Synonyms and Antonyms 1 9789810940874, 9789810924744

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VOCABULARY

Synonyms and Antonyms

chest of They have a a mirror over drawers with s are full of it. The drawer toys.

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an is yo unger th Although she ch better mu is e Su r, her siste st of an Kate is. Mo at drawing th e bin s en d up in th re tu pic ’s te Ka ble . under the ta

ROSALIND FERGUSSON

VOCABULARY

Synonyms and Antonyms

1

ROSALIND FERGUSSON

© 2015 Acel Learning (S) Pte. Ltd. First published 2015 by Acel Learning (S) Pte. Ltd. 18 Sin Ming Lane, #03-08, Midview City, Singapore 573960 Email: [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, or transmitted by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. ISBN 978 981 09 4087 4

Preface Synonyms and Antonyms is a series of books that examines words with similar or opposite meanings. There are fifty units in each book, and each unit deals with two or more words. The simplest of these comprise a word and its antonym (e.g. day / night). Sometimes a word has two antonyms (e.g. loud / soft, quiet) or a synonym and an antonym (e.g. rich, wealthy / poor). Sometimes there are four or more words altogether (e.g. right, correct / wrong, incorrect). A few entries consist only of synonyms (e.g. kind, sort, type). Each unit begins with a short passage illustrated by four pictures with captions, which show the synonyms and antonyms in use. A section entitled What do they mean? examines the words in groups of synonyms or antonyms, with short definitions and example sentences. Where the members of the group differ slightly in meaning or usage, these differences are explained. (For example, the word kid is less formal than child.) The unit ends with exercises for self-assessment. Answers to all the questions are supplied at the end of the book. As they work through the books, students will learn (or be reminded of) the kinds of synonyms and antonyms that can make their writing more interesting and give cohesion to their texts.

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Contents Preface

3

1

6

above, over / below, under

2 adult, grown-up / child, kid

8

3 after / before

10

4 ahead, in front / behind

12

5 always / never

14

6 asleep, sleeping / awake

16

7 bad, poor / good, excellent

18

8 beautiful, pretty, attractive / ugly, unattractive

20

9 begin, start / end, finish

22

10 best / worst

24

11 big, large / little, small

26

12 borrow / lend

28

13 bottom, base, foot / top

30

14 buy, purchase / sell

32

15 cheap, inexpensive / expensive, dear

34

16 close, shut / open

36

17 cry, weep, sob / laugh

38

18 day / night

40

19 easy, simple / hard, difficult

42

20 empty / full

44

21 fast, quickly / slowly

46

22 few / many

48

23 float / sink

50

24 foolish, silly, stupid / wise, sensible

52

4

25 forget / remember, recall

54

26 friend / enemy

56

27 from / to

58

28 front / back, rear

60

29 go, leave / return

62

30 happy, cheerful, joyful / sad, unhappy, upset

64

31 hard, firm, solid / soft

66

32 heavy / light

68

33 here / there

70

34 high, tall / low, short

72

35 kind, sort, type

74

36 left / right

76

37 loud / soft, quiet

78

38 neat, tidy / untidy, messy

80

39 new / old

82

40 rich, wealthy / poor

84

41 right, correct / wrong, incorrect

86

42 rise / fall, drop

88

43 sit / stand

90

44 sleep / wake

92

45 thick / thin, fine

94

46 true / false, untrue

96

47 wet, damp, moist / dry

98

48 wide, broad / narrow

100

49 win / lose

102

50 young / old, elderly

104

Answers 106

5

1

above, over / below, under Kate and Sue have bunk beds in their bedroom. Kate sleeps on the top bunk and Sue sleeps below her.

There is also a table where they do their writing and drawing. They sometimes stick their pictures on the wall above the table.

They have a chest of drawers with a mirror over it. The drawers are full of toys.

Although she is younger than her sister, Sue is much better at drawing than Kate is. Most of Kate’s pictures end up in the bin under the table.

6

What do they mean? The prepositions above and over are synonyms. You use them to talk about something that is higher than something else. • The branches above us sheltered us from the rain. • A large bird flew over the house. The prepositions below and under are synonyms. You use them to talk about something that is lower than something else. • Carol found the missing book under her bed. • Joe wrote his name below the picture. The words above and over are antonyms of below and under. They are opposite in meaning. • Mr Brown lives in the apartment above ours and Mr Green lives in the apartment below ours.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 There is a shelf above the fireplace. 2 The crab was hiding under a rock. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 wakes



2 empty 3 bottom



4 worse 7

2

adult, grown-up / child, kid My aunt, uncle and cousin were staying with us for the weekend. On Saturday, it rained and my father suggested going to the art gallery.

My cousin was not very keen. ‘Art galleries are for grownups,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing interesting for kids there.’

He soon discovered that I was right. By the end of the afternoon, he was having so much fun that he did not want to go back to the house.

I told him that ours was different. They have a special room where children can paint and make models while the adults walk around the gallery.

8

What do they mean? The nouns adult and grown-up are synonyms. They refer to men and women, rather than boys or girls. The word grown-up is mainly used in informal spoken language. • Ask an adult to help you if you cannot do this on your own. • I could not see over the heads of the grown-ups in front of me. The nouns child and kid are synonyms. They refer to boys and girls, rather than men and women. The word kid is mainly used in informal spoken language. • The child was skipping happily along the path. • One of the older kids jumped into the pool and splashed everyone. The words adult and grown-up are antonyms of child and kid. They are opposite in meaning. • Children should not sit down while adults are standing on a busy train.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 A child on a bike knocked Grandma down in the street. 2 The grown-ups in this picture are my great-grandparents. 3 There are half-price tickets for kids. 4 The adults were talking about the election. 9

3

after / before Kate is a talented pianist. She practises for an hour every day before school.

When she gets home from school, she does her homework. Then, after dinner, she plays the piano for another hour.

After the performance is over, she feels happy and proud. She is hoping for a career in music when she grows up.

Kate loves to perform at concerts. She always feels a bit nervous before she begins to play.

10

What do they mean? The word after is a connector. You put it in front of something that happens earlier than something else. • Tom had a shower after he returned from the gym. • Grandma felt much better after the operation. The word before is a connector. You put it in front of something that happens later than something else. • Please switch off the TV before you leave the room. • The word ‘cat’ comes before the word ‘catch’ in a dictionary. The words after and before are antonyms. • I brush my teeth after breakfast and before I go to bed.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with before or after, using each word twice. 1 We went for a walk 2 I’ll lend you the book

it stopped raining. I have finished reading it.

3 Mary washed her hands

she ate her lunch.

4 Take off your muddy shoes

you come into the house.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 hates 2 calm 3 never 4 ashamed

11

4

ahead, in front / behind Four boys were racing around the track. Paul, the fastest runner in the school, was ahead at the end of the first lap.

Jack managed to catch up with him on the second lap. The other two boys were a long way behind.

For much of the third and final lap, Paul and Jack were running side by side. Then Jack made a bit more effort and managed to cross the line in front.

Paul was upset that he had not won the race. However, he shook hands with Jack and congratulated him.

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What do they mean? The adverbs ahead and in front are synonyms. They are both used to talk about being further on than someone or something else. • The road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree. • Sally walked in front because she knew the way. The adverb behind is an antonym of ahead and in front. • Tom went ahead to buy the tickets and we followed behind. • There were three empty seats on the row in front and one on the row behind.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The sign (ahead / behind) tells drivers to stop at the junction. 2 I turned round to look at the view (in front / behind). 3 The band marched (in front / behind), followed by the rest of the procession. 4 The maid of honour walks (ahead / behind), holding the train of the bride’s dress. 5 One of the men ran (ahead / behind) to open the gates for the president’s car. 6 The woman (in front / behind) was wearing a large hat that blocked my view. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 fastest 2 more 3 upset 4 won 13

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always / never Mr and Mrs Green always spend their holidays at the same seaside resort, Dragon Bay. It is only about fifty kilometres from their home.

They have never been abroad, and they do not want to go. They see no point in travelling long distances when there are so many nice places in their own country.

They are never bored. As they leave at the end of their holiday, they are already planning what they will do on their next visit.

There is plenty to do in Dragon Bay, whatever the weather. And there are always new people to meet in the hotel where they stay.

