Synonym Blindness — Level 1 · HartGrove

HartGrove Legacy & Academy · IELTS Reading · Lesson 1.2 — Synonym Blindness

Level 1 — Recognising Synonyms in Sentences

Single sentences · Choose the matching word · Six categories · 10 questions each

What is Synonym Blindness?

In IELTS reading, the passage and the question almost never use the same word. Instead they use synonyms — different words with the same meaning. If you only search for the exact word, you will miss the answer.

This series trains you to recognise synonym families across the six most common categories in IELTS passages. By the end, you will automatically spot that numerous means many, that surged means rose sharply, and that apprehensive means worried — no matter which word the passage uses.

1 · Numbers & Quantities

2 · Time & Periods

3 · Size & Degree

4 · Change & Movement

5 · Feelings & Attitudes

6 · Cause & Effect

Category 1 — Numbers & Quantities

How many? How much? Learn to spot these synonyms in any passage.

Each sentence contains a highlighted word. Choose the option (A–D) that means the same thing.

Question 1

The report identified numerous problems with the current system.

Which word means the same as numerous?

Question 2

Only a handful of participants completed the full survey.

Which phrase means the same as a handful of?

Question 3

The majority of students passed the examination.

Which phrase means the same as the majority of?

Question 4

A proportion of the funding was allocated to research.

Which phrase means the same as a proportion of?

Question 5

Several studies have confirmed this finding.

Which word means the same as several?

Question 6

Virtually all of the participants reported an improvement.

Which phrase means the same as virtually all?

Question 7

The survey found that the bulk of respondents were satisfied.

Which phrase means the same as the bulk of?

Question 8

Only a minority of patients experienced side effects.

Which phrase means the same as a minority of?

Question 9

The figures represent a modest number of cases.

Which phrase means the same as a modest number of?

Question 10

The study identified a substantial proportion of users who reported difficulties.

Which phrase means the same as a substantial proportion of?

Numbers & Quantities — Your Score

Synonym Family — Numbersnumerous · a large number · many · several · a number of · multiple · various | a few · a handful · a small number · a minority · a modest number | the majority · the bulk · most · the greater part | virtually all · nearly every · almost all

Category 2 — Time & Periods

When? How fast? How long ago? Synonyms for time expressions.

Each sentence contains a highlighted word or phrase. Choose the option (A–D) that means the same thing.

Question 1

The population grew rapidly during the industrial revolution.

Which word means the same as rapidly?

Question 2

In recent years, public awareness has increased significantly.

Which phrase means the same as in recent years?

Question 3

Change occurred gradually over several generations.

Which word means the same as gradually?

Question 4

Traditionally, this practice was carried out by hand.

Which word means the same as traditionally?

Question 5

At present, the situation remains uncertain.

Which phrase means the same as at present?

Question 6

The technique was previously used in manufacturing.

Which word means the same as previously?

Question 7

The process was completed swiftly by the team.

Which word means the same as swiftly?

Question 8

Two separate teams reached the same conclusion simultaneously.

Which word means the same as simultaneously?

Question 9

The project was completed ahead of schedule.

Which phrase means the same as ahead of schedule?

Question 10

The trend emerged in the latter part of the century.

Which phrase means the same as the latter part of?

Time & Periods — Your Score

Synonym Family — Timerapidly · swiftly · quickly · at speed · promptly | gradually · slowly · incrementally · steadily | currently · at present · today · now | previously · formerly · in the past · historically · traditionally | simultaneously · at the same time · concurrently

Category 3 — Size & Degree

How big? How strong? How important? Synonyms for size and degree.

Each sentence contains a highlighted word. Choose the option (A–D) that means the same thing.

Question 1

The results showed a significant improvement in outcomes.

Which word means the same as significant?

Question 2

Only a marginal difference was observed between the two groups.

Which word means the same as marginal?

Question 3

The project required substantial investment from multiple sources.

Which word means the same as substantial?

Question 4

The effect on overall productivity was negligible.

Which word means the same as negligible?

Question 5

There was a marked increase in enrolment numbers last year.

Which word means the same as marked?

Question 6

The organisation covers a vast area of the country.

Which word means the same as vast?

Question 7

The difference between the two samples was minimal.

Which word means the same as minimal?

Question 8

The study found a modest improvement in test scores.

Which word means the same as modest?

Question 9

The disease had a devastating impact on the local population.

Which phrase means the same as devastating?

Question 10

The company achieved a notable reduction in operating costs.

Which word means the same as notable?

