ESL Vocabulary Lists (and Quizzes)

Vocab List 1

line up (verb) – to arrange, set up

We need to line up a band for the wedding.

“what’s all the fuss about” = “What’s the big deal?” or “What are you complaining about?”

“I don’t know what the fuss is all about” = “I don’t know what the big deal is” or “I don’t know why this is so important”

I read the Harry Potter books and I thought they were boring.  I don’t know what the fuss is all about.

Many people in red shirts are yelling at the president.  Do you know what the fuss is all about?

rude awakening – a shock, a sudden and unexpected surprise (usually bad news)

I studied very hard for the test, so it was a rude awakening to see that I failed.

transform (verb) – to change from one thing into another, to change from one form, appearance, type into another form, appearance, type

The caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.

I painted her bedroom and transformed it into a classroom.

spontaneous (adjective) – happens without cause or without planning

We’re on vacation, and you still have a schedule to plan our day!  Why can’t you be more spontaneous?

My computer spontaneously stopped turned off; I can’t figure out why.

switch (verb) – to exchange; to change

I can’t see the movie.  Could you switch seats with me?

This class was too boring, so we switched subjects and it got more interesting.

millennium (noun) – 1,000 years

Jesus lived in the first millennium.  The year 2001 was the start of the third millennium.

disturbing (adjective) – makes you feel upset, worried, or uncomfortable

I heard the disturbing news that a child was kidnapped.

The horror movie was so disturbing that I couldn’t get to sleep.  (I was too disturbed.)

Vocab List 1

Review Quiz

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1. Brian can’t teach on Friday nights, so we have to __________ teachers; Gen will teach the class from now on.

2. Everybody really likes Taipei, but I think it’s too big and dirty.  I really don’t understand ____________________.

3. Humans have lived on the earth for several __________.

4.  Could you help me __________ a band for my wedding?

5. I didn’t realize summers in Taiwan were so hot.  It has been quite a __________.

6. We’re going to __________ our living room into a small restaurant.

7. Looking at pictures of dead people is very __________.

8.  The airplane __________ exploded; nobody seems to understand why it happened.