14

What do they mean? You use the adverb always to talk about something that happens all the time or every time. • Jane is always ready to help other people. • Grandpa always sends me a birthday card. You use the adverb never to talk about something that does not happen or something that you do not do. • It never snows in this country. • I never make any spelling mistakes. The words always and never are antonyms. They are opposite in meaning. • Dad always locks the car when he gets out – he never leaves it unlocked.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with always or never, using each word twice. 1 I have

been to Australia.

2 Jane is very good at chess and

beats me.

3 It rains when we have a barbecue so we have to bring the food indoors. 4 Peter is a lazy boy who

helps his mother with the housework.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one?

1 about 2 nice 3 plenty 4 leave

15

6

asleep, sleeping / awake Tom and Sue were very tired. They wanted to go to bed but their baby son was still awake.

Sue sang him a lullaby. When she had finished, his eyes were still wide open.

Tom picked his son up and carried him around the garden, rocking him gently. ‘I think he’s asleep at last,’ he told Sue when he returned to the house.

Together, they carefully laid the sleeping baby in his cot. As they tiptoed out of the room, however, he woke up and began to cry.

16

What do they mean? The adjectives asleep and sleeping are synonyms. They both describe people or animals that are resting with their eyes closed and are not aware of what is happening around them. You cannot put asleep before the noun it describes. • Most people dream while they are asleep. • A sleeping dog lay in front of the door. The adjective awake is an antonym of asleep and sleeping. You cannot put awake before the noun it describes. • Jane did not lie awake for long – she was soon asleep. • My sleeping brother began to snore, which kept me awake.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with asleep, sleeping or awake. You will have to use one of the words twice. 1 Sue lay

, worrying about her exam the next day.

2 The soldier tried not to wake his 3 Grandpa was

companions.

in his favourite armchair.

4 The film was so boring that I found it hard to stay

.

B Here are some other words and phrases from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 finished 2 up 3 gently 4 out of

17

7

bad, poor / good, excellent An excellent piece of work is rewarded with three points. The points are marked with stars on a chart in the classroom.

At our school we earn points for work and effort. The students with the most points at the end of the year win prizes.

Students who try particularly hard also receive points, even if their work is poor. After all, no one is good at everything.

However, if your work is bad because you have not made any effort, you get no points. And if you misbehave in class, you may have points taken away from you.

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What do they mean? The adjectives bad and poor are synonyms. They both describe something that is of a low standard or quality. • The woman who played the heroine is a bad actress. • James has suffered from poor health since he was a boy. The adjectives good and excellent are synonyms. They both describe something that is of a high standard or quality. Excellent means ‘very good’. • I saw a good film on TV yesterday. • The food at this restaurant is excellent. The words bad and poor are antonyms of good and excellent. They are opposite in meaning. • A good essay can be spoilt by poor handwriting and spelling.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words and phrases with synonyms. 1 We had poor weather for our school trip. 2 The team lost the match because of Michael’s bad performance. 3 Anna came up with a very good idea. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 fewest 3 punished



2 lose 4 nothing

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8

beautiful, pretty, attractive / ugly, unattractive Middleton was the largest town on the island. There were some beautiful old buildings in the main square.

In the centre of the square, there was an attractive garden. People liked to sit there, admiring the pretty flowers.

The town council decided to put a statue in the garden. It was designed by a famous artist, but most of the residents found it very unattractive.

20

They all signed a letter of protest and sent it to the council. The ugly statue was moved to the courtyard behind the town hall, where it was hidden from public view.

What do they mean? The adjectives beautiful, pretty and attractive are synonyms. They all describe someone or something that is nice to look at. You do not use beautiful or pretty, however, to describe a man or boy. • There are some beautiful paintings in the art gallery. • The bridesmaids were wearing pretty pink dresses. • The book has an attractive cover. The adjectives ugly and unattractive are synonyms. They both describe something that is unpleasant to look at. • An ugly old witch put a spell on the prince. • My aunt gave me a rather unattractive ornament for my birthday. The words beautiful, pretty and attractive are antonyms of ugly and unattractive. • This ugly little caterpillar will turn into a beautiful butterfly.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 Some people think the building is ugly, but I like it. 2 This plant has attractive red flowers that smell lovely. 3 Tom thought the girls didn’t like him because he was unattractive. 4 Sally would look prettier if she had a nicer hairstyle.

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9

begin, start / end, finish We had just finished our breakfast and were tidying up the kitchen. The sky outside looked very dark.

There was a terrible storm on Saturday. It began at about nine o’clock in the morning.

The storm started with a bright flash of lightning. This was followed by a loud crash of thunder.

Then came several hours of heavy rain and strong wind. I thought the storm would never end but it finally did, just before bedtime.

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What do they mean? The verbs begin and start are synonyms. They both refer to doing the first part of something. • The baby began to cry. • I have not started writing my essay yet. The verbs end and finish are synonyms. They both refer to doing the last part of something. • The war ended in 1945. • Please switch off the computer when you have finished using it. The words begin and start are antonyms of end and finish. • The concert starts at 7.30 and finishes at 9.30.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 Mary started to feel worried. 2 The show ended with a very lively piece of music. 3 Paul has just begun working at the bank. 4 You must go to bed as soon as the programme finishes. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 inside 3 quiet



2 light

4 after 23

10

best / worst Anna was not the best dancer in the class, but she was not the worst, either. She decided to enter the competition.

Anna’s ballet teacher told the class about a ballet competition. The three students who danced best would have the opportunity to train with a professional company.

On the big day, however, everything went wrong. First, she fell down the stairs, hurting her ankle. Then, she tore her ballet dress as she was putting it on.

As a result, she gave the worst performance of all the dancers and received the lowest number of points. She was very upset and embarrassed.

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What do they mean? The word best means ‘most good’ or ‘most well’. You can use it as an adjective, an adverb or a noun. • Tom is the best player in the team. • The polish works best if you put it on with a soft cloth. • Grandma’s chocolate cake is the best in the world! The word worst means ‘least good’ or ‘least well’. You can use it as an adjective, an adverb or a noun. • What is the worst thing that can happen? • Jack did not do well in any of his exams, but he did worst in the maths exam. • The police said that the accident was the worst they had ever seen. The words best and worst are antonyms. They are opposite in meaning. • Joe thinks this is the author’s best book but I think it is the worst.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with best or worst, using each word twice. 1 Dad wore his

suit for the wedding.

2 We usually have our every day.

weather in November. It rains almost

3 I felt proud when the teacher said that my essay was the 4 The traffic is to work.

.

in the morning, when many people are travelling

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 contest 3 ripped



2 chance 4 unhappy 25

11

big, large / little, small Anna felt sorry for her goldfish. It seemed bored and lonely, swimming round and round its little bowl all day.

‘Our garden is too small for a pond,’ replied her father. ‘However, there is another way to solve the problem.’

She thought it would be happier in a big pond with other fish. She asked her father if he could dig one in the garden.

He took Anna to a pet shop, where they bought a large glass tank and some more fish. Soon her goldfish was swimming happily in its new home with its new friends.

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What do they mean? The adjectives big and large are synonyms. They both describe something that takes up a lot of space. • These shoes are too big for me. • The school hall is a large room at the front of the building. The adjectives little and small are synonyms. They both describe something that does not take up much space. • The little lamb ran back to its mother. • The teacher stuck a small gold star at the end of Jane’s essay. The words big and large are antonyms of little and small. • China is a big country and Singapore is a small country.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 There was a big round rug in the middle of the floor. 2 The field was full of small white flowers. 3 Mum put a large bowl of rice on the table. 4 The tyre went flat because there was a little hole in it. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 bored 3 bought



2 replied 4 happily 27

12

borrow / lend Sue could not afford to buy a car. She borrowed her father’s when she needed to drive somewhere.

It took Sue a long time to save enough to pay him back. She did not earn much in her job as a waitress.

This was not always convenient. Her father lent her some money to buy a car of her own.

However, she was finally able to give her father the money he had lent her. He was pleased and surprised.

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What do they mean? To borrow is to take something from someone and give it back later. • Please may I borrow your calculator? • My parents borrowed some money from the bank to buy a new house. To lend is to give something to someone and get it back later. • Our neighbour lent Dad some tools to fix the car. • I’ll lend you my umbrella so that you don’t get wet. The verbs borrow and lend are antonyms. They are opposite in meaning. • You cannot borrow my camera because I have lent it to my sister.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. borrow

1 Jane 2 Tom wouldn’t

borrowed

lend

lent

my dictionary and forgot to give it back. me his bike so I had to walk.

