Collocations
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A collocation is two or more words that often go together.
These combinations just sound "right" to native English speakers,
who use them all the time. On the other hand, other combinations
may be unnatural and just sound "wrong". Look at these examples:
natural English vs unnatural English
the fast train the quick train
fast food quick food
a quick shower a fast shower
a quick meal a fast meal
Unnatural combinations are wrong and they just don't go together. Plain and simple!
Lesson 1 - Topic (Family)
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
immediate family - are your brothers and siblings
extended family - relatives
family tree - we use it to diagram the relationship among your family members
family members
distant relative - a person who is related to you by a long series of connections
loving family or a close-knit family- if you are lucky to have family that has good
relationships, where everyone loves and helps each other
carefree childhood - if you are raised in a loving family and you had nothing to worry
about when you were young
dysfunctional family - a family in which the relationships are bad or unhealthy
troubled childhood - if the children experience abuse, poverty or problems with the law
a bitter divorce- separation in which there were angry/bad feelings between the husband and wife
a messy divorce - divorce with a prolonged legal battle involving lots of conflicts about the separation
(usually involve assets - money and possessions)
divorce settlement - includes the decisions about the separation of assets
a broken home - we sometimes use this collocation for a family in which there are divorces or separations
custody of the children - primary responsibility of caring for the kids (one of main subjects of a divorce)
A judge can grant joint custody - that means the ex-husband and ex-wife share the responsibility
or sole custody - only one parent has the responsibility of caring for the kids.
A judge might award sole custody to the mother, and the father has to pay child support - regular
payments to help with expenses for the kids.
mutual divorce/separation - ex-husband and ex-wife agreed to separate without fighting
the probably stay on good terms with each other in that case - have a polite relationship without conflicts
If a woman gets pregnant without being married or in a relationship, she will become a single mother.
Some women in this situation choose to have an abortion and others prefer to give the baby up for adoption.
the due date - the time when the baby is planned to arrive
You can also say that the baby is due in for example mid-October.
After the woman has the baby (gives birth to the baby) the baby is given to the adoptive parents if we
are talking about the case of adoption. Adoptive parents will raise the child or bring up the child as if
it was their own.
Sometimes, when the adopted child is older, he or she tries to find their birth mother - biological mother.
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 2 - Topic (Relationships)
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
- When you move to a new city, it can be hard to make friends;
- casual acquaintances - people who you know on a basic level, but with
whom you don't have a significant relationship;
- Over the time, some of these may become
good friends or close friends.
- Do you believe in love at first sight? - when two people meet each other
and immediately fall in love - perhaps because they have strong chemistry
- this expressions describes strong compatibility or connection between
two possible romantic partners.
- Some people believe that their significant other (their boyfriend, girlfriend,
husband, or wife) is their soul mate - this is a poetic expressions that means
that two people are destined to be together.
- It's possible for one person to have feelings for another person - an inderct
way to describe romantic feelings - but if the other person doesn't feel the
same was, then the feeling is not mutual.
- The other person might say "he's/she's just not my type" - which means
they are not interested. Ah, there's nothing sadder than unrequited love (Love
that is not returned).
- Some people marry their childhood sweetheart or high school/college sweetheart
- this expression refers to a boyfriend or girlfriend from your childhood, teenage,
or college years. Other couples are introduced by a mutual friend - one friend
that the two people have in common.
- When the couple is ready to make a commitment, the man proposes to the woman -
he asks her to marry him. If the marriage is good, then we say the couple is happily married.
- Unfortunately, not all love stories have a happy ending. Sometimes a husband or wife
has an affair. We can also say that they are cheating on their husband/wife.
- The expression "have an affair" is typically used only for married couples and the
expressions "cheating on" can be used for married couples or for boyfriends/girlfriends.
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 3 - Appearance
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
My best friend Joanna is absolutely gorgeous (extremely beautiful). She has long,
sleek, jet-black hair (sleek = smooth and straight, jet-black = perfectly black),
pale blue eyes (pale = light color), and a radiant complexion (skin that appears
healthy and full of energy).
hourglass figure, slender waist, round face, upturned nose,
She actually bears a striking resemblence (looks extremely similar) to a famous singer.
