Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus

Topic Maps and Exercises

Education
Health
Sport and Leisure
The Individual and Society
Conflict
Fact and Opinion
The Media
Travel and Transport
Work and Business


school and college

education noun class 2 noun
full-time education evening classes
educational adj. class 3 noun
educational games the oldest in the class
class 1 noun school noun
take a biology class elementary school

teaching
teach verb professor noun
He teaches English. a professor of law
studying
teacher noun lecturer noun
a science teacher a college lecturer assignment noun
a written assignment
train verb 1 coach noun
train as a doctor a tennis coach focus verb
focus on an issue
equip verb 2
equip sb for a student noun
career in sth school students
scholar noun
a classical scholar

Education learner noun

language learners
learn verb
learn a language
testing
test noun 2 mark verb 2
a spelling test mark an essay
test verb 2 score noun
test your a high score
English
assessment
noun success
continuous
assessment knowledge noun understanding
specialist noun
knowledge a good
understanding
graduate verb
graduate in history intelligent adj.
an intelligent
informed adj.
failure well informed
person
intelligence noun
ignorant adj. understand verb 1 use your
ignorant about sth understand intelligence
German
miss verb 1
miss a class
fail verb 3
fail an exam

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Taken from page 888 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
  · 

Education
A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which
entry they belong to.

teaching
a stroke of genius to flunk out of college
school and college
homework the class of 2008
studying
to skive off school a teacher trainer
testing
a home tutor the pass mark
success
to review your notes
failure

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning.
Use each word only once.
scholarly pedagogic illiterate clever
grade don study mark
clueless bright professor get the hang of sth

educational lecturer learn score intelligent ignorant

adj. noun verb noun adj. adj.
scholarly

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
EDUCATION, EQUIP 2, SCORE, LEARN, GRADUATE, MISS 1

receive a few words of Japanese

equip college
get a class
pick up sb for a career in sth
sail through private tuition
skip full marks

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to
help you.
1 Tom is in the seventh class/grade at school. CLASS 3
2 You will receive basic training/teaching in first aid. EDUCATION
3 The first part of the lesson focused/targeted on reading skills. FOCUS verb
4 Elizabeth studied hard every day and was informed/well read in the Classics. INFORMED
5 People who can’t use a computer are said to be computer ignorant/illiterate. IGNORANT
6 This breed of dog needs to be trained gently, but they are quick learners/students. LEARNER

E More practice
1 Describe the education system in your country. At what age do children usually start school/take exams/leave school? What
subjects are taught? What opportunities exist for further education?
2 How do you learn best? Describe the way that you learned something, or learned to do something. What made it a successful
learning experience for you?
3 Are exams the best way to assess people’s knowledge and abilities? What different kinds of exam have you taken? What are
the advantages and disadvantages of exams?

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illness
disease noun serious adj. 1 injury
a rare disease a serious illness
cut verb 4 injured adj.
illness noun sick adj. 1
cut your finger an injured hand
chronic illness a sick child
hurt verb 2 pain noun
fatal adj. mentally ill adj.
My head hurts. back pain
a fatal heart condition mentally ill people
injure verb painful adj. 1
injure your wrist a painful knee
injury noun
minor injuries

Health
symptoms
cough verb
can’t stop coughing
vomit verb
make sb vomit staying healthy
attack noun 3 diet noun rest verb
an asthma attack a strict diet try to rest

shiver noun health noun sane adj.

feel a shiver in good health a sane person

weak adj. rest noun 2 well adj.

a weak heart take a rest feel well

dizzy adj.
feeling dizzy
pale adj. 1
looking pale
sick adj. 2
feel sick
tired adj.1 treatment
cold, hungry and
tired doctor noun drug noun 2 take verb 9
see a doctor prescribe drugs take medicine
surgery noun treatment noun cure verb
the doctor’s receive treatment cure a disease
surgery for shock
recover verb 1
hospital noun treat verb 1 recover from an
go to (the) hospital treated with drugs illness

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Taken from page 890 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
  · 

Health
A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of
the Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check
which entry they belong to.

