Unit Two

2a – Fill in the gaps

From the following list, use each word only once to complete the sentences below. Remember that
in the case of nouns and verbs you may need to change the form of the word:

achieve (v) 앫 automatic (adj) 앫 conceive (v) 앫 create (v)

ensue (v) 앫 equilibrium (n) 앫 manipulate (v)
mathematics (n) 앫 innovative (adj) 앫 period (n) 앫 precede (v)
section (n) 앫 series (n) 앫 stable (adj) 앫 tradition (n)

1. In order to be successful, some politicians _______________________ other people to get what they
want.

2. Japanese and Korean companies have invested heavily in the UK, _______________________
thousands of new jobs.

3. The Internet was first _____________________ of as a way of linking computers in the USA
together.

4. Serious unrest and rioting _____________________ as a result of the decision to ignore the result of
the election.

5. Since consumers are always demanding new products, companies which can be
__________________ are more likely to succeed.

6. Most planes today are controlled not by human pilots but by a computer system known as an
________________ pilot, which is even responsible for taking off and landing.

7. Most employers insist that their employees have qualifications in English and _______________.

8. Some academics have argued that standards have been falling because more students are
_______________ first class degrees.

9. Over a _________________ of twenty years, the economy grew at an average of 8% per year.

10. The price of a product will not change if there is _________________ between the supply and the
demand for that product.

11. By ____________________, wedding guests in most cultures give presents or money to the newly-
married couple.

12. In addition to the regular lectures, we have a __________________ of public lectures given by guest
speakers from other universities.

13. Although the arrival of coffee in Britain ___________________ that of tea, it is the second drink
which is the more popular today.

14. Reports are usually divided into separate _____________________ with headings such as 'Findings'
and 'Conclusions.'

15. After a very difficult night, his blood pressure became ___________________ again and his family
were allowed to visit him.

10
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).
 Unit Two
2b – Choose the right word
In each of the sentences below, decide which bold word is more suitable.

1. A new moon occurs / takes place every 28 days.

2. Students should not be inert / passive but should try instead to contribute as much as possible to
discussions in seminar groups.

3. On the first day, the course director and the subject tutor explained their respective / single roles
to the new students.

4. It is now possible to infer / imply a link between using mobile phones and contracting some forms
of cancer.

5. The fact that population growth is still accelerating / catching up is one of the most important
problems we face.

6. Most universities need to earn money from private sources, but the important / major part of their
funding still comes from the government.

7. Expenditure on weapons such as guns, tanks and aeroplanes consumes a large piece / portion of a
country's wealth.

8. Because foreign exchange rates ebb and flow / fluctuate, it is not always possible for exporters to
know how much money they will receive from sales.

9. Member countries award / contribute money to the United Nations to pay for the running of the
organization.

10. The main concentration / focus of Greenpeace is on problems concerning pollution.

11. Although their plan / design was often very good, the quality of many British cars tended to be
poor.

12. Although it is very expensive, it is possible to convert / exchange other forms of carbon into
diamonds.

13. Prehistoric man could not think / comprehend why the moon appears to grow bigger and then
smaller each month.

14. In some situations, a law court can authorise / let the police to enter a house without the owner's
permission.

Don't forget to keep a record of the words and expressions that you have learnt, review
your notes from time to time and try to use new vocabulary items whenever possible.
11
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).
Unit Two
2c – Finish the sentence
Choose the best ending for each of the sentence extracts below from the list underneath:

1. In 1905, Einstein published the first part of his theory…

2. Environmentalists point out that electric cars just shift…

3. Most metals expand…

4. As a result of the intense…

5. Fifty years ago, most smokers were not aware…

6. The new grading machine has the function…

7. In many universities, there is a coffee bar adjacent…

8. After studying for two hours, it becomes difficult to concentrate…

9. Some children show a great deal of maturity…

10. Sadly, according to government statistics,…

11. In the seventeenth century, Galileo demonstrated…

12. In the 1980's, the US and Soviet governments made the crucial…

13. Politicians often complain that newspapers distort…

14. The history of the Americas is usually from seen from the perspective…

15. An already difficult operation was complicated…

a. …of the dangers of smoking.

b. …at a young age, while others may continue to be irresponsible.

c. …to the library where students can take a break.

d. …the pollution problem from the car itself to the electricity station.

e. …that all objects (heavy or light) fall at the same speed.

f. …heat of the fire, the front half of the train was completely destroyed.

g. …what they say so that the readers cannot read the truth.

h. …of relativity, which completely changed our ideas of time and space.

i. …of the European immigrants, rather than from that of the original inhabitants.

j. …on your work and so it is a good idea to take a break.

k. …when they are heated.

l. …of separating the larger pieces of metal from the smaller pieces.

m. …over 30% of marriages end in divorce within five years.

n. …decision to reduce the number of atomic weapons.

o. …by the fact that the patient had a history of heart disease.

