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Unit 8: Art
Adjectives and adverbs

Select a unit

1 Pop-ups
2 Hidden talents
3 Can't buy me love
4 Travellers' tales
5 The colleague from hell
6 Jurassic mystery: unpacking the past
7 Career changes
8 Art
9 Project management
10 The dog ate my homework!
11 The diary of a double agent
12 Fashion forward
13 Flat pack skyscrapers
14 Extreme sports
15 Food fads
16 Me, my selfie and I
17 Endangered animals
18 A nip and a tuck: cosmetic surgery
19 I'm really sorry...
20 Telling stories
21 Fakes and phrasals
22 Looking to the future
23 Becoming familiar with things
24 From rags to riches
25 Against the odds
26 Our future on Mars?
27 Where is it illegal to get a fish drunk?
28 Dodgy dating
29 Annoying advice
30 I'll have been studying English for thirty weeks

Sessions
Vocabulary reference
Grammar reference

Session 1

In this unit we look at words like dessert and desert, bored and boring. Learners of English often find it difficult to choose the right one. Do you? Practise using easily confused words with us.

Sessions in this unit

1 2 3 4

Session 1 score

0 / 16

0 / 0
Activity 1
0 / 6
Activity 2
0 / 10
Activity 3

Activity 1
Activity 2
Activity 3

Activity 3

Dessert in the desert

Listening practice

You've practised these easily confused words in a written context. But somtimes it's useful to test your listening skills too. Can you tell which words are used in these spoken sentences? And are the words right or wrong?

To do

Listen to the recording. In it you will hear eight example sentences. If the sentence uses the right word, drag it into the 'Right' column. If it's wrong, drag it into the 'Wrong' column.

Note

The words desert and dessert are pronounced slightly differently. Desert stresses the first syllable: DEsert. Dessert stresses the second syllable: deSSERT.

Listen to the audio and complete the activity

That doesn't sound right...

10 Questions

Listen to the recording. In it there are ten example sentences. Each of them contains at least one easily confused word. Are the words used correctly? If so, drag the example into the 'RIght' column, if not choose the 'Wrong' column

Help

Activity

Hint

You don't eat this...

Help

Activity

Hint

This time we need the one you eat...

Help

Activity

Hint

What do you get after buying something?

Help

Activity

Hint

This example has two different easily confused words... are they both right?

Help

Activity

Hint

What are the things you need to make a dish of food?

Help

Activity

Hint

'Bored' describes your feelings...

Help

Activity

Hint

'Boring' describes something that is not interesting at all

Help

Activity

Hint

If you feel upset about something, you are ______ about it

Help

Activity

Hint

If you feel upset about something, you are ______ about it

Help

Activity

Hint

You need the word that means the things contained within another thing

Question 1 of 10

Help

Example 1

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgd2hvbGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzICJXZSBzcGVudCB0aHJlZSB3ZWVrcyBvbiBob2xpZGF5IGluIHRoZSBkZXNzZXJ0IiwgYnV0IGl0IHNob3VsZCBoYXZlIGJlZW4gIldlIHNwZW50IHRocmVlIHdlZWtzIG9uIGhvbGlkYXkgaW4gdGhlIGRlc2VydCIu

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHdob2xlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhcyAiV2Ugc3BlbnQgdGhyZWUgd2Vla3Mgb24gaG9saWRheSBpbiB0aGUgZGVzc2VydCIsIGJ1dCBpdCBzaG91bGQgaGF2ZSBiZWVuICJXZSBzcGVudCB0aHJlZSB3ZWVrcyBvbiBob2xpZGF5IGluIHRoZSBkZXNlcnQiLg==

Example 2

VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0LiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiSSBsb3ZlIGVhdGluZyBkZXNzZXJ0LiBUaGVyZSdzIG5vdGhpbmcgbGlrZSBhIGJvd2wgb2YgaWNlLWNyZWFtLiIgRGVzc2VydHMgYXJlIGZvciBlYXRpbmcsIG5vdCBkZXNlcnRzLi4u

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIkkgbG92ZSBlYXRpbmcgZGVzc2VydC4gVGhlcmUncyBub3RoaW5nIGxpa2UgYSBib3dsIG9mIGljZS1jcmVhbS4iIERlc3NlcnRzIGFyZSBmb3IgZWF0aW5nLCBub3QgZGVzZXJ0cy4uLg==

