This page introduces words to describe importance or unimportance.

Introduction:

In your written and spoken work at university you will often need to discuss what is important or central and what is unimportant or peripheral. The words below all refer to importance and unimportance.
 

Instructions:

Complete the sentences below with words from the list. Make sure that you put the words in the correct form. More than one answer is sometimes possible. If you are not sure click the [?] button for a hint. Check your answers when you have finished.

1. This essay [?] on the impact of SARS on Hong Kong’s tourism industry.

2. This really is a [?] issue and I really don’t know why we’re wasting our time discussing it.

3. I believe that we should give [?] to students with grade ‘A’ in their Use of English.

4. Dr Au thinks we should place greater [?] on the teaching of grammar.

5. This is a really [?] point so I think we should discuss it in detail.

6. The [?] library in Hong Kong is in Causeway Bay. There are [?] branches throughout the city.

7. Some academics argue that the low government funding is at the [?] of the issue.

8. The difference between the two products is so small as to be [?].

9. The Department of Nursing is excellent and is seen as one the [?] in Hong Kong.

10. The survey suggests that there has only been a [?] improvement in graduate's pay over the past few years.