Vocabulary
English Grammar Lower Intermediate (A2) · 29 lessons
What is the meaning of 'get up'?
A. To rise from sleep ✓
"Get up" means to wake and leave your bed—the opposite action of lying down to sleep.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (Go to bed) – This is the opposite; it's when you lie down to sleep, not rise from it.
- C (Take a nap) – A nap is sleeping during the day, not waking up.
- D (Fall asleep) – This means entering sleep, not leaving it.
Which phrasal verb means 'to wear'?
Correct answer: Put on
"Put on" means to wear or dress yourself in clothing. Example: "I put on my coat before leaving."
Why the others are wrong:
- Take off means to remove clothing (the opposite of wear)
- Look for means to search for something
- Give away means to donate or hand something to someone
What does 'come in' mean?
A. To enter — Correct. "Come in" means to move into a space or room (e.g., "Come in!" when opening a door for someone).
B. To go out — Wrong. This is the opposite direction; "go out" means to leave or exit.
C. To leave — Wrong. This also means the opposite; leaving is moving away, not arriving.
D. To stay — Wrong. "Stay" means to remain in one place, not to arrive or enter somewhere.
What is the difference between 'do' and 'make'?
Why A is correct:
'Do' covers general actions and tasks (do homework, do the dishes, do exercise). 'Make' specifically means to create or build something (make a cake, make furniture, make a decision).
Why the others are wrong:
- B: Backwards. 'Make' isn't for general actions; 'do' is.
- C & D: Too strict. Both 'do' and 'make' can be used with or without objects. You can "do well" (no object) or "make progress" (no object), so these rules don't hold up.
Who is usually called 'uncle' in a family?
Why A is correct:
Your parent's brother is your uncle by definition—this is the standard family relationship term.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (male cousin): A male cousin is called a cousin, not uncle (unless in some cultures where "uncle" is used more broadly, but this isn't standard English kinship).
- C (grandfather): Your grandfather has his own specific title and is from an older generation, not your parent's generation.
- D (stepfather): A stepfather is your parent's spouse, not their sibling, so he'd be called stepfather or dad, not uncle.
What is the job of a firefighter?
A. To extinguish fires ✓
This is correct because putting out fires is the primary and most important responsibility of firefighters. They train extensively to safely control and eliminate fires to protect people and property.
B. To work with computers ✗
While firefighters may use computers for records or dispatch, this isn't their main job.
C. To take care of children ✗
That's the job of childcare workers or teachers, not firefighters.
D. To sell products ✗
This describes retail or sales workers, which is completely different from firefighting.
What mode of transportation is commonly used for long journeys?
A. Train — CORRECT
Trains carry many passengers over long distances efficiently, with comfortable seating and amenities for hours of travel. They're affordable and reliable for journeys between cities.
B. Taxi — Wrong
Taxis are designed for short, local trips in cities. They're expensive for long distances and uncomfortable for extended journeys.
C. Bicycle — Wrong
Bicycles are only practical for short distances. They're slow and physically exhausting for long journeys.
D. Scooter — Wrong
Scooters (like motorized or kick scooters) are for short urban commutes, not long-distance travel. They're uncomfortable and impractical for extended trips.
What do you usually do for breakfast?
A. Eat cereal ✓
Cereal is the most common, practical breakfast choice—quick, simple, and what most people eat regularly.
B. Drink coffee ✗
Coffee is a *beverage*, not a full breakfast meal. While many people drink it at breakfast, it doesn't answer what you "do for breakfast."
C. Have steak ✗
Steak is too heavy and uncommon for a typical breakfast; it's usually a dinner food.
D. Cook 3-course meal ✗
Most people don't have time for elaborate multi-course breakfasts on a regular basis—this is unrealistic for "usually."
Which adjective describes a person who is very generous?
Correct answer: A. Kind-hearted
A kind-hearted person is generous because they have a good nature and genuinely want to help others—they give freely and willingly.
Why the others are wrong:
- B. Selfish – The opposite of generous; selfish people keep things for themselves
- C. Greedy – Also opposite; greedy people want more for themselves, not less
- D. Careless – Means not paying attention; it has nothing to do with generosity
What is usually prescribed to treat a cough?
