Guess the definition of each word from Unit 1. Check the footnotes for the solution.

• acknowledged for recognized for something or shown appreciation
• pursue try to achieve something over a long period of time
• embody represent an idea or quality
• inherently being a basic part of something that can't be removed
• constrained limited by something or someone
• achievement a goal or something accomplished successfully
• inclined wanting or likely to do something
• version a form of something different from the previous form
• adversity difficult situations or problems (often caused by bad luck)
• resolve a strong determination
• aspire to a strong desire to do or become something
• confront deal with a difficult problem or situation

Fill in the blanks in the sentences below with one of the vocabulary words from Unit 1 Reading 1. BE CAREFUL! You may need to change the form of the word to match the right tense!

• inclined
• embodied
• adversity
• inherently
• acknowledged for
• resolve
• achievement
• version
• pursue
• confronted
• aspired to
• constrained

1. His greatest ___________________ [Blank A] was coaching a failing team to a championship title.His greatest achievement was coaching a failing team to a championship title.
2. For many underrepresented and marginalized groups, Martin Luther King _____________[Blank A] hope, passion, and peace in everything he did or said.For many underrepresented and marginalized groups, Martin Luther King embodied hope, passion, and peace in everything he did or said.
3. She comes from a background of quite a bit of _____________[Blank A], such as war and illness, yet she still maintains a positive attitude.She comes from a background of quite a bit of adversity, such as war and illness, yet she still maintains a positive attitude.
4. The new IPhone 14 is a similar ______________[Blank A] to the IPhone 13. Supposedly, only the camera is different.The new IPhone 14 is a similar version to the IPhone 13. Supposedly, only the camera is different.
5. The teacher _____________[Blank A] the student with her suspicions of cheating, and the student admitted to everything.The teacher confronted the student with her suspicions of cheating, and the student admitted to everything.
6. She repeated her firm ____________________[Blank A] to become president and restore honest, accountable government.She repeated her firm resolve to become president and restore honest, accountable government.
7. As a little boy, he ____________[Blank A] be a firefighter just like his brother and mother.As a little boy, he aspired to be a firefighter just like his brother and mother.
8. Although it was still expensive, when she saw her favorite dress on sale, she was __________________[Blank A] to buy it.Although it was still expensive, when she saw her favorite dress on sale, she was inclined to buy it.
9. Because she had to work so many hours to support herself through school, she felt ____________[Blank A] because she couldn’t have a social life or practice guitar – her favorite hobby.Because she had to work so many hours to support herself through school, she felt constrained because she couldn't have a social life or practice guitar - her favorite hobby.
10. Firefighting is an ______________[Blank A] dangerous occupation – especially fighting forest fires.Firefighting is an inherently dangerous occupation - especially fighting forest fires.
11. He moved to New York City to _____________________[Blank A] his dreams of becoming an actor.He moved to New York City to pursue his dreams of becoming an actor.
12. Oscar Wilde didn’t achieve fame and success until after his death when he was finally ___________[Blank A] his writing.Oscar Wilde didn't achieve fame and success until after his death when he was finally acknowledged for his writing.

Guess the definition of each word from Unit 2 Reading 1.  

• allure attraction
• assume to think something is true without any proof
• disclose reveal
• distinct different/unique
• endorse openly like or support something
• exaggerated overstated
• insight understanding
• obsession fascination
• put a premium on place value on something
• resistance opposition
• tolerant able to accept
• transparency clarity/open. Not secret

Fill in the blanks with one word from below. You may need to change the word form so watch your spelling!

