The following is an extremely difficult gap-fill quiz testing your knowledge of some of the most common phrasal verbs. This exercise was created to help an upper-intermediate class get ready for our final examination. See how well you do!
Right click on the following .mp3 link to listen to the reading selection.
Uncle Fester Listening Selection
The blanks in the selection contain the listed phrasal verbs. Listen a number of times, and then try to fill in the blanks. You'll find the answers on the following page.
The following phrasal verbs (with meanings in parentheses) are used, some are used more than once:
come into (inherit), get on with (have a good relationship with), pass on (die), cut down (reduce), give up (stop), be up to (to be doing), drop in on (visit), look after (take care of), put through (pass on the telephone), hold on (to wait on the telephone), get over (recover from),set off (to leave), come up with (to have an idea), make out (to see in the distance, to pretend), look for (to search for), tell off (to criticize), take on (to employ), turn up (to arrive), take up (to begin a new activity)
Uncle Fester
Last year, Jack Peterson _____ that he _____ a small fortune after His uncle Fester _____ . His uncle had been a heavy smoker for many years and hadn't been able to _____ on his smoking. Jack _____ his uncle Fester, and often _____ on him to see what _____ . One summer, uncle Fester promised _____ on his cigarette smoking after having taken 3 months _____ an extremely bad cough. Jack _____ him those 3 months and, a number of times, he _____ uncle Fester. Then he _____ a brilliant idea to make uncle Fester _____ his nasty habit. He had the local cancer society telephone uncle Fester. When they called, he told them to _____ and then _____ . They proceeded to _____ that they _____ a volunteer to _____ to help _____ the patients. Well, that frightened uncle Fester and he immediately swore to _____ smoking. In fact, uncle Fester _____ jogging in order to help him feel better. He even began to _____ other smokers (although he couldn't quite give smoking up himself). One day, as he _____ on his morning run, he _____ a stand in the distance. A new society _____ that day _____ people willing to _____ young puppies. Uncle Fester immediately _____ a cute Dalmatian, and _____ _____ this new responsibility. Now, three years later Jack _____ the "small fortune" which reminded him every day of his wonderful, if not wise, uncle Fester.
If you are unfamiliar with phrasal verbs, this guide to what are phrasal verbs explains everything. Teachers can use this introducing phrasal verbs lesson plan to help students become more familiar with phrasal verbs and start building phrasal verb vocabulary. This phrasal verbs reference list will get you started with short definitions of approximately 100 of the most common phrasal verbs. Finally, there are a wide variety of phrasal verb resources on the site to help you learn new phrasal verbs and test your understanding with quizzes.
