Synonyms and Antonyms 2 9789810940881

Citation preview

wo man. plu mp, frien dly re nice Anna was a her an d we ed lik le op Mo st pe to her.

VOCABULARY

Synonyms and Antonyms

n she of the wo me However, one fat. Anna said she was worked with man was wo r he ot e thought th was thin, but she unattractively ll her. te to e lit po to o

2 if e me better ‘Would yo u lik na aske d her An ’ m? sli s I wa evening . He husban d that hug. ve her a big smile d an d ga

important,’ he k like is not u any ‘What yo u loo ssibly love yo po n’t uld co replied. ‘I w.’ no do I an more th

ROSALIND FERGUSSON

VOCABULARY

Synonyms and Antonyms

2

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 4088 1

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. sharp / blunt). Sometimes a word has two antonyms (e.g. appear / disappear, vanish) or a synonym and an antonym (e.g. elder, older / younger). Sometimes there are four or more words altogether (e.g. fine, sunny / cloudy, rainy). A few entries consist only of synonyms (e.g. have, own, possess). 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 furious has a stronger meaning than angry.) 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.

3

Contents Preface

3

1

6

about, roughly, approximately / exactly, precisely

2 accept / refuse, reject, turn down

8

3 add / subtract, remove

10

4 afraid, scared, frightened / fearless

12

5 alike, similar, same, identical / different

14

6 alive, live, living / dead

16

7 all, some / none

18

8 almost, nearly / completely, absolutely

20

9 angry, cross, furious / pleased

22

10 appear / disappear, vanish

24

11 ask, enquire / answer, reply

26

12 beside, by, next to

28

13 bitter, sour / sweet

30

14 brave, courageous / cowardly

32

15 careful / careless

34

16 catch, capture / free, release

36

17 clean, spotless / dirty, filthy

38

18 cold, cool / hot, warm

40

19 dangerous, risky / safe

42

20 dark / light, pale, bright

44

21 doctor / patient

46

22 elder, older / younger

48

23 familiar / unfamiliar, strange

50

24 fat, plump / thin, slim, slender

52

4

25 fine, sunny / cloudy, rainy

54

26 funny, amusing, humorous / serious

56

27 generous / mean, stingy

58

28 gentle / rough, violent

60

29 give / take, receive

62

30 guest, visitor / host, hostess

64

31 have, own, possess

66

32 hill, mountain / valley

68

33 honest, truthful / dishonest, deceitful

70

34 hungry, starving / full

72

35 learn / teach

74

36 lid, top, cap

76

37 life, birth / death

78

38 like, love, adore / hate, detest, loathe

80

39 middle, centre / side, edge

82

40 on / off

84

41 pleasant, nice / unpleasant, nasty

86

42 raise, lift / lower

88

43 rough / smooth

90

44 sharp / blunt

92

45 speak, talk / listen

94

46 stay, remain / go, leave

96

47 strong, powerful / weak, feeble

98

48 succeed, pass / fail

100

49 very, extremely, really / slightly, a bit

102

50 yes / no

104

Answers

106

5

1

about, roughly, approximately / exactly, precisely My school is approximately four kilometres from our house. Mum drives me there on her way to work.

Yesterday, I arrived at school early. Today we left home at precisely the same time and I arrived five minutes late.

The journey should take about ten minutes. There is often a lot of traffic, however, which makes it much longer.

The only way to be sure of getting to school at exactly eight o’clock is to walk there. But it would be rather tiring to do that every day.

6

What do they mean? The adverbs about, roughly and approximately are synonyms. You use them when something might be slightly more or slightly less than what you say. • The box weighs about five kilograms. • Jack and Tom are roughly the same height. • It will take approximately twenty minutes to get to the station. The adverbs exactly and precisely are synonyms. You use them to say that something is completely true or correct. • This picture is exactly the same as that one. • You must measure the ingredients precisely. The words about, roughly and approximately are antonyms of exactly and precisely. They are opposite in meaning. • The show will begin at exactly seven o’clock and will last for approximately two hours.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 The builders are approximately halfway through the work. 2 You have precisely twenty minutes to complete the test. 3 We need a piece of rope about two metres long. 4 My friend Carol and I are exactly the same age.

7

2

accept / refuse, reject, turn down The hotel manager, Mr Lee, needed a new receptionist. He advertised for one on the Internet.

A lot of people applied for the job. Mr Lee rejected many of their applications because they did not have enough experience.

To his disappointment, she turned down his offer. She had just accepted a job at another hotel in the same town.

He interviewed five candidates and chose the best one. A few days later, he phoned her to offer her the job.

8

What do they mean? To accept is to take something that has been offered. • Ten people have accepted the invitation. The verbs refuse, reject and turn down are antonyms of accept. You use them to talk about not taking something that has been offered. • Sally never refuses a second helping of ice cream. • The committee turned down Jack’s idea because they thought it would not work. • I rejected Tom’s offer of help, but I later wished I had accepted it.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The actor (rejected / accepted) the award and made a short speech. 2 You might offend them if you (accept / refuse) their gift. 3 The man selling the bike (accepted / turned down) my offer of a hundred dollars. He told me the bike was worth much more. 4 Kate was reluctant to (turn down / accept) such a good opportunity. 5 Please (refuse / accept) my apology. I am so sorry I offended you. 6 Mary wrote an article for the school magazine but it was (rejected / accepted) because it was too short. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 many 2 best 3 later 4 same

9

3

add / subtract, remove Sue was packing for a winter holiday in England. She knew the weather would be cold, so she added some warm jumpers to her bag.

However, she was worried about exceeding the baggage allowance on the plane. She tried to weigh the bag on the bathroom scales, but it was too big.

Her brother told her what to do. ‘Hold your bag up and stand on the scales,’ he said, ‘then subtract your own weight from the number.’

Sue did this and discovered that the bag was a bit too heavy. She had to remove one of the extra jumpers.

10

What do they mean? To add something is to put it with another thing or with other things. • Add the numbers to find the total. The verbs subtract and remove are antonyms of add. They refer to taking something away. You use subtract for numbers and amounts. You use remove for other things. • If you subtract 17 from 36, you are left with 19. • Don’t forget to remove the price label before you wrap the gift. • Mum removed the dead flowers from the vase and added some fresh ones.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once. added

removed

1 Someone has

a picture from my photo album.

2 Jane tasted the soup and 3 Paul

subtracted

a bit more salt.

19 from 72 and got the wrong answer.

B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 summer 2 off 3 hot 4 light

11

4

afraid, scared, frightened / fearless The crowd watched the fearless acrobat walk across the tightrope. They applauded when she safely reached the other side.

‘At first I was scared,’ she admitted. ‘However, I soon realized that it is hard to keep your balance if you are trembling with fear!’

Afterwards, the acrobat was interviewed by a newspaper reporter. ‘Aren’t you afraid of falling off?’ he asked her.

‘Besides,’ she added, ‘there is a safety net to catch me if I fall. I would not be injured – I would simply make a fool of myself.’

12

What do they mean? The adjectives afraid, scared and frightened are synonyms. They are all used to talk about the unpleasant feeling that something bad is going to happen. You cannot put afraid before the noun it describes. • My little brother is afraid of the dark. • Carol looked scared when the instructor told her what she had to do. • The frightened rabbit ran back to its hole. The adjective fearless is an antonym of afraid, scared and frightened. • My fearless friend ran across the narrow bridge but I was too scared to follow her. • The frightened villagers were very grateful to the fearless knight who killed the dragon.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Jane is (afraid / fearless) of flying so she never travels by plane. 2 Tom was (fearless / scared) that the dog might bite him. 3 The (afraid / frightened) children clung to the side of the boat and called for help. 4 The (fearless / frightened) soldiers marched into battle. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 applauded 2 afterwards 3 hard 4 trembling 13

5

alike, similar, same, identical / different They were made by different companies, so there is a different symbol on the front. However, this is not easy to notice.

My friend Carol’s schoolbag is very similar to mine. They are the same shape and colour, but they are not identical.

One day, Carol and I took the wrong schoolbags home. We both realized our mistake as soon as we opened them.

14

Fortunately, our houses are not far apart. We met halfway along the road and swapped the bags over.

What do they mean? The adjectives alike and similar are synonyms. They both describe people or things that are very like each other. You cannot put alike before the noun it describes. • Dad and Uncle Joe are alike in many ways. • This story is similar to one I read a few months ago. The adjectives same and identical are synonyms. They both describe people or things that are exactly like each other. You usually put the in front of same. • The river has the same name as the country it flows through. • One of the boys must have copied from the other – their answers are identical. The adjective different is an antonym of alike, similar, same and identical. • There are several different drugs that have similar effects. • The two words have the same sound but different spellings.

