(1) No one could possibly take exception to his comments.
(2) All his novels are set in Italy with the exception of his last.
(3) All students without exception must take the English examination.

(1) Few businesses are flourishing in the present economic climate.
(2) These plants flourish in a damp climate.
(3) (especially British English)I'm glad to hear you're all flourishing.

(1) to have dark/fair/olive, etc. skin
(2) The snake sheds its skin once a year.
(3) cosmetics for sensitive skins

(1) He graduated with distinction .
(2) Naomi got a distinction in maths.
(3) All groups are entitled to this money without distinction .

(1) Did you have a good trip?
(2) We went on a trip to the mountains.
(3) a day trip (= lasting a day)

(1) signals transmitted from a satellite
(2) The ceremony was transmitted live by satellite to over fifty countries.
(3) a short-wave radio that can transmit as well as receive

(1) ...Niagara falls.
(2) He was elected judge in the fall of 1991...
(3) The Supreme Court will not hear the case until next fall.

(1) The train arrives at midday.
(2) a midday meal
(3) the heat of the midday sun

(1) to have great artistic talent
(2) a man of many talents
(3) She showed considerable talent for getting what she wanted.

(1) a woollen blanket
(2) woollen cloth
(3) the woollen industry

(1) the oldest inhabitant of the village
(2) a town of 11 000 inhabitants
(3) ...the inhabitants of Glasgow.

(1) I was wearing false eyelashes and a sweater two sizes too small.
(2) Look at the false police reports that omitted or misstated crucial facts.
(3) In the early seventies I wore false eyelashes, as was the fashion.

(1) september is here, bringing with it a chill in the mornings.
(2) He left the company by mutual consent last september.
(3) New owners will have to wait until september before moving in.

(1) Reports that he has resigned are nonsense.
(2) You're talking nonsense !
(3) ‘I won't go. ’ ‘nonsense! You must go! ’

(1) professor (Ann) Williams
(2) a chemistry professor
(3) to be appointed professor of French at Cambridge

(1) The purity of the water is tested regularly.
(2) spiritual purity
(3) Probity and purity will command respect everywhere.

(1) She's my sister.
(2) an older/younger sister
(3) (informal)a big/little/kid sister

(1) My legs were trembling with fear.
(2) Her voice trembled with excitement.
(3) He opened the letter with trembling hands.

(1) a brisk wind/breeze
(2) a brisk walk
(3) to set off at a brisk pace

(1) an area the size of (= the same size as) Wales
(2) They complained about the size of their gas bill.
(3) Dogs come in all shapes and sizes .

(1) He does not smoke or take drugs .
(2) teenagers experimenting with drugs
(3) I found out Steve was on drugs (= regularly used drugs) .

(1) He made a rude gesture at the driver of the other car.
(2) She finished what she had to say with a gesture of despair.
(3) They communicated entirely by gesture.

(1) black/white coffee (= without/with milk)
(2) Tea or coffee?
(3) I'll just make the coffee.

(1) to go up/rise/increase in value
(2) to go down/fall/drop in value
(3) rising property values

(1) I learnt to ride as a child.
(2) They rode along narrow country lanes.
(3) He was riding on a large black horse.

(1) She's in the kitchen.
(2) We ate at the kitchen table.
(3) This plant is up to the minute with regard to the equipment used.

(1) This was foolishness on a heroic scale .
(2) heroic deeds/myths
(3) a heroic story/poem

(1) An interesting feature of the city is the old market.
(2) Teamwork is a key feature of the training programme.
(3) Which features do you look for when choosing a car?

(1) One dark brow rose in surprise.
(2) The path disappeared over the brow of the hill.
(3) Her brow furrowed in concentration.

(1) He's just a business acquaintance.
(2) He hoped their acquaintance would develop further.
(3) I had little acquaintance with modern poetry.

(1) a human/female/male/naked body
(2) parts of the body
(3) His whole body was trembling.

(1) His arms swung as he walked.
(2) A set of keys swung from her belt.
(3) As he pushed her, she swung higher and higher (= while sitting on a swing) .

(1) kitchen cabinets
(2) a medicine cabinet
(3) The china was displayed in a glass cabinet.

(1) She ate noisily and greedily.
(2) He stared at the diamonds with greedy eyes.
(3) The shareholders are greedy for profit.

(1) Many of the refugees have suffered torture.
(2) the use of torture
(3) terrible instruments of torture

(1) to prepare a report
(2) A hotel room is being prepared for them.
(3) The college prepares students for a career in business.

(1) very small
(2) very quickly
(3) very few people know that.

(1) advanced industrial societies
(2) There were only three of us on the advanced course.
(3) an advanced student of English

(1) Eight kilometres is roughly equivalent to five miles.
(2) 250 grams or an equivalent amount in ounces
(3) [不可数名词](formal)There is no straightforward equivalence between economic progress and social well-being.

(1) Shall we walk or go by bus ?
(2) A regular bus service connects the train station with the town centre.
(3) a bus company/driver