These eight pairs of adjectives have similar meanings but one adjective in each pair has positive asociations, the other negative. Check their meanings in the dictionary and then use them to complete the following sentences:

assertive / agressive
self-assured / arrogant
stubborn / resolute
unprincipled/ open- minded
shrewd / cunning
smarmy / charming
tactless / frank
trusting / naive

 

Fill in all the gaps, then press "Check" to check your answers. Use the "Hint" button to get a free letter if an answer is giving you trouble. Note that you will lose points if you ask for hints or clues!

1. Dean gets very when he's drunk, always trying to pick fights with people.
2. Jane has no sense of right or wrong. She's completely .
3. Dave can be very sometimes, but he manages to give his true opinion without hurting people.
4. Sarah was very to take Ben at his word. It's obvious that the man's a born lier.
5. Kate is a very judge of character. She knew immediately that he wasn't being honest.
6. He's so ! He never changes his mind, even if he knows he's wrong.
7. Joe never believes for a moment that he might be wrong - he's unbearably .
8. Everybody likes Colin when they first meet him - he's just so utterly .
From New Headway Advanced Workbook Oxford University Press