Key word transformations
Reading a book is nowhere near as gripping as watching a film.
Reading a book _______________________ watching a film. [LIKE]
Reading a book is nothing like as gripping as watching a film.
happy
over the moon, on cloud nine
... a decision
make / reach / arrive at
As a part of the New York artistic scene, the hotel is [PLACE].
irreplaceable
a people person, to keep yourself to yourself, set in one’s ways
Example: My husband tends to keep himself to himself and is quite set in his ways, while I'm more like a people person.
She has four sisters and they are all single.
She has four sisters, ____________ married. [WHOM]
She has four sisters, none of whom is married.
unusual
unconventional, offbeat, outlandish
go ...
badly / far / insane etc.
Its [ACTIVE] new managers soon got ti up and running again and, in the post-war era, its fame grew.
proactive
in the groove, risk-averse, go through a rough patch
Example: Having gone through a rough patch, I now agree that risk-averse entrepreneurs can't be in the groove.
He lost his job because he kept breaking the rules.
The __________ he kept breaking the rules. [THAT]
The reason he lost his job was that he kept breaking the rules.
expert
adept, maven, old hand at sth
... a step
take / make
There are [NUMBER] contrasts between these two regions.
numerous
learn the ropes, find your feet, grind oneself down
Example: You have to learn the ropes and grind yourself down before find your feet when you start a new job.
I'd appreciate it if all my students did their homework.
I____________________________ their homework.
RATHER
I'd rather all my students did their homework.
What's the news?
What's the scoop?
... interest
financial / increasing / vested
[APPEAR] he's had enough of England and is going back to Australia.
apparently
find oneself at a crossroads, have second thoughts, turn a blind eye to smth
Example: When I found myself at a crossroads, it was difficult to reach a decision and when I did, I started having second thoughts about it, but turned a blind eye to it, although I usually go with my gut feeling.
I finished the English course and right after that I received a job offer from an international company.
_______________________________________ I received a job offer from an international company. [SOONER]
No sooner had I finished the English course than I received a job offer from an international company.
indulge
pamper, mollycoddle
... your comfort zone
step out of / leave / remain in
Where he found [ADIMISTRATION] it was mostly of a minor nature and not due to improper motives.
maladministration
a beacon of hope, plead guilty, wrongful conviction
Example: N. is a beacon of hope for me, because he was charged with a crime he didn't commit, so he appealed against this wrongful conviction and never pleaded guilty, although it was in vain