Vocabulary Practice 14: Pronouns and determiners

Vocabulary Practice 14: Pronouns and determiners

Exercise 1: Complete these sentences with an appropriate pronoun or determiner (e.g., his, which, there, itself, etc.). You will need to use some pronouns / determiners more than once.

1. The team arrived in Cairo, and from ________________ set out across the desert in a southwesterly direction.
2. Students are allowed to hand in ________________ assignments a few days late if they ask for permission at least a week in advance.
3. The new laws made ________________ easier to get a passport and travel abroad.
4. Someone called for you, but you weren’t here, so I told ________________ you would call when you got back.
5. Many playwrights like to act in the plays they have written. Shakespeare ________________ appeared in productions of his own works.
6. Most students spend more time on their assignments than ________________ should.
7. Why did you say that I’ve missed lots of lessons this semester? Where did you get ________________ idea? I haven’t missed a single one.
8. Greek and Latin are languages from ________________ many English words have been taken or adapted.
9. Someone broke the printer, but ________________ looks like nobody is prepared to accept responsibility.
10. The company carried out research into chemical fertilizers and ________________ effect on the environment.
11. The drug works in small quantities, but ________________ efficacy is reduced if used too much and too often.
12. ________________ comes a time in everyone’s life when a big decision has to be taken.
13. Nuclear energy is far less damaging to the environment than ________________ produced from fossil fuels, but requires far higher standards of safety to be applied.
14. The authors admitted using material from other books, but we had to give ________________ credit for their ability to make an otherwise boring subject lively and interesting.
15. A skilled workforce is essential, ________________ is why regular training programs are so important.
16. The young chick relies on the adult bird for food, and it will be several weeks before it can feed ________________.
17. The vehicle employs a small solar panel, from which ________________ can get enough power to move without the need for turning the engine on.
18. We should give everyone a chance to say what ________________ think.
19. Research in the 1960’s often took a lot of time and patience, as there was no Internet in ____________ days.
20. The house stood by ____________ on a small island, cut off from the outside world by a treacherous reef.

Exercise 2: Instructions as above.

1. Her latest book is one ________________ every teenager will enjoy.
2. Help was offered in the first instance to families ________________ homes had been destroyed in the tsunami.
3. The company was forced to cut prices and lay off staff, but the problems didn’t end ________________.
4. As it became obvious an economic crisis was looming, the Republicans were divided among ________________ as to the best course of action to take.
5. Bogart’s most famous movie was probably Casablanca, ________________ was made in 1942.
6. Prices in New York are roughly 30% cheaper than ________________ in London.
7. People who adopt children tend to be people who have no children of ________________ own but who desperately want some.
8. The voice at the end of the phone was ________________ of a young man.
9. We have tea or coffee: ________________ would you prefer?
10. Most people passed the exam, and ________________ that failed were allowed to retake it a month later.
11. Immigrants often come to the country on their own, and then ask their families to join ________________ at a later date.
12. Those who want to see Las Vegas and sample all of ________________ attractions are going to need a lot of money.
13. AZB Ltd claimed that the invention was legally ________________, and sued their competitor for breaching their design copyright.
14. The Republican Party have come under a lot of pressure, but ________________ refuse to bow down to popular pressure.
15. The winner was a Chinese composer, ________________ composition “Blue String” combined elements of classical Chinese and Western music.
16. We’ve been thinking about the offer ________________ you made last week.
17. We need to prepare ________________ for the struggle that we are about to face.
18. The software has a few glitches, but the real problem lies in the computer, and not in the software ________________.
19. Fees must be paid in full before the course begins. Alternatively, you can pay ________________ in 6 monthly installments through the first semester.
20. As part of the survey, we asked members of the public questions about ________________ their work, their hobbies, how they spent their vacation, and so on.

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Vocabulary Practise 10: Opposites (Adjectives)

Vocabulary Practise: Opposites (Adjectives)

*Note: If you need the answer keys, please comment below to let us know and we will send it to you. If you have any concerns, please comment below!

Exercise 1: Replace the adjectives in bold in sentences 1 – 28 with a word or expression from the box which has an opposite meaning in the same context.

