Practice English Vocabulary C1 Exercises – Change and technology

A. Complete using the correct form of the words in the box.

1   Sometimes I wonder how many of the changes we see around us will really ………………….. .

2   There has been a real ………………….. in attitudes towards this lately.

3   Mobile phones that receive TV programmes are a real ………………….. .

4   Iris has a lot of ………………….. and should do well in her future career.

5   You have to try to be ………………….. about the situation and use your experience to find a solution.

6   This isn’t my laptop! Someone must have ………………….. my bag and theirs.

7   We’ve made a lot of ………………….. with the plans, but we still have a long way to go.

8   You might have learnt the theory, but there’s no ………………….. for practical experience.

9   When trees fall and start to ………………….., they provide a home for many insects.

10   I’ve ………………….. the design by giving the car six wheels instead of four.

B. Choose the correct word.

The changing face of Britain

It seemed to the generation of Britons alive before the Second World War that their way of life would (1) …………….. for many years to come. However, the war caused a (2) …………….. in British life that completely changed the (3) …………….. . What had been a fairly (4) …………….. society up to that point, with people sharing many basic beliefs and values, underwent (5) …………….. changes after the war. The (6) …………….. was away from fixed social roles and towards a more (7) …………….. society. Britain began to (8) …………….. into its present form and many ideas that are accepted today, such as a large amount of freedom for teenagers, were at the time (9) …………….. and exciting. New and (10) …………….. music and fashion had a great (11) …………….. on young people and the whole of Britain became less (12) …………….. .

1   A sustain             B maintain      C last                        D be

2   A revolution       B revision        C rotation               D rejection

3   A social status   B status quo   C status symbol     D high status

4   A uniform           B same             C similar                  D identical

5   A refined             B potential      C alternative           D radical

6   A reform             B trend            C fashion                 D decay

7   A revised             B amended     C dynamic               D different

8   A refine               B progress       C substitute            D evolve

9   A novel                B mature         C alternate              D steady

10 A internal            B incoherent C innate                   D innovative

11 A substitute       B progress       C influence              D innovation

12 A conservative   B concerned   C convinced            D contained

C. Complete using the correct form of the words in the boxes.

1   It’s time we completely ………………….. the whole prison system.

2   I’d like you to ………………….. your report to include more information about costs.

3   I thought the report in the paper completely ………………….. the truth.

4   I’ve ………………….. the contract and it now says that you will receive 15%.

5   I sometimes find it hard to ………………….. a balance between work and my home life.

6   The important thing is to ………………….. calm and try to think logically.

7   You can ………………….. the chair to make it comfortable by pressing this button.

8   This company needs to ………………….. or we’re not going to survive.

9   Mike and I meet for coffee on ………………….. Saturdays.

10   There’s a lot of traffic, so I’m trying to find an ………………….. route.

11   You’ll regret it if you ………………….. in annoying people like that.

12   Can the company ………………….. the kind of growth we’ve had recently?

13   Many people in Britain ………………….. to Christianity during the Roman period.

14   Learning to use the Internet has really ………………….. my life.

15   I hope the bad weather didn’t ………………….. your holiday.

D. If the word in bold is correct, put a tick. If it is incorrect, replace it with one of the words in bold from the other sentences.

1   The Internet is really a vast console of computers, all connected together. ……………………

2   Since we got resource, we’ve been watching music videos online. ……………………

3   Early computer games seem quite nuclear compared to today’s games. ……………………

4   It seems to me that primitive power is far cleaner than oil. ……………………

5   These ancient tools have been crafted with an enormous amount of skill. ……………………

6   The next generation of games technique will have better graphics. ……………………

7   There’s a network in computing called ‘beta testing’, which means you test something to see if it works properly before it becomes official. ……………………

8   This latest breakthrough will mean cheaper, faster internet access for all. ……………………

9   The computer has finished analysing all the broadband. ……………………

10   The sea is a great natural data but we need the right technology to use it. ……………………

E. Complete using the correct form of the words in the box.

WANTED: COMPUTER GEEK

Some people think ‘geek’ is a negative term for someone who spends all their time on computers. Well,

we at Compulearn think it’s a positive thing! If you’re interested in becoming a computer (1) ……………….., if you enjoy reading the (2) ……………….. to find out what’s really going on inside consumer (3) ……………….. like the latest plasma TV, then we want to hear from you.

Our six-week course covers everything from (4) ……………….. music (5) ……………….. from the Internet to writing your own games. You’ll learn how to (6) ………………..your own website to the Internet and how to solve (7) ……………….. problems in the latest programming languages. Go (8) ……………….. now and visit us on the net. (9) ……………….. on ‘Opportunities’ and start your future now.

(If for any reason our website is (10) ……………….., or you are unable to connect to the Internet, call us on 0800-COMPULEARN.)

