Key to The Adjective and The Adverb

Example: afraid – frightened

afraid – feeling fear, frightened; used as a predicative only;

frightened – afraid, feeling fear; used both as a predicative and as an attribute.

e.g. Fred started to feel afraid/ frightened of going out alone at night.

I looked at the frightened child encouragingly.

alike (never in the function of an attribute; e.g. All airports look alike to me. My sister and I do not look alike.) – similar (+ noun, / predicative; e.g. Our interest are similar. = We have similar interests)

manly (having qualities or physical features that are admired or expected in a man, e.g. He looked so manly in his military uniform. She is good-looking but has manly shoulders) – mankind (the whole human race)

skilful (good at doing smth, especially smth that needs a particular ability or special training, e.g. a skilful player/teacher; Thanks to her skilful handling of the affair, the problem was averted. – skilled (in smth/ at doing smth – having enough ability, experience and knowledge to be able to do smth; a skilled job/negotiator; only skilled can be used predicatively! – She is highly skilled at dealing with difficult customers.)

alone(without any other people, e.g. Finally the two of us were alone. She doesn’t like to go out alone. – lonely (unhappy because you have no friends or people to talk to, e.g. As I didn’t know Spanish and couldn’t speak with people, I grew lonelier and lonelier. She hated all those nights at home watching TV instead of talking to someone.)

worthy (+ of – having the qualities that deserve smth, e.g. A number of the report findings are worthy of note. No composer was considered worthy of the name until he had written an opera. He felt he was not worthy of her.) – worthwhile (important, enjoyable, interesting; worth spending money interesting; e.g. a worthwhile course; The smile on her face made it all worthwhile. The prices in the UK make it worthwhile for buyers to look abroad. It is worthwhile to include in this magazine only high-quality illustrations. We all felt we did something worthwhile for the local community.)

childish (connected or typical of a child, e.g. childish handwriting; usually disapproving if directed at adults, = silly, stupid, immature, e.g. Don’t be so childish! e.g. – childlike (approving the qualities that children usually have, especially innocence, e.g. childlike enthusiasm, simplicity, delight)

confident (feeling sure about your own ability to do smth, e.g. The teacher wanted the children to feel confident about asking questions when they don’t understand.) – confidential ( meant to be kept secret, e.g. All medical records are strictly confidential. He spoke in a confidential tone, his voice low.)

dead (completely, exactly, e.g. The train was dead on time. You are dead right. The instructions were dead easy to follow. He is dead against the idea. She is dead set on getting this job. – deadly (causing or likely to cause death, e.g. a deadly weapon/disease; Cobra is one of the world’s deadliest snakes. The terrorists have chosen to play a deadly game with the civilian population. He committed all the seven deadly sins.)

drunk (not before noun in the function of an attribute, usually used as a predicative, e.g. She was too drunk to remember anything about the party. His only way of dealing with his problems was to go out and get drunk. They got drunk on vodka. drunk withenthusiasm/optimism, success) – drunken ( only in the function of an attribute before a noun, e.g. She was often beaten by her drunken husband. He came home to find her in a drunken stupor.)

former (that used to exist in earlier times; This beautiful old building has been restored to its former glory. The former world champion was invited to the party.) – previous (happening or existing before the event or the object you are talking about, e.g. No previous experience is necessary for this job. The car had only one previous owner. She is his daughter from the previous marriage. I was unable to attend the meeting because of the previous engagement.)

gold (both the metal and the colour of gold. e.g. The company name was spelled out in gold letters. – golden (both made of gold and looks like gold, e.g. a golden crown; and like gold, e.g. golden hair. Bake for 40 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden.)

graceful (moving in a controlled, attractive way; having a smooth attractive form; e.g. The dancers were all tall and graceful. The singer gave a graceful bow to the audience. Dolphins are incredibly graceful and efficient swimmers.)– gracious (kind, polite, generous – of people and behaviour, e.g. a gracious lady/hostess/ smile; Lady Carolina was gracious enough to accept our invitation.