  • approximate
  • archaic artificial
  • clear
  • common place
  • compulsory
  • considerable
  • crude
  • delicate
  • detrimental
  • dim
  • easy
  • even
  • feasible
  • flexible
  • graceful
  • innocent
  • intricate
  • negligible
  • problematic
  • scarce
  • smooth
  • reluctant
  • spontaneous
  • tedious
  • vibrant
  • worthless
  • worthwhile
    1. The meaning of his words was very ambiguous.
    2. According to his colleagues, he’s a very awkward person to deal with.
    3. When she first started dancing, she was very awkward.
    4. His policies were beneficial to the economy as a whole.
    5. We need exact figures before we embark on a new venture.
    6. The jury decided he was guilty of the crime.
    7. Add up all the odd numbers between 1 and 20 to get a result.
    8. Despite the weather, supplies of food after the harvest were plentiful.
    9. The laws restricting pollution in the city are very rigid.
    10. There is a slight difference in the way the company is run these days compared with a few years ago.
    11. The device is very sophisticated and should only be operated by someone who is familiar with it.
    12. The spices used in the production of some international dishes have a very strong flavor.
    13. The bright light from the flashlight picked out details on the walls of the cave.
    14. Attendance at afternoon classes should be voluntary.
    15. A lot of students are willing to attend classes on Saturday morning.
    16. Newspapers are saying a lot about the country’s modern licensing laws.
    17. Many students believe that doing voluntary work for charities is a pointless cause.
    18. The country displayed all the features of a stagnant economy.
    19. Her lectures are extremely interesting.
    20. Planned demonstrations and strikes took place all over the city.
    21. The plans they presented were simple and well written.
    22. A close study of the painting by experts revealed it to be priceless.
    23. The new rules had a profound impact on everyone’s behavior.
    24. What you are asking me to do is quite impossible.
    25. Contrary to what many people think, this is a very rare event.
    26. Organizing a fundraising event can be surprisingly simple.
    27. From a distance, the surface of the planet appears to be very rough.
    28. The confectionery contained several flavors, all of them natural.

Exercise 2:A lot of adjectives can be made into their opposite form by adding a prefix (un-, in-, dis-, il-, etc.) to the beginning of the word.
Task 1: Decide which of the prefixes from the first box can be used to make opposites of the words in the second box.
Task 2: Without looking at your answers to Task 1, look at the following sentences and paragraphs. In each one there is one word which has been given the wrong prefix. Decide which word is wrong and correct it.

is-              il-              im-                  in-                          ir-                              un-
  • acceptable
  • accurate
  • adequate
  • advantaged
  • agreeable
  • attractive
  • authorized
  • avoidable
  • believable
  • certain
  • comfortable
  • competent
  • complete
  • conscious
  • contented
  • convincing
  • correct
  • curable
  • even
  • fair
  • fashionable
  • honest
  • inclined
  • legal
  • limited
  • literate
  • logical
  • married
  • mature
  • moral
  • mortal
  • obedient
  • organized
  • patient
  • perfect
  • personal
  • possible
  • proper
  • pure
  • qualified
  • rational
  • regular
  • relevant
  • replaceable
  • resistible
  • resolute
  • responsible
  • satisfactory
  • satisfied
  • sufficient
  • welcome
    1. He is a very (A) disagreeable man and he makes visitors feel very (B) unwelcome, but the management think he’s (C) irreplaceable and are (D) uninclined to fire him.
    2. Insider dealing is not only (A) immoral and (B) inhonest, but also (C) illegal: companies are legally bound to take the strongest possible action against such (D) unacceptable behavior by their employees.
    3. It is an (A) unavoidable fact, but in a competitive job market, those who are (B) unqualified or who have (C) insufficient work experience will find themselves seriously (D) disadvantaged.
    4. She was described by her boss as being (A) unresponsible, (B) incompetent, and (C) immature, which she considered extremely (D) unfair.
    5. In return for an increased investment, the company offered (A) unlimited returns for their investors. While many found such an offer (B) irresistible, some thought the promises were (C) inconvincing and were (D) uncomfortable about parting with so much money.
    6. He had clearly given his presentation (A) disadequate preparation, and many in the audience challenged the points he made, saying they were (B) inaccurate and (C) illogical. Despite this, he remained (D) irresolute in his views, although the only person he managed to convince was himself.
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Vocabulary practise 9: Opposites (Verbs)

Vocabulary practise 9: Opposites (Verbs)

*Note: If you need the answer keys, please comment below to let us know and we will send it to you. If you have any concerns, please comment below!

