EXERCISE ON USING CONJUNCTION/PREPOSITION

Despite, in spite of, however, although

Complete the following sentences using an appropriate conjunction or preposition.

1. We went out …………………….. the rain.

a) in spite of
b) in spite
c) despite of

2. She went on working ……………….. it was raining.

a) although
b) despite
c) in spite of

3. She went to work ………………… the fact that it was a holiday.

a) despite
b) in spite of
c) Either could be used here

4. …………………. she didn’t like the cutlet, I enjoyed it very much.

a) Although
b) Despite
c) However

5. I had invited him; ………………….., he didn’t come.

a) although
b) despite
c) however

6. It was fun, ………………… dangerous.

a) though
b) however
c) in spite of

7. I was late; ………………. everybody else was on time.

a) although
b) however
c) despite

8. ………………… I was late, everybody else was on time.

a) Although
b) However
c) Though

9. They managed to do it, ………………….. I was not there.

a) although
b) however
c) despite

10. I went ………………… I had not been invited.

a) although
b) however
c) Either could be used here

Answers

1. We went out in spite of the rain.

2. She went on working although it was raining.

3. She went to work in spite of the fact that it was a holiday.

4. Although she didn’t like the cutlet, I enjoyed it very much.

5. I had invited him; however, he didn’t come.

6. It was fun, though dangerous.

7. I was late; however everybody else was on time.

8. Although I was late, everybody else was on time.

9. They managed to do it, although I was not there.

10. I went although I had not been invited.

Pi (π) Day

π

Pi (π) Day

March 14th (3/14)

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. March 14 is Pi Day, a day to celebrate the mathematical constant pi (π) and to eat lots of pie.

Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue infinitely without repetition or pattern. While only a handful of digits are needed for typical calculations, Pi’s infinite nature makes it a fun challenge to memorize, and to computationally calculate more and more digits.

Pi (π) is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Pi is a constant number, meaning that for all circles of any size, Pi will be the same. The diameter of a circle is the distance from edge to edge, measuring straight through the center. The circumference of a circle is the distance around.

COMMON IDIOMS

Here are some common idiomatic expressions.

Give someone the benefit of doubt

To give someone the benefit of doubt is to believe something good about them, rather than something bad when you have the possibility of doing either.

• I really feel that we should give him the benefit of doubt.

Give someone the creeps

If something gives you the creeps, it induces the feeling of fear or revulsion in you.

• The eels gave me the creeps.

Give someone the cold shoulder

To give someone the cold shoulder is to treat them in an unfriendly way.

• Susie was upset with Michael and gave him the cold shoulder when she met him at the party.

Give the game away

To give the game away is to spoil the surprise or joke.

• I wanted to give my parents a special gift on their wedding anniversary, but my sister unwittingly gave the game away.

Give someone the green light

To give someone the green light is to give them the permission to do something.

• My parents have given me the green light to join the local soccer team.

Give someone the evil eye

To give someone the evil eye is to look at them in an angry or unpleasant way.

• My sister gave me the evil eye when I told our parents that she had let the cat in.