Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. INTRODUCTION
I. RATIONALE
It is undeniable that English has become an integral part not only in workplace but also in daily life.
Realizing its significant role, English has been considered as one of the mandatory subjects in every school
as well as one compulsory subject which students need to overcome its challenges in the General Certificate
of Secondary Education Exam (GCSE). Every year, there are nearly a million Vietnamese 12 graders taking
the compulsory English test with the view to receiving a general certificate of secondary school education.
Since

2015,

the

English test has been used for students to achieve two major goals: (1) to receive a general certificate of
secondary
school education and (2) to gain entrance to Vietnamese universities and colleges. As important it is, English
seems to be ignored or paid much less attention in the last few years. Lack of attention combines with lack of
skills in doing exercises makes students have many difficulties in learning English in class as well as taking
the test. Recently, an English format test of GCSE has included 50 challenging questions ranging from
simple to complicated form to check students’ ability in four levels: recognition; understanding, low
application and high application. There are merely four questions in totally 50 questions relating to
closet/opposite meaning of words/phrases in the format test of GCSE. However, as can be seen, in reading
comprehensive exercises, there are also have questions relating to this type. If students are equipped with
techniques on how to deal with this type of exercise, they can have a better result in their tests, especially the
next GCSE.
Thus, in this minor study, I would like to focus mainly on how to use various effective techniques to
help students deal with closet/opposite meaning of words/phrases to my students at Tam Duong high school
with the purposes of preparing them for the National School Education Examination. This minor research
will be applied in teaching for students in 10 weeks with the knowledge ranging from basic (new words in

the textbook) to complicated (expanding the topic-teaching and learning the words/idioms/phrasal verbs
related to the topic: life stories/urbanization etc.).
II. ANALYSIS OF THE GCSE MATRIX
I would like to give some analytical data about the matrix of the previous English test in the two
latest general certificate of secondary exams
MATRIX OF CODE 421 IN GCSE IN 2018
No
Number

of

Recognitio

Level
Underst
Low

High
1


Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

1.

the sentences
2

2


anding
0

Application
0

0

sound
Stress

2

2

0

0

0

LARY

(2 syllables)
Grammar
Vocabulary
Synonym
Antonym
Error


7
5
2
2
3

5
1
0
0
2

1
2
2
2
1

1
2
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0


LANGUA

identification
Language
in

2

0

2

0

0

5
15
Closet

4

1
2
0

2
7
4


1
4
0

1
4
0

Sentence

2

1

1

0

0

transformation
Sentence

3

2

1

0


0

PHONETI

Pronunciation

CS

(Sound)
“s”

2

GRAMM
AR
VOCABU

3

GE

or

n

Application

“i:”


IN communication

COMMU
NICATIO
N
4
READING

Close test
Comprehensive
reading

meaning
in
reading
5

WRITING

Combination
Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in
each of the following questions.
1. Judy has just won a full scholarship to one of the most prestigious universities in the country, she must be
on cloud nine now.
A. extremely panicked

B. desperately sad

C. obviously delighted


D. incredibly optimistic
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

2. People nationwide have acted without hesitation to provide aids for the victims in the disaster-stricken
areas.
A. awareness

B. uncertainty

C. willingness

D.

reluctance
Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSET in meaning to the underlined word(s) in
each of the following questions.
1. The football final has been postponed until next Sunday due to the heavy snowstorm.
A. cancelled

B. continued

C. changed

D. delayed

2. The chairman’s thought-provoking question ignited a lively debate among the participants in the
workshop.

A. triggered

B. defined

C. arose

D. hosted

Reading 1
Americans who don’t know each other well will keep a distance of four feet between them, whereas South
Americans in the same situation will stand two or three feet apart. North Americans will stand closer than
two feet apart only if they are having a confidential conversation or if there is intimacy between them.
1. The word “intimacy” in paragraph 2 is closet in meaning to ____________.
A. strength

B. agreement

C. enjoyment

D.

closeness
Gestures are often used to communicate. We point a finger, raise an eyebrow, wave an arm – or move any
other part of the body – to show what we want to say. However, this does not mean that people all over the
world use the same gestures can communicate different meanings, depending on the country. An example of
a gesture that could be misinterpreted is sticking out the tongue.
2. The word “misinterpreted” in paragraph 3 is closet in meaning to ____________.
A. misspelled

B. misunderstood


C. mispronounced

D.

misbehaved
Reading 2
Another solution is to reduce the amount of energy required in a building. It is possible to cut electricity use
noticeably by improving natural lighting and installing low-energy light-bulbs. To reduce the amount of fuel
needed for heating or cooling, builders also add insulation to the walls so that the building stays warmer in
winter and cooler in summer.
1. The word “insulation” in paragraph 2 refers to _________.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. devices that monitor changes in temperature
B. materials that prevent heat loss and absorption
C. systems that protect buildings from sun’s rays
D. panels that convert solar energy into electricity
A large project is under way in China. The first phase of this project will include houses for 400 families
built with solar power, non-polluting bricks, and recycled wall insulation.
2. The phrase “under way” in paragraph 6 mostly mean___________.
A. being inspected

B. being certified

C. being notified


D. being launched

MATRIX OF CODE 401 IN GCSE IN 2019
No
Number
1.