Exercise 1: Replace the verbs in bold in sentences 1 – 26 with a word or expression from the box which has an opposite meaning in the same context. In many cases you will need to change the form of the word (for example, to its past simple form). 

  • abandon
  • abolish
  • attack
  • conceal
  • decline
  • demolish
  • deny
  • deteriorate
  • exaggerate
  • extend fall
  • forbid
  • gain
  • hire
  • lend
  • loosen
  • lower
  • postpone
  • refuse
  • reject
  • replenish
  • reward
  • set
  • simplify
  • succeed
  • withdraw

1. They accepted the offer of a ceasefire.

2. He admitted telling lies in his original statement.

3. They agreed to meet to discuss the future of the organization.

4. The senator defended his opponent’s policies in a televised speech.

5. The apartments blocks they built were the ugliest in the city.

6. He complicated matters by rewriting the original proposal.

7. They continued their plans to assassinate the king when he opened Parliament.

8. He deposited $10,000 – half his college fees for the forthcoming year.

9. Relations between the two countries have improved considerably in the last year.

10. He permitted us to present our petition directly to the President.

11. The members of the commune were punished for their part in the revolution.

12. He raised the overall standards of the company within two months of his appointment. 13. As soon as the sun rose, the demonstrators began to appear on the streets.

14. Prices rose sharply in the first three months of the financial year.

15. As soon as he had tightened the knots, he pushed the boat out.

16. To everyone’s surprise, she failed.

17. Tomorrow’s meeting has been brought forward. 18. The management said that they would be happy to borrow the money.

19. Several flaws in the design of the new model were revealed.

20. The course has been shortened to 12 weeks.

21. I don’t want to underestimate his role in the club.

22. Attendance has increased since the new professor took over the course.

23. Fuel supplies have been exhausted.

24. Despite having a bigger and cheaper choice of healthy foods, many Americans have lost a lot of weight.

25. Following the revolution, the monarchy was restored.

26. The company started seeing some success once they dismissed several employees.

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VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 9: University Education

 VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 9: University Education

  1. A warning – local variations

This list of vocabulary comes from the British educational system. Different countries and cultures frequently use their own terminology. For instance, in American English it is quite possible to describe university as “college” or “school”. These words mean something quite different in British English

  1. Graduate

Graduate (verb): Graduate from university.

A graduate (noun): A graduate of Oxford university/ a graduate in economics.

A postgraduate (noun): He’s a postgraduate student.

An undergraduate (noun): Undergraduates receive a grant.

A fresher (noun): Life can be difficult for freshers.

(it can replace the word “student”

note the different prepositions “of a university” and “from university” and “in a subject”

graduate is quite formal so in speaking you could use “I left university” instead a fresher is a first year student, Americans use “freshman”)

  1. Level of degrees

A first degree: The degree undergraduate do A bachelor’s degree: A synonym for a first degree.

A master’s (degree): He is doing a master’s in politics.

A PhD or a doctorate: Only a few students go on to do a PhD.

  1. Types of education

Higher education: University education

Further education: Normally for more vocational courses and may start from the age of 16.

Adult education: This is normally for non-degree programmes and often is part­time.

*Notes:if you receive a degree from a university, you are in higher education if you receive a diploma or certificate, you are in further education

  1. Types of course

A full- time degree course: Most students follow a full-time degree course.

A part -time degree course: If you are in full-time employment, a part-time may be more suitable.

A distance course: In the age of the internet, more and more people are studying by distance.

A sandwich course: If you want practical experience, a sandwich course is the best option.

  1. Forms of learning

Lecture: The students make notes and listen to lecturer. There may be a question and answer session at the end.

Seminar: Often led by a student on a particular topic. Normally, the idea is everyone gets the chance to talk. Often follows a lecture.

Tutorial: Sometimes teaching one-to-one with a tutor and sometimes the same as a seminar.

notes and common mistakes

a lecturer gives or delivers a lecture and is sometimes used as a rank of university teacher

a tutor is in charge of a seminar or tutorial

we don’t use “class” or “lesson” in university education (although Americans do use “class”)

  1. Financial aid for students

Scholarship: She won a scholarship for her dissertation. (a scholarship is won for academic merit)

Grant: Because she came from a poor background, she was given a grant by local government. (typically a grant is awarded either for a particular project or to allow a student to follow a course)

Loan: Almost all British undergraduates now have student loans that they need to replay when they start earning.

