Unit 1 - Influence | Exercises and Flashcards

Unit 1, Straight to First Exercises and Flashcards

These exercises focus on Unit 1, Straight to First

Wordlist for Unit 1, Straight to First

Word	Definition	Example
copy somebody's every move	to do something in the same way as someone else	She really looks up to her sister – she copies her every move
encourage sbdy to do sthg	to suggest that someone does something that you believe would be good	His parents encouraged him to read a lot when he was a child
have an influence on	to have an effect on a person that affects their decisions, opinions, or behaviour	My history teacher had a big influence on me when I was growing up
idolise sbdy	to think that someone is perfect	Josef idolised David Beckham when he was younger
role model	someone whose behaviour is considered to be a good example for other people to copy	Usain Bolt is a good role model for young athletes
set a good example	to behave in a way that is considered as a model for other people to copy	As captain, he should be setting a good example for his team mates
shape sbdy's opinion	to influence the way that a person thinks and forms opinions	Some people believe everything they read and this can really shape their opinions
blazing sun	a very bright and strong sun	She got sunburnt while working outside in the blazing sun
cold spell	a period of very cold weather	There was an unusually cold spell in April, it even snowed in some parts of the country
dropping temperatures	weather that becomes colder and colder	It will become much colder next week with dropping temperatures and even snow
fine and sunny	good weather with no clouds and lots of sunshine	In the summer it's usually fine and sunny everyday
gale-force winds	very strong wind, often causing damage to buildings and trees	The gale-force winds caused extensive damage to the caravan park
hard winter	a very cold winter	It was a hard winter with temperatures dropping to minus fifteen degrees
heavy snow	a lot of snow	Heavy snow fell overnight causing disruption on the roads
intense heat	very great or extreme heat	You should avoid walking in the intense heat in the middle of the day
light breeze	a very gentle wind	There was no wind, not even a light breeze
pour with rain	to rain very hard	It poured with rain all afternoon so we had to stay indoors
torrential rainfall	rain falling fast in large amounts	The torrential rainfall last week caused widespread flooding

FAQ: Influence and Weather Vocabulary

What does "copy somebody's every move" mean?

It means to imitate everything someone does, often because of admiration. For example, "She copies her older sister’s every move, from the way she dresses to how she talks."

How is "encourage somebody to do something" different from "influence" someone?

To "encourage" someone means to support or motivate them to take action, while "having an influence on" someone means affecting their thoughts, actions, or decisions—sometimes indirectly.

What is the difference between "idolise" someone and seeing them as a "role model"?

"Idolise" means to admire someone excessively, often seeing them as perfect, while a "role model" is someone you respect and try to learn from in a balanced way.

How can I use "set a good example" in a sentence?

You can say, "Parents should set a good example by being honest and responsible." This phrase is often used to describe positive behavior that others can follow.

What does "shape somebody's opinion" mean?

It means to influence the way someone thinks about a topic. For example, "The media plays a huge role in shaping public opinion on important issues."

What is the difference between "blazing sun" and "intense heat"?

"Blazing sun" refers to very strong sunlight, while "intense heat" describes extreme temperatures that may not necessarily come from the sun (e.g., from a heatwave or fire).

What does "cold spell" mean?

A "cold spell" is a short period of unusually cold weather. For example, "A cold spell in early spring damaged the crops."

How do "dropping temperatures" affect the weather?

"Dropping temperatures" means the weather is getting colder. It often signals a change, such as the arrival of winter or a cold front.

How can I describe pleasant weather using FCE vocabulary?

You can say "fine and sunny" when the weather is clear and warm, or "light breeze" to describe gentle wind that feels refreshing.

What are "gale-force winds"?

These are extremely strong winds that can cause damage, often occurring during storms. For example, "Gale-force winds knocked down several trees last night."

How is a "hard winter" different from "heavy snow"?

A "hard winter" refers to an entire winter season with severe conditions, while "heavy snow" describes a large amount of snowfall during a specific period.

What’s the best way to describe heavy rain?

Use phrases like "pour with rain" for everyday conversation or "torrential rainfall" for formal descriptions, such as in weather reports.