Практическая работа на тему "Иностранный язык | Семинар в диалоговом режиме 3 | Practice 22/09/23"

Иностранный язык | Семинар в диалоговом режиме 3 | Practice 22/09/23

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1
10 Academic Vocabulary in Use
What is special about academic English?
Everyday words and academic uses
Many words in academic English are the same as everyday vocabulary, but they are often used with
a slightly different meaning, which may be specialised.
everyday use meaning academic use meaning
Standards of discipline in
schools have declined.
ability to control yourself
or other people
Nanotechnology is a
relatively new discipline.
area of study
Underline your family
name on the form.
draw a line under it The research underlines the
value of case studies.
gives emphasis to
The lake was frozen solid. not liquid or gas We have no solid evidence
that radiation has caused
the problem.
certain or safe; of a
good standard
Vocabulary and academic style
In writing, academics use many neutral expressions. They also use rather formal expressions which are
not common in everyday language. Knowing whether an expression is formal or just neutral is important.
neutral more formal neutral more formal
in short, briefly, basically in sum, to sum up, fundamentally try attempt
only sole(ly) mainly, mostly primarily
almost, more or less virtually typical of characteristic of
However, very informal vocabulary may be used in spoken academic styles in classes and lectures.
Learn to understand informal language when you hear it but be careful not to use it in essays and
written assignments. Here are some examples of teachers using informal language.
‘OK. Have a shot at doing task number 3.’ [more formal: Try/Attempt to do ... ]
‘There’s no way schools can be held responsible for failures of government policy.’ [more formal:
Schools cannot in any way be held ... ]
Academic language tries to be clear and precise, so it is important to keep a vocabulary notebook
(see page 8) and learn the differences between similar words, as well as typical word combinations
(underlined here).
The building is a prime example of 1920s architecture. [excellent in quality or value]
The group’s primary concern is to protect human rights. [main; most important]
Noun phrases
Academic language often uses complex noun phrases. For example, instead of saying Radiation was
accidentally released over a 24-hour period, damaging a wide area for a long time, an academic might
say The accidental release of radiation over a 24-hour period caused widespread long-term damage.
It is therefore important to learn the different forms of a word, for example:
noun verb adjective(s) adverb(s)
accident accidental accidentally
quantity/quantification quantify quantitative/quantifiable quantitatively/quantifiably
Finally, be aware of ‘chunks’ or
phrases which occur frequently, and
learn them as whole units. Examples:
in terms of, in addition to, for the most
part, in the case of, etc. (See Unit 16).
A
B
C
Language help
Using complex noun phrases improves your writing style and
can contribute to higher grades in essays and assignments.
Exercises
Academic Vocabulary in Use 11
The words in the box each have an everyday use and an academic use. Complete each
pair of sentences using the same word in the correct form.
generate turn solid confirm identify underline character pose nature focus
1 She loves to pose for photographs in front of her fabulous house.
The events pose a threat to stability in the region.
2 The photograph was useless. It was blurred and out of
Child poverty should be the of our attention in the coming years.
3 I went online and my flight reservation.
The data the hypothesis that animal-lovers enjoy better health.
4 The power plant electricity for the whole region.
This issue always a great deal of debate among academics.
5 The murderer was from fingerprints discovered at the scene.
In this theory of history, progress is closely with technology.
6 I saw her to her husband and whisper something in his ear.
Let us now to the subject of social networking.
7 He always every new word when he’s reading.
The study the fact that very little research exists.
8 The liquid became as the temperature was lowered.
The study lacks evidence and its conclusions are questionable.
Rewrite the underlined words using more formal words and phrases from B opposite.
1 The book is mainly concerned with the problem of policing the internet.
2 Almost every school in the county had reported problems with the new system.
3 The work of the Institute is not only devoted to cancer research.
4 Basically, we believe we have demonstrated a significant link between the two events.
5 Several research teams have had a shot at solving the problem, without success.
6 The reaction is typical of the way large corporations keep control of their markets.
Read the text and answer the questions.
1 Underline two verbs followed by adverbs
which it would be useful to learn as pairs.
2 Underline two adverbs next to each other
which it would be useful to learn together.
