2 wordfile-p32-2/WORDWORK
Compréhension de l’écrit
+ expression
A. Match the verbs (1-20) with their synonyms or definitions.
1. grunt
a. cry out loudly, in fear, excitement or pain
2. murmur
b. utter a shrill cry
3. babble
c. utter a long loud piercing cry in fear, pain or anger
4. yell
d. speak with a speech defect, pronouncing ‘s’ as “th”
5. hesitate
e. talk in friendly, informal way
6. scream
f. complain (in an annoying way)
7. bellow
g. speak in a happy high-pitched voice
8. shriek
h. speak softly
9. chirp
i. speak in a rough low voice
10. snap
j. speak in a very high voice (especially when nervous)
11. lisp
k. speak unclearly (as if drunk)
12. chat
l. speak quickly in short confused phrases
13. cheer
m. utter deep guttural sound (pigs also do this)
14. slur
n. shout loudly because you are happy
15. whine
o. give encouragement
16. croak
p. speak sharply
17. squeak
q. shout in a deep voice
18. splutter
r. talk foolishly
19. whoop
s. speak tremulously because you are nervous
20. quaver
t. be slow to speak because one is not sure what to say
B. Complete the paragraph with the following verbs.
• stammered • hissed • called • mumbled • cry out • barked • blurted • whispered
As soon as Detective Malone arrived on the crime scene he realized that something was wrong.
There were too many witnesses around, so he ................................................. to his colleague James
to join him behind one of the ambulances. He hadn’t slept all night and was definitely in a bad mood.
“What’ve we got?” he ................................................. . His colleague was new on the job and terrified of
him. He stammered: “P-p-patrick c-c-................................................. to tell me to get here as soon as I
c-c-could. I haven’t talked to anybody yet.” Detective Malone ................................................. something
his colleague couldn’t understand but James thought it best to keep quiet. He knew what he was up
against and knew that if he wanted to keep his job he would have to be patient. Suddenly, they heard a
young woman .............................................. , “No!” Malone turned around and .............................................. ,
“Get out of my way!”
New On Target Term © BELIN 2012