Mindset for IELTS 2, Reading, Unit 2, Exercise 1

Exercise 1
skim-read to read quickly and superficially, in order to pick up the important
or significant details
Answer B
powerful adj (of people) being able to control and influence people and events
SYNONYM INFLUENTIAL an immensely powerful organization
one of the most powerful directors in Hollywood
collect [transitive] to go somewhere in order to take somebody/something away
collect something (from…) What day do they collect the rubbish/garbage?
The package is waiting to be collected.
(British English) collect somebody (from…) She's gone to collect her son
from school.
refrigeration [uncountable] (formal) the act or process of keeping food, etc. cold in
order to keep it fresh or preserve it / sự làm lạnh; sự ướp lạnh để bảo quản (thịt, hoa
quả..)
Keep all meat products under refrigeration.
dairy adj [only before noun] connected with the production of milk rather than meat
the dairy industry dairy cattle/farmers
a dairy cow/farm
flavour [countable] a particular type of taste
This yogurt comes in ten different flavours.
a wine with a delicate fruit flavour
collect [transitive] to go somewhere in order to take somebody/something away
collect something (from…) What day do they collect the rubbish/garbage?
The package is waiting to be collected.
(British English) collect somebody (from…) She's gone to collect her son
from school.
chamber [countable] a space under the ground which is almost completely closed on
all sides
They found themselves in a vast underground chamber.
the top (of something) (singular) the highest or most important rank or position
He's at the top of his profession.
She is determined to make it to the top (= achieve fame or success).
Exercise 2
Answers
B, D, F
Exercise 3
Answer D
relatively adv to a fairly large degree, especially in comparison to something else
I found the test relatively easy.
We had relatively few applications for the job.
consume something to eat or drink something
 Before he died he had consumed a large quantity of alcohol.
a half-consumed loaf of bread
spread [intransitive, transitive] to affect or make something affect, be known by, or be
used by more and more people
(+ adv./prep.) The disease spreads easily.
Within weeks, his confidence had spread throughout the team.
spread something to spread rumours/lies about somebody
Exercise 4
doubt [uncountable, countable] a feeling of being uncertain about something or not
believing something
a feeling of doubt and uncertainty
doubt (about something) There is some doubt about the best way to do it.
doubt (that…) There is no doubt at all that we did the right thing.
doubt (as to something) If you are in any doubt as to whether you should be
doing these exercises, consult your doctor.
emotion U C strong feeling such as love, fear or anger; the part of a person’s
character that consists of feelings
He lost control of his emotions.
They expressed mixed emotions at the news.
Emotions are running high (= people are feeling very excited, angry, etc.).
Vocabulary
specialist adj (only before noun) having or involving expert knowledge of a particular
area of work, study or medicine
specialist magazines You need some specialist advice.
a specialist consultant in cancer genetics
affordable adj cheap enough that people can afford to buy it or pay it
affordable prices/housing
Opposite unaffordable
elite [countable + singular or plural verb] a small group of people in a society, etc.
who are powerful and have a lot of influence, because they are rich, intelligent, etc.
a member of the ruling/intellectual elite
Public opinion is influenced by the small elite who control the media.
incredible adj impossible or very difficult to believe
SYNONYM UNBELIEVABLE
an incredible story
It seemed incredible that she had been there a week already.
Answer incredible
The writer doesn’t need to use this word. The sentence would make perfect sense
without it. However, the writer wants to make a comment about how surprising
it was that someone spent so much money on ice cream.
make sense to have a meaning that you can easily understand
This sentence doesn't make sense.
Exercise 5
Answer B
Exercise 6
Answers
1 number
The phrase ‘so many’ is expressed in the paragraph as ‘a growing number’. Be careful,
though: just because there is a similar phrase in the question and in the passage, it does
not make this option correct.
growing
quantity [countable, uncountable] an amount or a number of something
a large/small quantity of something
enormous/vast/huge quantities of food
a product that is cheap to produce in large quantities
grow [intransitive] to increase in size, number, strength or quality
The company profits grew by 5% last year.
grow in something The family has grown in size recently.
+ adj. The company is growing bigger all the time.
The phrase ‘so many’ is expressed in the paragraph as ‘a growing number’. Be careful,
though: just because there is a similar phrase in the question and in the passage, it does
not make this option correct.
