English for Biologists, MU 2006 Hana Němcová
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Self-Access Centre `SAC'
Language Centre of Masaryk University
(Jazyková studovna CJV MU)
Žerotínovo n. 9, Brno
I. General information
What are the opening hours of SAC?
Where will you leave your bags and coats?
What about your personal things, such as ISIC card, money, mobile phone.
Where can you find a list of SAC materials (two possibilities)?
What is the web address of the Language Centre and what kind of information can you find
there?
What languages are represented in SAC.
What languages are represented on our satellite channels? (You don't have to list all of
them )
II. English for Specific Purposes (ESP):
Make a list of literature concerning your field of study.
Find a CD-ROM where natural sciences are represented.
Focus on your field of study and make a list of areas you can explore.
Can you find any worksheets relevant to your studies which are based on
CD-ROMs? Give their titles (five at least). Explore them.
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III. Choose relevant materials
Choose some materials which you would use
to improve your vocabulary
to revise grammar
to prepare for `certificate exams' (TOEFL, CAE, IELTS, etc.)
IV. Use the dictionary
A. Find the word in each column which is not in alphabetical order:
stud studio student study stuff stumble
B. Put the words in alphabetical order
ID card round-trip press-up honeymoon evacuate queen bee
C. Alternative spelling
Use the dictionary to find the alternative spellings and write these in the first column. If the
alternative is American or British English, tick the second or third column.
alternative spelling American English British English
defense defence
encyclopaedia
okay
enquiry
swap
catalog
program
D. Macmillan English Dictionary (red and black words)
The red words in the Macmillan Dictionary are the most frequently used words in English
(*** ** *) These are in general the words native speakers use every day to express
themselves in speaking or writing. Open the dictionary and notice how many red words
appear on the page.
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E. Pronunciation and stress
1. Put the words in the box in the correct column according to their vowel sound. Check in
the dictionary.
put fool floor goods cool do
cook [] door [:] food [u:]
2. The spelling ough has several possible pronunciations. Put these words in the correct
column according to the pronunciation of ough in each one.
cough brought enough thought rough drought thought through
3. Write the words
`prktikli
km' pein,
:l  
`poizn s
4. Silent letters
English spellings sometimes contain letters that are not pronounced.
Which letters in the following words are silent?
honest, knee, salmon, psyche, pneumonia, fasten, comb, knit, knowledge
 : a  u:
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5. Stress in English words (words that can be both nouns and verbs)
A characteristic of English is that many words can be used both as nouns and
verbs with the same spelling but with different word stress. Where the stress is
different in the noun and verb, the stress is usually on the first syllable for the noun
and the second syllable for the verb, e.g. an `object - noun, to ob'ject ­ verb.
noun verb
increase
export
transfer
import
suspect
record
progress
permit
6. Stress in compounds
Some compounds are written as single words. These are shown as headwords in
the dictionary. The pronunciation and stress for these words are given in the
normal way, e.g. `house,work.
Other compounds are written as separate words, for example black belt, or as
hyphenated words, for example sister-in-law. Usually the main stress of these
compounds is on the first word but the dictionary will tell you by showing the
stress marks.
ice cream, floppy disk, bookmark, matchbox, roadside, mobile phone, workload
F. Grammar
1. Irregular noun plurals
What are the plurals of the words in the table? Write their pronunciation in singular and
plural.
singular pronunciation
singular
plural pronunciation
plural
thesis
analysis
phenomenon
nucleus
criterion
fungus
basis
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gentleman
2. Prepositions
She has never worried............finding a job.
She wanted to prevent him ..............driving her car.
They were always arguing...............silly things.
Please put out your cigarette. I object................people smoking in the house.
He succeeded..............passing his exams, to my great surprise.
3. Verb patterns
Some verbs are followed by the infinitive form of the verb and some are followed by the
-ing form of the verb.
Complete the sentences with the infinitive or the -ing form of the verb in brackets. Check
in the dictionary.
If there is a mechanical problem, we suggest ................... (contact) the
manufacturer directly.
I don't enjoy ..........(go) on holiday as much as I used to.
I happened........(meet) an old friend in town.
She closed her eyes and pretended ............(be) asleep.
They don't mind.........(go) if no one else wants to.
I expect........(get) paid on time.
She had just finished .......... (dress) the children when the phone rang.
I do think you should have offered..........(help).
G. Finding and exploring meanings
Circle the pairs of words that are pronounced differently in the sentences. Then write the
pronunciation of each word.
lead/lead
Lead is a type of metal ..........
He was already in the lead after the first lap. ........
mine/mine
People still mine for gold in this area. ...........
Is this your copy or mine?
wind/wind
The southerly wind brought moist air from the sea. .........