Joana could get any guy she wanted - so I was surprised when she introduced me to her
latest boyfriend.
hideously ugly
curly, shoulder-length hair that looks rather unkempt (unkempt hair = messy hair, it appears
that the person doesn't take care of his/her hair)
He has a square face and a ruddy complexion (reddish skin). His deep-set eyes (eyes that are far back
in person's face) are almost hidden under his bushy eyebrows, and he sports a thick mustache and a
huge, shaggy beard (a beard with lots of hair), I guess Joanna doesn't mind his facial hair (facial hair =
beard and/or mustache).
athletic build
broad shoulders
muscular arms
If he would only trim his beard (cut his beard a little shorter) and comb his hair, I suppose
he could be considered somewhat attractive (more or less beautiful/handsome).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 4 - Character and Behavior
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
painfully shy
I had a vivid imagination
outgoing personality - she liked to be friendly and sociable
a good sense of humor - ability to make other people laugh
to be brutally honest and sometimes comments can hurt my feelings (make me sad, upset and angry)
Although I was fiercely loyal to her, she showed her true colors (revealed her true personality)
when she played a prank (did a trick) humiliated me in front of the class.
to bear a grudge = to continue feeling angry - e.g. I bore a grudge against her for years afterwards.
Now that I look back on it, I can see that she had low-self esteem (she considered herself inferior)
and a bit of a mean streak (a "streak" is a tiny bit of someone's personality).
I've come out of my shell (become less shy) since those days; I have a thicker skin (I'm less sensitive
to criticism) and it doesn't bother me when people speak their minds.
I have a tendency to be arrogant - some say I have a superiority complex (consider myself superior to
others).
I'll admit that it is hard to swallow my pride (stop being arrogant) and recognize when I've been mistaken
about something.
My resolution for the New Year is to make a more concerted effor to put others first (consider the needs
of other people more important than my own).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 5 - Feelings
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
a roller coaster of emotions - many different emotions one after another
ridiculously excited
blissfully happy
I was worried sick (very worried)
I got increasingly anxious
seethe with anger
e.g. I was seething with anger (ready to explode with anger)
She was visibly disappointed (it was obvious that she was disappointed).
He's not really one to show his feelings, he prefers to bottle up his emtions
(keep his emotions hidden inside).
I was terribly sorry
I lost my temper (lost control and showed anger)
She was deeply depressed and I too was an emotional wreck (a person who is very sad,
confused, and upset).
I've been pleasantly surprised...
I'm just immensely grateful...
I'm overwhelmed with emotions (when emotion is so strong that it's difficult to think or speak).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
Lesson 6 - Houses and Apartments
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
I recently spent a month on a vacation - but instead
of staying in a hotel, I looked for a short-term rental
(a place to live that can be rented for a short period
of time).
I ended up sharing a two-bedroom apartment - that's
an apartment with two bedrooms, a living room, and a
kitchen - with some friends. It was actually cheaper than
renting a studio apartment (an apartment with only
one big room) all by myself.
The apartment was on the top floor of a five-storey building
(that's a building with five floors) and it had a balcony
overlooking the ocean (that means you can see the ocean
from the balcony).
From the roof, we also had a nice view of the city skyline
(that is another expression used when you can see
something from a certain place).
The apartment had recently been remodeled/renovated -
meaning it was fixed up and improved - and was fully
furnished, so it already had furniture (beds, tables, etc.)
and appliances (refrigerator, stove, etc.)
We loved the spacious living room (the room was big), but
unfortunately the bedrooms were rather cramped (small
and uncomfortable). It was nice to spend a month there,
but by the end of the trip I started to feel homesick - that's
when you feel sad because you miss your life at home.
I'd really like to have a place of my own so that I'm not throwing
away money on rent every month, but there's a real shortage of
affordable housing (houses/apartments that are reasonably
priced) in my city.
Even if I stay away from the upscale neighborhoods (areas where
rich people live), I'd still have to take out a mortgage (borrow money
from the bank, in order to buy a house) and it'll take me more than
30 years to pay if off.
But still, I'm gonna start saving up for a down payment (an initial payment
on a big purchase). Someday, when I do move into a new place, I'll
be sure to throw a housewarming party (a party to celebrate living in a new
house/apartment).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 7 - Eating
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
My mother radically changed her eating habits a few years ago. In the
past, she ate a lot of junk food (food that is not nutritious / healthy) and
was overweight. Sometime she would try to go on a diet (eat less food
and healthier food), but it would never last.
