Expressions Quiz: Thinking

You can do this quiz online or print it on paper. It tests comprehension of common English expressions used when talking about thoughts, ideas and thinking.

Read each sentence and choose the answer with the closest meaning to the words in italics.

1. A night out dancing should take your mind off your problems.

make you forget about
make you think about
make you worry about
a) make you forget about b) make you think about c) make you worry about

2. I can't think straight when I'm feeling nervous.

think quickly
think directly
think clearly
a) think quickly b) think directly c) think clearly

3. We improved the design by thinking outside the box.

thinking creatively
thinking excessively
thinking collectively
a) thinking creatively b) thinking excessively c) thinking collectively

4. Jenny has a lot on her mind these days.

has lots of ideas
has a lot to think about
thinks too much
a) has lots of ideas b) has a lot to think about c) thinks too much

5. Living with a disability wasn't something that had crossed my mind until the crash.

I'd learned about
I'd thought about
I'd talked about
a) I'd learned about b) I'd thought about c) I'd talked about

6. David had a change of heart and no longer wanted to get married.

had a heart transplant
had a new romance
changed his mind
a) had a heart transplant b) had a new romance c) changed his mind

7. How come they still don't get it after hearing all our stories?

understand
remember
laugh
a) understand b) remember c) laugh

8. Let's spare a thought for all those people who've lost their jobs.

get in contact with
find out about
think about
a) get in contact with b) find out about c) think about

9. She's in two minds about whether to tell the police what happened.

unable to think
unable to decide
unable to forget
a) unable to think b) unable to decide c) unable to forget

10. I've been racking my brains but I still can't think of it.

trying to remember
trying to find out
trying to imagine
a) trying to remember b) trying to find out c) trying to imagine

Your score is:

Correct answers:

Contributor: Matt Errey. Matt is the author of several books including 1000 Phrasal Verbs in Context and Common English Idioms for learners, and Matt's ESL Games and Quizzes for teachers.