131. Zero tolerance
(A) No credit given for work badly done
(B) Someone who is bad tempered
(C) Severest punishment possible for committing a crime
(D) Being extremely unreasonable
Answer: (C) Severest punishment possible for committing a crime (or an absolute refusal to allow unacceptable behavior).
Zero tolerance: A policy of applying laws or penalties very strictly, even for minor offenses.
132. Please be as brief as you can, I have other fish to fry.
(A) To fool others
(B) To attend to some important work
(C) To cook food
(D) To complete my work
Answer: (B) To attend to some important work
Have other fish to fry: To have more important or more interesting things to do.
133. I’ll be able to perform my duties effectively when I know the ropes.
(A) Become more confident
(B) Put in more hard work
(C) Learn the procedures
(D) Work more
Answer: (C) Learn the procedures
Know the ropes: To understand the details, procedures, or basic operations of a job or task.
134. It takes a month of Sundays to chop all that wood.
(A) A holiday
(B) No time
(C) A long time
(D) A short period
Answer: (C) A long time
A month of Sundays: A very long, seemingly endless period of time.
135. It is difficult to have a sensible discussion with her as she flies off at a tangent.
(A) Starts discussing something irrelevant
(B) Loses her temper
(C) Does not really understand anything
(D) Gets lost in her thoughts
Answer: (A) Starts discussing something irrelevant
Fly off at a tangent: To suddenly start talking or thinking about a completely new and different subject.
136. We have a small amount of money saved, hardly enough to keep the wolf from the door.
(A) To regain the lost position
(B) To earn an honest living
(C) To keep thieves away
(D) To avoid poverty and starvation
Answer: (D) To avoid poverty and starvation
Keep the wolf from the door: To have just enough money to avoid going hungry or living in poverty.
137. To roll out the red carpet.
(A) to give a grand welcome
(B) to decorate the room
(C) to give a warning signal
(D) to buy a gift
Answer: (A) to give a grand welcome
Roll out the red carpet: To formally welcome an important guest with special treatment and ceremony.
138. Have a foot in the grave.
(A) be afraid to die
(B) have an incurable disease
(C) be close to death
(D) have no interest in life
Answer: (C) be close to death
Have one foot in the grave: To be near death because of old age or illness.
139. To put his foot down.
(A) resign
(B) not to yield
(C) concede
(D) withdraw
Answer: (B) not to yield
Put one’s foot down: To adopt a firm policy or stance; to refuse to yield or compromise.
140. To have an axe to grind.
(A) to have a selfish end to serve
(B) to criticise someone
(C) to fail to arouse interest
(D) to work for both sides
Answer: (A) to have a selfish end to serve
Have an axe to grind: To have a personal, private, or selfish motive for doing something.