C1

What is Fake News?

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What is fake news? Why is it so harmful? Who creates it? Why do they create it? Keep reading to find out!

fake news

Preparation

Match the vocabulary words with their definitions.

fake/a liar/fabricated/allegation/a conspiracy theory/denounce

  1. a claim or assertion that someone has done something illegal or wrong, typically one made without proof
  2. inform against
  3. a person who does not tell the truth
  4. not genuine
  5. invent something in order to deceive
  6. a belief that some covert but influential organization is responsible for an unexplained event
1. allegation 2. denounce 3. a liar 4. fake 5. fabricated 6. a conspiracy theory

Reading

What is Fake News?

In 2014, Nurse Kaci Hickox was quarantined in her house due to the Ebola crisis scare. She was a nurse with Doctors Without Borders, who had just recently returned from West Africa to help with the Ebola crisis there. However, she had tested negative for the virus.

This store about Hickox is one of the most famous examples of the growing phenomenon called “fake news.” New Jersey Governor Christie put out a statement staying “There’s no question the woman is ill, the question is what is her illness.”[1]https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/real-consequences-fake-news-stories-brain-cant-ignore The internet and the modern news did the rest. Stoked by both legitimate and satirical sites, the general public went into a state of panic. Hickox’s landlord was asking her to move out and random people were threatening her. In fact, the government was trying to quarantine her even though there was no official court ordered one at the time. Needless to say, her life was turned upside down due to a rapidly growing snowball of fabricated articles claiming she was infected with the Ebola virus.

Fake News is difficult to control for many reasons. Many people mistrust the established media, so when they publish things to try and repudiate the false news, it has a limited effect. In many cases, they will just go to other sources to get their news anyways. In addition, with the current rapid news cycle, the established media doesn’t have time to check their sources. Many times this leads them to just repeating the phony news that everyone is seeing anyways.

So why do people create fake news to begin with? Why are their people out there motivated to dupe the public? There are actually many different reasons for this. One of the most popular reasons is political. The writer of the article creates the phony news in order to belittle or incriminate in the court of public opinion their opponent. Other sites, such as the Onion, create fake news as satire. It is through this comedic form of writing that they can comment on issues in our society. Some people are motivated simply by money. For example, one article that talked about Mexico closing its borders reportedly earned around $6,000![2]https://blog.adbeat.com/fake-news/ Needless to say, there is some big money in it for the unscrupulous.

So how can you protect yourself from fake news? First, make sure the sites you are getting your news from are legitimate. Second, don’t take articles at face value. Do your own research. If they give sources and quotes, go and find the original sources for this to make sure it is real. Lastly, don’t spread fake news yourself. Only by working together, can we make the news more truthful.

True or False

Select true or false for each statement.

  1. Kaci Hickox went to North Africa.
  2. People spread fake news as a form of satire.
  3. Sharing everything you find online is a great way not spread fake news.
  4. People tend to trust the established media.
  5. Christie knew exactly what illness Hickox had.
  6. You can earn a lot of money by creating fake news articles.
1. False 2. True 3. False 4. False 5. False 6. True

Multiple Choice

Choose the best answer for each question.

1.Why did Kaci Hickox go to West Africa?

a. She went for vacation.

b. It was a connecting flight back home.

c. She was their to help as a nurse for the Ebola crisis.

d. She has family from there.

2. Which of the following reasons is not given as a difficulty for stopping the spread of fake news?

a. The general public mistrust the established media.

b. The news cycle is too quick to check sources.

c. There are many fake news websites.

d. Fake news looks like real news.

3. Who is Christie?

a. Head of the health organization Doctors Without Borders.

b. Governor of New Jersey.

c. A news reporter.

d. Owner of a fake news website.

4. How does the author feel about stopping the spread of fake news?

a. pessimistic

b. extremely optimistic

c. doubtful

d. cautiously optimistic

5. The Onion is a…

a. satirical site

b. established news agency

c. a governmental organization

1. c 2. d 3. b 4. d 5. a

Vocabulary Fill

Complete the sentences with the following vocabulary words.

fake/a liar/fabricated/allegation/conspiracy theory/denounce

  1. After the trial, it was found that the prosecutor had __________ evidence in order to falsely imprison the defendant.
  2. She is such __________. Why can’t she ever tell the truth.
  3. The idea that there are aliens in Area 51 is a popular __________.
  4. Don’t worry! It is not real and not worth a lot of money. It is a __________.
  5. The government will __________ any use of violence.
  6. The lawyer made a big __________ of corruption.
1. fabricated 2. a liar 3. conspiracy theory 4. fake 5. denounce 6. allegation

Discussion

Where do you usually get your news from?