PHONETIC

Pronunciation

S

(Sound)

of

Recognit

Understand

ion

ing

Level
Low

High


the sentences
2

2

0

Application
0

Application
0

2

2

0

0

0

7
7
2
2
3

5

3
0
0
1

1
2
2
1
2

1
1
0
1
0

0
1
0
0
0

2

1

1

0


0

5
13

1
2

2
3

1
4

1
4

2

1

1

0

0

“ed” or “aʊ”
sound

Stress
2

3

(2-3 syllables)
GRAMMAR Grammar
Vocabulary
VOCABUL
Synonym
ARY
Antonym
Error
LANGUAG
E

identification
Language
in

IN communication

COMMUNI
4

CATION
READING

Close test
Comprehensive

reading
(closet

5

WRITING

meaning: 3)
Sentence

4


Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

transformation
Sentence

3

2

1

0

0

Combination


Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in
each of the following questions.
1. Children brought up in a caring environment tend to grow more sympathetic towards others.
A. lowing

B. dishonest

C. healthy

D. hateful

2. It’s quite disappointing that some people still turn a blind eye to acts of injustice that witness in the street.
A. take no notice of

B. have no feeling for

C. show respect to

D. pay attention to

Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSET in meaning to the underlined word(s) in
each of the following questions.
1. These photos brought back many sweet memories of our trip to Hanoi last year.
A. recalled

B. released

C. revised

D. caught


2. At first, John said he hadn’t broken the vase, but later he accepted it.
A. denied

B. Discussed

C. protected

D. admitted

Reading 1:
Not everyone is convinced that tribal tourism is a good thing and opinions are divided.
1. The word “divided” in paragraph 3 is closet in meaning to ____________.
A. similar

B. important

C. different

D. interesting

Reading 2:
Computers and other electronic equipment become obsolete in just a few years, leaving customers with little
choice but to buy newer ones to keep up.
1. The word “obsolete” in paragraph 1 is closet in meaning to ____________.
A. outdated

B. inaccurate

C. broken


D.

incomplete
To address the problem of the international trade in e-waste, 170 nations signed the 1989 Basel Convention,
an agreement requiring that developed nations notify developing nations of hazardous waste shipments
coming into their countries.
2. The word “notify” in paragraph 3 is closet in meaning to ____________.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. assure

B. notice

C. excuse

D. inform

As can be seen from the English test matrix’s analysis, there are 7 and 8 questions/statements related
to closet/opposite meaning including reading comprehension exercise, accounts for 14% to 16% of the test’s
result. It is not a large percentage but students cannot get the high score without this type of exercise.
III. OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The study is designed to obtain the following objectives:
 Study and find out various effective techniques to do closet/opposite meaning of words/phrases
exercises in classes
 Apply these techniques in teaching and learning English for the upcoming General Certificate of
Secondary Exam

IV. METHOD OF THE STUDY
Integrated methods used in this study such as:
 Making reference to linguistic books and articles on how to cope with closet/ opposite meaning of
words/phrases exercises
 Putting the techniques into practice of teaching and learning English in classes
 Considering the effectiveness of applying these techniques and creating any necessary modification
V. SCOPE OF THE STUDY
 This seminar is applied to teach Grade 12 students at Tam Duong high school and help them how to
cope with synonym or antonym exercises
 This seminar is planned to teach within 10 weeks
 This seminar tends to deal with the knowledge ranging from basic (new words in the textbook) to
complicated (expanding the topic-teaching and learning the words/idioms/phrasal verbs related to the
topic: life stories/urbanization etc.).
B. DEVELOPMENT
I. TECHINIQUES TO TEACH AND LEARN ENGLISH SYNONYM/ANTONYM:
1. Teaching and Learning Synonym/Antonym in Context

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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

At first, students can be shocked or confused when reading synonym or antonym exercises because
the given underlined words may be unfamiliar words/idioms or phrasal verbs. However, how normal it is
when you do not know these words. Therefore, in this situation, students need to calm them down and do the
exercise in a logical and analytical way. Guessing the contextual meanings of words plays an important role
in language learning. It is common that ESL students do not pay much attention to the various meanings of
new words in different contexts. Basing on the context of the words in the sentence combines with the
meaning of the familiar words, students can get the meaning of the given words. It is more effective for
students to learn language in meaningful contexts than learn isolated words through memorization and

drilling. Teachers should introduce the new words by making examples and asking students to guess their
meanings in these contexts.
Example 1: It is quite common for students to gather at the canteen and shoot the breeze during the break.
A. enjoy fresh air

