Vocabulary: Academic Word List and Collocations Flashcards

Which sentence correctly uses the AWL word 'facilitate'?

Answer: The new system will facilitate the processing of applications.

'Facilitate' is a transitive verb meaning to make easier — 'facilitate X' (where X is a process or action); it cannot be followed by prepositions or 'that' clauses.

Choose the best collocation: 'The theory has been ______ by decades of empirical research.'

Answer: supported

'Supported by evidence/research' is the standard academic collocation; 'backed up' is informal; 'held by' and 'proved right' are not standard academic collocations in this context.

The AWL word 'explicit' most closely means:

Answer: stated clearly and in detail, leaving nothing implied

'Explicit' means clearly and directly stated; its antonym is 'implicit' (implied but not stated). It does not mean controversial or lengthy.

Which word correctly completes: 'The government needs to ______ action on climate change before irreversible damage occurs.'

Answer: take

'Take action' is the established collocation; 'make action', 'do action', and 'have action' are not standard collocations in English.

The correct prepositional collocation is: 'The results are consistent ______ the original hypothesis.'

Answer: with

'Consistent with' is the fixed prepositional collocation — results, findings, or data are consistent WITH a theory, model, or hypothesis.

Which AWL word best completes: 'The researchers identified several ______ variables that could confound the results.'

Answer: potential

'Potential variables' is the standard academic collocation for identifying factors that could become problematic; 'possible' is acceptable but less formal; 'probable' and 'likely' are less idiomatic here.

The phrase 'to draw on' in academic writing means:

Answer: to make use of existing knowledge, evidence, or sources

'Draw on' is a phrasal verb meaning to use or take from a source of knowledge or experience — e.g., 'The study draws on data from three countries.'