3 Mary lost the book that the teacher had 4 If you need a ruler, you can

her. mine.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 save 2 much 3 able 4 pleased 29

13

bottom, base, foot / top Tom and Jack were exploring the beach at the foot of a high cliff. They were collecting interesting stones and shells.

He managed to limp out of the cave, but he could not walk very far. To make matters worse, the tide was coming in – they would soon be trapped.

Jack spotted a cave so they went inside. The bottom of the cave was slippery and Tom fell over, injuring his ankle.

Fortunately, Jack had a mobile phone, so he could call for help. A rescue team arrived at the top of the cliff and two men climbed down on ropes to save the boys.

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What do they mean? The nouns bottom, foot and base are synonyms. They all refer to the lowest part of something. • The ship sank to the bottom of the sea. • The page number is at the foot of the page. • The heavy base of the statue prevents it from falling over. The noun top is an antonym of bottom, foot and base. It refers to the highest part of something. • Joe fell from the top of the stairs all the way down to the bottom. • Write your address at the top of the letter and your name at the foot. • The base of the cupboard does not have a shiny surface like the top.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 There was a hole in the (top / bottom) of the bag. 2 Mum spread melted chocolate over the (top / bottom) of the cake. 3 The village is in the valley, at the (foot / top) of a high mountain. 4 The sled has a smooth (top / base) to help it slide over the snow. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 high 2 inside 3 worse 4 down

31

14

buy, purchase / sell Mum gave Grandpa a digital photo frame for his birthday. He was very pleased with it.

Grandpa did not want to ask Mum where she had bought the frame. He thought she might be upset.

However, it stopped working a few weeks later. The warranty said, ‘Faulty goods must be returned to the store from which they were purchased.’

He went to a shop that sold products made by the same company. The manager kindly agreed to exchange his faulty frame for a new one.

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What do they mean? The verbs buy and purchase are synonyms. They both refer to giving money in exchange for something you want. The word purchase is mainly used in formal writing. • I bought a bar of chocolate and ate it on the train. • The house has been purchased by a retired professor. The verb sell is an antonym of buy and purchase. It refers to giving someone something they want in exchange for money. • Jack sold his motorcycle and bought a car. • You can buy a dictionary at any shop that sells books.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use one of the words twice. bought

1 The shirt that I

purchased

sold

from your website has a hole in the sleeve.

2 The remaining food was

at half price at the end of the day.

3 Dad

each of us an ice cream.

4 Tom

all his old toys to raise money for charity.

B Here are some other words and phrases from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 stopped 2 a few 3 kindly 4 agreed

33

15

cheap, inexpensive / expensive, dear Tony had been working hard and needed a holiday. However, he could not afford anything very expensive.

There were cheap flights available to some interesting destinations. But Tony knew that hotel prices were dear in those places.

‘Camping is an inexpensive way of having a holiday,’ suggested his friend Jack. ‘You can borrow my tent, if you like.’

Tony took up Jack’s offer and drove to an attractive area of the coast. The weather was fine and he had a very enjoyable, relaxing time there.

34

What do they mean? The adjectives cheap and inexpensive are synonyms. They both describe something that does not cost a lot of money. • A cheap camera might not take very good photos. • Reading is an inexpensive hobby, as you can borrow library books free. The adjectives expensive and dear are synonyms. They both describe something that costs a lot of money. • Dad bought Mum an expensive bracelet for her birthday. • The prices in this restaurant are too dear for me. The words cheap and inexpensive are antonyms of expensive and dear. • The dress looks expensive but it was actually quite cheap.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 We have bought tickets for the concert, even though they are rather expensive. 2 You can use these ingredients to make a tasty but cheap meal. 3 Petrol is dearer in this part of the country. 4 The inexpensive seats are at the back of the theatre.

35

16

close, shut / open It was Joe’s tenth birthday. When he came downstairs for breakfast, his parents told him that they had a surprise for him.

Joe shut his eyes, wondering what his present would be. He heard his father leave the room.

‘Close your eyes,’ said his mother. ‘Do not open them until I tell you to.’

His father returned and his mother said, ‘You can look now, Joe.’ There, in front of him, was a shiny new bicycle!

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What do they mean? The verbs close and shut are synonyms. They both refer to moving something so that there is no space between it and another thing. • I shut the gate so that the animals would not get out of the field. • Mary closed the book and put it back on the shelf. The verb open is an antonym of close and shut. • We close the blinds at night and open them in the morning. • The bank opens at nine o’clock and shuts at five o’clock.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The door (opened / closed) with a loud bang. 2 My case was so full that I could not (open / shut) it. 3 Sam (closed / opened) the drawer and took out a pen. 4 We had to (open / close) the window because it was so noisy outside. 5 If you (open / shut) the cage the bird might escape. 6 The recreation ground (shuts / opens) at sunset. B Here are some other words and phrases from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 downstairs 2 told 3 leave 4 in front of

37

17

cry, weep, sob / laugh Katie wept when she broke her favourite doll. She did not want to play with any of her other toys.

Katie stopped crying for a while. Then she remembered her broken doll and began to sob again.

Her father took the doll away to see if he could mend it. Meanwhile, Katie’s brother tried to make her laugh by pulling silly faces.

Finally, her father returned with the mended doll. Katie smiled and clapped her hands with joy.

38

What do they mean? The verbs cry, weep and sob are synonyms. They all refer to showing sadness with a wailing noise and tears. • Tom fell off his bike and hurt his knee but he did not cry. • The dead man’s wife was weeping at the side of his grave. • I could hear someone sobbing in the next room. The verb laugh is an antonym of cry, weep and sob. It refers to showing happiness with noise and a wide grin. • The funny parts of the film made me laugh but its sad ending made me cry. • Mum wept when she saw her new hairstyle, because she thought everyone would laugh at her.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Tom pinched his sister’s arm and made her (cry / laugh). 2 Alice (laughed / wept) when she heard the sad news. 3 The little boy was (sobbing / laughing) because he was lost. 4 The children (laughed / cried) as they splashed each other with water. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 started 2 forgot 3 left 4 sadness

39

18

day / night The sun gives us light during the day, even when it is hidden by clouds. This is the time when most people and animals are awake and active.

However, there are some exceptions. Owls, for example, fly around during the night, hunting for food.

At night, the only natural light comes from the moon and stars. Most people and animals sleep during these dark hours.

They spend most of the day in their nests, which is why you rarely see them. This is a shame, because they are beautiful birds.

40

What do they mean? The noun day refers to the time when it is light, from sunrise to sunset. It can also refer to the time when most people are awake and active. • It rained all day so the children couldn’t play outside. • We spent the last day of our holiday on the beach. The noun night refers to the time when it is dark, from sunset to sunrise. It can also refer to the time when most people are asleep in bed. • Jack heard a strange noise in the middle of the night. • There is not much traffic on the roads during the night. The words day and night are antonyms. • Some people sleep during the day because they have to work at night.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with day or night. 1 The baby cried during the 2 It was a fine

and woke everyone up.

so there were lots of people on the beach.

3 Grandpa taught me the names of some of the stars we see in the sky at . 4 The students were happy because it was the last

of term.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 asleep 2 artificial 3 often 4 ugly 41

19

easy, simple / hard, difficult I have a new camera. It is very easy to use.

I now know which buttons to press. What is more difficult is taking a good photograph.

There is a sheet of simple instructions. They tell you exactly what to do.

This is particularly hard when the subject won’t keep still. Photographing animals requires a lot of patience.

42

What do they mean? The adjectives easy and simple are synonyms. They both describe something that you can do or understand without effort. • I hope there will be some easy questions in the test. • Dad showed me a simple way to remember the correct spelling. The adjectives hard and difficult are synonyms. They both describe something that requires a lot of thought or effort. • It is hard to write neatly when your fingers are very cold. • James could not solve the difficult puzzle. The words easy and simple are antonyms of hard and difficult. • Grandma is finding it increasingly difficult to perform even simple tasks.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 The small print on the label is very hard to read. 2 The teacher asked the class a difficult question. 3 The tiles are easy to keep clean. 4 A six-year-old child should be able to do simple sums like these.

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20

empty / full Carol received several new books for her birthday. However, the bookshelf in her bedroom was already full.

Her brother Joe had a large bookcase in his bedroom, with two empty shelves. Carol asked him if she could put some of her books in there.

‘No, I have other plans,’ he replied, pointing to a box in his room. It was full of model cars which he wanted to put on display.

