Expand Your Vocabulary for IELTS – Key Word: Role

Role 

1          Play a role in + verb

Use the correct form of these verbs:

build up           campaign for

educate            influence

open                  remove

1. President Clinton played a pivotal role in____________ channels of communication between the leaders of the two countries.
2. Television has a crucial role to play in____________ young people. That’s why we need more documentaries and fewer game shows.
3. Your kidneys play a vital role in____________ waste products from your blood.
4. Nobody would deny that the media play a major role in____________ people’s opinions.
5. He played a key role in____________ the company into the success it is today.
6. She played a leading role in____________ equal opportunities for women.

Go back and underline all the adjectives used to describe an important role.

2          Common adjective collocations

Use the following adjectives in these sentences:

active               dual

minor              peace-keeping

clear                traditional

1. He is finding his____________ role as composer and conductor quite demanding.
2. Most of the top management positions are held by men. Women seem to play relatively____________ roles in the running of the organisation.
3. Every member of staff must have a ____________ role. Everybody needs to know what is expected of them.
4. United Nations troops are only deployed in a ____________ role. They do not fight wars, they try to prevent them.
5. I think our government should be playing a more ____________ role in promoting human rights. It needs to do more.
6. Many women have abandoned their ____________ role as wife and mother. For many the pursuit of a career is more important.

Go back and underline the adjective collocations.

3          Verb + role

Use the correct form of these verbs:

examine          reverse

see                   play

find                  take on

1. When my mother died when I was five, my older sister had to____________ her role.
2. My parents looked after me when I was young, but now the roles are ____________ and I look after them.
3. I ____________ my role as that of a mediator, helping other people to work out their problems together.
4. The report____________ the changing role of women in modern society.
5. Because most parents work nowadays, grandparents are ____________ a more and more important role in bringing up children.
6. In the reorganisation of the company, my old boss hasn’t really ____________ a role for himself.

ANSWER KEY

Ex 1: 1. opening  2. educating  3. removing  4. influencing  5. building up  6. campaigning for

Ex 2: l. dual     2. minor    3. clear    4. peace-keeping    5. active    6. traditional

Ex 3: 1. take on    2. reversed    3. see    4. examines    5. playing   6. found

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