cuts and bruises illness to tear a muscle

a sallow complexion injury on prescription
heart disease symptoms heavily dosed
a strong constitution staying healthy a terminal illness
a strict regime treatment

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning.
Use each word only once.
lethal make sb better sore excruciating terminal
exhausted shape condition drowsy heal

fatal cure tired health painful

adj. verb adj. noun adj.
lethal

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
COUGH, DISEASE, INJURE, CUT 4, CURE

choke a heart condition

pick up an unconscious person
diagnose your ankle
nick on a fishbone
resuscitate yourself while shaving
sprain a stomach bug

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 She took a fatal/lethal dose of painkillers and had to be rushed to hospital. FATAL
2 I fell on the ice and injured/wounded my back. INJURE
3 Police and surgeons/paramedics were quick to arrive at the scene of the accident. DOCTOR
4 These tablets may make you feel weary/drowsy. TIRED
5 You may experience some minor suffering/discomfort during the treatment. PAIN
6 I can’t seem to shake off/pull through this cold. RECOVER

E More practice
1 Describe the health system in your country. What are the major health issues facing your country now?
2 What things do you do to look after your health? Do you think there is a secret to living a long and healthy life? How much is
it in our own control?
3 When should people be entitled to free medical treatment? What do you think is the best way to deal with rising health
costs?

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sport
play verb 2 train verb 2
play football train regularly
player noun training noun
a tennis player in training for the
having fun Olympics
pitch noun
sociable adj. enjoy verb a rugby pitch sport noun
feeling sociable enjoy the moment play sports
round noun
exciting adj. entertainment the final round team noun 2
an exciting moment noun a football team
live entertainment game noun 1
event noun 2 a game of football race noun
a social event entertain verb win a race
keep sb entertained game noun 2
excitement noun ball games
cause excitement play verb 1
kids playing

interests
interest noun 2

Sport and take up an interest

interest verb
relaxing
holiday noun 1
Leisure the topic interests me
interesting adj.
the summer holidays an interesting subject

leisure noun interested adj.

leisure activities interested in
architecture
easy adj. 2
an easy life fan noun
a music fan
rest verb
try to rest creative adj.
creative talent
rest noun 2
a well-earned rest

getting involved
join verb energy noun 2
join a club full of energy
eager adj. involvement
eager to do sth noun
full involvement
energetic adj.
energetic exercise

Photocopiable © Oxford University Press

Taken from page 892 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
  · 

Sport and Leisure

A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which
entry they belong to.

to take part in sth having fun an art-lover

the World Cup finals sport Spring Break
zest for life getting involved a leisurely stroll
live entertainment interests the national pastime
to do sth for kicks relaxing

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning.
Use each word only once.
recreation dynamic line-up leave sabbatical
squad innovative ingenious vigorous amusement

entertainment team energetic creative holiday

noun noun adj. adj. noun
recreation

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
PLAY verb 2, JOIN, TRAIN verb 2, ENJOY, REST verb

compete for a competition

go in and relax
join in every moment
exercise in the Olympics
savour with the fun
sit back for 2 hours every day

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 He’s a devoted animal fan/lover, and has several pets. FAN
2 We’re all very eager/enthusiastic about the idea. EAGER
3 I’ve always been interested/fascinated by the ancient Egyptians. INTERESTED
4 What do you do in your leisure/spare time? LEISURE
5 They challenged the other boys to a game/match of football. GAME 1
6 It was a big excitement/thrill to finally meet him in person. EXCITEMENT

E More practice
1 Does your country have a national sport? How is it played? Why is it important?
2 What do you like to do in your free time? Are there any sports or leisure activities that you would really like to try?
3 ‘Children these days watch far too much television.’ Do you agree? How have children’s leisure activities changed over the past
50 years? Do today’s children lead more or less exciting lives?