healthy (attribute+ predicate; e.g. He was a healthy child. He looked healthy. – well (predicate + avd. mod. of manner, e.g. I don’t feel well. She is well enough to travel. The children behaved well. The conference was well organised.)

fit (used predicatively) – healthy and strong especially if a person does some physical exercises, e.g. He won’t be fit to play the match. he’s been ill and isn’t fit enough for work yet.

imaginary (existing only in your mind, e.g. The equator is an imaginary line around the middle of the earth. This story is wholly imaginary. I had an imaginary friend when I was a child, I called his Bob and often played with in my dreams. We must listen to their problems real or imaginary. – imaginative (having or showing new, exciting ideas, e.g. You have to be a little more imaginative if you want to hold their attention. This cookery book is full of recipes that make imaginative use of seasonal vegetables. Writing books needs imaginative approach.)

ill (only predicative!, e.g. His father is seriously ill. He fell ill and died soon after. We all started to feel ill shortly after that meal.) – sick ( both as an attribute and as a predicate, e.g. The mother took care of the sick child. Peter’s dog is very sick.)

inner (only as an attribute, inside, towards or close to the centre, e.g. inner London, private or secret feelings, e.g. She doesn’t reveal much of her inner self. An inner voice told him that what he was doing was wrong.) – inward (only as an attribute! inside your mind, not shown, e.g. He calm expression hid her inward panic. towards the centre, e.g. inward flow/curve)

silk (made of silk = silk treads/blouse/stockings), ; – silky (like silk, e.g. silky hair/ eyelashes; He spoke in a silky tone.) = silken (e.g. silken voice/ribbons)

 silver (made of silver; e.g. She bought a silver ring.) – silvery (like silver, e.g. silvery water/light/fish; silvery grey; She gave a silvery laugh.)

 swelled (past indefinite of the verb ‘to swell’, e.g. The sails swelled out in the wind.) – swollen (past perfect of the verb ‘to swell’, e.g. He eyes were red and swollen from crying.)

sensitive (to people’s feelings; to literature; easily upset, e.g. He is very sensitive about his weight. He is very sensitive to criticism. My teeth are very sensitive to cold.) – sensible (able to make good judgements based on reason and experience rather than emotion, e.g. I think it’s a very sensible idea to take a taxi home. I am sensible of the fact that mathematics is not a very popular subject now.)

outer (on the outside of smth; furthest from the inside or centre of smth, e.g. the outer layers of the skin; I walked along the outer edge of the track. the outer suburbs of the city. Experiments were made to explore the outer limits of human endurance.) – outward/ outwards (outside, away from the centre, e.g. the door opens outwards. Factories were spreading outwards from the old heart of the town. Lie on your stomach with your elbows pointing outwards.; connected with the way people or things seem to be rather than with what is actually true, e.g. Mark showed no outward signs of distress. She simply observes the outward forms of religion. There were no outward signs that the house was inhabited.

wooden (made of wood; not showing enough natural expression, emotion or movement, e.g. The actor playing the father was too wooden. Her voice sounded wooden and listless as she struggled to control her feelings.) – wooded (covered with trees, e.g. The first Kiev settlers built huts on the wooded banks of the river Dnieper.)

worthless (having no practical or financial value; e.g. Critics say his paintings are worthless. having no good qualities, e.g. Constant rejections made him feel worthless. – unworthy (not having the necessary qualities to deserve smth, especially respect, e.g. He considered himself unworthy of the honour they bestowed on him.; not acceptable for smb, especially occupying important position or having a high status, e.g. Such opinions are unworthy of educated people.)

lively (full of life and energy; active and enthusiastic; full of interest and excitement, e.g. Rita was an intelligent lively young woman. Robert had a lively and enquiring mind. Steve showed a lively interest in politics. Tina’s eyes were bright and lively.)– alive (living, not dead, e.g. We don’t know whether he is dead or alive. Is your granny Bella still alive? She had to steal food just to stay alive. He was buried alive in the earthquake.; full of emotions and excitement, e.g. Edward was alive with happiness. He eyes were alive with interest. continuing to exist. e.g. We must keep Ukrainian traditions alive. Money from charities is keeping the theatre alive. full of smth living or moving, e.g. The pool was alive with goldfish.; aware of smth, e.g. She was alive to dangers. The government should be alive to the problems faced by industry.

especial (greater and better than usual, e.g. special in some way to a particular group of people, e.g. The lecture will be of especial interest to history students.) = special, (not ordinary or usual, different from what is normal, e.g. As an only child she got special attention from her parents. Please take special care of this.)

shrunk (only a predicative! e.g. The sweater has shrunk. – shrunken (only an attribute! e.g. His cheeks looked shrunken like withered apples)

neighbouring (only an attribute!, e.g. We don’t know the people who live in a neighbouring house. – neighbourhood (noun-attribute, e.g. neighbourhood police

needful (necessary, old-fashioned) – needy (people not having enough money; e.g. They were needy people.)

effective (producing a successful result, e.g. Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrents for offenders. Aspirin is a simple but highly effective treatment. Drugs that are effective against cancer haven’t been found yet.) – efficient (doing smth well and thoroughly without wasting time, energy and money; e.g. an efficient engineer/ teacher/ heating equipment; As people get older their bodies become less efficient at burning up calories.

economic (only as an attribute! connected with the trade, industry and development of wealth of a country; economic growth/ policy/ cooperation, development), – economical (good service or value in the relation to the amount of time and money spent, e.g. economical car/appliance; It would be more economical to buy a bigger fridge.)

politic (only as a predicative; actions based on good judgement, e.g. It seemed politic to say nothing.) – political (connected with the state or government public affairs, e.g. He was a political prisoner. What are his political sympathies? Martha became very political at university. I suspect that he was dismissed for political reasons.)

official – connected with the job of smb who is in a position of an authority, e.g. He made his first official visit to Tokio. officious (disapproving) – too ready to tell people what to do or to use the power one has to give orders, e.g. He was a nasty officious little man.

**TASK 14. Choose the right option.

Part 1

My (eldest/ oldest) sister's only child is a boy. His name is Tim. Even when he was very young he was a (manly/ mankind) little fellow, a (skilful/ skilled) and (confident/ confidential) horseman, and a (dead/deadly) marksman with an air rifle. He was (a lively/ an alive) child.

Throughout his (awake/waking) hours he was engaged in (worthy/ worthwhile) activities, and even when he was (asleep/ sleeping), his (imaginary/ imaginative) brain seemed to be at work, because often he would wake up with some (sensitive/sensible) idea. He was always a (healthy/ fit) boy. When any of his (ill/sick) friends asked him for help with their homework he was always (sorry/sympathetic) and did his best to help them.

Tim had one (especial/special) friend – Dick, a much (elder/ older) boy, who had one (shrunk/shrunken) leg and who lived in one of the (wooden/wooded) (neighbouring/ neighbourhood) houses.

Dick's father was always (drunk/ drunken), so the family lived in (needful/ needy) circumstances. Dick's mother was very (sensible/ sensitive), so when Tim went to the house, he often found her with her eyes (swelled/swollen) with tears. He used to try to comfort her in his (childish/childlike) way, but he could not be of any (effective/efficient) help to her, because his own family's (economic/ economical) position was not a very good one. His father worked for a (politic/ political) party, but he had no (official/ officious) position in it.

Part 2

There was a ring at my door late yesterday evening and when I opened it there was (an ashamed/a shamefaced) girl standing outside. She seemed (afraid/frightened) of something and not at all (confident/ confidential) that I would welcome her at that late hour. She had rosy cheeks, long (gold/golden) hair and a slim (graceful/gracious) figure. She had long (silk/ silken/ silky) eyelashes but her eyes looked (swelled/ swollen) as if she had been crying.

