HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

Unit 1
Vocabulary
odds and ends

control freak

go-getter

life saver

I lost my train of thought

by and large

chatter box

drifter

the time of your life

As I was saying

ifs, ands, or buts

free spirit

all walks of life

Ill begin again

rough and ready

doer

the story of my life

Just look at my notes

heart and soul

outgoing type

a fact of life

in this day and age

joker

larger than life

Ill just have a sip of

water

peace and quiet

law and order

Grammar
Time Phrases: page 157
The Perfect Aspect: page 157

Unit 2
Vocabulary
PHRASAL VERBS:

IDIOMS:

ABBREVIATIONS:

get by

to shoot oneself in the foot

incl.

get down to

to foot the bill

e.g.

get on with

to put ones foot down

i.e.

get ahead

to get ones foot in the door

NB

getting at

to put ones foot in ones mouth

etc.

get through

to follow in ones footsteps

to be second nature
to be on the safe side
to do something by the book
to cut corners
to wrap something in cotton wool
to take every precaution
to be fraught with danger
to have a safety net

Grammar
The Continuous Aspect: page 158
Present and Perfect Participle Clauses: page 159
[1]

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

Unit 3
Vocabulary
brick
concrete
cottage
shack
steel
tower
warehouse
timber

characterless
metropolis
bedroom
wooden
leafy
quiet

roof garden
courtyard
gym
home theater
sauna

IDIOMS:
bang your head against a brick wall
drive someone up the wall
the writing is on the wall
be off the wall
be up against the wall
be a fly on the wall

Grammar
Intensifying Adverbs: page 159
Emphatic Structures: page 160

Unit 4
Vocabulary
PHRASAL VERBS:
come about
come up with
come down to
come across
come off
come up against

IDIOMS:
a drop of water
a stroke of luck
a shred of evidence
a glimmer of hope
a flash of inspiration
a hint of disappointment

give it some thought

give it your best
give us the go-ahead
give him a break
give it some time
give it a shot
give it a try

make a breakthrough
have a bright idea
take it one stage further
fill a need
spot a trend
reinvent the wheel

Grammar
Past Modals form and use: page 160
Probability form and use: page 161

Unit 5
Vocabulary
setting
deals with
appeal
theme

ascent
descent
street
path
track
route
trail
way

IDIOMS:
fair share
no-go
fine line
ill will

Grammar
Substitution: page 162
Nominalization: page 163
[2]

nitty-gritty
real deal
telltale
wishy-washy

COMPOUND
ADJECTIVES:
thought-provoking
fast-moving
strong-willed
well-written
heart-wrenching

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

Unit 6
Vocabulary
graze your knee
bump your head
pull a muscle
lose your voice
stub your toe
sprain your ankle
strain your back
chip a tooth
bruise your ribs
break your arm

PHRASAL VERBS:
keep in shape
do exercise
go for a run
watch your weight
go on a diet
work out at the gym
stretch your legs
keep active

IDIOMS:
stay healthy
keep in shape
watch your weight
work out at the gym
go for a walk/ run/
rude
stretch your legs
go on a diet
stay active

lose face
put on a brave face
at face value
keep a straight face
face the music
on the face of it

Grammar
Phrasal Verbs: page 163
Verb Patterns: page 164

Unit 7
Vocabulary
jinx
notoriety
outlaw
feat
sacrifice
evidence
ill-fated

defeat
invade
resist
surrender
command
get revenge

IDIOMS:
to miss the boat
to strike gold
to hit the jackpot
to get a break
to blow ones chance
to not go ones way

bear the brunt

two sides to every story
bear resemblance
the same old story
bear a grudge
so the story goes
bear witness
the inside story
bear fruit
bear in mind

Grammar
Linking Words: page 165
Subordinate Clauses: page 166

Unit 8
Vocabulary
chat
upload
review
tweet
download
post (v.)

scrutinize
etiquette
handcuffs

IDIOMS:
buzz words
buy into
at the end of the day
ballpark figure
game plan
in the loop

its not rocket science

on the same page
reality check
think outside the box
a win-win situation
do someone a service

Grammar
Passive Reporting Verbs: page 166
Expressions with No: page 168
[3]

break the news

break the ice
break the mold
break the bank
break even

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

Unit 9
Vocabulary
ballad
melodic
solo artist
eclectic
soothing
lyrics

IDIOMS:
change your tune
strike a chord
play it by ear
know the score

blow my own horn

face the music
make a big song and dance
music to my ears

hit or miss
took a hit
a real hit
hit a nerve
hit the road
hit the right
note

rags to riches

Grammar
The Adverb Just: page 168
Expressing Purpose: page 16

Unit 10
Vocabulary
altruistic
sterile

excruciating
stab
stupor
swarm
doze
thorn

idioms:
ethnic groups
rich heritage
extended family
first-generation migrants
lend a hand

stop bugging me
to snake through
to wolf down food
to duck out of work
to hound someone
to parrot someone

free spirit
feel free to
theres no such thing as
a free lunch
a free-for-all
free rein
get off scot-free

Grammar
Tag Questions: page 169
Adverbs: page 170

Unit 11
Vocabulary
annoyed
livid
astonished
miserable
content

petrified
despondent
scared
ecstatic
taken aback

creepy
boil down
to
probe (v.)
core

intriguing
overwhelming
plausible
deliberate
imperfect
articulate

Grammar
Unreal Past page 171
Inversion in Conditionals page 171

[4]

