Everyday English (Vocabulary Building)
Topic: Health & Illness
Lesson Notes July 15, 2025 (Vocabulary Building)
Words & Phrases
The rain is coming in like waves today.
Skittish (adjective); easily frightened or nervous; quick to react with fear or caution (Synonyms: nervous, jumpy, uneasy)
The horse was skittish and reared at the sound of thunder.
She felt skittish before her big presentation at work.
The skittish cat hid under the sofa whenever visitors came.
The students can come and go depending on their own schedules.
They usually go there after school. (‘Here’ is not correct, use ‘there’ when talking about a location away from where you are now)
Mid-term exams (noun); Tests taken halfway through an academic term or semester (Synonyms: midterms, semester exams, interim exams)
Final exams (noun); Tests taken at the end of an academic term or course (Synonyms: finals, end-of-term exams, end-of-semester exams)
Health & Lifestyle
“The bather; ‘now I swim … in rivers, (in) oceans and (in) the occasional waterfall.’
“the occasional waterfall” means “a waterfall from time to time” or “not often, but sometimes”.
‘Give (something) a go’ (phrase); To try doing something, especially for the first time, to see what it’s like or if you can do it (Synonyms: try out, have a shot at, attempt)
I’ve never played tennis before, but I’ll give it a go.
You should give painting a go — you might enjoy it.
He gave cooking a go and ended up really liking it.
Example Answers
Section 1B
1 The thinker began a university degree in sociology, and started learning French.
The bather started doing exercise in a gym, and then started wild swimming
The eater started eating more healthy foods.
2 The thinker retired from his job and wanted to keep mentally active.
The bather was in a high-stress job and realized she wasn’t healthy.
The eat didn’t have much energy and started to get minor health problems.
3 The thinker aims to work as a volunteer, or travelling around France.
The bather’s goal is swimming in exciting places around the world, maybe giving up her job and earning money as a wild-swimming influencer.
The eater will give up meat, transform his garden into a mini farm, grow his own fruit and vegetables.
Section 1C
1 b – He uses the word ‘luckily’, which implies he is pleased.
2 a – She says it is one of her dreams, which suggests she is excited about the idea.
3 b – He says he finds it strange that it took him so long to realize his diet was unhealthy, which implies he is surprised that he didn’t realize sooner.