Describing change
Exercises
Historical changes and their* effects
The transition1 from agriculture to industry challenged the economic and political status quo2 in many countries. Millions of people abandoned3 villages and rural areas and moved into cities. The shift4 away from self-sufficiency meant most people became dependent on large corporations in one way or another, and had to adapt5 to new social environments and adjust6 to new ways of doing things. The move7 towards smaller, nuclear families brought about fundamental8 changes in family patterns in many parts of the world. Maintaining9 the old ways became increasingly10 difficult. On the other hand, the elimination11 of diseases such as smallpox transformed12 millions of people's lives, and the expansion13 of healthcare in many countries saved countless lives. Technology enhanced14 most people's lives in some way. For many people, nonetheless, the negative impact15 of technology on the environment altered16 the way we think of our relationship with nature, and sustainable17 development, rather than development for its own sake, became an important goal for a number of countries.
1 change from one form to another 2 the situation as it was at that time 3 left for ever 4 change in position or direction 5 change to suit different conditions 6 become more familiar with a new situation 7 action taken to achieve something 8 in a very basic way 9 not allowing them to change 10 more and more " removal of 12 changed completely so that they are better 13 increase in size or extent 14 improved the quality of 15 powerful effect that something, especially something new, has on a situation 16 changed (usually slightly) 17 causing little or no damage to the environment and therefore able to continue for a long time
More verbs for describing change
The exchange rate between the euro and the dollar has fluctuated recently, [changed or varied, especially continuously and between one level and another]
The technicians modified the flow of oil through the engine, [changed it slightly to improve it] The company's lawyers amended the contract to take account of the new situation, [changed the words of a text, typically a law or a legal document]
Seven power plants were converted from oil to gas. [caused to change in form or character] After 20 years of trading in the US, the firm transferred their operations to Brazil, [moved] The economy recovered after three years of depression, [returned to a satisfactory condition] Oil supplies are diminishing rapidly. Acquiring new supplies is vital for many countries, [becoming less; (formal) obtaining, getting]
We need to refine our analysis to obtain more accurate results, [improve it, especially by removing unwanted material]
The government relaxed controls on imports in 1997. [make less strict or severe]
Plans have been drawn up to restore 50,000 acres of wetland to their former state, [return
something or someone to an earlier good condition or position]
Adjectives which often describe change
There was a gradual change in attitudes in the 1980s, [slow, over a long period of time] A sudden change in the temperature of the liquid occurred after some minutes. | There is a marked change in how people perceive antisocial behaviour, [very noticeable] | There was no perceptible change in the learning outcomes between Time 1 and Time 2 [which could be perceived, i.e. noticed or seen]
48.1
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A change in and a change of are different. A change in temperaturelbehaviourlattitudesl composition/policy, etc. suggests a process where something has become different (e.g. smaller, more radical). A change of ctothinglgovernmentlappmach, etc. means die complete substitution of one thing for another.
48.2
48.3
48.4
Fill in the missing words in each sentence with a word formed from the same root as the word in brackets. You may need a dictionary to help you with items 7 to 10.
1 There has been an enormous...................................in aviation in recent years, (expand)
2 Economists are increasingly concerned that development should be...................................
(sustain)
3 There has been no.............................change in the patient's condition, (perceive)
4 The survey found that most people feel that modern life is becoming................................
difficult. (increase)
5 Industrial.................................has, of course, transformed people's working lives, (develop)
6 The group's aims include the................................of famine and poverty. (eliminate)
7 The apparatus worked well after we had made some.....................................to it. (modify)
8 With increasing unemployment many people have had to make............................. to their
lives. (adjust)
9 Many linguists have studied first language...................................., or how people learn their
mother tongue, (acquire)
10 There is unlikely to be any.....................................of controls in the near future, (relax)
Answer these questions about the language in this unit.
1 If prices fluctuate what do they do?
2 If a disease is eliminated how much of it remains?
3 If interest in something is diminishing is it becoming less or more?
4 If there is a marked change in someone's behaviour is it a big or a small change?
5 If most people feel that mobile phones enhance their lives, do they feel that their lives have become better or worse?
6 If controls on imports are relaxed do they become more or less strict? Choose the best word in italics to complete each sentence.
1 The. economy now seems to be recovering I amending.
2 Many people now are converting I transforming to using solar power.
3 Our survey did not succeed in getting all the information we need and so we shall have to diminish I refine our questions a little.
4 Why do some people abandon I shift their families and disappear without a word?
5 It takes most people some time to alter I adjust to living in a new country.
6 In recent years most societies have seen a major change in the transition / status quo.
7 It is increasingly hard to adapt / maintain traditions in the face of progress.
8 There have been some attempts to restore I alter the environment to its original state. Which preposition is needed to complete each phrase?
1 a change........................the climate
2 to transfer money.........................a Swiss bank account
3 a shift................................................the countryside towards the towns
4 to have an impact..........................the cost of living
5 to relax controls..........................immigration
6 to adjust............................changes
7 the transition...........................one period to the next
8 to adapt............................ a new way of life
Academic Vocabularv in Use    I fl5