🇺🇸

The USA: Country of Contrasts

Explore the diversity of the United States and practise adjective + noun collocations at B1 level.

📖
Ex A – ReadingRead about contrasts in the USA and fill in adjective + noun collocations
🔤
Ex B – CollocationsChoose the correct adjective to complete common collocations
✍️
Ex C – WritingWrite a paragraph about contrasts using collocations you have learned
Enter your details to begin
Exercise A

A Land of Contrasts

Read the text about the USA. Fill in each gap with the correct adjective + noun collocation.

Reading Text

The United States of America is a country of enormous contrasts. In the west, you can find 1 like the Mojave, where temperatures can reach over 50°C. But travel north to Alaska, and you will see 2 covered in snow for most of the year.

The USA also has 3 like New York and Los Angeles with millions of people, but also 4 in states like Montana and Wyoming where you can drive for hours without seeing another person.

American culture shows contrasts too. In some regions, people have a very 5, while cities like San Francisco are known for their 6 and new technologies.

Even the wealth in America shows 7. Some neighbourhoods have 8, while just a few streets away, families struggle to pay their rent. These contrasts make the USA a fascinating but complicated country.

Exercise B

Adjective + Noun Collocations

Choose the correct adjective to complete each collocation. These are common word combinations in English.

Match the Adjective
Adjectives to use: heavy public natural high cultural extreme dense standard

1. The USA has areas of traffic, especially in cities like Los Angeles.

2. Many Americans use transport to get to work in New York City.

3. The Grand Canyon is one of America's most famous wonders.

4. Americans generally enjoy a standard of living compared to many other countries.

5. The USA is known for its diversity — people from all over the world live there.

6. Alaska and Arizona have weather conditions — freezing cold in one and burning hot in the other.

7. Cities like Mumbai and New York have very populations — millions of people live in a small area.

8. English is the language used in American schools and government.

Exercise C

Writing: Contrasts in the USA

Write a short paragraph (6–8 sentences) about a contrast in the USA that you find interesting. Use at least three adjective + noun collocations from this lesson.

Useful collocations
You can use these: vast deserts frozen landscapes major cities rural areas traditional lifestyle progressive ideas sharp differences cultural diversity extreme weather dense population high standard natural wonders
Your paragraph
Aim for 6–8 sentences. Use at least 3 adjective + noun collocations.

All exercises complete!

Review your answers below, then send them to your teacher.

Click the button below to send your answers directly to your teacher.