Don't forget to wind the clock up before you go to bed. ........
minute/minute
I'll be back in a few minutes. ............
Minute amounts of chemicals. ...........
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OXFORD DICTIONARY OF COLLOCATIONS
1. Ideas into words
Look at the entry for ideas sense 1 (plan/suggestion)
Look at the adjectives section. Find adjectives you might use to express the following
ideas. Sometimes more than one adjective is possible.
an idea that is helpful, rather than being negative or impractical
an idea that is slightly crazy, in a good way
an idea that is completely crazy, in a bad way
an idea that has not been carefully thought out
an idea that seems very impressive but is not really very practical
Now find verbs that you might use to express the following ideas. Usually more than one
verb is possible.
to find an idea
to suggest an idea
to suggest an idea in a very forceful way because you really want people to accept
it
to think about an idea for a while before you decide whether or not it is a good idea
to talk about a number of different ideas before you decide which ideas are the best
Find verbs that you might use to express the following.
when you think of an idea
when an idea develops into something important
when an idea does not develop into anything
2. Using a verb entry
a. In each of the following sentences one of the adverbs in italics is not a common
collocate of the verb in bold. Decide which it is and cross it out.
She argued fiercely/heatedly/hotly about her right to compensation.
They will fiercely/heatedly/hotly defend their rights.
Her tragic story brutally/markedly/starkly illustrates how vulnerable children
can be.
b. For each group, find an adverb in the box that collocates with all the adjectives in
the group.
dead distinctly fiercely grossly painfully wildly
aware, honest, shy, slow.......... painfully
boring, funny, good, right ..........
competitive, independent, loyal, protective ..........
different, odd, uncomfortable, uneasy ..........
enthusiastic, inaccurate, optimistic, popular ..........
inaccurate, inadequate, offensive, unfair ..........
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c. Make collocations. Where do the verbs belong?
give do take have make
research
an exam
a degree
the dishes
homework
nothing
a translation
the washing
some writing
do judo
do the food for a
party
an appointment
an attempt
the bed
a cake
changes
a decision
dinner
an effort
a film
a guess
an impression
a mistake
money
a noise
peace
a suggestion
a speech
a promise
progress
an accident
an argument
a bath
a break
breakfast
a chat
a cold
difficulty
a drink
a feeling
fund
a guess
a holiday
an idea
an interest
a look
time
an exam
a holiday
an interest in sth
a nap
notes
a photo
a walk
sb an answer
sb a chance
sb a help
sb an idea
the impression
that
sb a kiss
sb lessons
sb a lift
your opinion
a party
a performance
sb a present
priority to st
sb a push
a sigh
a speech
d. Using the entry for the word in bold to help you, cross out any of the words in
italics that do not form common collocations.
He got full/maximum/top marks in the listening test.
We have to do/make/write a vocabulary test every Friday.
She's busy reviewing/revising/studying for her exam.
How many students have enrolled on/signed up for/undertaken the course?
She was always losing/missing out/ skipping lessons ­ no wonder she
crashed/failed/flunked the exam.
He suffers badly from exam nerves/stress/worries, which afects his
concentration length/span/time.
The trachet made up/set/wrote a difficult exam but checked/corrected/marked
it leniently.
We were supposed to do/compose/write the essay by Friday but I delivered
it/gave it in /handed it in late.
LONGMAN LANGUAGE ACTIVATOR / ESSENTIAL LONGMAN ACTIVATOR
1. The same, but different
Below are pairs of sentences. Complete the second sentence so that it has the same
meaning as the first sentence, using the word in bold that you are given. You must not
change the word you are given. Use the Longman Language Activator or Essential
Longman Activator to help you.
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e.g. Can you describe the man you saw? (description)  Can you give a description of the
man you saw?
That kind of hat is unfashionable these days. (fashion)
That kind of hat is ............................ these days.
I think you should apologize. (sorry)
I think you should .............................
When they arrived, they were taken to the hotel. (arrival)
............................., they were taken to the hotel.
I would never be confident enough to do that. (confident)
I would never ............................. to do that.
One of the guests has complained. (complaint)
One of the guests .............................
Could you advise me on buying a car? (advise)
Could you ............................. on buying a car?
Workmen are repairing the library roof.
Workmen are ............................. the library roof. (repair)
Then I noticed that he was holding a gift. (hold)
Then I noticed that there was a gift .............................
2. Join them up.
Below are several groups of `broken phrases' which you have to join up. Above each
group of phrases is a word in CAPITALS. Look this word up in the Longman Language
Activator or Essential Longman Activator to find the information you need. Then join up
the phrases in that group. The first one has been started for you.
e.g.
