1. Match the sentence halves.
1) It was such a far-
2) We’re taking a much-
3) uncle used to be a highly
4) She’s so single-
5) Your actions could have far-
6) The film is a light-
7) Being absent-
8) She made a half-
a hearted look at the world of fashion.
b needed break in the country next weekend.
c reaching consequences for all of us.
d minded, I often forget things.
e fetched story that no one believed him.
f hearted effort, but wasn’t really trying.
g trained athlete many years ago.
h minded that you won’t change her decision.
Show answers
1) e 2) b 3) g 4) h 5) c 6) a 7 d 8) f
2. Complete the sentences with the words below.
breath high mouth old second thought time
1) We had a ____________taking view from the top of the mountain.
2) This phone is considered very ____________-fashioned nowadays.
3) I’d never eaten such ____________-watering dishes before I visited Thailand.
4) Last night’s TV fashion documentary was informative and ____________-provoking.
5) If you don’t like ____________-spirited dogs, I don’t recommend this breed.
6) Despite all the ____________-saving devices I own, I always seem to be busy!
7) Most people own ____________-hand cars as new ones are so expensive.
Show answers
1) breath 2) old 3) mouth 4) thought 5) high
6) time 7) second
3. Complete the sentences with a compound adjective formed from the word in brackets.
1) It may be an interesting article, but it’s not very ____________ (write).
2) If Zoe’s as ____________ (look) as her sister, she must be really beautiful!
3) Isn’t that man sitting opposite a ____________ (known) singer?
4) This job’s only suitable for people from ____________ (speak) countries such as the UK or Australia.
5) Japan is a very ____________ (populated) country.
6) Travelling into space must be a ____________ (blow) experience!
7) I’m always ____________ (eye) until I’ve had some coffee.
Show answers
1) well written 2) good-looking 3) well-known
4) English-speaking 5) densely populated
6) mind-blowing 7) bleary-eyed
4. Choose the correct options (a-c) to complete the text below.
It may be surprising, but scientists still have no 1) ___ explanation for why we dream. There are plenty of 2) ___ facts about dreams, but little agreement about their purpose. Many 3) ___ scientists think that dreams allow a 4) ___ opportunity for the brain to clear its ‘hard disk’ while we sleep. Others are more interested in the meaning of dreams, and although it may seem 5) ___, some people are said to have predicted the future while dreaming. There is much that is 6) ___ about dreams, so when you next wake up 7) ___ from a good night’s sleep, why not try writing down your dreams as soon as you wake up? Because apparently, 95% of what you dream is forgotten before you get out of bed!
1) a single-minded
b straightforward
c far-reaching
2) a well-known
b good-looking
c well-written
3) a mind-blowing
b highly respected
c badly paid
4) a time-saving
b second-hand
c much-needed
5) a far-fetched
b half-hearted
c high-spirited
6) a upcoming
b thought-provoking
c old-fashioned
7) a light-hearted
b bleary-eyed
c absent-minded
Show answers
1) b 2) a 3) b 4) c 5) a 6) b 7) b
VOCAB BOOST!
Not all compound adjectives, especially those formed from adverb + past participle, appear in a dictionary because they are formed from other words. You should be able to work out the meaning of most of them from the words which form them. For example, a highly paid person is someone who is paid a lot of money.
5. Read the Vocab boost! box. Then complete the second part of each sentence with an explanation. Try not to repeat the words from the compound adjective.
1) A short-sighted person is someone _________
2) A cold-blooded animal is an animal _________
3) A last-minute decision is a decision _________
4) A world-famous tourist attraction is one _________
5) A well-behaved child is a child _________
6) A deeply rooted tradition is a tradition _________
7) An open-minded person is someone _________
Show answers
(Possible answers)
1) who can’t see well
2) whose body temperature is affected by the temperature of the air / water
3) made at the latest possible time
4) which is known by people all over the world
5) who has good behaviour
6) whose origins go back a very long time
7) who doesn’t judge other people
Extra exercises
1. Complete the sentences with compound adjectives formed from the words in brackets.
1) The film was more than a little ________ It was completely unbelievable! (fetch)
2) I’ve just read a rather ____________ article. I’ll send it to you, if you like. (provoke)
3) Max is still a bit ____________ because he’s only just got up. (eye)
4) The size of the new stadium is ________ It’s absolutely huge! (blow)
5) Once again, Usain Bolt has given another ____________ performance in the 100 metres. (break)
6) There are so many ____________ desserts on the menu. I don’t know which one to choose! (water)
Show answers
1 f ar-fetched 2) thought-provoking 3) bleary-eyed
4) mind-blowing 5) record-breaking 6) mouth-watering
2. Match the words below with the definitions (1-6).
diet dish flavour leftovers portion slice
1) Food that remains at the end of a meal. ____________
2) How food or drink tastes. ____________
3) A thin piece of food that is cut off a larger portion. ____________
4) Food served as part of a meal. ____________
5) The food that you eat and drink regularly. ____________
6) An amount of food that is given to one person. ____________
Show answers
1) leftovers 2) flavour 3) slice 4) dish 5) diet
6) portion
3. Choose the correct answers (a-c).
1) The doctor says I’ve got a throat infection, so he’s prescribing ____
a antibiotics
b antihistamines
c antiseptic creams
2) Why don’t you take ____ if you’ve got heartburn?
a a painkiller
b an antacid
c an anti-inflammatory
3) The best thing for itchy insect sting is ____
a antibiotics
b painkillers
c antihistamines
4) sprained ankle is rather swollen, so I’m taking ____
a antacids
b anti-inflammatories
c antibiotics
5) Alex is taking ____ to stop his fractured leg from hurting so much.
a painkillers
b antihistamines
c antacids
Show answers
1) a 2) b 3) c 4) b 5) a
4. Complete the sentences asking for clarification.
1) Would you ____________ saying that again?
2) Is that something ____________ lasagne?
3) What do you ____________ by ‘far-reaching’?
4) I’m afraid I didn’t quite ____________ that.
5) Is that the same ____________ wholegrain?
6) Sorry, do you think you could ____________ that, please?
Show answers
1) mind 2) like 3) mean 4) catch 5) as 6) repeat
