Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr.

Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
Vocabulary:
enslave (v) = to control and keep sb forcefully, to make a slave of sb
perseverance (n) = continued effort and determination
fresher (n) = a student at a British university who has just started his/her first term
outcast (n) = sb who has no place in society and is unaccepted
scribble (v) = to write or draw sth quickly or carelessly
be mystified = to be confused by sth very strange or impossible to explain
have a feel for sth = to be naturally good at doing sth
pitch sth at sb (v) = to target sth at sb, aim sth at sb
second-guess (v) = to try to guess in advance what sb will do
plagiarism (n) = the illegal use of sb’s idea or a part of their work
pull down (phr v) = to demolish, to knock down
iconoclastic (adj) = here: opposed to generally accepted beliefs and traditions
rake over (phr v) = to talk or think about sth repeatedly when it would be better to forget about
it
drag (v) = to pull
flick through (phr v) = to look quickly
at the pages of a magazine, book, etc
discard (v) = to reject
condense (v) = to reduce the length of a speech or piece of writing
spontaneous (adj) = impulsive
strike a balance (idm) = to find a compromise between two things
critically (adv) = analytically
bewildered (adj) = confused, puzzled
pluck out (phr v) = to remove
innovative (adj) = ground-breaking,
pioneering
assessment (n) = evaluation
finals (n pl) = tests taken at the end of a school year or college course
clergy (n) = priests
seminary (n) = a college for training people to become priests
inevitable (adj) = (of sth) that cannot be avoided or prevented
tutorial (n) = a period of study with a tutor involving one student or a small group
assignment (n) = a piece of work
given to a student as part of their studies
compass (n) = a device for finding direction with a freely moving needle that always points to
the magnetic north
easel (n) = a wooden frame with three legs that holds a picture which an artist is painting or
drawing
abacus (n) = a square or rectangular frame holding an arrangement of small balls on metal rods

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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
or wires, which is used for counting, adding and subtracting
prop (n) = an object used by the actors performing in a play or film
test tube (n) = a small glass tube with one closed rounded end, which is used in scientific
experiments
reference book (n) = a book of facts, such as a dictionary or an encyclopaedia, which one uses to
find particular information
musical score (n) = a piece
of written music with the parts for all the instruments and voices arranged on separate lines /
glass slide (n) = a small piece of glass on which a scientist puts sth in order to look at it through
a microscope
cramming (n) = learning many things in a short time, in preparation for an exam
editing (n) = reorganising and correcting a written text
proof-reading (n) = checking and
marking mistakes in a piece of work
archaic (adj) = ancient, very old
substantial (adj) = considerable
bigoted (adj) = showing strong, unreasonable beliefs and unwilling to change them
kindergarten (n) = a nursery school
opinionated (adj) = dogmatic, intolerant
severe (adj) = harsh
sheltered (adj) = protected
post-graduate (adj) = involved in a programme of study after a bachelor's degree
accelerated (adj) = speedy
guarantee (v) = to assure, to promise
expel (v) = to force out, to banish
suspend (v) = to prevent sb from holding
a particular job or function for a period of time
the teacher’s pet = a student in a class who is liked best by the teacher and therefore treated
better than the other students
mind ones p’s and q’s = to be polite
learn sth by heart = to know or learn sth so that one can remember it perfectly
as easy as one, two, three = extremely easy
be of the old school = to have traditional ideas about how to do sth and not accept new ways of
doing it
know sth like the back of one’s hand = to know sth very well
pass with flying colours = to pass an examination with a very high score
make the grade = to succeed in sth because one’s skills are good enough
multiplication table (n) = a list that shows the results of multiplying one number by a set of
other numbers, used especially by children at school
jeer at sb (v) = to laugh or shout insults at sb
chant (n) = a word or group of words repeated over and over again
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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
by and large = generally speaking
by and by = eventually
fall by the wayside = to come to nothing
by chance = coincidentally
by the way = incidentally
by the book = exactly as one is instructed
by law = legally
by word of mouth = through various conversations
coincidentally (adv) = in the same place or at the same time
smoke detector (n) = a device that makes a loud noise when smoke appears to tell people that
there is a fire
sprinkler system (n) = a piece of equipment for scattering water onto fires to put them out
drag down = to make sb unable to succeed or to make sb behave badly by setting a wrong
example
keep to = to adhere to sth
keep up with = to stay level with
drag out = to manage to obtain
keep back = to reserve
drag in = to mention sth irrelevant
drag on = to continue unnecessarily
keep on = to continue to employ
arrogant (adj) = proud and rude
resemble (v) = to be similar to
bear resemblance to = to look like
A-level (n) = a British exam in a particular subject, taken in the final year of school at the age of
18
shortage (n) = lack
HND (abbr) = in Britain, Higher National Diploma, especially in technical or scientific subjects /
be having sb on (idm) = to play a trick on sb
transcript (n) = an official record of a student’s work that shows the courses taken and the
marks obtained