2 incredible
Notice how the writer explains how much money $200 would be in today’s money
($5,000). This reinforces the idea that it was a surprisingly large amount of money. So
does the phrase ‘just one year’ which is used to make the writer’s opinion stronger.
ice cream
incredible adj impossible or very difficult to believe
SYNONYM UNBELIEVABLE
an incredible story
It seemed incredible that she had been there a week already.
reinforce something to make a feeling, an idea, etc. stronger
The experience reinforced my sense of loss.
Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes.
3 affordable
The phrase ‘so expensive’ is expressed in the paragraph as ‘only affordable for society’s
elite’. Be careful, though: the writer doesn’t say that this was surprising. Just because
there is a similar phrase in the question and in the passage, it does not make this option
correct.
affordable adj cheap enough that people can afford to buy it or pay it
affordable prices/housing
Opposite unaffordable
elite
elite [countable + singular or plural verb] a small group of people in a society, etc.
who are powerful and have a lot of influence, because they are rich, intelligent, etc.
a member of the ruling/intellectual elite
Public opinion is influenced by the small elite who control the media.
4 president enjoy
 present to give, provide, or make something known
The winners were presented with medals.
The letter presented the family with a problem that would be difficult to solve.
The documentary presented us with a balanced view of the issue.
Exercise 7
argument [countable] a reason or set of reasons that somebody uses to show that
something is true or correct
Her main argument was a moral one.
argument for/against something There are strong arguments for and
against euthanasia.
argument that… His argument was that public spending must be reduced.
Vocabulary
come along (informal) to improve or develop in the way that you want
SYNONYM PROGRESS
Your French has come along a lot recently.
freezer (British English also deep freeze)(US English also deep freezer) a large
piece of electrical equipment in which you can store food for a long time at a low
temperature so that it stays frozen
primitive adj very simple and old-fashioned, especially when something is also not
convenient and comfortable
SYNONYM CRUDE
The methods of communication used during the war were primitive by today's
standards.
The facilities on the campsite were very primitive.
Transport remained very primitive.
power something [transitive, usually passive] to supply a machine or vehicle with the
energy that makes it work
The aircraft is powered by a jet engine.
The plant generates enough energy to power a town of 6 000 people.
steam the power that is produced from steam under pressure, used to operate engines,
machines, etc.
the introduction of steam in the 18th century steam power
the steam age a steam train/engine
set sth up to create something or start it
to set up a business
A fund will be set up for the dead men's families.
Pennsylvania a state in the north-eastern US, also called the Keystone State for its
central position among the 13 original states. The largest city is Philadelphia, and the
capital city is Harrisburg.
essentially adv when you think about the true, important or basic nature of
somebody/something
SYNONYM BASICALLY, FUNDAMENTALLY
There are three essentially different ways of tackling the problem.
The pattern is essentially the same in all cases.
 refrigeration [uncountable] (formal) the act or process of keeping food, etc. cold in
order to keep it fresh or preserve it / sự làm lạnh; sự ướp lạnh để bảo quản (thịt, hoa
quả..)
Keep all meat products under refrigeration.
adopt something to start to use a particular method or to show a particular attitude
towards somebody/something
All three teams adopted different approaches to the problem.
affordable adj cheap enough that people can afford to buy it or pay it
affordable prices/housing
Opposite unaffordable
Answer B
Exercise 8
Answers
1B
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
-based (in compounds) containing something as an important part or feature
lead-based paints a class-based society
2D
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
raw adj not cooked
raw meat These fish are often eaten raw.
flesh [uncountable] the soft part of fruit and vegetables, especially when it is eaten
the sweet flesh of a mango
3C
Aztec a member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish
conquest of the 16th century.
face [transitive] if you face a particular situation, or it faces you, you have to deal
with it
face something the problems faced by one-parent families
be faced with something She's faced with a difficult decision.
pest an insect or animal that destroys plants, food, etc.
pest control insect/plant/garden pests
Mayan a member of any of the Indian peoples that speak a Mayan language
trade [intransitive, transitive] to buy and sell things
trade (in something) (with somebody) The firm openly traded in arms.
trade something (with somebody) Our products are now traded worldwide.
4C
argument [countable] a reason or set of reasons that somebody uses to show that
something is true or correct
Her main argument was a moral one.
argument for/against something There are strong arguments for and
against euthanasia.
 argument that… His argument was that public spending must be reduced.
