Sentence rewriting keys

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SENTENCE REWRITING – KEYS
1. Apart from Minh, everyone else at the meeting was a party member
With the exception of Minh, everyone else at the meeting was a party member
2. The only thing that makes that job worthwhile is the money
Were it not for the money, the job wouldn’t be worthwhile
3. They will not announce the decision formally
No formal announcement of the decision was made/given
4. She firmly believed John to be telling the truth
It was her firm belief that John was telling the truth
5. He seems not to care about anything
He acts as if he doesn’t care about anything
6. Cars are responsible for air pollution, and they cause more serious accidents
Not only cars are responsible for air pollution but they also cause more serious problems
7. Although he didn’t want to pay such a high price, he had no choice
Reluctant as he was to pay such a high price, he had no choice
8. After the beginning of the opera, late comers had to wait before taking their seats
Once the opera had begun, late comers had to wait before taking their seats
9. This is our temporary office
For the time being, this is our office
10. The spectators got so angry that they had to cancel the football match
Such was the spectators’ anger that they had to cancel the football match
11. He didn’t give any reason for his strange behavior that day
He didn’t explain why he had behaved in such a strange way that day
12. There isn’t enough space in this room for a big cupboard
A big cupboard will take up too much space in this room
13. Nam’s sister may go to the United States
Nam doesn’t know for sure whether his sister will go to the United States or not
14. We will strop off in France on our way to Germany
We will break out journey in France on our way to Germany

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15. The truth only came out on the publication of the General’s personal diaries
Only when the General’s personal diaries were published did the truth come out
16. She doesn’t take any exercise, which is why she is not unfit
Her unfitness is due to the fact that she doesn’t take any exercise
17. Alice looks nothing like her mother
Alice doesn’t take her mother at all
18. The party ended earlier than I though it would
The party didn’t go on as long as I thought it would
19. People think that Columbus found American before others
America is though to have been first discovered by Columbus
20. Mai soon recovered from her cold (get)
It did not take Mai long to get over from her cold
21. Thuy has finally accepted that their friendship is over (terms)
Thuy has finally come to terms with the fact that their friendship is over
22. The author describes his childhood vividly in the book (account)
The author has a vivid account of his childhood in the book
23. Do you have any idea about how he made enough money to buy that new sports car? (light)
Do you cast any light on how he made enough money to buy that new sports car?
24. I wasn’t expecting you to begin singing when they asked you to speak (took)
It took me aback/by surprise when you started singing when they asked you to speak
25. Only when the storm subsided was it clear just how much damage had been done (extent)
Not until the storm subsided that the extent of the damage was clear
26. When he won the scholarship, he began to realize just how luckily he was (dawn)
When he won the scholarship, it began to dawn on him how luckily he was
27. Hue was always embarrassed by her father’s jokes (source)
Hue’s father’s jokes were always a source of embarrassment to her
28. How likely is the new venture to get off the ground? (prospects)
What prospects does the new venture have of getting off the ground?
29. She had her own reasons for not telling us anything about her past (dark)
As to her past, she kept us in the dark for her own reasons
30. They arranged for the police to arrest the thief (had)
They had the thief arrested by the police

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31. Tommy always arrives after everyone else (last)
Tommy is always the last to arrive
32. She can hardly read at all (virtually)
She is virtually illiterate
33. Mary didn’t want to queue for tickets so she bought them by phone (anxious)
Mary was anxious to avoid queuing for tickets, so she bought them by phone
34. The price of the books was less than we had expected (not)
The books did not cost as much as we expected
35. My brother would never watch TV until he had done his homework (before)
My brother always did his homework before watching TV
36. The course finished with the big party (end)
At the end of the course there was a big party
37. In my opinion, the problem has happened for two reasons (are)
In my opinion, there are two reasons why the problem has happened
38. “You broke my camera!” Minh said to Hoa (accused)
Minh accused Hoa of breaking/having broken her camera.
39. He suggested that the house might be painted green.
“How about painting the house green?” he suggested
40. He had no idea how difficult the exercise would be until he was halfway through it
Only when he was halfway through the exercise did he realize how difficult it was
41. Further progress was impossible because of the floods
The floods made further progress impossible
42. He blamed his wife for their late arrival at the concert
He said that it was his wife’s fault that they had arrived late at the concert
43. We had not expected that we should have so much difficulty in finding a place
The place was much more difficult to find than we had expected
44. It was quire unnecessary for you to carry all those parcels home yourself
You need not have carried those parcels home yourself
45. As he rose to speak, the crowd began cheering
The cheering from the crowd began as he rose to speak
46. Your car is in my way. Would you mind moving it?
Would you kindly move your car? It’s in my way