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the authorities
the authorities noun official noun
the individual the federal authorities a party official
person noun bureaucracy noun official adj,
a normal person government bureaucracy an official body
identity noun institution noun organization noun
a sense of identity a mental institution a government
organization
own adj. control noun
my own opinion assume control strict adj.
strict controls
privacy noun
need privacy
vulnerable adj.
vulnerable people the class system
take care of yourself aristrocratic adj.
verb an aristocratic family
able to take care
of herself class noun 4
right noun
human rights
The sb’s social class

Individual
elite noun
belong to an elite
life noun 1

and Society
fight for your life the general public noun
open to the general public
lord noun
a wealthy lord

citizenship the middle class noun

the British middle class
citizen noun responsibility noun middle class adj.
a French citizen accept your a middle class family
responsibilities
community noun working class adj.
the local community social adj. working-class origins
social pressure
cultural adj.
cultural identity resident noun
local residents
culture noun
Eastern culture
respectable adj. social exclusion
respectable people
divide verb 2 refugee noun
a divided community a political refugee
division noun 2 poor adj. 1
freedom divisions within society poor people

free adj. 1 permission noun exclude verb 2 poverty noun

a free man refused permission excluded from a club rural poverty

freedom noun allow verb exclusive adj. inequality noun

personal freedom legally allowed an exclusive group social inequality

authoritarian adj. tolerant adj.

an authoritarian tolerant views
attitude

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Taken from page 894 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
  · 

The Individual and Society

A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which entry
they belong to.

freedom of choice the individual

Australian nationals
the needy the authorities
alienation
to fend for yourself citizenship
the military top brass
the landed gentry the class system
a multicultural society
humble origins freedom
social exclusion

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning.
Use each word only once.
individuality destitution ethnic overbearing
autocratic uniqueness red tape deprivation
paperwork rank status folk

identity bureaucracy cultural class authoritarian poverty

noun noun adj. noun adj. noun
individuality

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
ALLOW, DIVIDE 2, RESPONSIBILITY, BUREAUCRACY, ELITE, RIGHT noun

grant the burden

divide the red tape
shoulder to an elite
cut your right to sth
belong an amnesty
forfeit the community

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 People are looking towards him for harsh/firm leadership. STRICT
2 Finding a reputable/an honourable plumber can sometimes be difficult. RESPECTABLE
3 Despite her common/humble beginnings, she became very powerful. WORKING CLASS
4 The government clearly recognizes that social/public opinion is against GM food. SOCIAL
5 By 1535, the original residents/inhabitants of the island were virtually extinct. RESIDENT
6 Throughout the drama, his seclusion/isolation and desperation increase. PRIVACY

E More practice
1 Describe the society that you live in. How do you think it has changed over the past fifty years?
2 What advice about culture would you give to somebody who wants to join your society?
3 ‘There is no such thing as society: there are individual men and women, and there are families.’ (Margaret Thatcher)
Do you agree? What do you understand by the word ‘society’?

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oppose
be against sb/sth adj. enemy noun
I’m against the idea know your enemy
disagree
challenge verb tension noun
argue verb challenge the leader racial tensions
argue about sth
oppose verb remove verb 2
argument noun 1 oppose a plan remove sb from power
a fierce argument
opposition noun revolution noun 1
debate noun opposition to the plans a popular revolution
a growing debate
conflict verb
conflicting opinions
controversial adj.
a controversial issue
disagree verb
disagree with sb/sth

Conflict
fight war
aggressive adj. 1 hit verb 2 army noun
aggressive hit sb on the head the enemy army
behaviour attack noun 1
trouble noun 1
attack verb 1 crowd trouble a bomb attack
violently attacked attack verb 2
violent adj.
fight noun a violent attack attack a city
get into a fight break out phrasal verb
thug noun
fight verb 2 an armed thug war breaks out
fight an attacker guerrilla noun
a guerrilla war
invade verb
invade a country
soldier noun
resolving conflict a good soldier
negotiate verb resolve verb war noun
negotiate on sb’s resolve the crisis go to war
behalf
peace noun fight verb 1
negotiator noun restore peace fight a battle
an independent
negotiator contract noun
sign a contract

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 10 · 

Conflict
A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which entry
they belong to.

