10 words
- autonomynoun/aw-TON-o-mee/
the freedom to make your own decisions without control
Teenagers often crave more autonomy over how they spend their time.
Collocation: personal autonomy · Similar: independence, self-determination
- integritynoun/in-TEG-ri-tee/
the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
A judge must be a person of complete integrity and fairness.
Collocation: academic integrity · Similar: honesty, principle
- scepticismnoun/SKEP-ti-si-zum/
an attitude of doubting whether claims are true
The new diet was greeted with scepticism by most nutritionists.
Collocation: healthy scepticism · Similar: doubt, disbelief
- resiliencenoun/ri-ZIL-yens/
the ability to recover quickly from difficulties
Refugee children often show remarkable resilience in the face of hardship.
Collocation: build resilience · Similar: toughness, adaptability
- complacencynoun/kom-PLAY-sen-see/
a dangerous feeling of satisfaction that stops you trying harder
Years of success led to complacency, and the company stopped innovating.
Collocation: guard against complacency · Similar: smugness, self-satisfaction
- disparitynoun/dis-PA-ri-tee/
a large, often unfair difference between two groups
There is a huge disparity between rural and urban incomes.
Collocation: income disparity · Similar: gap, inequality
- transparencynoun/trans-PA-ren-see/
openness that lets people see how decisions are made
Voters expect greater transparency about how public money is spent.
Collocation: financial transparency · Similar: openness, accountability
- prosperitynoun/pros-PE-ri-tee/
a state of economic success and wealth
The discovery of oil brought decades of prosperity to the region.
Collocation: economic prosperity · Similar: wealth, affluence
- empathynoun/EM-pa-thee/
the ability to understand and share another person's feelings
Good nurses show real empathy for patients who are frightened.
Collocation: show empathy · Similar: compassion, understanding
- ambiguitynoun/am-bi-GYOO-i-tee/
the quality of having more than one possible meaning
The ambiguity of the contract's wording led to a long legal dispute.
Collocation: avoid ambiguity · Similar: vagueness, uncertainty
Grammar check
Choose the right option, then open the answer.
1. There has been a significant ___ in crime.
reduce · reduction · reducing · reduced
Show answer
reduction: After 'a significant', you need a noun. Nominalising 'reduce' to 'reduction' also sounds more academic.
2. The ___ of new technology has transformed farming.
introduce · introducing · introduction · introduced
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introduction: After 'The' and before 'of', use the noun form: 'introduction'.
3. Her ___ to compromise impressed the committee.
willingly · willed · willing · willingness
Show answer
willingness: After 'Her', a noun is needed. 'Willingness to + verb' is a common abstract noun pattern.
4. There is growing awareness ___ the importance of mental health.
about · for · of · on
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of: The noun 'awareness' is usually followed by 'of'.
5. The lack ___ transparency damaged public trust.
of · in · for · about
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of: The noun 'lack' is followed by 'of'. As a verb, 'lack' takes no preposition.
Use the words: speaking questions
- Why do some people show more resilience than others when facing setbacks?
- How important is transparency in the way large companies operate?
- Can economic prosperity ever be shared fairly across a whole society?
Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.