EXERCISE 11. Arrange the following reduplicative compounds in three groups: a) reduplicatives proper, b) ablaut combinations, c) rhyming combinations

go-slow big-wigs

nitty-gritty ship-shape

mish-mash prime-time

brain-drain rat race

zigzag chit-chat

flip-flops sing-song

tittle-tattle sob-story

shilly-shally hot-head

tell-tale pell-mell

humdrum wishy-washy

higgledy-piggledy riff-raff

dilly-dally creepy-crawly

chi-chi hush-hush

tick-tick puff-puff

EXERCISE 12. Put each of the rhyming combinations in its correct place in the sentences below.

Go-slow, nitty, gritty, brain-drain, big-wigs, prime-time, pell-mell, humdrum, higgledy-piggledy

1. We’ve got some important visitors coming to see the factory tomorrow. They’re government inspectors, Members of Parliament, officials from the Ministry and other ________________________.

2. The programme is only of limited interest. I can’t understand why it’s shown on ____________________ television.

3. The two world leaders met and after the usual greetings and formalities got down to the ________________________ of their talks.

4. It wasn’t exactly a strike. All the workers did as little as possible. It was a ____________________.

5. After the robbery everything was in a mess, __________________________ all over the place.

6. She’d like to find a more interesting, exciting job. She finds her present work very _________________________.

7. It’s been a terrible morning. I overslept, rushed out _____________________ to the bus stop, missed the bus, had to get a taxi.

8. The _________________________ of doctors, scientists and academics leaving this country is having a serious effect on our health service, industries and universities.

EXERCISE 13. Put each of the ablaut combinations in its correct place in the sentences below.

Ship-shape, mish-mash, rat race, chit-chat, wishy-washy, zigzag, flip-flops, sing-song, dilly-dally, creepy-crawly, shilly-shally, hot-head, sob-story, tittle-tattle.

1. Tired of the ceaseless pressure of the competitive business world, he decided to leave the ________________________ and take over a small newsagent’s shop in the country.

2. He’s a serious, rather cold man. He likes to get to the point straight away in conversation and not waste time in the idle ____________________.

3. I like to see everything neat and tidy, everything in its place. I like to keep everything ________________________.

4. Michael Wilson’s latest play is a confusing mixture. It is neither a comedy, a serious work, nor a musical, but a ________________________ of all three.

5. A company’s annual report must be clearly written and contain only the necessary facts. A report which is vague and ________________________ is useless and makes a bad impression.

6. Go and get some biscuits from the shop and come straight back. Don’t _________________________ on the way.

7. It’s too steep to climb straight up the side of the hill. Most people ___________ to make it easier.

8.He tried to get money from me by telling a _________________________ about losing his job and being ill, but I don’t believe him.

9.If little Jane sees a beetle or a spider, she screams, “There’s a ______________!“

10. To keep our spirits up on a long journey we had a _____________________.

11. _____________________________ are cheap, open sandals, each consisting of a rubber sole and a strap between the toes.

12. You must make up your mind about the job quickly. If you ________________ any longer, they’ll withdraw the offer.

13. He’s a very calm, moderate person, but his brother is a _________________ who is liable to get very upset and even violent over political matters.

14. Oh, I don’t believe those stories they tell about him. They’re just ___________________________.

EXERCISE 14. Put each of the abbreviated compounds in its correct place in the sentences below.

A-bomb L-plates S-bend

T-shirt T-junction U-turn

V-formtion V-neck X-ray

1. Drive straight on and then turn left at the __________________________.

2. The invention and use of the _________________________ introduced a terrible new era of modern warfare.

3. On holiday I just wear a _______________________, shorts and sandals.

4. Drive carefully here. There’s a dangerous _______________________ just ahead.

5. The government has done a complete ____________________ in its trade policy. It now wants to increase imports instead of reducing them.

6. Before you have a full driving licence in Britain, you have to have ____________ on your car and be accompanied by a qualified driver.

7. The doctors could tell from the _________________________ that his leg was broken.

8. The president’s car was preceded by nine police motor-cyclists in a ___________________.

9. I bought a lambswool _____________________ pullover.

EXERCISE 15. Say whether the following lexical units are word-groups or compounds. Motivate your answer.

Bluecoat, roughhouse, booby trap, black shirt, black skirt, pedestrian crossing, hay fever, letter box, top secret, first class, latest play, necessary facts, blue stocking, bluestocking, evening gown, a tallboy, absent-minded, a sportscar agency, forget-me-nots.

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