‘May I come in?" she said. Her voice was (silver/silvery) and, although she couldn’t have been less than 18 years old, there was something sweetly (childish/ childlike) about her when she spoke. I am very (sensible/ sensitive) to personality and I felt that this girl and I had very (alike/ similar) characters. She seemed to sense my (inner/inward) sympathy for her, and suddenly her (afraid/frightened) air disappeared and her control, which had only been (outer/outward), vanished. She became a very (alone/lonely) girl in need of comfort and reassurance. She told me that her father was (drunk/ drunken) and was threatening to kill her and her (ill/sick) (older/elder) sister. They had just moved into a hut on a (wooded/wooden) hill which was (neighbouring/ in our neighbourhood), and she knew nobody here. Their (former/previous) home had been a hundred miles away. I gathered that her father was (a worthless/ an unworthy) actor whose (drunk/ drunken) habits had led him to (economic/ economical) ruin and constant (sick/ ill) health. The girl's mother committed suicide because her (sensible/sensitive) soul could no longer stand the degradation of her lot.

I am a reasonably (imaginary/ imaginative) woman, and I shuddered as I contemplated that desperation that must have driven her to take her own life.

 

TASK 15. Use the words given in brackets in the right form. Give two variants if possible. Follow the example.

Example:On a clear moonless evening, the starts shine very (bright) – bright = brightly

Teachers like students who answer questions (bright) – brightly

1. Patrick bought his last car (dear), and sold it (cheap). – both

2. Simon had his new car repaired quite (cheap). – cheaply/cheap – both

3. The train always goes very (slow) along this part of the track. – both

4. I took a mouthful of mash and chewed it (slow). – slowly

5. Please, cut the next slice of cheese (thin). – both

6. I wish you wouldn't play this awful music so (loud). – both

7. I suddenly heard someone shouting (loud) for help. – loudly

8. For weeks two detectives watched the house (close). – closely

9. We came very (close) to an accident this time! – close

10. The pie was cut (clean) in two. – both

11. The sale of the house was completed very (clean) in about four days. – cleanly

12. Thank you for explaining the situation so (clear) – clearly

13. The outline of the castle could be seen (clear) against the sky. – both

TASK 16. Place the adverbs given in brackets in two different positions. For each sentence write a situation which explains the use of the adverb. Follow the example.

Example:He expressed his thanks. (naturally)

a) They were very kind to him. Naturally, he expressed his thanks.

b) He expressed his thanks naturally. They were impressed by his command of English.

1. The teacher thought the student was not intelligent. (obviously) – Obviously, the teacher thought the student was not intelligent. That is why he stopped asking him difficult questions./ The teacher thought the student was obviously not intelligent and wasn’t worth asking at all.

2. There were a few passengers on the bus on weekdays. (only) – There were only a few passengers on the bus on weekdays so I could get a seat. / There were a few passengers on the bus only on weekdays so I couldn’t get a seat..

3. The speaker had not argued his case at all. (clearly) – Clearly, the speaker had not argued his case at all. The speaker had not clearly argued his case at all.

4. I remember his being able to play football. (well) – I well remember his being able to play football, though he wasn’t very good at it. / I remember his being able to play football well, he even was a captain of our team once.

5. I don't want to put myself under an obligation to him by asking a favour. (particularly) – I don't particularly want to put myself under an obligation to him by asking a favour, maybe I will think of another way out. / I don't want to put myself under an obligation to him particularly by asking a favour. I prefer to turn to someone else.

6. Frank has decided to spend a few days in Austria on his way to Switzerland. (also) – Frank has also decided to spend a few days in Austria on his way to Switzerland though it will make his holiday longer. / Frank has decided to also spend a few days in Austria on his way to Switzerland and it will be the foreign third country he will visit.

7. Do you think you’ll have enough money at the end of the month to take a short holiday? (still) – Do you still think you’ll have enough money at the end of the month to take a short holiday? So you haven’t changed your mind, have you? / Do you think you’ll still have enough money at the end of the month to take a short holiday? You will not be extravagant, will you?