IDIOMS:
on the move
all over the place
move to tears (move)
hot under the collar moving up in the world
a little down
Dont move a muscle!
speechless
move mountains
move a muscle
a little down
on edge
upbeat

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

Unit 12
Vocabulary
bleak
cloudless
idyllic
lush
monotonous
nighttime
rich
rolling
rustic
snow-capped
sparse
lens
giddy
wilderness

IDIOMS:
bone dry
brand new
fast asleep
freezing cold
lightning quick
pitch black
rock hard
scared stiff
sopping wet
stone cold
wide open
worried sick

Grammar
Approximation: page 172
Qualifiers: page 173

[5]

give her some space

the elephant in the room
breathing room
room for improvement

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

LIFE 6: Writing Topics for the Test

UNIT 1
1. What proverb or saying do you think best explains your philosophy on life? Write a three to five
paragraph essay explaining what the proverb or saying means, and how it relates to you by giving
specific examples from your life.
2. Write a cover letter (using formal letter writing elements, minimum two paragraphs) for one of
the following jobs:
professional sleeper (for scientific research)
magicians assistant
new ice cream flavor tester
President of the Republic of Argentina
UNIT 2
1. Do what you love and youll never work a day in your life. Write a three to five paragraph essay
explaining what this saying means.
2. Is it more important to have a high-paying job, or have a career that you enjoy? Write a three to
five paragraph essay to answer this question. Use specific reasons and examples to express your
opinion.
UNIT 3
1. Opinion Essay: Do you think that the government should spend public funds (tax payer money) on
public works of art (sculptures, murals, fountains)? Write a three to five paragraph essay explaining
why or why not. Use specific reasons and examples to express your opinion.
2. Opinion Essay: Is it better to live in the city or live in the country? Write a three to five paragraph
essay expressing your opinion. Use specific reasons and examples.
UNIT 4
1. Write a one-paragraph pitch for your favorite app (Instagram, WhatsApp, MiAutobus, etc.).
Describe how the app works, what problem the app solves, and why it is unique. Rhetorical
questions encouraged.
2. Do you think technology makes modern life less stressful or more stressful? Write a three to five
paragraph essay answering this question. Use specific reasons and examples to express your
opinion.
UNIT 5
1. Write a one-paragraph description of a place you have visited that left a strong impression on you.
You will be graded largely on how well you use descriptive language and imagery.
2. Write a three paragraph book review of a book you have read. Use descriptive language. Explain
the plot, setting, main character(s), theme, style of writing and your opinion of the book.

[6]

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

UNIT 6
1. Is it more important to have a healthy mind or a healthy body? Choose one, and write an informal
letter to your friend or family member explaining how they can make themselves healthier. Include
at least two activities they can do to improve their health.
2. Describe the most beautiful person that you know. Why is he or she beautiful? What distinguishes
their beauty other peoples?
UNIT 7
1. If you could live in a different century, past or future, in which century would you live? Write a
three to five paragraph essay comparing and contrasting the present century with the one you
choose. Use linking words.
2. Write a 200 to 250-word description of a historical event that occurred in your lifetime. Include
the events that led up to the main event, the main event, and the aftermath.
UNIT 8
1. Write a short news report about something that happened in your class this year (If nothing
interesting happened invent). Use cautious language and be sure to identify the 5 Ws and the H.
2. Do you think technology simplifies or complicates our social lives? Write a four paragraph essay
expressing your opinion. The essay must include two reasons supporting your opinion. Use
examples to help support your opinion.
UNIT 9
1. Do you think music education (learning and instrument or how to sing) should be compulsory in
schools? Write a four paragraph essay. Use specific reasons and examples to express your opinion.
2. Explain the term, The American Dream. What does it mean to you. Can you think of an example
or examples or people who have lived the American Dream?
UNIT 10
1. Write a three to five paragraph discursive essay. Your essay must include a hypothesis, thesis,
analysis and a conclusion. Suggested topics include: Cars a blessing or a curse, Should athletes
be allowed to take drugs to enhance their performance? Should YouTube be exempt from
censorship laws?
2. Describe a strange custom, tradition or ceremony (for example, traditions surrounding weddings,
or funerals); it can be from your culture or another culture. Describe the sequence of events, and
give your theory of why people started that tradition.
UNIT 11
1. If you had to choose only one, would you rather have your short term memory, or your long term
memory? Write an email to your teacher explaining your ideas about memory.
2. You work in a very important office in the government. A new employee has been hired who comes
to work in very informal clothing, i.e. sandals, short-sleeved shirts, and jeans. Your boss has told
you to warn the new employee about the strict dress code at the office. Write an email to the new
[7]

HIGH TEENS LIFE 6 WORD BANK

employee warning him or her about the dress code. Be careful not to hurt his or her feelings.
Choose a clear tone and avoid misinterpretation.
Unit 12
1. Do you prefer to take a vacation in the mountains or at the beach? Write a three to five paragraph
essay explaining your opinion. Use specific reasons and examples. Use descriptions of the
landscape that you prefer.
2. Think of the company you would most like to work for and write a speculative letter looking for a
job at the company. This is a cold call, which means you are not responding to any advertised job
opening, but you really want to work at this business. Be direct, recognize what the other person
wants, and use clear, short sentences.

[8]