But now she understands how unhealthy processed food is - full of food additives
(chemicals added to food) that contribute to weight gain and heart problems.
Nowadays, she eats a balanced diet including a lot of nourishing meals
(meals that are healthy and nutritious) that she prepares herself. She
doesn't buy organic food because she thinks the prices are outrageous,
but she stocks up on fresh produce (fresh fruits and vegetables) so that
she can grab an apple or some veggies when she wants a quick snack
(something small and fast to eat). She has also learned to eat in moderation
and watch her portion sizes (how much food you take).
I often stop by her house when I'm in the mood for a home-cooked meal.
The other day she made a hearty stew (a thick soup with lots of flavors
and ingredients) that was full of beans and vegetables.
My brother, who has a healthy appetite (the capacity to eat a lot), had a
second helping (a second portion) - but I found the stew so filling that I
could barely finish my bowl.
My mother recently told me that she'd like to try some international
cuisine. I was surprised to hear that, because a few years ago she had a
bad experience after getting food poisoning (when you get sick because
of contaminated food) at a Japanese restaurant.
So tomorrow I'm taking her to a Brazilian steakhouse. I told her to eat
light meals (small meals) during the day so that she doesn't spoil her
appetite for dinner ("spoiling your appetite" means eating food earlier,
and then not being hungry for a meal later).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 8 - Movies / Books
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
My brother is a huge fan of movies. When he sees a movie trailer (a short
video offering a preview of the movie), he counts down the days until
the movie comes out.
He always goes to the movie theater on opening night - that's the first
day a movie, show, concert, or performance is open to the public.
He also loves to analyze the film critic's reviews (the evaluations of the
people whose job is to analyze movies) and tries to guess which movies
will be nominated for an award.
One of his favorite movie stars (famous actors / actresses) will be starring
in an upcoming film about the Vietnam War.
It's based on a true story, and they're shooting the film on-site in
Vietnam - that means they will be recording / filming the movie in the
same location as the story occurs.
This particular actor had been talking about retiring, but when he was offered
the leading role (the opportunity to play the most important part in a movie)
in a film that's sure to be a box-office hit (a movie that is very successful) he
couldn't turn it down.
I, on the other hand, prefer books. I'm currently engrossed in a book by Stieg
Larsson (the book is taking all my attention) - it's the final part in a trilogy, and
I can't wait to see how things turn out for the main character (the most important
person in the book). I already have a huge collection of books, and I also
borrow books from the library.
One book I took out last week deals with modern feminism and motherhood.
It's a bit of a controversial topic, but it's an interesting and enjoyable read.
I'm not sure I'll have time to finish it before I have to return the book to
the library. Maybe I'll renew it for another week - that means to get an
extension of the length of time I can keep the book.
Note: We talk about the beginning and end of a book, story, or film (not
the "start and finish"). The first and last parts of a story can also be called
the opening and closing scenes (in a movie) of the opening and closing
chapters (in a book).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 9 - Music
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
My older brother Alex is very musically gifted (he has a natural talent
for music). He can play any tune from memory, without looking at
sheet music (musical notation written on paper).
He spends all his free time strumming a guitar (playing a guitar),
composing music (creating music), and writing song lyrics (the
words to a song).
Alex and his friends formed a band that has attracted a sizable
following (a lot of fans) in our city. They started out playing gigs
(giving small, informal performances) in bars and clubs, and they
used the money they earned to record their debut album (record
their first CD).
A remixed track (a song that has been modified electronically) from
that CD then became a massive hit (a very popular song) on the
local radio station thanks to its catchy tune (memorable melody)
and upbeat tempo (fast rhythm).
Their second album will be released (it will be made available to
the public) at the end of the year; they'll record it live at their
next show.
Alex dreams of going on tour - he's just waiting for his big break
(big opportunity to become famous) to get his foot in the door of
the music industry.
As for me, I love singing along (singing together) to my brother's
music, but a career in music isn't for me - I'm completely tone-deaf
(unable to correctly identify different musical notes) and I always
sing off-key (sing the incorrect melody)!
Additional collocations:
contemporary music = modern music
classical music
orchestral / instrumental music =music with instruments only (no singing)
rock music
solo album = CD featuring one singer alone, not in a group of singers
compilation album = a CD with a collection of songs from many different
singers / bands
cult following = a very dedicated / devoted group of fans
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 10 - Sports
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
The first important collocation involving sports is when to use the verbs play, do,
and go. We typically use play for team sports - you play soccer, play basketball,
play tennis, play baseball, and play golf.