Then Carol heard a hammering noise coming from her bedroom. Her father was fixing another shelf to the wall for all her new books.

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What do they mean? The adjective empty describes something with nothing inside it. • Sue was looking for an empty bowl to put the fruit in. • The police searched the man, but his pockets were empty. The adjective full describes something which has so much inside it that there is no room for anything else. • The reservoir was full after the heavy rain. • The first bus was full so I had to wait for the next one. The words empty and full are antonyms. • The bin was empty yesterday and now it is full of rubbish.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with empty or full. 1 The room was

of people, none of whom I recognized.

2 Mum’s shopping trolley was checkout.

by the time she reached the

3 Tom wanted some milk for his cereal but the bottle was 4 You can put your T-shirts in this

.

drawer.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 large 2 replied 3 noise 4 fixing

45

21

fast, quickly / slowly It chases and catches other animals for food. They cannot run quickly enough to get away.

A cheetah is a large wild animal of the cat family. It can run very fast.

Some creatures move very slowly indeed. The snail is one of these.

It cannot escape from the birds that would like to eat it. However, it can hide inside its shell.

46

What do they mean? The adverbs fast and quickly are synonyms. They are both used to talk about moving at great speed. Fast always goes after the verb, but quickly can go before or after it. • You will make mistakes if you work too fast. • I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth. The adverb slowly is an antonym of fast and quickly. • Please walk more slowly – I cannot walk as fast as you. • Time passes quickly when you are having fun and slowly when you are bored.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use one of the words twice. fast

quickly

1 I asked the man to speak

slowly

so that I could understand him.

2 The woman had to pay a fine for driving too 3 The snail crawled 4 Mary

.

across the path. wrote down the number so that she would not forget it.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 large 2 wild 3 run 4 like

47

22

few / many Many of the guests were friends and relatives of the bridegroom. However, Jane spotted someone she knew.

Jane went to the wedding of her old schoolfriend Carol, whom she had known for many years. She had met Carol’s parents before, but there were few other familiar faces.

They had many good memories of their schooldays and few bad ones. It had been a happy time for both of them.

It was Mary, another of her old schoolfriends. They sat together and chatted for ages about the past.

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What do they mean? You use few to say that there are only a small number of people or things. You can put it before a noun or use it on its own. • There are few books about this subject in the school library. • Few of the students live more than two kilometres from the school. You use many to talk about a large number of people or things. You can put it before a noun or use it on its own. • Tom has been to England many times. • There were some lovely necklaces in the window and many more inside the shop. The words few and many are antonyms. • Many girls and boys apply for places at the ballet school but few are accepted.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with few or many. 1 Every family in our road has a car and 2 Jane is a popular girl with 3

have two or more. friends.

people know about this beach, so it is always quiet and peaceful here.

4 I have eaten much.

of the chocolates because I don’t like them very

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 former 2 saw 3 talked 4 unpleasant 49

23

float / sink Sam and Joe went for a walk by the river. Some leaves had fallen from the trees and they were floating on the water.

The boys threw stones at the leaves, trying to make them sink. Soon they came to a bridge, where they played a different game.

Joe’s stick floated into view but Sam’s did not appear. ‘Your stick must have sunk as it passed under the bridge,’ said Joe.

Each boy found a stick and dropped it into the water at the same time on one side of the bridge. Then they ran to the other side to see whose stick would appear first.

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What do they mean? To float is to stay on the surface of water. • Bits of wood from the wrecked ship floated past the lifeboat. • An empty bottle will float if its neck is closed with a cap or a cork. To sink is to fall through water to the bottom. • Dad accidentally dropped his binoculars into the lake and they sank. • If you lie on the water and relax, you will not sink. The verbs float and sink are antonyms. • Heavy ships can float because of their shape, but they will sink if they fill up with water.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use one of the words twice. floated

1 The boat had

sank

sunk

away from its mooring.

2 The ‘Titanic’ hit an iceberg and 3 A large airbed

.

across the pool.

4 The treasure chest had

to the bottom of the sea.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 soon 3 ran



2 found 4 appear

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24

foolish, silly, stupid / wise, sensible If you are going out in a small boat, it is sensible to wear a lifejacket. My cousin Tom ignored this advice and almost drowned.

My mother also told him that it was wise to remain seated when the boat was going fast and leaning over. The foolish boy again took no notice.

He refused to wear a lifejacket when he came sailing with us. He thought we all looked silly, and boasted that he was a strong swimmer.

He stood up to take a photo and fell into the water, a long way from the shore. My father had to jump in and rescue him.

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What do they mean? The adjectives foolish, silly and stupid are synonyms. They all refer to doing something that is likely to have a bad result, often because you have not thought about it properly. • It was foolish of them to go walking in the mountains on a foggy day. • The silly girl wrote down her secret password and stuck it to the front of her computer. • Leaving your bicycle outside in the rain was a stupid thing to do. The adjectives wise and sensible are synonyms. They both refer to doing something that is likely to have a good result, usually because you have thought about it properly. • The wise old lady was not deceived by the dishonest young man. • It might be sensible to stay indoors until your cold is better. The words foolish, silly and stupid are antonyms of wise and sensible. • I think that is a stupid idea. My suggestion is far more sensible.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 I think Joe has made a very sensible decision. 2 My foolish sister left the gate open and the dog got out. 3 It is wise to carry a puncture repair kit when you go for a long bike ride in the country. 4 Mary was cross with herself for making such a silly mistake. 53

25

forget / remember, recall Mum had lost her car keys. She had just returned from a trip to the supermarket.

‘I remember locking the car,’ she said, ‘but I have forgotten where I put the keys after I came into the house. They are not in my handbag and my pockets are empty.’

We searched the kitchen, looking inside all the shopping bags. Mum tried to recall what she did first when she got home.

‘I put the meat in the fridge to keep it cool,’ she said. I opened the fridge door and found the car keys on the top shelf.

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What do they mean? When you forget something, it goes out of your mind. • Sally sometimes forgets to feed her goldfish. The verbs remember and recall are antonyms of forget. You use them to talk about keeping something in your mind or bringing it back into your mind. • Jane remembered the boy’s name, even though she had met him only once before. • I don’t recall where I bought this ornament. • Tom had forgotten to take a map, but fortunately he remembered which way to go.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words and phrases with synonyms. 1 I can’t remember what time the bus leaves. 2 Joe recalled seeing a man acting suspiciously outside the bank. 3 Kate did not remember to clean her teeth before she went to bed. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 lost 2 empty 3 cool 4 top

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26

friend / enemy Paul and his friend Jack were the naughtiest boys in the class. One day, Tom saw them spreading glue on the teacher’s chair.

Fortunately, she noticed it before she sat down. ‘Who is responsible for this silly prank?’ she asked angrily.

Paul and Jack had glue on their hands. The teacher knew that they were guilty.

Tom said nothing, because he was afraid of becoming the naughty boys’ enemy. The teacher asked all the students to hold out their hands.

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What do they mean? Friends are people who like each other and like spending time together. • Joe stayed overnight at his friend’s house. • The new girl was unhappy because she did not have any friends. Enemies are people who hate each other and sometimes try to harm each other. • I have an enemy in the office, who has been saying unkind things about me, but I don’t know who it is. • The people fought to protect their country against their enemies. The words friend and enemy are antonyms. • Sue and Kate used to be enemies, but they became best friends after Kate saved Sue’s life.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. Do not use the same word more than once. friend

friends

enemy

1 Mr Lee is a kind old man who has no 2 Jane received a lovely present from her 3 A good manager should not be the 4 Peter invited six of his

enemies

. . of his workers.

to his birthday party.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 luckily

2 trick

3 scared



4 pupils 57

27

from / to Billy walked from his house to the apartment block where his grandmother lived, on the opposite side of the city. It was a distance of six kilometres and it took him more than an hour.

She did not seem as pleased to see him as she usually was. ‘Is anything wrong, Grandma?’ asked Billy.

He was very hot and thirsty when he arrived. His grandmother took a bottle of lemonade from the fridge, poured some into a glass and gave it to him.

‘No,’ she replied, looking slightly embarrassed, ‘but I have to go out in five minutes for a hairdresser’s appointment.’ Poor Billy had to go straight home again!