Try it! Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once.

alike

different

identical

1 Two of the guests were wearing 2 Each year we go to a 3 Our new house is

similar

dresses. place on holiday.

to our old one, but it has a larger kitchen.

4 The leaves of the plants are

, so it is easy to confuse them.

15

6

alive, live, living / dead Like many other people, Alan is afraid of spiders. He cannot bear to touch one, or even to get close to it.

If he finds a live spider in the bath, he shouts for help. His wife has to come and throw it out of the window.

One evening, he saw a large spider on the floor by the bed. He did not know if it was dead or alive, and he did not want to find out.

His wife was away on business overnight. Alan closed the bedroom door and went downstairs to sleep on the sofa.

16

What do they mean? The adjectives alive, live and living are synonyms. They all describe people, animals or plants that are still breathing or growing. You cannot put alive before the noun it describes. • The girl was badly injured, but she was still alive. • The fisherman bought some live worms to use as bait. • Most living things need food and water. The adjective dead is an antonym of alive, live and living. • I could not tell whether the plant was alive or dead. • Ghosts are the spirits of dead people who appear to living people.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The machine was keeping the patient (alive / dead). 2 I could never eat a (live / alive) insect. 3 Bacteria are (alive / living) things that can cause diseases. 4 The (dead / living) soldier was given a military funeral. 5 The wax models looked like (living / alive) people. 6 Sue was very upset when she found out that her dog was (alive / dead). B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 afraid 2 shouts 3 large 4 closed

17

7

all, some / none I’m nearly ready – I’m just looking for a suitable necklace to wear.

Wow, you have a great collection of jewellery.

Some of it belonged to my grandmother. This brooch, for example, was a present from my grandfather on their first wedding anniversary.

It’s lovely – it must be worth a lot of money. No, none of the jewellery in this box is very valuable, unfortunately.

However, it is all very precious to me. Each piece has a happy memory attached to it.

18

What do they mean? The pronoun all refers to a whole thing, or every item in a group. • Mum gave Joe such a large helping of rice that he could not eat it all. • All of my friends have mobile phones. The pronoun some refers to part of a thing or group. • Jack opened the bottle of cola and poured some into a glass. • Some of these books belong to my brother. The pronoun none is an antonym of all and some. • None of the students passed the exam so they all had to take it again. • Mary wanted some of the cake but there was none left.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once. all

none

1 Sue showed us

some

of the photos she had taken on holiday.

2 The fruit and vegetables had gone rotten so Mum threw them away. 3

of the boys had the missing key.

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



2 gift 4 beautiful 19

8

almost, nearly / completely, absolutely According to the instrument panel in Tom’s car, the fuel tank was almost empty. He asked his friend Sue if she knew where the nearest petrol station was.

She told him that there was one in the next town, about ten kilometres away. ‘Are you absolutely sure?’ asked Tom.

The tank was completely empty. Tom had to get out and walk to the petrol station.

‘Yes,’ replied Sue. They drove on, but the car stopped nearly a kilometre from the town.

20

What do they mean? The adverbs almost and nearly are synonyms. They both mean ‘not quite’. • Jane is almost ten years old – it is her birthday next week. • I was late leaving the house and nearly missed the bus. The adverbs completely and absolutely are synonyms. They both mean ‘totally’. • Peter scrubbed the floor until it was completely clean. • I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. The words almost and nearly are antonyms of completely and absolutely. They are opposite in meaning. • It rained almost every day, which completely ruined our holiday.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 Do not put your shirt back on unless it is completely dry. 2 It was almost dark by the time we got home. 3 I have nearly finished my homework. 4 The children were absolutely exhausted after their long walk.

21

9

angry, cross, furious / pleased Paul was driving his mother’s car when a little girl suddenly dashed into the road in front of him. He swerved to avoid her and hit a tree.

‘Oh, no!’ thought Paul. ‘Mum gets cross when anyone scratches her car. She will be furious when she sees the damage I’ve done.’

He drove home and told his mother what had happened. To his surprise, she was not angry with him.

Instead, she was pleased that neither he nor the girl had been injured. ‘Cars are easier to mend than people,’ she said.

22

What do they mean? The adjectives angry, cross and furious are synonyms. They all describe someone who is upset about something. If you are cross, you are slightly angry. If you are furious, you are very angry. • Grandma will be angry if you put muddy footprints on the clean floor. • Please don’t be cross with me – I was only trying to help. • The farmer was furious when he discovered that someone had been stealing his apples. The adjective pleased is an antonym of angry, cross and furious. It is opposite in meaning. • Although Sue was cross with her brother for breaking the ornament, she was pleased that he had owned up and apologized. • I was pleased that my friends had enjoyed the party, but I was angry not to have been invited myself.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The wasp will not sting you unless you make it (angry / pleased). 2 The teacher was (pleased / cross) with me for not paying attention. 3 Mum will be (furious / pleased) if we are late for lunch again. 4 Dad was (pleased / furious) when I told him I had passed the exam. B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 small 2 hurt 3 ran 4 fix 23

10

appear / disappear, vanish A tired, hungry boy sat down to rest under a magic tree. As he leant against the trunk, a fairy appeared and told him to make a wish.

He could have anything he wished for, but he must not tell anyone where it came from. The boy wished for some hot, tasty food.

The fairy vanished and the boy found a large bowl of soup in his hands. He had just raised it to his lips when an old woman walked past.

‘Where did you get that from?’ she asked. ‘A fairy gave it to me,’ replied the boy, and the bowl of soup immediately disappeared.

24

What do they mean? When someone or something appears, they begin to be seen, often suddenly. • A face appeared at the window. The verbs disappear and vanish are antonyms of appear. You use them when someone or something can no longer be seen. • The stain will disappear if you rub it with this liquid. • The clouds vanished as suddenly as they had appeared.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The sun (appeared / disappeared) over the horizon. 2 The helicopter (appeared / disappeared) behind the tall building. 3 A valuable book has mysteriously (appeared / vanished) from the library. 4 My pen has (disappeared / appeared). I can’t find it anywhere. 5 Ghosts (appear / vanish) only to people who believe in them. 6 Sally turned round to thank the boy but he had (appeared / vanished). B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 tired 2 tasty 3 raised 4 replied

25

11

ask, enquire / answer, reply A woman was walking around a large bookstore, looking a bit lost. ‘Can I help you?’ asked an assistant.

‘I hope so,’ answered the woman. ‘I want to buy a birthday present for my grandson, who is very interested in boats.’

The assistant led her to the children’s department and showed her a shelf full of books about boats. ‘How old is your grandson?’ he enquired.

‘It’s his twenty-first birthday on Friday,’ replied the woman with a smile. ‘I think these books might be a bit too young for him!’

26

What do they mean? The verbs ask and enquire are synonyms. They are saying verbs that are used with questions. • I asked what we were having for lunch. • ‘Do you sell hiking boots?’ enquired the customer. The verbs answer and reply are synonyms. They both refer to what you say when someone asks you a question. • Peter gave the matter some thought before he answered. • ‘The train left ten minutes ago,’ replied the station master. The words ask and enquire are antonyms of answer and reply. They are opposite in meaning. • The policeman asked the girl where she lived but she did not answer him.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 ‘I’m not hungry,’ replied Jane. 2 Mr Lee phoned the station to enquire about the times of the trains. 3 ‘Is this seat taken?’ asked the woman. 4 I could not answer because I did not understand the question.

27

12

beside, by, next to She sat by the window so that she could look out. It would be fun to see the clouds below her.

Sally was flying to Australia with her father. It was her first trip on a plane and she was very excited.

Her father sat beside her. He showed her how to fasten her seat belt.

The young man sitting next to Sally’s father on the other side seemed rather nervous. He was also flying for the first time, but he was on his own.

28

What do they mean? The prepositions beside, by and next to are synonyms. They link words or phrases referring to people or things that are very close to each other. • Alan switched on the lamp beside his chair. • We went for a walk by the river after lunch. • The post office is in North Street, next to the newsagent’s shop.

Try it! A Write sentences containing the given prepositions. 1 (beside) 2 (by) 3 (next to) B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 excited 2 out 3 below 4 fasten

29

13

bitter, sour / sweet While Billy’s mother was preparing a fruit salad, the phone rang. She went to answer it and Billy decided to taste some of the fruit.

When his mother returned, she laughed at the expression on his face. She gave him a piece of sweet pineapple to eat.

He put a piece of grapefruit in his mouth. It was bitter – he did not like it at all.

This took away the sour taste of the grapefruit. Billy was soon smiling again.

