Lesson 4A · New English File Advanced Vocabulary List

strange or unnatural in a way that might cause uneasiness or slight fear

"The house is creepy."

"The creepy old house at the end of the street gave the children nightmares and they dared each other to go inside."

developing, moving, or changing with high speed

"The river is fast-moving."

"The fast moving river swept the kayaker downstream before he could grab onto a low hanging branch."

exciting and intriguing in a way that attracts one's attention

"The movie is gripping."

"The gripping thriller novel kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page of the book."

inspiring positive emotions such as joy, happiness, and affection in the viewer or reader

"The story is heartwarming."

"The heartwarming story of the dog who saved his owner from a fire brought tears to the eyes of everyone who read it."

a difficult and challenging situation or task that requires significant effort to overcome or complete

"This task is heavy going."

"Climbing that steep, icy mountain was heavy going, demanding every ounce of his strength and determination."

not seeming believable or reasonable enough to be considered true

"His story is implausible."

"The implausible plot of the movie involved a time traveling dinosaur who solved mysteries and fell in love."

arousing interest and curiosity due to being strange or mysterious

"The idea is intriguing."

"The intriguing mystery novel kept her up all night because she could not put it down until she solved the case."

causing one to seriously think about a certain subject or to consider it

"The film is thought-provoking."

"The thought provoking documentary raised important questions about climate change and inspired viewers to take action and make changes."

a set of printed pages that are held together in a cover so that we can turn them and read them

"Read this book."

"The librarian recommended a fascinating book about ancient civilizations and their mysteries."

a story that we can watch on a screen, like a TV or in a theater, with moving pictures and sound

"I like this film."

"The critically acclaimed film explored complex themes of loss and redemption with stunning cinematography."

lingering in one's mind due to an unforgettable quality, particularly sadness, frightfulness, or beauty

"The melody is haunting."

"The haunting melody stayed in my head for days after I heard it on the radio."

causing powerful emotions of sympathy or sorrow

"The movie was very moving."

"The movie was so moving that I cried three times during the emotional final scene."