Exercises C1 : use Abstract vocabulary in English (answers)

These exercises are designed to consolidate your command of abstract vocabulary in English, as introduced in the course. You will practise selecting, using, and contextualising abstract terms to express complex ideas with accuracy and nuance.

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Exercice 1 — Abstract Vocabulary: Multiple Choice

Choose the word or phrase that best completes each sentence. Only one answer is correct.

1. The philosopher argued that true freedom is not the absence of constraints, but the ___ to act in accordance with one's own rational will.
2. Her speech was praised for its ___, as she conveyed deeply complex ethical dilemmas in terms the general public could understand.
3. The concept of justice often requires a delicate ___ between individual rights and the collective good of society.
4. Critics of the policy argued that it lacked moral ___, as it produced contradictory outcomes depending on who was affected.

Correction

1. The philosopher argued that true freedom is not the absence of constraints, but the capacity to act in accordance with one's own rational will.
2. Her speech was praised for its clarity, as she conveyed deeply complex ethical dilemmas in terms the general public could understand.
3. The concept of justice often requires a delicate balance between individual rights and the collective good of society.
4. Critics of the policy argued that it lacked moral coherence, as it produced contradictory outcomes depending on who was affected.

Exercice 2 — Abstract Vocabulary: Word Association

Match each abstract concept on the left with the sentence on the right that best illustrates its meaning in context.

1. integrity
2. ambiguity
3. resilience
4. perception

Correction

1. She refused to falsify the research data, even when her career was under threat, because she believed honesty was non-negotiable.
2. The new regulation was open to multiple interpretations, leaving both employers and employees uncertain about their obligations.
3. Despite repeated setbacks, the community found ways to adapt and rebuild, emerging stronger from each crisis it faced.
4. Two witnesses described the same event in entirely different ways, revealing how personal experience shapes the way we interpret reality.

Exercice 3 — Abstract Vocabulary in Context: Fill in the Gaps

Complete each sentence by filling in the blank with the most appropriate abstract word or phrase. Write the full sentence as your answer.

1. Many political theorists distinguish between ___ freedom, which refers to freedom from external interference, and positive freedom, which involves the power to act and achieve one's goals.
2. The novelist explored the ___ of identity by showing how her protagonist's sense of self shifted dramatically depending on the social context she inhabited.
3. A lack of ___ in public institutions tends to erode citizens' confidence and willingness to engage with democratic processes.
4. The ethical ___ at the heart of the debate was whether it is ever justifiable to cause harm to one individual in order to prevent greater harm to many others.

Correction

1. Many political theorists distinguish between negative freedom, which refers to freedom from external interference, and positive freedom, which involves the power to act and achieve one's goals.
2. The novelist explored the fluidity of identity by showing how her protagonist's sense of self shifted dramatically depending on the social context she inhabited.
3. A lack of transparency in public institutions tends to erode citizens' confidence and willingness to engage with democratic processes.
4. The ethical dilemma at the heart of the debate was whether it is ever justifiable to cause harm to one individual in order to prevent greater harm to many others.