30

What do they mean? The adjective bitter describes something with a strong taste that many people find unpleasant, such as beer. • Jane swallowed the bitter medicine as quickly as she could. The adjective sour describes something with a sharp taste that many people find unpleasant, such as vinegar. • If the milk tastes sour, it is not fit to drink. The adjective sweet is an antonym of bitter and sour. It is opposite in meaning. • Dad thinks coffee tastes bitter without sugar so he adds some sugar to make it sweet. • The drink is made with a mixture of sweet fruits, such as apples and grapes, and sour fruits, such as lemons and blackcurrants.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once. bitter

sour

1 Mrs Lee’s home-made lemonade is too 2 Honey is a 3 The

sweet

for her grandchildren.

substance produced by bees. flavour of the chocolate surprised me.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 while



2 preparing

3 put



4 expression

31

14

brave, courageous / cowardly His sister Jane was bigger than him, even though he was a year older than her. She was also a lot more courageous.

Joe was small for his age, and not very brave. He was bullied by some other boys in his class.

When Jane saw one of the bullies hit her brother, she was extremely angry. She grabbed the boy by the collar.

32

The bully called for help, but no one came to his assistance. His cowardly friends had all run away.

What do they mean? The adjectives brave and courageous are synonyms. They both describe people who are not afraid of danger or pain. You can also use the words to talk about what such people do. • Despite the pain in her broken leg, the brave girl did not cry as she was lifted into the ambulance. • Entering the lion’s cage was courageous but foolish. The adjective cowardly is an antonym of brave and courageous. It is opposite in meaning. • My cowardly friend was not brave enough to go on the ride with me. • A truly courageous person would not behave in such a cowardly way.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 It was very (brave / cowardly) of you to tell the principal that it was your fault. 2 The (cowardly / courageous) members of the rescue team received medals for their bravery. 3 Alan was too (courageous / cowardly) to pick up the snake. 4 A (cowardly / brave) person would not make a good soldier. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 big 2 bit 3 younger 4 went

33

15

careful / careless When the cake was cool, she put it in a box and took it out to the car. ‘Be careful with this box,’ she said to her husband, but he was not paying attention.

Sue and her husband Jack were going to visit their friends Kate and Peter. Sue made a cake to take as a gift.

He was thinking about the game of golf he was planning to have with Peter. He put his golf clubs down on top of the box and squashed it.

‘How can you be so careless?’ cried Sue when she saw what Jack had done. ‘It took me all morning to make that cake, and you’ve ruined it in a couple of seconds!’

34

What do they mean? When you are careful, you think about what you are doing so that you do not have an accident, or so that you do it properly or well. • Grandma is a very careful driver so I always feel safe in her car. • You must be careful not to cut yourself with these sharp scissors. When you are careless, you do something without thought or care, often quickly, with a bad result. The adjective can also describe something done in this way. • A careless worker had not tightened the screw. • Tom’s careless handwriting is very difficult to read. The words careful and careless are antonyms. • It was careless of you to spill your drink. Please try to be more careful in future.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with careful or careless, using each word twice. 1 Jane had made a number of 2 Be 3 The

mistakes.

when you cross the busy road by the station. cleaner knocked a valuable crystal vase off the shelf.

4 You have to be offended.

what you say to Mary, as she is easily

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 made 3 cried

2 squashed



4 ruined

35

16

catch, capture / free, release Two men put a trap in the woods. It was a cage with birdseed in it.

They wanted to catch some of the birds that lived in the woods. However, they were not bad men – they were scientists.

Eachassistant bird thatled they was The hercaptured to the children’s fitted with aand tinyshowed metal ring. department her aThis shelf would the scientists to track full of enable books about boats. ‘How old is the birds after they released them. your grandson?’ he enquired.

They freed the birds as quickly as they could. They did not want to cause them any unnecessary distress.

36

What do they mean? The verbs catch and capture are synonyms. They both refer to taking or holding a person or animal so that they cannot get away. • Joe went fishing and caught a large fish. • The police have not yet captured the thief. The verbs free and release are synonyms. They both refer to letting a person or animal go. • The man was finally freed after ten years in prison. • Alice seized the boy by the arm and would not release him. The words catch and capture are antonyms of free and release. They are opposite in meaning. • The cat released the mouse that it had caught and watched it run away.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The farmer tried to (catch / release) the fox that was killing his chickens. 2 Several enemy soldiers have been (released / captured). 3 The rabbit struggled to (capture / free) itself from the hunter’s trap. 4 The animals are (caught / released) into the wild again after they have recovered from their injuries. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 good 2 before 3 huge 4 slowly

37

17

clean, spotless / dirty, filthy Anna found an apartment to rent in the city centre. It was close to the office where she worked.

Unfortunately, the previous tenant had left it in poor condition. There were dirty marks on the paintwork and the kitchen floor was absolutely filthy.

After two days of washing and scrubbing, the apartment was spotless. Anna was very pleased with her new home.

Anna did not want to move her belongings into the apartment until it was clean. She filled a bucket with water and set to work.

38

What do they mean? The adjectives clean and spotless are synonyms. They both describe something that has no dust, mud or unwanted marks on it. You use spotless to emphasize that something is completely clean. • The dog cannot come in unless its paws are clean. • There was a spotless white tablecloth on the table. The adjectives dirty and filthy are synonyms. They both describe something that has dust, mud or unwanted marks on it. If something is filthy, it is extremely dirty. • Mary put the dirty plates in the dishwasher. • My hands were filthy after working in the garden. The words clean and spotless are antonyms of dirty and filthy. They are opposite in meaning. • Sally took off her dirty jeans and put on a clean pair.

Try it! Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once.

clean

dirty

filthy

spotless

1 The children wore ragged clothes and their faces were 2 I don’t have any

.

socks to wear.

3 Aunt Mary’s house is always

.

4 The cover of the book was a bit condition.

but it was otherwise in good

39

18

cold, cool / hot, warm In some parts of the world, the weather is hot all year round. It is never cold outside during the day, even when it is raining.

In other parts of the world, the year is divided into seasons of different weather. It is cold in the winter and hot in the summer.

In those countries, people use fans and air-conditioning to keep them cool indoors. They have no need for warm clothing.

In the winter, people use fires and central heating to keep them warm indoors. In the summer, they wear cool clothes and enjoy the sunshine, because they know it will not last!

40

What do they mean? The adjective cold is used to talk about a low temperature, like that of ice. • It only snows when the weather is cold. The adjective hot is used to talk about a high temperature, like that of fire. Hot is the antonym of cold. • Joe felt hot so he took off his jumper. • You boil cold water to make it hot. The adjective cool is used to talk about being pleasantly cold but not very cold. • What I need is a nice cool drink of lemonade. The adjective warm is used to talk about being pleasantly hot but not very hot. Warm is the antonym of cool. • The sand felt warm under my bare feet. • We ran around to keep warm in the cool evening air.

Try it! Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once.

cold

cool

1 It was cosy and

hot

inside my sleeping bag.

2 Drink your tea before it goes

.

3 Alice burnt her hand on the

pan.

4 Mary was wearing a

warm

blouse made of thin cotton.

41

19

dangerous, risky / safe There is a notice warning people that it is dangerous. However, this is the only way of crossing the river at this point.

The bridge over the river is no longer safe. Some of the boards have rotted and fallen into the water.

Some people still use the bridge, even though they know it is risky. They tread very carefully on the remaining boards.

Sometimes, these crack under their weight. If the bridge is not repaired soon, someone could be drowned.

42

What do they mean? The adjectives dangerous and risky are synonyms. They both describe something that might have a bad result. You can also use dangerous to describe a person, animal or thing that could cause harm. • In this country it is illegal to let dangerous dogs run free. • Trying to fix a computer is a risky business if you don’t know what you are doing! The adjective safe is an antonym of dangerous and risky. It is opposite in meaning. • A kitchen is not a safe place for young children – there are sharp knives and other dangerous things there. • It seemed risky to leave my bike outside the house, so I locked it in the garage to keep it safe.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You will have to use one of the words twice. dangerous

risky

safe

1 When the traffic stops at the red light, it is 2 The police warned everyone that a prison.

to cross the road. criminal had escaped from

3 Paul was reluctant to take part in such a

activity.

4 We boiled the water to kill any germs and make it

to drink.

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

2 walk

43

3 decayed

20

dark / light, pale, bright The countryside is very dark at night. There are no street lamps to make the roads light.

A white T-shirt makes you stand out from the background. It is much more visible in a car’s headlights than a dark blue one, for example.

People walking along these roads at night must watch out for traffic. It is best to wear light colours, so that drivers can see you.

This is why workmen repairing the roads wear bright yellow jackets. Drivers cannot fail to notice them, day or night.

