(1) the social organism (= society)
(2) Not all chemicals normally present in living organisms are harmless.
(3) ...the insect-borne organisms that cause sleeping sickness.

(1) a furniture van
(2) a police van (= for carrying police officers or prisoners)
(3) a delivery van

(1) The project seemed unlikely to succeed.
(2) It's most (= very) unlikely that she'll arrive before seven.
(3) In the unlikely event of a problem arising, please contact the hotel manager.

(1) armed robbery (= using a gun, knife, etc.)
(2) There has been a spate of robberies in the area recently.
(3) The gang members committed dozens of armed robberies...

(1) I usually soak the beans overnight.
(2) If you soak the tablecloth before you wash it, the stains should come out.
(3) Leave the apricots to soak for 20 minutes.

(1) ‘I passed the test! ’ ‘I'm so glad (for you). ’
(2) ‘He doesn't need the pills any more. ’ ‘I'm glad about that. ’
(3) I'm glad to hear you're feeling better.

(1) to follow/obey/observe the rules
(2) It's against all rules and regulations .
(3) to break a rule (= not follow it)

(1) We expected great things of the England team, but on the day they simply failed to deliver the goods.
(2) a heavy goods vehicle
(3) a goods train

(1) She'd never known his surname...
(2) The majority of British women adopt their husband's surname when they marry.
(3) Alice Wilson: Oh, thank you. Well, which of the names on your card is your surname?

(1) Jane is very mature for her age.
(2) a mature and sensible attitude
(3) sexually mature

(1) the New York subway
(2) a subway station/train
(3) a downtown subway stop

(1) His hair curls naturally.
(2) The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.
(3) She curled her legs up under her.

(1) Nothing ever happens here.
(2) Don't you ever get tired?
(3) If you're ever in Miami, come and see us.

(1) lung cancer
(2) Women tend to worry about cancer of the breast than of the lung.
(3) When the external pressure reduces, bubbles form in the blood, leading to lung damage within minutes.

(1) a dog/factory owner
(2) The painting has been returned to its rightful owner .
(3) He's now the proud owner of a cottage in Wales.

(1) I asked him his name, but he didn't respond.
(2) She never responded to my letter.
(3) ‘I'm not sure, ’ she responded.

(1) a bank robber
(2) Armed robbers broke into a jeweller's through a hole in the wall.
(3) Who was the robber?

(1) a stern face/expression/look
(2) a stern warning
(3) Her voice was stern.

(1) a railway/railroad tunnel
(2) the Channel tunnel
(3) The engineers had to tunnel through solid rock.

(1) to smile sweetly/faintly/broadly, etc.
(2) She smiled at him and he smiled back .
(3) He smiled with relief.

(1) classroom activities
(2) the use of computers in the classroom
(3) There are thirty people in the classroom, counting the teacher.

(1) We've put down a 5% deposit on the house.
(2) They normally ask you to pay £100 (as a) deposit.
(3) to pay a deposit

(1) The system is designed to be used in conjunction with a word processing program.
(2) The police are working in conjunction with tax officers on the investigation.
(3) The conjunction of low inflation and low unemployment came as a very pleasant surprise.

(1) Ask for a refund if the goods are faulty.
(2) faulty workmanship
(3) an accident caused by a faulty signal

(1) the North/South divide
(2) the divide between Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland
(3) The issue has divided the government.

(1) Human beings need food, clothing and shelter.
(2) to take shelter from the storm
(3) The fox was running for the shelter of the trees.

(1) a sleepy child
(2) He had begun to feel sleepy.
(3) The heat and the wine made her sleepy.

(1) an artistic arrangement of dried flowers
(2) a work of great artistic merit
(3) the artistic director of the theatre

(1) to make a remark
(2) He made a number of rude remarks about the food.
(3) What exactly did you mean by that last remark?

(1) She was shepherded by her guards up the rear ramp of the aircraft.
(2) During the night in the outside Bethlehem shepherd was guarding their sheep.
(3) The other shepherd nodded his head gravely.

(1) sandwiches with the crusts cut off
(2) Bake until the crust is golden.
(3) a thin crust of ice

(1) Turn the soil over with a spade.
(2) (British English)The children took their buckets and spades to the beach.
(3) the five/queen/ace of spades

(1) The police think the videotape may hold some vital clues to the identity of the killer.
(2) Diet may hold the clue to the causes of migraine.
(3) ‘You'll never guess who I saw today! ’ ‘Give me a clue. ’

(1) a federal republic
(2) a federal law
(3) state and federal income taxes

(1) a folk/love/pop, etc. song
(2) We sang a song together.
(3) The story is told through song and dance.

(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) There were tubs of flowers on the balcony.
(2) a tub of margarine
(3) They found her lying in the tub.

(1) major-league baseball
(2) United were league champions last season.
(3) As a painter, he is in a league of his own (= much better than others) .

(1) My job is to lay out the text and graphics on the page.
(2) a computer that can process text
(3) printed text

(1) to win/lose an argument
(2) After some heated argument a decision was finally taken.
(3) There are strong arguments for and against euthanasia.