topic-specific vocabulary
Education
Task 1. VERBS
Look at the sentences below and fill in the gaps using the appropriate word or expression
from A, B or C.
1. He got a good grade in his maths, but ________ his English exam.
A. passed B. lost C. failed
2. She had to ________ her First Certificate exam three times.
A. study B. take C. make
3. She ________ her driving test first time!
A. passed B. succeeded C. won
4. He is ________ medicine because he wants to become a doctor.
A. studying B. learning C. acquiring
5. He's ________ to speak French at college.
A. studying B. learning C. teaching
6. She's ________ herself to speak Japanese.
A. learning B. studying C. teaching
7. She ________ from Edinburgh University last year.
A. left B. graduated C. passed
8. We need to ________ young people about the dangers of alcohol.
A. educate B. bring up C. raise
9. I'm ________ for my history test tomorrow.
A. learning B. revising C. remembering
10. School ________ next week; I can't wait for the holidays to begin!
A. breaks into B. breaks up C. breaks down
11. In my country, it is ________ to go to school between the ages of 5 and 16.
A. legal B. required C. compulsory
12. My favourite ________ at school was always History.
A. topic B. subject C. object
Task 2. NOUNS
A. Look at the definitions below, and write the words they define in the grid on the next page. The first
letter of each word has been given to you. If you do it correctly, you will find the name we give to a
student at university in the shaded vertical strip. Use your dictionary to help you.
1. A child at school. (e.g., The piano teacher thinks she is her best p_ _ _ _ )
2. A person who is studying at a college or university. (e.g., She's a brilliant s _ _ _ _ _ _ )
3. A diploma from a university. (e.g., She has a d _ _ _ _ _ in mathematics from Oxford University)
4. A meeting of a small group of university students to discuss a subject with a teacher. (e.g. The
French s_ _ _ _ _ _ is being held in the conference room)
5. A talk given to a class of students, usually at a university or college (e.g., We are going to a l _ _ _
_ _ _ on pollution).
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For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (0 7475 6624 0)
topic-specific vocabulary
Education
6. A sum of money to help (e.g., Not many students get a full g _ _ _ _ )
7. A teaching session between a tutor and one or more students. (e.g., We had a t_ _ _ _ _ _ _ on
Russian history)
8. All the people who work in a company, school, college or other organization (e.g., Three
members of s_ _ _ _ are away sick)
9. A person with a degree from a university. (e.g., He's a g_ _ _ _ _ _ _ of London University)
10. An area of knowledge that you are studying. (e.g., Maths is his weakest s_ _ _ _ _ _)
11. The points given to a student for a test or a piece of work. (e.g., She got top m_ _ _ _ in English)
12. A school that is funded by the state. (e.g., He went to a s_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)
13. A school for little children. (e.g., We send our youngest son to the local k_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _)
1. p
2. s
3. d
4. s
5. l
6. g
7. t
8. s
9. g
10. s
11. m
12. s
13. k
B. What's the difference? Use your dictionary to help you find the difference between the
following pairs of words.
1. a teacher and a professor 4. a term and a semester
2. a primary school and a secondary school 5. a graduate in Britain and a graduate in the USA
3. a fee and a grant 6. a state school and a public school
Task 3. IDIOMS, COLLOQUIALISMS AND OTHER EXPRESSIONS
Look at these sentences and decide which of the idioms and colloquialisms in bold is correct.
In each sentence, there are two expressions which we do not use in English.
1. He gets up early to go to college, and comes home late. I keep telling him he shouldn't
buy a dog with two tails / burn the candle at both ends / try to wear two pairs of trousers.
2. Sally always does her homework on time and buys the teacher little presents. The other children
hate her. She's such a teacher's toy / teacher's jewel / teacher's pet.
3. He'll have to pull his socks up / polish his head / empty his washing basket and work harder or he'll
fail his exams.
4. She didn't work hard enough and flunked / splodged / squidged her exams.
5. They didn't go to school, but chased the tiger / emptied their heads / played truant and went
fishing instead.
6. He never comes to his English lessons. He's always smirking / skiving / shrinking.
58
For reference, see the Easier English Dictionary for Students (0 7475 6624 0)
