synonyms_and_antonyms_1

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ROSALIND FERGUSSON
Synonyms 
and 
Antonyms
1
VOCABULARY
Kate and Sue hav
e bunk beds in th
eir 
bedroom. Kate sle
eps on the top bu
nk and 
Sue sleeps below 
her.
They have a ches
t of 
drawers with a m
irror over 
it. The drawers a
re full of 
toys.
There is also a ta
ble where they 
do their writing a
nd drawing. They
 
sometimes stick t
heir pictures on t
he 
wall above the ta
ble.
Although she is y
ounger than 
her sister, Sue is 
much better 
at drawing than K
ate is. Most of 
Kate’s pictures en
d up in the bin 
under the table.
Synonyms 
and 
Antonyms
1
VOCABULARY
ROSALIND FERGUSSON
© 2015 Acel Learning (S) Pte. Ltd.
First published 2015 by Acel Learning (S) Pte. Ltd.
18 Sin Ming Lane, #03-08, Midview City, Singapore 573960
Email: general@acel.com.sg
All rights reserved. No part of this book shall be reproduced, or transmitted 
by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, 
recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without 
written permission from the publisher.
ISBN 978 981 09 4087 4
mailto:general@acel.com.sg
3
Preface
3
Synonyms and Antonyms is a series of books that 
examines words with similar or opposite meanings. There 
are fifty units in each book, and each unit deals with two 
or more words. The simplest of these comprise a word and 
its antonym (e.g. day / night). Sometimes a word has two 
antonyms (e.g. loud / soft, quiet) or a synonym and an 
antonym (e.g. rich, wealthy / poor). Sometimes there are 
four or more words altogether (e.g. right, correct / wrong, 
incorrect). A few entries consist only of synonyms (e.g. 
kind, sort, type). 
Each unit begins with a short passage illustrated by four 
pictures with captions, which show the synonyms and 
antonyms in use. A section entitled What do they mean? 
examines the words in groups of synonyms or antonyms, 
with short definitions and example sentences. Where the 
members of the group differ slightly in meaning or usage, 
these differences are explained. (For example, the word kid 
is less formal than child.)
The unit ends with exercises for self-assessment. Answers 
to all the questions are supplied at the end of the book.
As they work through the books, students will learn (or be 
reminded of) the kinds of synonyms and antonyms that can 
make their writing more interesting and give cohesion to 
their texts.
4
Contents
Preface 3
 1 above, over / below, under 6
 2 adult, grown-up / child, kid 8
 3 after / before 10
 4 ahead, in front / behind 12
 5 always / never 14
 6 asleep, sleeping / awake 16
 7 bad, poor / good, excellent 18
 8 beautiful, pretty, attractive / ugly, unattractive 20
 9 begin, start / end, finish 22
10 best / worst 24
11 big, large / little, small 26
12 borrow / lend 28
13 bottom, base, foot / top 30
14 buy, purchase / sell 32
15 cheap, inexpensive / expensive, dear 34
16 close, shut / open 36
17 cry, weep, sob / laugh 38
18 day / night 40
19 easy, simple / hard, difficult 42
20 empty / full 44
21 fast, quickly / slowly 46
22 few / many 48
23 float / sink 50
24 foolish, silly, stupid / wise, sensible 52
55
25 forget / remember, recall 54
26 friend / enemy 56
27 from / to 58
28 front / back, rear 60
29 go, leave / return 62
30 happy, cheerful, joyful / sad, unhappy, upset 64
31 hard, firm, solid / soft 66
32 heavy / light 68
33 here / there 70
34 high, tall / low, short 72
35 kind, sort, type 74
36 left / right 76
37 loud / soft, quiet 78
38 neat, tidy / untidy, messy 80
39 new / old 82
40 rich, wealthy / poor 84
41 right, correct / wrong, incorrect 86
42 rise / fall, drop 88
43 sit / stand 90
44 sleep / wake 92
45 thick / thin, fine 94
46 true / false, untrue 96
47 wet, damp, moist / dry 98
48 wide, broad / narrow 100
49 win / lose 102
50 young / old, elderly 104 
Answers 106
above, over / 
below, under
1
6
Kate and Sue have bunk beds in their 
bedroom. Kate sleeps on the top bunk and 
Sue sleeps below her.
They have a chest of drawers 
with a mirror over it. The 
drawers are full of toys.
There is also a table where they 
do their writing and drawing. They 
sometimes stick their pictures on the 
wall above the table.
Although she is younger than 
her sister, Sue is much better 
at drawing than Kate is. Most of 
Kate’s pictures end up in the bin 
under the table.
7
What do they mean?
The prepositions above and over are synonyms. You use them to 
talk about something that is higher than something else.
• The branches above us sheltered us from the rain.
• A large bird flew over the house.
The prepositions below and under are synonyms. You use them to 
talk about something that is lower than something else.
• Carol found the missing book under her bed.
• Joe wrote his name below the picture.
The words above and over are antonyms of below and under. They 
are opposite in meaning.
• Mr Brown lives in the apartment above ours and Mr Green lives 
in the apartment below ours.
Try it!
A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 There is a shelf above the fireplace.
 
2 The crab was hiding under a rock. 
 
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 wakes 
2 empty 
3 bottom 
4 worse 
8
adult, grown-up / 
child, kid 
2
My aunt, uncle and cousin were staying 
with us for the weekend. On Saturday, 
it rained and my father suggested 
going to the art gallery.
My cousin was not very keen. 
‘Art galleries are for grown-
ups,’ he said. ‘There’s nothing 
interesting for kids there.’
I told him that ours was different. 
They have a special room where 
children can paint and make models 
while the adults walk around the 
gallery.
He soon discovered that I was 
right. By the end of the afternoon, 
he was having so much fun that 
he did not want to go back to the 
house.
9
What do they mean?
The nouns adult and grown-up are synonyms. They refer to men 
and women, rather than boys or girls. The word grown-up is mainly 
used in informal spoken language.
• Ask an adult to help you if you cannot do this on your own.
• I could not see over the heads of the grown-ups in front of me.
The nouns child and kid are synonyms. They refer to boys and 
girls, rather than men and women. The word kid is mainly used in 
informal spoken language.
• The child was skipping happily along the path.
• One of the older kids jumped into the pool and splashed 
everyone.
The words adult and grown-up are antonyms of child and kid. 
They are opposite in meaning.
• Children should not sit down while adults are standing on a 
busy train.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 A child on a bike knocked Grandma down in the street.
 
2 The grown-ups in this picture are my great-grandparents.
 
3 There are half-price tickets for kids.
 
4 The adults were talking about the election.
 
10
after / before
3
Kate is a talented pianist. She practises 
for an hour every day before school.
When she gets home from 
school, she does her homework. 
Then, after dinner, she plays the 
piano for another hour.
Kate loves to perform at concerts. 
She always feels a bit nervous 
before she begins to play.
After the performance is over, she 
feels happy and proud. She is hoping 
for a career in music when she 
grows up.
11
What do they mean?
The word after is a connector. You put it in front of something that 
happens earlier than something else.
• Tom had a shower after he returned from the gym.
• Grandma felt much better after the operation.
The word before is a connector. You put it in front of something that 
happens later than something else.
• Please switch off the TV before you leave the room.
• The word ‘cat’ comes before the word ‘catch’ in a dictionary.
The words after and beforeare antonyms. 
• I brush my teeth after breakfast and before I go to bed.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with before or after, using each word twice. 
1 We went for a walk it stopped raining.
2 I’ll lend you the book I have finished reading it.
3 Mary washed her hands she ate her lunch.
4 Take off your muddy shoes you come into the house.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 hates 
2 calm 
3 never 
4 ashamed 
12
ahead, in front / behind 
4
Four boys were racing around the 
track. Paul, the fastest runner in the 
school, was ahead at the end of the 
first lap.
Jack managed to catch up with 
him on the second lap. The other 
two boys were a long way behind.
For much of the third and final lap, 
Paul and Jack were running side by 
side. Then Jack made a bit more 
effort and managed to cross the line 
in front.
Paul was upset that he had not won 
the race. However, he shook hands 
with Jack and congratulated him.
13
What do they mean?
The adverbs ahead and in front are synonyms. They are both used 
to talk about being further on than someone or something else.
• The road ahead was blocked by a fallen tree.
• Sally walked in front because she knew the way.
The adverb behind is an antonym of ahead and in front.
• Tom went ahead to buy the tickets and we followed behind.
• There were three empty seats on the row in front and one on 
the row behind.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 The sign (ahead / behind ) tells drivers to stop at the junction.
2 I turned round to look at the view (in front / behind ).
3 The band marched (in front / behind ), followed by the rest of the 
procession.
4 The maid of honour walks (ahead / behind ), holding the train of the 
bride’s dress.
5 One of the men ran (ahead / behind ) to open the gates for the president’s 
car.
6 The woman (in front / behind ) was wearing a large hat that blocked 
my view.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 fastest 
2 more 
3 upset 
4 won 
14
always / never
5
Mr and Mrs Green always spend their 
holidays at the same seaside resort, 
Dragon Bay. It is only about fifty 
kilometres from their home.
They have never been abroad, 
and they do not want to go. 
They see no point in travelling 
long distances when there are 
so many nice places in their own 
country.
There is plenty to do in Dragon Bay, 
whatever the weather. And there 
are always new people to meet in 
the hotel where they stay.
They are never bored. As they leave 
at the end of their holiday, they are 
already planning what they will do 
on their next visit.
15
What do they mean?
You use the adverb always to talk about something that happens all 
the time or every time.
• Jane is always ready to help other people.
• Grandpa always sends me a birthday card.
You use the adverb never to talk about something that does not 
happen or something that you do not do.
• It never snows in this country.
• I never make any spelling mistakes.
The words always and never are antonyms. They are opposite in 
meaning.
• Dad always locks the car when he gets out – he never leaves it 
unlocked.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with always or never, using each word twice. 
1 I have been to Australia.
2 Jane is very good at chess and beats me. 
3 It rains when we have a barbecue so we have to bring the 
food indoors. 
4 Peter is a lazy boy who helps his mother with the housework. 
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a 
synonym for each one?
1 about 
2 nice 
3 plenty 
4 leave 
16
asleep, sleeping / awake
6
Tom and Sue were very tired. They 
wanted to go to bed but their baby 
son was still awake.
Sue sang him a lullaby. When she 
had finished, his eyes were still wide 
open.
Tom picked his son up and carried 
him around the garden, rocking him 
gently. ‘I think he’s asleep at last,’ 
he told Sue when he returned to 
the house.
Together, they carefully laid the 
sleeping baby in his cot. As they 
tiptoed out of the room, however, he 
woke up and began to cry.
17
What do they mean?
The adjectives asleep and sleeping are synonyms. They both 
describe people or animals that are resting with their eyes closed 
and are not aware of what is happening around them. You cannot 
put asleep before the noun it describes.
• Most people dream while they are asleep.
• A sleeping dog lay in front of the door.
The adjective awake is an antonym of asleep and sleeping. You 
cannot put awake before the noun it describes.
• Jane did not lie awake for long – she was soon asleep.
• My sleeping brother began to snore, which kept me awake.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with asleep, sleeping or awake. You will have 
to use one of the words twice. 
1 Sue lay , worrying about her exam the next day.
2 The soldier tried not to wake his companions. 
3 Grandpa was in his favourite armchair. 
4 The film was so boring that I found it hard to stay . 
B Here are some other words and phrases from the passage. Can 
you think of an antonym for each one? 
1 finished 
2 up 
3 gently 
4 out of 
18
bad, poor / 
good, excellent
7
At our school we earn points for 
work and effort. The students with 
the most points at the end of the 
year win prizes.
An excellent piece of work is 
rewarded with three points. The 
points are marked with stars on a 
chart in the classroom.
Students who try particularly 
hard also receive points, even if 
their work is poor. After all, no 
one is good at everything.
However, if your work is bad because 
you have not made any effort, you 
get no points. And if you misbehave in 
class, you may have points taken away 
from you.
19
What do they mean?
The adjectives bad and poor are synonyms. They both describe 
something that is of a low standard or quality.
• The woman who played the heroine is a bad actress.
• James has suffered from poor health since he was a boy.
The adjectives good and excellent are synonyms. They both 
describe something that is of a high standard or quality. Excellent 
means ‘very good’.
• I saw a good film on TV yesterday.
• The food at this restaurant is excellent.
The words bad and poor are antonyms of good and excellent. 
They are opposite in meaning.
• A good essay can be spoilt by poor handwriting and spelling.
Try it!
A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words and 
phrases with synonyms.
1 We had poor weather for our school trip.
 
