Communicative Goal: Describing
Frustration
Context: Modern
Life
Part 1, Speaking: The words listed
below are all synonyms of the adjective “frustrated.” Each varies slightly from
the others in meaning and use. Discuss the definition and application of each
word.
1. discontented: (adjective)
frustrated (formal, neutral, delicate, general, usually “unhappy”)
Example: Blue collar workers have become discontented over a
lack of opportunities.
2. disheartened: (adjective)
frustrated (formal, negative, romantic, strong, especially in the sense of “giving up”) Example: Don’t be so disheartened! Things will turn out!
3. foiled: (adjective)
frustrated (formal, neutral, strong, especially in the sense of “defeated”)
Example: Silver screen villains used to exclaim “Drats! Foiled
again!”
4. stonewalled: (adjective)
frustrated (formal, negative, strong, especially in a legal, political and professional
sense) Example: Generations have been stonewalled by the glass
ceiling.
5. stymied: (adjective) frustrated
(informal, neutral, “cute,” especially in the sense of “confused”)
Example: Beats me! I’m stymied!
Part 2, Reading Exercise:
Although modern life offers many opportunities denied to previous
generations, it can also produce more stress and frustration which we need to
put up with, leading many people to feel __________ with their lives.
In order to take advantage of these opportunities, we need to further
our educations as much as possible. Taking critical exams can sometimes leave
us __________, despite our long hours of preparation.
Once we have finished school and embarked upon our professional lives,
frustrations again present themselves. Fed up employees who try to climb the
ladder feel _________ if their superiors regularly shoot down their ideas.
Those who have had it up to here with a toxic work environment such as this
usually walk away.
Of course, frustrations appear in our personal lives, as well. Many
lonely people can’t stand it when a crush gets away, often taken by someone
else, making them feel __________ in their romantic attempts.
In extreme cases, those frustrated in both their private and public
lives feel __________. Being at the end of their ropes, they may even take
their own lives.
© James Doyle, 2013
Vocabulary Class:
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Answers:
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link:
Are you interested in learning more vocabulary? Take this great class!
Answers:
The answers to this exercise are available at the following link:
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