English Vocabulary in Use: Advanced Book with Answers and Enhanced eBook Vocabulary Reference and Practice 3rd Edition

or words to that effect. 
[or similar words 
expressing the same meaning]
Common
 
mistakes
We do not usually use 
more or less
with people’s ages: 
He’s
about
35
(NOT He’s more or less 35).
A
B

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Exercises
173
English Vocabulary in Use Advanced
Make the numbers in these sentences less precise, using expressions from A opposite. 
Follow the instructions in brackets.
1 The company will invest £10.3 million in new technology over the next five years. (formal, 
meaning ‘more than’)
2 It will cost you £10,000 to have the whole house redecorated. (less formal, approximately)
3 It could take six, seven or eight hours to drive to Aberdeen, depending on the traffic. (an informal 
and
a more formal version)
4 Twenty-seven students failed the exam. I was rather surprised and disappointed. (a surprisingly 
large number)
These sentences contain some more vague language items used in conversation which 
are not presented on the opposite page. Underline the items that make the meaning less 
precise. Make a note of the grammar (i.e. is the item used with nouns, adjectives, etc.?).
1 Her hair’s a sort of reddish colour, and I’d say she’s, well, forty, forty-fourish.
2 The garden was a bit on the big side, but it was very pretty.
3 There was a kind of elasticky thing that held the two parts together, and I’ve lost it.
4 They’re good shoes. They’re comfortable on long walks and that.
5 I’ve been to the doctor’s and had treatments and suchlike, and I’m sure it helps in one way 
or another.
Fill the gaps in these sentences with suitable words from A opposite.
1 I had a large slice of chocolate gateau with 
of cream.
2 Just a 
of milk in my coffee, please. I like it quite dark.
3 He put 
of hair gel on before going out to the party.
4 Most of the people in the class were Spanish, with just a 
of other nationalities.
5 She put a 
of mayonnaise on her salad and mixed it all up.