All the words below are from real CPE Listening exam questions (Book 2, Test 1) where the words in the listening text are different from those in the question. Brainstorm what you might hear when these things are referred to, usually meaning words with the same meaning, but also examples of that thing or opposite words. The words which occur in the exam are indicated by a “=” if they were synonyms, “e.g.” if they were examples or “–” if they were opposites, but other categories of words are fine if you can’t manage that one.
frustrating =
a satisfactory conclusion =
so much money =
the question that scientists are trying to solve =
gesture, e.g.
make a sound =
rhythm =
in real time =
has been manipulated, e.g.
interests people =
thinking something up =
adapted =
prevented by regulation =
safety –
protection =
lost his professional status =
legal battles =
studies =
concerned =
in legal contexts =
reasonable =
successfully =
differences =
knew a lot more about the topic =
effective sharing =
successful –
depend on =
vulnerable =
in contrast =
interesting =
scientific evidence =
culture =
good reputation =
practical –
well-paid =
specialise =
lacking =
challenging/ hard work =
surprisingly wide =
difficult/ unlikely =
————————
Mixed answers
Match the words below to those above. The meaning and/ or grammar is not always exactly the same (because of the lack of context here), but there should only be one way of matching up all the words above and below.
a moment of inspiration
a pain
anomalies
carve out a niche area of expertise
civilization
effectively
facial movement
fascinating
gruelling
hampered
hard facts
in danger
in the forensic setting
it paid off in the end
live (adj)
lucrative
modified
not allowed
our entire budget
pattern of sounds and intervals between them
pulls them in
regard (n)
rely on
research
risk
safeguarding
staged
struggle with the law
successful collaboration
the expert on the whole thing
the issue
the odds are pretty long
theoretical
understandable
unlike/ compared to
vocalise
wanting
was stripped of his license
way beyond what you would think
worried
—————————-
Suggested answers
Many more synonyms etc are possible, so if you wrote something different in the first stage, check with your teacher if it really is sufficiently similar.
frustrating = a pain
a satisfactory conclusion = it paid off in the end
so much money = our entire budget
the question that scientists are trying to solve = the issue
gesture, e.g. facial movement
make a sound = vocalise
rhythm = pattern of sounds and intervals between them
in real time = live (adj)
has been manipulated, e.g. staged
interests people = pulls them in
thinking something up = a moment of inspiration
adapted = modified
prevented by regulation = not allowed
safety – risk
protection = safeguarding
lost his professional status = was stripped of his license
legal battles = struggle with the law
studies = research
concerned = worried
in legal contexts = in the forensic setting
reasonable = understandable
successfully = effectively
differences = anomalies
knew a lot more about the topic = the expert on the whole thing
effective sharing = successful collaboration
successful – hampered
depend on = rely on
vulnerable = in danger
in contrast = unlike/ compared to
interesting = fascinating
scientific evidence = hard facts
culture = civilization
good reputation = regard (n)
practical – theoretical
well-paid = lucrative
specialise = carve out a niche area of expertise
lacking = wanting
challenging/ hard work = gruelling
surprisingly wide = way beyond what you would think
difficult/ unlikely = the odds are pretty long
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PDF for easy saving and printing: synonyms-and-antonyms-in-cambridge-proficiency-listening
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