B. check the homework

C. gossip about unimportant things

D. fight with each other

T: What purpose do students gather at the canteen during the break time? Can you guess?
Ss: May be they gather here to eat and chat while they are eating, so I think the answer is C
Example 2: I shouldn’t go outside without a raincoat because it’s raining cats and dogs
A. it’s just started to rain

B. it’s raining very heavily

C. it’s going to rain

D. it’s raining a little

=> in this sentence “it’s raining cats and dogs” means “it’s raining heavily” based on the given words: not go
outside and without raincoat
This technique is not only effective with closet/opposite meaning, but also really efficient with
reading comprehensive exercise in finding the meaning of the bold words in the paragraph. You can see the
following example for this conclusion:
Read the following passage and mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the correct answer to each of the
questions.
Theresa May, the second female Britain's prime minister following Margaret Thatcher, revealed in 2013 that

she had been given a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires daily insulin injections. Asked
later how she felt about the diagnosis, she said her approach to it was the same as toward everything in her
life: “Just get on and deal with it.” That kind of steeliness brought her to center stage in the aftermath of
Britain's vote to leave the European Union and the feuding that erupted in the Conservative Party over who
would succeed David Cameron.
Example 1: The word approach in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ____.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. means

B. advance

C. technique

D. trick

=> Based on the familiar words’ meaning for example “just get on and deal with it” students can give their
understanding about the word “approach” means a way to solve a problem – diabetes so the closet meaning
word here is A
Example 2: The increase in urbanization causes different problems. Air and water pollution are amongst the
major issue we have to tackle.
The word tackle in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to ____.
A. deal with

B. make up

C. try on


D. turn

down
=> In this sentence “tackle” means “deal with” based on the words “cause different problems” and “among
the major issue”

2. Teaching and Learning Synonym/Antonym with Personal Experience:
It is dependable on the given context of the sentence; students can put themselves in the writer’s
shoes to giving the solution. Using the knowledge, they have combines with their own experiences to choose
the best answer for the sentence
Make the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE in
meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions.
Example 1: After knowing that he was the winner of Viet Lott lottery, he was walking on air
A. feeling embarrassed

B. feeling shocked

C. feeling broken-hearted

D. feeling elated

=> Based their own experiences or their knowledge, students may feel “what” when they won “special
prize” got a lot of money from Viet Lott such as 98 billion Vietnam Dong=> students surely answer that they
feel so happy or excited => the opposite meaning of happy is sad/broken-hearted so the answer here is C
3. Teaching and Learning Words with Their Synonym/Antonym:
When T introduces new words in each lesson/unit, T should give their students some popular
synonyms or antonyms so that students can expand their vocabulary not only with the purposing to dealing
with closet/opposite meaning exercise, but also with the aim to improve their vocabulary for writing skills.
Unit 1: Life stories in Grade 12

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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

+ anonymous = unnamed = unidentified >< known=named=identified
+ amputate = cut off >< join/mend
+ overcome = get over >< fail
+ generosity = goodness/kindness/unselfishness >< selfishness/meanness/unkindness
+ prosperous = rich/wealthy/thriving >< poor/needy/humble
Make the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is CLOSET in
meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions.
Example 1: The wound had become so infected that the doctors had no choice but amputate the soldier's
arm.
A. cut off

B. bring around

C. recover

D. replace

Make the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word or phrase that is OPPOSITE in
meaning to the underlined part in each of the following questions.
Example 2: They are going to have to amputate his left leg which was badly injured in the accident.
A. remove

B. separate

C. cut off


D. mend

4. Teaching and Learning Words with Positive or Negative Meaning of the Given Words:
Teacher can guide students to pay attention to some prefixes which has negative meaning when they are
added to the beginning of a word. Teachers asks student to remember them for identification in the exams.
When doing this type of exercise, using prefixes to guess the meaning of the word: is it positive or negative?
Based on the prefixes, student can guess the meaning of the words: positive or negative and then give their
answers
Prefix

Meaning

Examples
Based words

Adding prefixes
Amoral
Anti-fan

a-, anwithout, lack of, not
Moral
antiagainst, opposite of
Fan
contra-, contro- against, opposite
controversy
dedown, off, away from
value
devalue
disnot, apart, away

appear
disappear
il-, im-, in-, ir- not, without
legal
illegal
nonnot, without
essential
nonessential
unnot, lacking, opposite of
friendly
unfriendly
Example 1: Mutualism is a type of symbiosis that occurs when two unlike organisms live together in a state
that is mutually beneficial.
A. alike

B. likely

C. similar

D. dislike

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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

When looking at the given words, students can realize that “un” has opposite meaning and it means “not”
=> the opposite meaning of “unlike” is “similar”
Example 2: My little daughter would spend an inordinate amount of time in the shop, deciding which goods
she was going to buy.

