This lesson practises 30 C2 collocations on Society & Social Issues. Collocations are fixed word pairings that native speakers expect — Cambridge examiners test them in Use of English Part 1 and reward precise lexis in Writing. Run through the interactive drills first, then open this glossary to revise every item in the set. For question-by-question feedback, use Review mode after you finish the session.
car-sharing programmes
The city found that car-sharing programmes can reduce parking pressure in dense areas.
respect the resident's wishes
Care teams must respect the resident's wishes whenever possible.
rising unemployment
The council linked rising unemployment to greater demand for advice services.
live up to expectations
The new support centre must live up to expectations set during the campaign.
shatter the resident's confidence
A humiliating experience can shatter the resident's confidence in public services.
pay tribute to the resident
The community gathered to pay tribute to the retired doctor.
quell unrest
Local leaders met quickly to quell unrest after the announcement.
prompt speculation
The sudden resignation may prompt speculation about the programme.
invest in infrastructure
The region needs to invest in infrastructure that connects rural communities.
disaffected youth
The centre offers training and support for disaffected youth.
widespread belief
There is a widespread belief that housing costs are too high.
perpetuate social stigma
Careless language can perpetuate social stigma around poverty.
a substantial number of
In the survey, a substantial number of residents supported the new community programme.
law and order break down
Law and order can break down when public services collapse.
fuel speculation
The unexplained delay continued to fuel speculation online.
park-and-ride scheme
The city expanded its park-and-ride scheme before the festival.
stage a protest
Campaigners plan to stage a protest outside the council offices.
unacceptable behaviour
The school will not tolerate unacceptable behaviour on the bus.
hold the resident in contempt
No official should hold the resident in contempt for asking questions.
adhere to beliefs
People should be free to adhere to beliefs that do not harm others.
social whirl
After retirement, she found the city's social whirl exhausting.
reliable public transport
Access to reliable public transport is essential for people without cars.
entirely different
The two neighbourhoods have entirely different needs.
unfit for human habitation
Inspectors found the property unfit for human habitation.
establish communication
The mediator helped the two groups establish communication again.
introduce a neighbourhood watch scheme
The council plans to introduce a neighbourhood watch scheme after consultation.
undergo a revival
The old market has begun to undergo a revival after new investment.
boost their confidence
Mentoring can boost their confidence before a job interview.
disparaging remark
The committee apologised for a disparaging remark about local residents.
address systemic discrimination
The strategy aims to address systemic discrimination in recruitment.