Aztec a member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish
conquest of the 16th century.
mainly adv more than anything else; also used to talk about the most important reason
for something
SYNONYM CHIEFLY, PRIMARILY
They eat mainly fruit and nuts.
‘Where do you export to?’ ‘France, mainly.’
appreciate somebody/something [transitive] (not used in the progressive tenses) to
recognize the good qualities of somebody/something
You can't really appreciate foreign literature in translation.
His talents are not fully appreciated in that company.
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
go beyond sth to be more than something
SYNONYM EXCEED
This year's sales figures go beyond all our expectations (= are much better
than we thought they would be).
artificial adj made or produced to copy something natural; not real
an artificial limb/flower/sweetener/fertilizer
artificial lighting/light
5A
Aztec a member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish
conquest of the 16th century.
ruler a person who rules or governs
claim (that…) C a statement that something is true although it has not been proved
and other people may not agree with or believe it
The singer has denied the magazine's claim that she is leaving the band.
a report examining claims of corrupt links between politicians
peaceful adj not involving a war, violence or argument
a peaceful protest/demonstration/solution
They hope for a peaceful settlement of the dispute.
people of different religions living in peaceful coexistence
pretend [intransitive, transitive] (usually used in negative sentences and questions) to
claim to be, do or have something, especially when this is not true
pretend to something I can't pretend to any great musical talent.
pretend (that)… I don’t pretend (that) I know much about the subject, but…
pretend to be/do/have something The book doesn't pretend to be a great
work of literature.
qualtity [countable, uncountable] a feature of something, especially one that makes it
different from something else
the special quality of light and shade in her paintings
His voice has a rich, melodic quality.
6C
 question to have or express doubts or suspicions about something
question something I just accepted what he told me.
question whether, what, etc… He questioned whether the accident was
solely the truck driver's fault.
superior (to somebody/something) better in quality than somebody/something else;
greater than somebody/something else
vastly superior superior intelligence
This model is technically superior to its competitors.
outline something (to somebody) | outline what, how, etc… to give a description of
the main facts or points involved in something
SYNONYM SKETCH
We outlined our proposals to the committee.
step [countable] one of a series of things that you do in order to achieve something
This was a first step towards a united Europe.
We are taking steps to prevent pollution.
7B
lead to something to have something as a result
SYNONYM result in something
Eating too much sugar can lead to health problems.
A reward was offered for information leading to an arrest.
mass-produce something to produce goods in large quantities, using machinery
Because the coins were mass-produced they can often be accurately dated.
fatty adj containing a lot of fat; consisting of fat
fatty foods fatty tissue
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
recipe (for something) a set of instructions that tells you how to cook something and
the ingredients (= items of food) you need for it
a recipe for chicken soup
vegetarian recipes a recipe book
reflect something to show or be a sign of the nature of something or of somebody’s
attitude or feeling
Our newspaper aims to reflect the views of the local community.
His music reflects his interest in African culture.
The history of chocolate
spread [intransitive, transitive] to affect or make something affect, be known by, or be
used by more and more people
(+ adv./prep.) The disease spreads easily.
spread something to spread rumours/lies about somebody
1
stretch [intransitive] + adv./prep. to spread over an area of land
SYNONYM EXTEND
 Fields and hills stretched out as far as we could see.
Beyond the mountains stretches a vast desert.
Costa Rica (singular) a country in Central America
advanced adj having the most modern and recently developed ideas, methods, etc.
advanced technology advanced industrial societies
Sweden has a reputation for advanced and stylish design.
farm [intransitive, transitive] to use land for growing crops and/or keeping animals
The family has farmed in Kent for over two hundred years.
farm something They farm dairy cattle.
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
Olmec a member of a prehistoric people inhabiting the coast of Veracruz and western
Tabasco on the Gulf of Mexico (c.1200–400 BC), who established what was probably
the first developed civilization of Meso-America.
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
dig sth up to remove something from the ground by digging
An old Roman vase was dug up here last month.
date back (to ...) / date from to have existed since a particular time in the past or for
the length of time mentioned
The college dates back to medieval times.
The custom dates back hundreds of years.
a law dating from the 17th century
theobromine a bitter, volatile compound obtained from cacao seeds. It is an alkaloid
resembling caffeine in its physiological effects.