44

What do they mean? The adjective dark describes a colour that is closer to black than to white. It can also describe a place that does not have a strong source of light. • The bush has dark purple flowers. • The prisoners were locked up all day in a small dark cell. The adjectives light, pale and bright are antonyms of dark. Light and pale describe a colour that is closer to white than to black. Bright describes a strong colour that is easy to see. You can also use light and bright to describe a place that has plenty of light. • This is a very light house because it has lots of windows. • Jane’s skin turned bright red after a day in the hot sun. • Mary was wearing a pale green blouse and a dark brown skirt. • The roaring fire helped to make the dark room bright.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 You should not wash (dark / pale) colours and white things together. 2 It was no longer (dark / light) enough to read my book. 3 The sign has a (bright / dark) red border so that people will notice it. 4 When colours fade, they turn (pale / bright). B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 night 2 background 3 visible 4 fail

45

21

doctor / patient Most of Carol’s patients are mothers and children. Women often prefer to see a female doctor.

Alan and his wife Carol are both doctors. They work together at a surgery near their home.

Alan and Carol are normally quite healthy, but last month Alan fell ill. He was glad that Carol was there to look after him.

Some doctors make bad patients, but Alan was not one of those. He did everything that Carol told him to do and soon became well again.

46

What do they mean? A doctor is a person who treats sick or injured people. • Paul wants to be a doctor when he grows up. • The doctors at the hospital worked all night treating the survivors of the accident. A patient is a person who is receiving medical treatment. • The patient was wheeled into the operating theatre on a trolley. • There is a large waiting room for patients at the surgery. The nouns doctor and patient are antonyms. • The patient asked the doctor if the disease was infectious.

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

1 The 2 A vet’s 3 The 4

doctors

patient

patients

gave Alice some medicine for her cough. are animals, not people. asked the nurse for a drink of water. cannot always make people well.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 female 2 there 3 everything 4 well 47

22

elder, older / younger James is usually kind to his younger brother. They play well together, despite the difference in their ages.

Paul and James are brothers. Paul is ten and James is four years older.

Paul sometimes struggles with his homework. His elder brother is happy to help him.

However, like all brothers, they do not always agree. Sometimes their arguments end in a fight.

48

What do they mean? The adjectives elder and older are synonyms. They are both used to talk about a person who has been alive for longer than someone else. You usually put elder before a noun such as brother, sister, son or daughter. You cannot put than after elder. • Jane is Mr Lee’s elder daughter. She is two years older than his other daughter, Alice. • Martin is the older of the two guitarists in the band. The adjective younger is an antonym of elder and older. It is opposite in meaning. • My elder sister is good at painting and my younger sister is good at sport. • The older children help the younger ones with their work.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You will have to use one of the words twice. elder

older

1 You should always be polite to 2

younger people.

workers have more energy but less experience.

3 Mr Jones often goes fishing with his 4 My

son.

brother was born when I was five.

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

2 assist



4 quarrels



49

23

familiar / unfamiliar, strange When you go exploring a strange place, you should always take a map with you. Kate foolishly did not do so when she went abroad on holiday last year.

She thought she would find her way back to the hotel where she was staying without difficulty. However, she took a wrong turning and found herself in an unfamiliar district of the town.

It was full of narrow winding streets that seemed to lead her round in circles. To make matters worse, she did not speak the language so she could not ask for directions.

She was very relieved when she eventually saw a familiar landmark. It was the tall building next to her hotel.

50

What do they mean? The adjective familiar describes something you recognize because you have seen or heard it before. To be familiar with something is to know about it, or how to do or use it, through experience. • The title of this book seems familiar. I think I may have already read it. • Most young people are familiar with computers and similar devices. The adjectives unfamiliar and strange are antonyms of familiar. They both describe something that you have not seen or heard before. If you are unfamiliar with something, you have no experience of it. • The man’s voice was familiar but his face was unfamiliar, because I had only spoken to him on the phone. • Sue was unfamiliar with the rules of the game. • Jack woke up in a strange room where none of the furnishings or furniture looked familiar.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The bridge may look (familiar / unfamiliar), as it was used in one of the Harry Potter films. 2 I was (familiar / unfamiliar) with the machine so I had to read the instruction book. 3 When you start a new job, everything seems (familiar / strange) at first. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 foolishly



2 difficulty

3 narrow



4 winding

51

24

fat, plump / thin, slim, slender Anna was a plump, friendly woman. Most people liked her and were nice to her.

‘Would you like me better if I was slim?’ Anna asked her husband that evening. He smiled and gave her a big hug.

However, one of the women she worked with said she was fat. Anna thought the other woman was unattractively thin, but she was too polite to tell her.

‘What you look like is not important,’ he replied. ‘I couldn’t possibly love you any more than I do now.’

52

What do they mean? The adjectives fat and plump are synonyms. They both describe someone or something that is big from side to side and from front to back. You use plump to say that someone or something is fat in a pleasant way. • Eating too many cakes and sweets will make you fat. • The birds were pecking at the plump red cherries on the tree. The adjectives thin, slim and slender are synonyms. They all describe something that is small from side to side and from front to back. You use slim and slender to say that someone or something is thin in a pleasant way. • The people in the prison camp were very thin because they did not have enough food. • Kate fastened the belt around her slim waist. • The slender stems of the plant were bending under the weight of the large flowers. The words fat and plump are antonyms of thin, slim and slender. They are opposite in meaning. • Paul had changed from a fat teenager into a slim young man.

Try it! Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Your dog is too (fat / slender). You should give it less food and more exercise. 2 The (slim / thin) thread snapped and the stitches came undone. 3 The sleeves felt tight around Jane’s (plump / thin) arms. 4 Sue admired her (slender / thin) figure in the mirror.

53

25

fine, sunny / cloudy, rainy Fine weather was forecast for Saturday, so Jack and Sue decided to have a barbecue. They invited some of their friends and neighbours.

By lunchtime, however, the weather had turned cold. Jack began cooking the food, looking anxiously at the cloudy sky.

It was sunny on Saturday morning while Sue was preparing the food. Jack got the barbecue out of the shed and set it up in the garden.

Everyone was eating when the first raindrops fell. They took their plates indoors and finished their meal in the dining room, determined not to let the rainy weather spoil their fun.

54

What do they mean? The adjectives fine and sunny are synonyms. They both describe pleasant weather that is warm and dry, with sunshine and blue sky. • We only had one fine day on our holiday. • Grandma likes to go for a walk when the weather is sunny. The adjective cloudy describes weather that is dry but not very pleasant, when the sky is covered with clouds. • The countryside looks less attractive on a cloudy day. The adjective rainy describes wet weather, with showers or continuous rain. • The hotel does not have many guests during the rainy season. The words cloudy and rainy are antonyms of fine and sunny. They are opposite in meaning. • Let’s go out and enjoy this fine weather. It might be rainy tomorrow.

Try it! A Circle the words to complete the sentences. 1 I hope we will have a (cloudy / fine) day for our trip to the coast. 2 It was a (sunny / cloudy) afternoon, with hardly any clouds in the sky. 3 The weather was (sunny / cloudy) so Mary did not hang the washing outside. 4 There’s no risk of getting sunburnt on a (fine / rainy) day. B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 asked



2 started

3 become



4 completed

55

26

funny, amusing, humorous / serious Our weekend newspaper has several different sections. All the serious news articles are in the main part, which my mother likes to read first.

There is a children’s section with puzzles and cartoons. Some of these are so funny that they make me laugh aloud.

My father reads the sports section and my sister reads the fashion section. I find some of the latest styles of clothes quite amusing.

My sister tells me that the designs are meant to be serious, not humorous. However, I occasionally see her laughing at some of the pictures.

56

What do they mean? The adjectives funny, amusing and humorous are synonyms. They all describe something that makes you laugh. • Paul told us a funny story about his cat. • Some of the comedian’s jokes were not very amusing. • Sally writes humorous articles for the school magazine. The adjective serious is an antonym of funny, amusing and humorous. It is opposite in meaning. • I thought we were going to see a serious play – I didn’t expect it to be funny. • The author is trying to put across a serious message in a humorous way.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The clown’s performance was really (serious / funny). 2 Please stop laughing – this is a (serious / funny) subject. 3 Most children’s cartoon shows are meant to be (amusing / serious). 4 It is hard to make a (serious / humorous) remark without smiling. 5 Dad had a (funny / serious) look on his face so I knew that something was wrong. 6 Peter sent Carol a (humorous / serious) message but she didn’t understand the joke. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 first



2 aloud

3 occasionally



4 laughing

57

27

generous / mean, stingy Jane is very popular with her classmates. She is a kind and generous girl.

Anna is the complete opposite of Jane. She is really stingy and hates giving or even lending things to other people.

When she has a bag of sweets, she never eats them all herself. She offers the bag to everyone around her.