ACCEPT take a job
agree the suggestion
welcome to do it
GET inherit experience
be awarded fortune
gain a medal
THROW pass a coin
flip stones
hurl the ball
WRITE jot down a symphony
sign a contract
compose your ideas
MAKE publish power
generate cars
manufacture a magazine
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3. Yes or no? (p11)
a. Look at SAYING YES, SAYING NO, AND PERMISSION in the Essential communication
section of the Essential Longman Activator. Write phrases that mean 'no' or ' yes' in the
spaces provided.
Find a way to say NO...
...when you're not sure: ..............................................
...when you think someone will be disappointed: ................................
...when you want to emphasize your answer: ....................................
...when someone has asked you to do something: ...................................
Find a way to say YES...
...when someone is checking facts: .....................................
...when you're not sure: ..................................
...when you are surprised that someone has asked: .................................
...when someone has asked if they can do something: ...................................
b. Which question goes with which answer? Write the number in the box under the correct
letter. One has been done for you.
A Are there any tickets left? 1 No way! I can't afford to do that!
B Is it OK if I use your phone? 2 Of course! I told her right away.
C I have to apply in writing, don't I? 3 I think so, but I'd better check.
D Did you give Tara my message? 4 Sorry, but I'm working at the weekend.
E Will Danny be at the party? 5 I'm afraid not. We've sold out.
F Could you look after the kids on Saturday? 6 I doubt it. I think he's away.
G Did you lock the back door? 7 Yes, sure. Iťs on the table in the hall.
H Why don't you just pay for it yourself? 8 Thaťs right.
A B C D E F G H
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4. Find a phrase
Next to the sentences below, write a phrase (two or more words) which you can use instead of
the word or words in bold. Read the sentence carefully and use the Longman Language
Activator or Essential Longman Activator to help you choose a phrase that is suitable.
e.g. Quick! Catch him! Don't let him escape.  get away.
Would you like some food before you go? (food) 
These shoes are worn out. I need a new par. (need) 
We want to know your opinion about this idea. (opinion) 
Leťs visit my aunt while we're in Colorado. (visit) 
This drink contains sugar. (contain) 
Can I talk to you? I need your advice. (talk) 
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5. Travelling
Use the Longman Language Activator or Essential Longman Activator to help you find the six
missing words in the sentences below. Make sure each word has the right number of letters,
shown in brackets ( ).
What did you do......................... holiday? (2) (holiday)
A long journey by sea: ......................... (6) (journey)
Visiting all the interesting places: ......................... (11) (visit)
We talked to some of the other ......................... on the train (10) (travel)
Will we stay the night there or just go there on a ......................... trip? (3)
(journey)
Someone visiting and travelling in a foreign country: .........................(7) (visit)
6. Advice and suggestions
a. A friend is asking for your advice. Look at GIVING ADVICE in the Essential
communication section of the Essential Longman Activator and choose a phrase you could
use to advise your friend in situations 1-3. Use a different phrase each time.
I love this dress, but it`s very
expensive. Do you think I
should buy it?
I am going to Barbados
next month.
I ve got a terrible cough.
I've had it for days and I
think it s getting worse.
................I would wait and see if
you can get a cheaper one
somewhere else.
...........take plenty of sun cream with
you, so you don`t get burned.
It sounds pretty bad. ........go
and see a doctor before it gets
serious.
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b. Now look at MAKING SUGGESTIONS in the Essential communication section of the
Essential Longman Activator, and choose phrases which you could use to make
suggestions in situation 4-6. Use a different phrase each time.
7. Make it stronger
Use the Longman Language Activator or Essential Longman Activator to find ways of
making the words in the table below stronger, without using the word 'very'. The first one has
been done for you.
stronger look here
in the dictionary
advise strongly advise advise
ashamed ashamed
better better
horrible horrible/unpleasant
need need
scared frightening/frightened
improvement improve
awake sleep
cold cold
8. Complete the sentence
........go to the movies. We
could go and see the new
Disney movie.
What do you want to do
tonight?
Would you like to come for
a picnic with us on
Saturday?
......go to Mexico? You`ve
always said you wanted to go
there one day.
I`d love to ........ bring some
sandwiches with me, or a cake
or something?
I just can`t decide where to
go this summer ...
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The sentences below are incomplete. Underneath each sentence there are four words or
phrases, marked A,B,C, and D. Choose the one word or phrase that best completes the
sentence. Use the Longman Language Activator or Essential Longman Activator to help you.
a. I'm sorry, but I .................. you. (disagree)
disagree to
am disagreeing with
disagree
disagree with
b. We need a government that will improve ................... (money)
economy
the economy
an economy
economies
c. The illness had a terrible .................. on him, making him depressed. (result)
results
consequence
effect
outcome
d. Could you give me some .................. about hotels in Madrid? (information)
data
fact
informations
information
e. She wants .................. to you. (want)
talking
to talk
talk
talks
f. Iťs a strange story, but I .................. it. (believe/not believe)
believe
don't believe to
am believing
believe to
g. Do you .................. this house or is it rented? (have/not have)
have
having
possess
own
h. Why don't we .................. a Mexican meal? (meal)
take
go out
eating
have
9. Calculations
Look at the five mathematical problems below. You have all the numbers, but some words are
missing. Use the Longman Language Activator or Essential Longman Activator to help you
fill in the gaps.
