Practice English Vocabulary B2 Exercises – People and society

A. Choose the correct answer.

1   Everyone said they had ………… themselves at the wedding.

        A enjoyed    B impressed

        C pleased     D excited

2   Mary seems to go out with a different ………… of friends almost every night.

        A group        B band

        C company  D collection

3   People can become very ………… when they are stuck in traffic for a long time.

        A nervous    B bad-tempered

        C stressful    D pressed

4   More and more people are living into ………… age and it’s a serious social problem.

        A high           B ancient

        C far              D old

5   Stephanie seems to be very ………… with her classmates.

        A likeable     B famous

        C known       D popular

6   Most ………… people have no idea what it’s like to be famous.

        A usual         B ordinary

        C typical       D medium

7   When my parents got divorced, my best friend was very ………… and listened to all my problems.

        A likeable     B amusing

        C sympathetic

        D enjoyable

8   Rita’s very ………… and easily gets upset when people criticise her.

        A level-headed

        B sensitive

        C sensible

        D open-minded

9   Police were called in when the ………… of people began to get violent.

        A crowd       B company

        C audience   D herd

10   My dad says he once met Robbie Williams when he was still ………… .

        A unknown  B hidden

        C infamous  D unrelated

B. Circle the correct word.

1   These days, many parents find it difficult to assist / support a large family.

2   Forgetting to thank us for dinner is usual / typical of George.

3   My grandma doesn’t have any close / near family her own age left.

4   In ancient / old times, people had a very different view of the world.

5   Who was to blame / fault for the argument?

6   Don’t you know it’s kind / polite to close your mouth when you are eating?

7   Nathan’s parents were very enjoyed / pleased when they saw him in the school play.

8   I have a very good connection / relationship with my mother.

C. Complete using the words from the box. You need to use one word twice.

 Personality

Some of us seem to be infinitely kind, while others seem to (1) ………………… down on everyone around them. Some of us never forget an argument, while others (2) ………………… up and forgive easily. As we (3) ………………… up, our personality develops and we find that we (4) ………………… on with certain people more than others. Who we are seems to have a large genetic element, but is also influenced by those who (5) ………………… us up. If we (6) ………………… up to our parents or other family members, we may want to be like them. On the other hand, if our parents seem to (7) ………………… us down all the time and we (8) ………………… out with them a lot, then perhaps we will develop quite different personalities.

D. Write a phrasal verb in the correct form to replace the words in italics. And any other words you need.

1   The doctor said that the old woman had died ……………………… peacefully in her sleep.

2   I always support ……………………… my brother when he gets into trouble.

3   Tony seems to have really fallen in love with ……………………… Venessa.

4   Mark is such a bully and treats badly ……………………… the younger boys at school.

5   I was surprised ……………………… when Michaela said I’d hurt her feelings.

6   Richard finally met the woman of his dreams and got married and started to live quietly ……………………… in Australia.

7   I saw Mrs Khan in the centre of town and she asked for news about ……………………… you.

E. Write one word in each gap.

1   Could you ………………… me a favour and ask Oliver to see me in my office?

2   I don’t have many ambitions, but I’d like to graduate and then ………………… a family.

3   As we walked down the street, Helen ………………… pity on the beggar and gave him some money.

4   Nadia’s hair looked awful, but I didn’t ………………… the courage to tell her.

5   My dad can’t stand ………………… an argument and always has to have the last word.

6   The new law seemed to ………………… with everyone’s approval.

7   Can you ………………… care of your little sister for a minute while I go to the shop?

8   When you first ………………… in love, the whole world seems a beautiful place.

9   I don’t really ………………… friends very easily because I’m quite shy.

10   I didn’t recognise Ed when I saw him because he was ………………… disguise.

11   You’re in a very good ………………… . Why are you so happy?

12   If you keep ………………… your promises, people won’t trust you any more.

13   I ………………… a really strange dream last night about my best friend.

F. Choose the correct answer.

1   The government is trying to convince people ………… the need for higher taxes.

        A with           B of

        C that            D for

2   I believe that judges should be independent ………… the government.

        A to               B from

        C with           D on

3   Local residents object ………… the new power station in their area.

        A to have     B having

        C of having  D to having

4   Do you think they should ban people ………… smoking in public places?

        A from          B that

        C in                D of

5   The MP asked ………… the prime minister was aware of the growing social problem.

        A that           B him

        C if                 D what

6   Most people seem to agree ………… the newspapers’ criticism of the government.

        A on              B to

        C with           D that

7   I don’t think people should rely ………… the state, even if they are unemployed.

        A to               B with

        C on              D by

8   The mayor was attacked ………… public money.

        A for wasting

        B to waste

        C he waste

        D of wasting

G. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the gap.

I had a really stupid (1) ………………… (ARGUE) with my best friends the other day. It all started because we were talking about (2) ………………… (MARRY) and having a family. I said that (3) ………………… (POLITE) is important when you are married and she said that she thought that was rubbish and that (4) ………………… (KIND) is much more important. Well, we were (5) ………………… (ABLE) to agree and, in the end, she left without saying goodbye. I do hope it doesn’t spoil our (6) ………………… (FRIEND).

H. Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capitals when this is necessary.

1   My best friend has a great ………………… (PERSON) and everyone likes her.

2   I have a good ………………… (RELATE) with my mum and I can talk to her about anything.

3   They’ve just published a book of George Bush’s ………………… (CORRESPOND) and it looks really interesting.

4   Jenny seemed ………………… (WILLING) to talk about her argument with Nancy but I eventually got the facts.

5   As I waited for Kelly to arrive at the cinema, I bit my nails ………………… (NERVE).

6   Ignore what Sharon says about you. It’s just ………………… (JEALOUS).

7   In the past, children were expected to be very ………………… (OBEY).

8   Brenda blames her ………………… (HAPPY) on being single, but I’m not so sure.

9   Tom knew that being chosen as class president was a real ………………… (ACHIEVE).

10   Kevin’s so sensitive that you have to be very ………………… (CARE) what you say to him.