(1) The girls in a class tend to have a civilizing influence on the boys.
(2) ...a comedy about a man who tries to civilise a woman—but she ends up civilising him...
(3) It exerts a civilizing influence on mankind.

(1) It was obvious to everyone that the child had been badly treated.
(2) It's obvious from what she said that something is wrong.
(3) I know you don't like her but try not to make it so obvious.

(1) (North Amercian English)to run for election
(2) election campaigns/results
(3) to win/lose an election

(1) Tears help to protect the eye from potentially harmful foreign bodies.
(2) Dishonesty is foreign to his nature.
(3) a foreign correspondent (= one who reports on foreign countries in newspapers or on television)

(1) payment in instalments/in advance/by cheque/in cash
(2) There will be a penalty for late payment of bills.
(3) a cash payment

(1) intense heat/cold/pain
(2) The President is under intense pressure to resign.
(3) the intense blue of her eyes

(1) a satisfactory explanation/answer/solution/conclusion
(2) The work is satisfactory but not outstanding.
(3) The existing law is not entirely/wholly satisfactory .

(1) a child abuser
(2) He had abused his own daughter (= had sex with her) .
(3) The boy had been sexually abused.

(1) stiff cardboard
(2) a stiff brush
(3) The windows were stiff and she couldn't get them open.

(1) She was in a relaxed, confident mood.
(2) The teacher wants the children to feel confident about asking questions when they don't understand.
(3) I'm confident that you will get the job.

(1) The mechanics work hard to keep the he-licopters airworthy.
(2) Both quantum mechanics and chaos theory suggest a world constantly in flux.
(3) What are the mechanics of this new process?

(1) The washing instructions are on the label.
(2) price/address labels
(3) We tested various supermarkets' own label pasta sauces (= those marked with the name of the shop/store where they are sold) .

(1) Don't worry . We have plenty of time.
(2) Don't worry about me. I'll be all right.
(3) He's always worrying about his weight.

(1) I'm pretty sure I'll be going.
(2) The game was pretty good.
(3) It's pretty hard to explain.

(1) one of the richest women in the world
(2) Nobody gets rich from writing nowadays.
(3) (slang)to be filthy/stinking (= extremely) rich

(1) Have you been invited to their party?
(2) I'd have liked to have gone but I wasn't invited.
(3) They have invited me to go to Paris with them.

(1) tropical fish
(2) tropical Africa
(3) a tropical island

(1) a missile guidance system
(2) (North Amercian English)a guidance counselor (= sb who advises students)
(3) Activities all take place under the guidance of an experienced tutor.

(1) We have two sons and a daughter.
(2) They have three grown-up daughters.
(3) She's the daughter of an Oxford professor.

(1) Why do you persist in blaming yourself for what happened?
(2) She persisted in her search for the truth.
(3) He persisted with his questioning.

(1) I tossed the book aside and got up.
(2) He tossed the ball to Anna.
(3) He tossed Anna the ball.

(1) I had a vivid dream about my old school.
(2) I thought someone came into the bedroom, but it was just a dream.
(3) ‘Goodnight. Sweet dreams. ’

(1) to reject an argument/a claim/a decision/an offer/a suggestion
(2) The prime minister rejected any idea of reforming the system.
(3) The proposal was firmly rejected .

(1) there are roadworks between Camblesforth and Carlton...
(2) Are there some countries that have been able to tackle these problems successfully?...
(3) there remains considerable doubt over when the intended high-speed rail link will be complete...

(1) She wants a room all to herself.
(2) She runs the business by herself.
(3) She lives by herself.

(1) There will be a chance for parents to look around the school.
(2) Jeff deceived me once already─I won't give him a second chance .
(3) This is your big chance (= opportunity for success) .

(1) I helped him put up some shelves in his bedroom.
(2) The book I wanted was on the top shelf.
(3) supermarket/library shelves

(1) I'd like to reserve a table for three for eight o'clock.
(2) I've reserved a room in the name of Jones.
(3) These seats are reserved for special guests.

(1) [可数名词, 不可数名词]an evaluation of the health care system
(2) We need to evaluate how well the policy is working.
(3) Our research attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of the different drugs.

(1) Use wood of at least 12 mm thickness.
(2) The board is available in four thicknesses.
(3) The jacket was lined with a double thickness (= two layers) of fabric.

(1) The artist combines different techniques in the same painting.
(2) marketing techniques
(3) Her technique has improved a lot over the past season.

(1) Industry: petroleum, diamonds, iron ore, phosphates, feldspar, bauxite, uranium, gold.
(2) Because of many influence factors formation of petroleum accumulations is complex in the Tazhong area.
(3) This paper introduced some applications of BT fiber, a newinorganic fiber material, in petroleum industry.

(1) In some countries children don't start learning to read and write until they are six.
(2) Please write in pen on both sides of the paper.
(3) I haven't got anything to write with.

(1) a visit to Holland in springtime/in the springtime
(2) That time was the springtime of love for Eugenie.
(3) I wait for you in the springtime of beatings and gross unnecessary death.

(1) to take/have a nap
(2) Use your lunch hour to have a nap in your chair...
(3) I might take a little nap.

(1) a convert to the cause
(2) a convert to Islam
(3) converts from other faiths

(1) We are trying to get the baby into a routine for feeding and sleeping.
(2) Make exercise a part of your daily routine .
(3) We clean and repair the machines as a matter of routine .

(1) Let's talk just about investment generally.
(2) The male is generally larger with a shorter beak.
(3) I generally get up at six.

(1) Only a small fraction of a bank's total deposits will be withdrawn at any one time.
(2) She hesitated for the merest fraction of a second.
(3) She hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding...

(1) a city/county/borough/district council
(2) She's on the local council.
(3) a council member/meeting