Practice English Vocabulary C1 Exercises – Thinking and learning

A. Circle the correct word.

1   Don’t be so optimistic / pessimistic. Everything’s going to be fine, you’ll see!

2   Most newspapers are usually biased / prejudiced towards a certain political outlook.

3   I’m slightly dubious / cynical about whether Sean’s idea is going to work.

4   To suggest that it’s possible to create a society without crime is a little naïve / sceptical, isn’t it?

5   The only ingenious / plausible explanation I can think of is that Jenna got the dates wrong.

6   Please don’t baffle / discriminate me with loads of technical terminology. Use plain, simple English!

7   It’s not always easy to assume / assess someone’s suitability for a job just by talking to them in a short interview.

8   How can the government justify / speculate spending so much on the armed forces?

9   Looking at the damage, I would estimate / deduce that the painting will cost at least €2,000 to restore properly.

10   I don’t think you should reflect / presume that lots of people are going to help you with this project.

B. Complete using the correct form of the words in the box. More than one word might fit in each gap, but try to use all the words.

1   It took me quite a long time to ……………………. what the aim of the game was.

2   The jury are still ……………………., but they’re expected to reach a verdict soon.

3   I ……………………. from your tutor that you’re thinking of changing course.

4   You really have to ……………………. very hard when you are doing calligraphy.

5   I’m seriously ……………………. asking for a pay rise tomorrow.

6   How long do you ……………………. it’ll take to get to Manchester?

7   I don’t ……………………. I could borrow your lecture notes this weekend, could I?

8   If you’ve ever ……………………. the question ‘Why does the universe bother to exist?’, then this is the book for you.

9   Let’s not even ……………………. the possibility of failure.

C. Each of the words in bold is in the wrong sentence. Write the correct words on the lines.

1   I’m in a real hunch because I’ve been invited to two parties on Saturday and I don’t know which one to go to. …………………….

2   Dave said he’s got complete guesswork in us, and thinks we’re going to do a great job. …………………….

3   Sarah’s a/an intuition when it comes to astrophysics, but she’s not very practical in everyday things. …………………….

4   You often need to use a little educated notion when you’re starting a cryptic crossword. …………………….

5   I’ve got a/an ideology that someone in this office is going to get promoted soon. …………………….

6   Communism and capitalism are very different types of dilemma. …………………….

7   Who gave you the faith for the main character in the book? …………………….

8   Detective Tacker had absolutely no evidence that Roddard was involved, but all his paradox told him that he was. …………………….

9   I’ve got a small inspiration about the exam syllabus. Should I talk to Mrs Jacobs about it? …………………….

10   Paying mothers a salary to raise their children is an interesting genius. …………………….

11   The fact that more people would come here if the place wasn’t so crowded is a real query. …………………….

D. Choose the correct word.

Letter to the editor

The Prime Minister’s comments yesterday on education spending miss the point, as the secondary education system also needs a major overhaul. Firstly, the system only views the weakest learners as having special (1) ………………… . The brightest and most (2) ………………… students are not encouraged to develop to their full potential. Secondly, there’s too much testing and not enough learning. My fifteen-year-old daughter for example, has just spent the last month or so (3) ………………… for exams. These aren’t even real, important exams, as her GCSEs will be next year They’re just (4) ………………… exams. Is the work she’s been doing really going to make her more (5) ………………… about her subjects, or will she forget it all tomorrow? I suspect the latter.

Thirdly, the standard (6) ………………… doesn’t give students any (7) ………………… in developing practical work-related, living and social skills, or in skills necessary for higher education. How many students entering university have the first idea what the difference is between (8) ………………… someone else’s work and making good use of someone else’s ideas? Shouldn’t they have been taught this at school? How many of them are really able to go about (9) ………………… – a skill that’s essential at university because there are no teachers to tell you what to do – in an efficient way? Indeed, how many students (10) ………………… from university totally unable to spell even simple English words correctly? The system is letting our children down.

1     A requests              B desires         C needs                      D wants

2     A inattentive          B ignorant       C intensive                 D conscientious

3     A cramming           B lecturing      C reading                    D practising

4     A false                     B mock             C fake                         D artificial

5     A knowledgeable  B intellectual   C academic                D intelligent

6     A timetable            B lecture          C seminar                   D curriculum

7     A lesson                  B subject         C tuition                      D tutorial

8     A writing                 B going over   C plagiarising             D repeating

9     A reviewing            B revision        C distance learning   D self-study

10   A qualify                 B graduate      C depart                      D exit

E. Match to make sentences.

A   together exactly what happened that evening.

B   in the fact that he’d never see her again.

C   up a brilliant excuse to tell Rachel.

D   over for a while before I make a final decision.

E   this through properly yet.

F   out how to get everyone to the sports centre without Phil knowing.

G   upon such a great idea for a website.