Example 3

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiVGhhdCdzIMKjMyBzaXIsIHdvdWxkIHlvdSBsaWtlIGEgcmVjZWlwdD8iIEEgJ3JlY2VpcHQnIGlzIHdoYXQgeW91IGdldCBhZnRlciBidXlpbmcgc29tZXRoaW5nLCBub3QgYSByZWNpcGUu

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIlRoYXQncyDCozMgc2lyLCB3b3VsZCB5b3UgbGlrZSBhIHJlY2VpcHQ/IiBBICdyZWNlaXB0JyBpcyB3aGF0IHlvdSBnZXQgYWZ0ZXIgYnV5aW5nIHNvbWV0aGluZywgbm90IGEgcmVjaXBlLg==

Example 4

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzICJUaGlzIHJlY2lwZSBvbmx5IGhhcyBhIGZldyBpbmdyZWRpZW50cy4iIEJvdGggJ3JlY2lwZScgYW5kICdpbmdyZWRpZW50cycgd2VyZSB1c2VkIGNvcnJlY3RseSBoZXJlLg==

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhcyAiVGhpcyByZWNpcGUgb25seSBoYXMgYSBmZXcgaW5ncmVkaWVudHMuIiBCb3RoICdyZWNpcGUnIGFuZCAnaW5ncmVkaWVudHMnIHdlcmUgdXNlZCBjb3JyZWN0bHkgaGVyZS4=

Example 5

VGhhdCdzIHJpZ2h0LiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiSSBkb24ndCBoYXZlIGFsbCB0aGUgY29udGVudHMgSSBuZWVkIHRvIG1ha2UgdGhhdCBjYWtlLiIgSXQgc2hvdWxkIGhhdmUgYmVlbjogIkkgZG9uJ3QgaGF2ZSBhbGwgdGhlIGluZ3JlZGllbnRzIEkgbmVlZCB0byBtYWtlIHRoYXQgY2FrZS4i

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIkkgZG9uJ3QgaGF2ZSBhbGwgdGhlIGNvbnRlbnRzIEkgbmVlZCB0byBtYWtlIHRoYXQgY2FrZS4iIEl0IHNob3VsZCBoYXZlIGJlZW46ICJJIGRvbid0IGhhdmUgYWxsIHRoZSBpbmdyZWRpZW50cyBJIG5lZWQgdG8gbWFrZSB0aGF0IGNha2UuIg==

Example 6

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiTXkgam9iIGlzIHJlYWxseSBib3JlZC4gSXQncyB0aGUgc2FtZSBldmVyeSBkYXkuIiBJdCBzaG91bGQgaGF2ZSBiZWVuOiBNeSBqb2IgaXMgcmVhbGx5IGJvcmluZy4gSXQncyB0aGUgc2FtZSBldmVyeSBkYXku

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodCwgVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIk15IGpvYiBpcyByZWFsbHkgYm9yZWQuIEl0J3MgdGhlIHNhbWUgZXZlcnkgZGF5LiIgSXQgc2hvdWxkIGhhdmUgYmVlbjogTXkgam9iIGlzIHJlYWxseSBib3JpbmcuIEl0J3MgdGhlIHNhbWUgZXZlcnkgZGF5Lg==

Example 7

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiSSBmZWx0IHJlYWxseSBib3JpbmcgeWVzdGVyZGF5LiBJIGhhZCBub3RoaW5nIHRvIGRvIGFsbCBkYXkuIiBJdCBzaG91bGQgaGF2ZSBiZWVuOiBJdCBmZWx0IHJlYWxseSBib3JpbmcgeWVzdGVyZGF5LiBJIGhhZCBub3RoaW5nIHRvIGRvIGFsbCBkYXkiIG9yICJJIGZlbHQgcmVhbGx5IGJvcmVkIHllc3RlcmRheS4gSSBoYWQgbm90aGluZyB0byBkbyBhbGwgZGF5LiI=

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIkkgZmVsdCByZWFsbHkgYm9yaW5nIHllc3RlcmRheS4gSSBoYWQgbm90aGluZyB0byBkbyBhbGwgZGF5LiIgSXQgc2hvdWxkIGhhdmUgYmVlbjogSXQgZmVsdCByZWFsbHkgYm9yaW5nIHllc3RlcmRheS4gSSBoYWQgbm90aGluZyB0byBkbyBhbGwgZGF5IiBvciAiSSBmZWx0IHJlYWxseSBib3JlZCB5ZXN0ZXJkYXkuIEkgaGFkIG5vdGhpbmcgdG8gZG8gYWxsIGRheS4i

Example 8

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiTWF1cmljZSBkb2Vzbid0IGxpa2UgaGlzIGhhaXIgY29sb3VyLiBIZSdzIHF1aXRlIHNlbnNpYmxlIGFib3V0IGl0LiIgQnV0IGl0IHNob3VsZCBoYXZlIGJlZW46ICJIZSdzIHF1aXRlIHNlbnNpdGl2ZSBhYm91dCBpdC4i

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIk1hdXJpY2UgZG9lc24ndCBsaWtlIGhpcyBoYWlyIGNvbG91ci4gSGUncyBxdWl0ZSBzZW5zaWJsZSBhYm91dCBpdC4iIEJ1dCBpdCBzaG91bGQgaGF2ZSBiZWVuOiAiSGUncyBxdWl0ZSBzZW5zaXRpdmUgYWJvdXQgaXQuIg==

Example 9

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiV2h5IGFyZSB5b3Ugc28gc2Vuc2l0aXZlPyBZb3Ugc2hvdWxkIGxlYXJuIHRvIGlnbm9yZSB3aGF0IHBlb3BsZSBzYXkuIiA=

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIldoeSBhcmUgeW91IHNvIHNlbnNpdGl2ZT8gWW91IHNob3VsZCBsZWFybiB0byBpZ25vcmUgd2hhdCBwZW9wbGUgc2F5LiI=

Example 10

V2VsbCBkb25lLiBUaGUgc2VudGVuY2Ugd2FzOiAiQWxsIHRoZSBpbmdyZWRpZW50cyBpbiBoZXIgcHVyc2UgZmVsbCBvdXQgd2hlbiBzaGUgb3BlbmVkIGl0IGluIHRoZSBzaG9wLiIgQnV0IGl0IHNob3VsZCBoYXZlIGJlZW46ICJBbGwgdGhlIGNvbnRlbnRzIG9mIGhlciBwdXJzZSBmZWxsIG91dCB3aGVuIHNoZSBvcGVuZWQgaXQgaW4gdGhlIHNob3AuIg==

VGhhdCdzIG5vdCByaWdodC4gVGhlIHNlbnRlbmNlIHdhczogIkFsbCB0aGUgaW5ncmVkaWVudHMgaW4gaGVyIHB1cnNlIGZlbGwgb3V0IHdoZW4gc2hlIG9wZW5lZCBpdCBpbiB0aGUgc2hvcC4iIEJ1dCBpdCBzaG91bGQgaGF2ZSBiZWVuOiAiQWxsIHRoZSBjb250ZW50cyBvZiBoZXIgcHVyc2UgZmVsbCBvdXQgd2hlbiBzaGUgb3BlbmVkIGl0IGluIHRoZSBzaG9wLiI=

Questions complete. Click "Check my answers" to continue

Right

Wrong

You got all the answers correct

Some of the answers you gave were incorrect

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:

x / y

Feedback Summary

Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored: x / y

Example 1

Incorrect

Example 2

Incorrect

Example 3

Incorrect

Example 4

Incorrect

Example 5

Incorrect

Example 6

Incorrect

Example 7

Incorrect

Example 8

Incorrect

Example 9

Incorrect

Example 10

Incorrect

That doesn't sound right...

10 Questions

Help

Activity

Hint

You don't eat this...

Question 1 of 10

Help

Example 1

a Right

b Wrong

You don't eat this...

Well done. The whole sentence was "We spent three weeks on holiday in the dessert", but it should have been "We spent three weeks on holiday in the desert".

That's not right. The whole sentence was "We spent three weeks on holiday in the dessert", but it should have been "We spent three weeks on holiday in the desert".

Help

Activity

Hint

This time we need the one you eat...

Question 2 of 10

Help

Example 2

a Right

b Wrong

This time we need the one you eat...

That's right. The sentence was: "I love eating dessert. There's nothing like a bowl of ice-cream." Desserts are for eating, not deserts...

That's not right. The sentence was: "I love eating dessert. There's nothing like a bowl of ice-cream." Desserts are for eating, not deserts...

Help

Activity

Hint

What do you get after buying something?

Question 3 of 10

Help

Example 3

a Right

b Wrong

What do you get after buying something?

Well done. The sentence was: "That's £3 sir, would you like a receipt?" A 'receipt' is what you get after buying something, not a recipe.

That's not right. The sentence was: "That's £3 sir, would you like a receipt?" A 'receipt' is what you get after buying something, not a recipe.