Is fake news a problem?

Can you think of any other examples of phony news?

If this is too difficult to understand, check out the C1 grammar points to help out!

References[+]

FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out

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FOMO, the Fear Of Missing Out, is a growing problem among young people. It affects all aspects of their lives from school to sleep.[1]https://eslbrains.com/fomo-phrasal-verbs-with-out/[2]http://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/sites/teens/files/fomo_-_exercises_1.pdf

Look at this blog article to learn more about FOMO and do the exercises to improve your English reading skills.

FOMO

Preparation

The verb “miss” can mean many different things in English depending on the context. Match the different meanings for “miss” with their definition.

  1. He is not a very good basketball player. He misses every shot he takes.
  2. My dog has been missing all weekend. I have been putting fliers up everywhere hoping to find her.
  3. I missed the bus and now have to wait 30 minutes for the next one.
  4. She misses living near the beach.
  5. Can you repeat what the teacher said? I missed the main point.

a. to fail to notice, hear, or understand

b. to notice the loss or absence of

c. to fail to hit, reach, or come into contact with (something aimed at)

d. to be late for something

e. to feel sad that something or someone is not there

Reading

FOMO – Fear Of Missing Out

FOMO is the Fear Of Missing Out. It is the feeling of anxiety a person might get when they feel like they have missed out on something.

In our current society, social media is the biggest contributing factor to FOMO. You can consistently see all of the great things your friends are doing and it makes your feel bad that you aren’t doing them as well.

A growing trend is that this is even affecting people’s sleep. They are so worried about missing opportunities to like, comment, look, and take part in the online world, that they will wake up in the middle of the night to get on their phones.

This growing trend reveals some worrying statistics including:[3]https://trustpulse.com/fomo-statistics/

  • 69% of millennials experience FOMO
  • 60% of people make online purchases because of FOMO
  • 48% of millennials spend money they don’t have in order to keep up with their friends
  • 33% of people try to induce FOMO in their friends
  • 40% of people purchase something once per year just to post it on social media

Needless to say, these habits can cause a lot of problems in your daily life including an overall negative role in your overall psychological well being. In fact, a study in 2013 showed that it actually has a negative affect on people’ overall mood and life satisfaction. Social media can increase your feelings of loneliness and boredom.[4]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563213000800?via%3Dihub

So, we would like to say that you should be responsible when using social media. Don’t let FOMO rule your life. Switch off your devices every now and then. Live in the moment. Don’t worry you won’t be missing anything too important online!

Multiple Choice

Choose the best option to complete the following sentences.

1. The biggest contributing factor to FOMO is…

a. TV

b. social media

c. the internet

2. Research shows that the Fear Of Missing Out can affect your…

a. mood

b. school grades

c. number of likes on social media

3. Around ______ of people will by something online due to the Fear Of Missing Out.

a. 48%

b. 69%

c. 60%

4. The Fear Of Missing Out is…

a. the fear of not having the newest technology

b. the feeling that you need to party all the time

c. the feeling that you are missing opportunities due to what you see on social media.

5. The writer says…

a. we should completely stop using social media

b. we need to temper our use of social media

c. we should use social media even more

6. Around ______ of people purchase something just to post it on social media.

a. 40%

b. 48%

c. 33%

1. b 2. a 3. c 4. c 5. b 6. a

True or False

Select true or false for each statement about this article.

  1. 40% of people don’t make online purchases due to FOMO.
  2. The Fear of Missing Out is a growing trend that doesn’t affect sleep.
  3. This phenomena can have positive affects on your self worth.
  4. The biggest factor that contributes to FOMO is social media.
  5. A 2012 study shows that FOMO can have a negative affect.
  6. 60% of millenials experience FOMO.
1. True 2. False 3. False 4. True 5. False 6. False

Discussion

Do you experience FOMO? Is is something common from where you are from?

If this is too difficult to understand, check out the B2 grammar points to help out!