2 The team lost the match because of Michael’s bad performance.
 
3 Anna came up with a very good idea.
 
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 fewest 2 lose 
3 punished 4 nothing 
beautiful, pretty, attractive / 
ugly, unattractive
8
20
Middleton was the largest town 
on the island. There were some 
beautiful old buildings in the main 
square.
In the centre of the square, there 
was an attractive garden. People 
liked to sit there, admiring the 
pretty flowers.
The town council decided to put a statue 
in the garden. It was designed by a 
famous artist, but most of the residents 
found it very unattractive.
They all signed a letter of 
protest and sent it to the 
council. The ugly statue was 
moved to the courtyard behind 
the town hall, where it was 
hidden from public view.
beautiful, pretty, attractive / 
ugly, unattractive
21
What do they mean?
The adjectives beautiful, pretty and attractive are synonyms. 
They all describe someone or something that is nice to look at. You 
do not use beautiful or pretty, however, to describe a man or boy.
• There are some beautiful paintings in the art gallery.
• The bridesmaids were wearing pretty pink dresses.
• The book has an attractive cover.
The adjectives ugly and unattractive are synonyms. They both 
describe something that is unpleasantto look at.
• An ugly old witch put a spell on the prince.
• My aunt gave me a rather unattractive ornament for my birthday.
The words beautiful, pretty and attractive are antonyms of ugly 
and unattractive. 
• This ugly little caterpillar will turn into a beautiful butterfly.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 Some people think the building is ugly, but I like it.
 
2 This plant has attractive red flowers that smell lovely.
 
3 Tom thought the girls didn’t like him because he was unattractive.
 
4 Sally would look prettier if she had a nicer hairstyle.
 
22
begin, start / end, finish
9
There was a terrible storm on 
Saturday. It began at about 
nine o’clock in the morning.
We had just finished our 
breakfast and were tidying up 
the kitchen. The sky outside 
looked very dark.
The storm started with a bright 
flash of lightning. This was 
followed by a loud crash of 
thunder.
Then came several hours of heavy rain 
and strong wind. I thought the storm 
would never end but it finally did, just 
before bedtime.
23
What do they mean?
The verbs begin and start are synonyms. They both refer to doing 
the first part of something.
• The baby began to cry.
• I have not started writing my essay yet.
The verbs end and finish are synonyms. They both refer to doing 
the last part of something.
• The war ended in 1945.
• Please switch off the computer when you have finished using it.
The words begin and start are antonyms of end and finish. 
• The concert starts at 7.30 and finishes at 9.30.
Try it!
A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 Mary started to feel worried.
 
2 The show ended with a very lively piece of music.
 
3 Paul has just begun working at the bank.
 
4 You must go to bed as soon as the programme finishes. 
 
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 inside 2 light 
3 quiet 4 after 
24
best / worst 
10
Anna’s ballet teacher told the class 
about a ballet competition. The three 
students who danced best would 
have the opportunity to train with a 
professional company.
Anna was not the best dancer in 
the class, but she was not the 
worst, either. She decided to 
enter the competition.
On the big day, however, 
everything went wrong. First, she 
fell down the stairs, hurting her 
ankle. Then, she tore her ballet 
dress as she was putting it on.
As a result, she gave the worst 
performance of all the dancers and 
received the lowest number of points. 
She was very upset and embarrassed.
25
What do they mean?
The word best means ‘most good’ or ‘most well’. You can use it as an 
adjective, an adverb or a noun.
• Tom is the best player in the team.
• The polish works best if you put it on with a soft cloth.
• Grandma’s chocolate cake is the best in the world!
The word worst means ‘least good’ or ‘least well’. You can use it as 
an adjective, an adverb or a noun.
• What is the worst thing that can happen?
• Jack did not do well in any of his exams, but he did worst in the 
maths exam.
• The police said that the accident was the worst they had ever seen.
The words best and worst are antonyms. They are opposite in 
meaning.
• Joe thinks this is the author’s best book but I think it is the worst.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with best or worst, using each word twice. 
1 Dad wore his suit for the wedding.
2 We usually have our weather in November. It rains almost 
every day.
3 I felt proud when the teacher said that my essay was the .
4 The traffic is in the morning, when many people are travelling 
to work.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words?
1 contest 2 chance 
3 ripped 4 unhappy 
big, large / little, small 
11
Anna felt sorry for her goldfish. It 
seemed bored and lonely, swimming 
round and round its little bowl all day.
She thought it would be happier 
in a big pond with other fish. She 
asked her father if he could dig 
one in the garden.
‘Our garden is too small for a 
pond,’ replied her father. ‘However, 
there is another way to solve the 
problem.’
He took Anna to a pet shop, where 
they bought a large glass tank and 
some more fish. Soon her goldfish was 
swimming happily in its new home with 
its new friends.
26
27
What do they mean?
The adjectives big and large are synonyms. They both describe 
something that takes up a lot of space.
• These shoes are too big for me.
• The school hall is a large room at the front of the building.
The adjectives little and small are synonyms. They both describe 
something that does not take up much space.
• The little lamb ran back to its mother.
• The teacher stuck a small gold star at the end of Jane’s essay.
The words big and large are antonyms of little and small. 
• China is a big country and Singapore is a small country.
Try it!
A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 There was a big round rug in the middle of the floor.
 
