Table Of ContentOxford 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
success
noun
continuous
assessment knowledge noun understanding
specialist noun
knowledge a good
understanding
graduate verb
graduate in history intelligent adj.
an intelligent
failure informed adj. person
well informed
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
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
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?
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
Taken from page 889 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
illness
injury
disease noun serious adj. 1
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 staying healthy
make sb vomit
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
treatment
tired adj.1
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
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
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?
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
Taken from page 891 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
sport
play verb 2 train verb 2
play football train regularly
player noun training noun
having fun a tennis player in training for the
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 Leisure
the topic interests me
interesting adj.
holiday noun 1
an interesting subject
the summer holidays
interested adj.
leisure noun
interested in
leisure activities
architecture
easy adj. 2
fan noun
an easy life
a music fan
rest verb
creative adj.
try to rest
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?
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
Taken from page 893 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
the authorities
the individual the authorities noun official noun
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.
the class system
vulnerable people
take care of yourself
aristrocratic adj.
verb
an aristocratic family
able to take care
of herself class noun 4
The
sb’s social class
right noun
human rights Individual elite noun
belong to an elite
life noun 1
fight for your life and Society 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
exclude verb 2 poverty noun
free adj. 1 permission noun
excluded from a club rural poverty
a free man refused permission
exclusive adj. inequality noun
freedom noun allow verb
an exclusive group social inequality
personal freedom legally allowed
authoritarian adj. tolerant adj.
an authoritarian tolerant views
attitude
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
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’?
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
Taken from page 895 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
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
war
fight
army noun
aggressive adj. 1 hit verb 2
the enemy army
aggressive hit sb on the head
behaviour
attack noun 1
trouble noun 1
a bomb attack
attack verb 1 crowd trouble
violently attacked
attack verb 2
violent adj.
attack a city
fight noun a violent attack
get into a fight
break out phrasal verb
thug noun
war breaks out
fight verb 2 an armed thug
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
Photocopiable © Oxford University Press
Taken from page 896 of the Oxford Learner’s Thesaurus ISBN 978 0 19 475200 8
