer and the seller.
(3) This particular model is one of our biggest sellers.

(1) Our future prosperity depends on economic growth.
(2) The country is enjoying a period of peace and prosperity .
(3) ...a new era of peace and prosperity.

(1) I'll see you tomorrow evening.
(2) Come over on Thursday evening.
(3) What do you usually do in the evening ?

(1) I find that I just can't fit in regular domestic work.
(2) She was great with the children and fitted in beautifully.
(3) He knew where I fitted in and what he had to do to get the best out of me...

(1) ‘At last! ’ she cried dramatically.
(2) Events could have developed in a dramatically different way.
(3) Prices have fallen dramatically.

(1) to be seriously ill/injured
(2) You're not seriously expecting me to believe that?
(3) They are seriously concerned about security.

(1) to reply to a question/an advertisement
(2) He never replied to any of my letters.
(3) She only replied with a smile.

(1) They got through a sack of potatoes.
(2) two sacks of groceries
(3) He got the sack for swearing.

(1) Now that he's been promoted he's in seventh heaven.
(2) I was the seventh child in a family of 11.
(3) A million people died, a seventh of the population.

(1) the northern slopes of the mountains
(2) northern Scotland
(3) a northern accent

(1) Anne was French by birth but lived most of her life in Italy.
(2) a woman of noble birth
(3) She died shortly after giving birth.

(1) I got married last July...
(2) He never made it home at all last night...
(3) Much has changed since my last visit...

(1) a monthly meeting/visit/magazine
(2) a monthly salary of £1 000
(3) a monthly season ticket

(1) the warm spring sunshine
(2) She brought sunshine into our dull lives.
(3) Hello, sunshine!

(1) of inferior quality
(2) inferior goods
(3) to make sb feel inferior

(1) The arabian Nights and Treasure lsland are romances.
(2) It a story from the famous book " arabian Nights. "
(3) The arabian Night is a book known to lovers of English.

(1) a light switch
(2) an on-off switch
(3) That was in the days before electricity was available at the flick of a switch .

(1) She lives alone and often feels lonely.
(2) all those lonely nights at home watching TV
(3) a lonely beach

(1) a noticeable improvement
(2) This effect is particularly noticeable in younger patients.
(3) It was noticeable that none of the family were present.

(1) I seem to have accumulated a lot of books.
(2) By investing wisely she accumulated a fortune.
(3) Debts began to accumulate.

(1) The enemy attacked our waggon train.
(2) Someone jumped out from the foremost waggon.
(3) Someone jumped out from the foremost waggon and cried aloud.

(1) Children must be accompanied by an adult.
(2) Why can't you two act like civilized adults?
(3) The fish return to the river as adults in order to breed.

(1) the stamp-collector's bible
(2) ...the photographer's bible — Amateur Photographer.
(3) In his speech, he referred to the bible several times.

(1) ‘In fact, ’ he continued, ‘I'd like to congratulate you. ’
(2) Please continue─I didn't mean to interrupt.
(3) The story will be continued in our next issue.

(1) to be in a difficult situation
(2) You could get into a situation where you have to decide immediately.
(3) We have all been in similar embarrassing situations.

(1) We slid down the grassy slope.
(2) The drawers slide in and out easily.
(3) She slid her hand along the rail.

(1) The report contains a great deal of statistical information...
(2) We need to back that suspicion up with statistical proof.
(3) Numerical approximations include functional approximations and statistical approximations.

(1) He's the best teacher, even though he has the least experience.
(2) ...a dinner menu featuring at least 15 different sorts of fish...
(3) Aim to have at least half a pint of milk each day...

(1) What is the ratio of men to women in the department?
(2) The school has a very high teacher-student ratio.
(3) The ratio of applications to available places currently stands at 100:1.

(1) Local residents have reacted angrily to the news.
(2) I nudged her but she didn't react.
(3) You never know how he is going to react.

(1) the internal structure of a building
(2) internal doors
(3) internal organs/injuries

(1) although the sun was shining it wasn't very warm.
(2) although small, the kitchen is well designed.
(3) I felt he was wrong, although I didn't say so at the time.

(1) to arrive at an agreement/a decision/a conclusion
(2) The new product will arrive on supermarket shelves (= be available) early next year.
(3) The wedding day finally arrived.

(1) which is better exercise─swimming or tennis?
(2) which of the applicants has got the job?
(3) which of the patients have recovered?

(1) Scientists have established a connection between cholesterol levels and heart disease.
(2) a direct/close/strong connection with sth
(3) How did you make the connection (= realize that there was a connection between two facts that did not seem to be related) ?