2 The field was full of small white flowers.
 
3 Mum put a large bowl of rice on the table.
 
4 The tyre went flat because there was a little hole in it. 
 
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 bored 2 replied 
3 bought 4 happily 
borrow / lend
12
Sue could not afford to buy a car. 
She borrowed her father’s when she 
needed to drive somewhere.
This was not always convenient. 
Her father lent her some money 
to buy a car of her own.
It took Sue a long time to save 
enough to pay him back. She did 
not earn much in her job as a 
waitress.
However, she was finally able to give 
her father the money he had lent her. 
He was pleased and surprised.
28
29
What do they mean?
To borrow is to take something from someone and give it back later. 
• Please may I borrow your calculator?
• My parents borrowed some money from the bank to buy a new 
house.
To lend is to give something to someone and get it back later. 
• Our neighbour lent Dad some tools to fix the car.
• I’ll lend you my umbrella so that you don’t get wet.
The verbs borrow and lend are antonyms. They are opposite in 
meaning.
• You cannot borrow my camera because I have lent it to my sister.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. 
borrow borrowed lend lent
1 Jane my dictionary and forgot to give it back.
2 Tom wouldn’t me his bike so I had to walk.
3 Mary lost the book that the teacher had her.
4 If you need a ruler, you can mine.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 save 
2 much 
3 able 
4 pleased 
bottom, base, foot / top 
13
Tom and Jack were exploring the beach 
at the foot of a high cliff. They were 
collecting interesting stones and shells.
Jack spotted a cave so they went 
inside. The bottom of the cave 
was slippery and Tom fell over, 
injuring his ankle.
He managed to limp out of the 
cave, but he could not walk very 
far. To make matters worse, the 
tide was coming in – they would 
soon be trapped.
Fortunately, Jack had a mobile phone, 
so he could call for help. A rescue 
team arrived at the top of the cliff 
and two men climbed down on ropes to 
save the boys.
30
31
What do they mean?
The nouns bottom, foot and base are synonyms. They all refer to 
the lowest part of something.
• The ship sank to the bottom of the sea.
• The page number is at the foot of the page.
• The heavy base of the statue prevents it from falling over.
The noun top is an antonym of bottom, foot and base. It refers to 
the highest part of something. 
• Joe fell from the top of the stairs all the way down to the bottom.
• Write your address at the top of the letter and your name at the foot.
• The base of the cupboard does not have a shiny surface like the top.
Try it!A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 There was a hole in the (top / bottom) of the bag.
2 Mum spread melted chocolate over the (top / bottom) of the cake.
3 The village is in the valley, at the (foot / top) of a high mountain.
4 The sled has a smooth (top / base ) to help it slide over the snow.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 high 
2 inside 
3 worse 
4 down 
32
buy, purchase / sell 
14
Mum gave Grandpa a digital photo 
frame for his birthday. He was very 
pleased with it.
However, it stopped working a 
few weeks later. The warranty 
said, ‘Faulty goods must be 
returned to the store from which 
they were purchased.’
Grandpa did not want to ask Mum 
where she had bought the frame. 
He thought she might be upset. 
He went to a shop that sold products 
made by the same company. The 
manager kindly agreed to exchange 
his faulty frame for a new one. 
33
What do they mean?
The verbs buy and purchase are synonyms. They both refer to 
giving money in exchange for something you want. The word 
purchase is mainly used in formal writing.
• I bought a bar of chocolate and ate it on the train.
• The house has been purchased by a retired professor.
The verb sell is an antonym of buy and purchase. It refers to giving 
someone something they want in exchange for money.
• Jack sold his motorcycle and bought a car.
• You can buy a dictionary at any shop that sells books.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use 
one of the words twice.
bought purchased sold
1 The shirt that I from your website has a hole in the sleeve.
2 The remaining food was at half price at the end of the day.
3 Dad each of us an ice cream.
4 Tom all his old toys to raise money for charity.
B Here are some other words and phrases from the passage. Can 
you think of an antonym for each one?
1 stopped 
2 a few 
3 kindly 
4 agreed 
34
cheap, inexpensive / 
expensive, dear
15
Tony had been working hard and 
needed a holiday. However, he 
could not afford anything very 
expensive.
There were cheap flights available 
to some interesting destinations. But 
Tony knew that hotel prices were 
dear in those places.
‘Camping is an inexpensive way 
of having a holiday,’ suggested his 
friend Jack. ‘You can borrow my 
tent, if you like.’
Tony took up Jack’s offer and drove 
to an attractive area of the coast. 
The weather was fine and he had a 
very enjoyable, relaxing time there.
35
What do they mean?
The adjectives cheap and inexpensive are synonyms. They both 
describe something that does not cost a lot of money.
• A cheap camera might not take very good photos. 
• Reading is an inexpensive hobby, as you can borrow library 
books free.
The adjectives expensive and dear are synonyms. They both 
describe something that costs a lot of money.
• Dad bought Mum an expensive bracelet for her birthday.
• The prices in this restaurant are too dear for me.
The words cheap and inexpensive are antonyms of expensive and 
dear. 
• The dress looks expensive but it was actually quite cheap.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 We have bought tickets for the concert, even though they are rather 
expensive.
 
2 You can use these ingredients to make a tasty but cheap meal.
 
3 Petrol is dearer in this part of the country.
 
4 The inexpensive seats are at the back of the theatre. 
 
36
close, shut / open 
16
It was Joe’s tenth birthday. When 
he came downstairs for breakfast, 
his parents told him that they had a 
surprise for him.
‘Close your eyes,’ said his mother. 
‘Do not open them until I tell 
you to.’
Joe shut his eyes, wondering what 
his present would be. He heard his 
father leave the room.
His father returned and his mother 
said, ‘You can look now, Joe.’ There, in 
front of him, was a shiny new bicycle!
37
What do they mean?
The verbs close and shut are synonyms. They both refer to moving 
something so that there is no space between it and another thing.
• I shut the gate so that the animals would not get out of the field.
• Mary closed the book and put it back on the shelf.
The verb open is an antonym of close and shut. 
• We close the blinds at night and open them in the morning.
• The bank opens at nine o’clock and shuts at five o’clock.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 The door (opened / closed ) with a loud bang.
2 My case was so full that I could not (open / shut ) it.
3 Sam (closed / opened ) the drawer and took out a pen.
4 We had to (open / close ) the window because it was so noisy outside.
5 If you (open / shut ) the cage the bird might escape.
6 The recreation ground (shuts / opens ) at sunset.
B Here are some other words and phrases from the passage. Can 
you think of an antonym for each one?
1 downstairs 
2 told 
3 leave 
4 in front of 
cry, weep, sob / laugh
17
38
Katie wept when she broke her favourite 
doll. She did not want to play with any 
of her other toys.
Her father took the doll away 
to see if he could mend it. 
Meanwhile, Katie’s brother tried 
to make her laugh by pulling silly 
faces.
Katie stopped crying for a while. 
Then she remembered her broken 
doll and began to sob again.
Finally, her father returned with the 
mended doll. Katie smiled and clapped 
her hands with joy.
39
What do they mean?
The verbs cry, weep and sob are synonyms. They all refer to 
showing sadness with a wailing noise and tears.
• Tom fell off his bike and hurt his knee but he did not cry.
• The dead man’s wife was weeping at the side of his grave.
• I could hear someone sobbing in the next room.
The verb laugh is an antonym of cry, weep and sob. It refers to 
showing happiness with noise and a wide grin.
• The funny parts of the film made me laugh but its sad ending 
made me cry.
• Mum wept when she saw her new hairstyle, because she 
thought everyone would laugh at her.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 Tom pinched his sister’s arm and made her (cry / laugh).
2 Alice (laughed / wept ) when she heard the sad news.
3 The little boy was (sobbing / laughing ) because he was lost.
4 The children (laughed / cried ) as they splashed each other with water.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 started 
2 forgot 
3 left 
4 sadness 
40
day / night
18
The sun gives us light during the day, 
even when it is hidden by clouds. This 
is the time when most people and 
animals are awake and active.
At night, the only natural light 
comes from the moon and stars. 
Most people and animals sleep 
during these dark hours.
However, there are some exceptions. 
Owls, for example, fly around during 
the night, hunting for food.
They spend most of the day in their 
nests, which is why you rarely see 
them. This is a shame, because they 
are beautiful birds.
41
What do they mean?
The noun day refers to the time when it is light, from sunrise to 
sunset. It can also refer to the time when most people are awake 
and active.
• It rained all day so the children couldn’t play outside.
• We spent the last day of our holiday on the beach.
The noun night refers to the time when it is dark, from sunset to 
sunrise. It can also refer to the time when most people are asleep in 
bed.
• Jack heard a strange noise in the middle of the night.
• There is not much traffic on the roads during the night.
The words day and night are antonyms. 
• Some people sleep during the day because they have to work 
at night.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with day or night.
1 The baby cried during the and wokeeveryone up.
2 It was a fine so there were lots of people on the beach.
3 Grandpa taught me the names of some of the stars we see in the sky at 
.
4 The students were happy because it was the last of term.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 asleep 
2 artificial 
3 often 
4 ugly 
42
easy, simple / 
hard, difficult 
19
I have a new camera. It is very easy 
to use.
There is a sheet of simple 
instructions. They tell you exactly 
what to do.
I now know which buttons to 
press. What is more difficult 
is taking a good photograph. 
This is particularly hard when the 
subject won’t keep still. Photographing 
animals requires a lot of patience.
43
What do they mean?
The adjectives easy and simple are synonyms. They both describe 
something that you can do or understand without effort.
• I hope there will be some easy questions in the test.
• Dad showed me a simple way to remember the correct spelling.
The adjectives hard and difficult are synonyms. They both describe 
something that requires a lot of thought or effort.
• It is hard to write neatly when your fingers are very cold.
• James could not solve the difficult puzzle.
The words easy and simple are antonyms of hard and difficult. 
• Grandma is finding it increasingly difficult to perform even 
simple tasks.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 The small print on the label is very hard to read.
 
