Mini Topics

Argument

Put each of the following words in its correct place in the passage below.

disagreement friction nag resentment

aggressive jealous row troublemaker

I've always had a feeling of (a) towards my older brother, John, because he always received more attention from our parents. There has always been (b) between us. And now that I'm more successful than he is in my job, he is (c) of me. We've never actually had a (d) , just the occasional (e) , but we've never got on well. And his wife likes to make things worse. She's a real (f) a nasty, argumentative, quarrelsome, (g) woman. I've heard her (h) John continually to get a better job, a bigger house, a nicer car.

Nervousness

Instructions as above.

blush sweat tongue-tied embarrassment shy

nerves stammer tremble tranquillizer faint

I have to tell you that my (a) aren't very good. Last week I went for a job interview and my hands began to (b) my palms started to (c) and my face was red because I always (d) with (e) on these occasions. I've always been very (f) with other people. When I was asked questions I was completely (g) and I could only (h) . I felt (i) and wished I had a (j) to calm me down. I didn't get the job. A pity. I would like to have been a television newsreader.

Success

Put each of the following words in its correct place in the passage below.

achieve confidence ladder ambitious exploit

achievement determined power ruthless ability

I've never been (a) in the normal sense. I've never wanted to be a manager or director. I've never wanted to reach the top of the (b) or to have (c) . But I've always had a wish to (d) something, to write a book, climb a mountain, win a prize. This is not because I want fame or money but just that simple feeling of (e) you get when you've done something difficult. I'm not very sure of myself and it would be good for my (f) to succeed in something. Some people will lie, (g) other people, be dishonest, do anything, in order to succeed. They will be absolutely (h) . But I think the people who deserve to succeed are those who are (i) and have (j) .

Pride

Instructions as above.

boast proud vain thick-skinned

conceited pride snob contemptuous

Mrs Watson next door thinks she is better than other people. She thinks she is superior, 'high class'. In other words, she's a (a) . She is very (b) of herself and very (c) of other, 'ordinary' people. I've heard her (d) to neighbours about her lovely house, her big car, her husband's high salary. She's a very (e) person too, always admiring herself in a mirror. Mr Watson also has a very high opinion of himself. His neighbours think that he is a very (f) person, but the Watsons are both so (g) that other people's criticism of them has no effect on them at all. I think that one day they'll find that they have no friends left, and then they'll be sorry, (h) comes before a fall.

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I will be happy to help you with this exercise on mini topics. Let's start with the first passage on the topic of disagreement:

I've always had a feeling of (a) resentment towards my older brother, John, because he always received more attention from our parents. There has always been (b) friction between us. And now that I'm more successful than he is in my job, he is (c) jealous of me. We've never actually had a (d) disagreement, just the occasional (e) row, but we've never got on well. And his wife likes to make things worse. She's a real (f) troublemaker, a nasty, argumentative, quarrelsome, (g) aggressive woman. I've heard her (h) nag John continually to get a better job, a bigger house, a nicer car.

Explanation: In this passage, the words are used to describe a problematic relationship between the speaker and their older brother. The word "resentment" in (a) shows that the speaker feels bitterness or anger towards their brother due to the difference in attention from their parents. The word "friction" in (b) indicates that there is continuous tension or conflict between the speaker and their brother. The word "jealous" in (c) represents the feeling of envy that the brother has towards the speaker's success. The word "disagreement" in (d) suggests that they haven't had a major argument but have had occasional conflicts. The term "row" in (e) refers to these occasional conflicts. The word "troublemaker" in (f) describes the brother's wife, indicating that she causes and worsens issues between the speaker and the brother. The word "aggressive" in (g) characterizes the wife's behavior as hostile or confrontational. Lastly, the verb "nag" in (h) demonstrates the wife's persistent and annoying behavior towards the brother.

Now let's move on to the second passage on the topic of nervousness:

I have to tell you that my (a) nerves aren't very good. Last week I went for a job interview and my hands began to (b) tremble, my palms started to (c) sweat, and my face was red because I always (d) blush with (e) embarrassment on these occasions. I've always been very (f) shy with other people. When I was asked questions I was completely (g) tongue-tied and I could only (h) stammer. I felt (i) faint and wished I had a (j) tranquillizer to calm me down. I didn't get the job. A pity. I would like to have been a television newsreader.