8. I should ask him what he meant by his statement. (personally) – Personally I should ask him what he meant by his statement. I don’t believe him. / I should ask him personally what he meant by his statement. I don’t want anyone to hear this.

9. Have you made up your mind about what you want to do when you leave university? (really) – Have you really made up your mind about what you want to do when you leave university? You are being serious this time./ Have you made up your mind about what you really want to do when you leave university? So it’s not some foolish idea this time.

10. He had the grace to admit that he was partly in the wrong. (at least) – At last he had the grace to admit that he was partly in the wrong. Before that he denied everything. / He had the grace to admit that he was at last partly in the wrong.

11. He will explain quite clearly what he intends to do. (in future) – In future he will explain quite clearly what he intends to do. That was a good lesson for him./ He will explain quite clearly what he intends to do in future. And we will know all his plans.

12. The student overheard the teacher saying that his last piece of homework was better. (distinctly) – The student distinctly (ясно) overheard the teacher saying that his last piece of homework was better. / The student overheard the teacher distinctly (недвусмысленно) saying that his last piece of homework was better.

 

TASK 17A. There are many adjectives formed from parts of the body. Complete each sentence with the appropriate word from the box. Note that the word ‘bloody’ is a frequently used and not very rude swear word. 

hairy               cheeky            bloody   leggy      handy

nosey     hearty             skinny   heady                       chesty

1. Hearty congratulations on your success!

2. The boy was so leggy that the coacher’s decision was made at once.

3. That sounds like a rather chesty cough you've got.

4. The shops are quite handy – only two minutes' walk.

5. No, you can't borrow my girlfriend for the evening! Don't be so cheeky!

6. It's nothing to do with you what we're doing tonight! Don't be so nosey!

7. She's so skinny that when she turns sideways, she's almost invisible!

8. Did you know he's got a hairy chest? Like a doormat, it is!

9. I reckon you'd have to be a bloody fool to want to learn this stupid language!

10. I feel quite heady after getting all those right. Or perhaps it's the champagne.

 

TASK 17B.Choose which adverbs can fill each gap. Two or three of them may be possible in each sentence.

1. a, b; 2. a, c; 3. a, b, d; 4. c, d; 5. a, c; 6. b, d.

 

TASK 18. Some common adjectives are formed from parts of the body. For example, heart gives us warm-hearted, kind-hearted, hard-hearted etc. Look at the list of similar compound adjectives below and guess what they mean. Then decide which of them can be used to complete sentences below.

left-handed double-breasted narrow-waisted cold-blooded big-headed pot-bellied red-faced round-shouldered sour-faced cross-eyed

knock-kneed slim-hipped light-fingered strong-willed bow-legged empty-handed dark-skinned fair-haired broad-minded right-footed

 

1. My boss is terribly knock-kneed walking around as if he were holding his salary cheque between his knees. His wife's quite the opposite – she is as bow-legged as if she had just got off a horse.

2. I used to wear double-breasted suits until I decided that one button was far more suitable for pot-bellied people such as myself.

3. My sister is so round-shouldered and narrow-waisted that she reminds me of one of those long thin wine bottles.

4. Olaf is Scandinavian, so he's fair-haired and slim-hipped, and looks far better in jeans than I do.

5. It looked as if Manchester United were going to return home empty-handed until Bradfield scored with an incredibly powerful right-footed shot from outside the penalty area.

6. Off we go on holiday with visions of returning dark-skinned and beautiful, forgetting that we always come back red-faced and with peeling backs.

7. Hoskins, if you go on staring at that magazine any longer, you'll go cross-eyed. Now either be strong-willed, dear boy, and put it away or give it to me until the end of the lesson.

8. My boss is so sour-faced always looking as if he knew tomorrow was going to be the end of the world. And his wife is so light-fingered that I have to keep a careful eye on my things when they come round to the house, or they just disappear.

9. Most left-handed tennis players seem to win more easily against right-handers. Talking of tennis players, aren't those professionals a big-headed bunch, shouting all the time about how great they are?