Chiapas a state of southern Mexico, bordering Guatemala; capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
2
flesh [uncountable] the soft part of fruit and vegetables, especially when it is eaten
the sweet flesh of a mango
theorize (about/on something) | theorize something | theorize that… to suggest
facts and ideas to explain something; to form a theory or theories about something
The study theorizes about the role of dreams in peoples' lives.
stew [uncountable, countable] a dish of meat and vegetables cooked slowly in liquid
in a container that has a lid
beef stew and dumplings I'm making a stew for lunch.
highly adv very
highly successful/skilled/intelligent
highly competitive/critical/sensitive
It is highly unlikely that she'll be late.
likely adj probable or expected
the most likely outcome a likely scenario a likely Oscar nominee
likely (to do something) Tickets are likely to be expensive.
likely (that…) It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is
worth.
incredibly adv extremely
SYNONYM UNBELIEVABLY
incredibly lucky/stupid/difficult/beautiful
incredibly attractive/boring
remarkable adj unusual or surprising in a way that causes people to take notice
SYNONYM ASTONISHING a remarkable achievement/career/talent
remarkable for something The area is remarkable for its scenery.
remarkable that… It is remarkable that nobody noticed sooner.
Opposite unremarkable
dry out/dry sth out to become or to allow something to become dry, in a way that is
not wanted
Water the plant regularly, never letting the soil dry out.
Hot sun and cold winds can soon dry out your skin.
spit, spat, spat [transitive] to force liquid, food, etc. out of your mouth
spit something (out) She took a mouthful of food and then suddenly spat it
out.
spit something (from something) He was spitting blood from a badly cut lip.
roast (something) to cook nuts, beans, etc. in order to dry them and turn them brown;
to be cooked in this way
roasted chestnuts
in the first place used at the end of a sentence to talk about why something was done
or whether it should have been done or not
I still don't understand why you chose that name in the first place.
I should never have taken that job in the first place.
rich adj very interesting and full of variety
the region’s rich history and culture
She leads a rich and varied life.
Olmec a member of a prehistoric people inhabiting the coast of Veracruz and western
Tabasco on the Gulf of Mexico (c.1200–400 BC), who established what was probably
the first developed civilization of Meso-America.
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
thick adj not flowing very easily
thick soup
The effect will be ruined if the paint is too thick.
paste [singular] a soft wet mixture, usually made of a powder and a liquid
She mixed the flour and water to a smooth paste.
chilli (North American English chili) (also chilli pepper, North American English
also chili pepper) [countable,uncountable] the small green or red fruit of a type of
pepper plant that is used in cooking to give a hot taste to food, often dried or made
into powder, also called chilli or chilli powder
vanilla [uncountable] a substance obtained from the beans of a tropical plant, also
called vanilla, used to give flavour to sweet foods, for example ice cream
(British English) vanilla essence
 (North American English) vanilla extract
3
Mayan a member of any of the Indian peoples that speak a Mayan language
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
status [uncountable, countable, usually singular] the level of importance that is given
to something
the high status accorded to science in our culture
ritual U C a series of actions that are always performed in the same way, especially as
part of a religious ceremony
religious rituals
She objects to the ritual of organized religion.
Aztec a member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish
conquest of the 16th century.
rule [transitive, intransitive] to control and have authority over a country, a group of
people, etc.
rule something At that time John ruled England.
rule (over somebody/something) Charles I ruled for eleven years.
trade [intransitive, transitive] to buy and sell things
trade (in something) (with somebody) The firm openly traded in arms.
trade something (with somebody) Our products are now traded worldwide.
crop [countable] a plant that is grown in large quantities, especially as food
Sugar is an important crop on the island.
crop rotation/production/yield
not anywhere near/nowhere near far from; not at all
The job doesn't pay anywhere near enough for me.
highland [countable, usually plural] an area of land with hills or mountains
unusually adv used to say that a particular situation is not normal or expected
Unusually for him, he wore a tie.
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
swarm (of something) a large group of insects, especially bees, moving together in
the same direction
a swarm of bees/locusts/flies
Gnats came in swarms to torment them.
pollination U the process of pollen entering or being put into a flower or plant so that
it produces seeds
Natural pollination may occur by wind.
humid adj (of the air or climate) warm and damp
These ferns will grow best in a humid atmosphere.