Choose the correct answer:

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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
4- I hope the meeting doesn’t drag (down / out / in / on) for too long; I have an
appointment at four o’clock.
5- Julie has been working on her homework (assessment / assignment / tutorial / finals)
all evening; she really makes an effort with her studies.
6- Carl has been given a (severe / substantial / spontaneous / sheltered) pay increase, so
he is able to afford a new car.
7- I really must (flick through / pluck out / brush up on / pull down) my tennis skills before
the match on Saturday.
8- I have told him time and time again not to (coax / bribe / coerce / bully) the younger
children, but he just doesn’t listen.
9- I can’t stand the way Robert thinks he is better than everyone else; he is so (arrogant /
exuberant / voracious / opinionated).
10- I don’t know why you asked Sam to (irrigate / cultivate / navigate / secrete) the
journey; he’s always getting lost.
11- To be successful in any field usually requires (perseverance / persecution / prescription
/ persimmon).
12- It was (inexact / inexpert / inevitable / invariable) that he would fail his exams as he
had hardly studied at all.
13- Without a (compass / campus / ruler / watch), it was impossible to tell which way we
should be going.
14- She is so nosy, she is always trying to (middle / meddle / mettle / merge) in other
people’s affairs.
15- It was extremely (gratifying / gratifyingly / gratified / grateful) to see Kate get her
degree, especially as I had helped her with her studies throughout her course.
16- Richer countries should do more to help the victims of (feminine / femininity / famine /
family) in third-world countries.
17- Even though he was rich and successful, he did not (miss / dismiss / disable / disagree)
his working class roots and always remembered where he came from.
18- There is a (shortage / stoppage / shorthand / shortness) of staff at this school, which
means that classes are much larger than they should be.
19- Why don’t we do something (simultaneous / spontaneous / spooky / sporadic), like
throwing a party tonight!
20- It is hard for us to understand how (minute / tiny / extravagant / immense) the
universe really is, because our brains cannot conceive of such great distances.
21- All homes should be fitted with a (smoke detector / sprinkler system / multiplication
table / kitchen machine) to ensure that people have an early warning in the event of a
fire.
22- Only minor changes should be made at the (editing / scanning / proof-reading /
cramming) stage as you should only be checking for typing errors.
23- We can’t (guarantee / assuage / encompass / think) that the operation will be
successful, but there is a 95 percent chance that it will work.
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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
24- The term “let someone go“ is often used as a(n) (slogan / oxymoron / euphemism /
contraband) for firing someone.
25- I can’t stand talking to (bigoted / opinionated / arrogant / greedy) people who never
listen to my point of view.
26- Steve has such a (voracious / wide / wretched / perverse) appetite; he never stops
eating!
27- He was sure he had failed his exam, so he was delighted to find that he had passed (with
flying colours / the grade / by heart / by the sideway).
28- Can you help me to memorise this passage? I have to learn it (by chance / by and large /
by law / by heart) for tomorrow’s lesson.
29- Without a degree, it can be hard to get your foot in the (way / grade / door / gate) of
any business these days.
30- I can’t believe the teacher didn’t like my essay; I put my heart and (mind / spirit / soul /
fingers) into writing it.
31- Now, you need to make a good impression on your new teachers, so mind (the grade /
with flying colours / by heart / your P's and Q's).
32- Stanley knows all about history, so why don’t you pick his (attention / information /
brains / eyes) instead of asking me all these questions?
33- There’s no way Gary will get lost; he knows the woods like (his fingers / the back of his
hands / the book / the streets).
34- Ben didn’t get a promotion. Even though he works hard, he just doesn’t make (the grade
/ the degree / job / decision).
35- The naughty children were suspended from school in the hope that it would teach them
(by heart / by the book / a lesson / the grade).
36- All our travel arrangements fell by (the way / the wayside / the book / and large) when
the airline company went bankrupt.
37- Mark’s problems at school all began when he handed in an (assign / assignment /
assignation / assimilation) to one of his
tutors.
38- The assignment bore a striking (resemble / resemblance / resentment / reservation) to
an article in one of the school’s textbooks.
39- A group of teachers examined the essay (crispy / critic / critique / critically).
40- The teachers decided that Mark was guilty of (plagiarism / originality / communism /
socialism).
41- Mark was very upset and said that this was an unfair (assess / assessing / assessment /
assessments).
42- He claimed that he had never seen the article, let alone copied it. Well, whether or not
he was telling the truth is (debate / debating / debatable / debatably).
43- In the end the teachers decided that the (severe / severity / light / lightness) of the
crime meant that Mark had to be punished.

