Part 1 — Choose the most precise synonym
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the word in bold. Be careful: some options are similar but not exact.
1. The minister gave an ambiguous response to the question.
A) contradictory
B) unclear
C) dishonest
D) irrelevant
2. She was reluctant to accept the promotion.
A) incapable
B) unwilling
C) unable
D) uncertain
3. His criticism was perceptive rather than merely negative.
A) insightful
B) aggressive
C) predictable
D) persuasive
4. The company’s decision was controversial.
A) illegal
B) widely disputed
C) unsuccessful
D) unexpected
5. He has a rather arrogant attitude towards his colleagues.
A) assertive
B) condescending
C) confident
D) independent
6. The evidence is compelling.
A) complicated
B) convincing
C) extensive
D) controversial
7. She gave a concise explanation of the problem.
A) detailed
B) sophisticated
C) brief and precise
D) oversimplified
8. The government has taken drastic measures to address the crisis.
A) carefully considered
B) extreme
C) temporary
D) ineffective
Part 2 — Find the best antonym
Choose the word that is the closest opposite.
9. GENEROUS
A) selfish
B) mean
C) economical
D) cautious
10. TRANSPARENT
A) dishonest
B) secretive
C) complicated
D) indirect
11. RIGID
A) flexible
B) weak
C) relaxed
D) informal
12. OPTIMISTIC
A) realistic
B) pessimistic
C) doubtful
D) cautious
13. SUPERFICIAL
A) complicated
B) profound
C) intellectual
D) thorough
14. DELIBERATE
A) accidental
B) spontaneous
C) careless
D) immediate
15. PLAUSIBLE
A) unlikely
B) impossible
C) unreasonable
D) ridiculous
Part 3 — Synonyms, but with a difference
The words below are near-synonyms, but they are not necessarily interchangeable.
For each pair, explain the difference and then complete the sentence with the most appropriate word.
16. economical / cheap
a) The hotel was extremely ________, but unfortunately the service was terrible.
b) Buying a more expensive washing machine may actually be more ________ in the long term.
17. confident / arrogant
a) She is extremely ________ and never seems to doubt her abilities.
b) He came across as rather ________; he seemed to believe he was more intelligent than everyone else.
18. curious / inquisitive
a) Children are naturally ________ about the world around them.
b) The journalist was extremely ________ and asked several uncomfortable questions.
19. famous / notorious
a) The city is ________ for its beautiful architecture.
b) The politician became ________ for his involvement in a major corruption scandal.
20. stubborn / determined
a) She was ________ to succeed despite several failures.
b) He’s so ________ that he refuses to admit when he’s wrong.
Part 4 — Replace the word
Replace the underlined word with a more sophisticated synonym without changing the fundamental meaning of the sentence.
21. The government has made worse the situation by introducing the new policy.
22. She looked at the problem carefully before making a decision.
23. His argument was very convincing.
24. The company’s profits have gone down considerably over the last year.
25. The politician avoided answering the journalist’s question.
26. There is a big difference between the two approaches.
27. The proposal was strongly criticised by several members of parliament.
28. We need to think about the possible consequences.
Part 5 — Choose the word according to context
This is the difficult part. All three options are related, but only one fits the context best.
29. After years of political instability, people were understandably ________ about the government’s promises.
A) sceptical
B) cynical
C) suspicious
30. The CEO’s response was deliberately ________; he clearly didn’t want to reveal the company’s future plans.
A) vague
B) ambiguous
C) evasive
31. She is a ________ negotiator who rarely allows emotions to influence her decisions.
A) rational
B) reasonable
C) logical
32. His explanation was technically correct but rather ________; it failed to address the real issue.
A) superficial
B) shallow
C) simple
33. The journalist’s questions were extremely ________, forcing the politician to reconsider his position.
A) challenging
B) provocative
C) demanding
Part 6 — Antonyms in context
Rewrite each sentence using an antonym of the bold word, making whatever other changes are necessary.
34. The company’s approach has been remarkably flexible.
→ The company’s approach has been remarkably __________.
35. She gave a very candid interview.
→ She gave a very __________ interview.
36. His explanation was coherent.
→ His explanation was __________.
37. The government’s response was proportionate.
→ The government’s response was __________.
38. He has a rational approach to decision-making.
→ He has an __________ approach to decision-making.
Part 7 — Challenge: One word, several meanings
The word “discriminate” can have different meanings depending on context.
Explain the meaning of discriminate in each sentence.
39. The law prohibits employers from discriminating against people because of their age.
40. An experienced wine expert can discriminate between subtle differences in flavour.
41. The restaurant discriminates in favour of customers who book in advance.
Then give two synonyms for discriminate in sentences 39 and 40.
Part 8 — Speaking challenge
Now use the vocabulary actively.
Choose three of the following questions and discuss them. Try to use at least five advanced synonyms or antonyms from the exercise.
A.
Is it possible to be confident without becoming arrogant?
B.
Is being sceptical generally a virtue, or can excessive scepticism become cynicism?
C.
Should governments be transparent even when revealing information could cause public panic?
D.
Is a flexible person necessarily more successful than someone who is rigid?
E.
Can a decision be both rational and unethical?
F.
Is it better for a leader to be candid or diplomatic?
G.
When does being determined become being stubborn?
H.
Is a plausible argument necessarily a convincing argument?