Explanation: In this passage, the words are related to the topic of nervousness and how it affects the speaker. The word "nerves" in (a) refers to the speaker's anxiety or unease. The verb "tremble" in (b) indicates that the speaker's hands were shaking due to nervousness. The verb "sweat" in (c) shows that the speaker's palms were becoming moist, which is a common physical reaction to anxiety. The word "blush" in (d) describes the speaker's face turning red due to embarrassment. The term "embarrassment" in (e) represents the feeling of being self-conscious or ashamed in certain situations. The adjective "shy" in (f) characterizes the speaker as being timid or introverted when interacting with others. The adjective "tongue-tied" in (g) describes the difficulty the speaker has in expressing themselves verbally due to nervousness. The verb "stammer" in (h) highlights the speaker's struggle to speak fluently due to anxiety. The word "faint" in (i) expresses that the speaker felt dizzy or lightheaded due to nervousness. Lastly, the noun "tranquillizer" in (j) refers to a medication that can help calm down an anxious person.

Moving on to the third passage on the topic of success:

I've never been (a) ambitious in the normal sense. I've never wanted to be a manager or director. I've never wanted to reach the top of the (b) ladder or to have (c) power. But I've always had a wish to (d) achieve something, to write a book, climb a mountain, win a prize. This is not because I want fame or money but just that simple feeling of (e) achievement you get when you've done something difficult. I'm not very sure of myself and it would be good for my (f) confidence to succeed in something. Some people will lie, (g) exploit other people, be dishonest, do anything, in order to succeed. They will be absolutely (h) ruthless. But I think the people who deserve to succeed are those who are (i) determined and have (j) ability.

Explanation: In this passage, the words revolve around the topic of success and the speaker's perspective on it. The word "ambitious" in (a) describes someone who desires to achieve power, fame, or success. The phrase "top of the ladder" in (b) refers to reaching the highest position or level in a particular field. The term "power" in (c) represents authority or control over others. The verb "achieve" in (d) signifies attaining a desired goal or result. The word "achievement" in (e) describes the sense of satisfaction or fulfillment one experiences after accomplishing something difficult. The term "confidence" in (f) refers to self-assurance or belief in one's abilities. The verb "exploit" in (g) means to take advantage of others for personal gain. The adjective "ruthless" in (h) describes individuals who are willing to do whatever it takes, including being cruel or ruthless, to achieve their goals. The word "determined" in (i) suggests having a strong commitment or perseverance towards achieving something. Lastly, the word "ability" in (j) signifies the practical or natural skill to do something successfully.

Finally, let's work on the fourth passage on the topic of pride:

Mrs. Watson next door thinks she is better than other people. She thinks she is superior, 'high class'. In other words, she's a (a) snob. She is very (b) proud of herself and very (c) vain of other, 'ordinary' people. I've heard her (d) boast to neighbors about her lovely house, her big car, her husband's high salary. She's a very (e) conceited person too, always admiring herself in a mirror. Mr. Watson also has a very high opinion of himself. His neighbors think that he is a very (f) contemptuous person, but the Watsons are both so (g) thick-skinned that other people's criticism of them has no effect on them at all. I think that one day they'll find that they have no friends left, and then they'll be sorry, (h) pride comes before a fall.

Explanation: In this passage, the words relate to the theme of pride and its negative impact. The word "snob" in (a) describes someone who believes they are superior to others based on their social status. The word "proud" in (b) signifies having a high opinion of oneself and feeling satisfaction in one's achievements or attributes. The adjective "vain" in (c) refers to being excessively concerned with one's appearance or qualities. The verb "boast" in (d) represents bragging or speaking with excessive pride. The adjective "conceited" in (e) describes someone who has an exaggerated sense of self-importance. The term "contemptuous" in (f) characterizes Mr. Watson's attitude as showing or feeling scorn or disdain for others. The adjective "thick-skinned" in (g) implies that they are not easily affected or hurt by criticism. The saying "pride comes before a fall" in (h) emphasizes that excessive pride or arrogance can lead to downfall or regret.

I hope this detailed explanation and step-by-step analysis help you understand the passage and the correct placement of the words. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask!