Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

1. He may be quick ________ understanding, but he's not capable of remembering anything.

2. The horse 'Red Rum' is famous for ________ the Grand National race three times.

3. He was employed ________ a factory before he joined the army.

4. Write to me and tell me ________ about your holiday in Switzerland.

5. In spite of the anaesthetic, Pauline was fully ________ during the operation.

6. I haven't met him, but I did once ________ across his wife.

7. He spoke so fast I couldn't understand ________ he was talking about.

8. Separate the eggs and then beat with a ________.

9. When our company got a new computer, I had to ________ a course in programming.

10. Being described by the Americans as a homemaker seems infinitely preferable to being referred to as a(n) ________ housewife.

11. Clearing the weeds from the churchyard was a much harder ________ than the children had imagined it would be.

12. If you're trying to lose weight, you should ________ off fatty food.

13. I'm not very fond ________ dancing.

14. The only way to clean the box is to ________ it in soap and warm water.

15. ________ I tell you yesterday not to touch that dog!

16. In a five-hour operation, surgeons managed to sew the boy's ________ hand back on.

17. ________ the terrible weather, the tennis tournament was cancelled.

18. Our car is much older ________ than yours.

19. This ticket ________ one person to the museum.

20. In court, she was so upset that she broke ________.