A. excessive

B. limited

C. required

D. abundant

When looking at the given words, students can realize that “in” has opposite meaning and it means “lack”
=> the opposite meaning of “inordinate” is “far more than usual=excessive”
II- Practice
WEEK 1+2: TOPIC (LIFE STORIES)
Vocabulary to focus on
+ anonymous = unnamed = unidentified >< known=named=identified (a)
+ amputate = cut off >< join/mend (v)
+ overcome = get over >< fail (v)
+ generosity = goodness/kindness/unselfishness >< selfishness/meanness/unkindness (a)
+ prosperous = rich/wealthy/thriving >< poor/needy/humble (a)
+ adopt >< abandon (v)
+ adoptive = foster (a)
+ waver = hesitate (v)
+ influential = inspirational (a)
+ devoted = dedicated (a)
Exercise
Mark the letter A, B, C, or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s)
in each of the following questions. (from 1 to 10: understanding; from 11 to 21: low application)
1. The speaker paused. He hesitated to answer the direct question raised by the audience.
A. decided

B. continued


C. determined

D. wavered

Correct answer is D: Hesitate = waver: do dự, lưỡng lự
2. Her courage not only inspired her followers but moved her rivals as well.
A. depressed

B. motivated

C. overlooked

D. rejected

Correct answer is B: Inspire = motivate: truyền cảm hứng, làm động lực
3. The government's plans to cut taxes really stimulated the economy.
A. discouraged

B. started

C. weakened

D. improved
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

Correct answer is D: In this sentence, “stimulate” has closet meaning with “improve”

4. Chauvet Jeans was a well-known nineteen century painter whose paintings are extraordinarily
sophisticated.
A. old-fashioned

B. basic

C. primitive

D. complex

Correct answer is D: Sophisticated=complex: phức tạp
5. Some rock stars started off as rebels with strong and broad principles.
A. beliefs

B. honour

C. formulas

D. law

Correct answer is A: Principle: a moral rule or a strong belief that influences your actions = belief
6. I used to idolize David Beckham because of his dedication and talent.
A. hate

B. impress

C. worship

D. detest


Correct answer is D: Idolize: to admire or love somebody very much = worship: thần tượng hóa, tôn sùng
7. Linda is very outgoing, however, her brother is quite reserved.
A. open

B. sociable

C. easygoing

D. shy

Correct answer is D: Reserved: (of a person or their character) slow or unwilling to show feelings or
express opinions = shy
8. Ideally, I'd like to work at home but there is no way my boss agrees with that.
A. Generally

B. Luckily

C. Preferably

D. Fortunately

Correct answer is C: Ideally: perfectly; in the most suitable way = preferably
9. Morgan Freeman began to land big roles and won critical and popular acclaim after years of small parts
and limited success.
A. arrive

B. gain

C. deliver


D. Cause

Correct answer is B: Land: to succeed in getting a job, etc., especially one that a lot of other people want =
gain
10. Recognizable smaller than most of the kids in his age group, Lionel Messi was diagnosed by doctors as
suffering from a hormone deficiency that restricted his growth.
A. inadequacy

B. sufficiency

C. abundance

D. strength

Correct answer is A: Deficiency: the state of not having, or not having enough of, something that is
essential = inadequacy
11. The film was so successful that the main actor became a household name afterwards.
A. a well-known person

B. an unknown actor

C. an experienced director

D. a house owner

Correct answer is A: - a household name = a well-known person: một người nổi tiếng
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise


12. Despite all the obstacles, Mariah's determination to become a famous singer never waivers.
A. becomes stronger

B. gets better

C. becomes weaker

D. get destroyed

Correct answer is C: waivers = becomes weaker: trở nên yếu đi
13. From humble beginnings, sales have rocketed and are set for further high growth in the next three years.
A. promising

B. poor

C. impressive

D. unexpected

Correct answer is B: humble = poor: (khởi đầu) kém, không suôn sẻ
14. His early death only cemented his legendary status, and Elvis Presley has become deeply ingrained in
popular culture.
A. engrossed

B. indulged

C. deep-rooted

D. supreme


Correct answer C: ingrained (in somebody/something) (of a habit, an attitude, etc.) that has existed for a
long time and is therefore difficult to change = deep-rooted: ăn sâu, khắc sâu
A – engross (+ in/with) so interested or involved in something that you give it all your attention
B- indulge (+ in) to allow yourself to have or do something that you like, especially something that is
considered bad for you
D- very great or the greatest in degree
15. A distinctive feature of Trump's business and real estate ventures has been the prominent use of his own
name.
A. characteristic

B. general

C. common

D. superficial

Correct answer is A: distinctive : having a quality or characteristic that makes something different and
easily noticed = characteristic: đặc biệt để phân biệt
16. Marilyn Monroe has become an iconic representative of fame and female beauty.
A. delegate

