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Mastering Nuance: Advanced Expressions of Likes & Dislikes

Worksheet · Grade 12 · English

Mastering Nuance: Advanced Expressions of Likes & Dislikes

Grade 12 English Vocabulary: Mastering Nuance

Instructions: This worksheet focuses on advanced vocabulary used to express preferences, feelings, and reactions. Complete all 20 activities as directed. Ensure your handwriting is clear.


Activity 1: Synonym Matching

Match the advanced verb on the left with its closest synonym or definition on the right.
  1. Detest —————— a. To have a sentimental affection for
  1. Relish —————— b. To be repelled or disgusted by
  1. Averse —————— c. To enjoy something immensely
  1. Loathe —————— d. To intensely dislike or hate
  1. Soft spot —————— e. Strongly opposed or unwilling


Activity 2: Contextual Gap Fill

Fill in the blanks using the word bank below. Note: The words are randomized and may need to be adjusted for tense.
Word Bank: Yearning, Partial, Captivated, Take a dim view, Keen on, Repels
  1. The board of directors is likely to ____________________ of any further budget cuts this quarter.
  1. Although I enjoy most seafood, I am particularly ____________________ to grilled salmon.
  1. The scent of rotting garbage ____________________ most people instantly.
  1. After months of winter, she felt a deep ____________________ for the warmth of the summer sun.
  1. The audience was ____________________ by the soloist's haunting performance.
  1. My brother isn't very ____________________ hiking; he prefers indoor sports.


Activity 3: Multiple Choice - Identifying Connotation

Identify whether the bolded word in each sentence has a Positive or Negative connotation.
  1. "I can never understand why people are so captivated by royal weddings." A) Positive B) Negative
  1. "She's a vegetarian, and the thought of eating meat repels her." A) Positive B) Negative
  1. "Supermarkets know that customers are often tempted by special offers." A) Positive B) Negative
  1. "He's a very punctual person, and dreads being late for anything." A) Positive B) Negative


Activity 4: Multiple Choice - Nuance Choice

Choose the word that best fits the level of intensity required for the context.
  1. While she doesn't hate the city, she is ________ to the noise and pollution. A) Loathing B) Averse C) Detesting D) Fancied
  1. He ________ the opportunity to speak at the international conference; it was his lifelong dream. A) Relished B) Fancied C) Was partial to D) Was fond of


Activity 5: True or False - Meaning and Usage

Circle T for True or F for False.
  1. T / F: To 'take a dim view of' something means you strongly support it.
  1. T / F: 'Loathe' is a stronger expression of dislike than 'dislike'.
  1. T / F: If you are 'partial to' something, you have a specific preference for it.
  1. T / F: 'Fascinated by' suggests a lack of interest.


Activity 6: True or False - Grammatical Precision

Circle T for True or F for False regarding the grammatical structure of these phrases.
  1. T / F: It is correct to say "I am averse to working late," rather than "averse from."
  1. T / F: The phrase "fond of" must always be followed by a noun or a gerund (e.g., "fond of music" or "fond of singing").
  1. T / F: "Keen on" is typically followed by an infinitive (e.g., "keen on to play").


Activity 7: Diagram Labeling - Intensity Spectrum

Refer to Figure 1. Below are five words. Place them in the correct position (1-5) on the spectrum based on their intensity of feeling, from Extreme Dislike (1) to Extreme Like (5).
fig 1: A minimalist horizontal spectrum line with five circular points labeled 1-5 for intensity.
fig 1: A minimalist horizontal spectrum line with five circular points labeled 1-5 for intensity.

  • Detest : ________
  • Relish : ________
  • Fond of : ________
  • Averse : ________
  • Indifferent: ________


Activity 8: Diagram Labeling - Facial Reactions

Refer to Figure 2. Match the following verbs to the face that best represents the emotion.
fig 2: A grid of four line-art faces labeled Face A, Face B, Face C, and Face D.
fig 2: A grid of four line-art faces labeled Face A, Face B, Face C, and Face D.

  1. Loathe : ____________________
  1. Fascinated: ____________________
  1. Detest : ____________________
  1. Appeals : ____________________


Activity 9: Compare and Contrast - Synonyms

Explain the subtle difference in meaning between 'Detest' and 'Loathe'. When might you use one over the other?





Activity 10: Compare and Contrast - Nuance

How does being 'Passionate about' a hobby differ from being 'Partial to' a certain type of food? Discuss the level of commitment implied.





Activity 11: Open-Ended - Sentence Construction

Write two original sentences using the vocabulary provided. Each sentence must be at least 15 words long.
  1. (Be partial to): __________________________________________________________________________
  1. (Take a dim view of): __________________________________________________________________________


Activity 12: Open-Ended - Descriptive Paragraph

Describe a place you feel strongly about (either positively or negatively). You must use at least four words from the image in your description (e.g., appeals, fascinated, repels, dreads).






Activity 13: Critical Thinking - Marketing Language

In advertising, why might a company use the phrase 'tempted by' rather than 'forced to buy'? What does this suggest about the consumer's agency and desire?





Activity 14: Critical Thinking - Literary Analysis

Consider the word 'Yearning'. How does it differ from a simple 'want'? Describe the physical or emotional sensation associated with 'yearning' in a poetic context.





Activity 15: Problem Solving - Data Analysis

Refer to Figure 3. Based on the survey data, answer the following questions.
fig 3: Bar chart showing employee sentiment regarding a new work-from-home policy.
fig 3: Bar chart showing employee sentiment regarding a new work-from-home policy.

  1. What percentage of employees have a positive outlook (Relish or Partial) toward the policy?
    
    ____________________
  1. Which sentiment category has the highest percentage?
    
    ____________________
  1. If you were the manager, how would you address the 30% of employees who are 'Averse' or 'Loathe' the idea? __________________________________________________________________________


Activity 16: Problem Solving - Tone Adjustment

Rewrite the following blunt rejection into a polite professional response using the phrase 'take a dim view of' or 'be averse to'.
Blunt: "I hate your proposal and I won't do it."
Polite Rewrite: __________________________________________________________________________



Activity 17: Exercises - Intensity Categorization

Categorize these words into the table based on their emotional weight.
Words: Fancies, Detests, Fond of, Loathes, Appreciates, Abhors
Low Intensity
Medium Intensity
High Intensity








Activity 18: Exercises - Idiom Matching

Match the C1-level idiom to its definition.
  1. Have a soft spot for ——— a. To disapprove of something strongly.
  1. Take a dim view of ——— b. To have a sentimental affection for.
  1. Be partial to ——— c. To have a specific preference or bias.


Activity 19: Exercises - Word Forms

Fill in the correct form of the word in parentheses.
  1. His ____________________ (passionate) for aviation began when he was five years old.
  1. She looked at the display with great ____________________ (fascinated).
  1. The ____________________ (repels) nature of the substance made it hard to handle.


Activity 20: Translation of Contextual Meaning

Match the sentence context to the specific nuance of 'like' or 'dislike'.
  1. "I fancy a cup of tea." ——— a. Physical/Visceral Disgust
  1. "The thought of it repels me." ——— b. Sentimental Affection
  1. "I have a soft spot for stray cats." ——— c. Fleeting Desire/Inclination