Socialising and events · B2. Distinguish these meanings in context: acquaintance = a person you know but are not close friends with; host = the person who invites people to an event and welcomes them; guest = a person invited to visit or attend an event; introduction = the act of telling people each other’s names when they first meet.
Learn twelve useful words in this topic. Study independent examples, then practise them in new situations. The level is an editorial guide, not a certification.
He is an acquaintance from my old office.
He is an acquaintance from my old office.
These match this sense. Word families can change meaning; near meanings are not always interchangeable.
Practise “a casual acquaintance” as a word partnership. In this unit “acquaintance” means a person you know but are not close friends with.
Distinguish these meanings in context: acquaintance = a person you know but are not close friends with; host = the person who invites people to an event and welcomes them; guest = a person invited to visit or attend an event; introduction = the act of telling people each other’s names when they first meet.
He is an acquaintance from my old office.
Distinguish these meanings in context: invitation = a request for someone to attend an event; gathering = an occasion when people meet together as a group; small talk = polite conversation about ordinary unimportant topics; icebreaker = an activity or remark designed to make strangers feel relaxed together.
I accepted the invitation to their wedding.
Distinguish these meanings in context: rapport = a friendly relationship involving mutual understanding; etiquette = accepted rules of polite social behaviour; hospitality = friendly and generous treatment of visitors; networking = building and maintaining professional relationships.
They established a good rapport quickly.
I recognise her and know her name, but we are not close; she is an ___.
Distinguish these meanings in context: acquaintance = a person you know but are not close friends with; host = the person who invites people to an event and welcomes them; guest = a person invited to visit or attend an event; introduction = the act of telling people each other’s names when they first meet.
He is an acquaintance from my old office.Distinguish these meanings in context: invitation = a request for someone to attend an event; gathering = an occasion when people meet together as a group; small talk = polite conversation about ordinary unimportant topics; icebreaker = an activity or remark designed to make strangers feel relaxed together.
I accepted the invitation to their wedding.Distinguish these meanings in context: rapport = a friendly relationship involving mutual understanding; etiquette = accepted rules of polite social behaviour; hospitality = friendly and generous treatment of visitors; networking = building and maintaining professional relationships.
They established a good rapport quickly.Keep the first try. Understand the change. Check it in a fresh situation.
No practice notes yet. Try a short warm-up.
a person you know but are not close friends with
the person who invites people to an event and welcomes them
a person invited to visit or attend an event
the act of telling people each other’s names when they first meet
a request for someone to attend an event
an occasion when people meet together as a group
polite conversation about ordinary unimportant topics
an activity or remark designed to make strangers feel relaxed together
a friendly relationship involving mutual understanding
accepted rules of polite social behaviour
friendly and generous treatment of visitors
building and maintaining professional relationships
Opening an answer records help for that question.
I recognise her and know her name, but we are not close; she is an ___.
The deciding cue is “we are not close”: it identifies the meaning “a person you know but are not close friends with”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “acquaintance” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “I recognise her and know her name, but we are not close; she is an acquaintance.”.
The email asking us to attend the reception was a formal ___.
The deciding cue is “email asking us to attend”: it identifies the meaning “a request for someone to attend an event”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “invitation” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The email asking us to attend the reception was a formal invitation.”.
Shared interests helped the interviewer build ___ and mutual trust with the visitor.
The deciding cue is “mutual trust”: it identifies the meaning “a friendly relationship involving mutual understanding”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “rapport” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Shared interests helped the interviewer build rapport and mutual trust with the visitor.”.
As the ___ of the dinner party, Maya welcomed everyone to her home.
The deciding cue is “welcomed everyone to her home”: it identifies the meaning “the person who invites people to an event and welcomes them”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “host” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “As the host of the dinner party, Maya welcomed everyone to her home.”.
I was invited to the wedding as a ___, so I did not organise it.
The deciding cue is “did not organise it”: it identifies the meaning “a person invited to visit or attend an event”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “guest” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “I was invited to the wedding as a guest, so I did not organise it.”.
“This is Nora, my colleague,” said Sam, making a brief ___.
The deciding cue is “This is Nora”: it identifies the meaning “the act of telling people each other’s names when they first meet”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “introduction” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: ““This is Nora, my colleague,” said Sam, making a brief introduction.”.
Thirty relatives attended the entire informal family meeting at our house. Which word names that social occasion, rather than an opening activity? ___
The deciding cue is “entire informal family meeting”: it identifies the meaning “an occasion when people meet together as a group”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “gathering” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Thirty relatives attended the entire informal family meeting at our house. Which word names that social occasion, rather than an opening activity? gathering”.
Choose the term for polite conversation about the journey and weather before discussing business: ___.
The deciding cue is “journey and weather”: it identifies the meaning “polite conversation about ordinary unimportant topics”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “small talk” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Choose the term for polite conversation about the journey and weather before discussing business: small talk.”.
