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The Murder

add up (fit) / bring on (cause , re: illness) / bring round (change a point of view)
bring up (mention) / bring on one’s self (be the cause of) / bargain for (expect to happen) bring about
(caused by) / back down (give up, retreat) / break up (finish)
bear out (substantiate) / break down (lose emotional control) / carry out (Implement, do)
carry off (manage to do) / come in for (receive)

The murder plan had been carried out very cleverly. Only a professional could have carried it off. A
professional or a lunatic! The police had come in for a lot of criticism during the last murder case, and so
the Inspector Corner of the Yard was determined to find the murderer this time. The chief suspect was the
dead man’s daughter.

She had quarrelled with her father the night before. She had a lung problem brought on by smoking. He
said he wouldn’t give her any more pocket money unless she gave up. They quarrelled and she had broken
down in floods of tears. Bob said that this was a little unfair. She was old enough to decide for herself if
she smoked or not. Anyway, after a long discussion, Bob managed to bring her father round to his point
of view. Eventually he backed down. Then he brought up the subject of her boyfriend. He hadn’t
bargained for her reaction. She went mad! She screamed and shouted and threw things at him. She was a
rather unstable woman. To be honest, her condition had been brought about by her parents splitting up.
The problem with smoking itself was something he had brought on himself by always leaving packets of
cigarettes lying around the house.

She said she had been at the party all night and had left when it finally broke up at about three. Her alibi
was subsequently borne out by the statements made by other people at the party.

The inspector wasn’t sure. He felt the story just didn’t add up.

Exercise 1: Put the phrasal verbs in the box below into the sentences underneath.
add up break down bring round bargain for come in for back down bring on (x2)
bear out bring about carry out bring up carry off break up

The murder plan had been (1)_____________very cleverly. Only a professional could have
(2)_______________A professional or a lunatic! The police had (3)_________________a lot of criticism
during the last murder case, and so the Inspector Corner of the Yard was determined to find the murderer
this time. The chief suspect was the dead man’s daughter.
She had quarrelled with her father the night before. She had a lung problem (4)_______________by
smoking. He said he wouldn’t give her any more pocket money unless she gave up. They quarrelled and
she had (5)__________________in floods of tears. Bob said that this was a little unfair. She was old
enough to decide for herself if she smoked or not. Anyway, after a long discussion, Bob managed to
(6)__________him ___________to his point of view. Eventually he (7)______________. Then he
(8)______________________the subject of her boyfriend. He hadn’t (9)_______________________her
reaction. She went mad! She screamed and shouted and threw things at him. She was a rather unstable
woman. To be honest, her condition had been (10)___________________by her parents splitting up. The
problem with smoking itself was something he had (11)_______________________by always leaving
packets of cigarettes lying around the house.

She said she had been at the party all night and had left when it finally (12)_____________at about three.
Her alibi was subsequently (13)_________________by the statements made by other people at the party.
The inspector wasn’t sure. He felt the story just didn’t (14)__________________
Exercise 2:

Add up break down bring round bargain for come in for

back down bring on (x2) bear out bring about

carry out bring up carry off break up

Put the phrasal verbs from the above box into the correct sentence below:

1. In the end the pressure became too much to bear and he ________________ in tears.

2. It’s a nice theory but it just isn’t __________________ by the evidence.

3. Police sources have said that they believe they know who ____________ the attack.

4. After making her appeal on the radio, she was inundated with letters, rather more than she had
________________.

5. “There’s no point complaining, you’ve ______________________ the criticism yourself.”

6. After two hours of intensive discussion, the meeting finally ________________ without any decision
being made.

7. He’s as stubborn as a donkey! He will never ___________________.

8. “If you think this matter is really important, why don’t you _______________ at the next meeting?”

9. It was an incredible achievement. I never believed for one minute he would be able to
_________________.

10. The wet weather tends to _________________ my rheumatism.

11. I think there’s more to this than meets the eye. I’ve heard all the so-called explanations for what
happened but to be honest, it doesn’t ______________.

12. “I think it’s a good idea but you do realise that you’re going to ______________a lot of criticism from
the members of the committee. “
13. “Yes, but I reckon I’ll be able to _______them_______ in the end. I can be quite persuasive when I
need to be.”

14. The problem was ________________ by reckless spending in the late 1980’s.

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