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What do they mean? The word from is a preposition. You put it before the name of a person or place where something starts. • The nurse removed a large splinter from the boy’s knee. • We received a postcard from Uncle Joe this morning. The word to is a preposition. You put it before the name of a person or place where something ends. • The students handed their test papers to the teacher. • Does this bus go to the airport? The words from and to are antonyms. • Mary took her ticket from her handbag and showed it to the inspector.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with from or to. 1 I sent an email

my cousin in England.

2 The man took a large spotted handkerchief blew his nose. 3 When the show was over, we travelled home in a taxi. 4 The squirrel climbed

his pocket and the theatre

the top of the tree.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 opposite 2 hot 3 arrived 4 slightly

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28

front / back, rear On the first day of the festival there is a procession through the town. The school band marches at the front.

There are four rows of players. The trumpeters are on the front row, their shiny instruments gleaming in the sunlight.

The drummers are on the back row, beating a lively rhythm. Behind them is a crowd of people dressed in colourful costumes.

The youngest children march at the rear. Some of them find it hard to keep up with the rest of the procession.

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What do they mean? The word front refers to the first part of something or the part that faces you. It can be used as a noun or as an adjective. • I finally reached the front of the queue. • There was a photo of the mayor on the front page of the newspaper. The words back and rear are antonyms of front. They refer to the part that is furthest away from the front. • Write your own address on the back of the package. • The rear tyre of the bicycle had a small hole in it. • Carol sits at the front of the class and her twin brother sits at the back.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Jane was sitting in the (front / back) seat, behind her father. 2 Visitors usually enter through the (front / rear) door of a house. 3 The car park is hidden from view at the (rear / front) of the hotel. 4 Joe spilt orange juice down the (back / front) of his shirt. 5 Speak loudly so that the people at the (back / front) can hear you. 6 The driver turned to look out of the (front / rear) window. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 first 2 day 3 shiny 4 hard 61

29

go, leave / return Mr and Mrs Green were discussing how to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Should they have a holiday or spend the money having the garden of their bungalow landscaped?

They left at the beginning of May and were away for a month. When they returned, they had an enormous surprise.

They decided to go on a cruise, as this was something that Mrs Green had always wanted to do. ‘We can do some work on the garden ourselves after we come back,’ said Mr Green.

Their children and grandchildren had been working hard in their absence. As an anniversary present, they had transformed the untidy patch of grass into a beautiful garden.

62

What do they mean? The verbs go and leave are synonyms. They both refer to moving away from a place. • I must go soon, or I will miss my bus. • We left the cinema before the end of the film. The verb return is an antonym of go and leave. You use it to talk about coming back to the place that you moved away from. • Mary went to the park with her brother but she returned alone. • The old man finally returned to the village that he had left forty years earlier.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 I usually (go / return) to school by bus. 2 Uncle Jack (returned / left) without saying goodbye to anyone. 3 We were tired and hungry when we (went / returned) from our walk. 4 Put up your hand if you wish to (leave / return) the room. 5 I’ll give Sue the good news when she (goes / returns). 6 Alan was late and the train had already (gone / returned). B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 never 2 tiny 3 presence 4 neat

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30

happy, cheerful, joyful / sad, unhappy, upset The birth of a baby should be a joyful occasion. However, Katie was upset when her baby sister was born.

This worried her parents, as she was normally a cheerful child. On their way home from the hospital, her father asked her why she was unhappy.

Katie thought that the new baby was a replacement for her. She was afraid that her parents would send her away now that they had a new little girl.

When they got home, Katie’s father explained the situation to her. This made Katie happy, and she stopped crying immediately.

64

What do they mean? The adjectives happy, cheerful and joyful are synonyms. They are all used to talk about feeling good because you like what you are doing or because something nice has happened. You most often use joyful to talk about something that makes people very happy. • The children’s happy laughter could be heard throughout the house. • I felt more cheerful after my chat with Grandma. • Carol could not wait to tell her friend the joyful news. The adjectives sad, unhappy and upset are synonyms. They are all used to talk about feeling bad because something unpleasant has happened or because you do not like what you are doing. You cannot put upset before the noun it describes. • The woman had a sad look on her face. • Paul was unhappy in his last job. • Anna was very upset when her dog died. The words happy, cheerful and joyful are antonyms of sad, unhappy and upset. • People usually cry when they are sad, but sometimes they cry because they are happy.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. Do not use the same synonym more than once. 1 Mary sounded happy when I spoke to her this morning. 2 The teacher tried to comfort the sad child. 3 Sue is sad because her best friend is moving to another town. 65

31

hard, firm, solid / soft Peter and Sam went on an adventure. They were going to camp in the countryside overnight.

They found an area of firm, dry, flat land to put up their tent. Then they made a fire and cooked a meal.

Neither of the boys slept very well that night. The ground felt very hard under their sleeping bags.

They wished they were in their soft, comfortable beds at home. Camping was not as much fun as they had expected it to be.

66

What do they mean? The adjectives hard, firm and solid are synonyms. They all describe something that keeps its shape when you press it or try to bend it. • The clay is baked in a kiln to make it hard. • We need a firm surface to work on. • Reaching for the light switch, I banged my arm on something solid. The adjective soft is an antonym of hard, firm and solid. • The crab’s soft body is protected by its hard shell. • The soft ground had frozen solid and there was ice on the pond.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The fruit has a (soft / hard) stone in the middle. 2 The bucket is made of (firm / soft) plastic. 3 You have to cook rice until it is (hard / soft) enough to eat. 4 The people built a high (soft / solid) wall all around their city. 5 The car began to sink into the (soft / firm) mud. 6 The candy was so (hard / soft) that I could not chew it. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 dry 2 flat 3 up 4 well

67

32

heavy / light Jane and her father were going for a picnic. They packed a cooler with sandwiches, fruit and drinks.

The box was too heavy for Jane to lift, so her father carried it out to the car. Jane put some light cups and plates in a separate bag.

They chose a pleasant spot on their favourite hilltop. There was a fresh breeze, however, and their light tablecloth nearly blew away.

Jane found some heavy stones nearby and put one on each corner of the cloth. Then they sat down to enjoy their meal.

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What do they mean? The adjective heavy describes something that has a lot of weight or force. • There was a heavy shower of rain just before the children left for school. • I was surprised how heavy the small metal ball was. The adjective light describes something that does not have much weight or force. • Sam felt a light tap on his shoulder and turned around. • Mary was wearing a light cotton dress. The words heavy and light are antonyms. • I picked up a small light book to read on the train so that it would not make my bag too heavy.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with heavy or light, using each word twice. 1 Feathers are so

that they float through the air.

2 The woman gently laid a 3 Tom dropped a badly. 4 Dad says I am far too

blanket over her sleeping baby. pan on his foot and bruised his toe quite to ride on his shoulders now.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words and phrases? 1 filled 2 pick up 3 nice 4 placed 69

33

here / there Should I plant the tree here?

You’re right – this is a good place for it. When it grows bigger, it will give us some welcome shade on sunny days.

I think it would look better over there.

I think Spot is trying to dig up our new tree.

Why won’t he obey me?

You naughty dog! Come here at once! 70

Perhaps he has buried something there.

What do they mean? You use the adverb here to talk about a place close to you or the area around you. • We have been waiting here for half an hour. • Is anyone sitting here? You use the adverb there to talk about a place that is some distance away from you. • Peter went to his bedroom and stayed there for the rest of the evening. • I like visiting England but I would not want to live there. The words here and there are antonyms. • The armchair goes here and the sofa goes there.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with here or there, using each word twice. 1 Bring your workbook

and I’ll try to help you.

2 Joe went to work at a bank and met his future wife 3 Sue doesn’t want to go to the zoo because she went week. 4 I wish Mum and Dad were

. last

.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 right 2 sunny 3 naughty 4 obey

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34

high, tall / low, short Jane says that being tall has a number of advantages. She can see over the heads of other people in a crowd.

She can also reach things on high shelves, for example in the supermarket. Sometimes short people ask her to get things down for them.

However, she has to bend down a long way to take something from a low shelf. This is a bit of a disadvantage.

She also finds it difficult to buy smart trousers that are long enough for her. Most of them end several centimetres above her ankle.