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a. Start with the number 250.
Now .................. it to make 500. (increase)
Now multiply that .................. 3 and you get 1500. (count/calculate)
b. There are 360 girls at the school.
The ..................of girls to boys is 3:1. (amount/number)
So there are 120 boys at the school.
c. 600 cows live on the farm.
Cows .................. pigs by 200. (more)
So 400 pigs live on the farm.
d. The chef made 400 pizzas and 600 pies, but more pizzas were eaten than pies.
In fact, 100 .................. pies were eaten than pizzas. (less)
All the pizzas were eaten, so only 300 pies were eaten.
e. Start with the number 725.
Subtract 425 .................. it to make 300. (count/calculate)
Now .................. that by 2 and you get 150.
f. Now find the answer to the last mathematical problem by doing the calculations.
Start with the numbers 350 and 480.
Divide the higher number by 2.
Now subtract 200 from that.
Now multiply that by 3.
That is the number of CDs I have.
The ration of CDs to cassettes is 4:1.
Records outnumber cassettes by 200.
There are 30 fewer books than records.
How many books are there? ANSWER: .........................
10. Time expressions ­ Exam week
a. Read what Mark wrote in his diary about the week of his exam.
Monday 8th
July
Letter from college. My exam will be on Friday 12th
July, starting at 10am and
finishing at 1pm.
Tuesday 9th
July
We had our last class with Mrs Miller. She told us which topics we needed to prepare
for the exam.
Wednesday 10th
July
I worked for eight hours and prepared four topics.
Thursday 11th
July
I prepared two more topics, and I practised doing questions from 1994 and 1995 exam
papers. Then I went to bed at 10.45pm.
Friday 12th
July
Exam day!!! I missed the train, and only arrived one minute before the exam started! I
did three questions, but the exam supervisor said `Stop' before I finished my fourth
question. Then I had some lunch with friends.
Friday 19th
July
Letter from college: I failed the exam. Now I have to do it all AGAIN!!!
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b. Now complete the sentences below, choosing a word or phrase from the Longman
Language Activator or Essential Longman Activator to fill each gap. Sometimes more
than one answer is possible.
a. On Monday, Mark got a letter telling him the date of the exam. (tune)
b. The letter said the exam would ......................... 3 hours. (time
c. Mrs Miller gave her students the exam topics........................., so that they could prepare
them. (before)
d. On Wednesday, it ......................... Mark eight hours to prepare four topics. (time)
e. The day........................., he prepared two more topics. (after)
f. He practised exam questions from .........................year (before)
g. That night, he was in bed ......................... 11 pm. (before)
h. On Friday, he got to the college just .........................for the exam. (time)
i. He ......................... and couldn't finish the exam. (time)
j. ........................., Mark went for lunch with his friends.
k. One week ........................., he heard that he had failed the exam. (after)
11. Match them up
Look at the groups of sentences below. Next to each group there are three words which have
similar meanings. For each group, decide which word fits best in each sentence. Use the
Longman Language Activator or Essential Longman Activator to help you. The first one has
been done for you.
a. things - outfit - suit (CLOTHES)
I wore my dark suit to the interview.
Don't forget your swimming ......................... .
I've bought a new ......................... for the wedding.
b. profession - job - work (JOB)
She wants a ......................... in advertising.
Are you still looking for .........................?
After years of training she entered the legal ..........................
c. get ­ grow - turn (BECOME)
In autumn, the leaves ......................... brown.
As you .........................older, you become wiser.
Don't worry, things will .........................better.
d. enter - burst in - come in (ENTER)
Tell them to ......................... .
She was not allowed to ......................... .
Suddenly a man ........................., shouting loudly.
e. salary - pay -income (EARN)
What was your total ......................... last year?
I get an annual .........................of 18,000.
We get our weekly .........................on Fridays.
f. see ­ follow - figure out (UNDERSTAND/NOT UNDERSTAND)
The story was long and hard to ......................... .
Oh yes, I ......................... .
I can't ......................... how to do this.
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Sources:
Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners Workbook, Adrian Unnderhill,
Macmillan, 2002
Longman Essential Activator Workbook, Nick Ham, Longman Corpus Network (BNC), 1998
Oxford Collocations ­ dictionary for students of English, OUP, 2002