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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
44- Mark was afraid that this would mean (expel / expelled / exclusive /expulsion) and that
he would have to find a new
school.
45- Luckily, the teachers decided that a week’s (suspend / suspension / expand / expansion)
would be punishment enough.
46- She felt (enslaved / ensnared / ensued / ensured) by her husband as he was always
telling her what to do.
47- It took a lot of (persecution / prescription / perseverance / persimmon) but, after
several attempts, she finally managed to complete her novel.
48- I felt extremely vulnerable as a (fresher / refresher / fisher / refrigerator), but soon I
found new friends who helped me to adapt to university life.
49- He felt like an (outcast / outclass / outcrop / outcry) when he lost his job because many
of his friends stopped calling him.
50- I just had time to (scribe / scribble / scrimp / scroll) John a quick note before leaving.
51- Sally was (intensified / justified / disqualified / mystified) by the letter as she couldn’t
work out who had sent it.
52- David has a (thought / stroke / feel / handle) for music; he can play several instruments
even though he has never had any music lessons.
53- She (reaches / pitches / beaches / peaks) her books at young professional women by
writing about experiences they can identify with.
54- He tried to (outguess / misguess / otherguess / second-guess) his boss by thinking
about what he was most likely to do.
55- Tom was accused of plagiarism after he copied an article from the Internet and handed
it in to his teacher.
56- They are planning to (flick through / pluck out / brush up on / pull down) the old
cinema and build a supermarket on the site.
57- His essay was rather (iconoclastic / new / fresh / modern) as it presented several
original ideas which went against traditional theories.
58- My father wanted to know exactly what had happened but I refused to rake (on / over /
about / above) the past.
59- This chair is too heavy to carry; we will have to drag it over to the table.
60- I usually (flick through / pluck out / brush up on / pull down) a magazine while I am in
the doctor’s waiting room.
61- Because Ron’s ideas seemed unrealistic to the board of directors, they were completely
(discerned / discharged / discarded / disclaimed).
62- When you send a text message, you have to (compile / condense / condemn/ compel)
your news into a short, abbreviated sentence.
63- I wish he could be more (spontaneous / simultaneous / spooky / sporadic) sometimes,
but he always likes to have a plan and stick to it.
64- You should strike the right (blend / mixture / balance / scale) between work and rest,
you look so tired!
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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
65- The director watched the performance (gradually / uninterestedly / ironically /
critically) and made notes of all the parts which needed improvement.
66- I was totally (bewailed / beware / bewildered / bewitched) by his polite behaviour; he
is normally so rude.
67- Jenny spends hours (flicking through / plucking out / brushing up on / pulling down)
her eyebrows, then she draws them back on with a pencil!
68- The computer is one of the most (innovative / innovated / innovator / innovation)
products of the last century and has changed the way we live and work.
69- This is a book of tests for the (assignment / assignation / assessment / recession) of
children’s progress in mathematics.
70- He studied hard for his (finals / finales / finalists / finality) because they were his last
chance to improve his grades.
71- Frank has always been religious, so it came as no surprise when he decided to join the
(clerks / clergy / clergyman / clergywoman).
72- John spent three years training at the (seminary / university / course / college) before
he became a priest.
73- You lay in the sun for six hours; it was (inexact / inexpert / inevitable / invariable) that
you would get sunburnt!
74- I found that (seminar / lecture / tutorial / seminary) very helpful; it’s good to have a
chance to discuss ideas with my tutor.
75- I can’t go out tonight; I have to finish writing this two-thousand-word (assignment /
project / paragraph / essay) before tomorrow.
76- If you are going hiking, you should take a (compass / campus / ruler / watch) in case
you get lost.
77- The artist looked thoughtfully at the picture on his (aisle / easel / earwig / aitch) , then
picked up his brush and started to paint.
78- Before the calculator was invented, complicated sums could be done on an (abalone /
abacus / abattoir / abbess).
79- Don’t remove this doll from the theatre; it is a (pro / bro / prop / brogue) in tonight’s
play!
80- The children poured the two different chemicals into the glass test (tube / cylinder /
hose / pipe) and waited to see what would happen.
81- This encyclopaedia is an excellent (reference / referendum / referral /inference) book;
you can find all kinds of information in it.
82- This is the original handwritten musical (script / lines / score / writing) of Mozart’s last
work, worth millions of pounds.
83- The doctor put the skin cells onto a (glass ceiling / glass slide / glass fibre / glasshouse)
and examined them through a microscope.
84- (Cramming / Editing / Proof-reading / Reading) is not a good way to study; you can’t
remember your notes if you read them all at the last minute.