Anna has no brothers or sisters, which may be why she is so mean. She is not used to having to share her possessions.

58

What do they mean? The adjective generous describes someone who gives money or other things to people, or who is always willing to do so. The word can also refer to a large amount given. • It was very generous of Tom to buy ice creams for everyone. • We received a generous donation from the mayor. The adjectives mean and stingy are antonyms of generous. They are opposite in meaning. You use stingy mainly in informal language. • Generous people leave a large tip for the waiter and mean ones leave little or nothing at all. • Aunt Mary gave me a generous helping of rice but a rather stingy portion of curry.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Thanks to the (stingy / generous) people who sponsored me, I have raised more than a thousand dollars for charity. 2 A miser is a person who is very (generous / mean) with their money. 3 The cook put only a (stingy / generous) handful of cherries in the pudding. 4 If you are too (generous / mean), you will have nothing left for yourself. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 complete 2 really 3 hates 4 possessions

59

28

gentle / rough, violent Paul and his younger brother Steven often play rough games together. Sometimes they pretend to be wrestlers or boxers and fight each other.

However, the brothers behave very differently when their little sister Katie is around. They are so gentle with her that you would not believe they were the same boys!

Steven once hit Paul with a violent punch that gave him a black eye. Their mother scolded both of them for this.

They love to take her for walks around their garden. Each boy holds one of her hands so that she will not fall.

60

What do they mean? The adjective gentle describes an action that does not have much force and does not cause damage or injury. It can also describe a person who does such actions. • I gave the door a gentle push and it slowly swung shut. • Nurses have to be gentle when they are caring for their patients. The adjectives rough and violent are antonyms of gentle. They are opposite in meaning. • The gentle breeze that we had enjoyed in the morning turned into a violent hurricane in the late afternoon. • The giant gave the girl a gentle tap on the shoulder, but he was so big and strong that it felt like a rough blow.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Baby animals need (gentle / rough) treatment because they are easily hurt. 2 My mother does not like me to play rugby because it is such a (gentle / rough) sport. 3 The farmer was a (violent / gentle) man who sometimes beat his sons. 4 The furniture needs to be strong because it will have a lot of (rough / gentle) use. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 often 2 behave 3 believe 4 love 61

29

give / take, receive My friend Sally had a party on her tenth birthday. She received lots of presents and cards.

I gave her a necklace of red and white beads. The colour matched the dress she was wearing, so she put it on straight away.

There was a table full of delicious food and drink. Each guest took a plate and helped themselves to what they wanted.

Sally blew out the candles on her cake with a single breath. Then her mother cut up the cake and gave everyone a large slice.

62

What do they mean? To give is to let someone have something, often by putting it in their hand. • The shop assistant has given me too much change. • Tom’s mother gave him some good advice. The verb receive is an antonym of give. You receive something that someone gives you. • Grandma received excellent treatment while she was in hospital. • The soldier expected to receive a medal but he was not given one. The verb take is another antonym of give. You can take something by removing it from someone’s hand or by picking it up. • The little boy took the lollipop from the woman without saying ‘Thank you’. • Mum forgot to give me a spoon so I took one from the drawer.

Try it! Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You will have to use one of the words twice.

gave

1 Jane 2 I 3 The monkey 4 Everyone

received

took

a ‘Congratulations’ card from her friends at work. the birds a bowl of fresh water to drink. the banana and ran away with it. as much help as they could.

63

30

guest, visitor / host, hostess There are certain rules that guests should follow when they stay overnight in another person’s home. Firstly, it is polite to bring a gift for your host or hostess.

Remember that your host and hostess may do things differently from you. They might go to bed earlier or later than you usually do, or they might want to watch a TV programme that you dislike.

64

Most people do not expect their visitors to do the housework or cook the meals. However, they will probably be very grateful if you offer to help with small tasks.

Lastly, when you leave at the end of your stay, be sure to say ‘thank you’. If you break any of these rules, you probably will not be invited again!

What do they mean? The nouns guest and visitor are synonyms. They both refer to a person who goes to the home of another person. • We have an important guest coming to lunch tomorrow. • One of Carol’s visitors spilt orange juice on her new carpet. The nouns host and hostess refer to people who invite other people to their homes. A host is usually male and a hostess is always female. • Tom’s hosts did everything they could to make him feel at ease. • Sally sent her hostess a letter of thanks after she returned home. The words guest and visitor are antonyms of host and hostess. They are opposite in meaning. • You should not argue with your host when you are a guest in his house.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Mary asked her (guests / hosts) if they would like a cup of tea. 2 We had an unexpected (hostess / visitor) yesterday. 3 Jack’s (host / guest) drove him to the airport the following day. 4 The (host / hostess) was wearing an attractive blue dress. B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 courteous 2 hate 3 thankful 4 depart 65

31

have, own, possess Aunt Mary has a rather old-fashioned computer. However, it serves her needs so she does not want to change it.

This is not the only computer she has ever owned. She bought her first computer more than 25 years ago, long before people started using the Internet.

None of her friends possessed a computer at that time. They were very interested when Aunt Mary showed them what it could do.

Nowadays, there is at least one computer in nearly every home. It is hard to imagine how people ever managed without them.

66

What do they mean? The verbs have, own and possess are synonyms. They are all used to say that something belongs to a particular person. You use possess mainly to talk about things. You use own to talk about things, animals, houses or land. You can use have to talk about almost anything. • Both Alice and her sister have long black hair. • Mr Brown has owned this farm for nearly forty years. • I do not possess a camera, so I could not take a photo of the strange bird in my garden.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with the correct form of own or possess. Do not use the same verb more than twice. 1 Our next-door neighbour has a large black dog. 2 The twins have many toys and books. 3 Do you know anyone who has a telescope? 4 My grandparents have a large house near the coast. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 old-fashioned 2 bought 3 interested 4 hard 67

32

hill, mountain / valley The source of the river is a spring in the centre of the island. A steady stream of water comes out of the ground there.

It then runs through a narrow valley for about thirty kilometres. Other streams flow down the mountains to join the water in the river.

As it gets nearer to the sea, the valley becomes wider and flatter. Instead of mountains, there are low hills on either side.

Finally the river flows through a large city – the island’s most important port – on the coast. The water from the spring has reached the ocean at last!

68

What do they mean? A hill is an area of land, usually with a rounded or pointed top, that is higher than the land around it. • There is a wonderful view from the top of the hill. • They cut a tunnel through the hill for the railway. A mountain is a very large hill. • You need to be very fit to climb a mountain. • Some mountains are so high that they have snow at the top. The noun valley is an antonym of hill and mountain. It refers to a long strip of land between hills or mountains, usually with a river in it. • The sheep grazing in the hills are owned by farmers who live in the valley below. • The road starts in the valley then winds its way up the mountain.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 Tom cycled to the top of the (hill / valley). 2 Mount Everest is the highest (hill / mountain) in the world. 3 The river that used to flow through this (hill / valley) dried up long ago. 4 What is the name of that (mountain / valley) on the horizon? B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 centre 2 about 3 wider 4 finally

69

33

honest, truthful / dishonest, deceitful Yes, it’s lovely.

Do you like my new dress? Please be honest with me.

I think it makes you look fat.

Why did you say such a nasty thing to your sister?

Sometimes you have to be a bit dishonest so as not to upset people. You told me I should always be truthful.

70

It would be deceitful to say that I liked the dress.

What do they mean? The adjectives honest and truthful are synonyms. They both describe someone who says something that is true. They can also describe the statement that is made. • An honest person does not tell lies. • This is a truthful account of what happened. The adjectives dishonest and deceitful are synonyms. They both describe someone who says something that is not true. • If people think you are dishonest, they will not believe anything you say. • The deceitful girl insisted that she had not eaten the cookies. The words honest and truthful are antonyms of dishonest and deceitful. They are opposite in meaning. • I thought James was being truthful but I later found out that he had been dishonest.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 The dishonest young man claimed to be a professional photographer. 2 Doctors should always be truthful with their patients. 3 You must give honest answers to the policeman’s questions. 4 It was deceitful of Sally to say that she had a university degree.

71

34

hungry, starving / full Sue and Tom were going to spend the weekend with their friends Kate and Joe. It was a four-hour car journey, so they stopped for a break.

The delicious smell in the cafeteria made them feel hungry. They each had a large plateful of chicken curry and rice.

They still felt full when they arrived at their friends’ house. ‘I hope Kate hasn’t cooked us a meal,’ Sue said to Tom.

‘You must be starving after your long journey,’ said Joe as he greeted them. ‘But don’t worry, Kate has made a big pot of chicken curry for us all.’

