Y05W04VC Theme Words — Animals & adaptation

Survival is the ability to stay alive, especially in a difficult or dangerous situation.

Word Breakdown: -al (suffix meaning ‘relating to a state or process’)

Word family: survive (v.), survivor (n.)

Example: The thick fur of a polar bear is essential for its survival in freezing temperatures.

Synonyms: staying alive, endurance, persistence

Collocations: survival skills, chance of survival, survival in the wild

An instinct is a natural ability or feeling that an animal or person has without having to learn it.

Word family: instinctive (adj.), instinctively (adv.)

Example: A baby sea turtle follows its instinct to crawl towards the ocean as soon as it hatches.

Synonyms: natural ability, impulse, drive

Collocations: natural instinct, survival instinct, act on instinct

A habitat is the natural environment where an animal or plant normally lives and grows.

Example: The coral reef is the habitat of thousands of different fish and marine creatures.

Synonyms: environment, home, surroundings

Collocations: natural habitat, loss of habitat, a suitable habitat

To suggest something is to put forward an idea or possibility for someone else to consider.

Word family: suggestion (n.), suggestive (adj.)

Example: She suggested that the class use a diagram to show how the food web worked.

Synonyms: recommend, propose, put forward

Collocations: suggest an idea, suggest that, suggest a reason

To predict something is to say what you think will happen before it actually occurs, based on what you already know.

Word family: prediction (n.), predictable (adj.)

Example: She was able to predict which direction the wind would blow by looking at the shape of the clouds.

Synonyms: forecast, expect, anticipate

Collocations: predict the outcome, predict what will happen, predict accurately

To respond is to say or do something as a reaction to what someone else has said, done, or asked.

Word family: response (n.), responsive (adj.)

Example: He waited until the teacher finished speaking before he responded to the question.

Synonyms: answer, reply, react

Collocations: respond to, respond quickly, respond with

To express something is to show a feeling, thought, or idea through words, actions, or creative work.

Word Breakdown: ex- (prefix meaning ‘out’)

Word family: expression (n.), expressive (adj.)

Example: The students were encouraged to express their opinions clearly in their persuasive writing.

Synonyms: show, communicate, convey

Collocations: express feelings, express an opinion, express yourself

Evidence is information, facts, or objects that help to prove or support an idea or argument.

Word family: evident (adj.), evidently (adv.)

Example: She included three pieces of evidence in her report to support her argument about habitat loss.

Synonyms: proof, facts, support

Collocations: use evidence, provide evidence, evidence suggests

‘Because’ is used to explain the reason for something that has just been said.

Example: The platypus is unusual because it is a mammal that lays eggs.

Synonyms: since, as, for the reason that

Collocations: because of, because it, because they