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47. The mechanic serviced my car last week
I had my car serviced by the mechanic last week
48. We couldn’t drive because of the fog
The fog prevented us from driving
49. He has only a disablement pension on which to live
All Ken has to live on is a disablement pension
A disablement pension is all Ken has to live on
Ken lives on nothing but a disablement pension
50. The City Council has only recently found out Minnie
The City Council did not find out Minnie until recently
51. We have no option but to collect this license fee
The collection of this license fee is obligatory
52. Everyone thought that he had broken the flower vase
He was thought to have broken the flower vase
53. Mai Lan did not reach home until midnight
It was not until midnight that Mai Lan reached home
54. The stranded climber would never have been rescued if his brother hadn’t had an ingenuous
plan
But for the ingenuity of his brother’s plan, the stranded climber would never have been
rescued
55. He tried hard so that he would win the match
With a view to winning the match, he tried hard.
56. I am always nervous when I travel by air
Travelling by air always makes me nervous
57. He was annoyed because his secretary came late to work
He objected to his secretary’s coming late to work
58. Nam only understood very little of what the teacher said
Nam could hardly understand what the teacher said
59. I am sure you didn’t lock the front door. Here is the key
You can’t have looked the front door. Here is the key
60. The garden still needs digging
The garden has not been dug yet
61. This pudding can be cooked in its tin

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You don’t need to take this pudding out of its tin to cook it
62. “I don’t think Hai will come, “said Nam.
Nam doubted if Hai would come
63. Nobody can deny that she has a beautiful voice
It can not be denied that she has a beautiful voice
It is undeniable that she has a beautiful voice
64. Phuong’s plans for a picnic have been spoilt by the weather (fallen)
Phuong’s plans for a picnic have fallen through by the weather
65. Cyclists are not allowed to ride on the station platform (must)
Cyclists must not be ridden on the station platform
66. To his amazement, the passport office was closed when he arrived (find)
He was amazed to find that the passport office was closed when he arrived
67. “Do you remember what you have to do?” the teacher asked her class (what)
The teacher asked her class if they remembered what they had to do
68. It’s unusual for Carol to get angry with her staff (hardly)
Carol hardly loses her temper with her staff
69. There is no ice cream left (run)
We have run out of ice cream
70. There is no point in asking Cuong to help (worth)
It isn’t worth asking Cuong to help
71. Lan’s behavior at the party annoyed me (Lan)
I was annoyed by the way Lan behaved
72. Huy didn’t listen to what his doctor told him (notice)
Huy took no notice of his doctor’s advice
73. Phuong had to finish the accounts and write several letters as well (addition)
Phuong had to finish the accounts in addition to writing several letters
74. When he was a child in Australia, he went swimming almost everyday (his)
During his childhood in Australia, he went swimming almost everyday
75. After a long chase, the police finally succeeded in arresting the thief (to)
After a long chase, the police finally managed to arrest the thief
76. Phuong was supposed to write to her parents last week (ought)
Phuong ought to have written to her parents last week
77. All the witnesses said the accident was my fault (blame)

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All the witnesses said that I was to blame for the accident
78. You pay $20 a month for a period of one year
You pay in 12 successive monthly installments of $20
79. Under no circumstances should you phone the police
The last thing you should do is to phone the police
80. The chances are that the whole thing will have been forgotten by next term
In all probability the whole thing will have been forgotten by next term
81. I was not surprised to hear that he had failed his driving test
It came as no surprise to me that he had failed his driving test
82. It is not certain that he will get the job
It is open to question whether he will get the job
83. The hurricane blew the roof off the house
The house had the roof blown off by the hurricane
84. If the work is finished by lunch time, you can go home
Get the work finished by lunchtime and you can go home
85. The girl’s behavior was incomprehensible to the Head Teacher (loss)
The Head Teacher was at a loss to comprehend the girl’s behavior
86. She had completely forgotten him (mind)
He had gone out of her mind
87. The fact that he will never race again is something he can’t accept (terms)
He can not come to terms with the fact that he will never race again
88. He has definitely agreed to accept the job (committed)
He has definitely committed to getting the job
89. Ours is the only company allowed to import these chemicals (monopoly)
Our company has the monopoly of importing these chemicals
90. He very much surprised her when he said he loved her (breath)
He took her breath away when he said he loved her
91. Who gave you my name and address? (tough)
Who put you in touch with me?
92. My friend took no notice of my advice (deaf)
My friend turned a deaf ear to my advice
93. It will take a while for your visa to come through (course)