72

What do they mean? The adjectives hungry and starving are synonyms. They both describe someone who wants or needs to eat because their stomach feels empty. If you are starving, you are very hungry. • I am always hungry when I get home from school. • The starving children seized the crusts of bread. The adjective full is an antonym of hungry and starving. It is opposite in meaning. • Sue eats only when she feels hungry and stops eating when she feels full. • Joe was too full to eat all his pizza so he gave some to his sister, who was starving after her long walk.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 I never feel very (full / hungry) at breakfast time. 2 The boys were (starving / full) so they bought some sandwiches. 3 I hope you’re not too (hungry / full) for a piece of birthday cake. 4 It seems wrong to waste food when there are (full / starving) people in the world. 5 Tom refused a second helping because he was (full / hungry). 6 Jane felt a bit (hungry / starving) but she had nothing to eat. B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 trip 2 appetizing 3 paused 4 welcomed 73

35

learn / teach Jack was staying on his aunt and uncle’s farm during the school holidays. His elder cousin, Sally, offered to teach him how to ride a horse.

First, he had to learn how to climb into the saddle. This was not as easy as it looked when Sally did it.

She taught him how to sit and move as the horse trotted around the field. Jack learnt quickly, and Sally was very impressed.

On the last day of Jack’s holiday they went for a longer ride together. Sally promised to give Jack some more lessons the next time he came for a visit.

74

What do they mean? To learn is to gain knowledge or skill. • We learnt about Africa in our geography lessons last term. • Alice is learning how to sail a boat. To teach is to help someone to learn by giving them information or showing them how to do something. • My parents taught me to read before I started school. • This book will teach you how to edit your photos on the computer. The verbs learn and teach are antonyms. They are opposite in meaning. • It is hard to teach people who do not want to learn.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. Do not use the same word more than once. learn

1 Sue

learnt

4 Mr Lee

teach

to speak Japanese while she was working in Tokyo.

2 I am trying to 3 You can them closely.

taught

my dog how to walk on its hind legs. a lot about plants by growing them and examining science at the school my father went to.

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



2 easy

3 sit



4 longer 75

36

lid, top, cap Joe often wishes that his wife Sally was not so careless and untidy. One morning, she dropped the toothpaste on the bathroom floor and did not pick it up.

On another occasion, Sally did not screw the top on the ketchup bottle properly. When Joe shook the bottle, the lid flew off and ketchup went all over the place.

She had not replaced the cap on the tube either. Joe accidentally stepped on it and squeezed toothpaste on his slippers.

Sally says that she makes these little mistakes because her mind is full of more important things. Joe does not know whether to believe her or not.

76

What do they mean? The nouns lid, top and cap are synonyms. They all refer to something that covers the opening of a container such as a bottle or tube. You can also use lid for the cover of a box or jar. You can also use top or cap for the cover of a pen. • Mum always has difficulty getting the lid off the pickle jar. • Peter thought he saw a coin in the grass but it was just a shiny bottle top. • I’ve lost the cap of my pen. Have you seen it anywhere?

Try it! A Write sentences containing the given nouns with the meanings described above. 1 (lid) 2 (top) 3 (cap) B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 floor 2 replaced 3 accidentally 4 important

77

37

life, birth / death The old king was near the end of his life. He was almost ninety, and very sick.

A few weeks later, Julian became a grandfather too. There was happier news for the nation, with the birth of a boy to his eldest daughter.

The following day, his death was announced on national television. His son Julian became the new king.

This little baby was just starting his life. He was far too young to realize that he would eventually become king himself.

78

What do they mean? The noun life refers to all the time that a person or animal is alive. • Grandma has lived in this village all her life. • Some insects have a very short life. The noun birth refers to the time when the life of a person or animal begins. • Anna’s brother has been blind since birth. • This is a busy time of year for the farmer, with the birth of new lambs and calves. The noun death is an antonym of life and birth. It refers to the time when a person or animal’s life ends. • Mr Lee spent most of his life in China. He moved to Singapore just a few months before his death. • A person’s gravestone usually has the date of their birth and the date of their death on it.

Try it! Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You will have to use one of the words twice.

birth

death

1 Alan was very upset about the

of his dog.

2 Aunt Mary is writing the story of her 3 The

life

.

of the triplets doubled the size of our family.

4 A young bird is dependent on its parents in the early part of its

79

.

38

like, love, adore / hate, detest, loathe I sometimes help Dad bath my baby sister. She loves to splash around and play with her toys.

However, she loathes having her hair washed. As soon as Dad puts water on her head, she starts screaming.

But I like the soft, silky feel of clean hair against my face as I dry it. I’m sure my sister will feel the same when she is older.

I can understand why it upsets her. I hate getting shampoo in my eyes when I am washing my own hair.

80

What do they mean? To like something or someone is to think that they are nice or pleasant. • I like your new hairstyle. To hate something or someone is to think that they are horrible or unpleasant. Hate is an antonym of like. • Everyone hates making a fool of themselves. • My parents hate the kind of music that my sister likes. The verbs love and adore are synonyms. They are both used to say that you like something or someone very much. • Tom loves riding on the back of his father’s motorcycle. • Jane adores her pet cat. The verbs detest and loathe are synonyms. They are both used to say that you hate something or someone very much. Detest and loathe are antonyms of love and adore. • Paul loathes his school uniform and takes it off as soon as he gets home. • Sally loves carrots but her brother detests them.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 I used to like this show but now I detest it. 2 Aunt Mary adores her new apartment. 3 Jack is an impatient man who loathes having to wait for anything. 81

39

middle, centre / side, edge Alice’s teacher asked the class to draw a picture of their dream home – the place where they would most like to live. Alice sketched a large house with three storeys in the middle of the sheet of paper.

Finally, she decorated the edge of the paper with a border of flowers. The teacher said her picture was very interesting and attractive.

Then she added a garden around the house and some tall trees at one side. On the other side there was a small field with a pony in it.

He made a display of the best drawings and put Alice’s at the centre. She felt very proud, as this was the first time any of her artwork had been put on the wall.

82

What do they mean? The nouns middle and centre are synonyms. They both refer to a part of something that has other parts all around it. • The actor stood in the middle of the crowd, signing autographs for his fans. • You can find the centre of the piece of fabric by folding it in half. The nouns side and edge are synonyms. They both refer to the part that is furthest from the middle of something. • I could see a ghostly figure at the side of the photograph. • There is a fence around the edge of the field. The words middle and centre are antonyms of side and edge. They are opposite in meaning. • People should cycle at the side of the road, not in the middle.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 We moved all the chairs to the side of the room. 2 Try to hit the small red circle in the middle of the target. 3 There were wild flowers growing at the edge of the path. 4 The king had a new palace built in the centre of the city. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 sketched



2 storeys 83



3 tall

40

on / off The town’s football team had just won the national championship. They were going to drive round the town centre that afternoon to show the trophy to the people.

The town centre was already full of people when he arrived. He stood on a wall so that he could see over the heads of the crowd.

Jack came home from work early so that he could go and see it. He took off his smart clothes and put on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt.

A young woman climbed up beside him. She lost her balance, grabbed Jack and they both fell off the wall.

84

What do they mean? The word on can be a preposition or an adverb. You use it to talk about one thing being in contact with another, often above it. You can also use the adverb to talk about something that is operating, such as an electrical device or a tap. • There was a pile of magazines on the table. • Sally left the tap on and the bath filled with water. The word off can be a preposition or an adverb. You use it to talk about one thing being separated from another. You can also use the adverb to talk about something that is not or no longer operating. • The handle came off the jug when I picked it up. • The last person to leave the building must check that all the lights have been turned off. The words on and off are antonyms. They are opposite in meaning. • Jane peeled the address label off the sheet and stuck it on the front of the envelope. • Switch the computer off, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on again.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 The picture (on / off) the wall was painted by my grandfather. 2 Anna turned the lamp (on / off) so that she could read her book. 3 I washed the dirty mark (on / off) the door. 4 The man took his hat (on / off) as he entered the house. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 won



2 early

3 smart



4 full 85

41

pleasant, nice / unpleasant, nasty The tourists had a nice time exploring the ruined village on the island. They ate a picnic lunch on the cliffs overlooking the bay.

The short boat trip to the island was very pleasant. The sun was shining and the water was calm.

In the afternoon, however, the weather turned nasty. The boat left early in order to return to the mainland before it got any worse.

It was an unpleasant journey, but fortunately it only lasted for half an hour. The tourists were very glad to get off the boat.

