93-What are some qualities of a place to work/ study? Flashcards
The most important contributor is peace and quiet. Besides,
Apart from this,
Contributor: You can use contributor to refer to one of the causes of an event or situation,
especially if that event or situation is an unpleasant one.➔Old buses are major contributors to
pollution in British cities.
countable]
1 someone who gives money, help, ideas etc to something that a lot of other people are also involved in
campaign contributors
contributor to
Dr Win was a major contributor to the research.
2 someone who writes a story, song, speech etc that forms part of a larger work such as a newspaper, book, broadcast, recording etc
contributor to
a regular contributor to ‘Time’ magazine
3 formal someone or something that helps to cause something to happen
contributor to
Cars are still one of the principal contributors to air pollution.
In a nutshell
used when you are stating the main facts about something in a short clear way
Okay, that’s our proposal in a nutshell. Any questions?
Double Comparative:
The more well-lit a room, the higher your levels of concentration.
The fewer distractors in your room, the better you can concentrate, and the more productive you can be.
1 used before two comparative adjectives or adverbs to show that the degree of one event or situation is related to the degree of another one
The more he eats the fatter he gets.
‘When do you want it?’ ‘The sooner the better.’
There need to be few distractors. Otherwise, you …
1 [no comparative] a small number of things or people
a few
I have to buy a few things at the supermarket.
Pam called to say she’s going to be a few minutes late.
There were a few people sitting at the back of the hall.
There are a few more things I’d like to discuss.
few of
I’ve read a few of her books.
I could suggest many different methods, but anyway, here are just a few.
There are only a very few (=not many) exceptions.
the last/next few
The office has been closed for the last few days.
every few days/weeks etc
The plants need to be watered every few days.
the/somebody’s few days/weeks etc
She had enjoyed her few days in Monaco.
3 not many or hardly any people or things OPP many
low-paid jobs that few people want
Many people expressed concern, but few were willing to help.
The team that makes the fewest mistakes usually wins.
few of
Very few of the staff come from the local area.
Mr Wingate was full of explanations, but precious few (=hardly any) of them made sense.
the few
The cathedral was one of the few buildings not destroyed in the war.
This hospital is one of the few that are equipped to provide transplant surgery.
somebody’s few belongings/friends etc
I gathered together my few possessions.
GRAMMAR: Comparisona few
• A few means ‘a small number, for example two or three people or things’.
• You use a few before plural nouns:
A few people were waiting.
He called me a few days later.
• You say a few of the:
A few of the people were getting annoyed.
✗Don’t say: A few of people were getting annoyed.
• You say a few of my/her/his etc or a few of them/us/you:
A few of my friends came too.
A few of us left early.
few
• Few means ‘not many or hardly any’. It emphasizes how small the number is.
• In formal English, you use few before plural nouns, without ‘a’:
Few people knew he was ill.
• In everyday English, people usually say not many instead:
Not many people knew he was ill.
A peaceful environment can contribute a great deal to concentration.
1 a peaceful time, place, or situation is quiet and calm without any worry or excitement
We had a peaceful afternoon without the children.
It’s very peaceful out here in the woods.
► see thesaurus at quiet
2 not involving war, fighting, or violence
peaceful protest/demonstration
There was a large but peaceful demonstration outside the US Embassy.
peaceful solution/conclusion/settlement
We must try to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.
peaceful means/way/manner/method
a political change achieved by peaceful and democratic means
the use of nuclear power for peaceful purposes
The countries in Europe have established a peaceful co-existence (=they exist together without fighting).
3 peaceful people do not like violence and do not behave in a violent way → non-violent
a noisy but peaceful group of demonstrators
—peacefully adverb
She was sleeping peacefully.
—peacefulness noun [uncountable]
COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 2: not involving war, fighting, or violence
NOUNS
a peaceful protest/demonstration
5,000 students began a peaceful protest which turned into a violent confrontation with police.
a peaceful solution/resolution/settlement
The authorities want a peaceful solution to the hostage crisis.
peaceful coexistence (=when people live together without fighting or arguing)
Blacks and whites lived in peaceful coexistence.
a peaceful transition (=a peaceful change from one system to another)
They hope to achieve a peaceful transition to democracy.
PHRASES
by/through peaceful means
We must redistribute power in this country by peaceful means.
for peaceful purposes
A Foreign Ministry spokesman stressed that the nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
Well-lit
Well-lit (adj): full of light➔The room was well-lit and well-ventilated. I can’t drive well if the
road is not well-lit. Fewer crimes happen in well-lit neighborhoods.
Adequately illuminated by light
(of a location) Adequately illuminated by light. Filming was difficult as the room was not well-lit.
Quiet
THESAURUS
A QUIET SOUND OR VOICE
quiet not making a loud sound
I heard a quiet voice behind me.
a car with a quiet engine
low quiet – especially because you do not want people to hear or be disturbed
Doug was on the phone, speaking in a low voice.
I turned the volume down low.
soft quiet and pleasant to listen to
Soft music was playing in the background.