3 What are the noun forms of the verbs
produce, rely, discover and claim?
4 A novel is a kind of book, but what does
the adjective novel mean here?
Complete the second sentence using a noun phrase. Use a dictionary if necessary.
1 People who investigated the problem biologically came to no firm conclusions.
Biological investigations of the problem came to no firm conclusions.
2 When they developed antibiotics, it revolutionised medicine.
The antibiotics caused a in medicine.
3 They solved the problem by altering the deck of the bridge.
The to the problem was an to the deck of the bridge.
4 Exploring Antarctica has always been especially challenging.
The of Antarctica has always presented special .
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
The production of plastics depends heavily on
petroleum, but a novel way of making plastics out
of sugar could reduce our reliance on oil.
The discovery that a chemical in sugar can be
converted relatively easily into a substance similar
in structure to the material obtained from petroleum
has led to the claim that plastics could soon be
produced cheaply by the new method.
Over to you
Look at an academic text you have read recently and underline pairs of words which
you think it would be useful to learn and remember together.
12 Academic Vocabulary in Use
2 Key nouns
This unit focuses on some important nouns in academic English. See also Units 10, 11 and 15.
General nouns referring to ideas
She wrote an article on the subject of class. [thing which is being discussed, considered or studied]
The theme of the poem is emigration. [main subject of a talk, book, etc.]
The students were given a list of essay topics. [specific subjects that someone discusses or writes about]
There was a lively debate on the issue of globalisation. [important subject or problem]
Political theory is a popular undergraduate subject. Einstein’s theory of gravitation has been
questioned recently. [statement of the rules on which a subject of study is based or, more generally,
an opinion or explanation]
The model of climate change presented in the Stern Review seems to be becoming a reality.
[description of a system or process which explains how it works]
The book is called ‘The Nature of Intelligence’. [basic character of something]
Human behaviour is based on the principle of least eff ort. [basic idea or rule that explains how
something happens or works]
More specific nouns connected with ideas and phenomena
Repetition is an important aspect of speech development in children. [one individual part of a
situation, problem, subject, etc.]
Automatic backup is a feature of the new soft ware. [a typical quality that something has]
The political motives for the government’s actions are beyond the scope of this essay. [range of a
subject covered by a book, discussion, class, etc.]
The study revealed a pattern of results. [a regularly repeated arrangement]
During 2005, the number of violent attacks increased to an alarming degree. [amount or level]
Nouns referring to ways of thinking, processes and activities
Read these titles of academic books and articles. Note the key nouns and their prepositions.
A
B
C
1 importance 2 ability to establish the identity of something 3 judgement of the amount, quality
or importance of something 4 arguments and facts in support of or against something 5 way of
considering something 6 particular ways of considering something 7 understanding based on
experience or information 8 set of methods used when studying something
Common Mistake
Research is uncountable. Don’t say: They carried out some useful researches. To make it plural, say
research studies or pieces of research. Research is followed by on or into not of. Say, for example, do
research on/into memory loss.
Micro-organisms in water: their
signifi cance1 and identifi cation2
 e Case4 for Change: Rethinking Teacher
Education. Towards a New Approach5
Epidemiological research into asthma and allergic
disease: establishing a standardised methodology8
Renewable energy: a critical
assessment3 of recent research
6
7
Citizens’ Views
on Healthcare
Systems in the
European Union
Exercises
Academic Vocabulary in Use 13
Look at the nouns in A and B opposite and note the prepositions that are associated
with them. Answer the questions.
1 Which preposition oft en follows the nouns in both A and B?
2 Which preposition is oft en used before the nouns in A?
3 Which preposition would fill this gap – The postwar period is the scope of this
paper and will be dealt with in a later study.
Choose the best noun to complete each sentence.
1 Environmental topics / issues / principles should be at the top of today’s political agenda.
2 In the exam students had to choose three from a choice of ten essay subjects / theories / topics.
3 There are still people who are reluctant to accept Darwin’s nature / topic / theory of evolution.
4 The professor decided to take moral courage as the issue / theme / model for his inaugural lecture.
5 Economists used a model / principle / topic of human behaviour to help them forecast likely
inflation trends.
