(1) We collected shells on the beach.
(2) snail shells
(3) walnut shells

(1) I definitely remember sending the letter.
(2) ‘Was it what you expected? ’ ‘Yes, definitely. ’
(3) ‘Do you plan to have children? ’ ‘definitely not! ’

(1) Parents are obliged by law to send their children to school.
(2) I felt obliged to ask them to dinner.
(3) He suffered a serious injury that obliged him to give up work.

(1) All cases concerning children are dealt with in a special children's court.
(2) He asked several questions concerning the future of the company.
(3) For more information concerning the club contact I. Coldwell.

(1) a superficial analysis
(2) The book shows only a superficial understanding of the historical context.
(3) superficial differences/similarities

(1) You can park on either side of the street.
(2) You can keep one of the photos. either of them─whichever you like.
(3) There are two types of qualification─either is acceptable.

(1) They were sitting round the kitchen table...
(2) The nightdress has handmade lace round the armholes and neckline...
(3) Suddenly a car came round a corner on the opposite side...

(1) She held the baby gently.
(2) ‘You miss them, don't you? ’ he asked gently.
(3) Simmer the soup gently for 30 minutes.

(1) ...a drawing of my granddaughter Amelia.
(2) I got a present for my baby granddaughter in a hurry.
(3) My young granddaughter is as pretty as a picture in her party dress.

(1) The best students are graded A.
(2) I spent all weekend grading papers.
(3) Ten beaches were graded as acceptable.

(1) a nuclear power station
(2) the nuclear industry
(3) nuclear-powered submarines

(1) The captain radioed that the ship was on fire.
(2) He was on fire with this marvelous sight.
(3) Schulte warned government and industrial leaders that those who even venture to think about mass layoffs are playing with fire.

(1) Now we'll be able to live in luxury for the rest of our lives.
(2) to lead a life of luxury
(3) a luxury hotel

(1) The weather was terrible but we carried on regardless .
(2) It takes in anybody regardless of religion, colour, or creed...
(3) regardless of whether he is right or wrong, we have to abide by his decisions.

(1) to lay a carpet
(2) a bedroom carpet
(3) a carpet of snow

(1) How much do you weigh (= how heavy are you) ?
(2) She weighs 60 kilos.
(3) These cases weigh a ton (= are very heavy) .

(1) He said he would appeal after being found guilty on four counts of murder.
(2) The company is appealing against the ruling.
(3) The prospect of a long wait in the rain did not appeal.

(1) I don't like the thought of you walking home alone.
(2) She was struck by the sudden thought that he might already have left.
(3) The very thought of it makes me feel sick.

(1) She had boned up on the city's history before the visit.
(2) His threats chilled her to the bone.
(3) She was honest and hard-working, and didn't have an unkind bone in her body.

(1) a gloomy expression
(2) We sat in gloomy silence.
(3) a gloomy picture of the country's economic future

(1) He slipped and tumbled down the stairs.
(2) The scaffolding came tumbling down.
(3) (figurative)World records tumbled at the last Olympics.

(1) She still owes her father £3 000.
(2) She still owes £3 000 to her father.
(3) The country owes billions of dollars to foreign creditors.

(1) There is some confusion about what the correct procedure should be.
(2) a confusion as to what to do next
(3) To avoid confusion, please write the children's names clearly on all their school clothes.

(1) We have to discover his plans and act accordingly.
(2) The cost of materials rose sharply last year. accordingly, we were forced to increase our prices.
(3) It is a difficult job and they should be paid accordingly...

(1) It is one of the great unsolved mysteries of this century.
(2) Their motives remain a mystery.
(3) It's a complete mystery to me why they chose him.

(1) [不可数名词]The disease has left her with permanent lameness.
(2) [不可数名词]The disease has left her with permanent lameness.
(3) He was aware that she was lame in one leg...

(1) The poem contrasts youth and age.
(2) Her actions contrasted sharply with her promises.
(3) Her actions and her promises contrasted sharply.

(1) the sun's rays
(2) ultraviolet rays
(3) The windows were shining in the reflected rays of the setting sun.

(1) He's a very tense person.
(2) She sounded tense and angry.
(3) I spent a tense few weeks waiting for the results of the tests.

(1) It's unusual for the trees to flower so early.
(2) She has a very unusual name.
(3) It's not unusual for young doctors to work a 70-hour week (= it happens often) .

(1) a course designed primarily for specialists
(2) The problem is not primarily a financial one.
(3) ...a book aimed primarily at high-energy physicists...

(1) Good management benefits employers and employees alike.
(2) My sister and I do not look alike.
(3) They tried to treat all their children alike.

(1) the electronics industry in the M4 corridor
(2) His room is along the corridor.
(3) East Prussia and the rest of Germany were separated, in 1919, by the Polish corridor.

(1) surely we should do something about it?
(2) It's surely only a matter of time before he is found, isn't it?
(3) surely you don't think I was responsible for this?

(1) who is that woman?
(2) I wonder who that letter was from.
(3) who are you phoning?

(1) She put the baby to her breast.
(2) breast cancer
(3) breast milk

(1) ploughed fields
(2) The money was all ploughed back into the company.
(3) A truck ploughed into the back of the bus.

(1) It doesn't cost a bean.
(2) See p. 246 for Thom bean's response.
(3) bean sprouts are also sold in cans.

(1) He is charged with taking a car without the owner's consent .
(2) She was chosen as leader by common consent (= everyone agreed to the choice) .
(3) By mutual consent they didn't go out (= they both agreed not to) .

(1) Most domestic freezers operate at below –18˚C.
(2) Solar panels can only operate in sunlight.
(3) (figurative)Some people can only operate well under pressure.