4000 Essential English Words 6 Unit 23: The Ice House

Frigid means extremely cold, as in a frigid winter night. Its opposite is hot.

Wavy describes something with curves that go up and down, like wavy hair or wavy lines. Its opposite is straight.

Crisp food is firm, dry and makes a sound when you bite it, as in crisp lettuce or crisp toast. Its opposite is soft.

To replicate something means to copy it or make it again exactly. The idea that contrasts with a copy is the original, the first version that others are copied from.

To allocate means to give something to someone for a particular purpose, as in Each worker was allocated a tool. The opposite is to take away.

Multicultural means including people from many different cultures or countries. A holiday celebrated by people all over the world fits this meaning, so the word is used correctly.

A locker is a small cupboard, often one that can be locked, where you keep your things safe. Keeping valuables in a secure locker is correct use.

Clockwise means moving in the same direction as the hands of a clock. It does not mean in reverse; the opposite direction is anticlockwise (US counterclockwise). So the word is used incorrectly.

To pierce means to make a hole in something with a sharp object. A needle piercing the skin to draw blood is correct use.

To replicate means to copy or repeat something exactly. Scientists often replicate an experiment to check whether they get the same results, so the word is used correctly.

A cavity is a hole or empty space inside something solid, e.g. a cavity in a tooth. A hole cannot travel down a stream, so the word is used incorrectly.

Frigid means extremely cold. Very cold soup cannot burn your tongue, so the word is used incorrectly. A correct word here would be scalding or boiling.

A blizzard is a severe snowstorm with strong winds. A blizzard is a common reason for closing schools, so the word is used correctly.

Appetizing describes food that looks or smells good and makes you want to eat it. It cannot describe a sad scene in a film, so the word is used incorrectly.

An interchange is an exchange of things between people. An interchange of ideas is a common phrase for people sharing their views, so the word is used correctly.

An omission is something that has been left out. You cannot include an omission, so the word is used incorrectly here. A correct word would be summary or overview.

Wavy describes shapes or lines with curves, such as wavy hair. It cannot describe children who need help from a charity, so the word is used incorrectly. A correct word would be needy.

To oversee means to watch and manage work to make sure it is done properly. Overseeing the progress of a building crew is correct use.

Glacial means relating to glaciers or ice, or extremely cold, as in a glacial landscape. It cannot describe a lively dog playing in the park, so the word is used incorrectly.

To generate means to create or produce something. You can generate a new plan or generate ideas, so the word is used correctly.

Concentric describes circles of different sizes that share the same centre, as in concentric circles. It cannot describe a film someone disliked, so the word is used incorrectly.

Discord means disagreement or conflict between people. Brothers who cannot work together because they keep disagreeing fits this meaning, so the word is used correctly.

Crisp describes fresh food that is firm and makes a pleasant sound when you bite it. Crisp lettuce is a very common collocation, so the word is used correctly.

Courtesy means polite, respectful behaviour. A mother would be pleased, not disappointed, if her children were extremely polite, so the word is used incorrectly. A correct word would be rudeness.

To allocate means to give out something to people for a particular purpose. Seats allocated to the first people to arrive is correct use.

Paragraph 2 says: The multicultural group journeyed through blizzards and frigid temperatures to reach the site. The statement matches this, so it is true.

Paragraph 4 says Erik eats a delicious salad with crisp toppings and then appetizing fish that are pierced with icicles. The word crisp describes the salad toppings, not the fish, so the statement is false.

Paragraph 2 says the expert was chosen to make sure there was no discord between the workers. The passage talks about discord among the workers, not discord in the glacial landscape, so the statement is false.

Paragraph 3 says: One worker carved big wavy lines, and another made tiny clockwise, concentric circles. The statement repeats this exactly, so it is true.

Paragraph 2 says the design was unique and the builders couldn't replicate the design from normal houses. The statement says the opposite, so it is false.