Description this Book

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Oxford Word Skills Advanced

Ruth Gairns

Stuart Redman

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….. 5

Starter: vocabulary at advanced level ……………………………………………….. 7

Abbreviations ………………………………………………………………………………… 9

Expanding your vocabulary

1 I can talk about meaning and style …………………………………………. 10

2 I can use familiar words in a new way ……………………………………….. 12

3 I can use compounds ……………………………………………………………… 14

4 I can use a range of collocations ………………………………………………. 17

5 I can use a dictionary productively …………………………………………… 20

6 I can build word families …………………………………………………………. 22

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 25

The body

7 I can describe the human body ……………………………………………….. 28

8 I can talk about body language ………………………………………………… 30

9 I can describe physical movement ……………………………………………… 32

10 I can describe sounds ……………………………………………………………….. 34

11 I can describe sight ………………………………………………………………….. 36

12 I can describe touch, smell, and taste …………………………………………. 38

13 I can describe illness and injuries ……………………………………………….. 40

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42

You and other people

14 I can discuss aspects of character ……………………………………………….. 45

15 I can talk about feelings ……………………………………………………………… 48

16 I can talk about relationships …………………………………………………….. 50

17 I can talk about people I admire and loathe ………………………………….. 52

18 I can talk about behaviour …………………………………………………………. 54

19 I can talk about manners ……………………………………………………………. 56

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 58

Leisure and lifestyle

20 I can talk about food …………………………………………………………………. 61

21 I can talk about holidays …………………………………………………………….. 64

22 I can talk about plays and films …………………………………………………… 66

23 I can talk about competitive sport ……………………………………………….. 68

24 I can talk about gardens and nature ……………………………………………. 70

25 I can talk about shopping habits …………………………………………………. 72

26 I can talk about socializing …………………………………………………………. 74

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 76

A changing world

27 I can talk about change ………………………………………………………………. 80

28 I can talk about energy conservation …………………………………………… 82

29 I can discuss wildlife under threat ……………………………………………….. 84

30 I can describe medical advances ………………………………………………….. 86

31 I can talk about communication technology …………………………………… 88

32 I can talk about migration …………………………………………………………… 90

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 92

Institutions

33 I can discuss health services ………………………………………………………. 94

34 I can talk about local government ……………………………………………….. 96

35 I can talk about crime and the police …………………………………………… 98

36 I can discuss prisons ……………………………………………………………….. 100

37 I can talk about the armed forces ………………………………………………. 102

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 105

News and current affairs

38 I can understand news headlines ……………………………………………….. 108

39 I can understand news journalism ……………………………………………… 110

40 I can read human interest stories ……………………………………………….. 112

41 I can talk about celebrity …………………………………………………………… 114

42 I can discuss political beliefs ……………………………………………………… 116

43 I can talk about areas of conflict ……………………………………………….. 118

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 119

Work and finance

44 I can explain job benefits …………………………………………………………. 121

45 I can describe ways of working …………………………………………………. 122

46 I can talk about the business world ……………………………………………. 124

47 I can talk about money markets …………………………………………………. 126

48 I can talk about personal finance ……………………………………………….. 128

49 I can discuss time management …………………………………………………. 130

50 I can discuss workplace disputes ……………………………………………….. 132

51 I can talk about office problems …………………………………………………. 134

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 135

Concepts

52 I can describe cause and effect …………………………………………………. 138

53 I can talk about truth and lies ……………………………………………………. 140

54 I can discuss problems and solutions …………………………………………. 142

55 I can describe old and new ……………………………………………………….. 144

56 I can talk about success and failure …………………………………………… 146

57 I can describe the past, present, and future …………………………………. 148

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 150

Spoken English

58 I can use everyday language …………………………………………………….. 152

59 I can use idioms and set phrases (1) ………………………………………….. 154

60 I can use idioms and set phrases (2) ………………………………………….. 156

61 I can use set phrases with two key words …………………………………… 158

62 I can use similes ……………………………………………………………………… 159

63 I can use a range of phrasal verbs …………………………………………….. 160

64 I can use discourse markers ……………………………………………………… 162

65 I can use vague language …………………………………………………………. 164

66 I can use sayings and proverbs …………………………………………………. 165

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 168

Written English

67 I can write a formal letter …………………………………………………………. 172

68 I can use formal link words ………………………………………………………. 175