6 The Peter Issue / Principle / Theme states that members of a hierarchical group will usually end up
being promoted to the point at which they become incompetent.
Match the beginnings and endings of the sentences.
1 The study revealed a regular a scope of your research.
2 The research focuses on one particular b awareness of the problem.
3 The writer makes a powerful c issues facing the world today.
4 The writers take an original d into the environmental eff ects of nanoparticles.
5 Until recently there was little e approach to their theme.
6 I think you should broaden the f aspect of modern society.
7 To date, there has been little research g pattern of changes in temperature.
8 There are many important h case for restructuring parliament.
Correct the mistakes in the underlined phrases.
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
These book titles have been rephrased to sound more academic. Complete them using words
from the box.
assessment features identification nature patterns perspectives principles significance
1 What democracy is really like – The of Democracy
2 Why dreams are important – The of Dreams
3 What do we see in glaciated landscapes? – The of Glaciated Landscapes
4 How to evaluate language skills – The of Language Skills
5 Ways in which human behaviour repeats itself – of Human Behaviour
6 How to recognise diff erent species of bees – The of Bees
7 Thinking about taxation from diff erent angle – on Modern Taxation
8 How to make sure that a business is successful – The of Successful Business
2.5
1Recent researches that were carried out for a report by a government agency showed
that local police can play an important role in crime prevention. The report makes 2a
strong case of boosting the numbers of community police offi cers although it warns against
increasing police presence on the streets to an alarming degree. 3Its methodological was
based on a range of interviews asking members of the public for 4their views in how best
to prevent crime. Unfortunately, how to implement this recommendation was 5out of the
scope of the study but at least it serves a useful purpose in 6raising awareness to the issue.
14 Academic Vocabulary in Use
3 Key verbs
Key verbs for structuring academic assignments
Look at these tasks which students have been given.
A
1 which are part of/included in 2 organise and do 3 draw something in order to explain something
4 accepting something to be true 5 discover by calculating (see 6) 6 judge the number or
amount of something by adding, multiplying, subtracting or dividing numbers 7 shows, makes
clear 8 recognise someone or something and say or prove who or what they are
9 questions whether something is true 10 look at or consider carefully and in detail 11 give
More key verbs
These extracts from academic books contain more key verbs.
B
Noun forms of key verbs
In academic style, noun forms of key verbs are oft en used instead of the verbs.
key verb verb + noun form of key verb example
explain give/provide/off er an explanation
(of/for)
The model provides an explanation for the diff erences
between the two sets of data.
explore undertake / carry out an
exploration (of)
Kumar undertook an exploration of music genius.
emphasise place/put emphasis (on) The hospital puts a lot of emphasis on training.
describe give/provide a description (of) The book gives a description of modern Europe.
aff ect have an eff ect on Climate change has an eff ect on sea levels.
prove off er/provide proof (that) This research off ers proof that bees are on the decline.
C
1 divide things into groups according to their type 2 discovering or getting proof
of 3 explain 4 see is oft en used in the passive in academic style 5 given 6 proved 7 tries
Common Mistake
Notice the diff erence in spelling between the verb aff ect and the noun eff ect. Don’t confuse them.
The verb to eff ect means to make something happen. The invention of the world wide web eff ected
a transformation in global communications.
Discuss some of the problems involved1 in
investigating attitudes to diet and health. Write
a critical review of an investigation you have read
about, or describe an investigation you yourself
could conduct2. Consider the advantages and
disadvantages of different methods.
Starting from rest, an aircraft accelerates to its take-off
speed of 60 ms-1 in a distance of 900 metres. Illustrate3
this with a velocity-time graph. Assuming4 constant
acceleration, fi nd5 how long the take-off run lasts.
Hence calculate6 the acceleration.
7 8
9
In developing methods to explain the signifi cance
of health status measures, one can classify1 ways of
establishing2 quality of life into two main types.
Political theory attempts7 to build bridges between
diff erent schools of political thought.
Th e length of time spent on the tasks may account
for3 the decrease in motivation which was seen4
in many of the participants.
The data presented5 in Chapter 3 showed6 that
the age of the subjects was not the main factor.
Examine10 how industrial growth has aff ected
any two developing countries. Provide11
statistical evidence where necessary and
include a discussion of likely future trends.