 

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ENERGY

  1. Type of Energy

Clean energy: Energy that does not create pollution

Wind turbines: Modern windmills used to create power from the wind

Solar panels: The implement used to create solar energy

Solar energy: Energy from the sun

Fossil fuels: A collective term for coal petrol and gas

Natural resources: For example water, coal and gas

Renewable sources: Sources of energy such as wind power and solar energy Sources of energy: A good collocation

Converse energy: Another way of saying “to save energy”

  1. Useful verbs go with Energy

Threat: A threat to/be under threat/ to threaten/to be threatened by

Contaminate: Almost the same meaning as poison: another form of the word is “contaminated”

  1. Another idea about Energy

Another extremely important green issue is of course energy. There are two points to be made here. The first point is that the way we use energy is causing harm to the environment. Most of us get energy in the form of electricity. This electricity is produced by power stations. These power stations emit all sorts of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide up into the atmosphere. And these gases cause acid rain which does harm to our ecosystem and environment. the second point to make about energy is we need to make sure that we are using energy in a sustainable way. There is a limit to the Earth’s natural resources and there is a danger that we use so much energy the Earth is no longer going to be able to provide us with sufficient coal and fossil fuels. What we need to do is look for more renewable sources of energy such as wind or perhaps solar energy from the sun.

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VOCABULARY ON TOPIC FOR TOEFL IBT 10: CRIME

CRIME

  1. +

Violent crime: Includes assault, mugging and armed robbery

White-collar crime: Crimes committed by “office works”, for example fraud.

Organised crime: Large scale crime by crime organisations such as the Mafia, for example smuggling

  1. Key words for Crime

Another key word here is “offence” which is a close synonym for crime. It is a slightly broader word as it includes behaviour that is not necessarily criminal. You can also use the phrase “criminal behaviour“.

  1. Punishments

Prison : Note the vers “to imprison” and the phrase “to send to prison”

Serve a prison sentence/ custodial sentence: “Serious offender should be forced to serve at least a 3-year prison sentence”

Community service (order): The offender has to do work that helps the community rather than go to prison

A fine: People who commit some petty crimes or road traffic offences should pay a fine

(receive) a caution: If the offence is less serious then the offender may be let off with a caution

(be puts) on probation: Sometimes first-time offenders are not imprisoned but are placed under supervision for a set period of time to ensure their good behavior

A ban: Some driving offences such as “drink driving” are punished with a ban

There is a common saying that “the punishment should fit the crime“. If you wish to practise this vocabulary, a standard exercise is to look at the crimes and decide what punishment you think they should receive.

In some countries, there is still capital punishment/the death penalty, while this is banned in other countries. An occasional IELTS essay topic is to discuss the merits of capital punishment. What are the arguments for and against it?

Another topic you need to consider is crime prevention. Is it more effective to send someone to prison or to prevent the crime in the first place? Linked into this idea is whether prison sentences act as a deterrent to criminals.

  1. The justice process

The details of this will vary from the country to country, but here are some of the main ideas:

Pass a law/legislate against: This is the role of government

Enforce the law: An alternative phrase here is “law enforcement”: this involves the courts and the police force.

Investigate a crime: The first step in the criminal process

Arrest a suspect: Before the trial he is “a suspect”, during the trial he is a “defendant” and, if convicted, he is then “a criminal”

Punish an offender: “Offender” is another useful word for “criminal”

Pass a sentence: Normally this is the role of the judge. “Sentence” is also a verb/noun, so a judge may “sentence a criminal”

Convict a criminal: Another phrase meaning to find someone guilty and punish them. The noun “conviction” is just as common

Plead innocent/guilty: In a trial the defendant can either plead guilty or innocent

A court case/trial: This is what happens in the court. A trial is a criminal process, whereas a court case includes proceedings for civil (non-criminal) matters.

  1. Other useful phrases

Law-abiding citizens: Another way to say this is “to abide by the law”

To fight crime: This is the role of the police force and the courts. Another way of saying this is to “tackle crime”

A crime wave: When there is a rise in crime, particularly of one type

To turn to crime: Another way of saying to become a professional criminal

Antisocial beharvior: Behaviour that may not be against the law but disrupts the community, being drunk in public

The incidence of crime: How much crime happens

Motive for crime: The reason why people commit crimes

Juvenile delinquency: Antisocial behavior committed by people under the ager 18

A repeat offender: Someone who has been convicted more than once

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