69 I can use academic English ………………………………………………………. 176

70 I can talk about literature …………………………………………………………. 178

71 I can use scientific English ……………………………………………………….. 180

72 I can use technical English ……………………………………………………….. 182

73 I can use abbreviations …………………………………………………………….. 184

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 187

Aspects of language

74 I can use prefixes ……………………………………………………………………. 190

75 I can use suffixes ……………………………………………………………………. 192

76 I can use words with prepositions ……………………………………………… 194

77 I can use prepositional phrases …………………………………………………. 196

78 I can use a range of adjectives …………………………………………………. 198

79 I can use different types of adverb …………………………………………….. 200

80 I can use euphemisms ……………………………………………………………… 203

Review ………………………………………………………………………………………… 204

Appendices

Vocabulary building ……………………………………………………………………. 207

Answer key ………………………………………………………………………………… 209

Answer key to review units ……………………………………………………………. 227

List of spotlight boxes ………………………………………………………………….. 235

Word list / Index ………………………………………………………………………….. 236

Achieving Linguistic Mastery: A Review of the Ultimate Advanced Vocabulary Guide

Introduction: Bridging the Final Gap to Native-Level Authority

Reaching an advanced level of English is a major milestone, but moving from “fluent” to “masterful” requires a specialized toolkit. Most textbooks plateau at B2, leaving learners without the nuances needed for academic excellence or high-level professional life.

This book is a rigorous and thematic roadmap designed specifically to help C1 and C2 learners achieve that final, critical leap. It doesn’t just teach “more words”; it teaches the sophisticated architecture of the English language.

What Kind of Book Is This?

This is a High-Intensity Advanced Vocabulary Reference and Practice Manual. It is part of the world-renowned Oxford Word Skillsseries, meticulously engineered for elite learners. Structured into 80 specialized units, it follows a revolutionary “I Can” pedagogical framework.

Instead of passive lists, each unit represents a concrete communicative outcome—from “understanding news headlines” to “using euphemisms.” It serves as an all-in-one guide for those who need to master the subtle differences in style, register, and context.

Who Is the Ideal Reader?

Elite ESL/EFL Learners (C1-C2): Those who have mastered the basics and want to polish their English to a professional or near-native standard.
Academic and Professional Candidates: Individuals preparing for the IELTS (8.0+), TOEFL, or Cambridge C2 Proficiency where lexical precision is paramount.
International Executives: Business leaders who need to handle “workplace disputes,” “money markets,” and “formal correspondence” with total authority.
Scholars and Scientists: Anyone needing a specialized grasp of “academic,” “scientific,” and “technical” English.

Detailed Editorial Review: Why This Book is a Game-Changer

1. Mastering “Expanding Your Vocabulary” Strategies

The book begins with a brilliant “Starter” unit that teaches learners how to learn at an advanced level. It moves quickly into the mechanics of collocations, compounds, and word families. This focus on “word-building” empowers students to decode complex texts and produce sophisticated prose effortlessly.

2. Tactical Nuance: Spoken vs. Written Mastery

One of the most valuable features is the clear distinction between Spoken English (Units 58-66) and Written English (Units 67-73). You will learn the art of “vague language” and “discourse markers” for natural conversation, alongside the rigorous requirements for “formal link words” and “academic register.” This “social and stylistic intelligence” is what truly separates an advanced student from a master.

3. Real-World Global Consciousness

The subject matter is incredibly modern and relevant. Dedicated units on “A changing world” (energy conservation, migration) and “Institutions” (local government, health services) ensure that your vocabulary is calibrated for high-level dinner conversations and professional debate. It moves the classroom into the real world.

4. The Science of Spaced Repetition

Advanced vocabulary is easily forgotten if not used. This manual includes a comprehensive Review Unit after every thematic section, along with dedicated Vocabulary Building Tables. This systematic reinforcement ensures that “ADMIRABLE” and “LOATHE” (Unit 17) move from short-term memory into your permanent professional toolkit.

The Final Verdict: Why You Must Read It

You should read this book because lexical range is the hallmark of intelligence. In the professional and academic world, the person with the most precise words is the person who commands the room. This guide provides the “X-ray vision” to decode complex literature and the tools to speak with unshakeable confidence.

Final Conclusion: Rigorous, logically organized, and profoundly practical, this is the gold standard for advanced vocabulary development. It transforms the overwhelming complexity of English into 80 masterable, empowering steps. If you are serious about your future in an English-speaking environment, this is an indispensable investment.