References[+]

Near Synonyms

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Near synonyms are words or expressions that seem similar but are not exactly identical due to nuances and variations in their meaning.[1]https://www.slideshare.net/agradjaya/semantic-relation-among-words They help give further depth into what we are saying.

Types of Variations

There are various types of variations that near synonyms can express.

Variation on Emphasis

One of the most common variations of nuance is in the emphasis of the word.

For example:

enemy vs. foe

“Enemy” is a more familiar word that you would use everyday. However, the formal feeling of the word “foe” gives it a more serious or intense emphasis.

  • That guy is my worst enemy. He did something that I can never forgive.
  • The USSR and the USA were bitter foes during the Cold War.

Stylistic Variations

A common stylistic variation with near synonyms is the level of formality.

For example:

drunk vs. inebriated

“Drunk” is a much more familiar way of speaking. It is a word that you might use when talking with friends. However, “inebriated” is much more formal. It is a word that a police officer might use when describing a situation with regards to a driver having drunk too much alcohol.

  • My friend drank too much last night. He got very drunk.
  • The policeman dealt with a lot of inebriated people over the weekend.

Emotive Variations

A common use of near synonyms is the different emotive variations.

For example:

daddy vs. dad vs. father

Each level of these words indicated a more formal level of relationship between child and parent. In addition, as you get more formal, the coldness in the relationship becomes more apparent.

  • The child yelled “daddy!” when her father got home.
  • My dad is a very smart.
  • My father and I have a strained relationship.

References[+]

Time Expressions

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In English, there are many different time expressions.

These idioms can be very colorful and often hard to understand for non native speakers.

Below are some of the most popular time expressions and how they are used.[1]https://7esl.com/collocations-about-time/

time expressions

free time

Meaning: Extra unused/unplanned time.

Example: I have a busy schedule, but I have some free time this afternoon.

from dawn till dusk

Meaning: From early morning to evening.

Example: He has to work from dawn till dusk every day.

have a hard time

Meaning: Going through a difficult task or situation.

Example: She is having a hard time at school right now.

have time to

Meaning: To be available.

Example: Do you have time to help me with the house cleaning?

it’s about time

Meaning: Finally!

Example: It’s about time you cleaned your room!

kill time

Meaning: To fill in time while you are waiting to do something that you have planned.

Example: We arrived early for the appointment, so we had to kill some time.

make time for

Meaning: To create or open up your time in your busy schedule.

Example: Don’t worry, I will make time for it in my schedule.

right on time

Meaning: Exactly on time.

Example: The plane arrived right on time.

run out of time

Meaning: To have no more time left due to a limit.

Example: I ran out of time on the test and wasn’t able to finish it.

save time

Meaning: To economize your time.

Example: I took a shortcut to work today and was able to save some time.

set time

Meaning: Specific specified time.

Example: The meeting starts at a set time. Don’t be late.

spend time

Meaning: To pass your time doing an activity.

Example: I love spending time with family during the holidays.

take time off

Meaning: To take a break.

Example: I took some time off from work.

take your time

Meaning: Take as much time as you want, you don’t have to hurry.

Example: Take your time with the exam. There is no time limit.

tell someone the time

Meaning: To let someone know what time it is.

Example: Can you tell me the time? I forgot my watch.

time flies by

Meaning: Time goes by quickly.

Example: Time flies by fast when you are having fun!

waste time

Meaning: To do something that is not good use of your time.

Example: Playing video games is a waste of time.

References[+]

Phrasal Nouns

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Phrasal nouns are related to phrasal verbs.

However, what is a phrasal verb. It is a type of verb that is formed by combining two or more verbs together to form a new verb.

Phrasal nouns can then be formed from the phrasal verb. However, the biggest difference between these two is that a phrasal noun is a single word with no spaces are connected by a hyphen.[1]https://www.dailywritingtips.com/phrasal-verbs-and-phrasal-nouns/

Common Phrasal Nouns

Below is a list of some common phrasal nouns and the phrasal verbs that they come from.[2]https://brians.wsu.edu/2016/05/30/phrasal-verbs-vs-nouns/

Backdown

Original Phrasal Verb: back down

Verb Example: You can’t back down from a bully.

Noun Example: There was a backdown of tensions between the two sides.

Backup

Original Phrasal Verb: back up

Verb Example: Please back up your car.

Noun Example: They didn’t have any backup plans.