Why A is correct:
Cough syrup is specifically designed to treat coughs—it contains active ingredients like dextromethorphan (DM) or codeine that suppress the cough reflex or soothe irritated airways.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (Antibiotics): Only work if the cough is caused by a bacterial infection; they don't treat the cough itself and won't help viral coughs.
- C (Painkillers): Treat pain and fever, not the cough mechanism.
- D (Vitamins): Support overall health but don't treat active coughs.
What is the opposite of 'artificial'?
Why A is correct:
"Artificial" means made or created by humans, so its opposite is "natural"—something that exists or occurs in nature without human intervention.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (Synthetic) and C (Man-made) are actually synonyms of "artificial," not opposites—they both mean created by humans.
- D (Fake) is related to "artificial" but not its true opposite; something can be artificially made but still real and genuine (like artificial sweetener).
What is the common way to store food at home?
Why A is correct:
Refrigerators are the standard way to store most perishable foods at home because cold temperatures slow bacterial growth and keep food fresh longer.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (Cupboard): Good for dry goods like pasta or canned items, but not for foods that spoil easily
- C (Drawer): Drawers aren't designed for food storage and don't maintain proper temperature or protection
- D (Basket): Baskets lack temperature control and protection, so food spoils quickly
What do you wear when it's cold outside?
A. A coat ✓
A coat is the best answer because it covers your whole body and is specifically designed to trap heat and protect you from cold temperatures.
Why the others are wrong:
- B. A hat – While hats help, they only cover your head. You need full-body protection when it's cold.
- C. A t-shirt – T-shirts are thin and provide almost no warmth in cold weather.
- D. A swimsuit – Swimsuits are for water and expose most of your body, making you even colder.
Which part of the body is used for smelling?
A. Nose ✓
Your nose contains special sensory cells that detect odors in the air. When you breathe, scent particles enter your nasal passages and trigger these cells, which send signals to your brain so you can smell.
B. Ear ✗
The ear is for hearing, not smelling. It picks up sound vibrations, not odor particles.
C. Mouth ✗
While your mouth can taste flavors, tasting is different from smelling. (Though taste and smell work together!)
D. Hand ✗
Your hands can touch and feel textures, but they don't detect odors the way your nose does.
Which animal is known for its long neck?
Giraffe (A) is correct:
Giraffes have extraordinarily long necks—up to 6 feet—which they use to reach leaves high in trees that other animals can't access. This is their most distinctive physical feature.
Why the others are wrong:
- Elephant (B): Known for its long trunk, not neck
- Lion (C): A big cat with a normal neck; known for its mane instead
- Hippopotamus (D): Actually has a very short, thick neck
What is the term used to describe the state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place?
Weather is correct because it specifically refers to atmospheric conditions (temperature, precipitation, wind, clouds) at a particular time and location—like "it's rainy today in Boston."
Climate is wrong because it describes long-term average patterns over decades or centuries, not current conditions.
Temperature is wrong because it's only one element of atmospheric conditions, not the term for all of them combined.
Season is wrong because it's a broad period of the year with general weather patterns, not a specific state of the atmosphere at one moment and place.
What is the difference between 'say' and 'tell'?
Why A is correct:
'Say' focuses on *what* was spoken: "She said, 'Hello'" or "He said goodbye." 'Tell' focuses on *who* you're communicating with and requires mentioning that person: "She told me a story" or "He told them the truth." You can say something without an audience, but you must tell *someone*.
Why B is wrong:
This reverses it. 'Tell' is about the person, not the words themselves.
Why C is wrong:
'Say' doesn't always need a direct object—you can just "say" without naming who you're talking to.
Why D is wrong:
While 'tell' typically needs a direct object (the person), 'say' doesn't require one.
What does 'get out' mean?
A. To leave the place ✓
"Get out" is a common phrasal verb meaning to depart or exit from somewhere. You might say "Let's get out of here!" when you want to leave.
Why the others are wrong:
- B. To go to sleep – That would be "get to bed" or "turn in," not "get out"
- C. To relax – "Get out" doesn't mean to relax; you might "chill out" instead
- D. To eat breakfast – There's no connection between "get out" and eating breakfast
What does 'get over' mean?