to mend fences disagree a street brawl

to defy a ban oppose to occupy a country
the armed forces fight to hold talks
a shouting match war a storm of protest
to not see eye to eye resolving conflict

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning. Use each word only once.
warrior militant mercenary bicker fall out
dare throw down the mediator intermediary warlike
  gauntlet

soldier aggresive challenge negotiator argue

noun adj. verb noun verb
warrior

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
WAR, HIT 2, ARGUMENT 1, REVOLUTION 1, NEGOTIATE, OPPOSE

declare sb’s wishes

throw for the hostages’ release
pick war
crush a quarrel
negotiate a punch
go against a rebellion

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 This is not the first time the two men have conflicted/clashed over this issue.
CONFLICT verb
2 The violence threatened to break out/erupt into full-scale war. BREAK OUT
3 Insurgents managed to invade/seize the airport in a surprise attack. INVADE
4 There was open tension/hostility between the two teams. TENSION
5 Black bears are not the bloody/bloodthirsty killers many believe them to be. VIOLENT
6 The country has said it wants to resolve/repair the crisis diplomatically. RESOLVE

E More practice
1 Describe a disagreement that you have had with someone. How did you resolve it?
2 What are the best ways of dealing with conflicts and disagreements with other people?
3 What do you think are the major causes of violence in a society? How can they be addressed?

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11

balance and bias

distort verb
distort the truth
propaganda noun
government propaganda
claim biased adj.
a biased account
claim verb
rightly claim sth reasonable adj.
beyond reasonable doubt
claim noun
a false claim
controversial adj.
a controversial issue
subject matter
subject noun
a major subject
issue noun
debate an issue
message noun
convey a message
Fact and Opinion point noun
get to the point
focus noun
the focus of attention

opinions
judge verb 1
judge sb’s reaction
think verb fact
sincerely think
fact noun wrong adj. 1
informed adj. face the facts the wrong answer
an informed opinion
information noun reliable adj. 2
attitude noun accurate information reliable evidence
a positive attitude
true adj. declare verb
view noun 1 a true story declare sth publicly
strong views
comment verb
refuse to comment

discussion
discussion noun
under discussion
examine verb
examine a proposal
talk verb
talk openly

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Taken from page 898 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
 12 · 

Fact and Opinion

A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which
entry they belong to.

a heated exchange claim

balance and bias a key issue
serious allegations
subject matter What do you reckon?
raw data
opinions a one-sided debate
equal opportunities
fact a point of view
an authoritative account
discussion

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning.
Use each word only once.
substance feeling factual authentic
assert prejudiced consultation the thrust
partisan dialogue point allege
claim message view biased reliable discussion
verb noun noun adj. adj. noun
allege

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following
entries to help you: CLAIM verb, MESSAGE, COMMENT, DECLARE, EXAMINE, PROPAGANDA

claim on the issue

lack of the situation
comment to be an expert
state disinformation
take stock substance
spread the obvious

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 Globalization is a highly controversial/questionable topic. CONTROVERSIAL
2 Discussions/conversations are still taking place between the two governments. DISCUSSION
3 They feel the situation was totally misrepresented/misquoted by the media. DISTORT
4 I lost the thrust/thread of the argument. MESSAGE
5 The couple refused to comment/remark to waiting journalists. COMMENT
6 Fans have complained that the film is inaccurate/incorrect in its portrayal of their hero. WRONG 1

E More practice
1 What is the difference between a fact and an opinion? Give examples of each.
2 What issues are being discussed in your country at the moment? Which do you think are the most important?
3 ‘Comment is free but facts are sacred.’ (C.P. Scott) Do you agree? How much freedom should people have to
express their opinions?

