C2 · MASTERY Reading practice · ~3,170 words · 22-min read This is an original short story for advanced learners at C2 level. It is a quiet piece of science fiction that isn’t really fiction — a field scientist in a remote Scottish valley notices that the local bats are calling at the wrong pitch,…
§ flout /FLOWT/ Listen To break or ignore a rule, law, or custom openly and deliberately. Quick Answer Flout means to break a rule openly. You flout the law, the rules, or convention. Think: to flout is to defy on purpose. Example: They openly flout the parking rules. Flout in 3 Sentences Read these three…
flaunt /FLAWNT/ Listen To show something off proudly, to get attention or admiration. Quick Answer Flaunt means to show off. You flaunt your wealth, your talent, or your new car. Think: to flaunt is to display with pride. Example: She loves to flaunt her designer clothes. Flaunt in 3 Sentences Read these three sentences. Notice…
Quick Answer Passive reporting structures let you report what people say or think without naming them. There are two patterns, both formal and impersonal. People say he is rich. → It is said that he is rich. · He is said to be rich. See the Two Patterns Start from a normal sentence like “People…
Quick Answer Nominalisation means turning a verb or adjective into a noun. It makes writing sound more formal and academic, and packs more information into fewer words. Verb: They decided quickly. → Noun: Their quick decision… Verb: Prices rose sharply. → Noun: There was a sharp rise in prices. See the Pattern — Verbs and…
Quick Answer In formal English, you can drop “if” and invert the subject and verb to make a conditional sound more elegant. Three verbs allow this: Had, Were, and Should. If I had known → Had I known. · If it were not for you → Were it not for you. · If you should…
comprise /kuhm-PRYZE/ Listen To consist of or contain. The WHOLE comprises its parts. Quick Answer Comprise means to consist of or contain. The whole comprises the parts. The orchestra comprises eighty musicians. The book comprises three chapters. Picture one big container holding many smaller items. Example: The orchestra comprises eighty musicians. Comprise in 3 Sentences…
compose /kuhm-POHZ/ Listen To make up or form a whole. The PARTS compose the whole. Quick Answer Compose means to make up or form. The parts compose the whole. Three short stories compose a book. Eighty musicians compose an orchestra. Picture small pieces building up into one bigger thing. Example: Three short stories compose her…
Quick Answer The whole comprises its parts. The parts compose the whole. So a band comprises four members; four members compose a band. “The committee comprises twelve people.” (the whole contains the parts) — “Twelve people compose the committee.” (the parts make up the whole) 🔊 comprise 🔊 compose Compose and Comprise — One Looks…
Quick Answer A cleft sentence splits a normal sentence into two parts so you can put a spotlight on one piece. The word “cleft” means “split”. Normal: John broke the vase. It-cleft: It was John who broke the vase. (spotlight on John) Wh-cleft: What John broke was the vase. (spotlight on the vase) See the…