72

What do they mean? The adjectives high and tall are synonyms. They both describe things that are big from top to bottom. You can also use high to describe something that is a long way above the ground. You normally use tall to describe people, trees, buildings and things that are not broad. • There are some very high mountains in the north of the country. • The bird built its nest at the top of a tall tree. The adjective low describes something that is small from top to bottom or something that is not far above the ground. It is an antonym of high and tall. • Our dog could jump over the low wall so Dad replaced it with a high fence. • A skyscraper is a tall building and a bungalow is a low building. The adjective short is another antonym of tall. With this meaning it is mainly used to describe people. • Tom and Paul are not alike – Tom is tall and has dark hair, whereas Paul is short and has fair hair.

Try it! Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. high

low

short

1 My little brother was too

to see over the side of the bridge.

2 The sun shone through the

windows and lit up the room.

3 Katie helped her parents by picking the fruit from the of the tree. 4 Uncle Jack is so

tall

that he can touch the ceiling. 73

branches

35

kind, sort, type A glider is a type of plane that has no engine. It has to be towed into the air by an ordinary plane.

A helicopter is a very different kind of aircraft. Instead of wings, it has a set of blades on the top that rotate very quickly.

When the glider is high enough, the other plane lets it go. It flies around and slowly returns to the ground.

Another sort of aircraft is a hot-air balloon. It floats up into the sky when the air inside the balloon is heated.

74

What do they mean? The nouns kind, sort and type are synonyms. You use them to talk about individual members of a group of similar things. • Wood is used to make tables, chairs and other kinds of furniture. • I used the wrong sort of glue so the fabric did not stick to the card. • Spaghetti is a type of pasta in the form of long thin strands.

Try it! A Write sentences containing the given nouns or their plural forms. 1 (kind) 2 (type) 3 (sort) B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 unusual 2 low 3 fast 4 cooled

75

36

left / right ‘Turn left in front of the post office,’ said Sue, ‘then take the second road on the right. I live at number 26.’

Tom was going to visit his friend Sue, who had moved to a new house a few weeks earlier. He phoned her to find out how to get there.

Tom did not write the directions down because he thought he would remember them. However, as he walked towards the post office he became confused.

76

He turned right then took the second road on the left. When he rang the doorbell at number 26, there was no reply.

What do they mean? The word left refers to a side or direction. It is the side of a round clock face where the number 9 is, or the direction of west when you are facing north. You can use the word as an adjective, an adverb or a noun. • Joe had a blister on his left foot. • You slide the knob left to lower the volume. • I moved the photo frame to the left to make room for my new trophy. The word right refers to a side or direction. It is the side of a round clock face where the number 3 is, or the direction of east when you are facing north. You can use the word as an adjective, an adverb or a noun. • Write the address in the top right corner of the letter. • If you look right, you will see the house where the murder took place. • The president’s wife was standing on his right. The words left and right are antonyms. • Jane has broken her right arm so she has to do everything with her left hand.

Try it! Write a sentence containing left and another sentence containing right. You should use these words with the meanings described above. 1 (left) 2 (right)

77

37

loud / soft, quiet Sally woke up in the middle of the night. There was a soft scratching sound coming from the corner of her bedroom.

However, it was Sally herself who got a fright. A tiny mouse scampered over her bare feet and ran towards the door.

She climbed out of bed and tiptoed across the floor. She tried to make her movements as quiet as possible, so as not to frighten whatever was making the noise.

Sally’s parents were woken by her loud scream. They found her standing on the bed, shaking with fear.

78

What do they mean? The adjective loud describes something that makes a lot of noise. • The balloon burst with a loud bang. The adjectives soft and quiet are antonyms of loud. They describe something that does not make much noise. • Kate has such a quiet voice that it is hard to hear what she says. • The soft splashing sound of the waves was interrupted by the loud squawk of a seagull.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The alarm makes a (soft / loud) noise that can be heard throughout the building. 2 The diners were enjoying their meal in the restaurant with (loud / soft) music playing in the background. 3 ‘Don’t tell anyone else,’ said Jack in a (quiet / loud) whisper. 4 I was the only person who could hear the (loud / soft) hissing sound. 5 Grandpa’s (loud / quiet) snoring kept everyone awake. 6 You play (loud / quiet) notes on the piano by pressing the keys very gently. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 sound 2 frighten 3 scream 4 shaking

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38

neat, tidy / untidy, messy Kate has very neat handwriting. Her teacher says that it is a pleasure to mark her work.

Her friend Anna is the opposite. Her writing is so untidy that it is almost impossible to read.

However, the girls’ behaviour is quite different when they are at home. Anna’s bedroom is always tidy, which pleases her mother.

Kate, on the other hand, has a very messy bedroom. She never puts anything away in its proper place.

80

What do they mean? The adjectives neat and tidy are synonyms. They both describe something that looks good because it has been done carefully or because everything is in its proper place. • The chairs were arranged in neat rows. • If your desk was tidy, you would not keep losing your pen. The adjectives untidy and messy are synonyms. They both describe something that looks bad because it has been done carelessly or because things are not in their proper places. • The hole in the curtain had been mended with a few untidy stitches. • Mary was too ashamed to invite her friends to her messy flat. The words neat and tidy are antonyms of untidy and messy. • What had been a neat stack of books was now an untidy heap.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 I don’t know how anyone can work in this untidy kitchen. 2 Everyone admires Grandma’s neat garden. 3 A smart, tidy appearance is important when you go for an interview. 4 Tom went upstairs to comb his messy hair.

81

39

new / old Jack bought a new leather sofa for his living room. It matched the armchairs he had bought a few weeks earlier.

She had just moved to a new apartment. It was larger than her old one, so she needed more furniture there.

He gave his old sofa to his sister. It was no longer in good condition, but she was pleased with it.

Jack did not recognize his sofa when he visited her. She had made a new cover for it, in the same fabric as the curtains.

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What do they mean? Something or someone new has just come into existence. The adjective can also describe something you have just bought, often to replace a similar thing you had before. • Carol made a lot of new friends when she joined the badminton club. • I need a new dress to wear at Sam’s wedding. The adjective old describes something that has existed for a long time, or something you used to have. • The old building at the end of the road used to be a hospital. • I could not send emails from my old phone. The words new and old are antonyms. • Joe’s new car goes faster than his old one did.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with new or old, using each word twice. 1 This

bracelet used to belong to my grandmother.

2 Anna showed her friends a photo of her 3 Tom is learning how to use his 4 Our

baby. computer.

house did not have a garage.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 previously 2 flat 3 bigger 4 material

83

40

rich, wealthy / poor There are a lot of wealthy people in this city. They live in large houses in the suburbs and drive expensive cars.

The homes of the poor people are in the centre of the city. These are tiny houses packed close together in narrow streets.

They rarely see their neighbours because there is so much land around each house. It can be a lonely life of luxury.

However, it is a very friendly community and everyone helps one another. They have no desire to be rich, with all the problems that money can bring.

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What do they mean? The adjectives rich and wealthy are synonyms. They both describe people who have a lot of money. • Not all rich people have worked hard for their money. • Tom’s wealthy uncle pays his school fees. The adjective poor is an antonym of rich and wealthy. It describes people who do not have much money. • The rich tourists ignored the cries of the poor children begging in the street. • It is hard to believe that this wealthy businessman used to be very poor.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 If I was (poor / rich), I would buy a big boat. 2 The leftover food is given to the (rich / poor) people of the village. 3 Mr and Mrs Lee envied their (wealthy / poor) neighbours. 4 They are too (poor / rich) to send their children to an expensive school. 5 Mr Jackson is so (poor / wealthy) that he does not need to work for a living. 6 Many people bought the book, making the author very (rich / poor). B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 expensive 2 rarely 3 tiny 4 narrow

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41

right, correct / wrong, incorrect The young woman who answered the door was excited to receive an unexpected parcel. She tore it open without reading the address.

The postman had a package to deliver. Unfortunately, he took it to the wrong house.

When she saw what was inside – a book about aircraft – she looked more closely at the packaging. It had the correct road name, but the house number was incorrect.

It also had a different person’s name above the address. Feeling embarrassed and foolish, the woman took the book to the right house and apologized for unwrapping it.

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What do they mean? The adjectives right and correct are synonyms. They both describe something that is true or what it should be. • Mary was right when she said Paul had probably missed the bus. • If we had the correct tools, the work would be much easier. The adjectives wrong and incorrect are synonyms. They both describe something that is a mistake or not true. • I pressed the wrong key and deleted the text. • The information on this website is incorrect. The words right and correct are antonyms of wrong and incorrect. • I thought I had given the correct answer but it turned out to be wrong.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 This encyclopedia has the wrong spelling of the name. 2 I think we are going the correct way. 3 The teacher told Peter that three of his answers were incorrect. 4 You have to choose the right words to fill in the blanks.