The verb do is used for more individual sports - you do yoga, do gymnastics,
do martial arts, and do aerobics. Also, in more general terms, you do exercise.
Another common individual exercise is to lift weights.
The verb go is used with most activities that end in -ing: you go swimming,
go biking, go surfing, go rock climbing, go bowling, go fishing.
With the team sports, we can use the word game or match: a soccer game,
a basketball game, a tennis match, etc.
You can win the game, lose the game, or tie the game - that's when the final
score is 1-1 or 2-2, for example.
A team can play a home game - when they play in their own stadium or field -
or an away game - when they play at the opposing team's stadium or field.
When there are many teams that are playing many games to see which one
is the best, we call this tournament.
When one team is winning in the middle of the game - for example, 3-1 - we
say that team has the lead. However, the other team can make a comeback
- score points from a losing position - and take the lead, 4-3.
With the sorts that use "do" and "go", we typically use the word competition
- a gymnastics competition, a martial arts competition, a surfing competition,
an ice skating competition, etc. The exception is sports where you go from
one place to another - like running, biking, and swimming - in that case,
we often call the event a race.
Athletes can enter a competition and try to win first place. Some athletes try
to enhance their performance with illegal substances such as steroids. But if
they fail a drug test, they'll be disqualified from participating.
If the athlete is performing well, they may achieve a personal best - and if they
perform better than ANYONE ever has in the past, then they could even break
the world record or set a new world record.
If they get injured, however they might have to withdraw from the competition
(voluntarily leave the competition).
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 11 - Health and sickness
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to improve
your overall health and increase your life expectancy (how long you
are expected to live) - you can quit smoking, reduce stress, eat a
balanced diet, get plenty of sleep, and exercise regularly.
It's also important to get vaccinations / immunizations to prevent
diseases. No matter how healthy you are, it's still a good idea to
have health insurance - a program / plan to cover expenses in
case of an accident or serious illness.
If you're in a car accident, you might suffer / sustain serious injuries.
Of course, if you're wearing your seatbelt, you're more likely to have
only minor injuries.
If you've broken/fractured a bone - for example, your leg - the doctor
will put your leg in a cast.
If you have a cut, the doctor will give you stitches. If you have a burn,
the doctor will give you an ointment to prevent infection.
If you have a minor ailment like a headache, you can take some
aspirin to relieve the pain (reduce the effects of the pain).
If you suffer from a chronic condition (a condition that continues for a
long time) like allergies, asthma, back pain, or depression, there are both
over-the counter and prescription medications that can help alleviate
the symptoms (an over-the-counter medication is one that you can buy
without a doctor's prescription).
When someone has a minor respiratory infection, we say they have a cold.
Don't get too close to that person, because you could catch a cold too! You
can "catch" other types of contagious diseases as well - such as
sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs).
If someone is diagnosed with a more serious illness such as cancer or AIDS,
they'll need more extensive treatment. When a disease has progressed
so far that it will be impossible to cure, then the patient is said to be
terminally ill - in other words, the person will definitely die of the disease
soon.
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 12 - Computers
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
I'm teaching my grandmother how to use a computer. First I showed her
how to start up and shut down the computer. Then, I helped her get
online or access the internet so tha t she can check her e-mail.
She quickly learned how to write and send messages, reply to
an e-mail and forward an e-mail (send a complete e-mail that
you received to a new person), but it was a little hard to remember how
to attach a file to an outgoing message.
We tried to log into her account online, but the bank's website was
down (the website was not functional, or was not online). There was
a notice on the home page (the main page of the website) that they
were doing some scheduled maintenance on the system - so we'll try
again tomorrow.
This afternoon, I'll teach her how to use a search engine. I think
she'll really enjoy surfing / browsing the web (exploring the internet)
and using social media. If she needs to do something more advanced,
like burn a CD (put files from a computer onto a CD), then I can do that
for her.
She's a little bit afraid of pressing the wrong key and accidentally
deleting an important file, but I told her that we can always recover the
file from the recycle bin.
I also explained that if the computer freezes or locks up (stops moving
or stops functioning), she can simply restart/reboot the computer.