2 The teacher asked the class a difficult question.
 
3 The tiles are easy to keep clean.
 
4 A six-year-old child should be able to do simple sums like these.
 
44
empty / full
20
Carol received several new books 
for her birthday. However, the 
bookshelf in her bedroom was 
already full.
Her brother Joe had a large 
bookcase in his bedroom, with two 
empty shelves. Carol asked him if 
she could put some of her books in 
there.
‘No, I have other plans,’ he replied, 
pointing to a box in his room. It 
was full of model cars which he 
wanted to put on display.
Then Carol heard a hammering noise 
coming from her bedroom. Her father 
was fixing another shelf to the wall 
for all her new books.
45
What do they mean?
The adjective empty describes something with nothing inside it.
• Sue was looking for an empty bowl to put the fruit in.
• The police searched the man, but his pockets were empty.
The adjective full describes something which has so much inside it 
that there is no room for anything else.
• The reservoir was full after the heavy rain.
• The first bus was full so I had to wait for the next one.
The words empty and full are antonyms.
• The bin was empty yesterday and now it is full of rubbish.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with empty or full.
1 The room was of people, none of whom I recognized.
2 Mum’s shopping trolley was by the time she reached the 
checkout.
3 Tom wanted some milk for his cereal but the bottle was .
4 You can put your T-shirts in this drawer.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a 
synonym for each one?
1 large 
2 replied 
3 noise 
4 fixing 
46
fast, quickly / slowly 
21
A cheetah is a large wild animal of 
the cat family. It can run very fast.
It chases and catches other animals 
for food. They cannot run quickly 
enough to get away.
Some creatures move very slowly 
indeed. The snail is one of these.
It cannot escape from the birds that 
would like to eat it. However, it can 
hide inside its shell.
47
What do they mean?
The adverbs fast and quickly are synonyms. They are both used to 
talk about moving at great speed. Fast always goes after the verb, 
but quickly can go before or after it.
• You will make mistakes if you work too fast.
• I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth.
The adverb slowly is an antonym of fast and quickly. 
• Please walk more slowly – I cannot walk as fast as you.
• Time passes quickly when you are having fun and slowly when 
you are bored.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use 
one of the words twice.
fast quickly slowly
1 I asked the man to speak so that I could understand him.
2 The woman had to pay a fine for driving too .
3 The snail crawled across the path.
4 Mary wrote down the number so that she would not forget it.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 large 
2 wild 
3 run 
4 like 
48
few / many 
22
Jane went to the wedding of her old 
schoolfriend Carol, whom she had 
known for many years. She had met 
Carol’s parents before, but there 
were few other familiar faces.
Many of the guests were friends 
and relatives of the bridegroom. 
However, Jane spotted someone she 
knew.
It was Mary, another of her old 
schoolfriends. They sat together and 
chatted for ages about the past.
They had many good memories of 
their schooldays and few bad ones. 
It had been a happy time for both 
of them.
49
What do they mean?
You use few to say that there are only a small number of people or 
things. You can put it before a noun or use it on its own.
• There are few books about this subject in the school library.
• Few of the students live more than two kilometres from the school.
You use many to talk about a large number of people or things. You 
can put it before a noun or use it on its own.
• Tom has been to England many times.
• There were some lovely necklaces in the window and many 
more inside the shop.
The words few and many are antonyms. 
• Many girls and boys apply for places at the ballet school but 
few are accepted.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with few or many.
1 Every family in our road has a car and have two or more. 
2 Jane is a popular girl with friends.
3 people know about this beach, so it is always quiet and 
peaceful here.
4 I have eaten of the chocolates because I don’t like them very 
much.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words?
1 former 
2 saw 
3 talked 
4 unpleasant 
50
float / sink 
23
Sam and Joe went for a walk by the 
river. Some leaves had fallen from the 
trees and they were floating on the 
water.
The boys threw stones at the 
leaves, trying to make them sink. 
Soon they came to a bridge, where 
they played a different game.
Each boy found a stick and dropped 
it into the water at the same time 
on one side of the bridge. Then they 
ran to the other side to see whose 
stick would appear first.
Joe’s stick floated into view but 
Sam’s did not appear. ‘Your stick 
must have sunk as it passed under 
the bridge,’ said Joe.
51
What do they mean?
To float is to stay on the surface of water. 
• Bits of wood from the wrecked ship floated past the lifeboat.
• An empty bottle will float if its neck is closed with a cap or a cork.
To sink is to fall through water to the bottom. 
• Dad accidentally dropped his binoculars into the lake and they sank.
• If you lie on the water and relax, you will not sink.
The verbs float and sink are antonyms. 
• Heavy ships can float because of their shape, but they will sink if 
they fill up with water.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use 
one of the words twice. 
floated sank sunk
1 The boat had away from its mooring.
2 The ‘Titanic’ hit an iceberg and .
3 A large airbed across the pool.
4 The treasure chest had to the bottom of the sea.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one? 
1 soon 2 found 
3 ran 4 appear 
52
foolish, silly, stupid / 
wise, sensible
24
If you are going out in a small boat, 
it is sensible towear a lifejacket. My 
cousin Tom ignored this advice and 
almost drowned.
He refused to wear a lifejacket 
when he came sailing with us. He 
thought we all looked silly, and 
boasted that he was a strong 
swimmer.
My mother also told him that it 
was wise to remain seated when 
the boat was going fast and 
leaning over. The foolish boy 
again took no notice.
He stood up to take a photo and fell 
into the water, a long way from the 
shore. My father had to jump in and 
rescue him.
53
What do they mean?
The adjectives foolish, silly and stupid are synonyms. They all 
refer to doing something that is likely to have a bad result, often 
because you have not thought about it properly.
• It was foolish of them to go walking in the mountains on a foggy day.
• The silly girl wrote down her secret password and stuck it to the 
front of her computer.
• Leaving your bicycle outside in the rain was a stupid thing to do.
The adjectives wise and sensible are synonyms. They both refer to 
doing something that is likely to have a good result, usually because 
you have thought about it properly.
• The wise old lady was not deceived by the dishonest young man.
• It might be sensible to stay indoors until your cold is better.
The words foolish, silly and stupid are antonyms of wise and 
sensible. 
• I think that is a stupid idea. My suggestion is far more sensible.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 I think Joe has made a very sensible decision.
 
2 My foolish sister left the gate open and the dog got out.
 
3 It is wise to carry a puncture repair kit when you go for a long bike ride in 
the country.
 
4 Mary was cross with herself for making such a silly mistake.
 
54
forget / remember, recall
25
Mum had lost her car keys. 
She had just returned from a 
trip to the supermarket.
‘I remember locking the car,’ she said, 
‘but I have forgotten where I put the 
keys after I came into the house. They 
are not in my handbag and my pockets 
are empty.’
We searched the kitchen, looking 
inside all the shopping bags. Mum 
tried to recall what she did first 
when she got home. 
‘I put the meat in the fridge to 
keep it cool,’ she said. I opened 
the fridge door and found the car 
keys on the top shelf.
55
What do they mean?
When you forget something, it goes out of your mind. 
• Sally sometimes forgets to feed her goldfish.
The verbs remember and recall are antonyms of forget. You use 
them to talk about keeping something in your mind or bringing it 
back into your mind.
• Jane remembered the boy’s name, even though she had met 
him only once before.
• I don’t recall where I bought this ornament.
• Tom had forgotten to take a map, but fortunately he remembered 
which way to go.
Try it!
A Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words and 
phrases with synonyms.
1 I can’t remember what time the bus leaves.
 