A. To recover ✓
"Get over" means to recover from something difficult—like getting over an illness or a breakup. It means you move past it and feel better.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (Take off): That's "get off" or "take off," not "get over"
- C (Clean): "Get over" has nothing to do with cleaning
- D (Cook): There's no connection between "get over" and cooking
What does 'come over' mean?
A. To come to a place ✓
"Come over" means to visit someone or arrive at a location—like when you say "come over to my house." It involves movement toward a place.
Why the others are wrong:
- B. To leave a place – That's the opposite meaning; "go away" or "leave" means to depart.
- C. To stand still – "Come over" requires movement, not staying in one spot.
- D. To jump – While you might jump as part of coming over, that's not what the phrase means.
What is a common everyday activity?
Why A is correct:
Brushing teeth is something most people do every single day as part of their regular hygiene routine—it's ordinary and expected.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (Skydiving): This is an extreme sport that only adventurous people do occasionally, not a daily activity.
- C (Rock climbing): This is a specialized hobby or sport, not something the average person does regularly.
- D (Horseback riding): While some people ride horses, it requires access to horses and training—it's not a common everyday activity for most people.
What is an adjective?
Correct Answer: A word that describes a noun
An adjective modifies or describes nouns (people, places, things) by giving more information about them. For example, in "the blue car," blue is an adjective describing the noun car.
Why the others are wrong:
- B – Words that describe verbs are called *adverbs* (e.g., "quickly ran"), not adjectives
- C – Adverbs describe adverbs, not adjectives (e.g., "very quickly")
- D – While adjectives can sometimes appear near pronouns, they don't describe pronouns—pronouns replace nouns, and adjectives describe the nouns themselves
What is a common gadget?
# Why Smartphone is correct:
A smartphone is the best answer because it's a small, portable electronic device that most people carry and use daily. It's universally recognized as a "gadget" — a term typically referring to clever, compact tech devices.
# Why the others are less correct:
- Toaster, Microwave, Blender: These are larger kitchen *appliances*, not gadgets. They're stationary, serve single functions, and don't fit the usual meaning of "gadget" (which implies something clever, portable, or digitally sophisticated).
What is a common container for food?
Tupperware is correct because it's specifically designed to store and contain food—it keeps meals fresh and is easy to transport or refrigerate.
Why the others are wrong:
- Backpack: a bag for carrying items (books, clothes), not designed for food storage
- Suitcase: for packing clothes and belongings when traveling, not food
- Briefcase: for carrying documents and work materials, not food
What is a common part of the body?
A. Arm ✓
Humans have two arms as a standard body part. Everyone has them, making it "common."
Why the others are wrong:
- B. Tail – Humans don't have tails (though some animals do)
- C. Beak – Only birds and some other animals have beaks; humans don't
- D. Paw – Only animals have paws; humans have hands and feet instead
What is a common animal?
A. Dog ✓
Dogs are domesticated animals found worldwide as pets, working animals, and in the wild (as wolves). They're one of the most common animals humans interact with daily.
Why the others are wrong:
- B. Unicorn – Mythical creature that doesn't exist in reality
- C. Dragon – Fictional creature from folklore and fantasy; not a real animal
- D. Phoenix – Legendary bird from mythology; not a real animal
Which word describes something you do with your eyes?
A. See ✓
This is what you do with your eyes—you see things by looking at them.
B. Listen ✗
You listen with your ears, not your eyes.
C. Taste ✗
You taste with your tongue/mouth, not your eyes.
D. Touch ✗
You touch with your hands or skin, not your eyes.
I eat ______ every morning.
Why A is correct:
Breakfast is the meal you eat in the morning, so "I eat breakfast every morning" makes perfect sense.
Why the others are wrong:
- B (lunch) – Lunch is eaten at midday, not in the morning
- C (dinner) – Dinner is the evening meal, not morning
- D (supper) – Supper is also an evening meal, not morning
What do you bring when it rains?
A. An umbrella ✓
An umbrella is designed to keep you dry by blocking rain from falling on you—that's its specific purpose.
B. A pair of pants
Pants don't protect you from rain; they'll just get wet like anything else.
C. A handheld fan
A fan has nothing to do with rain and would actually make you wetter by moving air around.
D. A pair of shoes
While shoes protect your feet, they don't shield you from rain like an umbrella does—they'll get soaked too.
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