Complete the idioms in these sentences with one of the key words given. If you are not sure, look up the key word in a good
dictionary:
clanger, shot, ocean, plate, block, handle, pie
1 The small amount of money donated is just a drop in the compared with the vast sum we need.
2 You really dropped a … when you criticized the Americans last
night; that man opposite you was from New York!
3 I can't do this job now. I've got enough on my … as it is.
4 When I told her about that she just flew off the … and shouted at me.
5 His father was a gambler too. He's a real chip off the old …
6 I wasn't really sure; I guessed it; it was just a ... in the dark.

My family isn't large. besides my parents i have an elder sister whose name is irina. she is 19 and she is a student of the institute. she  can play the piano  very well but she  can't speak english  as her friend can. i am masha. i am 13 and i am a student of the secondary school. i am not very tall but i am not short either. i  like  skating and reading. but i  can't play chess  as my father can. my mother's name is inna vasilievna. she is 39 and she is a nurse in our hospital. my mother is very pretty and kind. she  can draw very well  but she  can't play the piano  as my granny and my older sister. my father's name is ivan petrovich. he is 42 and he is a driver in the same hospital. my father is very strong and strict. he  likes to play chess  but he  can't draw  as well as our mother can/. our granny doesn't live with us, but she lives not far from our house so i  often come to see  her on sundays. we are a friendly family and we try to get along with each other and try  to discuss  our problems and to solve them  together.    моя семья небольшая. кроме моих родителей у меня есть старшая сестра, чье имя ирина. ей 19, и она учится в институте. она хорошо умеет играть на пианино,но не умеет говорить по- как ее подруга. я маша. мне 13 лет,   и я учусь в средней школе. я не высокая, но я не маленькая. я люблю кататься на коньках и читать. но я не умею играю в шахматы как мой отец. мою маму зовут инна васильевна. ей 39 лет, и она работает медсестрой в нашей больнице. моя мама красивая и добрая. она умеет хорошо рисовать, но не умеет играть на пианино как моя бабушка и моя старшая сестра. моего отца зовут иван петрович. ему   42 года, и он работает водителем в той же больнице. мой отец сильный и строгий. он любит играть в шахматы? но не умеет так хорошо рисовать как мама. наша бабушка не живет вместе с нами, но она живет не далеко от нашего дома, поэтому я часто прихожу к ней по воскресеньям.  мы дружная семья, и мы стараемся ладить друг с другом, мы обсуждаем наши проблемы и стараемся решить их вместе.

last week a new school was opened by the mayor of croftside. he was given a tour of the new building by the new headmistress, mrs anderson. he was showed the large sports hall which the children will use for indoor sports by mrs. anderson. then the mayor was interviewed by a reporter from the local newspaper. he was taken some photographs with mrs. anderson in front of the new school by a photographer. the mayor was taken to his next appointment by a car which arrived at the school at 3 pm.

1.          by whom was opened a new school?

2.          who was given a tour of the new building by the new headmistress?

3.          what else was he showed by mrs anderson?

4.          who was interviewed by a reporter?

5.          by what was the mayor taken to his next appointment?

gradable adjectives

1)my teacher was very happy with my homework.

2)that website is reasonably popular. but this one is more popular.

3)he said that holland was a little  cold and denmark was rather cold. but sweden was the coldest.

non-gradable adjectives

1)it was freezing outside.

2)he is investing in nuclear energy.

3)her exam results were absolutely awful. she will have to take the exam again.