Academic Words in Use · Set 3: Rules and Who Makes Them
B2 · 10 words · 25 questions · about 25 minutes · Try First · Meet the Words · Meaning and Use · Forms and Partners · Use It Again
How it works. Each set teaches ten words from the Academic Word List, the words that appear again and again in textbooks, lectures and reports in every subject. You try five of the words first, meet all ten in a short text, and then practice three things that knowing a word really means: what it means, which form to use, and which words go with it. At the end you meet the first five words again in a new text and see how far you have come. Press the Check button at the end of each part to see why every choice is right or wrong.
What do you already know?
Quick recall. Before you start, say aloud what these words from the last set mean: income, estimate, distribute. If one has gone, look back at that set’s word table.
Choose the best meaning for each word in bold. It is fine to guess. You will meet these five words again at the end.
Ten words in one text
This set’s words: legal · legislate · policy · authority · contract · principle · establish · require · issue · constitute
These ten words describe how rules are made and who may make them, from a national law to a rental agreement.
Tap or click a word with a dotted line to see its meaning below the text.
Who Decides the Rules for Scooters?
1Electric scooters appeared on the streets of one city almost overnight. Within a year, injuries on sidewalks had become a public issue. Residents asked a simple question: who has the authority to make rules for a new kind of vehicle?
2The answer had several parts. Only the national parliament can legislate, that is, make laws for the whole country. It decided that scooters are legal on roads but not on sidewalks, and that the law would require riders to be at least sixteen.
3The city could not change that law, but it could set its own policy within it. The council established parking zones and a speed limit in the center. It also signed a contract with two rental companies, which agreed to remove badly parked scooters within two hours.
4Not everyone was satisfied. Some riders argued that a speed limit of ten kilometers an hour constitutes a ban in practice. The council replied that its rules rest on one principle: the sidewalk belongs to people on foot.
Word table
A word is easier to remember with its family and its partners. Read the table once now. You may look back at it during Parts 3 and 4.
| Word | Family | Common partners |
|---|---|---|
| legal adj. | legally (adv.) · illegal (adj.) · legality (n.) | legal advice · a legal right · take legal action |
| legislate v. | legislation (n.) · legislator (n.) · legislative (adj.) | legislate on / against · pass legislation |
| policy n. | — | government policy · a policy on · adopt a policy |
| authority n. | authorize (v.) · authoritative (adj.) | have the authority to · the local authorities |
| contract n. | contractor (n.) | sign a contract with · under contract |
| principle n. | principled (adj.) | a basic principle · in principle · the principle that |
| establish v. | establishment (n.) · established (adj.) | establish a rule / a company / a link |
| require v. | requirement (n.) | be required to · meet a requirement |
| issue n., v. | — | a major issue · raise an issue · address an issue |
| constitute v. | constitution (n.) · constitutional (adj.) | constitute a threat / a majority / an offense |
What the words mean in the text
Look back at the text as often as you like.
Which sentence uses the word correctly?
Only one sentence in each group uses the word in a way that makes sense.
Choose the right form
All four choices belong to the same word family. Only one fits the sentence.
Choose the natural partner
Choose the word that usually goes with the word in bold.
Same words, new text
The five words from Part 1 are missing from this report. Read the whole text first, then choose the word for each gap.
A group of students wants to open a small café on campus. First they checked whether selling food there is (21) ____. The city allows it with a hygiene certificate. University (22) ____ adds one more condition: any student business must have a staff adviser. The students then signed a one-year (23) ____ with the university for the room. Its terms (24) ____ them to close by 6 p.m. and to keep the area clean. If the café does well, they hope to (25) ____ a second one in the library next year.
Your turn · Write and say
Think of a rule at your school, your workplace or in your town. Write three sentences: what the rule requires, who has the authority to change it, and whether you agree with the principle behind it.
Try to use at least three of these words: legal, legislate, policy, authority, contract, principle, establish, require, issue, constitute.
Then say your sentences aloud without looking at the screen.
One possible answer. My school’s policy requires students to leave their phones in a locker during lessons. Only the school board has the authority to change this rule. I agree with it in principle, but I think older students should be allowed to use their phones at lunch.
Check your own answer. Give yourself 0 to 3 for each line (0 = not yet, 3 = clearly yes).
I used at least three of the ten words.
I chose the right form of each word (noun, verb, adjective or adverb).
I used at least one word with a natural partner from the word table.
My sentences are about a real question from my own studies or work.
My self-check: 0 / 12. Different sentences can be just as good as the model if the words are used correctly.
| Part | Correct | Percent |
|---|
| Word knowledge | Correct | What it means |
|---|
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