The island is hot and humid in the summer
4
 Mayan a member of any of the Indian peoples that speak a Mayan language
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
fake adj made to look like something else
SYNONYM IMITATION a jacket in fake fur
Don't go out in the sun—get a fake tan from a bottle.
clay U a type of heavy, sticky earth that becomes hard when it is baked and is used to
make things such as pots and bricks
Mayan a member of any of the Indian peoples that speak a Mayan language
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
Aztec a member of the indigenous people dominant in Mexico before the Spanish
conquest of the 16th century.
extended family [countable + singular or plural verb] a family group with a close
relationship among the members that includes not only parents and children but also
uncles, aunts, grandparents, etc.
She grew up surrounded by a large extended family.
come together if two or more different people or things come together, they form a
united group
Three colleges have come together to create a new university.
Bits and pieces of things he'd read and heard were coming together, and he
began to understand.
rich adj very interesting and full of variety
the region’s rich history and culture
She leads a rich and varied life.
tie [usually plural] a strong connection between people or organizations
family ties the ties of friendship economic ties
The firm has close ties with an American corporation.
5
central adj most important
The central issue is that of widespread racism.
Reducing inflation is central to (= is an important part of) the government's
economic policy.
expedition an organized journey with a particular purpose, especially to find out
about a place that is not well known
to plan/lead/go on an expedition to the North Pole
mistakenly adv in a way that is wrong because it is based on a wrong opinion or bad
judgement
He mistakenly believed that his family would stand by him.
ruler a person who rules or governs
medicinal adj helpful in the process of healing illness or infection
medicinal herbs/plants medicinal properties/use
no doubt used when you are saying that something is certainly true
He's made some great movies. There's no doubt about it.
 I think I missed the point (= did not understand).
attribute something to something to say or believe that something is the result of a
particular thing
She attributes her success to hard work and a little luck.
quality [countable, uncountable] a feature of something, especially one that makes it
different from something else
the special quality of light and shade in her paintings
His voice has a rich, melodic quality.
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
spread [intransitive, transitive] to affect or make something affect, be known by, or be
used by more and more people
(+ adv./prep.) The disease spreads easily.
spread something to spread rumours/lies about somebody
6
press [countable] (especially in compounds) a piece of equipment that is used for
creating pressure on things, to make them flat or to get liquid from them
a trouser press a garlic press
squeeze [transitive] to get liquid out of something by pressing or twisting it hard
squeeze something out of/from something to squeeze the juice from a lemon
squeeze something (out) He took off his wet clothes and squeezed the water
out.
squeeze something + adj. Soak the cloth in warm water and then squeeze it
dry.
roast (something) to cook nuts, beans, etc. in order to dry them and turn them brown;
to be cooked in this way
roasted chestnuts
crush something to break something into small pieces or into a powder by pressing
hard
Add two cloves of crushed garlic.
alkali [countable, uncountable] (chemistry) a chemical substance that reacts with
acids to form a salt and gives a solution with a pH of more than seven when it is
dissolved in water
alkaline adj (specialist) containing alkalialkaline soil
block [countable] a large piece of a solid material that is square or rectangular in
shape and usually has flat sides
a block of ice/concrete/stone
a chopping block (= for cutting food on)
edible adj fit or suitable to be eaten; not poisonous
The food at the hotel was barely edible.
edible fungi/snails/flowers
bitter adj (of food, etc.) having a strong, unpleasant taste; not sweet
 Black coffee leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
texture U C the way food or drink tastes or feels in your mouth, for example whether
it is rough, smooth, light, heavy, etc.
The two cheeses were very different in both taste and texture.
ingredient (of/in/for something) one of the things from which something is made,
especially one of the foods that are used together to make a particular dish
Coconut is a basic ingredient for many curries.
Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
ever since (...) continuously since the time mentioned
He's had a car ever since he was 18.
I was bitten by a dog once and I've been afraid of them ever since.