12
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).
 Unit Two
2d – Word substitution
From the list below, choose one word which could be used in place of the language shown in bold
without changing the meaning of the sentence. Remember that you may need to change the form
or in some cases the grammatical class of the word:

affect (v) 앫 capillary (n) 앫 notion (n) 앫 decade (n) 앫 emphasise (v)
expose (v) 앫 generate (v) 앫 consequent (adj) 앫 pertinent (adj)
predict (v) 앫 select (v) 앫 signify (v) 앫 structure (n) 앫 undergo (v)

1. Over the previous ten years, we have seen an enormous growth in the
number of home personal computers. ___________________

2. Lecturers often speak more loudly and more slowly when they want to
stress an important point. ___________________

3. One important function of newspapers is to uncover dishonest behaviour

and wrong-doing by those in power. ___________________

4. The organisation of the company has changed completely, with far fewer
senior managers. ___________________

5. The decision to give longer prison sentences indicated a hardening of the

government's attitude towards drug offenders. ___________________

6. The new computer system created a lot of interest among potential

customers. ___________________

7. When the government increased the tax on petrol, there was a resultant
rise in transport costs.
___________________
8. In the first instance, the blood passes out of the heart, through the lungs
and along the arteries before reaching the small blood vessels within the
___________________
skin.

9. Until the sixteenth century, the idea that the Earth moves around the Sun
___________________
was regarded as a ridiculous idea, whereas today we accept this concept
as completely normal.

10. Pollution is a problem which has an effect on every country today. ___________________

11. Most economists forecast that China will become a leading world
economy in the twenty-first century. ___________________

12. One difficult aspect of writing an essay is selecting material which is

relevant to the topic and excluding irrelevant information. ___________________

13. The company has experienced a number of significant changes in the last
few years. ___________________

14. The first thing to do is to choose the courses which you would like to
study and then look at each university prospectus. ___________________

Don't forget to keep a record of the words and expressions that you have learnt, review
your notes from time to time and try to use new vocabulary items whenever possible.

13
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).
Unit Two
2e – Choose the best word
For each of the sentences here, choose the best word from a,b or c:

1. Although he had no _____________ injuries, doctors later found that he was suffering from internal
bleeding.
a. outside b. external c. outlying

2. There is a marked ______________ between the poverty of the poorest members of society and the
affluence of the richest.
a. opposite b. contrast c. variation

3. The allied forces launched ______________ bombing raids on several important sites in and around
the enemy capital.
a. simultaneous b. contemporary c. coincidental

4. Students are often advised to look at the first and last ______________ of a book before attempting
to read it in detail.
a. headings b. chapters c. titles

5. Although this is far from certain, the ______________ age of the universe is about 4.6 billion years.
a. approximate b. general c. rough

6. Some economists argue that new ______________ causes unemployment while others feel that it
allows more jobs to be created.
a. science b. engineering c. technology

7. After you have submitted your application, the university will attempt to ______________ that the
information you have supplied is correct.
a. verify b. certify c. investigate

8. Young children go through a ______________ in their development when they try to copy
everything they hear.
a. process b. phase c. transition

9. In the some countries, there is no tax on books on the ______________ that education should not
be taxed.
a. principle b. idea c. concept

10. Further information can be ______________ from the nearest British Council office.
a. obtained b. found c. got

11. As everyone knows, certain metals such as iron and steel can have a __________________ field while
others like copper cannot.
a. electrical b. magnetic c. chemical

12. Just as dividing up an orange into _____________ makes it easier to eat, always try to break up a
longer piece of text into small blocks of words.
a. segments b. pieces c. sections

13. One problem for any teacher is that each student has his/her own ______________ needs.
a. separate b. individual c. distinctive

14. Good theories are important of course, but we must have _______________ evidence to support
them.
a. empirical b. true c. realistic

14
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).
 Unit Two
2f – Make a collocation
Start by reading through the sentences below. Then take one word from the box on the left and
combine this with one from the box on the right to make a collocation. (Note that more than one
pairing may be possible and also that some words appear more than once.) Then try to match your
combinations with the spaces in the sentences below:

endangered 앫 sequence of events 앫 sophisticated 앫 angrily

separate 앫 devote 앫 highly signals 앫 species 앫 feasible
transmit 앫 assert 앫 inhibit details 앫 agreement 앫 the right
precise 앫 reacted 앫 verbal entities 앫 phenonema
natural 앫 economically growth 앫 time and money

1. In spite of advances in technology, we are still at risk from _________________ _________________

such as earthquakes and floods.

2. One threat facing companies today is _________________ _________________ computer 'hackers'

who break into the most advanced computer systems.

3. The accident was the result of a tragic _________________ _________________ which could have
been prevented with better safety procedures.

4. The company _________________ _________________ to the suggestion that its products were
unsafe.

5. There is considerable doubt over whether the proposal by the American government for a manned
trip to Mars is technically and _________________ _________________

6. Tigers (and other large cats) are now an _________________ _________________ and may
disappear altogether in the future.

7. After the Second World War, African nations started to _________________ _________________ to
become independent.

8. In law, a _________________ _________________ even though it is not written down like a formal
contract, is still a contract.

9. While she refused to give any _________________ _________________, the Minister admitted that
several people had been arrested.

