Vocabulary 1
Exam strategies & Skills
Vocabulary 2
Advanced Collocations
Strategies & skills 2
100

The mountains, with peaks of _______ 6,000 meters, stop the clouds from reaching the valleys.
A) high B) over C) up D) above

B) over

100

In the phrase “heart-stopping goal”, what is the meaning of heart-stopping?

Eliminate distractors by focusing on exact wording and tone; choose the one fully supported by the text.

100

After years of research, the scientists finally _______ a breakthrough.
A) made B) did C) took D) had

A) made

100

The new law was introduced to _______ growing public discontent.
A) satisfy B) silence C) suppress D) placate

D) placate

100

When you encounter a reading question where all four options seem correct, what’s the best high-level strategy to identify the right answer?

Focus on precision and scope — eliminate options that are too broad, too absolute, or not fully supported by the text.
Then, match tone and implication, not just meaning: the correct answer will mirror the writer’s exact attitude or degree of certainty, not simply the general idea.

200

People who live in remote areas are often described as _______ populated.
A) lightly B) loosely C) slightly D) sparsely

D) sparsely

200

When encountering an unknown word, what should you do first?

Use context clues — look at the surrounding sentence for definition, examples, or contrasts.

200

Although the figures look impressive, they should be interpreted with _______.
A) doubt B) care C) caution D) hesitation

C) caution

200

His argument doesn’t _______ scrutiny once you examine the data.
A) resist B) hold up to   C) bear D) undergo

B) hold up to

200

When two answers express similar ideas, what should guide your choice?

Choose the one that matches the text’s tone, scope, and certainty most precisely — not just the one that paraphrases the sentence.

At C1–C2, wrong options often sound “true” but exaggerate, simplify, or generalize the original statement.

300

She was deeply _______ by the news that her friend had moved abroad.
A) touched B) felt C) sensed D) noticed

A) touched

300

What’s the best approach to “inference” questions in Linguaskill reading?

Look for implicit meaning — what the writer suggests, not states. Don’t add outside knowledge.

300

Her explanation was so _______ that everyone immediately understood.
A) clear B) clarifying C) clarified D) lucid

A) clear

300

The minister’s statement only served to _______ the confusion.
A) heighten B) amplify C)   exacerbate D) reinforce

C) exacerbate

300

What’s the best use of the few seconds before a recording starts?

Predict vocabulary, topic, and tone from the question or prompt so your brain is ready to recognize synonyms and paraphrases during the audio.

Preparation activates relevant lexical fields and increases processing speed.

400

The company’s rapid growth was _______ by a rise in international demand.
A) driven B) motivated C) caused D) made

A) driven

400

In listening tasks, what’s an effective strategy when the audio moves quickly?

Predict possible answers from question stems, listen for paraphrased ideas, not exact words.

400

The film received _______ reviews despite its modest budget.
A) overwhelming B) excessive C) overdone D) extreme

A) overwhelming

400

The company’s reputation has been severely _______ by the scandal.
A)  touched B) tainted C) tinted D) shadowed

B) tainted

400

What’s the key to a high-level writing tone in Linguaskill?

Adjust formality and structure based on the reader:

  • Use complex yet clear sentences.

  • Avoid clichés or contractions in formal writing.

  • Prioritize clarity + tone consistency over fancy vocabulary.

  • Advanced writing shows control, not just range.

500

In the phrase “heart-stopping goal”, what is the meaning of heart-stopping?

It is a metaphor
Not literal meaning

500

In vocabulary gap-fill tasks, what’s the key to choosing between near-synonyms (e.g., make vs do)?

Check collocation and context function (e.g., make progress, do research). Memorize typical word partners.

500

The manager spoke in such a _______ tone that nobody dared to disagree.

A) commanding B) demanded C) boss D) dominant

D) dominant

500

The report was written in deliberately _______ terms to avoid offense.
A) obscure    B) ambivalent C) evasive D) ambiguous 

D) ambiguous

500

When answering open questions, what technique prevents short answers?

Use the PEEL method — Point, Explain, Example, Link.
Give your idea, develop it briefly, support it, and connect it back to the topic. This shows fluency and discourse organization — key to C-level speaking.