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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
85- She was not happy with the (cramming / editing / proof-reading / reading) of her novel
as she did not like the changes which had been made.
86- I have finished writing the report, but it needs (cramming / rewriting / proof-reading /
reading); could you check it carefully for any mistakes?
87- This law is (outdated / traditional / archaic / ancient) and really should be abolished in
this day and age.
88- The educational reform has a (substantial / subatomic / subconscious / subcutaneous)
number of supporters in the parliament.
89- He is extremely (biased / bigoted / tolerant / open-minded); he still thinks that a
woman’s place is in the home.
90- Sending children to (university / college / kindergarten / seminary) allows them to get
used to mixing with other children before they start school.
91- It’s impossible to talk to someone as (opinionated / bigoted / tolerant / open-minded);
as him; he refuses to accept that he may be wrong.
92- Being expelled from school is the most (heavy / severe / light / gentle) punishment the
education system can impose.
93- He has been (sheltered / housed / included / contained) by his parents all his life and
has never had to deal with any problems on his own.
94- When Daniel finished his degree, he decided to do a (compulsory / formal / higher /
post-graduate) course to further his studies.
95- I’ve already told my boss that I speak French, so I’m going to have to take an
(accentuated / accelerated / acceded / accented) course and learn as fast as I can!
96- I can (guarantee / assuage / encompass / think) that if Harry continues to work so well,
he will pass his exams with top marks.
97- The school was forced to (expand / expel / exorcize / expatiate) the two naughty boys
in order to set an example to the rest of the students.
98- If you continue to be absent from all weekly meetings, you will be (suspended /
suspected / susceptible / suspicious) from the union.
99- Claire is the teacher’s (bird / dog / pet / cat); her teacher seems to think she can do
nothing wrong.
100- Now I need you to behave politely, so (find / mind / count / draw) your p’s and
q’s.
101- The teacher told us to learn this poem by (mind / brain / heart / the way) for
tomorrow’s lesson, but I can’t remember any of it.
102- It won’t take you long to get used to doing this task; it’s (easier than / more easy
than / as easy as / as simple as) one, two, three.
103- The headmaster here is (at / in / of / from) the old school and not very open to
new ideas about education.
104- Don’t worry, we won’t get lost; I know this area like (my fingers / the book / the
back of my hand / the streets).