F. Write one word in each gap so that each second sentence has a similar meaning to the first sentence.

1   I need to consider your offer very carefully before I make a decision.

      I need to ………………. over your offer very carefully before I make a decision.

2   Lee had the brilliant idea of booking a clown for the end-of-term party.

      Lee came ………………. ………………. the brilliant idea of booking a clown for the end-of-term party.

3   It’s time you realised that you’ve got responsibilities now.

      It’s time you faced ………………. ………………. the fact that you’ve got responsibilities now.

4   I’m going to have to improve my spoken German before I go to Munich.

      I’m going to have to brush ………………. ………………. my spoken German before I go to Munich.

5   I didn’t like the idea at first but now I do.

      I didn’t like the idea at first but I’ve ………………. round ………………. it now.

6   It’s a general knowledge quiz so you can’t do any revision for it.

      There’s nothing to swot ………………. ………………. as it’s a general knowledge quiz.

7   We were right at the back of the hall so I couldn’t hear what the speaker was saying.

      I was unable to ………………. out what the speaker was saying because we were right at the back of the hall.

8   We finally thought of a way to get the band into the hotel without the press knowing.

      We finally puzzled ………………. a way to get the band into the hotel without the press knowing.

9   I’ve found out a lot of information about the history of English language teaching recently.

      I’ve been ………………. up on the history of English language teaching recently.

G. Phrasal verbs with out, such as puzzle out, are often connected to the idea of finding information. Which of these phrasal verbs with out are also connected to this idea?

1   Did you find out what time the parents’ meeting is?

2   I’ve been checking out whether it’s better to go by ferry or plane.

3   Susie reckons she’s sussed out a great way to get into the club for free.

4   We all piled out into the playground.

5   I can’t figure out how to change my password.

6   The band were completely drowned out by all the screaming fans.

7   I’m going to sound Bob out about his investing in the company.

8   Two essays really do stand out from the rest.

9   Jan’s good at keeping secrets, so you’ll have to worm it out of her!

10   None of us could fathom out why the experiment wasn’t working.

H. Write one word in each gap.

1   Jim seems to be ………………. the misapprehension that tomorrow’s a holiday. It isn’t.

2   These findings cast doubt ………………. previous research done in this field.

3   This photo’s a little ………………. of focus, but you can still see their faces.

4   Look ………………. the bright side – it’s nearly the end of term.

5   I’m not against animal testing ………………. principle.

6   I think I’ll always associate this song ………………. our holiday in Majorca.

7   You have to bear ………………. mind that there’ll be quite a few children there.

8   Where did Susan’s belief ………………. reincarnation come from?

9   Dad said that my borrowing the car tonight was ………………. of the question.

10   Hearing the news about Caroline put my small problems ………………. perspective.

11   What’s the best course of action from your point ………………. view?

12   You were hired ………………. the basis that you would be able to work on Sundays.

13   ………………. balance, I think the government’s doing a reasonable job.

14   We haven’t taken Julie’s thoughts ………………. account at all.

15   ………………. conclusion, I’d like to thank everyone who supported me during the early years.

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

1   I was so tired that I couldn’t even think ……………………… .

      I’ll come ……………………… to the point – you’re fired!

      It’s time to set the record ……………………… about what really happened that night.

2   She’s only eight, but she has the ……………………… age of an 18-year-old.

      Many ……………………… illnesses can be cured these days.

      I’m not very good at ……………………… arithmetic.

3   Philip does a very funny ……………………… of Tony.

      You really made an ……………………… on Pete – he hasn’t stopped talking about you!

      Why was I under the ……………………… that the exam was on Thursday?

4   Carter was the ……………………… behind the whole criminal operation.

      Could I just pick your ……………………… about good places to eat around here?

      We sat there racking our ……………………… trying to think of a place to take Paul and Doug in the evening.

5   Someone with no ……………………… of smell can’t taste food well either.

      I can’t make ……………………… of this film at all – what’s going on?

      Unplugging a toaster before you try to fix it is just common ………………………, isn’t it?

6   I thought Gordon’s new invention wouldn’t work at all, but in fact it worked like a ……………………… .

      Winning a cruise on the Queen Mary was a ……………………… come true for me and Albert.

      I’ve had the same recurring ……………………… for four nights in a row.

7   Motorists should always show ……………………… for pedestrians crossing the street at a zebra crossing.

      I’ll give some ……………………… to your proposals and get back to you.

      We stupidly didn’t take changes in interest rates into ……………………… when we got a mortgage for our house.

