Materials for National English Competition 2021

VOCAB SUPPLEMENTARY 1
1 What he did to support our cause was a small but _____ gesture.
a. significant b. stout c. obvious d. indecent
2 ____ development consists of more than simply avoiding difficulties.
a. Optimistic b. Progressive c. Optimal d. Assenting
3 His ____ behaviour led to his dismissal from a job he had once loved.
a. aberrant b. misspent c. orthodox d. conformist
4 Do you think it’s better to ____ your anger than to suppress it?
a. assert b. repress c. arouse d. vent
5 You know familiarity ____ contempt, so you’re better off keeping a bit of distance between
you.
a. breeds b. bears c. exerts d. delivers
6 There is no need to ____ pressure on him to revise – he is self-motivated and hard working.
a. arouse b. exert c. assert d. conduct
7 Such ____ planning means there is little likelihood of anything going wrong.
a. careless b. poised c. meticulous d. principled
8 Bill is the most ____ accountant I’ve worked with. You can trust he’ll do everything properly.
a. amiable b. adamant c. obstinate d. scrupulous
9 Although Sam really liked her, the feeling wasn’t ____ on her part.
a. compatible b. mutual c. dependent d. unified
10 Their love is unconditional and they are completely ____ to each other.
a. devoted b. inseparable c. compatible d. reciprocal
11 You’re so ____ you’ll believe anything anybody tells you.
a. distant b. vulnerable c. platonic d. gullible
12 John and Ella drifted ____ when they left university and have gone their separate ways now.
a. apart b. out c. down d. back
13 Amanda wasn’t ready to settle ____ at such a young age. She wanted to travel and have lots of adventures.
a. in b. apart c. down d. up
14 Mario has finally ____ up the courage to invite Nina on a date.
a. stuck b. worked c. led d. drifted
15 Of course he’s going to react like that if you ____ him up all the time. You never know when to stop!
a. egg b. tease c. push d. wind
16 Catherine really needs a holiday, she’s so stressed ____.
a. up b. out c. down d. in
17 I promise I’ll be there on time. I won’t ____ you down.
a. do b. egg c. let d. wind
18 Stop complaining all the time. You’re being a real pain in the ____.
a. neck b. back c. head d. chest
19 Mark has been ____ David’s bad books ever since he let him down that time when they were planning to
go on holiday together.
a. at b. on c. against d. in
20 I know I’m ____ a bit of a rut. I need to get out more, meet new people, maybe get a new job.
a. at b. in c. on d. up

21 I’m a ____ believer that hard work and a bit of luck are all you need to succeed in this job.
a. strong b. firm c. rigid d. fixed
High School for Gifted Students, HNUE Page 1
 Materials for National English Competition 2021

22 It’s a ____ approach, which I think will revolutionise the way we share information.
a. major b. real c. massive d. radical
23 Although my uncle is ____ professor of physics, he’s really easy-going and approachable.
a. a principal b. an ingenuous c. an imminent d. an eminent
24 What he ____ from his report is almost as revealing as what he included in it.
a. emitted b. omitted c. deduced d. deducted
25 I’m afraid the official ____ has refused permission to show the film in cinemas nationwide.
a. censor b. sensor c. editor d. supervisor
26 Intensive farming practices are causing soil ____ all over the world.
a. extermination b. extinction c. erosion d. eradication
27 Once we’ve _____ what he owes us, there won’t be much left in his pay cheque this month.
a. eradicated b. emitted c. deduced d. deducted
28 Nuclear ____ occurs when a single nucleus splits to make two or more smaller nuclei.
a. fusion b. fission c. fuse d. fissure
29 Molly was able to ____ from the results of the trial that the drug was ineffective against this particular
strain of bacteria.
a. analyse b. infer c. estimate d. compute
30 We ____ that it would take between four and five hours to get there, but in the end it only took three.
a. computed b. estimated c. inferred d. analysed
31 The bigger the animal the longer it will take to ____ once it has died.
a. dissolve b. disintegrate c. decompose d. deteriorate
32 If you don’t stir your coffee after you’ve added sugar, it won’t ____ properly.
a. dissolve b. disengage c. unravel d. disintegrate
33 I’m afraid your hardware is not only outdated, it is ____. You’ll have to replace it.
a. outmoded b. redundant c. obsolete d. deceased
34 Although Ahmed had a fairly conventional upbringing, his behaviour now was most ____.
a. orthodox b. unorthodox c. conformist d. deferential
35 I wouldn’t say Grandma is exactly computer ____, but she is able to use her mobile phone without too
many issues.
a. able b. capable c. learned d. literate
36 I can’t follow what the teacher’s saying any more. I’m completely out of my ____.
a. gravity b. breath c. deepness d. depth
37 Although Chloe was told that the results of the trial were ____, she still wanted to go ahead with the
treatment.
a. concluded b. inconclusive c. negligent d. incurable
38 ____ in mice depends on whether they are in the wild or in captivity.
a. Longevity b. Length c. Expectancy d. Duration
39 I’m so happy to see you safe and ____! I was really worried you might have had an accident.
a. set b. here c. sound d. whole
40 You can’t expect the sofa to look brand new after two years. There is such a thing as ____ and tear, you
know.
a. tide b. wear c. fair d. bear

THE END

High School for Gifted Students, HNUE Page 2