EducationEnglish.Phrasal verbsCOMMUNICATION · A2–B1

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Lesson 95 / Decisions & opportunities

Choices and opportunities.

5 phrases · 12 minutes · Look, listen and try.

Weigh options, respond to opportunities and reach a conclusion.

After this lesson, you can

  • Use this lesson’s expressions to talk about the situation introduced above.
  • Distinguish “opt for” and “weigh up” in context.
  • Use “jump at” in a sentence connected to your own situation.
Practice and check your answers →

Match words to pictures →Play What is She/He doing? →

A randomly assigned, fixed male or female synthetic voice for each phrase or sentence · Slow playback at 0.7× preserves pitch.

Phrase 1 / 5Understand context
Linh selects a watercolour set from three different art kits and places it in her tray.
Linh selects a watercolour set from three different art kits and places it in her tray.

opt for

I opted for the smaller notebook because it was lighter.

Read the example again

I opted for the smaller notebook because it was lighter.

We opted for a quiet activity after lunch.

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We opted for a quiet activity after lunch.

View meaning & usage

Choose one of the available options

opt for something

This means choosing an option, often after consideration. It differs from “opt out”, meaning to choose not to participate.

Cambridge Dictionary · opt for

Haven't studied yet
Linh considers two picnic options with pictogram cards for distance and weather before deciding.
Linh considers two picnic options with pictogram cards for distance and weather before deciding.

weigh up

We should weigh up the options before choosing a club.

Read the example again

We should weigh up the options before choosing a club.

She weighed the benefits up carefully.

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She weighed the benefits up carefully.

View meaning & usage

Consider the advantages and disadvantages

weigh up somethingweigh something up

This figuratively means considering different aspects, rather than measuring physical weight on scales.

Cambridge Dictionary · weigh up

Haven't studied yet
Linh eagerly accepts an invitation to an art workshop, immediately nodding to her teacher.
Linh eagerly accepts an invitation to an art workshop, immediately nodding to her teacher.

jump at

I would jump at the chance to join the art workshop.

Read the example again

I would jump at the chance to join the art workshop.

She jumped at the offer of a free lesson.

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She jumped at the offer of a free lesson.

View meaning & usage

Accept a welcome opportunity eagerly

jump at a chance / opportunity / offer

Here this means eagerly accepting an opportunity, rather than physically jumping towards an object.

Haven't studied yet
Linh politely declines an extra activity because her current schedule is already full.
Linh politely declines an extra activity because her current schedule is already full.

pass up

I passed up the chance to join because I was too busy.

Read the example again

I passed up the chance to join because I was too busy.

Do not pass this opportunity up without thinking.

Read the example again

Do not pass this opportunity up without thinking.

View meaning & usage

Choose not to take an opportunity

pass up somethingpass something up

This means not taking an opportunity. It may be a sensible choice, rather than a lack of interest.

Haven't studied yet
After considering option cards, Linh and two friends reach a decision and place the park card in the middle of the table.
After considering option cards, Linh and two friends reach a decision and place the park card in the middle of the table.

arrive at

We arrived at a decision after discussing the choices.

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We arrived at a decision after discussing the choices.

How did you arrive at that conclusion?

Read the example again

How did you arrive at that conclusion?

View meaning & usage

Reach a conclusion or decision

arrive at a decision / conclusion

Here this means reaching a conclusion through thought, rather than physically arriving at a place.

Haven't studied yet

The examples were written for this course. Usage was checked against Matt Errey’s book, pages 92, 139, 69, 95, 7. A2–B1 is the course’s intended level.

OBSERVE · UNDERSTAND · MATCH

Match phrases to pictures

Drag a wire from the dot beside a phrase to the dot beside its matching picture. You can also tap a phrase, then a picture. Drag again to change a pair before checking.

Read the picture descriptions for more context. Similar expressions are accepted when they fit the particular scene.

A conversation in context

Read the conversation and find the expressions you have learned.

  1. Mai

    I am weighing up the two course options.

    Read the example again

    I am weighing up the two course options.

  2. Alex

    Which one will you opt for?

    Read the example again

    Which one will you opt for?

  3. Mai

    The evening course. I do not want to pass up that opportunity.

    Read the example again

    The evening course. I do not want to pass up that opportunity.

Compare the uses

opt for / weigh up

“Opt for” means choose an option; “weigh up” means consider its advantages and disadvantages. Considering options and making the final choice are different stages.

Practice and check your answers

Try answering before revealing the suggested answer. This practice is not scored.

The answers below are models. Other answers can also work if they preserve the facts, meaning and structure requested in the task.

A situation to apply what you have learned

A learner compares two courses, considers travel and fees, then chooses the shorter one.

  1. Describe the comparison stage.

    Show the answer and explanation

    She weighs up the two courses.

    The learner considers fees and travel for two courses, so “weighs up” describes comparison before choosing.

  2. Complete: I will opt ___ the shorter course.

    Show the answer and explanation

    for

    “Opt for the shorter course” selects that option; “for” introduces the chosen course.

  3. Write her reason as a short message.

    Show the answer and explanation

    I have weighed up the costs and will opt for the shorter course.

    “Have weighed up” reports the completed consideration; “will opt for” announces the resulting choice.

The usage comparisons are checked against the Cambridge Dictionary entries linked beside the compared expressions. The additional conversations and exercises are written for this course.

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