10. A lot of liberal broadminded people find it difficult to accept that there is such a thing as cold-blooded murder.

TASK 19. There are many clichés among adverb-adjective combinations. Find cliché Russian/ Ukrainian equivalents for the ones given below.

1. painfully slow – болезненно (мучительно) медленный

2. miserably paid – скудно-оплачиваемый

3. wildly excited – сильно возбужденный

4. nicely dressed – хорошо одетый

5. happily married – живущий в счастливом браке

6. bitterly disappointed – горько разочарованный

7. heavily indebted – сильно задолжавший

8. desperately unhappy – отчаянно несчастный

9. highly thought of – высоко ценимый

10. hugely successful – имеющий огромный успех

11. perfectly matched – идеально подходящий

12. ideally suited – идеально подходящий

13. discreetly placed – помещенный в укромное место

14. clumsily expressed – неуклюже выраженный

15. strategically timed – стратегически правильно рассчитанный по времени

16. fully automated – полностью автоматизированный

17. perfectly balanced – идеально сбалансированный

18. adequately prepared – адекватно подготовленный

19. seriously compromised – серьезно скомпрометированный

20. blissfully unaware – находящийся в счастливом неведении

21. mortally offended – смертельно обиженный

22. impeccably dressed – безупречно одетый

23. generously proportioned – хорошо сложенный

24. exceptionally gifted – исключительно талантливый (одаренный)

25. physically handicapped – физически неполноценный

26. formally educated – получивший формальное образование

27. officially approved – официально одобренный

28. diametrically opposed – диаметрально противоположный

29. terminally ill – смертельно больной

30. mortally wounded – смертельно раненый

31. chronically sick – хронически больной

32. indefinitely postponed – отложенный на неопределенное время

33. speedily dealt with – дело, рассмотренное в срочном порядке

34. improperly dressed – одетый несоответственно случаю

35. highly satisfactory –вполне удовлетворительный

36. hopelessly lost – безнадежно потеряный

37. deeply moved – глубоко тронутый

38. painfully obvious – болезненно очевидный

39. utterly exhausted – крайне измученный

40. criminally negligent – преступная халатность

 

TASK 20. There are a few adjectives in English that can go either before or after nouns but with a change of meaning according to their position. Choose the meaning that explains the underlined adjectives. Follow the example.

Example: This elect body meets once a year. (before the noun = 'specially chosen')

The president elect takes over in May. (after the noun = 'who has been elected')

Sentence

Meaning

1. The concerned doctor phoned for an ambulance. = b – worried 2. The doctor concerned is on holiday at the moment. = h – connected with this 3. It was a very involved question = d – complicated 4. The person involved has left the company. = h – connected with this 5. Present employees number 3,000. = f– now employed         6. The employees present should vote on this. = g – here now 7. It was a proper question. = a – correct 8. The question proper has not been answered. = i – itself 9. Janet is a responsible girl. = e – with a sense of duty 10. The girl responsible has been expelled. = c – who was blamed

j) correct k) worried l) who was blamed m) complicated n) with a sense of duty o) now employed p) here now q) connected with this (twice) r) itself

 

TASK 21. Fill each of the blanks with a suitable adjective from the box.

devoid   free certain   inclined liable     concerned filled      elect

1. Those concerned with the political implications of the new policy are very worried.

2. The outgoing President was accompanied by the President elect.

3. I'm inclined to think that it would be better to finish this later.

4. These buildings are liable/certain to collapse in a strong earthquake.

5. I was absolutely certain I'd left it on the table.

6. The landscape was completely devoid of any sign of human habitation.

7. Please feel free to use the phone if you need to.

8. The ex–prisoner is filled with remorse for what he has done.

TASK 22. Choosesuitable adjectives that can fill each gap. Sometimes more than one option is possible.