Exercises
Academic Vocabulary in Use 15
Match the verbs from A in the box on the left with their synonyms in the box on the right.
aff ect attempt calculate challenge
demonstrate identify include
investigate provide
compute distinguish give influence
involve question show study try
Complete the sentences with the correct form of verbs from B opposite.
1 As can from Table II, participation figures have been steadily falling since 1970.
2 Diff erent authors have for the President’s actions in diff erent ways.
3 Mendel attempted to devise a system for the many diff erent types of pea plant that
he grew.
4 It is oft en most eff ective to your data in a chart or table.
5 The data we have collected that there has been a downward trend with regard to
job satisfaction over the last 50 years.
6 The aim of the research is to a new soft ware application which will help aviation
engineers design more sophisticated aircraft .
7 The archaeologists should be able to use carbon dating techniques to exactly how
old the bones are.
8 Charles Darwin to explain the existence of diff erent species in terms of evolution.
Explain the diff erence in meaning between each pair of sentences.
1 A Greig’s article supports Park’s theory. B Greig’s article challenges Park’s theory.
2 A Describe the new tax regulations. B Discuss the new tax regulations.
3 A Lodhi provides new data. B Lodhi considers new data.
4 A Titova conducted four sets of experiments. B Titova examined four sets of experiments.
5 A Lee established why such changes occur. B Lee investigated why such changes occur.
6 A Okaz assumed that the data were reliable. B Okaz proved that the data were reliable.
7 A Illustrate the magnitude of the deceleration. B Find the magnitude of the deceleration.
8 A The events eff ected economic development. B The events aff ected economic development.
Rewrite the underlined verbs using nouns from the box.
description emphasis explanation exploration
Complete the phrases with the correct noun forms
of the verbs. Use a dictionary if necessary.
1 investigate = conduct, carry out an
into/of
2 illustrate = provide an of
3 analyse = provide, carry out an of
4 aff ect = have an on
5 attempt = make an to/at
6 classify = make, provide a of
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
3.5
Over to you
Using the tasks in A as a model, prepare some assignment topics for students studying any subject
that you are familiar with.
Erikson’s (2005) book 1explains the
changing patterns of educational
achievement in children of poorer
families. She 2explores the relationship
between income, family background
and achievement at school and in
further education. The book 3describes
a study carried out in 12 inner-city
neighbourhoods. Erikson’s research
4emphasises the importance of support
within the home.
16 Academic Vocabulary in Use
4 Key adjectives
For any key adjective it is useful to note (a) whether it is typically followed by a specific preposition,
(b) what nouns it typically collocates with, (c) whether it has any antonyms (adjectives of opposite
meaning) and (d) whether it has any related nouns.
Adjectives and prepositions
Here are some extracts from academic texts, with adjectives followed by to or of.
A
1 true to a particular degree when it is being compared with other things connected with what is
happening or being discussed 2 connected with what is happening or being discussed
3 typical of 4 only found in 5 suitable or right for a particular situation or occasion
Some key adjectives and their typical noun collocates
There was an apparent1 discrepancy between the two sets of results.
We noted a potential2 problem with the experimental design which we had to deal with first.
The principal3
cause of the failure was a sudden temperature change.
The research used a rigorous4
methodology which had been tested on many occasions.
1 seeming to exist or be true 2 possible when the necessary conditions exist 3 first in order of
importance 4 careful to look at or consider every part of something to make certain it is correct
Adjectives and their opposites
Each sentence in this text on drug abuse contains a pair of adjectives which are opposites.
B
C
1 existing only as an idea, not as a material object 2 existing in a form that can be seen or felt
3 using or based on numbers and statistics 4 using non-number-based methods such as
interviews, focus groups, etc. 5 important or noticeable 6 fairly correct but not exact or detailed
Nouns related to adjectives
Oft en in academic style, a noun form of the key adjective is used.
I admire her simple style. I admire the simplicity of her style.
These statistics are less relevant. These statistics have less relevance.
D
Language development is conceived as
relative1 to one’s own past performance,
or relative to that of others.
Some of the responses to the questionnaire were
specifi c4 to young male respondents. Others
were common to all the respondents.