Exercise 9
extract (from something) C a short passage from a book, piece of music, etc. that
gives you an idea of what the whole thing is like
The following extract is taken from her new novel.
likely adj probable or expected
the most likely outcome a likely scenario a likely Oscar nominee
likely (to do something) Tickets are likely to be expensive.
likely (that…) It's more than likely that the thieves don't know how much it is
worth.
specialized adj designed or developed for a particular purpose or area of knowledge
specialized equipment specialized skills
footnote designed or developed for a particular purpose or area of knowledge
specialized equipment specialized skills
Answers
1 something that exists ...
theobromine a bitter, volatile compound obtained from cacao seeds. It is an alkaloid
resembling caffeine in its physiological effects.
cacao a tropical tree with seeds that are used to make chocolate and cocoa; the seeds
from this tree
bean (usually in compounds) a seed from a coffee plant, or some other plants
coffee/cocoa beans
2 a set of fixed actions ...
status [uncountable, countable, usually singular] the level of importance that is given
to something
the high status accorded to science in our culture
ritual U C a series of actions that are always performed in the same way, especially as
part of a religious ceremony
religious rituals
She objects to the ritual of organized religion.
Mayan a member of any of the Indian peoples that speak a Mayan language
fixed adj staying the same; not changing or able to be changed
fixed prices a fixed rate of interest
people living on fixed incomes
 regularly adv at regular intervals or times
We meet regularly to discuss the progress of the project.
The water in the fish tank should be changed regularly.
3 to take pollen ...
unusually adv used to say that a particular situation is not normal or expected
Unusually for him, he wore a tie.
swarm (of something) a large group of insects, especially bees, moving together in
the same direction
a swarm of bees/locusts/flies
Gnats came in swarms to torment them.
pollination U the process of pollen entering or being put into a flower or plant so that
it produces seeds
Natural pollination may occur by wind.
humid adj (of the air or climate) warm and damp
These ferns will grow best in a humid atmosphere.
The island is hot and humid in the summer
pollen U fine powder, usually yellow, that is formed in flowers and carried to other
flowers of the same kind by the wind or by insects, to make those flowers produce
seeds
4 a chemical that ...
crush something to break something into small pieces or into a powder by pressing
hard
Add two cloves of crushed garlic.
alkali [countable, uncountable] (chemistry) a chemical substance that reacts with
acids to form a salt and gives a solution with a pH of more than seven when it is
dissolved in water
alkaline adj (specialist) containing alkalialkaline soil
block [countable] a large piece of a solid material that is square or rectangular in
shape and usually has flat sides
a block of ice/concrete/stone
a chopping block (= for cutting food on)
5 with a sharp ...
bitter adj (of food, etc.) having a strong, unpleasant taste; not sweet
Black coffee leaves a bitter taste in the mouth.
sharp adj strong and slightly bitter
The cheese has a distinctively sharp taste.
Exercise 9
Answers
drag something + adv./prep. to move some text, an icon, etc. across the screen of a
computer using the mouse
Click on the file and drag it across.
wordpool (education) a random collection of words, used as inspiration for writing.
1 main idea 2 supporting points
 background U C the situation or past events that explain why something happens in
the way that it does
background to Without knowing the background to the case, I couldn’t
possibly comment.
against a background of something The peace talks are being held against a
background of increasing violence.
background information/details/data etc The author included a new chapter
of background material for the second edition of the book.
contrast (with something) to show a clear difference when close together or when
compared
Her actions contrasted sharply with her promises.
Her actions and her promises contrasted sharply.
3 personal opinion
present to give, provide, or make something known
The winners were presented with medals.
The letter presented the family with a problem that would be difficult to solve.
The documentary presented us with a balanced view of the issue.
4 comments; surprising; negative
remarkably adv in a way that is unusual or surprising and causes people to take
notice
SYNONYM ASTONISHINGLY
The car is in remarkably good condition for its age.
Remarkably, nobody was killed.
5 argument
argument [countable] a reason or set of reasons that somebody uses to show that
something is true or correct
Her main argument was a moral one.
argument for/against something There are strong arguments for and
against euthanasia.
argument that… His argument was that public spending must be reduced.
present to give, provide, or make something known
The winners were presented with medals.
The letter presented the family with a problem that would be difficult to solve.
background U C the situation or past events that explain why something happens in
the way that it does
background to Without knowing the background to the case, I couldn’t
possibly comment.
against a background of something The peace talks are being held against a
background of increasing violence.
background information/details/data etc The author included a new chapter
of background material for the second edition of the book.
contrast (A and/with B) to compare two things in order to show the differences
between them
It is interesting to contrast the British legal system with the American one.
The poem contrasts youth and age.