1. Tom started learning the guitar a month ago.

Tom has been learning the guitar for a month.

2. I haven't been to a Chinese restaurant for ages.

It's ages since I went to a Chinese restaurant

3. When she heard the results, Mary began to feel more self-
confident.
Since hearing the results Mary has felt more self-confident.

4. The last time Nancy came here was in 2005.

Nancy hasn't been here since 2005.

5. This is my first visit to London.

This is the first time I have been to London.

6. How long have Helen and Robert been married?

When did Helen and Robert get married?

7. Jack bought those trousers last month, and has been wearing
them ever since.
Jack has been wearing those trousers ever since he bought
them last month.

8. It's a long time since our last conversation.

We haven’t had a conversation for a long time.

9. Thanks, but I had something to eat earlier.

Thanks, but I have already eaten.

10. This is my first game of golf.

I haven’t played golf before
Complete the one-word gap in the 9 IELTS writing (part one) sentences so that the
second sentence is expressed in a different way, but the meaning is the same.

1.

By the end of the decade, pollution levels were stable.

The end of the decade saw ________ in levels of pollution.

2.

The price of theatre tickets reached a peak in 2004.

There was a ________ in the price of theatre tickets in 2004.

3.

A slight drop in student school attendance in 2012 was linked to many cases of food
poisoning.

In 2012, food poisoning amongst many students led to school attendance slightly
________.

4.

France will spend much less on health than Spain over the next 10 years.

________ on health in Spain will be much higher than in France over the next 10 years.

5.

The aging population in Japan has grown steadily.

There has been steady ________ in the aging population in Japan.

6.

First, a conveyor belt carries the vegetables to the cleaning baths.

First, the vegetables are ________ to the cleaning baths by conveyor belt.
7.

Crime patterns among Northern European countries have differed significantly since
2002.

There have been ________ differences in crime patterns among Northern European
countries since 2002.

8.

The price of imported goods is predicted to rise marginally.

There is predicted to be a ________ rise in the price of imported goods.

9.

The management will be making a number of important changes to the company

structure.

The company structure will have important changes ________ to it by the management.

Answers

1. The end of the decade saw stability in levels of pollution.

2. There was a peak in the price of theatre tickets in 2004.
3. In 2012, food poisoning amongst many students led to school attendance slightly
dropping.
4. Spending on health in Spain will be much higher than in France over the next
10 years.
5. There has been steady growth in the aging population in Japan.
6. First, the vegetables are carried to the cleaning baths by conveyor belt.
7. There have been significant differences in crime patterns among Northern
European countries since 2002.
8. There is predicted to be a marginal rise in the price of imported goods.
9. The company structure will have important changes made to it by the
management.