His voice was soft and gentle.
silent not making any sound at all
a silent prayer
silent laughter
The machines were virtually silent.
hushed deliberately quiet because you do not want people to hear – used about people’s voices
They were talking about money in hushed tones.
The doctor’s voice was hushed and urgent.
faint quiet and difficult to hear because it comes from a long way away
The men went ahead and their voices got fainter and fainter.
the faint sound of bells
muffled difficult to hear, for example because the sound comes from another room or someone’s mouth is covered by something
Muffled voices were coming from downstairs.
the muffled sound of someone crying
dull [only before noun] a dull sound is not loud – used especially about the sound of something hitting another thing
He hit the ground with a dull thud.
inaudible too quiet to hear
The sound is inaudible to the human ear.
Her answer came in an almost inaudible whisper.
A QUIET PLACE
quiet without much noise
It’s so quiet here at night.
This is the quietest room in the house to work in.
silent with no noise at all
The room fell silent (=became silent).
peaceful (also tranquil especially written) quiet in a pleasant and relaxing way
Life’s more peaceful in the countryside.
The hotel is set in tranquil surroundings.
sleepy [only before noun] quiet – used about a town or village where there are not many people and very little happens
a sleepy fishing village
NOT SAYING MUCH
quiet not saying much
He’s a quiet boy who loves reading.
You’re very quiet tonight, Suzy – are you OK?
silent not saying anything
Her husband was a big silent man.
Everyone was arguing but I decided to remain silent.
taciturn /ˈtæsətɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ formal not talking much and seeming a little unfriendly or bad-tempered
He found Vaughn a taciturn and rather difficult person.
reticent unwilling to talk to other people, especially about a particular subject
She’s always been reticent about her early life.
a man/woman of few words someone who does not talk much, especially because they only speak when there is something important to say
My father was a man of few words, but when he spoke everyone listened.
Negatively/ positively/miraculously affect
Adj+ly=adverb
The death of the child deeply affected both of them.
Affect (v)➔Natural light and proper ventilation can positively affect productivity.
Natural light and proper ventilation can have a positive effect on productivity.
Earn a living
idiom. : to earn the money needed for food, clothing, etc.
She’s just trying to earn a living.
Make ends meet
earn just enough money to live on.
to have only just enough money to buy the things you need
When Mike lost his job, we could barely make ends meet.
Make ends meet: to pay for the things that you need to live when you have little money.
minimum wage
the lowest amount of money that an employer can legally pay to a worker
Most of the junior office staff are on the minimum wage (=being paid the lowest legal amount).
Facilities: air conditioning, lighting, free internet, Perks, Rewards, Bonuses, Raises, Promotions
perk1 /pɜːk $ pɜːrk/ noun [countable usually plural]
something that you get legally from your work in addition to your wages, such as goods, meals, or a car
theatre tickets and other perks
perk of
the perks of working at a large law firm
I only eat here because it’s free – one of the perks of the job.
Facilities: air conditioning, lighting, free internet, Perks, Rewards, Bonuses, Raises, Promotions
COLLOCATIONS – Meaning 1: something that you get because you have done something good or helpful or have worked hard
ADJECTIVES
great/big/high
The rewards for those who invested at the right time are high.
Some athletes took drugs because the rewards were great and they thought they could get away with it.
little reward
They have to work very hard for very little reward.
financial/economic reward (also monetary reward formal)
It’s a difficult job, but the financial rewards are considerable.
I’m not doing it for monetary reward.
material rewards (=money or possessions that you get)
They think money and material rewards are more important than quality of life.
tangible rewards (=things that are obviously worth having)
The prize motivates people by offering them the prospect of a tangible reward for their efforts.
rich rewards (=great rewards)
Top athletes can expect rich rewards if they win.
personal reward
I admire people who help the poor for no personal reward.
VERBS
get/receive your reward
If you work hard, you will get your reward.
reap rewards (=get them)
She is now reaping the rewards of all her hard work.
bring rewards (=cause someone to get rewards)
Winning the title brings huge financial rewards.
deserve a reward
The team have worked really hard and deserve some reward
Facilities: air conditioning, lighting, free internet, Perks, Rewards, Bonuses, Raises, Promotions
1 money added to someone’s wages, especially as a reward for good work
Long-term savers qualify for a cash bonus.
Further additions to your pay may take the form of bonus payments.
a Christmas bonus
Each worker receives an annual bonus.
a £20,000 bonus
2 something good that you did not expect in a situation
bonus for
Britain’s possession of North Sea oil has proved a bonus for British technology.
He promised to take me to the match, with the added bonus of an afternoon off school.
Facilities: air conditioning, lighting, free internet, Perks, Rewards, Bonuses, Raises, Promotions
2 INCREASE to increase an amount, number, or level OPP lower
Many shops have raised their prices.
The university is working to raise the number of students from state schools.
a campaign to raise awareness of meningitis
Dr Hayward intends to raise the museum’s profile (=make it more well-known).
► see thesaurus at increase
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In everyday British English, people usually say put up an amount, a price etc rather than raise it:
They’ve put the price of fuel up again
