Advanced Vocabulary Exercise #5

Both "hesitation" and "reluctance" mean unwillingness to do something.

Both "foundation" and "infrastructure" refer to the basic and integral parts that support a system.

Both "tweak" and "refine" mean to make adjustment to something so it becomes better.

Both "connected" and "adjacent" mean next to.

Both "representing" and "on behalf" mean to officially act for another person.

Both "debate" and "controversy" refer to discussions involving people with very different opinions.

A city's infrastructure includes railways, ports, roads, hospitals and many other essential facilities and systems. If any one of these can no longer perform its normal function, the lives of the people in the city will be greatly affected.

The river is quite dangerous because it is home for a lot of crocodiles. If you live next to, or adjacent to, the river, you probably can't sleep well at night and have to be worried about your life all the time.

The novel is pretty good, but not perfect. The end of the story may need some revision to make it even better. This process is called refining (or refinement).

If something caused controversy, it is widely discussed with public disagreement. That news agencies having different opinions is one indication.

"Reluctant' means unwilling. Although it is still a smile, a reluctant smile shows that he or she does not really like the idea.

Charities usually act as organizing bodies that represent people who need help. People who want to help the needy give money to charities, which collect and distribute the money to people in need. As charities do not profit from donations and simply act as the "middlemen", they receive donations on behalf of recipients.