Detailed Sentences English

Exercise 1 

From each set of words in brackets choose the one word or phrase which most effectively conveys the heat of the scene being pictured:

Beneath the frowning sun the land was brown. Blades of grass, shrivelled by the fierce rays, clung to the crumbling, scorched soil. Even to move was an effort. The slightest motion was enough to cause a sweat, but even perspiration was  forced away almost instantly by the merciless heat.

Exercise 2 

Some words have been left out in the following sentences. From each group in brackets, choose the word or phrase that most effectively suggests the idea of noise.

1 Thunder rang off the mountains. The weeping of the wind as it blasted through the narrow valleys was almost drowned out by the drumming of huge raindrops on the rocky ground.

2 The clatter of broken glass woke him. He listened intently and heard the slight screech of a hinge as a door slowly opened. There was the faintest scrape of a shoe on the wooden floor of the hall.

She was startled at first by the harsh squawk of a sea gull. The distant murmur of the sea and the sigh of the gentle breeze through the palms lulled her.

Exercise 3 

From each set of words in brackets choose the one word or phrase which most effectively conveys the scene being pictured:

Bright lights radiated amusingly through the evening darkness. The steady glow of the larger lights was reinforced by the sparkle of an array of cheerful smaller ones going after each other in a lively, never-ending race. The hum of conversation, the clink of glasses, and the aroma of steaming food all drifted enticingly across the still night air.

Exercise 4 

Here is a short descriptive passage. From each group in brackets, choose the word or phrase that most effectively fills each gap. Bear in mind the impression the writer is trying to give.

The face, in the brief instant when the lightning glowed, was like some badly-done carving. The forehead was topped with a mass of hair which gleamed in the light. The lower part of the face was masked by a wild cluster of wiry beard. The eyes, deep-set under thick brows, twinkled evilly as they caught the light. Mark’s heart thrashed in fear at the sight. Lightning lit up again.