CAE Vocabulary Flashcards

Which of these is a correct use of the word 'notorious'?

Answer: The gang was notorious for its violent crimes.

'Notorious' carries a negative connotation and means famous for something bad; it would be incorrect to use it for positive qualities.

What does the word 'lucid' mean in 'Her lucid explanation made the concept easy to understand'?

Answer: Clear and easy to understand

'Lucid' means clear, easy to understand, and logically expressed; it is often used to describe explanations, writing, or speech.

Choose the correct word: 'The government _______ a new law banning single-use plastics.'

Answer: enacted

'Enact a law' is the formal collocated phrase used in legal and governmental contexts; 'make a law' is acceptable but less formal, and 'did/created a law' are not standard collocations.

The phrase 'on the whole' is used to mean:

Answer: In general, considering everything together

'On the whole' is a discourse marker meaning 'generally speaking' or 'taking everything into account', used to introduce a general conclusion.

Which word correctly fills the gap: 'The new software has several _______ features that the old version lacked'?

Answer: innovative

'Innovative' is the adjective form needed to modify the noun 'features'; 'innovation' is a noun, 'innovating' is a participle, and 'innovatively' is an adverb.

What is the difference between 'economic' and 'economical'?

Answer: 'Economic' relates to the economy; 'economical' means using resources efficiently

'Economic' relates to the economy or financial systems, while 'economical' describes something that saves money or uses resources without waste.