1. The __________ child was comforted by his aunt.

a) sick        b) afraid          c) frightened    d) ill

2. They had __________ stories about their travels through India.

a) unlikely b) countless              c) untruth        d) plentiful

3. A speedy solution is __________.

a) main       b) principal              c) chief            d) crucial

4. He was taken __________ by the ferocity of the criticism.

a) back       b) unawares    c) surprised              d) unaccustomed

5. The __________ train is almost never on time.

a) last         b) late             c) early            d) stopping

6. This is __________ reward for twenty years of loyal service.

a) due         b) scant           c) meagre [mi:g]       d) proper

 

TASK 23. Use the correct particle, conjunction or preposition after adjectives. Choose from the box below and repeat as many times as you need.

that        to           with       at of on          for in by

1. I am relieved to see that they are pleased with their accommodation. It seems entirely compatible with their wishes.

2. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I feel extremely ashamed of my fellow-countrymen on occasions such as this, particularly when they seem utterly devoid of any manners at all.

3. I'm afraid to speak to her about this because I'm frightened of upsetting her.

4. It is probable that he will prove to be the most likely person for the job and the one most likely to do it properly.

5. I am aware of your deficiencies and the areas you are lacking practice in just as I am aware that you share these weaknesses with many others.

6. I know he's very sure of himself and is intent on proving he can pass, but we are not convinced that his success can be taken for granted.

7. I was interested to read that many fans had expressed amazement at the result. Isn't it amazing that so many people take an interest in such obscure sports?

8. I know I should be ashamed to admit that I am saddened by young Paula's being written out of my favourite soap. It's a pretty awful thing to have to admit, but I really am upset that she's leaving.

***TASK 24. Use the best suitable word in each gap.

1. I went to the conference but for most of the time I felt like (1) a fish out of water. I knew nobody there and everyone else behaved as (2) if they had all known each other for years. I left just as (3) soon as I could and arrived home earlier/sooner (4) than planned.

2. I've always preferred classical music to (1) pop music. I'd much rather (2) listen to a forty-five-minute symphony than (3) a three-minute song. Pop songs seem so much (4) less interesting, harmonically and melodically, and the insistent, repetitive drumming is about as (5) much fun as (6) banging your head against a wall.

3. My father was a jack of all trades in those days, as were (1) all village school headmasters: digging holes for swimming pools like (2) a full-time labourer, marking out athletics tracks in the manner of (3) a professional, teaching arithmetic to the top class in such(4) time as he had free. The more (5) he did, the more was expected of him by the village community, as if he should devote (6) every waking hour to the well-being of his pupils. And he did. Nowadays one hears people talk of headmasters as if they were (7) accountants, balancing their books/accounts (8) as efficiently as (9) they can. I think I'd rather (10) have been a headmaster in the old days.

***TASK 25. Revision: adjectives and adverbs. Use the best suitable word in each gap.

Whether or not we are alone (1) in the universe is a question that has vexed humankind for centuries. But we are lucky/fortunate (2) to live in an era when the technology exists to allow us to come close/near (3) to giving an answer. Up to now, not (4) only was a belief in the existence of extraterrestrial life often based (5) on personal rather than religious conviction, it (6) was perhaps as (7) much based on faith. But scientifically the possibility cannot be discounted and, perhaps more than (8) at any other time in history, the subject is no longer liable to (9) be dismissed as a crank's discipline. For example, can we estimate the number of civilisations within our own Milky Way galaxy? These days scientists believe that in some way/ways/respect (10) they now have a not inconsiderable/insignificant (11) knowledge of the factors involved in producing such civilisations. The rate of formation of suitable stars – that is, ones like (12) Earth which are hot enough (13) to sustain life and live long enough to allow life to evolve – is a good/reasonable (14) starting point. Astronomers are confident that (15) they can assess this rate of formation at about (16) one star per year. However, these stars also need to have habitable planets. Only (17) in the last five years have scientists found evidence that at least some stars (other than our own star, the sun) have planetary systems. Broadly speaking (18), perhaps one in ten stars have planets orbiting them. But we also require that these planets are warm enough to have liquid water, a basic component integral to (19) life on Earth and presumably life elsewhere, and are not lacking in (20) an atmosphere that can both provide protection and sustenance to developing life.

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