How can we make science relevant2 to
environmental policy? Poor communication between
scientists and politicians is characteristic3 of the
situation today.
We need to plan technologies which are appropriate5
to the needs of small farmers. It was typical of the
farmers in the study that they had a negative attitude
to technology.
1 2
3 4
5
6
Exercises
Academic Vocabulary in Use 17
Use the information in A opposite to correct the mistakes with prepositions in the sentences.
1 A lengthy discussion of the advantages of solar power is not relevant with this essay topic.
2 It is typical to the disease for it to start with an itchy rash.
3 This methodology is not appropriate about the kind of research you are planning.
4 The use of original metaphors is characteristic from the writer’s style.
5 Relative with previous explanations, this theory is quite persuasive.
6 Dark hair and eyes are common for all people from the region.
Complete the sentences with adjective and noun collocates from B opposite.
1 There is an in your figures.
2 Management’s refusal to listen to the workers’ demands was the of the riots.
3 Lamaque devised a for doing research in the field.
4 We spotted a with our procedure and so we changed it in two areas.
Replace the underlined adjectives with their opposites.
1 Karlsson checked the figures and agreed with me that they were accurate.
2 The solution to the problem is a simple one.
3 Make rough calculations before you begin to write up your results.
4 The army played a significant role in events.
5 Hernandez prefers to discuss ideas in abstract terms.
6 Volkova’s article reports on a fascinating piece of quantitative research.
Complete the sentences with adjectives from the box.
complex potential rigorous specific rough qualitative
1 The plant is difficult to grow and needs very conditions to survive.
2 His tutor was critical of his work for not being enough.
3 In the past the northern tribes looked on the tribes of the south as enemies.
4 We chose a approach to our research and interviewed individuals personally.
5 A set of circumstances led to a civil war in 1897.
6 The estimates that we made turned out to be surprisingly accurate.
Complete the table with nouns formed from the adjectives. Use a dictionary if necessary.
adjective noun adjective noun
appropriate complex
significant accurate
precise rigorous
Rewrite the underlined words using nouns formed from the adjectives.
1 The professor praised Carla for her rigorous work. The professor praised Carla for the rigour of her work.
2 The slight discrepancy in the two sets of figures is not significant.
3 The complex language used by the poet makes his work difficult to interpret.
4 You must be precise when taking measurements.
5 The later part of the book will be more relevant for next year’s course.
6 The tutor was pleased with how simple and appropriate our research proposal was.
4.1
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
Over to you
When you come across a key adjective from this unit in your reading, note it down in a phrase so you
build up a set of useful phrases using the adjective.
18 Academic Vocabulary in Use
5 Key adverbs
Adverbs that compare
adverb meaning example
comparatively/relatively in comparison with
something else
Our sample was relatively/comparatively
small.
especially/particularly more than usual The process was not especially/particularly
diff icult.
specially for a specific purpose We used specially designed equipment.
somewhat (opposite:
considerably)
(slightly formal) rather, to
some degree
The second experiment involved a
somewhat/considerably larger sample.
primarily mainly The article is primarily concerned with the
eff ects of pesticides.
mostly/largely almost completely (but not
totally so)
The project was largely/mostly successful.
directly (opposite: indirectly) without anything else
being involved
The illness is (in)directly linked to poor
housing.
Adverbs that relate to numbers or time
There are approximately 20,000 pairs of birds on the island. [around, about]
The figure of 17% is roughly equivalent to the decline in population in the north of the country from
1980 to 2010. [more or less]
The phenomenon occurs relatively frequently/infrequently. [oft en/not oft en]
We eventually obtained the figures we were hoping for, which were precisely the same as those
found by Rosenberg (2008). [in the end, aft er some time; completely and accurately]
Ultimately, we plan to repeat the study using exactly
the same number of informants. [finally, aft er other
things have been completed. Exactly is similar to
precisely, but is more oft en used to refer to numbers]
The team initially failed to establish the cause
of the death of the whales. [in the early stages]
Adverbs that relate to how things are stated
A
B
C
Common Mistake
Eventually means ‘aft er some time’. Use
finally or lastly when beginning the last point
in a discussion. Finally/Lastly, let us consider
the impact of tourism on local cultures.
