1. Mathew Smith was a highly respected member of parliament with no ......... on his character.

sign

indication

stain

point

2. At least that's what he thought until the press started trying to ......... up something about his past.

push

dig

spade

fork

3. Apparently when he was still at school, he didn't have a ticket for his train journey one day and he was ..........

found

founded

funded

fined

4. This piece of information was discovered by one keen local reporter and was ......... up out of all proportion by the national press.

blown

blew

blowing

blows

5. Headlines appeared maintaining that Mathew was a dishonest ......... thief.

laying

liar

lain

lying

6. Other papers asked the question: How can we trust our politicians if they ......... on society?

chat

chafe

cheat

chance

7. There was even talk that incidents like this one could ......... the Government.

tipple

topple

tackle

tickle

8. The Prime Minister called Mathew in to talk to him and said he couldn't tolerate any ......... of scandal in his Party.

whiff

scent

smell

stink

9. At last Mathew decided to speak ......... for himself and tell the truth.

on

to

up

off

10. The reporter had got it ......... wrong because he found his ticket and he wasn't 'fined', he was simply 'fine'.

fully

fairly

complete

completely

11. My job has gone because my boss has ......... me.

burned

fired

lit

flamed

12. I shan't be working tomorrow because I've just been given the ..........

bag

case

container

sack

13. I was ......... this morning and had to empty my desk this afternoon.

departed

deterred

dismissed

disliked

14. I was handed my ......... yesterday and so today I'm looking for a new job.

tickets

cards

books

papers

15. The company decided to get ......... of me last week and so I had to leave.

rid

rod

red

ride

16. I have been made ......... because my work here is no longer needed.

repellent

reduced

redundant

repeated

17. The firm has decided to ......... which means they don't want me.

resize

upsize

in size

downsize

18. They told me to go because I was said to be ......... to requirements.

excess

surplus

recess

excessive

19. It was quite clear they didn't want me because I was told not to ......... to come back to work tomorrow.

care

concern

bother

worry

20. No, I didn't ask the boss for more money today because he gave me one month's ..........

information

news

facts

notice