2 Joe recalled seeing a man acting suspiciously outside the bank.
 
3 Kate did not remember to clean her teeth before she went to bed.
 
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one? 
1 lost 
2 empty 
3 cool 
4 top 
56
friend / enemy 
26
Paul and his friend Jack were the 
naughtiest boys in the class. One 
day, Tom saw them spreading glue on 
the teacher’s chair.
Fortunately, she noticed it before 
she sat down. ‘Who is responsible 
for this silly prank?’ she asked 
angrily.
Tom said nothing, because he was 
afraid of becoming the naughty boys’ 
enemy. The teacher asked all the 
students to hold out their hands.
Paul and Jack had glue on their 
hands. The teacher knew that they 
were guilty.
57
What do they mean?
Friends are people who like each other and like spending time 
together.
• Joe stayed overnight at his friend’s house.
• The new girl was unhappy because she did not have any friends.
Enemies are people who hate each other and sometimes try to harm 
each other.
• I have an enemy in the office, who has been saying unkind 
things about me, but I don’t know who it is.
• The people fought to protect their country against their enemies.
The words friend and enemy are antonyms. 
• Sue and Kate used to be enemies, but they became best 
friends after Kate saved Sue’s life.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. Do not use the same 
word more than once. 
friend friends enemy enemies
1 Mr Lee is a kind old man who has no .
2 Jane received a lovely present from her .
3 A good manager should not be the of his workers.
4 Peter invited six of his to his birthday party.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words? 
1 luckily 2 trick 
3 scared 4 pupils 
from / to 
27
58
Billy walked from his house to the 
apartment block where his grandmother 
lived, on the opposite side of the city. 
It was a distance of six kilometres and 
it took him more than an hour. 
He was very hot and thirsty when 
he arrived. His grandmother took 
a bottle of lemonade from the 
fridge, poured some into a glass 
and gave it to him.
She did not seem as pleased to see 
him as she usually was. ‘Is anything 
wrong, Grandma?’ asked Billy.
‘No,’ she replied, looking slightly 
embarrassed, ‘but I have to go out 
in five minutes for a hairdresser’s 
appointment.’ Poor Billy had to go 
straight home again!
59
What do they mean?
The word from is a preposition. You put it before the name of a 
person or place where something starts.
• The nurse removed a large splinter from the boy’s knee.
• We received a postcard from Uncle Joe this morning.
The word to is a preposition. You put it before the name of a person 
or place where something ends.
• The students handed their test papers to the teacher.
• Does this bus go to the airport?
The words from and to are antonyms. 
• Mary took her ticket from her handbag and showed it to the 
inspector.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with from or to. 
1 I sent an email my cousin in England.
2 The man took a large spotted handkerchief his pocket and 
blew his nose.
3 When the show was over, we travelled home the theatre 
in a taxi.
4 The squirrel climbed the top of the tree.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one? 
1 opposite 
2 hot 
3 arrived 
4 slightly 
60
front / back, rear
28
On the first day of the festival there 
is a procession through the town. The 
school band marches at the front.
There are four rows of players. 
The trumpeters are on the front 
row, their shiny instruments 
gleaming in the sunlight.
The drummers are on the back row, 
beating a lively rhythm. Behind them 
is a crowd of people dressed in 
colourful costumes.
The youngest children march at the 
rear. Some of them find it hard 
to keep up with the rest of the 
procession.
61
What do they mean?
The word front refers to the first part of something or the part that 
faces you. It can be used as a noun or as an adjective.
• I finally reached the front of the queue.
• There was a photo of the mayor on the front page of the 
newspaper.
The words back and rear are antonyms of front. They refer to the 
part that is furthest away from the front.
• Write your own address on the back of the package.
• The rear tyre of the bicycle had a small hole in it.
• Carol sits at the front of the class and her twin brother sits at 
the back.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 Jane was sitting in the (front / back) seat, behind her father.
2 Visitors usually enter through the (front / rear) door of a house.
3 The car park is hidden from view at the (rear / front ) of the hotel.
4 Joe spilt orange juice down the (back / front ) of his shirt.
5 Speak loudly so that the people at the (back / front ) can hear you.
6 The driverturned to look out of the (front / rear) window.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 first 
2 day 
3 shiny 
4 hard 
62
go, leave / return 
29
Mr and Mrs Green were discussing 
how to celebrate their 50th wedding 
anniversary. Should they have a 
holiday or spend the money having the 
garden of their bungalow landscaped?
They decided to go on a cruise, 
as this was something that Mrs 
Green had always wanted to do. 
‘We can do some work on the 
garden ourselves after we come 
back,’ said Mr Green. 
They left at the beginning of 
May and were away for a month. 
When they returned, they had an 
enormous surprise.
Their children and grandchildren had 
been working hard in their absence. 
As an anniversary present, they had 
transformed the untidy patch of 
grass into a beautiful garden.
63
What do they mean?
The verbs go and leave are synonyms. They both refer to moving 
away from a place.
• I must go soon, or I will miss my bus.
• We left the cinema before the end of the film.
The verb return is an antonym of go and leave. You use it to talk 
about coming back to the place that you moved away from.
• Mary went to the park with her brother but she returned alone.
• The old man finally returned to the village that he had left forty 
years earlier.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 I usually (go / return) to school by bus.
2 Uncle Jack (returned / left ) without saying goodbye to anyone.
3 We were tired and hungry when we (went / returned ) from our walk.
4 Put up your hand if you wish to (leave / return) the room.
5 I’ll give Sue the good news when she (goes / returns ).
6 Alan was late and the train had already (gone / returned ).
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 never 
2 tiny 
3 presence 
4 neat 
64
happy, cheerful, joyful / 
sad, unhappy, upset 
30
The birth of a baby should be a 
joyful occasion. However, Katie was 
upset when her baby sister was born. 
This worried her parents, as she 
was normally a cheerful child. On 
their way home from the hospital, 
her father asked her why she was 
unhappy.
Katie thought that the new baby was 
a replacement for her. She was afraid 
that her parents would send her away 
now that they had a new little girl.
When they got home, Katie’s 
father explained the situation to 
her. This made Katie happy, and 
she stopped crying immediately.
65
What do they mean?
The adjectives happy, cheerful and joyful are synonyms. They are 
all used to talk about feeling good because you like what you are 
doing or because something nice has happened. You most often use 
joyful to talk about something that makes people very happy.
• The children’s happy laughter could be heard throughout the house.
• I felt more cheerful after my chat with Grandma.
• Carol could not wait to tell her friend the joyful news.
The adjectives sad, unhappy and upset are synonyms. They are all 
used to talk about feeling bad because something unpleasant has 
happened or because you do not like what you are doing. You cannot 
put upset before the noun it describes.
• The woman had a sad look on her face.
• Paul was unhappy in his last job.
• Anna was very upset when her dog died.
The words happy, cheerful and joyful are antonyms of sad, 
unhappy and upset. 
• People usually cry when they are sad, but sometimes they cry 
because they are happy.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms. Do not use the same synonym more than once.
1 Mary sounded happy when I spoke to her this morning.
 
2 The teacher tried to comfort the sad child.
 
3 Sue is sad because her best friend is moving to another town.
 
66
hard, firm, solid / soft 
31
Peter and Sam went on an adventure. 
They were going to camp in the 
countryside overnight.
They found an area of firm, dry, flat 
land to put up their tent. Then they 
made a fire and cooked a meal.
Neither of the boys slept very well 
that night. The ground felt very 
hard under their sleeping bags.
They wished they were in their soft, 
comfortable beds at home. Camping 
was not as much fun as they had 
expected it to be.
67
What do they mean?
The adjectives hard, firm and solid are synonyms. They all 
describe something that keeps its shape when you press it or try to 
bend it.
• The clay is baked in a kiln to make it hard.
• We need a firm surface to work on.
• Reaching for the light switch, I banged my arm on something 
solid.
The adjective soft is an antonym of hard, firm and solid. 
• The crab’s soft body is protected by its hard shell.
• The soft ground had frozen solid and there was ice on the pond.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 The fruit has a (soft / hard ) stone in the middle.
2 The bucket is made of (firm / soft ) plastic.
3 You have to cook rice until it is (hard / soft ) enough to eat.
4 The people built a high (soft / solid ) wall all around their city.
5 The car began to sink into the (soft / firm ) mud.
6 The candy was so (hard / soft ) that I could not chew it.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 dry 
2 flat 
3 up 
4 well 
68
heavy / light 
32
Jane and her father were going for 
a picnic. They packed a cooler with 
sandwiches, fruit and drinks.
The box was too heavy for Jane to 
lift, so her father carried it out to 
the car. Jane put some light cups and 
plates in a separate bag.
They chose a pleasant spot on their 
favourite hilltop. There was a fresh 
breeze, however, and their light 
tablecloth nearly blew away.
Jane found some heavy stones 
nearby and put one on each corner 
of the cloth. Then they sat down to 
enjoy their meal.
69
What do they mean?
The adjective heavy describes something that has a lot of weight or 
force. 
• There was a heavy shower of rain just before the children left 
for school.
• I was surprised how heavy the small metal ball was.
The adjective light describes something that does not have much 
weight or force. 
• Sam felt a light tap on his shoulder and turned around.
• Mary was wearing a light cotton dress.
The words heavy and light are antonyms. 
• I picked up a small light book to read on the train so that it 
would not make my bag too heavy.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with heavy or light, using each word twice.
1 Feathers are so that they float through the air.
2 The woman gently laid a blanket over her sleeping baby.
3 Tom dropped a pan on his foot and bruised his toe quite 
badly.
4 Dad says I am far too to ride on his shoulders now.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words and phrases?
1 filled 
2 pick up 
3 nice 
4 placed 
here / there
33
70
Should I plant 
the tree here? 
You’re right – this is a good 
place for it. When it grows 
bigger, it will give us some 
welcome shade on sunny days.I think it would look better over 
there.
 You naughty dog! 
Come here at once!
I think Spot is trying to 
dig up our new tree. 
Why won’t he 
obey me?
Perhaps he has buried 
something there.
here / there
71
What do they mean?
You use the adverb here to talk about a place close to you or the 
area around you.
• We have been waiting here for half an hour.
• Is anyone sitting here?
You use the adverb there to talk about a place that is some distance 
away from you.
• Peter went to his bedroom and stayed there for the rest of the 
evening.
• I like visiting England but I would not want to live there.
The words here and there are antonyms. 
• The armchair goes here and the sofa goes there.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with here or there, using each word twice.1 Bring your workbook and I’ll try to help you.
2 Joe went to work at a bank and met his future wife .
3 Sue doesn’t want to go to the zoo because she went last 
week.
4 I wish Mum and Dad were .
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 right 
2 sunny 
3 naughty 
4 obey 
72
high, tall / low, short
34
Jane says that being tall has a 
number of advantages. She can see 
over the heads of other people in a 
crowd.
She can also reach things on 
high shelves, for example in the 
supermarket. Sometimes short 
people ask her to get things down 
for them. 
However, she has to bend down a 
long way to take something from 
a low shelf. This is a bit of a 
disadvantage.
She also finds it difficult to buy 
smart trousers that are long enough 
for her. Most of them end several 
centimetres above her ankle.
73
What do they mean?
The adjectives high and tall are synonyms. They both describe 
things that are big from top to bottom. You can also use high 
to describe something that is a long way above the ground. You 
normally use tall to describe people, trees, buildings and things 
that are not broad. 
• There are some very high mountains in the north of the country.
• The bird built its nest at the top of a tall tree.
The adjective low describes something that is small from top 
to bottom or something that is not far above the ground. It is an 
antonym of high and tall. 
• Our dog could jump over the low wall so Dad replaced it with a 
high fence.
• A skyscraper is a tall building and a bungalow is a low building.
The adjective short is another antonym of tall. With this meaning it 
is mainly used to describe people.
• Tom and Paul are not alike – Tom is tall and has dark hair, 
whereas Paul is short and has fair hair.
Try it!
Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. 
high low short tall
1 My little brother was too to see over the side of the bridge.
2 The sun shone through the windows and lit up the room.
3 Katie helped her parents by picking the fruit from the branches 
of the tree.
4 Uncle Jack is so that he can touch the ceiling.
74
kind, sort, type
35
A glider is a type of plane that has 
no engine. It has to be towed into 
the air by an ordinary plane.
When the glider is high enough, 
the other plane lets it go. It flies 
around and slowly returns to the 
ground.
A helicopter is a very different 
kind of aircraft. Instead of wings, 
it has a set of blades on the top 
that rotate very quickly.
Another sort of aircraft is a hot-air 
balloon. It floats up 
into the sky when 
the air inside 
the balloon 
is heated.
75
What do they mean?
The nouns kind, sort and type are synonyms. You use them to talk 
about individual members of a group of similar things.
• Wood is used to make tables, chairs and other kinds of 
furniture.
• I used the wrong sort of glue so the fabric did not stick to the 
card.
• Spaghetti is a type of pasta in the form of long thin strands.
Try it!
A Write sentences containing the given nouns or their plural forms. 
1 (kind) 
 