B. image

C. typical

D. idol

Correct answer is A: Representative: a person who has been chosen to speak or vote for somebody else or
on behalf of a group = delegate: đại diện, tiêu biểu,

17. Despite the media often being dismissive of Monroe's potential, her efforts to improve acting paid off.
A. failed

B. broke down

C. managed

D. met with success

Correct answer is D: Pay off: to be successful and bring good
18. Margaret Thatcher was known for her tough uncompromising conservative political views, and became
dubbed as ‘The Iron Lady’.
A. reserved

B. inflexible

C. narrow-minded

D. compatible

Correct answer is B: uncompromising : unwilling to change your opinions or behaviour = rigid =
inflexible
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

19. He is commonly referred to as the "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" and epitomizes the post-war pop
generation
A. be representative of


B. leads

C. elaborates

D. expands on

Correct answer is A: epitomize something - to be a perfect example of something => A has closet meaning
with given words
20. Leonardo da Vinci created rare masterpieces of art such as The Mona Lisa' and ‘The Last Supper’.
A. worthless works of art

B. invaluable property

C. excellent qualifications

D. excellent works of art

Correct answer is D: Masterpiece: a work of art such as a painting, film/movie, book, etc. that is an
excellent, or the best, example of the artist’s work => correct answer is D
21. Da Vinci studied all aspects of life and his far-reaching investigations and discoveries sought to show an
underlying unity of the universe.
A. insignificant

B. finite

C. extensive

D. excessive


Correct answer is C: Far-reaching: likely to have a lot of influence or many effects => correct answer is C
Exercise 2. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions. (from 1 to 10: understanding; from 11 to 18: low
application)
1. During the Great Depression, many people suddenly found themselves jobless after a night.
A. unemployed

B. redundant

C. unoccupied

D.

supplementary
Correct answer is D: Jobless = unemployed = unoccupied = redundant >< supplementary= addition
2. I was relieved by the news that they had gone home safe and sound.
A. comforted

B. concerned

C. relaxed

D.

lightened
Correct answer is B: Relieve: remove or reduce an unpleasant feeling or pain >< concerned
3. She comes from an admirable and respectable family.
A. good

B. respected


C. unworthy

D. dignified

Correct answer is C: Respectable: considered by society to be acceptable, good or correct >< unworthy
D: calm and serious and deserving respect
4. They are going to have to amputate his left leg which was badly injured in the accident.
A. remove

B. separate

C. cut off

D. mend
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

Correct answer is D: Amputate=remove=separate= cut off >< mend
5. Her identity will never be revealed in order to protect her children from being judged.
A. uncovered

B. proclaimed

C. leaked

D. hid


Correct answer is D: Reveal: to make something known to somebody=uncovered=proclaim=leak=disclose
>< hide
6. There are several interesting things emerging from the report.
A. fading

B. rising

C. coming up

D. developing

Correct answer is A: Emerge: to start to exist; to appear or become known = appear >< fade: to disappear
gradually
7. This boy is poorly-educated and doesn't know how to behave properly.
A. uneducated

B. knowledgeable

C. ignorant

D. rude

Correct answer is B: Poorly-educated: knowing very little >< Knowledgeable: knowing a lot
8. I prefer reading fictional stories to hearing about real events.
A. imaginary

B. unreal

C. existent


D. legendary

Correct answer is C: Fictional: not real or true; existing only in stories; connected with fiction =
unreal=imaginary >< existent: existing; real
(Legendary: mentioned in stories from ancient times)
9. It is not fair to give such a challenging task to an inexperienced staff like her.
A. comprehensible

B. difficult

C. provocative

D. intriguing

Correct answer is A: challenging >< comprehensible: that can be understood by somebody
C: intended to make people angry or upset; intended to make people argue about something
D: very interesting because of being unusual or not having an obvious answer
10. White blood cells help defend the body against infection.
A. fight

B. cover

C. protect

D. abandon

Correct answer is D: Defend: to protect somebody/something from attack >< abandone
11. Da Vinci from an early age began to display his remarkable academic and artistic talents.
A. striking


B. extraordinary

C. run-of-the-mill

D.

exceptional
Correct answer is C: Remarkable = striking = extraordinary = exceptional: ordinary, with no special or
interesting features >< run-of-the-mill
12. Joachim Lafosse confirms his exceptional talent with "Free Student", a film that is more conventional in
its form.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. out of the ordinary

B. abnormal

C. usual

D. odd

Correct answer is C: Exceptional >< usual
13. Van Gogh became one of the most celebrated artists of the twentieth century.
A. admired

B. honored


C. acclaimed

D. obscure

Correct answer is D: Celebrated: famous for having good qualities >< obscure: not well known =
unknown
14. Michael stood out for his exceptional enthusiasm and soft, infectious musical voice.
A. attract attention