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Your visa will come through in due course
94. He modestly understated his part in the rescue (down)
He modestly played down his part in the rescue
95. It’s a waste of time to talk too much about this (worth)
It is not worth talking too much about this
96. They won’t get to the airport in less than 30 minutes (least)
It will take them at least 30 minutes to get to the airport
97. It might be better if that paragraph was omitted (leave)
It might be better to leave out that paragraph
98. If you gave your mind to your work, you might not make so many mistakes (concentrated)
If you concentrated on your work, you might not make so many mistakes
99. The students did not find it any hard to translate this passage into their mother tongue
(difficulty)
The students had no difficulty in translating this passage into their mother tongue
100. The baby will die if nobody sends for a doctor
Unless a doctor is sent for, the baby will die
101. He was late because his car broke down
The reason why he was late was that his car broke down
102. Even though I admire his courage, I think he is foolish
Much as I admire his courage, I think he is foolish
103. As soon as I locked all the doors, the door bell rang
Hardly did I lock all the doors when the door bell rang
104. You can try to get Nam to lend you his pocket calculator but you won’t succeed
There is no point in getting Nam to lend you his picket calculator
105. The collision didn’t damage my car very much
Not a great deal of damage was done to my car in the collision
106. What has this experience taught you?
What conclusions have you drawn because of this experience?
107. To pass the time, I looked through some magazines
I whiled away the time by looking through some magazines
108. He declared his disapproval of the behavior of some of his supporters
He let it be known that he disapproved of the behavior of some of his supporters
109. Just thinking about his face at that moment makes me laugh

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The very thought of his face at that moment makes me laugh
110. I will only be satisfied if the manager apologizes fully
Nothing short of a full apology from the manager will satisfy me
111. Cuong’s very charming, but I wouldn’t trust him
Charming though Cuong may be, I wouldn’t trust him
112. I thought about that has happened all those years before
I cast my mind back to what has happened all those years before
113. I almost gave up at one point
I came very close to giving up at one point
114. He said that he had won as a result of good luck
He attributed his success to good luck
115. I really don’t know what you are talking about (faintest)
I haven’t got the faintest idea what you’re talking about
116. Lam is to blame for the problems he is facing
The problems Lam is facing are his own making
117. The main focus of the plot is the adventures of two teenagers (centered)
The plot is centered on the adventures of two teenagers
118. He makes sure that he isn’t associated with policies he disagrees (distances)
He makes sure that that he distances himself from policies he disagrees with
119. Could you watch my bag while I am away, please (eye)
Could you keep an eye on my bag while I am away
120. I am constantly amused by Chau’s ridiculous ideas (source)
Chau’s ridiculous ideas are a constant source of amusement to me
121. There was loud applause as he left the stage (accompaniment)
He left the stage to the accompaniment of loud applause
122. Minh is never reluctant to make tough decisions as a manager (shrinks)
Minh never shrinks from making tough decisions
123. Nobody helped me at all (finger)
Nolody lifted a finger to help me
124. Lien said that the situation at work was like a family argument (likened)
Lien likened the situation at work to a family argument
125. You think I am someone else

