A ‘chart’ is a map of something. If something is ‘uncharted’ it means that we have no map for it and we don’t really know what to do. If we ‘chart’ something, then we are creating a record or map. Sometimes knowing one form of a word doesn’t really give us a clear idea of what the other forms may mean. So you need to work on checking meanings and thinking about them.

When you learn new vocab, make sure that you note collocations too. For this group of words some collocations are:
in appreciation of, appreciative of, appreciative for, accepted appreciatively, nodded appreciatively
arbitrary decision
automated response
bias towards, biased about, to bias something, unbiased decision
chart of, to chart something, uncharted territory

Check the meanings of the words if you don’t already know them. Check the meanings of the various forms as sometimes they are different. You can check them at Time4english by clicking the words (http://www.time4english.com/aamain/lounge/awl.asp).

Vocabulary for IELTS – Academic Word List 86

Complete the sentences. Choose the correct word and then use the correct form of the word.

1. A lot of test marking these days can be ______________ , but I’m not sure that that’s the best way to go. (appreciate, automate)
2. There was little evidence for either side of the argument, so in the end it was an ______________ decision to implement the new ruling . (chart, arbitrary)
3. As far as the climate goes, we are really in _______________ territory; it is beyond human experience. (arbitrary, chart)
4. The company was very _______________ of all his hard work. (appreciate, bias)
5. In politics and in government it is very difficult to have an official enquiry into something without the process being ______________ in some way. (bias, automate)

Answers (in the wrong order)
5. biased    3. uncharted    2. arbitrary    1. automated     4. appreciative