General Vocabulary

Word association: Adjectives

Complete the sentences with an adjective from the box. This adjective should be one that is often
used (i.e., it collocates) with the nouns and / or adverbs in italics in the sentence. To help you, there
is a sample sentence to show you how that adjective could work with one of the nouns or adverbs.
The first one has been done as an example.

careful central critical damaging essential false important

impossible interested lengthy major material modest noticeable
objective particular popular positive rapid rational realistic severe

1. Important is often followed by the nouns aspect, element, factor, feature, issue,
part, or point. It is often preceded by the adverbs crucially, extremely, particularly, terribly, or vitally.
(Sample sentence: It is vitally important to disconnect the appliance from the power supply before
dismantling it).

2. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns goods, possessions, prosperity,

resources, rewards, wealth, or well-being.
(Sample sentence: He believed in the principles of life, liberty, and the pursuit of _____ wealth).

3. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns analysis, assessment, description,

evaluation, or measurement. It is often preceded by the adverbs completely, entirely, purely, totally,
truly, or wholly.
(Sample sentence: We tried to keep a purely _____ record of what we heard and saw).

4. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns breakthrough, pause, change,

concern, contribution, drawback, factor, influence, obstacle, problem, setback, source, or upheaval.
(Sample sentence: The withdrawal of sponsorship was a _____ setback to our plans).

5. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns argument, aspect, debate,

feature, idea, importance, issue, role, or theme.
(Sample sentence: The _____ theme of his talk was the possibility of interstellar travel).

6. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns approach, argument, choice,

decision, explanation, hypothesis, or thought.
(Sample sentence: We need to make a _____ choice that is based on our needs and on our available
funds).

7. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns consequence, effect, impact,

result, admission, allegation, criticism, or disclosure.
(Sample sentence: After a series of _____ allegations about his professional misconduct, he resigned).

8. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns change, decline, deterioration,

expansion, growth, increase, progress, rise, or succession.
(Sample sentence: The computer industry went through several _____ changes when the Internet
was introduced to the public for the first time).

9. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns accusation, allegation,

assumption, belief, claim, description, impression, or statement. It is often preceded by the adverbs
blatantly, completely, entirely, patently, totally, or utterly.
(Sample sentence: She made several _____ assumptions about her new professor).

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 General Vocabulary
10. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns analysis, assessment,
consideration, deliberation, examination, observation, or planning.
(Sample sentence: After _____ observation, we noticed that the drug was beginning to take effect).

11. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns belief, misconception, myth,

opinion, or view.
(Sample sentence: It is a _____ misconception that men are better drivers than women).

12. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns analysis, appraisal, evaluation,

examination, or scrutiny.
(Sample sentence: They carried out a _____ examination of the documents to see if they were genuine).

13. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns attention, concern, emphasis,

importance, need, relevance, or significance.
(Sample sentence: When you are writing an essay, you should pay _____ attention to cohesion of ideas).

14. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns characteristic, component,

element, feature, ingredient, part, or requirement.
(Sample sentence: A working knowledge of Spanish is an _____ requirement if you want the job).

15. ...................................................... is often preceded by the adverbs comparatively, fairly, quite,

rather, relatively, suitably, surprisingly, or very.
(Sample sentence: Everyone said he was arrogant and boastful, but when I interviewed him, I found
him to be surprisingly _____ about his achievements).

16. ...................................................... is often preceded by the adverbs absolutely, almost, nearly,

practically, quite, seemingly, totally, utterly, or virtually.
(Sample sentence: I found the language practically _____ to learn).

17. ...................................................... is often preceded by the adverbs deeply, extremely, genuinely,

mainly, particularly, primarily, principally, or seriously.
(Sample sentence: I like nineteenth-century art, but I’m primarily _____ in the pre-Raphaelite movement).

18. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns approach, attitude, feedback,

outlook, reinforcement, response, or view.
(Sample sentence: His presentation was well-received, and he got a lot of _____ feedback).

19. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns change, difference, drop,

improvement, or increase.
(Sample sentence: There has been a _____ increase in the cost of living over the last three years).

20. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns delay, discussion, interview,

negotiations, pause, or period.
(Sample sentence: After a _____ pause, she continued speaking).

21. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns difficulty, hardship, problem,

recession, setback, shortage, or threat.
(Sample sentence: Earlier settlers in the region faced _____ hardship, and many died young from
illness and starvation).

22. ...................................................... is often followed by the nouns alternative, assessment, attitude,

chance, estimate, expectation, goal, option, prospect, target, or view.
(Sample sentence: When you are studying for the TOEFL®, you should try to set yourself _____
targets, and not try to do too much too quickly).

