Size, quantity & dimension

A. Look at the following list and decide whether we are talking about something big (in terms of size, quantity or dimension) or something small.

1. a minute amount of dust __________________

2. a minuscule piece of cloth__________________

3. an enormous book ________________________

4. a mammoth job __________________________

5. a huge waste of time ______________________

6. a vast room ______________________________

7. a gigantic wave __________________________

8. a tiny car ________________________________

9. a monumental error ______________________

10. a colossal statue__________________________

11. plenty of food __________________________

12. dozens of times __________________________

13. a narrow alleyway________________________

14. a giant building __________________________

15. a gargantuan meal ______________________

16. a wide avenue __________________________

17. a broad river ____________________________

18. a tall man________________________________

19. a high mountain ________________________

20. a deep lake ______________________________

21. a shallow pool __________________________

22. a long-distance journey __________________

23. a vast crowd of supporters ________________

24. tons of work ____________________________

25. a great deal of time ______________________

B. Now complete these sentences using one of the expressions above. In some cases, more than one answer is possible.

1. Before you embark on (v-bắt tay vào) __________ , it is essential that you are well-prepared.

2. We spent __________ working on the plans for the new library.

3. I’ve told you ___________ not to smoke in here.

4. _________ must have blown into the camera and scratched the film.

5. Villages along the coast were destroyed when __________ caused by the earthquake swept (sweep v- quét) houses into the sea.

6. It was _________ going there; he didn’t even turn up (v-vặn to lên).

7. One of the Roman emperor Nero’s greatest excesses (n-quá mức, vượt) was to build _________ of himself in the city centre.

8. Despite the poor harvest (n-vụ thu hoạch), there was __________ for the whole population (dân cư, dân số).

9. __________ called the Thames separates the city of London from the suburbs (n- ngoại thành) to the south.

10. __________ gathered (v-tụ tập, tập hợp) to see their favourite football team.

11. We ate __________ and then lay down to rest. (v-nằm xuống để nghỉ ngơi)

12. It was _________ and his voice echoed (v-vang lại) around the walls.

13. We have _________ to do in the next few days, so I suggest we start as soon as possible.

14. Loch Ness is __________ in the Highlands of Scotland.

15. The only evidence was _________ which was stuck (adj,v-bị mắc, kẹt) on a branch of one of the trees in the garden.

16. ‘Sumo’ is _________ containing almost 1,000 pictures by the controversial (adj-gây tranh cãi) photographer Helmut Newton.

17. He had ________ to do, so took the phone off the hook (n-móc), made himself some coffee and sat down at his desk.

18. The Matterhorn, ________ in Switzerland, has claimed the lives of many who have tried to climb it. (v-cướp đi sinh mạng của nhiều người)

19. He made __________ in his calculations and had to start all over again.

20. The manufacturers have built ________ which is ideal for getting around the city.

21. The NEC in Birmingham is _______ which is used for concerts and exhibitions.

22. The main feature of the town is a __________ lined with shops and cafés.

23. I could see the key glittering at the bottom of _________ .

24. Legend (n-truyền thuyết) spoke of __________ dressed in gold, known as El Dorado.

25. _________ ran along the side of the house to a garden at the rear.

A.
Big: 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 23 24 25
Small: 1 (note the pronunciation: /maI’nju:t/ ) 2 8 13 21
B.
1. a long-distance journey 2. a great deal of time 3. dozens of times 4. A minute amount of dust 5. a gigantic wave 6. a huge waste of time 7. a colossal statue 8. plenty of food 9. A broad river 10. A vast crowd of supporters 11. a gargantuan meal / plenty of food 12. a giant building / a vast room 13. a mammoth job / tons of work (both these expressions are informal) 14. a deep lake 15. a minuscule piece of cloth 16. an enormous book 17. a mammoth job / tons of work 18. a high mountain 19. a monumental error 20. a tiny car 21. a giant building 22. wide avenue 23. a shallow pool 24. a tall man 25. A narrow alleyway