B. be inconspicuous

C. be conspicuous

D. stick out a mile

Correct answer is B: Stand out: to be noticeable = be conspicuous >< be inconspicuous
15. In recent years, Madonna has continued to tour, release albums and engage in humanitarian work.
A. throw oneself into

B. become uninvolved in

C. have a hand in

D. take part in

Correct answer is B
(A: means to begin to do something with energy and enthusiasm)
(C means If you have a hand in something such as an event or activity, you are involved in it)
16. Henry VIII was equally notorious for his six marriages and several scandalous love affairs.
A. anonymous


B. infamous

C. celebrated

D. ill-famed

Correct answer is A: Notorious: well known for being bad >< anonymous
17. The works Da Vinci did finish were often spectacular masterpieces, such as his paintings The Last
Supper and The Mona Lisa.
A. magnificent

B. out of this world

C. unimpressive

D.

remarkable
Correct answer is C: Spectacular: very impressive >< unimpressive
18. The death of Diana princess had a profound impact on the British public and those in other countries.
A. far-reaching

B. superficial

C. deep-seated

D. heartfelt

Correct answer is B: Profound: very great; felt or experienced very strongly >< superficial

WEEK 3+4: TOPIC (URBANIZATION)
Vocabulary to focus on
+ down-to-earth = practical (a)
+ crucial = important = vital >< unimportant (a)
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

+ prosperous = affluent = wealthy >< poor=unprosperous (a)
+ thought-provoking = inspirational=absorbing >< unstimulating (a)
+ stable = steady >< temporary (a)
+ accelerate >< accelerate (v)
+ result in (v) = bring about = cause = lead to >< result from
+ migrate = emigrate (v)
EXERCISE
Exercise 1: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
1. She's a down-to-earth woman with no pretensions.
A. ambitious

B. creative

C. idealistic

D. practical

Correct answer is D: Down-to-earth: sensible and practical, in a way that is helpful and friendly =
practical
2. It is crucial that urban people not look down on rural areas.

A. evil

B. optional

C. unnecessary

D. vital

Correct answer is D: Crucial = vital
3. Polish artist Pawel Kuzinsky creates satirical paintings filled with thought-provoking messages about the
world.
A. inspirational

B. provocative

C . stimulating

D. universal

Correct answer is A: Thought-provoking: making people think seriously about a particular subject or
issue = inspirational
4. She was brought up in the slums of Leeds.
A. downtown area

B. industrial area

C. poor area

D. rural area


Correct answer is C: Slum = poor area
5. The Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline is a national service for women
experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues and others calling on their behalf.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. in the same country

B. in the same family

C. in the same office

D. in the same school

Correct answer is B: Domestic: used in the home; connected with the home or family = B
6. The promise of jobs and prosperity pulls people to cities.
A. education

B. employment

C. stabilization

D. wealth

Correct answer is D: Prosperity: the state of being successful, especially in making money = wealth
7. With so many daily design resources, how do you stay up-to-date with technology without spending too
much time on it?
A. connect to Internet all day


B. update new status

C. get latest information

D. use social network daily

Correct answer is C: Stay up-to-date: having or including the most recent information = get latest
information
8. Online Business School also offers interest free student loans to UK students.
A. no extra fee

B. no limited time

C. no repayment

D. no interest payments

Correct answer is D: interest free = no interest payments
9. Many illnesses in refugee camps are the result of inadequate sanitation.
A. cleanliness

B. dirtiness

C. pollution

D. uncleanliness

Correct answer is A: Sanitation: the equipment and systems that keep places clean, especially by removing
human waste = cleanliness

10. There has been a hot debate among the scientists relating to the pros and cons of using robotic probes to
study distant objects in space.
A. problems and solutions

B. advantages and disadvantages

C. solutions and limitations

D. causes and effects
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

Correct answer is B: pros and cons means advantages and disadvantages
11. Her style of dress was conservative. She never wears items that are too tight, short or low-cut.
A. high-fashion

B. traditional

C. trendy

D. up to date

Correct answer is B: conservative means traditional in this sentence
12. Many of the immigrants have intermarried with the island's original inhabitants.
A. foreigners

B. landlord


C. newcomer

D. dwellers

Correct answer is D: inhabitant = dweller
13. A city that grows too quickly can also experience an array of environmental issues.
A. variety

B. proportion

C. rate

D. pace

Correct answer is A: Array means a group or collection of things or people, often one that is large or
impressive = variety
14. Low-income dwellers are generally living in older areas of modern cities, which are well known for poor
sanitation, lack of health facilities and basic amenities.
A. aid

B. facilities

C. resource

D. place

Correct answer is B: Amenity: a feature that makes a place pleasant, comfortable or easy to live in =
facility
15. India is facing a house shortage in urban areas at the moment and more housing would be required in
order to meet future demand.

