IELTS Vocabulary: Academic Word List and Collocations 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the correct word: 'The findings have ______ implications for public health policy, particularly regarding vaccination programmes.'
- significant (Correct answer)
- signified
- significance
- signifying
Correct answer: significant
'Significant' is the adjective form needed to modify 'implications'; the other options are the wrong word class for this position.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses 'whereas'?
- The method was flawed, whereas it was abandoned.
- Whereas developed countries have high car ownership, many developing nations rely heavily on public transport. (Correct answer)
- The study was long, whereas the results were short.
- Whereas the findings were noted.
Correct answer: Whereas developed countries have high car ownership, many developing nations rely heavily on public transport.
'Whereas' introduces a contrast between two clauses; it requires a full contrasting clause, not a result or disconnected thought.
Question 3: The AWL word 'constitute' most closely means:
- to create from nothing
- to make up or form a whole (Correct answer)
- to govern or regulate
- to contest or challenge
Correct answer: to make up or form a whole
'Constitute' means to make up or form — e.g., 'Women constitute 40% of the workforce.'
Question 4: Which collocation is CORRECT in academic English?
- take a conclusion
- arrive at a conclusion (Correct answer)
- do a conclusion
- make a conclusion
Correct answer: arrive at a conclusion
'Arrive at a conclusion' is the standard academic collocation; 'reach a conclusion' is also correct; the other options do not collocate with 'conclusion' in formal writing.
Question 5: The word 'albeit' is used correctly in which sentence?
- The plan succeeded, albeit quickly.
- The experiment failed, albeit the equipment was expensive.
- The results were positive, albeit limited by a small sample size. (Correct answer)
- The policy was introduced, albeit it was rejected by parliament.
Correct answer: The results were positive, albeit limited by a small sample size.
'Albeit' introduces a concessive phrase (not a full clause with subject+verb) — e.g., 'albeit limited by a small sample size.'
Question 6: Choose the best word to complete: 'The author ______ that further research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.'
- acknowledges (Correct answer)
- admits
- accepts
- agrees
Correct answer: acknowledges
'Acknowledges' is the most academically precise reporting verb for noting something the author recognises, without the negative connotation of 'admits' or the informality of 'agrees'.
Question 7: The adverb that best collocates with 'affect' in academic writing is:
- adversely affect (Correct answer)
- badly affect
- negatively affect
- badly adversely affect
Correct answer: adversely affect
'Adversely affect' is the highest-register collocation; 'negatively affect' is acceptable but less academic; 'badly affect' is informal; 'badly adversely affect' is redundant.
IELTS Vocabulary: Academic Word List and Collocations 5
Choose the correct word: 'The findings have ______ implications for public health policy, particularly regarding vaccination programmes.'