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You are confusing me with someone else
126. Chi is proud of the fact that she is never late
Chi prides herself on never being late
127. On this ship passengers cannot get onto the bridge
Passengers have no access to the bridge
128. This should work theoretically
In theory this should work
129. What is the difference between nuclear fission and nuclear fusion?
How exactly does nuclear fission differ from nuclear fusion?
130. Their chances of success are small
It is not likely that they will succeed
131. On the way home, Tuan had an unfortunate accident
Tuan met with an unfortunate accident on the way home
132. The result of the film was just as you predicted
You were quite right about the film, it was awful
133. An electrical failure was said to be the cause of the fire
The blamed the fire on electrical failure
134. Lately I have thought of nothing but work
I have been rather preoccupied with work lately
135. They had to wait for 12 hours before their flight left
Only after a 12-hour- wait did their flight leave
136. You think that fat people are always jolly, but you are wrong
Contrary to your belief fat people are not always jolly
137. “That’s a lovely new dress, Hoa” said her mother
Hoa’s mother complimented her on her lovely new dress
138. Lam may not be very well but he still manages to enjoy life
Lam’s poor health doesn’t prevent him from enjoying life
139. He said that he was anxious about the plight of the homeless (concern)
He showed concern for the plight of the homeless
140. I never thought of going by train (occurred)
It never occurred to me to go by train
141. Stop disturbing me! Can’t you see that I am working? (alone)

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Leave me alone! Can’t you see I am working?
142. The main in that painting bears a strong resemblance to my uncle (reminds)
The main in that painting reminds me very much of my uncle
143. I can’t often afford to spend my holidays abroad
I am seldom able to afford to spend my holidays abroad
144. The minister gave no precise figures about the causalities
The minister didn’t go into details about the causalities
145. Every possible effort was made by orphanage to find the boy’s parents
The orphanage left no stone unturned in their attempt to find the boy’s parents
146. The company will well make a profit next year
I wouldn’t be surprised if the company made a profit next year
147. These problems of ours are the tip of the iceberg
I am afraid our problems are only just beginning
148. They have been arguing about the motorway extension for years
The proposed motorway extension has been a bone of contention for years
149. Please don’t give me an injection
I would rather you didn’t give me an injection
150. Imagine my surprise when a policeman appeared at the door
When a policeman appeared at the door I was pretty taken aback
151. She slept well last night
She had a good sleep last night
152. The new musical has taken theater audiences by storm
The new musical has delighted
153. Only her mother is French (side)
She is French only on her mother’s side
154. Their flat has been broken into twice this year (had)
They have had their flat broken into twice this year
155. Her plans for a picnic have been spoilt by the weather (through)
Her plans for a picnic have been fallen through by the weather
156. I didn’t see her again for 5 years (before)
Five years had gone by before I saw her again
157. I found this film quite disappointing (let)

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I was let down by this film
158. She looks great with that new hair style (wonders)
The new hair style does wonders for her
159. Doctors say that smoking is bad for your health (harm)
Doctors say that smoking does you harm
160. Why do I always get the boring jobs? (donkey)
I am fed up with doing the donkey work
161. I didn’t agree with the idea (favor)
I wasn’t in favor of the idea
162. You didn’t think carefully enough before you decided (thought)
You ought to have thought more carefully before you decided
163. Turn off all switches before leaving the workshop
All the switches must be turned off before you leave thr workshop
164. John asked if it was the blue one or the green one she wanted
“Which one do you want, the blue or the green?”
165. You might fall if you’re not careful
Be careful or you will fall
166. “I don’t think John will come,” said Bill
Bill doubted whether John would come or not
167. Is it essential to meet your aunt at the station?
Does your aunt have to be met at the station?
168. They were just as good as we expected
They certainly lived up to our expectations
169. He will settle down. Then his performance will improve
Once he has settled down, his performance will improve
170. My father finds map hard to follow
My father has difficulty in following maps
171. There isn’t a pair of thermal socks left in the shop
We are completely sold out of the thermal socks, madam
172. The result of the match was never in doubt
At no time was the result of the match in doubt
173. It was more an argument than a discussion

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It was not so much a discussion as an argument
174. Although he didn’t want to pay such a high price, he had no choice
Reluctant though he was to pay such a high price, he had no choice
175. These new machines have put an end to queuing
Before these machines were invented, people had to queue
176. My protests were ignored by everybody
Nobody took any notice of my protests
177. House prices have risen dramatically this year
There has been a dramatic increase in the house prices this year
178. The only reason the party was a success was that a famous film star attended
Had it not been for the attendance of a famous film star, the party wouldn’t have been a
success
179. If Cuong continues to break the law, he will get into trouble
If Cuong persists in breaking the law, he will get into trouble
180. Tom insisted on being told the complete story
Nothing but the complete story would satisfy Tom

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