Oxford Word Skills Advance Unit 27

Question 1

Transform sth

Answer 1

Transformation

to completely change the appearance, form, or character of something or someone, especially in a way that improves it
Increased population has transformed the landscape.
transform somebody/something (from something) into something
The movie transformed her almost overnight from an unknown schoolgirl into a megastar.

Question 2

Amend sth

Answer 2

əˈmend/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive] formal
to correct or make small changes to something that is written or spoken
The law was amended to include women.
The defendant later amended his evidence.
‘Steve stole it – or rather borrowed it, ’ he amended.
—amended adjective
an amended version

Question 3

Adapt to sth

Answer 3

Syn adjust to sth

əˈdæpt/ ●●○ W3 verb
1 [intransitive, transitive] to gradually change your behaviour and attitudes in order to be successful in a new situation
adapt to
The children are finding it hard to adapt to the new school.
flowers which are well adapted to harsh winters
The ability to adapt is a definite asset in this job.
adapt yourself/itself etc (to something)
How do these insects adapt themselves to new environments?
2 [transitive] to change something to make it suitable for a different purpose
adapt something to do something
The car has been adapted to take unleaded gas.

Question 4

Assimilate sth

Answer 4

Assimilation N

əˈsɪməleɪt/ verb
1 [transitive] to completely understand and begin to use new ideas, information etc SYN absorb
It will take time to assimilate all these facts.
2 [intransitive, transitive] if people assimilate, or are assimilated into a country or group, they become part of that group and are accepted by the people in that group
assimilate into
Refugees find it difficult to become assimilated into the community.

Question 5

Evolve

Answer 5

Evolution N

ɪˈvɒlv $ ɪˈvɑːlv/

to develop and change gradually over a long period of time
The school has evolved its own style of teaching.
Businesses need to evolve rapidly.
evolve out of
The idea evolved out of work done by British scientists.
evolve into
The group gradually evolved into a political party.

Question 6

Transition

Answer 6

A society is in transition is changing

trænˈzɪʃən, -ˈsɪ-/ ●●○ W3 AWL noun [countable, uncountable]
formal when something changes from one form or state to another
transition from something to something
the smooth transition from full-time work to full retirement
Making the transition from youth to adulthood can be very painful.
a society that is in transition (=changing)
the period of transition to full democracy
Smooth
Peaceful
Gradual
A period of transition
A transition process

Question 7

Revert (back) to sth

Answer 7

After weeks of unrest, life has reverted to normal
Syn go back

to change back to a situation that existed in the past SYN go back to
The city reverted to its former name of St Petersburg.
After a few weeks, everything reverted to normal.
2 formal to return to an earlier subject of conversation SYN go back to
To revert to the question of exams, I’d like to explain further.
3 law if land or a building reverts to its former owner, it becomes their property again

Question 8

Restore sth

Answer 8

Restoration

/rɪˈstɔː $ -ɔːr/ ●●○ W3 AWL verb [transitive]
1 FORMER SITUATION to make something return to its former state or condition
restore something to something
The government promises to restore the economy to full strength.
She was hoping that the Mediterranean climate would restore her to full health.
The National Guard was called in to restore order (=make people stop fighting and breaking the law) when riots broke out.
initiatives to restore peace in the Middle East
restore (diplomatic) relations with somebody
Vietnam restored diplomatic relations with South Korea on December 22.
restore somebody’s sight/hearing (=make someone who cannot hear or who is blind, hear or see again)

Question 9

Reverse sth

Answer 9

Reverse a decision
Reverse a trend
Reverse a policy
Reversal N
Reversible ADJ
Opp irreversible

rɪˈvɜːs $ -ɜːrs/ ●●○ W3 AWL verb
1 OPPOSITE [transitive] to change something, such as a decision, judgment, or process so that it is the opposite of what it was before
reverse a decision/verdict/policy etc
The decision was reversed on appeal.
reverse a trend/process/decline etc
More changes are required to reverse the trend towards centralised power.
2 CAR [intransitive, transitive] especially British English if a vehicle or its driver reverses, they go backwards SYN back up American English
reverse out of/into etc
Bob reversed into a parking space.
reverse something into/out of something
I reversed the car into a side road.

Question 10

Reform sth

Answer 10

Reform N

a change or changes made to a system or organization in order to improve it
reform of
a reform of the legal system
economic/political/educational reform
The government announced a much-needed programme of economic reform.
Reforms were made to revive the economy.
far-reaching/sweeping/radical reforms
The prime minister is calling for sweeping reforms of the NHS.

Make reforms
Carry out reforms
Introduce reforms

push through reforms (=make them happen)
He has so far failed to push through much-needed economic reforms.
implement reforms (=carry out planned reforms)
Much will depend on how local managers implement the reforms.
PHRASES
a package/programme of reforms
A package of reforms was approved by the National Assembly on April 12.

Question 11

resist sth

Answer 11

/rɪˈzɪst/
resistance N
[intransitive, transitive usually in negatives] to stop yourself from having something that you like very much or doing something that you want to do
cannot resist (doing) something
I just can’t resist chocolate.
She can never resist buying new shoes.
it is hard/difficult/impossible to resist something
It’s hard to resist an invitation like that.
resist the temptation/urge to do something
She resisted the temptation to laugh.
They only wanted 3 dollars for it, so how could I resist?
2 [transitive] to try to prevent a change from happening, or prevent yourself from being forced to do something
He resisted pressure to resign.
resist doing something
For months the company has resisted changing its accounts system.
strongly/fiercely/vigorously etc resist
The proposal was strongly resisted by the police.
3 [intransitive, transitive] to use force to stop something from happening
strongly/fiercely/firmly etc resist
Demonstrators violently resisted attempts to remove them from the building.
He was charged with trying to resist arrest.
4 [transitive] to not be changed or harmed by something
your ability to resist infection

Question 12

enforce sth

Answer 12

/ɪnˈfɔːs $ -ɔːrs/ ●○○ AWL verb [transitive]
1 to make people obey a rule or law
enforce a law/ban etc
Governments make laws and the police enforce them.
Parking restrictions will be strictly enforced.
2 to make something happen or force someone to do something
enforce something on somebody
It is unlikely that a record company would enforce its views on an established artist.
—enforceable adjective
The recommendations are not legally enforceable.