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 13

news
the media noun magazine noun
The mass media a weekly magazine
newspaper noun news noun
TV, film and radio
a daily newspaper a news flash
look verb 1 film noun 1
report noun 2 look carefully at sth a feature film
newspaper reports
record verb 2 film noun 2
record an album the film industry
programme noun audience noun
a TV programme a live audience

The Media

the printed word advertising

write verb 2 read verb campaign noun
write an article read a story an advertising campaign
publish verb 2 study verb advertise verb
publish a book study the small advertise a product
print
advertisement adj.
a TV advertisement

people in the media

presenter noun reporter noun
a TV presenter a news reporter
analyst noun star noun 1
a political analyst a pop star
fame noun famous adj.
international fame a famous actor

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 14 · 

The Media
A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which
entry they belong to.

to flick through sth news a live broadcast

a publicity stunt TV, film and radio a living legend
the movie industry the printed word the mass media
a news flash advertising to plug a product
a restaurant critic people in the media

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning.
Use each word only once.
plug issue the press trailer columnist
story hack print journalism item

advertisement the media report reporter publish

noun noun noun noun verb
plug

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
LOOK verb 1, WRITE 2, ADVERTISE, PUBLISH 2, FAME

watch a quick note

catch TV all day
dash off the idea of teamwork
push stardom
release new software on CD-ROM
shoot to a show on the radio

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 The two witnesses each had a different report/version of events. REPORT 2
2 Did you remember to record/film that show for me? RECORD verb 2
3 We must get more viewers/spectators to watch the show. AUDIENCE
4 I flicked through/scanned a magazine while I was waiting. READ
5 She read the trailer/blurb on the back of the book and decided not to buy it after all. ADVERTISEMENT
6 Less well known/prominent brands may be better value for money. FAMOUS

E More practice
1 How have the ways that people get news and information changed in the last 100 years? How do you think this will
change in the future?
2 How much television do you watch in an average week? What kinds of programmes do you like to watch? Are there any
kinds of programme that you never watch?
3 ‘If advertisers spent the same amount of money on improving their products as they do on advertising then they wouldn’t
have to advertise them.’ (Will Rogers) Do you agree? Describe some advertising that has made you buy, or want to buy,
something.

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 15
tourism
tourist noun cruise noun
foreign tourists a Mediterranean
cruise
travel tour verb
tour Australia hotel noun
travel noun foreign adj. a luxury hotel
foreign travel a foreign country stay verb 2
stay at a hotel suitcase noun
trip noun way noun 3 pack your suitcase
a business trip ask the way visit noun
a visit to Jamaica
go verb 2 explorer noun
go to China an Arctic explorer
return verb 1
return home
transporting goods
travelling (BrE) transport noun delivery noun
(AmE traveling) adj. road transport offer free delivery
a travelling salesman
cargo noun take verb 1
a cargo of oil take your things with
you

Travel and Transport

arrivals and departures
public transport
arrive verb go away phrasal verb
arrive in London Tell her to go away. get verb 5
get the bus
arrival noun 1 set off phrasal verb
the train’s late arrival set off at dawn get in phrasal verb
get in the back
departure noun 1 get verb 4
his sudden departure We got there at 9. get out phrasal verb
get out here
leave verb 1 land verb
It’s time we left. a plane lands flight noun
Enjoy your flight.
passenger noun
rail passengers
driving
carriage noun 1
drive verb 1 road noun a first-class carriage
drive a car the main road
station noun
driver noun highway noun the train station
a bus driver a busy highway
schedule noun
car noun junction noun a bus schedule
go by car come to a junction
traffic noun accident noun
heavy traffic a road accident

Photocopiable © Oxford University Press

Taken from the CD-ROM of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
 16 · 

Travel and Transport

A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which
entry they belong to.

to cover 20 miles travel

tourism shipping and handling
to go by bus
arrivals and departures a nomadic life
a guided tour
public transport a country lane
a wrong turning
driving a bed and breakfast
an exit visa
transporting goods

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning. Use each word only once.
goods expedition traveller
commuter exit freight
stop over do gridlock
congestion depart pilgrimage

cargo stay trip leave passenger traffic

noun verb noun verb noun noun
goods

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you: TRIP, ARRIVE,
DELIVERY, HOTEL, TRAFFIC, GET IN

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.

break at the scene

arrive a hotel
make the bus
check into your journey
be stuck a delivery
get on in a traffic jam

