(1) Make sure the firm is competent to carry out the work.
(2) He's very competent in his work.
(3) The case was referred to a competent authority.

(1) She became famous through her association with the group of poets.
(2) The seaside had all sorts of pleasant associations with childhood holidays for me.
(3) The cat soon made the association between human beings and food.

(1) I only play jazz as a hobby.
(2) Her hobbies include swimming and gardening.
(3) My hobbies are letter writing, football, music, photography, and tennis.

(1) a wooden/concrete/marble, etc. floor
(2) ceramic floor tiles
(3) The body was lying on the kitchen floor.

(1) I don't know him well; I've only met him twice.
(2) They go there twice a week/month/year .
(3) a twice-monthly/yearly newsletter

(1) The country was descending into chaos.
(2) Hundreds of football fans descended on the city.
(3) They descended to the level of personal insults.

(1) They had to think of a trick to get past the guards.
(2) The kids are always playing tricks on their teacher.
(3) One of the problems of old age is that your memory can start to play tricks on you.

(1) The mechanic located the fault immediately.
(2) Rescue planes are trying to locate the missing sailors.
(3) They located their headquarters in Swindon.

(1) I was tempted by the dessert menu.
(2) Don't tempt thieves by leaving valuables clearly visible.
(3) I was tempted to take the day off.

(1) an unexpected result
(2) an unexpected visitor
(3) The announcement was not entirely unexpected .

(1) He stood up, stretched and yawned.
(2) A crevasse yawned at their feet.
(3) (figurative)There's a yawning gap between rich and poor.

(1) the harmony of colour in nature
(2) passionate lyrics and stunning vocal harmonies
(3) to study four-part harmony

(1) an operation on her lung to remove a tumour
(2) Will I need to have an operation ?
(3) He underwent a three-hour heart operation.

(1) The crash happened seconds after the pilot reported engine trouble.
(2) Call me urgently if you have anything to report.
(3) The company is expected to report record profits this year.

(1) It amazed her that he could be so calm at such a time.
(2) Just the size of the place amazed her.
(3) It never ceases to amaze me what some people will do for money.

(1) Can you describe him to me?
(2) The man was described as tall and dark, and aged about 20.
(3) Jim was described by his colleagues as ‘unusual ’.

(1) There were 21 votes for and 17 against the motion, with 2 abstentions.
(2) The motion was passed by 6 votes to 3.
(3) The chairperson has the casting/deciding vote .

(1) a highly intelligent child
(2) to ask an intelligent question
(3) a search for intelligent life on other planets

(1) a pudding basin
(2) the Amazon basin
(3) the Pacific basin

(1) please sit down.
(2) Two coffees, please.
(3) Quiet please!

(1) a family quarrel
(2) He did not mention the quarrel with his wife.
(3) They had a quarrel about money.

(1) The Taj Mahal is a magnificent building.
(2) She looked magnificent in her wedding dress.
(3) You've all done a magnificent job.

(1) Everyone was assembled at the appointed time .
(2) They have appointed a new head teacher at my son's school.
(3) She has recently been appointed to the committee.

(1) to shiver with cold/excitement/pleasure, etc.
(2) Don't stand outside shivering─come inside and get warm!
(3) He shivered at the thought of the cold, dark sea.

(1) a secret underground passage
(2) A dark narrow passage led to the main hall.
(3) blocked nasal passages

(1) Happy birthday!
(2) Oliver's 13th birthday
(3) a birthday card/party/present

(1) It gave me a big thrill to meet my favourite author in person.
(2) the thrill of catching a really big fish
(3) She gets an obvious thrill out of performing.

(1) Police suspect there may be a link between the two murders.
(2) evidence for a strong causal link between exposure to sun and skin cancer
(3) to establish trade links with Asia

(1) It described a method to design pocket electronic piano by using chip microcomputer.
(2) In a microcomputer, these are both on the microcomputer chip.
(3) But adopt the chip microcomputer error compensating system and can compensation back engagement , raising fabrication accuracy.

(1) tropical swamps
(2) swampy ground
(3) The department was swamped with job applications.

(1) A cup of rice which cost thirty cents a few weeks ago is now being sold for up to one dollar...
(2) We haven't got a cent.
(3) I have a dream, is to travel around the world and throughout the world.

(1) insect species
(2) insect repellent (= a chemical that keeps insects away)
(3) an insect bite

(1) The room still has many of its original features.
(2) I think you should go back to your original plan.
(3) an original idea

(1) to be interested in wildlife conservation
(2) to encourage the conservation of water/fuel
(3) energy conservation

(1) His voice was full of reproach.
(2) The captain's behaviour is above/beyond reproach (= you cannot criticize it) .
(3) He listened to his wife's bitter reproaches.

(1) the role of the teacher in the classroom
(2) She refused to take on the traditional woman's role.
(3) In many marriages there has been a complete role reversal (= change of roles) with the man staying at home and the woman going out to work.

(1) the Central Intelligence agency (CIA)
(2) international aid agencies caring for refugees
(3) an advertising/employment agency

(1) The animals were reared in conditions which approximated the wild as closely as possible.
(2) The total cost will approximate £15 billion.
(3) His story approximates to the facts that we already know.

(1) The prisoner had to be restrained by the police.
(2) They have obtained an injunction restraining the company from selling the product.
(3) He placed a restraining hand on her arm.

(1) The performance finally started half an hour late.
(2) I finally managed to get her attention.
(3) When they finally arrived it was well past midnight.