Breakup

Original Phrasal Verb: break up

Verb Example: We need to break up the ice in the lake to go fishing.

Noun Example: The couple had a bad breakup.

Carry-on

Original Phrasal Verb: carry on

Verb Example: You can carry on one bag onto the plane.

Noun Example: I don’t have a lot of carry-on luggage.

Check-in

Original Phrasal Verb: check in

Verb Example: Let me check in with my boss.

Noun Example: I walked up to the check-in desk at the hotel.

Checkout

Original Phrasal Verb: check out

Verb Example: Check out that cool car!

Noun Example: I am going to pay for my stuff at the checkout counter.

Fallback

Original Phrasal Verb: fall back

Verb Example: The soldiers had to fall back from their position.

Noun Example: Do you have any fallback plans if this plan fails?

Getaway

Original Phrasal Verb: get away

Verb Example: The bad guys got away from the police.

Noun Example: The bank robbers had a getaway plan.

Handout

Original Phrasal Verb: hand out

Verb Example: He was handing out flyers.

Noun Example: I don’t need any handouts. I can earn my own money.

Hangup

Original Phrasal Verb: hang up

Verb Example: I hung up the phone.

Noun Example: Do you have any hangups with doing this job?

Layoff

Original Phrasal Verb: lay off

Verb Example: The CEO had to lay off a lot of workers today.

Noun Example: There were a lot of layoffs today at work.

Makeup

Original Phrasal Verb: make up

Verb Example: Did you just make up that joke?

Noun Example: I need to put on some makeup.

Pickup

Original Phrasal Verb: pick up

Verb Example: Don’t forget to pick up the children from school today.

Noun Example: I drive a pickup truck.

Rollover

Original Phrasal Verb: roll over

Verb Example: The rolled over onto its back.

Noun Example: There is a high rollover risk with that type of car.

Setup

Original Phrasal Verb: set up

Verb Example: Please set up the tv before the meeting.

Noun Example: It was a big setup. I swear it wasn’t my fault!

Tipoff

Original Phrasal Verb: tip off

Verb Example: The informant tipped off the police to the criminal activity.

Noun Example: The game is about to start. It is almost tipoff.

Turnover

Original Phrasal Verb: turn over

Verb Example: You can now turn over your tests and start.

Noun Example: There is a high turnover rate at that company. They are always having to hire new workers.

Warm-up

Original Phrasal Verb: warm up

Verb Example: Please warm up the food for dinner.

Noun Example: Warm-up exercises is important before heavy physical activity.

References[+]

Common Idiomatic Phrases

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Idioms are everyday expressions in common speech. Literally, idiomatic phrases often don’t make a lot of sense. Rather, they are used to express some sort of figurative meaning. Check out some of the most common English idiomatic phrases below.[1]https://www.ef.com/wwen/english-resources/english-idioms/

against the clock

meaning: forced to hurry to meet a deadline

We had to pull an all nighter because we were running against the clock.

beat around the bush

meaning: to speak in a roundabout way in order to avoid confronting an unpleasant topic

Don’t beat around the bush, tell me how bad you did on the test.

best thing since sliced bread

meaning: a good idea

That’s such a great idea! It’s the best thing since sliced bread!

bring home the bacon

meaning: earn money for one’s family

I need to find a good job so that I can bring home the bacon to my family.

busy bee

meaning: a busy person

She is such a busy bee always running from one activity to the next.

cat nap

meaning: a short sleep during the day

I am not tired anymore, I took a cat nap right before this.

costs an arm and a leg

meaning: very expensive

Are you sure you want to buy that? It costs an arm and a leg!

curiosity killed the cat

meaning: stop asking questions

Stopping asking more questions, you know what they say, “curiosity killed the cat”.

cutting corners

meaning: to economize by reducing quality

This is really bad workmanship, they really have been cutting corners.