J. Write one word in each gap.

I read this week that a new organisation called Don’t Trust Online Information has been formed. The founder, Douglas Haverford-West, is quoted as saying, ‘It’s (1) ………………… my principles to trust anything I read on the Internet. I’ve started this organisation (2) ………………… the belief that there are millions like me who (3) ………………… their doubts about information presented as fact that has not gone through a thorough editorial process. There’s no question (4) ………………… us shutting down the Internet – we don’t want to do that – but DTOI has been set up with a (5) ………………… to raising awareness.’ I sympathise with Haverford-West, but I believe he’s wrong. I made up my (6) ………………… long ago not to completely trust anything I heard or read. Whether it’s on the Internet or, say, in a newspaper, is irrelevant in my opinion.

K. Complete the second sentence so that it has a similar meaning to the first sentence, using the word given. Do not change the word given. You must use between three and eight words, including the word given.

1   I never thought that we’d have legal problems. crossed

      It ……………………………….. that we’d have legal problems.

2   I’ve decided that teaching is not the right profession for me. conclusion

      I’ve ……………………………….. that teaching is not the right profession for me.

3   Could you tell me where you were last night, Mr Johnson? account

      Could you ……………………………….. your whereabouts last night, Mr Johnson?

4   The journalist pretended that she was a parent of one of the children. false

      The journalist ……………………………….. that she was a parent of one of the children.

5   You have to use logic and lateral thinking in equal measure in this job. strike

      You have to ……………………………….. logic and lateral thinking in this job.

6   I didn’t tell Angie because I didn’t want to hurt Eddie’s feelings. consideration

      I didn’t tell Angie ……………………………….. Eddie.

L. Complete using the words in the box.

1   The name Alan Hickson rings a …………………, but I can’t place him.

2   Stop wasting time splitting ………………… and look at the big picture.

3   Ask Simon about the sales targets. He always knows what’s ………………… .

4   You’ve got to have your ………………… about you to succeed in advertising.

5   Don’t let success go to your …………………, will you?

6   No one told us that Diana was leaving, but we all put two and ………………… together.

7   I’m going to go round the ………………… if they don’t turn that music down soon.

8   Let’s take ………………… of the situation before we make a final decision.

9   How did they manage to keep me completely in the ………………… about this for so long?

10   The problem with Jane is that sometimes she can’t see the ………………… for the trees.

11   It took Dan a long time to understand what was going on. He’s usually quicker on the ………………… than that, isn’t he?

12   Frankly, you’re completely wrong and you haven’t got a ………………… to stand on.

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

1   There was quite a bit of ………………….. because the examiner handed out the wrong exam papers. CONFUSE

2   You’re acting completely ………………….. . Just calm down and pull yourself together. RATIONAL

3   Einstein’s ………………….. went unnoticed at school. BRILLIANT

4   This is generally considered to be the ………………….. guide to Australia. DEFINE

5   It’s absolutely ………………….. why the council decided to close down the youth club. EXPLAIN

6   I just stood there and listened in ………………….. as Ben told me the news. BELIEVE

7   Greg’s ………………….. to say the least, so I wouldn’t ask him to choose a hotel. DECIDE

8   Many children create ………………….. friends to talk to. IMAGINE

9   He was found not guilty by reason of ………………….. and so was sent to a mental institution rather than prison. SANE

10   Your argument is ………………….. . Just because you want me to be a doctor doesn’t mean I want to be one. LOGIC

N. The prefix ii-, as in illogical, is often used to make a positive word negative. Which of the words in bold in the following sentences are negative forms of positive words?

1   Doctors’ handwriting is usually illegible.

2   There’s a beautiful illustration on page six.

3   People who are illiterate may need some help filling in forms.

4   She had an illustrious career as a local politician.

5   It’s a totally illiberal law that’s just going to restrict our freedoms further.

6   Several senior politicians have resigned over the illegality of the war.

7   Illegitimate children were given very little social recognition in the past.

8   The magician didn’t really cut his assistant in two – it was only an illusion.

9   The lights illuminated the building beautifully at night.

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

Rhetoric

The (1) ………………… (CONCEIVE) of ‘rhetoric’, or effective public speaking, dates back thousands of years. The underlying (2) ………………… (ASSUME) behind rhetoric is that how you present an argument can greatly influence whether people are persuaded by you or not. There is (3) ………………… (DOUBT) plenty of evidence to support this idea – it’s practically (4) ………………… (THINK), for example, for a successful politician to be a poor communicator – but is it just a question of style winning over substance?

Certainly, it is often said of politicians that they talk complete (5) ………………… (SENSE) but what they say they say with such (6) ………………… (CONVINCE) that we tend to believe them, at least when they’re in opposition. On the other hand, (7) ………………… (WISE) and knowledge are of little value if you cannot communicate them effectively to your peers or to the next generation. It is the combination of clear (8) ………………… (REASON), sound (9) ………………… (JUDGE) and effective presentation and communication skills that defines true rhetoric. A true rhetorician should always come across as knowledgeable, and never as (10) ………………… (OPINION) or ignorant.