• assume
• allure
• distinct
• endorse
• disclose
• exaggerated
• insight
• obsession
• put a premium on
• resistance
• tolerant
• transparency

1. The new classroom rule of no cell phones allowed was surprisingly met with little ______________[Blank 1].The new classroom rule of no cell phones allowed was surprisingly met with little *resistance*.
2. Many celebrities will publicly __________[Blank 1] a politician hoping to help persuade people and help the politician win votes.Many celebrities will publicly *endorse* a politician hoping to help persuade people and help the politician win votes.
3. He’s so arrogant. His accomplishments are always _______________[Blank 1].  For example, he said he was a doctor, but he’s actually a nurse.He's so arrogant. His accomplishments are always *exaggerated*.  For example, he said he was a doctor, but he's actually a nurse.
4. You didn’t answer your phone so I ___________________[Blank 1] you weren’t home.You didn't answer your phone so I *assumed* you weren't home.
5. She’s not very _______________[Blank 1] of other people’s feelings. She often loses patience if someone gets emotional.She's not very *tolerant* of other people's feelings. She often loses patience if someone gets emotional.
6. When purchasing products, women often ________________[Blank 1]  colour more than men do.When purchasing products, women often *put a premium on* colour more than men do.
7. Pharmaceutical companies must _______________[Blank 1] all the side effects of each medicine.Pharmaceutical companies must *disclose* all the side effects of each medicine.
8. The teacher gives complete _________________[Blank 1] to his students. He tells them exactly what they need to do to pass, and if they aren’t the reasons are never unclear or confusing.The teacher gives complete *transparency* to his students. He tells them exactly what they need to do to pass, and if they aren't the reasons are never unclear or confusing.
9. Having grown up in a small town, there was an ______________[Blank 1]  to the big city of New York and she dreamed of moving there.Having grown up in a small town, there was an *allure* to the big city of New York and she dreamed of moving there.
10. His _______________[Blank 1] accent made it obvious he was from eastern Canada.His *distinct* accent made it obvious he was from eastern Canada.
11. I explained to my parents why I changed programs so that they could have more _____________[Blank 1]  into my passions and goals.I explained to my parents why I changed programs so that they could have more *insight* into my passions and goals.
12. She has an ______________[Blank 1] with expensive handbags and has started spending too much money on her credit cards because of it.She has an *obsession* with expensive handbags and has started spending too much money on her credit cards because of it.

Guess the definition of each word:

• activationactivation:  when a process starts working
• alignalign:  to put something parallel or in a row to form a line
• broadly speakingbroadly speaking: generally
• countercounter: oppose or argue against
• cravecrave: to have a strong desire for something
• escalateescalate:  to increase and become worse
• essentiallyessentially:  basically
• functionalfunctional:  useful/working properly
• impulsiveimpulsive: doing things without thinking about the consequences
• manipulatemanipulate: to make someone do or believe what you want by influencing them
• metricmetric:  measurement or benchmark
• tactictactic:  method or strategy to achieve something

Fill in the blanks with one word from below. You may need to change the word form so watch your spelling!

• activation
• align
• broadly speaking
• counter
• crave
• escalate
• essentially
• functional
• impulsive
• manipulate
• metric
• tactic

1. I always ____________[Blank 1] chocolate when I’m studying intensively. Maybe my brain needs the sugar and energy.I always *crave* chocolate when I'm studying intensively. Maybe my brain needs the sugar and energy.
2. Becoming successful at the English language ______________[Blank 1] means living in English all the time.Becoming successful at the English language *essentially* means living in English all the time.
3. I want my cell phone to not just be ___________[Blank 1] but I want it to be white because I think the white ones are the prettiest.I want my cell phone to not just be *functional* but I want it to be white because I think the white ones are the prettiest.
4. The tensions between the two countries at the border are beginning to ______________[Blank 1] but we want to try and avoid a full out war.The tensions between the two countries at the border are beginning to *escalate* but we want to try and avoid a full out war.
5. The desks were perfectly _____________[Blank 1] in rows.The desks were perfectly *aligned* in rows.
6. You can’t use the new credit card without ______________[Blank 1] by calling the company and confirming your identity and password.You can't use the new credit card without *activation* by calling the company and confirming your identity and password.
7. _______________[Blank 1], don’t you think women drivers are better than men?*Broadly speaking*, don't you think women drivers are better than men?
8. She was such a good arguer and made so many good points, I couldn’t really ______________[Blank 1] them.  She convinced me.She was such a good arguer and made so many good points, I couldn't really *counter* them.  She convinced me.
9. He was such a good liar.  He could _____________[Blank 1] people so easily into lending him money and investing in his ideas.He was such a good liar.  He could *manipulate* people so easily into lending him money and investing in his ideas.
10. Her _______________[Blank 1] spending became a real problem when she received her credit card bill at the end of the month.  She just couldn’t stop herself.Her *impulsive* spending became a real problem when she received her credit card bill at the end of the month.  She just couldn't stop herself.
11. The grading _____________[Blank 1] in our program is percentage.The grading *metric* in our program is percentage.
12. A ______________[Blank 1] the students used to manipulate the teacher was to tell her they were too stressed and busy to do homework so that the teacher took pity on them and gave them the answers anyway.A *tactic* the students used to manipulate the teacher was to tell her they were too stressed and busy to do homework so that the teacher took pity on them and gave them the answers anyway.