86

What do they mean? The adjectives pleasant and nice are synonyms. They both describe something good that you like. They can also describe a kind or friendly person. • A pleasant young woman asked me if I needed any help. • Sam and Sally wrote Mum a nice letter, thanking her for her hospitality. The adjectives unpleasant and nasty are synonyms. They both describe something bad that you dislike. They can also describe an unkind or unfriendly person. • Cleaning other people’s houses can be a rather unpleasant job. • Don’t be nasty to your little brother! The words pleasant and nice are antonyms of unpleasant and nasty. They are opposite in meaning. • We had a nice holiday, despite the unpleasant weather.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 The nurse gave Billy a sweet to take away the nasty taste of the medicine. 2 A pleasant breeze was blowing in through the window. 3 I had a nice chat with Joe on the way home. 4 Tom’s unpleasant remarks made Carol cry.

87

42

raise, lift / lower Then he lowered it again, which was the signal for the race to begin. The horses galloped away.

The horses and jockeys waited patiently at the start line. The official raised his flag.

The jockeys leant forward in their saddles. They lowered their heads to help the horses go more quickly.

The young daughter of one of the jockeys was watching the race with her grandfather. He lifted her on to his shoulders so that she could see better.

88

What do they mean? The verbs raise and lift are synonyms. They both refer to moving something upwards. To raise something is also to make it greater. • Raise your arm if you have a question to ask the speaker. • The fuel companies have raised their prices again. • Alice lifted the lid of the box and looked inside. The verb lower is an antonym of raise and lift. It is opposite in meaning. It refers to moving something downwards or making something less. • The crane lifts the containers from the ship and lowers them on to the quay. • Peter raised the volume on his radio but his mother made him lower it again.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You will have to use one of the words twice. lift

lower

1 I asked the teacher to

raise

the blind because the sun was in my eyes.

2 The suitcase was so heavy that I could only centimetres from the floor. 3 The heat of the fire will soon 4 Please

it a few

the temperature in the room.

your voice so that you do not wake the baby.

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



2 forward

3 quickly



4 better 89

43

rough / smooth Mr Jones was making a rocking-horse for his young granddaughter. He carved the head, body and legs from lumps of wood.

The surface of the horse was rather rough. He rubbed it with sandpaper until it was smooth.

Then he joined the parts together with glue and nails. The toy had to be sturdy enough for the little girl to sit on.

Finally, he attached two narrow curved strips of wood to the feet. He couldn’t wait to see his granddaughter’s face when she received the present.

90

What do they mean? The adjective rough describes a surface that is not completely flat or even, having small lumps on it. • A cat uses its rough tongue to clean its fur. • The woollen jumper felt rough and scratchy against my skin. The adjective smooth describes a surface that is completely flat or even, so that things slide easily across it. • Mum rubs cream into her hands to make them feel smooth. • It is impossible to climb up the smooth surface of the slide. The words rough and smooth are antonyms. • There was a rough edge on my broken fingernail so I rubbed it smooth with a nail file.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with rough or smooth, using each word twice. 1 The stone was so

that it slipped out of my hand.

2 Billy grazed his knee on the

pavement.

3 There was a perfect reflection of the land in the 4 The

water.

soles of these shoes grip the rocks really well.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 lumps



2 joined 3 sturdy



4 narrow

91

44

sharp / blunt However, his pencil was blunt and would only do thick lines. He took a pencil sharpener from his schoolbag.

Jack was drawing a picture of the village square. He wanted to write the names of the shops in small letters.

Being a tidy boy, he went to the litter bin to sharpen his pencil. Then he walked back to the bench.

He knew that it is dangerous to run with something sharp in your hand. If you fall, you could injure yourself quite badly.

92

What do they mean? The adjective sharp describes something with a very thin edge or point. • A chisel is a sharp tool that is used to carve wood or stone. • The leaves of this plant have very sharp edges. The adjective blunt describes something that is not sharp. • You can use the blunt end of the tool as a hammer. • Knitting needles are blunt, unlike the needles used for sewing. The words sharp and blunt are antonyms. • These scissors are blunt. I need a sharp pair to cut this thick fabric.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with sharp or blunt, using each word twice. 1 You cannot cut meat with a

knife.

2 No soldier would march into battle with a 3 A nail is a thin piece of metal with a 4 The lion sank its

sword. point.

teeth into the zebra’s neck.

B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an antonym for each one? 1 small 2 thick 3 tidy 4 dangerous

93

45

speak, talk / listen The history professor was speaking to the students in the lecture room. She was telling them about the events that led up to World War I.

However, two of the boys found the lecture rather boring. They were talking to each other in quiet voices.

The majority of the students were listening carefully. They were writing down the most important things that the professor said.

The professor noticed that they were not paying attention. She made them stand up and asked them a question about what she had just said.

94

What do they mean? The verbs speak and talk are synonyms. They both refer to saying something aloud, usually to another person or other people. • Mary speaks with a slight American accent. • It is rude to interrupt someone while they are talking. The verb listen is an antonym of speak and talk. To listen is to pay attention to what someone else is saying. • The old man carried on speaking, even though no one was listening to him. • Having a conversation is not only about talking, but also about listening.

Try it! A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences. 1 I recognized the woman’s voice as soon as she began to (listen / speak). 2 Joe’s throat was sore because he had been (listening / talking) all morning. 3 If you do not (listen / speak), you will not know what to do. 4 The students are not allowed to (talk / listen) in the examination room. B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each of the following words? 1 minority 2 loud 3 interesting 4 answer

95

46

stay, remain / go, leave Billy’s father went to look for him. His mother remained in the house with their young daughter.

Billy’s parents were very worried. It was six o’clock and he had not come home from a trip to the woods with his friend Joe.

When Billy’s father reached the woods, he saw Joe being carried to an ambulance on a stretcher. Billy was walking alongside it.

He explained to his father that Joe had fallen out of a tree and broken his ankle. ‘I phoned the emergency services and stayed with Joe until they arrived,’ he said.

96

What do they mean? The verbs stay and remain are synonyms. If someone stays or remains, they continue to be in the place where they are. • You should stay indoors if you have a bad cold. • The brave soldier remained at his post despite his injuries. The verbs go and leave are synonyms. If someone goes or leaves, they move away from the place where they are. • Alice went as soon as the party was over. • The rest of the family were still in bed when I left. The words stay and remain are antonyms of go and leave. They are opposite in meaning. • The play was so bad that some of the audience left after the first act, but Sue and I stayed until the end.

Try it! A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 The woman begged her husband not to go. 2 The dog remained at his master’s side. 3 If Jack leaves, we shall have no one to drive the tractor. 4 The policeman told us to stay where we were. B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a synonym for each one? 1 worried



2 trip

3 alongside 97

47

strong, powerful / weak, feeble The eagle uses its powerful wings to fly high into the sky. It looks for young birds and small animals to catch for food.

It swoops down and seizes its prey in its strong talons. Then it flies back to its nest.

The chicks are too weak to look after themselves. They have only just hatched from their eggs.

Their father puts food in their open mouths. It is hard to believe that these feeble little birds will one day be as big as him.

98

What do they mean? The adjectives strong and powerful are synonyms. They both describe something that has a lot of force or is very intense. They also describe people or animals that can lift heavy things or strike hard blows. • Kate was not strong enough to move the large stone that blocked the entrance. • The doctor gave the injured man a powerful drug to reduce the pain. The adjectives weak and feeble are synonyms. They both describe something or someone that is not strong. • Tom was very weak for several days after his operation. • The lamb staggered towards its mother on its feeble legs. The words strong and powerful are antonyms of weak and feeble. They are opposite in meaning. • The boy’s feeble cries could not be heard above the strong roar of the wind.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 Jack made a weak excuse and no one believed him. 2 There was a powerful smell of cigarette smoke in the room. 3 The girl hit the man with such a feeble blow that he hardly felt it. 4 An elephant can lift logs with its strong trunk. 99

48

succeed, pass / fail Sally passed her test and felt very proud of herself. Her father congratulated her.

The twins learnt to drive as soon as they were old enough. They both took their driving test on the same day.

Sam, however, drove less carefully than his sister. He failed his test when he almost caused an accident.

Sam retook the test a few months later and failed it again. He finally succeeded on his third attempt.

100

What do they mean? To succeed is to manage to do what you are trying to do. • I thought I would never finish the jigsaw puzzle but at last I succeeded. • Anna has succeeded in fixing the computer. To pass is to succeed in a test or exam by getting a high enough mark. • You must work harder if you want to pass your exam. • The teacher was pleased that all the students had passed the English test. The verb fail is an antonym of succeed and pass. It is opposite in meaning. • If you fail, do not give up – keep trying until you succeed. • Mary passed her geography test but failed her history test.

Try it! Fill in the blanks with the words in the box. You will have to use one of the words twice.

fail

pass

1 You need a score of twelve or more to 2 If we

succeed

the test.

, it will be a disaster for everyone.

3 New recruits have to the army.

a medical examination before they can join

4 Scientists may never

in finding a cure for this disease.