The trainer used a funny group game as an ___ to help strangers relax.
The deciding cue is “help strangers relax”: it identifies the meaning “an activity or remark designed to make strangers feel relaxed together”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “icebreaker” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The trainer used a funny group game as an icebreaker to help strangers relax.”.
Knowing the accepted rules of polite behaviour means understanding social ___.
The deciding cue is “accepted rules”: it identifies the meaning “accepted rules of polite social behaviour”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “etiquette” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Knowing the accepted rules of polite behaviour means understanding social etiquette.”.
Our hosts offered a generous welcome, food, drinks and a place to sleep. Which term names this treatment of visitors? ___
The deciding cue is “generous welcome”: it identifies the meaning “friendly and generous treatment of visitors”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “hospitality” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Our hosts offered a generous welcome, food, drinks and a place to sleep. Which term names this treatment of visitors? hospitality”.
Exchanging professional contact details and meeting future collaborators is ___.
The deciding cue is “professional contact details”: it identifies the meaning “building and maintaining professional relationships”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “networking” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Exchanging professional contact details and meeting future collaborators is networking.”.
Leo is someone he knows slightly through work, not a close friend. What term describes this degree of familiarity: a business ___?
The deciding cue is “not a close friend”: it identifies the meaning “a person you know but are not close friends with”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “acquaintance” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Leo is someone he knows slightly through work, not a close friend. What term describes this degree of familiarity: a business acquaintance?”.
What role is the woman performing when she organises her own celebration and welcomes the people she invited? ___
The deciding cue is “organises her own celebration”: it identifies the meaning “the person who invites people to an event and welcomes them”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “host” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “What role is the woman performing when she organises her own celebration and welcomes the people she invited? host”.
Please reply to the ___ by Friday so the hosts know whether you will attend.
The deciding cue is “whether you will attend”: it identifies the meaning “a request for someone to attend an event”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “invitation” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Please reply to the invitation by Friday so the hosts know whether you will attend.”.
The annual social meeting of former classmates, considered as the whole event rather than its opening activity or written invitation, is a ___.
The deciding cue is “whole event”: it identifies the meaning “an occasion when people meet together as a group”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “gathering” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The annual social meeting of former classmates, considered as the whole event rather than its opening activity or written invitation, is a gathering.”.
There was immediate ___ between them: they felt comfortable and understood each other.
The deciding cue is “understood each other”: it identifies the meaning “a friendly relationship involving mutual understanding”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “rapport” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “There was immediate rapport between them: they felt comfortable and understood each other.”.
The guide explains accepted rules of polite business behaviour—business ___—including how to greet people respectfully.
The deciding cue is “accepted rules of polite business behaviour”: it identifies the meaning “accepted rules of polite social behaviour”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “etiquette” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The guide explains accepted rules of polite business behaviour—business etiquette—including how to greet people respectfully.”.
What role word means a person invited to attend the event, rather than the person hosting it or a term for how well people know each other? ___
The deciding cue is “person invited to attend”: it identifies the meaning “a person invited to visit or attend an event”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “guest” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “What role word means a person invited to attend the event, rather than the person hosting it or a term for how well people know each other? guest”.
The organiser told us each other’s names and presented us to one another. What is this act called? An ___.
The deciding cue is “told us each other’s names”: it identifies the meaning “the act of telling people each other’s names when they first meet”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “introduction” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The organiser told us each other’s names and presented us to one another. What is this act called? An introduction.”.
Which expression names polite conversation about ordinary topics rather than serious matters? ___
The deciding cue is “ordinary topics”: it identifies the meaning “polite conversation about ordinary unimportant topics”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “small talk” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Which expression names polite conversation about ordinary topics rather than serious matters? small talk”.
Everyone shares an unusual fact in a brief planned activity to help strangers relax. What is the specific term for this opening confidence-building activity? ___
The deciding cue is “opening confidence-building activity”: it identifies the meaning “an activity or remark designed to make strangers feel relaxed together”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “icebreaker” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “Everyone shares an unusual fact in a brief planned activity to help strangers relax. What is the specific term for this opening confidence-building activity? icebreaker”.
The visitors praised the family’s warm welcome and generous ___.
The deciding cue is “warm welcome”: it identifies the meaning “friendly and generous treatment of visitors”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “hospitality” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “The visitors praised the family’s warm welcome and generous hospitality.”.
At the industry event she exchanges contact details and builds professional relationships. What is this professional contact-building activity called? ___
The deciding cue is “professional contact-building activity”: it identifies the meaning “building and maintaining professional relationships”. Check the person’s role or the purpose of the social activity; “networking” expresses that specific meaning here. Completed wording: “At the industry event she exchanges contact details and builds professional relationships. What is this professional contact-building activity called? networking”.