10. In order to produce new medicines, drug companies have to _________________

_________________ on a huge scale to their research and development activities.

11. Most economists believe that high taxes _________________ _________________ in the economy.

12. In spite of its age, the satellite is still continuing to _________________ _________________ to Earth.

13. Are the mind and body the same thing or are they two _________________ _________________?

15
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).
 Answer key
Answer key
Unit One 2e

1a 1. external, 2. contrast, 3. simultaneous, 4. chapters,

5. approximate, 6. technology, 7. verify, 8. phase,
1. similar, 2. formulate, 3. context, 4. devised, 5. vertical, 9. principle, 10. obtained, 11. magnetic, 12. segments,
6. impact, 7. usage, 8. summary, 9. denote , 10. arbitrary, 13. individual, 14. empirical
11. assigned, 12. criteria, 13. ignored, 4. data
2f
1b
1. natural phenomena, 2. highly sophisticated,
1. evident, 2. publishes, 3. involving, 4. negative, 3. sequence of events, 4. reacted angrily, 5. economically
5. environment, 6. evaluate, 7. range, 8. modified, feasible, 6. endangered species, 7. assert the right,
9. restricted, 10. derive, 11. varies, 12. pursued, 13. 8. verbal agreement, 9. precise details, 10. devote time
consists of and money, 11. inhibit growth, 12. transmit signals,
13. separate entities
1c

1. m, 2. c, 3. a, 4. h, 5. b, 6. g, 7. j, 8. e, 9. l, 10. k, Unit Three

11. i, 12. d, 13. f
3a
1d
1. norm, 2. discrete, 3. co-ordinate, 4. geography,
1. comply with, 2. equivalent, 3. specify, 4. is required, 5. sources, 6. preposition, 7. estimates, 8. underlying,
5. obvious, 6. presuming, 7. guarantee, 8. methods, 9. rational, 10. pole, 11. scheme, 12. task
9. imply, 10. sum, 11. proceeding,
12. concluded 3b

1e 1. deficient, 2. plot, 3. transition, 4. appropriate,

5. proprietor, 6. communes, 7. convened, 8. satellites,
1. assess, 2. dominate, 3. definite, 4. approach, 9. issue, 10. deviate, 11. factor, 12. abandoned
5. potential, 6. elements, 7. components, 8. compensate,
9. subsequent, 10. distinct, 11. indicates, 12. regions, 3c
13. prime
1. c, 2. j, 3. f, 4. d, 5. l, 6. g, 7. e, 8. k, 9. i, 10. h,
1f 11. b, 12. a

1. valid reason, 2. new concept, 3. constant temperature, 3d

4. new dimension, 5. analyse results, 6. establish a link,
7. tense atmosphere, 8. initial results, 9. leading role, 1. dispose of, 2. chemicals, 3. credible, 4. rely on,
10. ultimate responsibility, 11. marital status, 12. put 5. adequate, 6. consume, 7. accomplished, 8. occupied,
forward a hypothesis, 13. reverse the verdict, 9. exerts, 10. manifested, 11. conduct, 12. areas
14. minimum requirement
3e

Unit Two 1. adjust, 2. superficial, 3. maximum, 4. circumstances,

5. revealed, 6. image, 7. drama , 8. motive, 9. orientate,
2a 10. explicit, 11. contaminated, 12. contact, 13. appreciate

1. manipulate, 2. creating, 3. conceived, 4. ensued, 3f

5. innovative, 6. automatic, 7. mathematics, 8. achieving,
9. period, 10. equilibrium, 11. tradition, 12. series, 1. labour shortage, 2. dynamic personality, 3. physical
13. preceded, 14. sections, 15. stable exercise, 4. power and prestige, 5. final decision,
6. classic example, 7. previous experience, 8. positive
2b aspects, 9. outspoken critic, 10. common feature,
11. computer network, 12. global economy
1. occurs, 2. passive, 3. respective, 4. infer,
5. accelerating, 6. major, 7. portion, 8. fluctuate,
9. contribute, 10. focus, 11. design, 12. convert, Unit Four
13. comprehend, 14. authorise
4a
2c
1. impressed, 2. distributed, 3. analogy, 4. energy,
1. h, 2. d, 3. k, 4. f, 5. a, 6. l, 7. c, 8. j, 9. b, 10. m, 5. perpendicular, 6. speculate, 7. text, 8. administer,
11. e, 12. n, 13. g, 14. I, 15. o 9. rejected, 10. spontaneous, 11. assembled, 12.
intervene
2d
4b
1. decade, 2. emphasise, 3. expose, 4. structure,
5. signified, 6. generated, 7. consequent, 8. capillaries, 1. sphere, 2. psychology, 3. investigate, 4. axis,
9. notion, 10. affects, 11. predict, 12. pertinent, 5. appraises, 6. symbols, 7. heredit, 8. discourse,
13. undergone, 14. select 9. acquire, 10. tentative, 11. emotion

4c

1. d, 2. k, 3. e, 4. a, 5. l, 6. j, 7. f, 8. b, 9. i, 10. c,
11. g, 12. h

73
© A&C Black Publishers Ltd 2007. For reference see Easier English Dictionary for Students (978 07475 6624 3).