Devil’s advocate

meaning: someone who argues a point not out of conviction, but in order to air various points of view

I’ll be the Devil’s advocate to help you prepare for the debate.

green thumb

meaning: good at gardening/growing things

She really has a green thumb. It seems like whatever she touches grows!

hit the books

meaning: to study

Stop playing video games! It is time to hit the books! You have a big test tomorrow.

hit the sack

meaning: to go to sleep

I am really tired. I think I will hit the sack.

it takes two to tango

meaning: when something goes wrong involving two people

It is not just my fault! You know it takes two to tango.

jump on the bandwagon

meaning: to follow a trend or craze

All of these people here are just jumping on the bandwagon. They aren’t true fans.

lemon

meaning: a vehicle that does not work properly

My car is a lemon.

lone wolf

meaning: someone who is not very social with other people

He doesn’t really like working with others. He is more of a lone wolf.

miss the boat

meaning: miss an opportunity

I really missed the boat with that job offer.

once in a blue moon

meaning: very rare

You better try it, it doesn’t come around that often, it really is a once in a blue moon opportunity.

piece of cake

meaning: very easy

That exam was a piece of cake.

sit on the fence

meaning: not able to make a decision

Stop sitting on the fence. Make up your mind already!

sitting duck

meaning: a person or object in a vulnerable position that is easy to attack or injure

You got to move. You are a sitting duck in that position.

spill the beans

meaning: to tell a secret

Please don’t spill the beans about the surprise birthday party.

that’s corny

meaning: it’s sentimental, old, and not funny anymore

That joke is corny.

twist my arm

meaning: you convinced me

Ok! Twist my arm. I will help you.

under the weather

meaning: to be sick

Sorry, I can’t come into work today. I feel under the weather.

Ideas for these common idiomatic phrases came from the following sources. [2]https://7esl.com/english-idioms/[3]https://www.smart-words.org/quotes-sayings/idioms-meaning.html[4]https://englishstudyonline.org/important-american-idioms/

References[+]

Phrases with Get

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Get is one of the most common verbs in English. Phrases with get can mean many different things depending on the context.[1]https://englishpost.org/expressions-with-get/[2]https://www.espressoenglish.net/36-expressions-with-get/

phrases with get

Phrases with Get

Receive

Get an e-mail

I didn’t get your e-mail.

Get a present

I got a lot of presents for Christmas.

Get grades

She got good grades in High School.

Get a phone call

Did you get my phone call?

Buy or Obtain

Get a job

I have to get a job this summer to earn some money.

Get shoes

Go get your shoes so we can go on a run.

Get [something]

What did you get at the store?

Get + Adjective

Get angry

He gets angry very easily.

Get tired

I got very tired yesterday when I was working out.

Get dark

It is going to get dark soon.

Get + Comparative

Get better

The weather is getting better.

Get worse

I think my illness is getting worse.

Get more expensive

Gas is only getting more expensive.

Get + Preposition (Phrasal Verb)

Get up

I get up at 6:30 am every morning.

Get along with

I am a friendly person. I can get along with anyone.

Get out

Sorry, I am not free at that time. I don’t get out of work until 7 pm.

Get + A Place

These phrases with get mean to arrive somewhere.

For example:

Get home

I get home at 6pm every day.

Get there

When will you get there?

References[+]

Building Words with Suffixes

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Suffixes are similar to prefixes. However, they are different in that you add them to the end of a word in order to give it a different meaning.[1]https://www.thoughtco.com/common-suffixes-in-english-1692725

The Most Common English Suffixes

The 4 most common English suffixes are: -ate, -en, -(i)fy, and -ise.[2]http://www.uefap.com/vocab/build/building.htm

-ate

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • differentiate
  • duplicate
  • fabricate
  • liquidate
  • pollinate

-en

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • awaken
  • fasten
  • moisten
  • shorten

-(i)fy

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • classify
  • exemplify
  • justify
  • simplify

-ise

This suffix means cause to be.

For example:

  • characterise
  • specialise
  • stabilise
  • symbolise
  • visualise

Some Common Suffixes

There are a lost of suffixes in English.

Below are some of the most common. If you memorize these suffixes, it can help you identify and understand words that you might have never seen before.

SuffixMeaningExample
-ablecapable of beingedible
-acystate or qualityprivacy
-alact or process ofrefusal
-alpertaining to regional
-ancestate or quality ofmaintenance
-atebecomeregulate
-domplace or state of beingfreedom
-enbecomeenlighten
-esquereminiscent of picturesque
-fulnotable forfanciful
-icpertaining tomusical
-ifymake or becometerrify
-iouscharacterized bynutritious
-ishhaving the quality ofchildish
-ismdoctrine, beliefcommunism
-istone whochemist
-ityquality ofinactivity
-ivehave the nature of creative
-izebecomecivilize
-lesswithoutendless
-mentcondition ofargument
-nessstate of beingheaviness
-shipposition heldownership
-sionstate of beingconcession
-ycharacterized bysleazy

References[+]

Building Words with Prefixes

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Prefixes are letters that you add to the front of a word in order to give it a different meaning. In many cases, it can actually completely reverse the original meaning of the word.[1]https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/prefixes

 The Most Common English Prefixes

 The 4 most common English prefixes are: dis-, in-, re-, and un-.