F. Write a phrasal verb in the correct form to replace the words in italics. Use the word given in brackets.

1   Why don’t you remove …………………….. those wet things and put something dry on? (out)

2   The image on the screen slowly disappeared …………………….. and I knew it was a computer virus. (away)

3   Let’s try …………………….. your new game and see if it works. (out)

4   You’ll regret it if you don’t make a copy of…………………….. your important data. (up)

5   Have you recorded on all of …………………….. the blank CDs I gave you, or have you got some left? (up)

6   Did you hear they’re thinking of getting rid of …………………….. identity cards? (away)

7   You need to put in using the keyboard …………………….. your details and then press ‘enter’. (in)

8   We should redecorate …………………….. Jake’s bedroom now he’s left home. (up)

G. Complete using the correct form of the phrasal verbs in the box.

1   Could you send someone to have a look at my computer, because nothing happens when I ………………….. it …………………..?

2   I ………………….. my watch ………………….. to see what was wrong with it, but I couldn’t put it back together again!

3   Your essay would make more sense if you ………………….. the second and third paragraphs

4   One of the miracles of nature is the way a caterpillar ………………….. a butterfly.

5   I played so much football last season that I ………………….. two pairs of boots!

6   In the story, Cinderella’s coach ………………….. a pumpkin at midnight.

7   My CDs were all in order and now someone’s ………………….. them ………………….. .

8   I think they’ve ………………….. the old library ………………….. a really nice space for children to read in.

H. The phrasal verb do up means something like ‘improve’. Put the following phrasal verbs into the sentences and tick the sentences where the phrasal verb means something like ‘improve’.

1   Why don’t you …………………… yoga? ……………………

2   I was depressed all day, but I started to …………………… when I saw Alec. ……………………

3   I’m going to …………………… my French before we go on holiday. ……………………

4   How could you …………………… such a ridiculous excuse? ……………………

5   If you …………………… your room, then you’ll be able to find things more easily. ……………………

6   Why did you have to …………………… the fact that Dennis has lost his job? ……………………

7   Let’s …………………… and go out to that new Italian restaurant tonight. ……………………

8   What time did Nigel finally …………………… at the party, then? ……………………

I. Write one word in each gap.

1   The government’s decision not to publish this report represents a real …………………… with tradition.

2   Bill Gates made his money by satisfying the …………………… for computer operating systems that were easy to use.

3   You should …………………… better than to spend all your time playing computer games when you’ve got exams next week.

4   I was …………………… the Web when I came across a site that had lots of information about my favourite band.

5   Click on the …………………… below to become a member and enjoy everything that Musiconline has to offer.

6   We’ve lived in this area for over 20 years, and I can tell you that things have definitely …………………… for the worse.

7   When you’re …………………… the wheel of the new T4 sports car, it’s obvious that there’s a lot of computing power under the bonnet, as well as engine power.

8   People’s attitudes to disability are changing and more and more places have wheelchair …………………… these days.

9   Now, don’t complain about having to spend the holidays away from your computer – it’s for your own …………………… and you’ll thank me later.

10   Since she changed jobs, Anne has really thrown her …………………… into her career.

11   You should keep your computer system up to ……………………, or you might find that some programs won’t run.

12   The workman said that he needed a spanner and asked me to pass him one from his …………………… kit.

J. Write one word in each gap.

Changing ambitions

It used to be accepted wisdom that higher education provides access (1) ……………….. better-paid careers. However, the world of work has changed in recent decades, (2) ……………….. one where few people had university degrees to one where they are very common. A (3) ……………….. many underpaid teachers, managers and other professionals are considering a career change. Swapping the desk for the (4) ……………….. box, many are retraining to become skilled manual workers, who are very much (5) ……………….. demand.

Those who (6) ……………….. the change are finding that as plumbers, gas fitters and electricians they can earn a good (7) ……………….. more than they used to. Workers who (8) ……………….. something about these vital services can demand high fees (9) ……………….. customers and often enjoy considerable independence, in (10) ……………….. of the controlled working environment in a school or office. Of course, those who (11) ……………….. the break know that if it doesn’t work out they can usually go back to their profession (12) ……………….. a later date.

K. For each question, write one word which can be used in all three sentences.

1   There will be a help and support line when the new computer system is in …………………….. .

      I’m giving my laptop away because it’s of no …………………….. to me any more.

      What’s the …………………….. of trying to keep up with fashions that change too quickly?

2   I think it’s time Megan faced up to …………………….. and realised that she’s going to have to change her lifestyle.

      There’s a lot of talk about the effects of technology, but I don’t think people have really changed that much in …………………….. .

      It’s amazing how popular …………………….. TV has become in such a short time.