 
2 (type) 
 
 
3 (sort) 
 
 
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words? 
1 unusual 
2 low 
3 fast 
4 cooled 
left / right 
36
Tom was going to visit his friend Sue, 
who had moved to a new house a few 
weeks earlier. He phoned her to find 
out how to get there.
‘Turn left in front of the post 
office,’ said Sue, ‘then take the 
second road on the right. I live at 
number 26.’
Tom did not write the directions down 
because he thought he would remember 
them. However, as he walked towards 
the post office he became confused. 
He turned right then took the 
second road on the left. When he 
rang the doorbell at number 26, 
there was no reply.
76
77
What do they mean?
The word left refers to a side or direction. It is the side of a round 
clock face where the number 9 is, or the direction of west when you 
are facing north. You can use the word as an adjective, an adverb or 
a noun.
• Joe had a blister on his left foot.
• You slide the knob left to lower the volume.
• I moved the photo frame to the left to make room for my new trophy.
The word right refers to a side or direction. It is the side of a round 
clock face where the number 3 is, or the direction of east when you 
are facing north. You can use the word as an adjective, an adverb or 
a noun.
• Write the address in the top right corner of the letter.
• If you look right, you will see the house where the murder took place.
• The president’s wife was standing on his right.
The words left and right are antonyms. 
• Jane has broken her right arm so she has to do everything with 
her left hand.
Try it!
Write a sentence containing left and another sentence containing 
right. You should use these words with the meanings described 
above.
1 (left) 
 
2 (right) 
 
loud / soft, quiet 
37
Sally woke up in the middle of the 
night. There was a soft scratching 
sound coming from the corner of her 
bedroom.
She climbed out of bed and 
tiptoed across the floor. She tried 
to make her movements as quiet 
as possible, so as not to frighten 
whatever was making the noise.
However, it was Sally herself 
who got a fright. A tiny mouse 
scampered over her bare feet and 
ran towards the door.
Sally’s parents were woken by her 
loud scream. They found her standing 
on the bed, shaking with fear.
78
79
What do they mean?
The adjective loud describes something that makes a lot of noise.
• The balloon burst with a loud bang.
The adjectives soft and quiet are antonyms of loud. They describe 
something that does not make much noise.
• Kate has such a quiet voice that it is hard to hear what she says.
• The soft splashing sound of the waves was interrupted by the 
loud squawk of a seagull.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 The alarm makes a (soft / loud ) noise that can be heard throughout the 
building.
2 The diners were enjoying their meal in the restaurant with (loud / soft ) 
music playing in the background.
3 ‘Don’t tell anyone else,’ said Jack in a (quiet / loud ) whisper.
4 I was the only person who could hear the (loud / soft ) hissing sound.
5 Grandpa’s (loud / quiet ) snoring kept everyone awake.
6 You play (loud / quiet ) notes on the piano by pressing the keys very gently.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a 
synonym for each one?
1 sound 
2 frighten 
3 scream 
4 shaking 
neat, tidy / 
untidy, messy 
38
80
Kate has very neat handwriting. Her 
teacher says that it is a pleasure to 
mark her work.
Her friend Anna is the opposite. Her 
writing is so untidy that it is almost 
impossible to read.
However, the girls’ behaviour is quite 
different when they are at home. 
Anna’s bedroom is always tidy, which 
pleases her mother. 
Kate, on the other hand, has a very 
messy bedroom. She never puts 
anything away in its proper place.
81
What do they mean?
The adjectives neat and tidy are synonyms. They both describe 
something that looks good because it has been done carefully or 
because everything is in its proper place.
• The chairs were arranged in neat rows.
• If your desk was tidy, you would not keep losing your pen.
The adjectives untidy and messy are synonyms. They both 
describe something that looks bad because it has been done 
carelessly or because things are not in their proper places.
• The hole in the curtain had been mended with a few untidy stitches.
• Mary was too ashamed to invite her friends to her messy flat.
The words neat and tidy are antonyms of untidy and messy. 
• What had been a neat stack of books was now an untidy heap.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words withsynonyms.
1 I don’t know how anyone can work in this untidy kitchen.
 
2 Everyone admires Grandma’s neat garden.
 
3 A smart, tidy appearance is important when you go for an interview.
 
4 Tom went upstairs to comb his messy hair.
 
82
new / old 
39
Jack bought a new leather sofa for his 
living room. It matched the armchairs 
he had bought a few weeks earlier.
He gave his old sofa to his 
sister. It was no longer in good 
condition, but she was pleased 
with it.
She had just moved to a new 
apartment. It was larger than 
her old one, so she needed more 
furniture there.
Jack did not recognize his sofa when 
he visited her. She had made a new 
cover for it, in the same fabric as 
the curtains.
83
What do they mean?
Something or someone new has just come into existence. The 
adjective can also describe something you have just bought, often to 
replace a similar thing you had before.
• Carol made a lot of new friends when she joined the badminton 
club.
• I need a new dress to wear at Sam’s wedding.
The adjective old describes something that has existed for a long 
time, or something you used to have.
• The old building at the end of the road used to be a hospital.
• I could not send emails from my old phone.
The words new and old are antonyms. 
• Joe’s new car goes faster than his old one did.
Try it!
A Fill in the blanks with new or old, using each word twice.
1 This bracelet used to belong to my grandmother.
2 Anna showed her friends a photo of her baby.
3 Tom is learning how to use his computer.
4 Our house did not have a garage.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words?
1 previously 
2 flat 
3 bigger 
4 material 
84
rich, wealthy / poor
40
There are a lot of wealthy people in 
this city. They live in large houses 
in the suburbs and drive 
expensive cars.
They rarely see their neighbours 
because there is so much land 
around each house. It can be a 
lonely life of luxury.
The homes of the poor people are 
in the centre of the city. These 
are tiny houses packed close 
together in narrow streets.
However, it is a very friendly 
community and everyone helps one 
another. They have no desire to be 
rich, with all the problems that money 
can bring.
85
What do they mean?
The adjectives rich and wealthy are synonyms. They both describe 
people who have a lot of money.
• Not all rich people have worked hard for their money.
• Tom’s wealthy uncle pays his school fees.
The adjective poor is an antonym of rich and wealthy. It describes 
people who do not have much money.
• The rich tourists ignored the cries of the poor children begging 
in the street.
• It is hard to believe that this wealthy businessman used to be 
very poor.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 If I was (poor / rich), I would buy a big boat.
2 The leftover food is given to the (rich / poor) people of the village. 
3 Mr and Mrs Lee envied their (wealthy / poor) neighbours.
4 They are too (poor / rich) to send their children to an expensive school.
5 Mr Jackson is so (poor / wealthy) that he does not need to work for a 
living.
6 Many people bought the book, making the author very (rich / poor).
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 expensive 
2 rarely 
3 tiny 
4 narrow 
86
right, correct / 
wrong, incorrect
41
The postman had a package to 
deliver. Unfortunately, he took it 
to the wrong house.
The young woman who answered 
the door was excited to receive an 
unexpected parcel. She tore it open 
without reading the address.
When she saw what was inside – a 
book about aircraft – she looked 
more closely at the packaging. It 
had the correct road name, but the 
house number was incorrect.
It also had a different person’s 
name above the address. Feeling 
embarrassed and foolish, the woman 
took the book to the right house 
and apologized for unwrapping it.
87
What do they mean?
The adjectives right and correct are synonyms. They both describe 
something that is true or what it should be.
• Mary was right when she said Paul had probably missed the bus.
• If we had the correct tools, the work would be much easier.
The adjectives wrong and incorrect are synonyms. They both 
describe something that is a mistake or not true.
• I pressed the wrong key and deleted the text.
• The information on this website is incorrect.
The words right and correct are antonyms of wrong and 
incorrect. 
• I thought I had given the correct answer but it turned out to be 
wrong.
Try it!
Rewrite these sentences, replacing the underlined words with 
synonyms.
1 This encyclopedia has the wrong spelling of the name.
 