Size & Degree — Your Score

Synonym Family — Size & Degreesignificant · considerable · substantial · marked · notable | negligible · minimal · marginal · slight · minor · modest | vast · enormous · extensive · large-scale | devastating · severe · critical · major

Category 4 — Change & Movement

Up, down, stable, fast, slow — synonyms for how things change.

Each sentence contains a highlighted word. Choose the option (A–D) that means the same thing.

Question 1

Sales rose sharply in the third quarter of the year.

Which word means the same as rose?

Question 2

The number of applications declined over the period.

Which word means the same as declined?

Question 3

Temperatures remained stable throughout the year.

Which phrase means the same as remained stable?

Question 4

Investment in renewable energy has surged in recent years.

Which word means the same as surged?

Question 5

The number of applicants dropped significantly after the policy change.

Which word means the same as dropped?

Question 6

Living standards improved considerably during this period.

Which word means the same as improved?

Question 7

The unemployment rate fluctuated throughout the decade.

Which word means the same as fluctuated?

Question 8

Research funding contracted during the period of austerity.

Which word means the same as contracted?

Question 9

The gap between rich and poor widened over the decade.

Which word means the same as widened?

Question 10

The population expanded rapidly in the post-war years.

Which word means the same as expanded?

Change & Movement — Your Score

Synonym Family — Changerose · increased · grew · climbed · surged · expanded · widened | fell · dropped · declined · decreased · contracted · shrank | remained stable · stayed the same · held steady · was unchanged | fluctuated · varied · went up and down | improved · advanced · got better | worsened · deteriorated · declined

Category 5 — Feelings & Attitudes

How do people feel or think? Synonyms for emotions and opinions.

Each sentence contains a highlighted word. Choose the option (A–D) that means the same thing.

Question 1

Many residents were concerned about the proposed development.

Which word means the same as concerned?

Question 2

Scientists are enthusiastic about the potential of this discovery.

Which word means the same as enthusiastic?

Question 3

The committee was opposed to the new regulations.

Which phrase means the same as opposed?

Question 4

Researchers remain sceptical about the validity of the findings.

Which word means the same as sceptical?

Question 5

The public was largely supportive of the new environmental policy.

Which phrase means the same as supportive?

Question 6

Many parents were apprehensive about the changes to the curriculum.

Which word means the same as apprehensive?

Question 7

The government acknowledged that many citizens were dissatisfied with the service.

Which word means the same as dissatisfied?

Question 8

Critics were alarmed by the scale of the environmental damage.

Which phrase means the same as alarmed?

Question 9

Local businesses were resistant to the proposed changes.

Which phrase means the same as resistant?

Question 10

The researchers were optimistic about the long-term outcomes of the study.

Which word means the same as optimistic?

Feelings & Attitudes — Your Score

Synonym Family — Feelingsconcerned · worried · apprehensive · alarmed · uneasy | enthusiastic · keen · eager · passionate · optimistic · hopeful | opposed · against · resistant · critical of | supportive · in favour · behind · positive about | sceptical · doubtful · unconvinced | dissatisfied · unhappy · displeased

Category 6 — Cause & Effect

Why did it happen? What followed? Synonyms for cause and result.

Each sentence contains a highlighted word or phrase. Choose the option (A–D) that means the same thing.

Question 1

The drought led to a severe food shortage in the region.

Which phrase means the same as led to?

Question 2

The improvement was due to increased investment in the sector.

Which phrase means the same as due to?

Question 3

The new policy gave rise to considerable debate among experts.

Which phrase means the same as gave rise to?

Question 4

Consequently, the number of complaints fell sharply.

Which word means the same as consequently?

Question 5

Poor diet contributed to the rise in obesity rates.

Which phrase means the same as contributed to?

Question 6

The discovery stemmed from years of painstaking laboratory research.

Which phrase means the same as stemmed from?

Question 7

The new infrastructure facilitated trade between the two regions.

Which word means the same as facilitated?

Question 8

Owing to poor weather, the outdoor event was cancelled.

Which phrase means the same as owing to?

Question 9

The new technology enabled faster and cheaper communication globally.

Which word means the same as enabled?

Question 10

Stricter safety regulations helped to prevent further accidents.

Which word means the same as prevent?

Cause & Effect — Your Score

Synonym Family — Cause & Effectled to · resulted in · gave rise to · caused · produced · brought about | due to · owing to · because of · as a result of · on account of | consequently · as a result · therefore · thus · hence | contributed to · played a part in · was a factor in | facilitated · enabled · allowed · permitted | prevented · stopped · avoided · precluded