1 Please do not talk to the bus driver/chauffeur while the vehicle is moving. DRIVER
2 There is a 20 kilo baggage/handbag allowance on most flights. SUITCASE
3 The train arriving/rolling in at platform five is the 10:25 service to Norwich. ARRIVE
4 I cycle to work, which is a round trip/journey of 12 kilometres. TRIP
5 He was the first person to tour/explore the interior of Greenland. TOUR
6 The balloon can carry/transport up to eight passengers in comfort. TAKE 1

E More practice
1 Describe a memorable journey.
2 Give advice on travel and destinations to somebody who is planning to visit your country.
3 ‘I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train.’
(Oscar Wilde) What items do you take with you when you travel?

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Taken from the CD-ROM of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
 17

doing a job
having a job work noun 1 operate verb
hard work operate a machine
job noun staff noun
apply for a job staff members work verb 1 deal with sb/sth
work on an phrasal verb
work noun 2 make verb 3 assignment deal with enquiries
find work make a living
task noun tackle verb
work verb 2 income noun routine tasks tackle a problem
work as a teacher people on low incomes
do verb 1
worker noun 1 interview noun do a task
office workers a job interview

Work and Business

success
trade and industry succeed verb
succeed in business
trade noun manufacture verb
international trade manufacture cars successful adj. 2
a successful business
industry noun production noun
the steel industry commercial production do well verb
a company does well
company noun product noun
a computer company industrial products make verb 2
make a profit
group noun 3 output noun
a newspaper group increase output profit noun
a healthy profit
expand verb 2
expand a business

failure efficient adj.

an efficient system
fire verb loss-making adj. efficiency noun
get fired from your job a loss-making business increase efficiency
unemployed adj. bankrupt adj.
unemployed people go bankrupt
unemployment noun recession noun managing
long-term unemployment an economic recession
management noun appoint verb
close verb 2 slump verb under new appoint sb to the
a factory closes sales slump management committee
manager noun run verb 2
a bank manager run a business
executive noun lead verb 2
a senior executive lead a team
employ verb take over phrasal verb
employ staff take over as chair

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Taken from page the CD-ROM of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
 18 · 

Work and Business

A Test your topic vocabulary
The words and phrases below can all be found somewhere in the entries shown in the Topic Map. Which parts of the
Topic Map would you put them in? You can look up the underlined words in the alphabetical index to check which
entry they belong to.

to be in work having a job

private enterprise doing a job to make your mark

manual labour trade and industry Business is booming.

to go into recession managing hiring and firing

the global marketplace

success to go bust
failure

B Matching synonyms
Add the words below to the table, so that each column contains words with a similar meaning. Use each word only once.
churn sth out insolvent merchandise commodity
profitable chore lucrative monopolize
mass-produce duty corner broke

task successful bankrupt take over product manufacture

noun adj. adj. phrasal verb noun verb
churn sth out

C Collocation matching
Match the verbs on the left with the phrases on the right. You can look up the following entries to help you:
DEAL WITH SB/STH, TRADE, FIRE verb, MAKE 3, RUN 2, EXPAND 2

take care of jobs

engage operations
axe the paperwork
pull in in trading
direct into new markets
branch out £100,000 a year

D Which word?
Choose the best word in each case. Use the entries for the words in small caps to help you.
1 Tom is in the seventh class/grade at school. CLASS 3
2 You will receive basic training/teaching in first aid. EDUCATION
3 The first part of the lesson focused/targeted on reading skills. FOCUS verb
4 Elizabeth studied hard every day and was informed/well read in the Classics. INFORMED
5 People who can’t use a computer are said to be computer ignorant/illiterate. IGNORANT
6 This breed of dog needs to be trained gently, but they are quick learners/students. LEARNER

E More practice
1 Which industries and businesses are the most important in your country? Has this changed at all over the past fifty
years?
2 What would your ideal job be? How would you like your career to progress? Or: If you could start your career over
again what might you do differently?
3 Which jobs should have the highest (and lowest) salaries? Are there any jobs that you think are currently
undervalued (or overvalued) by society?
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
Taken from the CD-ROM of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8