3   Many of today’s mobile phones wouldn’t look out of …………………….. in science fiction films.

      Vikram’s been offered a …………………….. at Oxford to study computer science.

      Nothing will ever take the …………………….. of my old, reliable transistor radio.

4   Do all these lights on the stereo serve a …………………….., or are they just for decoration?

      Jerry seems to lack a sense of …………………….. since he retired.

      I can’t believe that Alfie would’ve sent you a computer virus on …………………….. .

5   In this game, you compete against the …………………….. to collect as many gold rings as you can.

      People in my office waste time surfing the Net and watching the …………………….. until it’s time to leave.

      We provide full technical support for all our products around the …………………….. .

6   During the 197Os, computer chips began to appear in people’s homes in the …………………….. of the first games consoles.

      You need to fill out the …………………….. online to become a member of the website.

      All the players have been in good …………………….. lately, so it should be a good match.

7   I was in the …………………….. of texting Debbie when my phone rang and it was her!

      Recent developments mean that there is a good chance the Middle East peace …………………….. could be restarted.

      If the monster isn’t behind that door or that door, then it must be behind the third one – it’s just a …………………….. of elimination.

8   The path …………………….. around the side of the building.

      What …………………….. you to come up with the idea of a clockwork radio?

      The scientist …………………….. me into the laboratory, where an experiment was going on.

L. Complete each dialogue using the appropriate form of an idiom in the box.

1   ‘Do you think they might pick Lisa on Thursday?’

      ‘It would really ……………………………. for them to choose a woman to run the club, but I hope so.’

2   ‘I thought you were going to tell Nigel you were angry with him.’

      ‘Well, I ……………………………. and decided to just ignore it after all.’

3   ‘Your son’s behaviour in class has improved this term, Mrs Harris.’

      ‘Oh, good. Let’s hope he’s ……………………………. .’

4   ‘Is your research based on other people’s work?’

      ‘Some of it. Well, there’s no point ……………………………., is there?’

5   ‘I’m not sure whether to change my mind and let Jenny go to the party.’

      ‘I think you should ……………………………. and show her you’re serious.’

6   ‘I wish Terry wouldn’t be so thoughtless all the time.’

      ‘I know, but ……………………………., you know.’

7   ‘I’m thinking of asking Felicity out on a date.’

      ‘You’ve ……………………………., haven’t you? You said she annoyed you.’

8   ‘You’ve got lots of books on computing languages.’

      ‘It’s what I do for a living, so they’re just ……………………………., really.’

9   ‘You moved recently, didn’t you? What’s your new place like?’

      ‘Oh, fantastic. It’s got ……………………………. and it’s handy for the train.’

10   ‘Maria came round and fixed my computer yesterday.’

        ‘Oh, she ……………………………. computers ……………………………., doesn’t she?’

M. Use the word given in capitals to form a word that fits in the space.

We often think of ourselves as living in a time of (1) ………………….. (CONTINUE) technological change and development. We tend to believe that we are unique in history in dealing with a constantly (2) ………………….. (EVOLVE) world of gadgets, devices and innovations. However, the end of the nineteenth century and the start of the twentieth was also a time that saw many (3) ………………….. (REVOLT) changes.

People had needed to show (4) ………………….. (FLEXIBL E) throughout the nineteenth century, as the effects of the Industrial Revolution meant constantly making (5) ………………….. (ADJUST) to deal with changing working conditions. Towards the end of the century, though, people had to become more (6) ………………….. (ADAPT) than ever before. The typewriter (1873), the telephone (1876), the electric light bulb (1879) and other (7) ………………….. (INFLUENCE) developments gave people the (8) ………………….. (CAPABLE) to live and work in ways their grandparents could not have imagined. Over the next 30 years, little remained (9) ………………….. (ALTER) as the camera, the cinema, the phonograph, the plane and radio all had an (10) ………………….. (ELECTRIC) effect on people and society. The modern

N. Complete the sentences by changing the form of the word in capitals.

1   The weather’s been so ………………….. today that I don’t know what to wear. (CHANGE)

2   Bonnie showed a lot of ………………….. in the way she handled the problem with Olivia. (MATURE)

3   The flats were built in the 1960s, but they were all ………………….. in the 90s. (MODERN)

4   Jack got in a lot of trouble for ………………….. breaking school rules. (PERSIST)

5   I really don’t think I’d have the ………………….. to finish a marathon! (ENDURE)

6   I feel a lot better since I decided to stop eating ………………….. food. (PROCESS)

7   Can we ………………….. the lesson for next Wednesday? (ARRANGE)

8   We need to rely more on wave power, wind power and other ………………….. sources of energy. (NEW)

9   I gradually lost touch with Ricardo after his ………………….. to Islam. (CONVERT)

10   I’m scanning my gran’s photos onto my computer because they’d be ………………….. if anything happened to them. (PLACE)