(i) She shouted angrily __________ the disobedient boy. (ii) I asked them to provide us __________ a guide. (iii) The tree grew at a dangerous slant and had to be cut __________. (iv) My daughter believes __________ fairies. (v) He drew a beautiful diagram __________ the board. (vi) She battled her way __________ the crowd. (vii) We were asked to gather __________ the teacher. (viii) They had to climb __________ the steep pathway to reach the top.

(i) at (ii) with (iii) down (iv) in (v) on (vi) through (vii) around (or: round) (viii) up

HOW THE 4 MARKS ARE AWARDED: half a mark per blank.

Blank by blank, with the rule behind each: (i) shouted AT — note the distinction, which is examined often: shout AT someone means to rebuke them angrily; shout TO someone means to call across a distance. The word "angrily" in the sentence decides it. (ii) provide us WITH — fixed. You provide someone WITH something, or provide something FOR someone. Both patterns exist and the preposition changes with the word order. (iii) cut DOWN — the phrasal verb for felling a tree. Compare: cut off (sever), cut out (remove), cut back (reduce). (iv) believes IN — fixed, and worth distinguishing: believe IN something means to accept its existence or have faith in it; believe someone means to accept what they say. A child believes IN fairies. (v) ON the board — a surface written upon. (vi) THROUGH the crowd — from one side to the other, passing amid it. The verb "battled" requires movement against resistance, which is exactly what "through" carries. (vii) gather AROUND — to form a circle about someone. (viii) climb UP — movement to a higher level, confirmed by "to reach the top".

The pairs to memorise from this set: shout at / shout to, believe in / believe someone, provide with / provide for.