A. encounter

B. introduce

C. fulfill

D. stumble

Correct answer is C: meet (demand) = fulfill: to do or have what is required or necessary
16. A smart sustainable city will meet the needs of present and future generations with respect to economic,
social and environmental aspects.
A. in addition to

B. according to

C. with regard to

D. with a view to
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

Correct answer is C: With respect to: concerning = in/with regard to somebody/something
17. As cities grew more crowded, and often more impoverished and costly, more and more people began to
migrate back out of them.
A. well-off

B. rich


C. penniless

D. fertile

Correct answer is C: Impoverished: very poor; without money = penniless
18. Urbanization spurs a unique set of issues to both humans and animals.
A. stimulates

B. prevents

C. varies

D. descends

Correct answer is A: Spur: to encourage somebody to do something or to encourage them to try harder to
achieve something = stimulate
19. Automobile exhaust produces elevated lead levels in urban air.
A. humble

B. lowly

C. diminished

D. uplifted

Correct answer is D: elevate: to lift something up or put something in a higher position = uplift: to lift
upwards

20. Urban development can magnify the risk of environmental hazards such as flash flooding.
A. understate


B. minimize

C. exaggerate

D. reduce

Correct answer is C: magnify: to make something bigger, louder or stronger = exaggerate: to make
something seem larger, better, worse or more important than it really is

21. Urbanization brings with it several consequences - both adverse and beneficial.
A. negative

B. favorable

C. advantageous

D. preferential

Correct answer is A: adverse means negative
22. The quality of urban water bodies is increasingly exacerbated by a huge volume of untreated industrial
and domestic wastewater.
A. added

B. decreased

C. reduced

D. aggravated
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

Correct answer is D: exacerbate: to make something worse, especially a disease or problem = eggravate
Exercise 2. Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
1. This restaurant was highly recommended for good service, delicious food and kind-hearted boss.
A. ambitious and greedy

B. attentive and helpful

C. generous and gracious

D. polite and friendly

Correct answer is A: kind-hearted: kind and generous >< ambitious and greedy
2. Since 1979, ULI has honored outstanding development projects in the private, public, and nonprofit
sectors with the ULI Global Awards for Excellence program, which today is widely recognized as the
development community's most prestigious awards program.
A. important

B. notable

C. ordinary

D. respected

Correct answer is C: Prestigious: respected and admired as very important or of very high quality ><
ordinary

3. Many people move to urban areas seeking for job opportunity as well as stable employment.
A. durable

B. long-lasting

C. steady

D. temporary

Correct answer is D: stable=steady ~long-lasting >< temporary
4. In cities, two of the most pressing problems facing the world today also come together: poverty and
environmental degradation.
A. destruction

B. poisoning

C. pollution

D. progression

Correct answer is D: degradation: the process of something being damaged or made worse >< progression
5. Unemployment is a massive problem for the government at the moment.
A. main

B. major

C. minor

D. primary


Correct answer is C: massive: extremely large or serious >< minor
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

6. A cost-effective way to fight crime is that instead of making punishments more severe, the authorities
should increase the odds that lawbreakers will be apprehended and punished quickly.
A. economical

B. practical

C. profitable

D. worthless

Correct answer is D: cost-effective >< worthless
7. I propose that we wait until the budget has been announced before committing ourselves to any
expenditure.
A. approve

B. recommend

C. reject

D. suggest

Correct answer is C: propose to suggest a plan, an idea, etc. for people to think about and decide on =
recommend = approve = suggest >< reject


8. Until 1986 most companies would not even allow women to take the exams, but such gender
discrimination is now disappearing.
A. unfairness

B. injustice

C. partiality

D. equality

Correct answer is D: discrimination: the practice of treating somebody or a particular group in society less
fairly than others >< equality

9. The best hope of' avoiding downmarket tabloid TV future lies in the pressure currently being put on the
networks to clean up their act.
A. expensive

B. famous

C. poor quality

D. uncreative

Correct answer is A: downmarket = cheap >< expensive
10. Without economie security and amid poor living conditions, crime is inevitable.
A. assured

B. compulsory

C. inescapable


D.

preventable
Correct answer is D: inevitable: that you cannot avoid or prevent >< preventable
11. Increases in motor vehicle usage have resulted in congestion on the roads.
A. blockage

B. obstruction

C. opening

D. overcrowding
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

Correct answer is C: congestion= blockage = obstruction >< opening
12. Urbanization is the shift of people from rural to urban areas, and the result is the growth of cities.
A. maintenance

B. movement

C. transposition

D. variation

Correct answer is A: shift - to move, or move something, from one position or place to another =
movement >< maintenance

13. Urbanization has many adverse effects on the structure of society as gigantic concentrations of people
compete for limited resources.
A. favorable

B. disadvantageous

C. unlucky

D. unpropitious

Correct answer is A: adverse >< favorable
14. Cities are like magnets, with the potential to take care of everything from the most basic needs to the
most intangible desires.
A. impalpable

B. invisible

C. indefinable

D. clear

Correct answer is D: intangible - something that does not exist as a physical thing but is still valuable to a
company = impalpable = invisible >< clear
15. The proportion between public and private space in such spontaneous urbanization is invariably less than
1:10.
A. never

B. regularly

C. habitually


D. dependably

Correct answer is A: invariably = always >< never
16. His decision had been made on the spur of the moment.
A. all of a sudden

B. out of the blue

C. unexpectedly

D. predictably

Correct answer is D: on the spur of the moment - suddenly, without planning in advance >< predictably
17. Unregulated, unplanned urban sprawl is often the cheapest option in the short run - but the long-run costs
to society, the economy and the environment can be dire.