It's also a good ide for her to back up her files (make an extra copy of
her information) so that she doesn't lose her data if the computer
crashes (the computer breaks) and can't be repaired. I installed a
program that periodically runs scans for viruses and spyware to ensure
that her computer hasn't been infected.
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 13 - Study
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
Most children begin their studies at 5 or 6 years old in pre-school,
followed by kindergarten . After that comes primary / elementary school ,
which consists of first grade through fifth grade.
Then there's middle school - sixth grade through eighth grade - and high
school, which is ninth grade through twelfth grade.
After high school, you apply to colleges/universities to see which ones
will accept you. You send in/submit your applications a nd then wait for
the results. If you got good grades in high school, you might get / be
awarded a scholarship to help pay the tuition (the cost of studying).
In college, you'll take classes / courses on various subjects. You should
always take notes as the teacher is giving the lecture.
Some teaches may ask the students to give/make presentations or do
research and write an essay, an assignment, a report, or a paper.
After you hand in your work, the teacher will grade the assignment
(give you evaluation, for example, 90%) and give you feedback (comments
on your work.)
To evaluate your progress, you'll take tests / exams . If you get the minimum
number of points required, you've passed the test ; if you don't get the
minimum number of points, you've failed the test. It's also possible to pass/fail
a course.
If the course proves to be too difficult, or if you don't like it, you can withdraw
from or drop the course. "Withdraw from" is the more formal expression, and
"drop" is the more informal expression.
Most college students choose a major / concentration . To talk about a
concentration of studies, you can use "major" as a verb or a noun - for example.
- "I majored in biology." / "I was a biology major."
- "My daughter is majoring in philosophy." / "My daughter is a philosophy major."
When you graduate from college , you'll get a diploma. Afterwards, you
can say you have a degree in the area of your concentration. You can have
a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or doctorate (Ph.D.) , for example:
- "I have a bachelor's degree in chemistry."
- "I have a master's degree in linguistics."
- "I have a Ph.D. in theology."
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
Lesson 14 - Academic English
Note: collocations are listed in bold.
Before you begin writing a paper, it's a good idea to make an outline
(a list of points in an organized order) of the main points you plan to
present.
The next is to gather evidence to support your claims , since your
work won't be credible if you propose a theory (or try to challenge or
refute a theory - argue against an existing theory) without some proof.
If your paper is going to touch on several issues (talk about several
topics) then you'll need to be especially organized. You can draw a
distinction between topics that are different, or draw parallels between
examples that are similar. Another way to organize your ideas is to show
how they fall into different categories.
After making your outline and gathering the supporting evidence you'll use
to make your case (present your argument), you can write a first draft
(first version of the paper) in which you go into detail on the topic. Then,
you revise the paper (make improvements to it) until finishing with the
final draft.
Let's say you're carrying out a study on market trends in developing countries.
You can analyze the key factors (important factors) that are influencing the
economy, showing how local politics play a role/part (have an effect) in
shaping the country's financial future.
Including some specific items that are perfect examples and clear
illustrations of your ideas will help prove your points.
At the end of your paper, you should briefly summarize the material you
presented and draw conclusions based on your research. The end of the
article is also a good place to raise questions (present questions) for
further study.
Task 1. Explain (Eng-Eng) and translate (Eng-Bos) the words/collocations in bold.
+ QUIZ (under the topics)
QUIZZES:
Quiz 1 - Family
1. A friend of mine gave /took / went birth to her son at home with the help of a nurse.
2. A number of kids in my classroom come from broken / damaged / hurt homes.
3. After a hostile / cruel / bitter divorce from his wife of 20 years, the actor married a different woman.
4. I see my excepted / expanded / extended family once a year, during our annual family vacation.
5. I was raised in a very joyful / loving / tender family, in which everyone helped each other.
6. I was created / grown / raised by my grandparents after my parents passed away.
7. I'm on good friends / relations / terms with all my former boyfriends.
8. John had a carefree / careful / careless childhood, growing up with happily married parents and three brothers.
9. Many women regret giving / having / taking an abortion years afterwards.
10. My aunt's going through a messy / sloppy / untidy divorce; she's paying a fortune in legal fees.
11. My husband doesn't get along with a few of my family people / individuals / members.
12. Although my salary is low, I get child assistance / provision / support from my ex-husband.
13. My sister got / had / made pregnant immediately after she got married.
14. My son is making a diagarm of our family roots / tree / web for a school project.
15. My wife is pregnant with twins. They're come / due / here in February.
16. Sally was granted sole custody / guardian / keeping of the children from her first marriage.
17. Teenagers who had a distressed / troubled / worsened childhood often have behavior problems in school.
18. The celebrits wrote a book about his debilitated / defective / dysfunctional family.
19. The divorce contract / reimbursement / settlement awarded the wife $ 500,000.
20. There are four people in my close / immediate / neighboring family.
21. They have three biological children and two adopted / adoptive / adopting children.
Quiz 2 - Relationships
1. The process of creating friendships is called.....
a) getting friends
b) earning friends
c) making friends
2. A "close friend" is someone....
a) who lives near you
b) who is similar to you
c) with whom you have a strong relationship
3. When you develop romantic feelings for another person, you're
a) becoming passionate
b) falling in love
c) giving your heart
4. If only one of the two people has romantic feelings, we say the feeling is not...
a) mutual
b) returned
c) together
5. A polite way to say you're not attracted to someone is: "He/she's not my...."
a) kind
b) style
c) type
6. A man who marries a woman who he met when both were very youngh, has married his childhood...
a) darling
b) lover
c) sweetheart
7. When two people get married, they make a ______________ to each other...
a) commitment
b) compromise
c) guarantee
8. Many men try to find a creative and romantic way to _____________ to their girlfriends.
a) propose
b) proposition
c) purpose
9. A lot of marriages end when one member of the couple has an ......
a) affair
b) experience
c) intimacy
Quiz 3 - Appearance
comb facial radiant striking curly
medium slender trim deep-set muscular
1. This moisturizer will give you a __________________ complexion.
2. She has a __________________ waist and wide hips.
3. He bears a __________________ resemblance to a good friend of mine.
4. I've never liked my _________________ hair; I wish it was straight.
5. His _________________ eyes make him look very pensive.
6. Men with ______________ hair - I think it's cool.
7. Would you please ______________ your hair? It looks like you've just gotten out of bed.
8. I'm not changing my hairstyle - I'm just getting a ______________________.
9. He has a _____________________ build - he's not particularly strong, but not especially skinny either.
10. My soccer coach has very ___________________ legs.
Quiz 4 - Character & Behavior
1. A lot of successful enterpreneurs have not only a bright / lucid / vivid imagination, but also the willingness to work hard.
2. He really hurt my emotions / feelings / senses when he called me an idiot.
3. His superiority belief / complex / tendency makes him impossible to work with because he won't listen to suggestions.
4. I had to chew / eat / swallow my pride and apologize to Janet for overreacting to her criticism.
5. I like to date men with a great feel / sense / touch of humor.
6. In some cultures, it's considered very rude to say / speak / talk your mind.
7. It's good to get /put / set others first, but not at the expense of your own well-being.
8. Most people who work as comedians have very outgoing / tendency / upcoming personalities.
9. My brother is brutally / carefully / painfully shy, but I'm trying to encourage him to come out of his case / shell / skin.
10. My daughter gets along with her classmates, but she has a competitive spot / streak / strip when it comes to academics.
11. My husband forgives other people very easily; he's not one to bear / hurt / swallow a grudge.
12. She would never cheat on her husband; she's angrily / brutally / fiercely loyal to him.
13. The kids were suspended for playing a grudge / prank / streak on the teacher - they put a live snike inside her desk.
14. Working with a therapist has helped me overcome my problems with deep / low / small self-esteem.
15. You need to develop a fatter / harder / thicker skin; you can't let every little comment upset you.
Quiz 5 - Feelings
1. At his mother's funeral, he was so incapacitated / overwhelmed / seething with emotions that he couldn't finish his speech.
2. I was deeply / pleasantly / significantly surprised by the exelent customer service - that company really cares about its customers.
3. I'm sorry I forgot / lost / wrecked my temper with you yesterday. It was a really stressful day at work.
4. Instead of confronting his issues, he bottles / guards / rolls up his emotions and tries to pretend everything's OK.
5. It's normal to go through a helicopter / roller coaster / ocean wave of emotions after the end of a long-term relationship.
