(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) We've had a few catastrophes with the food for the party.
(2) catastrophic effects/losses/results
(3) (US)a catastrophic illness (= one that costs a very large amount to treat)

(1) Over the years, I have grown quite fond of her.
(2) fond of music/cooking
(3) We had grown fond of the house and didn't want to leave.

(1) It'll do you good to take a rest...
(2) A few bombs can do a lot of damage...
(3) Well, what are you going to do about it?...

(1) The ancestor of the modern bicycle was called a penny-farthing.
(2) her ancestral home (= that had belonged to her ancestors )
(3) His ancestors had come to America from Ireland.

(1) primary/elementary education
(2) secondary education
(3) further/higher/post-secondary education

(1) My wife is pregnant.
(2) I was pregnant with our third child at the time.
(3) a heavily pregnant woman (= one whose baby is nearly ready to be born)

(1) I haven't seen hide nor hair of her for a month.
(2) She'd do anything to save her own hide .
(3) All he's worried about is his own hide (= himself) .

(1) a terrorist cell
(2) a photoelectric cell
(3) blood cells

(1) a lake with an island in the middle
(2) He was standing in the middle of the room.
(3) The phone rang in the middle of the night.

(1) a computer/medical expert
(2) an expert in child psychology
(3) an expert on modern literature

(1) She's a shrewd businesswoman.
(2) The president made a presentation to the businesswoman of the year.
(3) She is a successful businesswoman.

(1) a serious/severe/considerable disadvantage
(2) One major disadvantage of the area is the lack of public transport.
(3) There are disadvantages to the plan.

(1) She was wearing a new coat.
(2) Do I have to wear a tie?
(3) Was she wearing a seat belt?

(1) The job would suit someone with a business background.
(2) the historical background to the war
(3) background information/knowledge

(1) Their latest single represents a new departure for the band.
(2) It was a radical departure from tradition.
(3) the departures board

(1) Avoid unhealthy foods such as hamburger and chips.
(2) We stopped at a drive-in for a hamburger.
(3) a hamburger with all the fixings

(1) I looked at what he'd given me and did a quick subtraction.
(2) The difference is found by subtraction.
(3) The plus sign is used in addition and the minus is used in subtraction.

(1) What are the most important things you to know about your pen - friend?
(2) What do you intend to sent to your pen - friend this Spring Festival?
(3) You have just received this letter from your Australian pen friend.

(1) The programme was about customs in different parts of the country.
(2) They are sold in many different colours.
(3) I looked it up in three different dictionaries.

(1) a detective story/novel
(2) detectives from the anti-terrorist squad
(3) detective Inspector (Roger) Brown

(1) Damage to the building was assessed at £40 000.
(2) It's difficult to assess the effects of these changes.
(3) to assess a patient's needs

(1) The committee unanimously approved the plan.
(2) The course is approved by the Department for Education.
(3) She doesn't approve of me leaving school this year.

(1) Have you read her new novel?
(2) new ways of doing things
(3) This idea isn't new.

(1) This dessert can be served straight from the refrigerator.
(2) He took the liberty of using my refrigerator while I was away.
(3) This is the right fuse for the refrigerator.

(1) a medical/science, etc. student
(2) a graduate/postgraduate/research student
(3) an overseas student

(1) The taxicab nearly run over a cyclist.
(2) The cyclist was in collision with a bus.
(3) The cyclist went in full sail over the handlebars.

(1) Add the juice of two lemons.
(2) a carton of apple juice
(3) Two orange juices, please.

(1) wheat/oil/car, etc. production
(2) land available for food production
(3) The new model will be in production by the end of the year.

(1) the tips of your fingers
(2) the tip of your nose
(3) the northern tip of the island

(1) an endless loop of tape
(2) She talks endlessly about her problems.
(3) an endlessly repeated pattern

(1) a hatch to the attic
(2) an escape hatch
(3) a serving hatch

(1) traditional dress
(2) It's traditional in America to eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day.
(3) traditional methods of teaching

(1) to undertake a task/project
(2) University professors both teach and undertake research .
(3) The company has announced that it will undertake a full investigation into the accident.

(1) Will you peel the potatoes for me?
(2) roast/boiled/baked/fried potatoes
(3) ...a political hot potato such as abortion.

(1) economic/social/political trends
(2) There is a growing trend towards earlier retirement.
(3) current trends in language teaching

(1) She works as a translator of technical texts.
(2) He was placed in Xin Hua News Agency as a translator.
(3) Regardless of the translator adopts what law, translates the ideal film title far as possible.

(1) There was nowhere near enough for everybody.
(2) We've nearly run out of paper. Do you think there's enough for today?
(3) ‘He's a politician, remember. ’ ‘enough said. ’

(1) currents of warm air
(2) I kicked the ball high in/into the air .
(3) Spicy smells wafted through the air .

(1) He smiled suddenly, exposing a set of amazingly white teeth.
(2) Miles of sand are exposed at low tide.
(3) My job as a journalist is to expose the truth.