10 words
- plummetverb/PLUM-it/
to fall very quickly and by a large amount
Ticket sales could plummet to almost zero if the strike continues.
Collocation: plummet to a record low · Similar: plunge, crash
- soarverb/SOR/
to rise very quickly to a high level
Fuel prices began to soar, doubling within just six months.
Collocation: soar to new heights · Similar: rocket, shoot up
- fluctuateverb/FLUK-choo-ayt/
to keep changing up and down irregularly
Visitor numbers tend to fluctuate wildly from one season to another.
Collocation: fluctuate wildly · Similar: vary, go up and down
- plateauverb/PLAT-oh/
to stay at the same level after a period of change
After 2015, sales began to plateau, remaining flat for five years.
Collocation: plateau at around · Similar: level off, stabilise
- dipnoun/DIP/
a small, short fall in a figure
Apart from a small dip in March, sales rose all year.
Collocation: a slight dip · Similar: drop, decline
- reboundverb/ri-BOUND/
to rise again after a period of falling
Experts expect tourism to rebound to pre-crisis levels next year.
Collocation: rebound strongly · Similar: recover, bounce back
- peaknoun/PEEK/
the highest point a figure reaches
Unemployment reached its peak of 12% in 2010, then fell.
Collocation: reach a peak · Similar: high point, top
- upturnnoun/UP-tern/
an improvement, especially in business or the economy
An upturn in the economy led to more job vacancies.
Collocation: an economic upturn · Similar: recovery, improvement
- steadilyadverb/STED-i-lee/
gradually and regularly, without sudden changes
Membership increased steadily year after year, with no sudden jumps.
Collocation: rise steadily · Similar: gradually, consistently
- dramaticallyadverb/dra-MAT-ik-lee/
by a very large and sudden amount
Prices rose dramatically, tripling in just two years.
Collocation: increase dramatically · Similar: sharply, significantly
Grammar check
Choose the right option, then open the answer.
1. There was a rise ___ 15% in online sales.
by · of · with · at
Show answer
of: After the noun 'rise', use 'of' to give the amount. After the verb 'rose', use 'by'.
2. Online sales rose ___ 15% between 2010 and 2020.
of · at · by · in
Show answer
by: After the verb 'rise', use 'by' to show the size of the change.
3. The number of cars ___ significantly since 2000.
has increased · have increased · increased · is increasing
Show answer
has increased: 'The number of' takes a singular verb, and 'since 2000' needs the present perfect.
4. Having ___ in 2008, prices recovered slowly.
plummet · plummeting · plummeted · to plummet
Show answer
plummeted: A perfect participle clause uses 'Having + past participle' to show the first of two actions.
5. By 2030, the figure ___ to around 9 million.
predicts rising · has predicted to rise · is predicting to rise · is predicted to have risen
Show answer
is predicted to have risen: Advanced passive: 'is predicted to have risen' describes a forecast completed by a future date.
Use the words: speaking questions
- Why do you think the number of people working from home has risen so dramatically?
- How might the popularity of electric cars change over the next twenty years?
- Which economic trends in your country worry young people most, and why?
Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.