In fact, they make up around 58% of all English words with prefixes![2]https://howtospell-letterpatterns.co.uk/building-words-prefixes/

Dis-

This prefix means negative, not, or opposite.

For example:

  • disadvantage
  • disagree
  • disappear
  • disgrace
  • dishonest
  • dislike
  • disloyal
  • disobey
  • dissatisfied
  • distrust

In-

This prefix means negative, not, or opposite.

For example:

  • inaccurate
  • incompetent
  • incomplete
  • incorrect
  • indecent
  • indirect
  • inefficient
  • informal
  • insecure

Re-

This prefix means reverse, back, or again.

For example:

  • rebuild
  • redo
  • regain
  • remodel
  • repaint
  • replay
  • retell
  • retry
  • return
  • reuse
  • reword

Un-

This prefix means negative, not, or opposite.

For example:

  • unable
  • uncover
  • unequal
  • uneven
  • unfair
  • unkind
  • untidy
  • unusual

Hyphens

There isn’t any absolute rules for using hyphens with prefixes. The best way to known if there is a hyphen or not is to look in the dictionary.

However, there are some general rules including:

  • Use a hyphen if the prefix comes before a capital letter such as anti-European.
  • With single letter prefixes such as e-mail. However, this rule is also slowly changing.
  • With a prefix that end in a vowel and come before a word starting in a vowel such as co-operate.

Some Common Prefixes

There are a lot of prefixes in English.

Below are some of the most common. If you memorize these prefixes, it can help you identify and understand words that you might have never seen before.

Prefix Meaning Example
anti- against, opposite antimatter
de- opposite, remove deactivate
il- not illegal
im- not impossible
ir- not irresponsible
non- not nonliving
un- not unable
fore- before foreman
pre- before preplan
em- to make happen empower
en- to make happen encircle
over- to much, above overreact
super- above, beyond superman
sub- under subpar
under- under, not enough underwater
inter- between interstate
mid- middle midway
mis- wrong misbehave
semi- half, part semicircle
trans- across, change transformational

References[+]

Common Intensifying Adverbs

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There are certain adverbs called intensifying adverbs that commonly are used with other words in order to strengthen their meaning.[1]https://biblioberlitz.com/mapfre/course/esther-grammar-c1-c2-advanced/lessons/esther-intensifying-adverbs

Below are some common adverb collocations that you should know.

Intensifying Adverbs

Bitterly

This intensifying adverb is often used to express a strong negative emotion.

For example:

  • Cold: It was a bitterly cold winter.
  • Disappointed: We were bitterly disappointed in losing the match.
  • Regret: I bitterly regretted not studying for the exam.
  • Resent: She bitterly resented us for abandoning her.

Deeply

This intensifying adverb is often used with strong emotions.

For example:

  • Ashamed: I am deeply ashamed of my actions.
  • Hurt: We were deeply hurt that you did not come to the funeral.
  • Move: The movie was deeply moving.
  • Offended: They were deeply offended for not being invited to the party.

Highly

This intensifying adverb is often used to express probability.

For example:

  • Controversial: That is a highly controversial topic.
  • Effective: This is a highly effective form of therapy.
  • Probable: It is highly probable that you will get in a crash.
  • Unlikely: It is highly unlikely that anything bad will happen.

Ridiculously

This intensifying adverb is often used when something is extreme or difficult to believe.

For example:

  • Cheap: The sale is great. All the stuff in the store are ridiculously cheap!
  • Easy: The exam was ridiculously easy.
  • Long: That was a ridiculously long journey.
  • Small: We have a ridiculously small car for the number of people we need to take.

Strongly

This intensifying adverb is often used to express opinions.

For example:

  • Believe: I strongly believe that exercise and a healthy diet are good for you.
  • Deny: The defendant strongly denied their involvement in the crime.
  • Dislike: She strongly dislikes vegetables.
  • Support: We strongly support your decision.

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