6. My mother was worried bad / ill / sick when it passed midnight and my brother still hadn't come hoe.
7. The biss was pleasantly / sickly / visibly annoyed when the employees told him about the problems.
8. The fans were seething with anger / disappointment / temper when the team lost the game in the last 5 minutes.
9. We're badly / horribly / terribly sorry, but we won't be able to go to your graduation.
10. We're blissfully / immensely / largely grateful for all the help you've given us in this project.
Quiz 6 - Houses and Apartments
1.Her father paid the affordable /down / studio payment on her apartment.
2. I can't stand living with my parents; I need a place of my independent / own
/ short-term.
3. I hope the apartment is decorated / furnished / upscale, because I can't
afford to buy appliances.
4. I was having so much fun during my semester abroad that I didn't feel
cramped / homesick / housewarm at all.
5. It's a ten- level / room / storey building with two elevators.
6. My bedroom window overlooks / oversees / overviews the mountains.
7. My parents finished paying off their borrow / budget / mortgage after
25 years.
8. This weekend I'm helping my cousin change / move / turn into his
new place.
9. We're going to need a more short-term / spacious / widespread
apartment now that we're going to have a baby.
10. We're regenerating / rejuvenating / remodeling the bathroom, so
you'll have to use the one on the second floor.
Quiz 7 - Eating
cuisine helping nourishing processed diet
junk poisoning snack moderation
1.During the summer, our kids eat a lot of _________ food - popcorn,
candy, ice-cream, cookies, etc.
2. He got food ___________ after eating some seafood from a street
vendor.
3. I eat in ______________; I don't like when my stomach is full.
4. I'm not a huge fan of Mexican _________________. It's too spicy
for me.
5. I've lost ten pounds so far while on this new ____________.
6. Spinach is one of the most __________ vegetables - it's full of
vitamins and minerals.
7. That lasagna is delicious; I think I'll have another _____________.
8. The food at this restaurant is all natural - they don't use any type
of __________ food.
9. We stopped driving to grab a quick ______________ at a roadside
cafe.
Quiz 8 - Movies / Books
1. A movie from an amateur filmmaker was based / nominated / presented
for three awards at an international film festival.
2. Did you see the trailer / trilogy / theater for the new Star Wards movie?
It looks like it'll be awesome!
3. The opening chapter / genre / scene of the movie is very violent.
4. I didn't like the close / end / finish of the movie; it just didn't seem
believable.
5. I enjoyed the book because I could really identify with the main
character / role / star.
6. It was a very moving film - and it was based on a factual / real /
true story.
7. It's an enjoyable page / read / scene, written in a humorous and
relatable style.
8. Oh no! I lost a book that I borrowed / loaned / returned from the
library.
9. The documentary deals with a number of controversial / debatable /
polemic topics.
10. The first movie was excellent, but the sequel got mediocre analyses /
critics / reviews.
11. The movie Titanic hits / shoots / stars Leonard DiCaprio and Katie
Winslet.
12. We couldn't get a ticket for initial / opening / beginning night - they
were all sold out.
Quiz 9 - Music
gifted debut gig off-key lyrics
strumming following hit remixed
tune tour upbeat
1. I can't stand that song; I don't know why it's such a ____________.
2. I like the song, but I don't understand the _______________.
3. I'm not really musically _____________, but I practice the violin
every day.
4. It's such a catchy __________, I can't get it out of my head.
5. My cousin's band is going on ____________ next summer; they've
lined up shows in eleven different states.
6. Someone in the choir was singing _____________; and it sounded
terrible.
7. The band's ____________ album was a huge success.
8. The DJ played some ___________ tracks at the wedding reception.
9. The singer has attracted quite a devoted _________ in Korea - her
concerts there are always sold out.
10. The street musician sat on a park bench, _____________ his guitar.
11. This music is so slow it's putting me to sleep. Let's listen to something
with a more ____________ tempo.
12. We're going to play a ________________ at the Jazz Club on Friday night.
Quiz 10 - Sports
1. Barbara has made / put / set a new world record, with 5 consecutive
Olympic gold medals in judo.
2. Do you want to do / go / play hiking with us this weekend?
3. How long have you been doing / going / playing football?
4. I did / played / went volleyball in college.
5. If a soccer game is failed / led / tied, they do penalty kicks to determine
the winner.
6. Jeff and Diana did / played / went rock climbing in the mountains.
7. My son wants to do / go / play karate.
8. Our team won third lead / place / record in the tournament.
9. She's been doing / going / playing gymnastics since she was 5 years old.
10. The baseball team was unable to make a comeback / setback / takeback
and lost the game 5-2.