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42

rise / fall, drop The temperature usually rises during the day as the sun warms the air. It drops at night when the air becomes cooler.

These droplets form clouds in the sky. As they cool they turn back into water, which falls from the clouds as rain.

In the daytime the sun also dries up any puddles on the ground. The water turns into tiny droplets that rise through the warm air.

The rain makes the ground wet and forms new puddles. These are heated by the sun and the whole process (known as the water cycle) starts all over again.

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What do they mean? To rise is to move upwards or increase in amount. • The balloon rose into the sky. • The number of students achieving the highest grade has risen again this year. The verbs fall and drop are antonyms of rise. You use them to talk about moving downwards or decreasing in amount. • Leaves were falling from the trees. • The price of most things is steadily rising, but the price of some electronic goods has dropped in the past ten years.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Smoke was (falling / rising) from the chimney. 2 Snow began to (rise / fall), covering the land with a white blanket. 3 The water level in the reservoir (rose / dropped) during the drought. 4 Passenger numbers have (fallen / risen) as more people are travelling by car. 5 The elevator (rose / dropped) to the top floor. 6 The fruit (rises / drops) from the branches when it is ripe. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 warmer 2 huge 3 dry 4 ends

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43

sit / stand The bus was full of people. There was nowhere to sit, so Peter and Sue had to stand.

They were glad to sit down. They had been playing badminton after school and their legs were tired.

At the next stop three people got off and only one got on. Peter and Sue eagerly took the empty seats.

However, they did not get much of a rest. An elderly couple got on at the next stop so the polite children stood up and gave them their seats.

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What do they mean? To sit (or sit down) is to be in or move to a position where your bottom is resting on something such as a chair or the floor. • Tom and Paul sit next to each other in class. • Sally sat down on her bed and took off her shoes. To stand (or stand up) is to be in or move to a position where your body is upright and your feet are supporting you. • The people who were standing at the back of the crowd could not see what was happening. • The bride’s father stood up to make a speech. The verbs sit and stand are antonyms. • I had been standing up for ages and I longed to sit down.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. Do not use the same word more than once. sat

sit

stand

1 There were no chairs so we had to 2 Jack

on the floor.

at the back of the queue.

3 People usually 4 Mary

stood

when the national anthem is played. on the high stool by the counter, swinging her legs.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 next 3 glad



2 eagerly 4 polite 91

44

sleep / wake Mary went to bed early because she had an important exam the following day. She could not sleep, however, and she lay awake for several hours.

Finally, she decided to do a bit more revision at her desk. This made her drowsy and she fell asleep at her desk.

Her mind was full of everything she had learnt for the exam. She was worrying whether she would remember it all.

When she woke her neck was stiff and her head hurt. It was not a good start to the day!

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What do they mean? When you sleep, you rest with your eyes closed and you are not aware of what is happening around you. • Carol slept all the way home in the car. • My dog sleeps at the foot of my bed. When you wake (or wake up), you stop sleeping. • It was still dark outside when I woke. • The baby woke up and began to cry. The verbs sleep and wake are antonyms. • James slept for eight hours and woke up feeling much better.

Try it! A Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb sleep or wake. 1 Dad sometimes snores when he 2 David

.

at seven o’clock when his alarm clock went off.

3 I usually get up as soon as I 4 Alice

.

through most of the film because it was so boring.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 following 2 mind 3 drowsy 4 hurt

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45

thick / thin, fine Jack baked a birthday cake for his mother. He spread a thick layer of white icing on the top.

Then he added some red liquid to the icing left in the bowl. The icing turned pink when he stirred the mixture.

He put the pink icing into a special bag with a fine nozzle. The icing came out in a thin strip as he squeezed the bag.

Finally, he wrote ‘Happy Birthday Mum’ in pink letters on the top of the cake. His mother was surprised and delighted when she saw it.

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What do they mean? The adjective thick describes something that is big between its surfaces or inside its outer surface. • Alan cut a thick slice of bread from the loaf. The adjectives thin and fine are antonyms of thick. They describe something that is small between its surfaces or inside its outer surface. • Kate was wearing a heart-shaped locket on a thin silver chain. • Fine cotton fabric keeps you cool in hot weather and thick woollen fabric keeps you warm in cold weather.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Eggs have (thin / thick) shells that are easy to crack. 2 It took a long time to read the (fine / thick) book of instructions. 3 The thread was so (thick / fine) that it kept snapping. 4 The piece of wood was too (thick / thin) to fit in the gap. 5 I used a pen with a very (fine / thick) nib to write the tiny letters. 6 Push the (thick / thin) end of the wedge under the door to hold it open. B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 made 2 remaining 3 went 4 pressed

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true / false, untrue The photos were shown on TV and someone recognized the thief. The police went to his house and accused him of the crime.

A man stole a necklace in a department store. His movements were filmed by the security camera.

He told them a false story, claiming that he had been at home on that day. ‘That is quite true,’ said his wife, who had just entered the room.

However, the police immediately knew that the man’s account was untrue. His wife was wearing the stolen necklace!

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What do they mean? The adjective true describes a fact or something that really happened. • Is it true that cats are afraid of water? • The film is based on a true story. The adjectives false and untrue are antonyms of true. They are opposite in meaning • Everything Alice told me was untrue. • Are the following statements true or false?

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 A lie is a statement that is (true / untrue). 2 The woman was released as the evidence proved that what she had said was (true / untrue). 3 This painting gives a (true / false) impression of the size of the house. It makes the house look much bigger than it actually is. 4 The story is hard to believe, but it really is (untrue / true). 5 Anna always blushes with shame when she says something (true / untrue). 6 The company was tricking people with (false / true) promises. B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 actions 2 robber 3 completely 4 instantly

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47

wet, damp, moist / dry Check the pot every day. If the soil feels dry, sprinkle it with water, but do not make it too wet.

You can grow a sunflower from a single seed. Put the seed in a pot of damp soil.

Soon you will have a tall plant with a big yellow flower. The flower contains seeds which you can use to grow other plants next year.

The plant will start growing in the moist soil. Green shoots will appear above the surface.

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What do they mean? The adjective wet describes something that has water in it or on it. • Tom rubbed his wet hair with a towel. The adjectives damp and moist are synonyms. They describe something that is slightly wet. • There is a damp patch on the ceiling because the roof leaks. • Mary wiped the screen with a moist cloth. The adjective dry is an antonym of wet, damp and moist. • Sally took off her wet socks and put on a dry pair. • Most of the washing was dry but one of the sheets was still damp.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Mary’s handkerchief was (damp / dry) because she had been crying. 2 The path was (wet / moist) and muddy after the heavy rain. 3 The nurse said I must try to keep the bandage (wet / dry). 4 Tom added a little water to the soil to keep it (dry / moist). 5 The sheets felt a bit (damp / wet) because the bed had not been used for some time. 6 Jane sat in the warm garden until her hair was (moist / dry). B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 start 2 above 3 tall 4 next 99

48

wide, broad / narrow On one side of the path was a wide expanse of undergrowth. Miss Lee told us that many small animals lived among these plants.

Our science teacher, Miss Lee, took us to the forest for a nature lesson. We walked along a narrow path, one behind another.

She also taught us how to recognize different types of trees. Some have broad leaves of various shapes and sizes.

Others, such as the pine, have very narrow leaves called needles. These remain on the branches all year round, so the trees are called evergreens.

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What do they mean? The adjectives wide and broad are synonyms. They both describe something that is large from side to side. • The river was too wide to swim across. • A gardener was mowing the broad green lawn. The adjective narrow is an antonym of wide and broad. • The narrow passage led to a wide cave. • The flag has a broad white stripe across the middle and narrow red stripes at the top and bottom.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Sally had a (narrow / wide) grin on her face. 2 The road is too (narrow / broad) for cars to pass one another. 3 The garden is long and (broad / narrow), so we have plenty of room to play football. 4 Tom managed to squeeze through the (wide / narrow) gap. 5 Ten of the protesters stood side by side, blocking the (wide / narrow) gateway. 6 The big strong man could carry a child on each of his (broad / narrow) shoulders. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 expanse 2 small 3 types 4 remain

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49

win / lose They hoped to win the national championship. There was a space in the trophy cabinet for the silver cup that would be their prize.

The school football team was having a great year. They had not lost a single game so far.