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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. positive

B. terrible

C. dreadful

D. distressing


Correct answer is A: dire - very serious, bad >< positive
18. The police finally arrested the notorious criminal.
A. respectable

B. serious

C. infamous

D. gentle

Correct answer is A: well known for being bad >< respectable
19. The indiscriminate use of pesticides has wiped out many rare species.
A. uncritical

B. unplanned

C. extensive

D. methodical

Correct answer is D: indiscriminate - acting without careful judgement >< methodical
20. The absence of effective and representative government exacerbates urban environmental health
problems.
A. aggravate

B. heighten

C. reduce

D. magnify


Correct answer is C: exacerbate = aggravate = magnify >< reduce
21. Most of the world's largest cities are considerably smaller by the year 2000 than had been expected.
A. substantially

B. slightly

C. significantly

D. greatly

Correct answer is B: considerably – much, a lot >< slightly
WEEK 5+6: TOPIC (GREEN MOVEMENT)
Vocabulary to focus on
+ raise something (to something) = rise = increase
+ effect (on somebody/something) = influence/impact (+on)
+ come into effect = take effect
+ accomplish = achieve, execute
+ evaluate /ɪ' væljueɪt/: = assess, judge, appraise
• assess something at something: đánh giá ở mức nào
Ex: Damage to the building was assessed at £40,000.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

• assess somebody/ something as something: đánh giá ai như là
Ex: The young men were assessed as either safe or unsafe drivers.
+ release = discharge
+ release somebody/ something from something: giải thoát cho ai, gì khỏi cái gì

Ex: Firefighters took two hours to release the driver from the wreckage.
+ add something to something: thêm cái gì vào đâu
Ex: A new wing was added to the building
+ absorb something into something = take in
Ex: The cream is easily absorbed into the skin.
+ supplant /sə'plɑ:nt/ (v): = replace
+ hazard /'hæzəd/: = jeopardy, perilousness
+ sustainable /sə'steɪnəbl/ (adj): = steady, persistent
+ agglomeration /əˌɡlɒmə'reɪʃn/: = accumulation
Ex: The suburb is an agglomeration of houses, shops, and offices.
+ accelerate /ək'seləreɪt/ (v): = speed up, gain momentum
+ composition /ˌkɒmpə'zɪʃn/: = constitution, configuration
+ disturb /dɪ'stɜ:b/ (v): = distract, interrupt: làm phiền
EXERCISE
Exercise 1: Mark the letter A, B, C or D to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the
underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.
1. For environmental safety, we need to find ways to reduce emission of fumes and smoke of factories.
A. leak

B. release

C. poison

D. pollutant

Correct answer is B: emission - gas, etc. that is sent out into the air = release
2. Nylon is a man-made fibre, the use of which has helped more people to have cheaper and more colorful
clothes to wear.
A. natural


B. plastic

C. synthetic

D. artificial

Correct answer is D: man-made = artificial
3. The advances of commercial airplanes resulted in a shrinking world.
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Seminar on Techniques to Deal with Closet/Opposite Meaning of Words/Phrases Exercise

A. decreasing

B. reduced

C. smaller

D. compressing

Correct answer is C: shrinking – becoming smaller = smaller
4. We have to suffer from traffic congestion and pollution every day.
A. accident

B. fullness

C. mass

D. crowd


Correct answer is D: congestion = crowd
5. Many animals were born in captivity. Resultantly, they do not always breed well.
A. imprisonment

B. lock

C. detention

D. freedom

Correct answer is B: captivity = lock
6. The African rhino is an endangered species and needs protecting.
A. unstable

B. dangerous

C. insecure

D. indefensible

Correct answer is C: endangered = insecure >< dangerous
7. We can protect many species by keeping them in wildlife reserves.
A. protected land

B. saved land

C. park

D. Zoo


Correct answer is A: reserve = protect
8. Scientists are trying to find an energy that consumes less fuel.
A. waste

B. destroy

C. eat up

D. use

Correct answer is D: consume = use
9. Modern buildings are designed to maximize natural light.
A. absorb

B. increase

C. let

D. diminish

Correct answer is B: maximize = increase
10. It's wise to use local fresh produce which is in season.

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