•  flammable can burn easily
• unreliable can not be depended on
• inadvertent not done on purpose
• exploit to use someone or something to one's own benefit (negatively)
• obvious easy to see/noticeable
• adhesive glue/tape
• inconceivable hard to imagine
• vastly widely
• interact  communicate with people
• mandatory required
• synthetic not natural

• vastly
• exploit
• inconceivable
• mandatory
• unreliable
  flammable
• synthetic
• inadvertent
• interact
• adhesive obvious

1. It is not at all ____________________[Blank 1] that a small number of them are capable of acting like idiots.It is not at all inconceivable that a small number of them are capable of acting like idiots.
2. The two runners, who missed a ________________[Blank 1] drug test last Thursday, are also to be the subject of a Olympic Organization investigation into their behaviour.The two runners, who missed a mandatory drug test last Thursday, are also to be the subject of a Olympic Organization investigation into their behaviour.
3. There was an _______________[Blank 1] flood in the washroom when Susan forgot the bathtub water on and fell asleep.There was an inadvertent flood in the washroom when Susan forgot the bathtub water on and fell asleep.
4. My friend cancelling the party was just fine – I was happy not to have to __________________[Blank 1]   with people tonight.My friend cancelling the party was just fine - I was happy not to have to interact with people tonight.
5. They’re a talented group of musicians with an _________________[Blank 1] passion for their music. Everyone can hear it, feel it, and see it.They're a talented group of musicians with an obvious passion for their music. Everyone can hear it, feel it, and see it.
6. When we convert the sugars into alcohol by fermentation, we release carbon dioxide and produce a _______________[Blank 1] fuel that can be burned in an engine.When we convert the sugars into alcohol by fermentation, we release carbon dioxide and produce a flammable fuel that can be burned in an engine.
7. Memory goes away with time, and as a result the evidence and memories people can provide become progressively more ____________________[Blank 1] . Memory goes away with time, and as a result the evidence and memories people can provide become progressively more unreliable. 
8. There will always be oppression and poverty because of people who push themselves into positions to control and  ________________[Blank 1] others for their own gain.There will always be oppression and poverty because of people who push themselves into positions to control and exploit others for their own gain.
9. A Chinese tech company produced security technology with facial recognition and eye-scanning which is __________________[Blank 1] more advanced than their competitors.A Chinese tech company produced security technology with facial recognition and eye-scanning which is vastly more advanced than their competitors.
10. If you would like to design this vase in a new way, you could paint it, and then use _______________[Blank 1]  to add leaves, sparkles, or ribbon.If you would like to design this vase in a new way, you could paint it, and then use adhesive to add leaves, sparkles, or ribbon.
11. The first ________________ [Blank 1] dye, the colour light purple, was prepared in 1856 by the English chemist William Henry Perkin.The first synthetic dye, the colour light purple, was prepared in 1856 by the English chemist William Henry Perkin.

Activity source: “QSkills 4: Unit 7, Listening 1 Vocabulary Practice” by Sari Martin, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0.