(1) ...a tiny fossil plant, only a few centimetres high.
(2) Surf lifesavers removed the 60 centimetre shark by hosing it with fresh water.
(3) Round each measurement to the nearest whole inch or centimetre.

(1) Be careful crossing the main road .
(2) the main course (= of a meal)
(3) We have our main meal at lunchtime.

(1) to climb up/fall off a ladder
(2) to move up or down the social ladder
(3) the career ladder

(1) Give Mary a call; she needs cheering up.
(2) Bright curtains can cheer up a dull room.
(3) Oh, come on─cheer up!

(1) to say your prayers
(2) prayers for the sick
(3) He arrived at that very moment, as if in answer to her prayer .

(1) Critics say his paintings are worthless.
(2) a worthless individual
(3) Constant rejections made him feel worthless.

(1) All main courses come with salad or vegetables.
(2) Is cold meat and salad OK for lunch?
(3) a side salad (= a small bowl of salad served with the main course of a meal)

(1) She refuses to face reality .
(2) You're out of touch with reality.
(3) The reality is that there is not enough money to pay for this project.

(1) a diamond pin
(2) He supports the group and wears its pin on his lapel.
(3) a 2-pin plug

(1) a mild form of the disease
(2) a mild punishment/criticism
(3) It's safe to take a mild sedative.

(1) The policeman noted down every word he said.
(2) What the government paid as interest was less than the market offered.
(3) The policeman whistled for the car to stop.

(1) Relations between japan and China have recently been on the mend.
(2) He was appointed ambassador to japan.
(3) The cuisine of japan is low in fat.

(1) She won a scholarship to study at Stanford.
(2) He went to drama school on a scholarship .
(3) a magnificent work of scholarship

(1) to receive an old-age/a retirement pension
(2) a disability/widow's pension
(3) a state pension

(1) to study architecture
(2) the architecture of the eighteenth century
(3) modern architecture

(1) tropical fruits, such as bananas and pineapples
(2) Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.
(3) a piece of fruit (= an apple, an orange, etc.)

(1) We'd be on dangerous ground if we asked about race or religion.
(2) Mel enjoys living dangerously (= doing things that involve risk or danger) .
(3) His father is dangerously ill (= so ill that he might die) .

(1) On the extreme northwestern outskirts of the city stands the buddhist temple.
(2) In the eye of the buddhist, every worldly affair is vain.
(3) buddhist monk sat with folded palms.

(1) Is this milk fresh?
(2) fresh bread/flowers
(3) Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables.

(1) bright light/sunshine
(2) a bright room
(3) Her eyes were bright with tears.

(1) dog dirt
(2) Do you have any dirt on the new guy?
(3) His clothes were covered in dirt.

(1) The journey took approximately seven hours.
(2) The approximate cost varies from around £150 to £250...
(3) The times are approximate only.

(1) a delighted smile
(2) I'd be absolutely delighted to come.
(3) I was delighted that you could stay.

(1) roast goose
(2) Unregulated tourism can kill the goose that laid their golden egg.
(3) He said that what they were up to would cook Krasky's goose.

(1) I filled the kettle while she was talking and plugged it in.
(2) Well then, I'll put the kettle on and make us some tea.
(3) I'll put on the kettle for tea. Or boil up some coffee.

(1) They determined to start early.
(2) An inquiry was set up to determine the cause of the accident.
(3) We set out to determine exactly what happened that night.

(1) "ha, ha," everyone guffawed. "It's one of Viv's shock tactics."
(2) Schulman is a little tired of the hoo-ha about the all-women team.
(3) "ha!" It was a cross between a laugh and a bark.

(1) I have been fortunate enough to visit many parts of the world as a lecturer.
(2) I was fortunate in having a good teacher.
(3) Remember those less fortunate than yourselves.

(1) The european Builders Confederation has a membership of over 350,000 building companies.
(2) She is to stand as a Member of the european Parliament.
(3) Integrating the pound with other european currencies could cause difficulties.

(1) a cosy little room
(2) a cosy feeling
(3) I felt warm and cosy sitting by the fire.

(1) a nuclear physicist
(2) ...a nuclear physicist.
(3) Make much mathematician, physicist, astronomer wait to be enrolled to enter Microsoft.

(1) junior employees
(2) She is junior to me.
(3) the world junior tennis championships

(1) She had her eggs harvested and frozen for her own future use.
(2) (figurative)The appeal produced a rich harvest of blankets, medicines and clothing.
(3) a good/bad harvest (= a lot of crops or few crops)

(1) The case was dismissed.
(2) At 12 o'clock the class was dismissed.
(3) She claims she was unfairly dismissed from her post.

(1) He begins his new series on BBC 2 at 9pm on thursday.
(2) Antarctic air brought biting cold to southern Chile on thursday.
(3) He appeared at Manchester Crown Court on thursday on a drink-driving charge.

(1) a candy bar
(2) Who wants the last piece of candy?
(3) a candy store

(1) He had a few pennies in his pocket.
(2) That will be 45 pence, please.
(3) They cost 20p each.

(1) the chairman of the board of governors (= of a school)
(2) The chairman of the company presented the annual report.
(3) I hear you, Mr. chairman.

(1) The new system expanded the role of family doctors.
(2) There are no plans to expand the local airport.
(3) We've expanded the business by opening two more stores.

(1) There is a wide variety of patterns to choose from.
(2) He resigned for a variety of reasons.
(3) This tool can be used in a variety of ways.