1 referring to its main characteristics; also basically 2 openly 3 usually, also on the whole
4 not directly, suggested or implied rather than stated; opposite of explicitly
5 in particular; opposite of generally 6 in general, without considering minor details
Adverbs that restrict or limit
merely The medication will merely make the symptoms bearable; it will not cure the disease.
[exactly and nothing more]
simply Note that simply can have diff erent meanings. To put it simply, the risks of this approach
would seem to outweigh its advantages. [plainly] The book presents diff icult ideas simply, in a way
appropriate for the non-expert. [easily] The exam results were simply dreadful. [without doubt]
solely Certain events are solely confined to our planet. [only, involving nothing else]
D
Hall’s 1968 book essentially1 differs from his earlier work in that it is explicitly2 critical of the
government of the time. Generally3 his disapproval of government was only conveyed implicitly4 in
his previous works, but here he specifi cally5 condemns their handling of a number of issues. The
1968 work is more broadly6 in line with other political commentaries of the period.
Exercises
Academic Vocabulary in Use 19
Use the information in A and B opposite to explain the diff erence in meaning between
each pair of sentences.
1 A Heinrich’s experiments were mostly criticised on ethical grounds.
B Heinrich’s experiments were particularly criticised on ethical grounds.
2 A The results were somewhat surprising given the circumstances.
B The results were especially surprising given the circumstances.
3 A First-year students are directly aff ected by the new rules relating to tuition fees.
B First-year students are particularly aff ected by the new rules relating to tuition fees.
4 A The study was primarily concerned with urban alienation.
B The study was ultimately concerned with urban alienation.
5 A The team eventually obtained unpredicted results.
B The team frequently obtained unpredicted results.
Use the information in C and D opposite to choose the best adverbs to complete the text.
5.1
5.2
Replace the underlined adverbs with their opposites from the box . Use each adverb in
the box only once.
roughly generally exactly indirectly implicitly eventually infrequently precisely
1 There were roughly 350 people living in the village in 1958.
2 Floods happen frequently in this part of the country.
3 We investigated the problem and initially found some small errors in the calculations.
4 The temperature was exactly half a degree lower than the average.
5 Singh (1998) explicitly criticises existing theories of economic growth.
6 Soil erosion is specifically caused by water or wind.
7 The new results were broadly the same as the previous ones.
8 The disease is directly linked to environmental factors.
Underline the adverbs in the texts. Then answer the questions.
5.3
5.4
1 Which adverb means ‘in the same way’?
2 Find two pairs of adverbs that mean the opposite of
each other.
3 Which adverb means ‘a short time ago’?
4 Which adverb means ‘more and more’?
5 Which adverb could be substituted by seriously?
6 Which adverb means ‘for a limited time’?
What you are saying is 1essentially / merely true. To put it 2basically / simply, there is
3implicitly / basically no significant diff erence between the two writers’ theories. However,
one of them writes in a 4simply / solely dreadful style while the other has a style that is
5eventually / generally very impressive.
Over to you
Find an interesting article in your
discipline and underline all the key
adverbs. Then check that you understand
their meaning.
Marine conservationists are currently attempting
to save the world’s coral reefs. One plan is to
literally glue the damaged reefs back together,
using coral artifi cially raised in underwater
laboratories. Reefs are increasingly under attack
from human activity as well as from events
which occur naturally, such as hurricanes and
tsunamis. A recent UN report warns that 30%
of the world’s coral reefs have been completely
destroyed or are severely damaged.
Scientists have recently discovered that ants can
remember how many steps they have taken. By
carefully shortening or lengthening the legs of
ants, the team observed that short-legged ants
apparently became lost and could not easily fi nd
their way home to the nest. Similarly, ants with
longer legs typically travelled 50% further than
they needed to and were also temporarily unable
to fi nd the nest. It seems ants can defi nitely count
their steps.
20 Academic Vocabulary in Use
After completing her fi rst degree in zoology Meena went on to1
apply to graduate school. She wanted to work on2 animal behaviour
at a well-known institute in New Zealand. She set up3 a series of
experiments investigating how bees communicate. She has noticed
some curious behaviour patterns but has not yet worked out4 why
her bees behave as they do. What she has observed seems to go
against5 current theories of bee behaviour. When she has completed
all her research she will have to write it all up6.