Help

Activity

Hint

This example has two different easily confused words... are they both right?

Question 4 of 10

Help

Example 4

a Right

b Wrong

This example has two different easily confused words... are they both right?

Well done. The sentence was "This recipe only has a few ingredients." Both 'recipe' and 'ingredients' were used correctly here.

That's not right. The sentence was "This recipe only has a few ingredients." Both 'recipe' and 'ingredients' were used correctly here.

Help

Activity

Hint

What are the things you need to make a dish of food?

Question 5 of 10

Help

Example 5

a Right

b Wrong

What are the things you need to make a dish of food?

That's right. The sentence was: "I don't have all the contents I need to make that cake." It should have been: "I don't have all the ingredients I need to make that cake."

That's not right. The sentence was: "I don't have all the contents I need to make that cake." It should have been: "I don't have all the ingredients I need to make that cake."

Help

Activity

Hint

'Bored' describes your feelings...

Question 6 of 10

Help

Example 6

a Right

b Wrong

'Bored' describes your feelings...

Well done. The sentence was: "My job is really bored. It's the same every day." It should have been: My job is really boring. It's the same every day.

That's not right, The sentence was: "My job is really bored. It's the same every day." It should have been: My job is really boring. It's the same every day.

Help

Activity

Hint

'Boring' describes something that is not interesting at all

Question 7 of 10

Help

Example 7

a Right

b Wrong

'Boring' describes something that is not interesting at all

Well done. The sentence was: "I felt really boring yesterday. I had nothing to do all day." It should have been: It felt really boring yesterday. I had nothing to do all day" or "I felt really bored yesterday. I had nothing to do all day."

That's not right. The sentence was: "I felt really boring yesterday. I had nothing to do all day." It should have been: It felt really boring yesterday. I had nothing to do all day" or "I felt really bored yesterday. I had nothing to do all day."

Help

Activity

Hint

If you feel upset about something, you are ______ about it

Question 8 of 10

Help

Example 8

a Right

b Wrong

If you feel upset about something, you are ______ about it

Well done. The sentence was: "Maurice doesn't like his hair colour. He's quite sensible about it." But it should have been: "He's quite sensitive about it."

That's not right. The sentence was: "Maurice doesn't like his hair colour. He's quite sensible about it." But it should have been: "He's quite sensitive about it."

Help

Activity

Hint

If you feel upset about something, you are ______ about it

Question 9 of 10

Help

Example 9

a Right

b Wrong

If you feel upset about something, you are ______ about it

Well done. The sentence was: "Why are you so sensitive? You should learn to ignore what people say."

That's not right. The sentence was: "Why are you so sensitive? You should learn to ignore what people say."

Help

Activity

Hint

You need the word that means the things contained within another thing

Question 10 of 10

Help

Example 10

a Right

b Wrong

You need the word that means the things contained within another thing

Well done. The sentence was: "All the ingredients in her purse fell out when she opened it in the shop." But it should have been: "All the contents of her purse fell out when she opened it in the shop."

That's not right. The sentence was: "All the ingredients in her purse fell out when she opened it in the shop." But it should have been: "All the contents of her purse fell out when she opened it in the shop."

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored:

x / y

Feedback Summary

Excellent! Great job! Bad luck! You scored: x / y

Example 1

Incorrect

Example 2

Incorrect

Example 3

Incorrect

Example 4

Incorrect

Example 5

Incorrect

Example 6

Incorrect

Example 7

Incorrect

Example 8

Incorrect

Example 9

Incorrect

Example 10

Incorrect

End of Session 1

That's the end of this session. We hope you're now more confident when using these easily confused words. And don't worry, if these are too easy for you, there are lots more easily confused words in English for you to master!

Session Vocabulary

sensible
acting with good judgement

sensitive
easily upset

boring
not interesting at all

bored
feeling uninterested or with nothing to do

desert
an area of land with sand and rock where very little grows and there is little rain

dessert
a sweet dish at the end of a meal

recipe
instructions for making or preparing food

receipt
a small document, either paper or electronic, that shows you have paid money for something

contents
all the things that are inside something else

ingredients
individual parts that are combined to make something else, often food

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Unit 8: ArtAdjectives and adverbs

Session 1

Sessions in this unit

Session 1 score

Activity 3

Dessert in the desert

Listening practice

To do

Note

That doesn't sound right...

Help

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That doesn't sound right...

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Hint

End of Session 1

Session Vocabulary

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Unit 8: Art
Adjectives and adverbs