(for essays and debates) | Word | Meaning | B2-Level Example | |------|---------|------------------| | controversial | causing strong disagreement | The new law is highly controversial. | | biased | unfairly preferring one side | The article was biased against immigrants. | | skeptical | doubting; not easily convinced | Many scientists remain skeptical about the results. | | ambiguous | unclear; can be understood in multiple ways | His reply was ambiguous, so I didn’t know what he meant. | | dilemma | a difficult choice between two bad options | She faced a moral dilemma: lie or betray her friend. |
✅ Overwhelmed can be positive (love, joy) or negative (work, stress). Context matters. ✅ Grammar: Embarrassed by / about / to (not “for”). 4. Society & Environment (for B2 speaking topics) | Word | Meaning | B2-Level Example | |------|---------|------------------| | sustainable | able to continue without harming the environment | We need more sustainable energy solutions. | | consumer | a person who buys goods | Consumers are demanding eco-friendly packaging. | | waste (n) | unwanted materials | Plastic waste is a huge problem in oceans. | | pollution | harmful substances in air/water/land | Air pollution causes respiratory diseases. | | inequality | unfair difference between groups | The report highlighted growing income inequality. | b2 english words
✅ Sustainable is often used with development / growth / energy / future . ✅ Word family: Consume (v), consumer (n), consumption (n) 5. Work & Business (for job interviews) | Word | Meaning | B2-Level Example | |------|---------|------------------| | deadline | a date by which work must be finished | We have a tight deadline for this project. | | supervise | watch over and direct work | She supervises a team of ten people. | | flexible | able to change according to needs | My job offers flexible working hours. | | quit (v) | leave a job voluntarily | He quit because he felt underpaid. | | promotion | a move to a higher position | She got a promotion after two years. | (for essays and debates) | Word | Meaning
✅ Decline is more formal than decrease . Use decline for health, economy, standards. ✅ Collocation: dramatic shift / gradual decline / rapid recovery 3. Emotions & Reactions (for storytelling) | Word | Meaning | B2-Level Example | |------|---------|------------------| | overwhelmed | affected too strongly by emotion or work | I felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities. | | frustrated | annoyed because you can’t achieve something | He got frustrated with the slow internet connection. | | relieved | happy that something bad didn’t happen | I was so relieved to hear that she was safe. | | embarrassed | ashamed or self-conscious in front of others | She felt embarrassed when she forgot his name. | | guilty | feeling bad because you did something wrong | I still feel guilty about lying to my parents. | | | ambiguous | unclear; can be understood
✅ Controversial is often followed by issue / topic / decision . ✅ Common error: Biased is an adjective → biased towards / against (not “biased to”). 2. Change & Progress (for work / society topics) | Word | Meaning | B2-Level Example | |------|---------|------------------| | transform | change completely | The internet has transformed how we communicate. | | gradual | slow, step by step | There has been a gradual increase in life expectancy. | | shift (n/v) | a slight change in position or direction | There was a sudden shift in public opinion. | | decline (n/v) | decrease in quality or quantity | The town’s population has declined sharply. | | recover | return to a normal state after a problem | It took months for the economy to recover. |
✅ Deadline is often used with meet / miss / extend / tight . ✅ Common error: Quit is informal; in writing, use resign or leave the job . 6. Linking Words for B2 Writing (essential for coherence) | Word | Function | Example | |------|----------|---------| | furthermore | add a strong point | The hotel was expensive. Furthermore, it was far from the beach. | | however | contrast | The food was good. However, the service was slow. | | consequently | result | He didn’t study. Consequently, he failed the exam. | | although | concession (contrast within sentence) | Although it rained, we enjoyed the trip. | | in addition | add another point | In addition to the salary, they offer health insurance. |