C2 Proficiency: Dependent Preps & Music Idioms

This is a quick, communicative activity for C2 students in which they practice some expressions with dependent prepositions and some idioms related to music. I’m currently working with a coursebook which is packed with great C2 language but a little lacking in communicative production activities so I thought I’d share some I’ve been using. Download the handout and key below:

When creating your own gap-fill exercises, why not make them questions? That way you’ve got a speaking activity ready to go immediately.

Have students work in pairs to fill in the missing words in the expressions, then have them underline the dependent preposition in the first set of sentences and the complete idiom in the second. Then have them ask and answer the questions.

Dependent Prepositions

• Are you someone who t________ on pressure or do you tend to go to pieces?
• If you’re h_____-p_______ to come up with new ideas in your job/studies where do you turn for inspiration?
• Think of a time when you worked towards a c_______ g_______ with a group of people. What was the experience like? Did everybody pull their weight?
• Do your parents or grandparents tend to h_______ back to the good old days? What sort of comments or comparisons do they make?
• Think of a time when you t_______ to a new activity/hobby like a d______ to water. Did you expect it to be that easy? Why do you think you adapted so quickly?

Music Idioms

• Are you someone who tends to blow their own t_________? Do you think it’s an attractive quality? Where is the line between confidence and arrogance?
• Have you ever bought or sold something for a s_______ (very cheaply) on ebay/wallapop etc.?
• Are you good at playing it by e_______? Or do you struggle to adapt to developing situations?
• Have you or any of your friends or family ever changed your/their t_______ about a key issue/topic? What made you rethink your position?
• When was the last time you had to pull out all the s________ to finish a big project?

Key

Dependent Prepositions

• Are you someone who THRIVES on pressure or do you tend to go to pieces?
• If you’re HARD-PRESSED to come up with new ideas in your job/studies where do you turn for inspiration?
• Think of a time when you worked towards a COMMON GOAL with a group of people. What was the experience like? Did everybody pull their weight?
• Do your parents or grandparents tend to HARK back to the good old days? What sort of comments or comparisons do they make?
• Think of a time when you TOOK to a new activity/hobby like a DUCK to water. Did you expect it to be that easy? Why do you think you adapted so quickly?

Music Idioms

• Are you someone who tends to blow their own TRUMPET? Do you think it’s an attractive quality? Where is the line between confidence and arrogance?
• Have you ever bought or sold something for a SONG (very cheaply) on ebay/wallapop etc.?
• Are you good at playing it by EAR? Or do you struggle to adapt to developing situations?
• Have you or any of your friends or family ever changed your/their TUNE about a key issue/topic? What made you rethink your position?
• When was the last time you had to pull out all the STOPS to finish a big project?