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General Vocabulary

Word association: Nouns

Rearrange the letters in bold to make nouns. These nouns should collocate with the verbs, adjectives,
and other words in italics in the sentences. To help you, the first letter of each noun is underlined.
Write your answers in the crossword on page 70. The first one has been done as an example.

Across (Ö)

1. aBkrgcdonu is often preceded by the words cultural, disadvantaged, educational, ethnic, middle-
class, privileged, religious, social, or working class.

5. An action can have a / an adverse, beneficial, cumulative, damaging, detrimental, dramatic, harmful,
immediate, major, negative, positive, profound, serious, significant, or substantial cfefte on
something.

7. When they speak, a person might have a broad, heavy, pronounced, strong, thick, or unmistakable
ceactn.

8. If you are not sure about the answer to a question, you can take a / an educated, good, informed,
inspired, lucky, rough, or wild esgsu.

11. You can accept, ask for, follow, get, give, ignore, obtain, offer, provide, receive, take, or want
vacedi to or from someone.

12. You can give a problem careful, detailed, due, or serious tieracoidonns.

14. A esggsuonti can be constructive, helpful, positive, practical, sensible, or tentative. You can adopt,
make, offer, oppose, reject, submit, volunteer, or welcome one of these.

15. You can disobey, disregard, follow, give, ignore, issue, obey, provide, or repeat an tiinstonruc.

17. A utonsoli to a problem or dispute can be ideal, optimal, peaceful, possible, practical, satisfactory,
simple, or workable.

19. You can ask, deny, gain, get, give, grant, obtain, receive, refuse, request, or seek sieomiprsn to do
something.

20. You can encounter, experience, face, find, or have diulfctyfi with something.

21. A uaonficaqtili can be academic, educational, formal, professional, specialist, or vocational. You
can acquire, gain, get, have, hold, obtain, or possess one of these.

22. Opryuptiotn is often preceded by the adjectives ample, excellent, golden, great, ideal, lost, missed,
perfect, rare, or unique. It is also often preceded by the verbs miss, offer, provide, seize, or take.

25. When you are trying to guess or calculate something, you can make a / an accurate, conservative,
realistic, reliable, or rough steimeat.

29. A product or a person can have broad, mass, popular, universal, or wide paalpe.

32. You can collect, destroy, gather, or produce ideevenc that something has been done. This can be
admissible, circumstantial, conclusive, incriminating, sufficient, or supporting.

33. Menecidi can be alternative, complementary, conventional, herbal, holistic, orthodox, or traditional.

34. When you do something, you usually have a / an compelling, good, legitimate, logical, main, major,
obvious, simple, or valid ernsao for doing it.

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 General Vocabulary
Down (Ø)

2. If you are not careful, or if you are unlucky, you might be involved in a bad, fatal, horrific, minor,
nasty, serious, or tragic deacntci.

3. You can accept, assume, bear, exercise, fulfill, shoulder, or take poretysnsilibi for your (or someone
else’s) actions.

4. You can conclude, negotiate, reach, secure, or sign an garenetme.

6. An object can have distinctive, important, interesting, key, main, special, striking, or unusual
tufeesar.

9. If someone has a rather ‘negative’ personality, their avbeiohr can be aggressive, antisocial, bad,
disruptive, insulting, threatening, or violent.

10. You can have a brilliant, checkered, distinguished, glittering, promising, successful, or varied recear.

12. When you work as part of a team, you can make a great, huge, important, major, outstanding,
positive, significant, useful, or valuable utibconinotr to the team and its activities.

13. You can give a / an accurate, brief, detailed, full, general, vague, or vivid ponderitisc of something.

16. sciCrmiti of something (for example, a book or the actions of a politician) can be adverse, fierce,
outspoken, severe, strong, or widespread.

18. You can conduct, demand, launch, order, require, or undertake an tigaiesnvtino into something.

23. For actions and achievements, you can command, deserve, earn, gain, have, lose, show, or win
pcteres. This can be considerable, deep, genuine, healthy, mutual, or proper.

24. When doing something complicated, you can adopt, apply, choose, develop, devise, employ,
pioneer, provide, or use a ehtmdo that makes it easier or more effective.

26. A qeencsue can be alphabetical, chronological, logical, numerical, or random.

27. A gmjutend can be affected, delivered, exercised, formed, given, impaired, made, passed, reserved,
or suspended.

28. You can undertake a / an ambitious, collaborative, individual, innovative, joint, major, minor, or
special ctpreoj.

30. You can assess, chart, check, evaluate, follow, hamper, hinder, impede, monitor, obstruct, review,
slow, track, or watch the prsorseg of something.

31. If someone does something wrong, you might teach them a hard, harsh, important, salutary, or
valuable solens.

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General Vocabulary

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