2 I think we are going the correct way.
 
3 The teacher told Peter that three of his answers were incorrect.
 
4 You have to choose the right words to fill in the blanks.
 
rise / fall, drop
42
88
The temperature usually rises during 
the day as the sun warms the air. It 
drops at night when the air becomes 
cooler.
In the daytime the sun also 
dries up any puddles on the 
ground. The water turns into tiny 
droplets that rise through the 
warm air.
These droplets form clouds in the 
sky. As they cool they turn back 
into water, which falls from the 
clouds as rain.
The rain makes the ground wet and 
forms new puddles. These are heated 
by the sun and the whole process 
(known as the water cycle) starts all 
over again.
89
What do they mean?
To rise is to move upwards or increase in amount. 
• The balloon rose into the sky.
• The number of students achieving the highest grade has risen 
again this year.
The verbs fall and drop are antonyms of rise. You use them to talk 
about moving downwards or decreasing in amount.
• Leaves were falling from the trees.
• The price of most things is steadily rising, but the price of some 
electronic goods has dropped in the past ten years.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 Smoke was (falling / rising ) from the chimney.
2 Snow began to (rise / fall ), covering the land with a white blanket.
3 The water level in the reservoir (rose / dropped ) during the drought.
4 Passenger numbers have (fallen / risen) as more people are travelling 
by car.
5 The elevator (rose / dropped ) to the top floor.
6 The fruit (rises / drops ) from the branches when it is ripe.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find an antonym for each 
of the following words?
1 warmer 
2 huge 
3 dry 
4 ends 
90
sit / stand
43
The bus was full of people. There was 
nowhere to sit, so Peter and Sue had 
to stand.
At the next stop three people 
got off and only one got on. 
Peter and Sue eagerly took the 
empty seats. 
They were glad to sit down. They 
had been playing badminton after 
school and their legs were tired.
However, they did not get much of a 
rest. An elderly couple got on at the 
next stop so the polite children stood 
up and gave them their seats.
91
What do they mean?
To sit (or sit down) is to be in or move to a position where your 
bottom is resting on something such as a chair or the floor. 
• Tom and Paul sit next to each other in class.
• Sally sat down on her bed and took off her shoes.
To stand (or stand up) is to be in or move to a position where your 
body is upright and your feet are supporting you. 
• The people who were standing at the back of the crowd could 
not see what was happening.
• The bride’s father stood up to make a speech.
The verbs sit and stand are antonyms. 
• I had been standing up for ages and I longed to sit down.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. Do not use the same 
word more than once. 
sat sit stand stood
1 There were no chairs so we hadto on the floor.
2 Jack at the back of the queue.
3 People usually when the national anthem is played.
4 Mary on the high stool by the counter, swinging her legs.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 next 2 eagerly 
3 glad 4 polite 
92
sleep / wake 
44
Mary went to bed early because she 
had an important exam the following 
day. She could not sleep, however, and 
she lay awake for several hours.
Her mind was full of everything 
she had learnt for the exam. She 
was worrying whether she would 
remember it all.
Finally, she decided to do a bit 
more revision at her desk. This 
made her drowsy and she fell 
asleep at her desk.
When she woke her neck was stiff and 
her head hurt. It was not a good start 
to the day!
93
What do they mean?
When you sleep, you rest with your eyes closed and you are not 
aware of what is happening around you. 
• Carol slept all the way home in the car.
• My dog sleeps at the foot of my bed.
When you wake (or wake up), you stop sleeping. 
• It was still dark outside when I woke.
• The baby woke up and began to cry.
The verbs sleep and wake are antonyms. 
• James slept for eight hours and woke up feeling much better.
Try it!
A Fill in each blank with the correct form of the verb sleep or 
wake.
1 Dad sometimes snores when he .
2 David at seven o’clock when his alarm clock went off.
3 I usually get up as soon as I .
4 Alice through most of the film because it was so boring.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a 
synonym for each one?
1 following 
2 mind 
3 drowsy 
4 hurt 
94
thick / thin, fine
45
Jack baked a birthday cake for his 
mother. He spread a thick layer of 
white icing on the top.
Then he added some red liquid to 
the icing left in the bowl. The icing 
turned pink when he stirred the 
mixture.
He put the pink icing into a special 
bag with a fine nozzle. The icing 
came out in a thin strip as he 
squeezed the bag.
Finally, he wrote ‘Happy Birthday 
Mum’ in pink letters on the top of the 
cake. His mother was surprised and 
delighted when she saw it.
95
What do they mean?
The adjective thick describes something that is big between its 
surfaces or inside its outer surface.
• Alan cut a thick slice of bread from the loaf.
The adjectives thin and fine are antonyms of thick. They describe 
something that is small between its surfaces or inside its outer 
surface.
• Kate was wearing a heart-shaped locket on a thin silver chain.
• Fine cotton fabric keeps you cool in hot weather and thick 
woollen fabric keeps you warm in cold weather.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 Eggs have (thin / thick) shells that are easy to crack.
2 It took a long time to read the (fine / thick) book of instructions.
3 The thread was so (thick / fine ) that it kept snapping.
4 The piece of wood was too (thick / thin) to fit in the gap.
5 I used a pen with a very (fine / thick) nib to write the tiny letters.
6 Push the (thick / thin) end of the wedge under the door to hold it open.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words?
1 made 
2 remaining 
3 went 
4 pressed 
96
true / false, untrue 
46
A man stole a necklace in a 
department store. His movements 
were filmed by the security camera.
The photos were shown on TV and 
someone recognized the thief. The 
police went to his house and accused 
him of the crime.
He told them a false story, claiming 
that he had been at home on that 
day. ‘That is quite true,’ said his wife, 
who had just entered the room.
However, the police immediately knew 
that the man’s account was untrue. 
His wife was wearing the stolen 
necklace!
97
What do they mean?
The adjective true describes a fact or something that really 
happened.
• Is it true that cats are afraid of water?
• The film is based on a true story.
The adjectives false and untrue are antonyms of true. They are 
opposite in meaning
• Everything Alice told me was untrue.
• Are the following statements true or false?
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 A lie is a statement that is (true / untrue ). 
2 The woman was released as the evidence proved that what she had said 
was (true / untrue ).
3 This painting gives a (true / false ) impression of the size of the house. It 
makes the house look much bigger than it actually is. 
4 The story is hard to believe, but it really is (untrue / true ).
5 Anna always blushes with shame when she says something (true / 
untrue ).
6 The company was tricking people with (false / true ) promises.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words?
1 actions 
2 robber 
3 completely 
4 instantly 
98
wet, damp, moist / dry 
47
You can grow a 
sunflower from 
a single seed. 
Put the seed 
in a pot of 
damp soil.
Check the pot every 
day. If the soil 
feels dry, sprinkle 
it with water, 
but do not 
make it 
too wet.
Soon you will have a tall plant with a 
big yellow flower. The flower contains 
seeds which you can use to grow 
other plants next year.
The plant will start growing in the 
moist soil. Green shoots will appear 
above the surface.
99
What do they mean?
The adjective wet describes something that has water in it or on it.
• Tom rubbed his wet hair with a towel.
The adjectives damp and moist are synonyms. They describe 
something that is slightly wet.
• There is a damp patch on the ceiling because the roof leaks.
• Mary wiped the screen with a moist cloth.
The adjective dry is an antonym of wet, damp and moist.
• Sally took off her wet socks and put on a dry pair.
• Most of the washing was dry but one of the sheets was still 
damp.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 Mary’s handkerchief was (damp / dry) because she had been crying.
2 The path was (wet / moist ) and muddy after the heavy rain.
3 The nurse said I must try to keep the bandage (wet / dry).
4 Tom added a little water to the soil to keep it (dry / moist ). 
5 The sheets felt a bit (damp / wet ) because the bed had not been used for 
some time.
6 Jane sat in the warm garden until her hair was (moist / dry).
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of an 
antonym for each one?
1 start 
2 above 
3 tall 
4 next 
100
wide, broad / narrow 
48
Our science teacher, Miss Lee, took 
us to the forest for a nature lesson. 
We walked along a narrow path, one 
behind another.
On one side of the path was a wide 
expanse of undergrowth. Miss Lee 
told us that many small animals 
lived among these plants. 
She also taught us how to recognize 
different types of trees. Some have 
broad leaves of various shapes and 
sizes.
Others, such as the pine, have 
very narrow leaves called needles. 
These remain on the branches all 
year round, so the trees are called 
evergreens.
101
What do they mean?
The adjectives wide and broad are synonyms. They both describe 
something that is large from side to side.
• The river was too wide to swim across.
