1) At the present rate of consumption, the earth's oil reserves will be used up _______ the year 2035.
a) on b) by c) for d) to

2) As a result of the postal workers strike, the letter will not reach him _______ next Monday.
a) on b) at c) in d) until

3) He was born _______ the last day of February, 1978.
a) in b) on c) at d) by

4) The light bulb fell from the ceiling and rolled ______ the desk.
a) under b) between c) above d) away

5) I met my future wife _______ Disneyland on a cold day in late November.
a) at b) on c) by d) under

6) Economists expect that economic growth will start to pick up _______ the next six months.
a) at b) for c) within d) until

7) Despite approaching from different directions, the mountaineers managed to meet at the summit _______ exactly the time agreed beforehand.
a) at b) on c) in d) within

8) Although a strong and robust animal, even a camel will buckle _______ the weight of a load that is much greater than its capacity to carry.
a) on b) for c) under d) at

9) In the legend of Damocles a king had to endure the constant threat of a sword dangling _______ his head.
a) under b) on c) from d) above

10) _______ the early summer of 1944, more than two million allied troops prepared for the imminent invasion of Nazi-occupied France.
a) at b) in c) on d) since

11) Over the long term, the stock market has always shown substantial gains for investors; _______ , there are still those that view it as another form of gambling.
a) for example b) nevertheless c) furthermore d) as a result

12) We would have visited the famous temples at Khujaraho, _______ we didn't have the time.
a) only b) consequently c) meanwhile d) hence

13) There is no doubt that people are definitely choosing to marry at a later age than their parents; _______ , the birthrate is declining in most advanced countries.
a) furthermore b) hence c) for example d) on the whole

14) From the day of its opening in 1923, St. James Hospital has treated millions of patients; _______ , its teaching wing has produced thousands of fine young physicians.
a) however b) consequently c) in addition d) nevertheless

15) With the end of the Cold War, the world saw a dramatic lessening of nuclear tension; _______ , millions of dollars are still being spent on the development and maintenance of nuclear weapons.
a) furthermore b) to this end c) however d) for this purpose

16) Although both John and Peter were of equal age and experience, John had a much greater amount of business acumen; _______ , he was promoted to the post of managing director.
a) however b) therefore c) meanwhile d) moreover

17) The site chosen for the new capital of the young United States was actually an unhealthy, malarial swamp; _______ , the decision to go ahead with construction there was made.
a) consequently b) hence c) for this purpose d) nevertheless

18) He has lived in that country for more than thirty years; _______ , he speaks the language with great fluency.
a) however b) meanwhile c) to this end d) thus

19) It was vital to English politicians of the late seventeenth century that the monarch be a Protestant; _______ , the succession was offered to the royal family of Hanover, distant but Protestant relatives of the ruling Stuarts.
a) for example b) to this end c) furthermore d) on the whole

20) In the 1920's penicillin was discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming; _______ , doctors' ability to combat infection and disease improved markedly.
a) consequently b) moreover c) however d) for this purpose