6 Phrasal verbs in academic English
Although phrasal verbs occur most frequently in more informal spoken and written English, they are
also not uncommon in an academic context. You will hear them used in lectures and will read them
in serious journals. Of the phrasal verbs in this unit, only go/look back over and work out are not
appropriate for a formal written assignment.
Phrasal verbs and one-word synonyms
Phrasal verbs oft en have one-word synonyms. These sound more formal than their phrasal verb
equivalent but both are appropriate when writing or talking about academic subjects. Vary your
language by using both.
phrasal verb synonym example
put forward (an idea/view/opinion/
theory/plan)
present In her latest article Kaufmann puts forward a
theory which is likely to prove controversial.
carry out (an experiment / research) conduct I intend to carry out a series of experiments.
make up constitute Children under the age of 15 make up nearly half
of the country’s population.
be made up of consist of Parliament is made up of two houses.
point out observe Grenne points out that the increase in life
expectancy has led to some economic problems.
point up highlight The study points up the weaknesses in the current
school system.
set out (to do something) aim In his article Losanov sets out to prove that …
set out describe The document sets out the terms of the treaty.
go into discuss In this book Sergeant goes into the causes
of the Civil War in some depth.
go/look back over revise, review * Please go/look back over this term’s notes.
go through check Go through your calculations carefully.
*Revise is the BrE synonym and review the AmE synonym. (Revise in AmE only means to edit or
change something to make it better; review is not used in BrE in the context of preparing for a test
as focused on here.)
Carrying out research
A
B
1 do something aft er doing something else 2 study, work in the field of 3 prepared, arranged
4 come to a conclusion about 5 not be in agreement with 6 (of an important document) write
in a final form
Language help
Consult a good dictionary when you use phrasal verbs in your writing. For example, a good dictionary
tells you when the object can be used before the particle (e.g. write your results up) and when it
cannot (e.g. this goes against current theories).
Exercises
Academic Vocabulary in Use 21
Rewrite the underlined words using phrasal verbs from A opposite.
1 We conducted a series of experiments to test out our hypothesis.
2 Before the test you should revise Chapters 7 and 8 of your textbooks.
3 In his article on the American Civil War Kingston discusses the reasons why the situation
developed in the way it did.
4 Cole presents some fascinating theories on the development of language in his latest book.
5 The psychologist observed that it was very unusual for a young child to behave in this way.
6 Please check your work carefully before handing it in.
7 Simpson’s book aims to prove that the Chinese reached America long before the Vikings.
8 Women now constitute over half the student population in universities in this country.
Complete the paragraph with the missing words.
6.1
6.2
Match the beginnings and endings of the sentences.
1 Feudal society was made
2 Carlson was the first to put
3 Her results appear to go
4 The investigation pointed
5 It took him a long time to work
6 The geography book sets
a forward a convincing theory with regard to this question.
b up the flaws in the school’s testing methods.
c out the solution to the algebra problem.
d out a lot of basic information about all the world’s countries.
e against what she had found in her earlier studies.
f up of clearly defined classes of people.
Complete the collocations for the phrasal verbs. Choose nouns relevant in an academic
context. Use a dictionary if necessary.
1 to carry out research
2 to write up
3 to put forward
4 to point up
5 to go through
6 to set up
6.3
6.4
Over to you
Look through an article on an academic subject that interests you. Copy out any sentences that you
find using phrasal verbs. If there is a one-word synonym for the phrasal verb, make a note of it too.
As part of my MA I’ve been researching language acquisition.
I’ve been working 1 how young children learn their
mother tongue. I’ve been carrying 2 experiments to
see how much reading to young children affects their language
development. I’ve had a great supervisor who has helped me set
3 my experiments and she’s also pointed
4 lots of interesting things in my data that I hadn’t
noticed myself. I’m busy writing my work 5 now
and I think I should be able to put 6 some useful
ideas. It’s been really fascinating and I hope I may be able to
go 7 to do a doctorate in the same fi eld although I
certainly never set 8 to do a PhD.