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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
105- He has studied hard for the exam, so he should pass (with flying colours / the
grade / by heart / by the sideway).
106- He doesn’t have enough experience to make (the grade / the degree / the job /
the decision), so he didn’t get the job.
107- Jane spent hours studying her multiplication (schedule / table / tablet /
tableware), trying to remember all the sums on it.
108- The boys jeered (on / over / at / about) the new teacher when he told them to
be quiet because they could see that their laughter was upsetting him.
109- In front of the ministry, a group of protesters repeated their (chant / chantry /
song / poem): “Resign! Resign!”
110- By (chance / and large / the wayside / the book), British schools offer a sound
education to children of all abilities.
111- Don’t keep asking him to come inside. Give him time to calm down and he’ll come
in by (chance / and large / and by / the wayside).
112- All her plans to open her own business fell by (chance / and large / and by / the
wayside) when she started a family.
113- They lost contact when they left school, but they met (chance / and large / and
by / the wayside) several years later and their friendship was as strong as ever.
114- By (the way / and large / and by / the wayside), have you seen my new jacket
anywhere?
115- He does his job (the book / law / and by / the wayside); he follows every
instruction to the letter.
116- Children under sixteen are required (the book / law / and by / the wayside) to
attend school.
117- We didn’t have to advertise the new restaurant; its fame spread by (the book /
word of mouth / and by / the wayside)
118- (Coincidentally / Cognately / Cognizantly / Coherently), I and Monica flew to
Berlin on the same plane.
119- Just in case, she always sets the smoke (detector / detection / director / sniffer)
on before leaving the house.
120- The (sprinter / irrigating / water / sprinkler) system is set to go off
automatically with any sign of smoke.
121- His teachers say that his work is suffering because he mixes with naughty
children who drag him (under / down / away / off).
122- Slow down – you really should try to keep (on / at / to / in) the speed limit, you
know.
123- No matter how hard he ran, he couldn’t (keep back / keep to / keep on / keep
up with) the others who raced ahead.
124- She didn’t want to tell me what she had been doing, but I managed to drag it
(out / in /on / down) of her.

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Upstream C1 Companion MCQ Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh
Unit 8 Live & Learn 01021566627
125- Grate all of the cheese, but keep some (on / back / behind / over) to use for the
topping later.
126- Of course, she managed to drag (out / in /on / down) her engagement although
it had nothing to do with the conversation.
127- Sorry I’m late; the meeting dragged (out / in /on / down) much later than I
expected.
128- Eric’s work is of a very low standard; I can’t think why the company keeps him
(out / in /on / down).
129- That man is so (fragrant / arrogant / exuberant / opinionated), he really thinks
he is something special.
130- I don’t think the twins (assemble / resemble / resign / designate) their mother
very much, but they are the spitting image of their father.
131- Have you ever noticed that Sam (bears / holds / seizes / catches) a striking
resemblance to Brad Pitt? They could be brothers!
132- I worked hard at school towards my (A-levels / O-levels / High-levels / Top-
levels).
133- The school may have to close down due to a (stoppage / shortage / shorthand /
shortness) of funding; we simply can’t afford to stay open.
134- Instead of going to university, Jane decided to do a/an (HND / PhD / Master’s /
postgraduate) course in Hotel Management at her local college.
135- You didn’t believe him, did you? Couldn’t you see that he was (holding / having /
owning / catching) you on?
136- Upon graduation, I received my diploma and student’s (transcript / transept /
transference / transformation).

Upstream C1
Companion MCQ
Unit 8 Live & Learn
Mr. Mohamed El-Sheikh

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