On the day of the final they were full of confidence. However, at half time they were losing by three goals to one.

They scored only one more goal and the other team won. Their coach was not at all pleased with their performance.

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What do they mean? To win is to do better than the person or people you are playing, competing or fighting against in a game or other contest. • Anna entered a painting competition but she did not expect to win. • The army won the battle because they had more soldiers and weapons. To lose is to be beaten by your opponent or opponents in a game, competition or fight. • The president will probably lose the next election. • Mary consoled her brother after he lost the match. The verbs win and lose are antonyms. • I usually win when I play chess with Kate but I always lose when we play badminton.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. lose

lost

1 I knew Tom had 2 If you

win

won

as soon as I saw his unhappy face. this race, you may be selected for the Olympic team.

3 Alice did not know she had delivered to her house. 4 No one likes to

the competition until the prize was a game.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 good



2 match

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3 gap

50

young / old, elderly We have an elderly neighbour called Mr Green. He lives alone and has difficulty walking around.

My parents help him as much as they can. Mum does his shopping and Dad mows his lawn.

I sometimes sit with him to keep him company. He tells me about all the adventures he had when he was a young boy like me.

I find some of his stories hard to believe, but I don’t say so. He is a nice old man and I wouldn’t like to upset him.

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What do they mean? You use young to describe people, animals or plants near the beginning of their lives, when they have not been alive for long. • We watched the young birds learning to fly. • The young plants need a lot of water to grow. The adjectives old and elderly are antonyms of young. You use old to describe people, animals or plants that have been alive for a long time. You use elderly only for people, as a more polite synonym. • The old horse was no longer strong enough to pull the cart. • The young girl was very kind to her elderly grandmother.

Try it! A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use one of the words twice. elderly

1 The tree is so 2 My 3 4 Our

old

young

that no one remembers when it was planted. uncle is rather deaf.

cats are called kittens. dog still has a lot of energy.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 help 2 mows 3 stories 4 hard

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Answers

B Possible answers: 1 slowest 2 less 3 glad 4 lost

UNIT 1 A 1 over 2 below B 1 sleeps 2 full 3 top 4 better

UNIT 5 A 1 never 2 always 3 always 4 never B Possible answers: 1 approximately 2 lovely 3 lots 4 depart

UNIT 2 1 2 3 4

kid adults children grown-ups

UNIT 6 A 1 awake 2 sleeping 3 asleep 4 awake B Possible answers: 1 started 2 down 3 roughly 4 into

UNIT 3 A 1 after 2 after 3 before 4 before B 1 loves 2 nervous 3 always 4 proud

UNIT 7

UNIT 4 A 1 2 3 4 5 6

A 1 bad 2 poor 3 an excellent B 1 most 2 win 3 rewarded 4 everything

ahead behind in front behind ahead in front

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UNIT 8

UNIT 12

1 2 3 4

A 1 borrowed 2 lend 3 lent 4 borrow B Possible answers: 1 spend 2 little 3 unable 4 angry

unattractive pretty [OR beautiful] ugly more attractive [OR more beautiful]

UNIT 9 A 1 began 2 finished 3 started 4 ends B 1 outside 2 dark [OR heavy] 3 loud 4 before

UNIT 13 A 1 bottom 2 top 3 foot 4 base B Possible answers: 1 low 2 outside 3 better 4 up

UNIT 10 A 1 best 2 worst 3 best 4 worst B 1 competition 2 opportunity 3 tore 4 upset

UNIT 14 A 1 purchased 2 sold 3 bought 4 sold B Possible answers: 1 started 2 many 3 unkindly 4 refused

UNIT 11 A 1 large 2 little 3 big 4 small B Possible answers: 1 interested 2 asked 3 sold 4 sadly

UNIT 15 1 2 3 4 107

dear inexpensive more expensive cheap

4 easy

UNIT 16 A 1 closed 2 shut 3 opened 4 close 5 open 6 shuts B Possible answers: 1 upstairs 2 asked 3 enter 4 behind

UNIT 20 A 1 full 2 full 3 empty 4 empty B Possible answers: 1 big 2 answered 3 sound 4 attaching

UNIT 21

UNIT 17

A 1 slowly 2 fast 3 slowly 4 quickly B Possible answers: 1 small 2 tame 3 walk 4 hate

A 1 cry 2 wept 3 sobbing 4 laughed B 1 stopped 2 remembered 3 returned 4 joy

UNIT 18

UNIT 22

A 1 night 2 day 3 night 4 day B 1 awake 2 natural 3 rarely 4 beautiful

A 1 many 2 many 3 Few 4 few B 1 old 2 spotted 3 chatted 4 bad

UNIT 19

UNIT 23

1 difficult 2 hard 3 simple

A 1 floated 108

2 sank 3 floated 4 sunk B Possible answers: 1 later 2 lost 3 walked 4 disappear

3 from 4 to B Possible answers: 1 same 2 cold 3 left 4 very

UNIT 28

UNIT 24 1 2 3 4

A 1 back 2 front 3 rear 4 front 5 back 6 rear B Possible answers: 1 last 2 night 3 dull 4 easy

wise stupid [OR silly] sensible foolish [OR stupid]

UNIT 25 A 1 recall 2 remembered 3 forgot B Possible answers: 1 found 2 full 3 warm 4 bottom

UNIT 29 A 1 go 2 left 3 returned 4 leave 5 returns 6 gone B 1 always 2 enormous 3 absence 4 untidy

UNIT 26 A 1 enemies 2 friend 3 enemy 4 friends B 1 fortunately 2 prank 3 afraid 4 students

UNIT 30

1 cheerful 2 unhappy 3 upset

UNIT 27 A 1 to 2 from 109

3 low 4 tall

UNIT 31 A 1 hard 2 firm 3 soft 4 solid 5 soft 6 hard B Possible answers: 1 wet 2 sloping 3 down 4 badly

UNIT 35 A Possible answers: 1 The rainforest is home to animals of many different kinds. 2 A laptop is a type of computer that you can easily carry from place to place. 3 This is the sort of question that is very hard to answer. B 1 ordinary 2 high 3 slowly 4 heated

UNIT 32 A 1 light 2 light 3 heavy 4 heavy B 1 packed 2 lift 3 pleasant 4 put

UNIT 36 Possible answers: 1 Sally sits on my left in the classroom. 2 Most people write with their right hand.

UNIT 37

UNIT 33

A 1 loud 2 soft 3 quiet 4 soft 5 loud 6 quiet B Possible answers: 1 noise 2 scare 3 cry 4 trembling

A 1 here 2 there 3 there 4 here B Possible answers: 1 wrong 2 cloudy 3 good 4 disobey

UNIT 34 1 short 2 high 110

3 dropped 4 fallen 5 rose 6 drops B 1 cooler 2 tiny 3 wet 4 starts

UNIT 38 1 2 3 4

messy tidy neat untidy

UNIT 39 A 1 old 2 new 3 new 4 old B 1 earlier 2 apartment 3 larger 4 fabric

UNIT 43 A 1 sit 2 stood 3 stand 4 sat B Possible answers: 1 last 2 unwillingly 3 sad 4 rude

UNIT 40 A 1 rich 2 poor 3 wealthy 4 poor 5 wealthy 6 rich B Possible answers: 1 cheap 2 often 3 huge 4 wide

UNIT 44 A 1 sleeps 2 woke 3 wake 4 slept B Possible answers: 1 next 2 brain 3 sleepy 4 ached

UNIT 41 1 2 3 4

incorrect right wrong correct

UNIT 45 A 1 2 3 4 5 6

UNIT 42 A 1 rising 2 fall 111

thin thick fine thick fine thin

B 1 baked 2 left 3 turned 4 squeezed

B Possible answers: 1 area 2 little 3 kinds 4 stay

UNIT 46

UNIT 49

A 1 untrue 2 true 3 false 4 true 5 untrue 6 false B 1 movements 2 thief 3 quite 4 immediately

A 1 lost 2 win 3 won 4 lose B 1 great 2 game 3 space

UNIT 50 A 1 old 2 elderly 3 Young 4 old B Possible answers: 1 assist 2 cuts 3 tales 4 difficult

UNIT 47 A 1 damp 2 wet 3 dry 4 moist 5 damp 6 dry B Possible answers: 1 finish 2 below 3 short 4 last

UNIT 48 A 1 2 3 4 5 6

wide narrow broad narrow wide broad

112