11. The biker from Australia currently has the best / first / lead, but the bikers
from Russia and Peru are close behind.
12. The ice skater broke / removed / withdrew from the competition due to a
a knee injury.
13. The runners were stretching before the match / race / test began.
14. Tim Randall has achieved / enhanced / won a personal best with his
time of 23.04 seconds.
15. What was the final place / record / score of the baseball game?
Quiz 11 - Health and sickness
Match the two halves of these sentences:
FIRST HALVES:
1. Adults who have diabetes need to make some lifestyle
2. After a series of exams, Diana was diagnosed
3. He suffers from chronic
4. He takes some very strong prescription
5. If you pull a muscle, ice can help relieve
6. Japan has the highest life
7. My daughter has a bad
8. My son need to get some
9. She didn't have health
10. The best way to lose weight is to eat a balanced
11. The patient in room 4a is terminally
12. They walked away from the accident with minor
SECOND HALVES:
a. with multiple sclerosis.
b. vaccinations before travelling to a tropical country.
c. the pain and reduce swelling.
d. medications to treat his bipolar disorder.
e. insurance, so she had to pay for the surgery herself.
f. injuries - just some cuts and bruises.
g. ill and should be made as comfortable as possible.
h. expectancy in the world, at 83 years.
i. diet and get lots of exercise.
j. cold, so she's staying home from school today.
k. changes, such as cutting down on sugar.
l. back pain thanks to years of poor posture.
Quiz 12 - Computers
1. After my computer was stolen, I was glad I had backed up /
locked up / started up all my data on an external hard drive.
2. Could I use your computer for a minute? I'd like to check /
look / verify my e-mail.
3. Do I need to attach / implement / install a special program to
be able to view this video?
4. I burned / locked / scanned you a CD of some of my favorite
music.
5. I can't check the event schedule online because the conference
website seems to be off / down / frozen.
6. If you want more space on your hard drive, you should crash /
delete / shut down old files that you no longer need.
7. I'm trying to log into / start up / reboot my account, but I can't
remember the password.
8. More and more people are getting / scanning / surfing the
web on their cell phones nowadays.
9. My computer down / freezes / infected when I have too many
programs open at the same time.
10. Never open attachments from other people you don't know -
they could diseease / infect / lock up your computer with a virus.
11. The boss wants everyone to close / shut down / turn out
their computers before leaving work.
12. You forgot to add / annex / attach the file to your message.
Quiz 13 - Study
1. Christine has been a central / medium / middle school teacher for
many years.
2. Could you give me some degree / concentration / feedback on
my presentation? I'd like to know how to improve it.
3. He's applying / submitting / trying to all the best universities in
the country.
4. I think I got every question on the exam wrong - I have no doubt
that I dropped / failed / lost.
5. I'm having / taking / going a course on Latin American politics.
6. My daughter's 12 - she's in sixth class / grade / level.
7. My father promised he'd buy me a car if I got / made / took good
grades in my final year of high school.
8. No, my son hasn't chosen a degree / major / series yet. He's debating
between sociology and anthropology.
9. She awarded / formed / graduated from the University of California
in 1999.
10. The professor took ten points off my test because I handed it in /
gave it up / passed it a few minutes late.
11. The top five students in the class were awarded / submitted /
withdrawn a scholarship to a local college.
12. This topic will be on the test - make sure to take detailed lectures /
notes / writings.
Quiz 14 - Academic English
1. I wasn't convinced by the article; I didn't think the author adequately
helped / provided / supported his claims.
2. In her boo, Clara Jones aims to refute / refuse / revise the dominant
theory using five main counter-arguments.
3. Steve Jobs' leadership was a brief / key / perfect factor in Apple's
success.
4. The first case / draft / try of his report was full of factual errors.
5. The reasons for the war fall into two main categories / summaries /
theories: political reasons and economic reasons.
6. The trajectory of the country after 1930 is a clear / obvious / main
illustration of Smith's theory in action.
7. These thought-provoking poems draw / make / raise questions
about what it means to love unconditionally.
8. This essay draws / goes / proves parallels between the main
character in the novel and the author's life.
9. This paragraph has nothing to do with any of your main
cases/ outlines / points, you should get rid of it.
10. We'd like to carry out / fall into / touch on several issues in
today's meeting.
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