• A gardener was mowing the broad green lawn.
The adjective narrow is an antonym of wide and broad. 
• The narrow passage led to a wide cave.
• The flag has a broad white stripe across the middle and narrow 
red stripes at the top and bottom.
Try it!
A Circle the correct words to complete the sentences.
1 Sally had a (narrow / wide ) grin on her face.
2 The road is too (narrow / broad ) for cars to pass one another. 
3 The garden is long and (broad / narrow), so we have plenty of room to 
play football.
4 Tom managed to squeeze through the (wide / narrow) gap.
5 Ten of the protesters stood side by side, blocking the (wide / narrow) 
gateway.6 The big strong man could carry a child on each of his (broad / narrow) 
shoulders.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a 
synonym for each one?
1 expanse 
2 small 
3 types 
4 remain 
102
win / lose 
49
The school football team was having 
a great year. They had not lost a 
single game so far. 
They hoped to win the national 
championship. There was a space 
in the trophy cabinet for the silver 
cup that would be their prize.
On the day of the final they were 
full of confidence. However, at half 
time they were losing by three 
goals to one.
They scored only one more goal and 
the other team won. Their coach 
was not at all pleased with their 
performance.
103
What do they mean?
To win is to do better than the person or people you are playing, 
competing or fighting against in a game or other contest. 
• Anna entered a painting competition but she did not expect to win.
• The army won the battle because they had more soldiers and 
weapons.
To lose is to be beaten by your opponent or opponents in a game, 
competition or fight. 
• The president will probably lose the next election.
• Mary consoled her brother after he lost the match.
The verbs win and lose are antonyms. 
• I usually win when I play chess with Kate but I always lose 
when we play badminton.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. 
lose lost win won
1 I knew Tom had as soon as I saw his unhappy face.
2 If you this race, you may be selected for the Olympic team.
3 Alice did not know she had the competition until the prize was 
delivered to her house.
4 No one likes to a game.
B Read the picture story again. Can you find a synonym for each of 
the following words?
1 good 2 match 3 gap 
104
young / old, elderly 
50
We have an elderly neighbour called 
Mr Green. He lives alone and has 
difficulty walking around.
My parents help him as much as 
they can. Mum does his shopping 
and Dad mows his lawn.
I sometimes sit with him to keep 
him company. He tells me about all 
the adventures he had when he was 
a young boy like me.
I find some of his stories hard to 
believe, but I don’t say so. He is a 
nice old man and I 
wouldn’t like to 
upset him.
105
What do they mean?
You use young to describe people, animals or plants near the 
beginning of their lives, when they have not been alive for long. 
• We watched the young birds learning to fly.
• The young plants need a lot of water to grow.
The adjectives old and elderly are antonyms of young. You use old 
to describe people, animals or plants that have been alive for a long 
time. You use elderly only for people, as a more polite synonym.
• The old horse was no longer strong enough to pull the cart.
• The young girl was very kind to her elderly grandmother.
Try it!
A Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks. You will have to use 
one of the words twice. 
elderly old young
1 The tree is so that no one remembers when it was planted.
2 My uncle is rather deaf.
3 cats are called kittens.
4 Our dog still has a lot of energy.
B Here are some other words from the passage. Can you think of a 
synonym for each one?
1 help 
2 mows 
3 stories 
4 hard 
UNIT 1
A
1 over
2 below
B
1 sleeps 
2 full 
3 top
4 better
UNIT 2
1 kid
2 adults
3 children
4 grown-ups 
UNIT 3
A
1 after
2 after
3 before
4 before
B
1 loves 
2 nervous
3 always 
4 proud
UNIT 4
A
1 ahead 
2 behind 
3 in front 
4 behind 
5 ahead 
6 in front
B
Possible answers:
1 slowest 
2 less 
3 glad 
4 lost
UNIT 5
A
1 never 
2 always 
3 always 
4 never
B
Possible answers:
1 approximately 
2 lovely 
3 lots 
4 depart
UNIT 6
A
1 awake 
2 sleeping 
3 asleep 
4 awake
B
Possible answers:
1 started 
2 down 
3 roughly 
4 into
UNIT 7
A
1 bad
2 poor 
3 an excellent
B
1 most 
2 win 
3 rewarded 
4 everything
Answers
106
UNIT 8
1 unattractive
2 pretty [OR beautiful]
3 ugly
4 more attractive [OR more 
beautiful]
UNIT 9
A
1 began
2 finished
3 started
4 ends
B
1 outside 
2 dark [OR heavy]
3 loud 
4 before
UNIT 10
A
1 best
2 worst
3 best
4 worst
B
1 competition 
2 opportunity 
3 tore 
4 upset
UNIT 11
A
1 large
2 little
3 big
4 small
B
Possible answers:
1 interested
2 asked
3 sold
4 sadly
UNIT 12
A
1 borrowed 
2 lend 
3 lent 
4 borrow
B
Possible answers:
1 spend 
2 little 
3 unable 
4 angry
UNIT 13
A
1 bottom 
2 top 
3 foot 
4 base 
B
Possible answers:
1 low
2 outside 
3 better 
4 up
UNIT 14
A
1 purchased 
2 sold 
3 bought 
4 sold
B
Possible answers:
1 started 
2 many 
3 unkindly 
4 refused
UNIT 15
1 dear
2 inexpensive
3 more expensive
4 cheap
107
UNIT 16
A
1 closed 
2 shut 
3 opened 
4 close
5 open
6 shuts
B
Possible answers:
1 upstairs
2 asked
3 enter
4 behind
UNIT 17
A
1 cry
2 wept 
3 sobbing 
4 laughed 
B
1 stopped
2 remembered
3 returned 
4 joy
UNIT 18
A
1 night
2 day
3 night
4 day
B
1 awake
2 natural
3 rarely
4 beautiful
UNIT 19
1 difficult
2 hard 
3 simple
4 easy
UNIT 20
A
1 full 
2 full 
3 empty 
4 empty
B
Possible answers:
1 big 
2 answered 
3 sound 
4 attaching
UNIT 21
A
1 slowly 
2 fast 
3 slowly 
4 quickly
B
Possible answers:
1 small 
2 tame 
3 walk 
4 hate
UNIT 22
A
1 many 
2 many 
3 Few 
4 few
B
1 old 
2 spotted 
3 chatted 
4 bad
UNIT 23
A
1 floated 
108
2 sank 
3 floated 
4 sunk
B
Possible answers:
1 later
2 lost
3 walked 
4 disappear
UNIT 24
1 wise
2 stupid [OR silly]
3 sensible
4 foolish [OR stupid] 
UNIT 25
A
1 recall
2 remembered
3 forgot
B
Possible answers:
1 found 
2 full 
3 warm 
4 bottom
UNIT 26
A
1 enemies 
2 friend 
3 enemy 
4 friends
B
1 fortunately 
2 prank 
3 afraid 
4 students
UNIT 27
A
1 to 
2 from 
3 from 
4 to
B
Possible answers:
1 same 
2 cold 
3 left 
4 very
UNIT 28
A
1 back 
2 front 
3 rear 
4 front 
5 back 
6 rear
B
Possible answers:
1 last 
2 night 
3 dull 
4 easy
UNIT 29
A
1 go 
2 left 
3 returned 
4 leave
5 returns
6 gone
B
1 always 
2 enormous 
3 absence 
4 untidy
UNIT 30
1 cheerful
2 unhappy
3 upset
109
UNIT 31
A
1 hard 
2 firm
3 soft
4 solid
5 soft
6 hard
B
Possible answers:
1 wet 
2 sloping 
3 down 
4 badly
UNIT 32
A
1 light 
2 light 
3 heavy 
4 heavy
B
1 packed 
2 lift 
3 pleasant 
4 put
UNIT 33
A
1 here
2 there
3 there
4 here
B
Possible answers:
1 wrong 
2 cloudy 
3 good 
4 disobey
UNIT 34
1 short 
2 high 
3 low 
4 tall
UNIT 35
A
Possible answers:
1 The rainforest is home to 
animals of many different 
kinds.
2 A laptop is a type of computer 
that you can easily carry from 
place to place.
3 This is the sort of question that 
is very hard to answer. 
B
1 ordinary 
2 high 
3 slowly 
4 heated
UNIT 36
Possible answers:
1 Sally sits on my left in the 
classroom.
2 Most people write with their 
right hand.
UNIT 37
A
1 loud
2 soft
3 quiet
4 soft
5 loud
6 quiet
B
Possible answers:
1 noise 
2 scare 
3 cry 
4 trembling
110
UNIT 38
1 messy
2 tidy
3 neat
4 untidy
UNIT 39
A
1 old 
2 new 
3 new 
4 old
B
1 earlier 
2 apartment 
3 larger 
4 fabric
UNIT 40
A
1 rich
2 poor
3 wealthy 
4 poor
5 wealthy
6 rich
B
Possible answers:
1 cheap
2 often 
3 huge 
4 wide
UNIT 41
1 incorrect
2 right
3 wrong
4 correct
UNIT 42
A
1 rising
2 fall
111
3 dropped
4 fallen
5 rose
6 drops
B
1 cooler 
2 tiny 
3 wet 
4 starts
UNIT 43
A
1 sit 
2 stood 
3 stand 
4 sat
B
Possible answers:
1 last
2 unwillingly 
3 sad 
4 rude
UNIT 44
A
1 sleeps 
2 woke 
3 wake 
4 slept
B
Possible answers:
1 next 
2 brain 
3 sleepy 
4 ached
UNIT 45
A
1 thin 
2 thick 
3 fine 
4 thick 
5 fine 
6 thin
B
1 baked 
2 left 
3 turned 
4 squeezed
UNIT 46
A
1 untrue
2 true
3 false 
4 true
5 untrue
6 false
B
1 movements 
2 thief 
3quite 
4 immediately
UNIT 47
A
1 damp
2 wet
3 dry
4 moist
5 damp
6 dry
B
Possible answers:
1 finish 
2 below 
3 short 
4 last
UNIT 48
A
1 wide
2 narrow
3 broad 
4 narrow 
5 wide 
6 broad 
B
Possible answers:
1 area 
2 little 
3 kinds 
4 stay
UNIT 49
A
1 lost 
2 win 
3 won 
4 lose
B
1 great 
2 game 
3 space
UNIT 50
A
1 old 
2 elderly 
3 Young 
4 old
B
Possible answers:
1 assist 
2 cuts 
3 tales 
4 difficult
112
	Front Cover
	Title Page
	Copyright Page
	Preface
	Contents
	1. above, over / below, under
	2. adult, grown-up / child, kid
	3. after / before
	4. ahead, in front / behind
	5. always / never
	6. asleep, sleeping / awake
	7. bad, poor / good, excellent
	8. beautiful, pretty, attractive / ugly, unattractive
	9. begin, start / end, finish
	10. best / worst
	11. big, large / little, small
	12. borrow / lend
	13. bottom, base, foot / top
	14. buy, purchase / sell
	15. cheap, inexpensive / expensive, dear
	16. close, shut / open
	17. cry, weep, sob / laugh
	18. day / night
	19. easy, simple / hard, difficult
	20. empty / full
	21. fast, quickly / slowly
	22. few / many
	23. float / sink
	24. foolish, silly, stupid / wise, sensible
	25. forget / remember, recall
	26. friend / enemy
	27. from / to
	28. front / back, rear
	29. go, leave / return
	30. happy, cheerful, joyful / sad, unhappy, upset
	31. hard, firm, solid / soft
	32. heavy / light
	33. here / there
	34. high, tall / low, short
	35. kind, sort, type
	36. left / right
	37. loud / soft, quiet
	38. neat, tidy / untidy, messy
	39. new / old
	40. rich, wealthy / poor
	41. right, correct / wrong, incorrect
	42. rise / fall, drop
	43. sit / stand
	44. sleep / wake
	45. thick / thin, fine
	46. true / false, untrue
	47. wet, damp, moist / dry
	48. wide, broad / narrow
	49. win / lose
	50. young / old, elderly
	Answers