101

49

very, extremely, really / slightly, a bit Kate went shopping for some new shoes. She saw a really nice pair in the window and went in to try them on.

They were a bit expensive, but they were very comfortable. Kate bought them and took them home.

The assistant was extremely apologetic. He replaced the faulty shoe and gave Kate a free tin of shoe cleaner.

When she opened the box, however, she noticed that the heel of one of the shoes was slightly damaged. She went straight back to the store.

102

What do they mean? The adverbs very, extremely and really are synonyms. You use them before adjectives to talk about a large amount of a particular quality. The word really is mainly used with this meaning in informal spoken language. • We were very hungry by the time we got home. • Paul was extremely rude to Mr Jones. • ‘I was really surprised when I found out,’ said Mary. The adverbs slightly and a bit are synonyms. You use them before adjectives to talk about a small amount of a particular quality. • The sheets on the bed felt slightly damp. • Jane’s parents were a bit worried when she did not phone. The words very, extremely and really are antonyms of slightly and a bit. They are opposite in meaning. • My ankle was a bit swollen and very painful.

Try it! Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with synonyms. 1 Everyone thinks the new building is really ugly. 2 Joe was slightly nervous before the exam. 3 I felt a bit cold so I put my jacket on. 4 You must be very careful when you cross the railway line.

103

50

yes / no Let’s ask Mum if we can go for a cycle ride.

Can we go out on our bikes, Mum?

She’s sure to say ‘No’, since we haven’t tidied our rooms yet, but there’s no harm in asking.

This is great fun, isn’t it?

Yes, as long as you’re back by five o’clock.

Hi, Mum, we’re back. Can we watch TV now?

No, you have just one hour to tidy your rooms before dinner.

Yes, but we’d better start heading for home as it’s half past four. 104

What do they mean? You use yes to agree with something. It also means that something is true or that someone may do something. • ‘Are these beans fresh?’ ‘Yes, I picked them this morning.’ You use no to disagree with something. It also means that something is not true or that someone may not do something. • ‘Should I close the window?’ ‘No, please leave it open.’ The words yes and no are antonyms. They are opposite in meaning. • In this country, a nod of the head means ‘yes’ and a shake of the head means ‘no’.

Try it! A Fill in the blanks with yes or no, using each word twice. 1 John asked Sarah to marry him and hoped that she would say ‘ ’. 2 ‘Does your brother like steak?’ ‘

, he is a vegetarian.’

3 Dad might give me a lift to the station, but if he says ‘ have to walk there. 4 ‘Shall we buy Grandma some flowers?’ ‘

’ I shall

, that is a good idea.’

B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of the following words? 1 may 2 as 3 certain 4 only

105

Answers

2 scared 3 frightened 4 fearless B Possible answers: 1 clapped 2 later 3 difficult 4 shaking

UNIT 1 1 2 3 4

roughly [OR about] exactly approximately [OR roughly] precisely

UNIT 5

UNIT 2

1 2 3 4

A 1 accepted 2 refuse 3 turned down 4 turn down 5 accept 6 rejected

identical different similar alike

UNIT 6 A 1 alive 2 live 3 living 4 dead 5 living 6 dead

B Possible answers: 1 a few 2 worst 3 earlier 4 different

B Possible answers: 1 frightened 2 calls 3 big 4 shut

UNIT 3 A 1 removed 2 added 3 subtracted B 1 winter 2 on 3 cold 4 heavy

UNIT 7 A 1 some 2 all 3 None B 1 nearly 2 present 3 great

UNIT 4 A 1 afraid 106

4 lovely

4 reply

UNIT 8

UNIT 12

1 2 3 4

A Possible answers: 1 The doctor sat down beside the patient’s bed. 2 I stood by the door, waiting for the taxi to arrive. 3 Joe put his new trophy next to the one he won last year.

absolutely nearly almost completely

UNIT 9 A 1 2 3 4

angry cross furious pleased

B Possible answers: 1 bored 2 in 3 above 4 unfasten

B 1 little 2 injured 3 dashed 4 mend

UNIT 13 A 1 sour 2 sweet 3 bitter

UNIT 10 A 1 2 3 4 5 6

appeared disappeared vanished disappeared appear vanished

B Possible answers: 1 as 2 making 3 placed 4 look

B Possible answers: 1 weary 2 delicious 3 lifted 4 answered

UNIT 14 A 1 brave 2 courageous 3 cowardly 4 cowardly

UNIT 11

B 1 small 2 lot 3 older

1 answered 2 ask 3 enquired 107

4 came

UNIT 19 A 1 2 3 4

UNIT 15 A 1 2 3 4

careless careful careless careful

B 1 over 2 tread 3 rotted

B Possible answers: 1 baked 2 crushed 3 shouted 4 spoilt

UNIT 20 A 1 dark 2 light 3 bright 4 pale

UNIT 16 A 1 2 3 4

catch captured free released

B Possible answers: 1 day 2 foreground 3 invisible 4 succeed

B 1 bad 2 after 3 tiny 4 quickly

UNIT 21 A 1 2 3 4

UNIT 17 1 2 3 4

filthy clean spotless dirty

doctor patients patient doctors

B Possible answers: 1 male 2 here 3 nothing 4 ill

UNIT 18 1 2 3 4

safe dangerous risky safe

warm cold hot cool

108

3 turned 4 finished

UNIT 22 A 1 2 3 4

older Younger elder younger

UNIT 26 A 1 2 3 4 5 6

B 1 kind 2 help 3 happy 4 arguments

B Possible answers: 1 last 2 silently 3 always 4 crying

UNIT 23 A 1 familiar 2 unfamiliar 3 strange B Possible answers: 1 wisely 2 ease 3 wide 4 straight

UNIT 27 A 1 generous 2 mean 3 stingy 4 generous B Possible answers: 1 total 2 extremely 3 loathes 4 belongings

UNIT 24 1 2 3 4

funny serious amusing humorous serious humorous

fat thin plump slender

UNIT 25

UNIT 28

A 1 2 3 4

A 1 gentle 2 rough 3 violent 4 rough

fine sunny cloudy rainy

B 1 invited 2 began

B Possible answers: 1 frequently 109

2 act 3 think 4 like

4 mountain B Possible answers: 1 middle 2 approximately 3 broader 4 eventually

UNIT 29 1 2 3 4

received gave took gave

UNIT 33 1 2 3 4

UNIT 30 A 1 2 3 4

guests visitor host hostess

UNIT 34 A 1 2 3 4 5 6

B 1 polite 2 dislike 3 grateful 4 leave

hungry starving full starving full hungry

B 1 journey 2 delicious 3 stopped 4 greeted

UNIT 31 A 1 2 3 4

deceitful honest truthful dishonest

owns possess possesses own

UNIT 35

B Possible answers: 1 modern 2 sold 3 bored 4 easy

A 1 2 3 4

learnt teach learn taught

B Possible answers: 1 younger 2 difficult 3 stand 4 shorter

UNIT 32 A 1 hill 2 mountain 3 valley 110

UNIT 36

UNIT 40

A Possible answers: 1 James took the lid off the box and a grasshopper jumped out. 2 Don’t forget to put the top back on the glue after you have finished with it. 3 Anna removed the cap from her pen and began to write.

A 1 2 3 4

B Possible answers: 1 lost 2 late 3 scruffy 4 empty

B Possible answers: 1 ceiling 2 removed 3 deliberately 4 unimportant

UNIT 41 1 2 3 4

UNIT 37 1 2 3 4

death life birth life

unpleasant nice pleasant nasty

UNIT 42 A 1 2 3 4

UNIT 38 1 loathe 2 loves 3 detests

lower lift raise lower

B Possible answers: 1 impatiently 2 backward 3 slowly 4 worse

UNIT 39 A 1 2 3 4

on on off off

edge centre side middle

UNIT 43 A 1 2 3 4

B Possible answers: 1 drew 2 floors 3 high 111

smooth rough smooth rough

B Possible answers: 1 pieces 2 connected 3 strong 4 thin

B Possible answers: 1 anxious 2 outing 3 beside

UNIT 47

UNIT 44 A 1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

blunt blunt sharp sharp

feeble strong weak powerful

UNIT 48

B Possible answers: 1 large 2 thin 3 untidy 4 safe

1 2 3 4

pass fail pass succeed

UNIT 49 UNIT 45

1 2 3 4

A 1 speak 2 talking 3 listen 4 talk

UNIT 50

B 1 majority 2 quiet 3 boring 4 question

A 1 2 3 4

yes No no Yes

B 1 can 2 since 3 sure 4 just

UNIT 46 A 1 2 3 4

very [OR extremely] a bit slightly extremely [OR really]

leave stayed goes remain

112