SUPPLEMENTARY EXERCISES

1. Fill in the blanks with the suitable word from the following list: bat, mule,
bear, fox, bee, hawk, bird, eel, bull
a. If I were you, I'd never lend him such a lot of money. He's as slippery as a(n)
……
b. I’ve been as busy as a …. all morning.
c. When I set off round the world, I felt as free as a …
d. My mum can see the tiniest speck of dust. She has eyes like a …..
e. I told them to avoid Peter on Monday mornings because he is like a … with
a sore head.
f. I’m as blind as a … without my glasses.
g. Telling him to stop smoking is like a red rag to a ….
h. I wouldn’t trust her. She’s as cunning as a ….
i. She’ll know the answer. She’s as wise as an ….
j. He’ll never change his mind. He’s as stubborn as a …
k. I can’t go to school today. I’m as sick as a ….

2. Match the idiom with the correct definition:

1. rat out on A. to decide not to do something out of

fear (usually just before)

2. a bull in a china shop B. ready or willing to fight and hurt others

to get what one wants

3. monkey business C. a person who is always eager to work or

do something extra

4. a dark horse D. to enjoy yourself very much

5. to talk turkey E. tell something that is supposed to be a

secret

6. let the cat out of the bag F. desert or betray someone

7. to chicken out G. to speak frankly and openly

8. get off one’s high horse H. a person who is secretive and often does
something surprising

9. eager beaver I. something that is completely useless,

although it may have cost a lot of money

10. dog-eat-dog J. a tactless person who upsets others or

upsets plans, a very clumsy person

11. white elephant K. unethical or illegal activity

12 . to have a whale of a time L. begin to be humble and agreeable

3. Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom:

1. I was going to take a ride on Geoff's motorcycle, but I …….. when he gave
me a helmet to wear.
2. “It is a ………. world outside,” the father said to his young son.
3. She is a real ………. and I am sure she will do very well in this company.
4. The children liked the visit to the zoo very much, they ………………
5. I wish that she would ………. and begin to think about how other people
feel about things.
6. She …………… when she began talking about the plans for the new
department.
7. He ………. his friends and now they won’t talk to him.
8. We need to solve this problem, and the only way we'll do it is ………
9. I was surprised when he sat down to play the piano, I didn't know he could!
He's a real ………….
10. The boy should stop the ……….. and do the job correctly.
11. In that poor and old-fashioned neighbourhood, the new skyscraper was
considered by many to be ………
12. Their son is ……………… so you should be careful if you invite him to
your house.

4. Give the feminine or the masculine, as required, of the following animals:

Fox -- _ _ _ _ _ lion -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Goose -- _ _ _ _ _ _ billy goat -- _ _ _ _ _ goat
Ram -- _ _ _ cat -- _ _ _ _ _ _
Rooster -- _ _ _ duck -- _ _ _ _ _
Mare -- _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ cow elephant -- _ _ _ _ - elephant

5. Match the animal with its young:

A. goat, cat, sheep, lion, bird, cow, deer, dog, horse (newborn, young stallion,
young mare)
B. calf, puppy, fawn, kid, kitten, foal, lamb, filly, colt, cub, nestling

6. Match each animal with the sound it makes

a. Bee 1. barks, growls
b. Cat 2. brays, goes ee-aw
c. Dog 3. buzzes
d. Donkey 4. twitters, chirps
e. Duck 5. hoots
f. Elephant 6. howls
g. Frog 7. purrs
h. Horse 8. neighs
i. Lion 9. quacks
j. Owl 10. roars
k. Wolf 11. trumpets
l. Bird 12. croaks

7. Match the names for the groups of animals with the animals
a. brood 1. fish, whales
b. pride 2. bees
c. litter 3. cattle
d. pack 4. young chicken
e. herd 5. lions
f. shoal, school 6. dog, wolves
g. swarm 7. sheep
h. flock 8. puppies, kittens