IELTS, TOEFL & PTE Focus: Culture & Media Collocations with Exercises

Culture and media are frequently tested topics in IELTS, TOEFL, and PTE, especially in Writing Task 2 essays and Speaking discussions. From the influence of advertising to debates on censorship, globalization, and cultural preservation, examiners expect candidates to use precise, natural collocations rather than simple vocabulary. This post provides a rich collection of culture and media collocations, paired with exercises and activities that will help you master them for higher fluency and exam success.

Culture & Media

Influence of advertising

consumer behavior → Advertising strongly shapes consumer behavior in competitive markets.
brand loyalty → High product quality nurtures strong brand loyalty.
persuasive techniques → Advertisers use persuasive techniques to influence buying decisions.
false claims → Regulators penalize companies that make false claims in ads.
marketing strategies → Integrated marketing strategies combine online and offline campaigns.
target audience → Identifying a clear target audience boosts ad effectiveness.
product placement → Product placement in films subtly promotes consumer goods.
celebrity endorsements → Celebrity endorsements can increase product visibility quickly.
advertising revenue → Advertising revenue funds many free digital services.
consumer manipulation → Ethical concerns arise over consumer manipulation in aggressive ads.

Role of art and music

cultural identity → Art and music express and preserve cultural identity.
creative expression → Creative expression contributes to emotional wellbeing and innovation.
musical heritage → Preserving musical heritage maintains links to the past.
art exhibitions → Art exhibitions attract tourists and showcase local talent.
emotional impact → Music often has a deep emotional impact on listeners.
traditional crafts → Supporting traditional crafts keeps artisanal skills alive.
performing arts → Funding performing arts strengthens a city’s cultural life.
cultural festivals → Cultural festivals promote cross-cultural exchange.
artistic talent → Scholarships help nurture emerging artistic talent.
musical composition → Studying musical composition develops analytical skills.

Cultural preservation vs globalization

traditional customs → Protecting traditional customs helps sustain cultural diversity.
cultural erosion → Global media can accelerate cultural erosion in smaller societies.
global culture → Global culture spreads rapidly via film and the internet.
cultural exchange → Student exchanges encourage cultural exchange and mutual respect.
heritage sites → Heritage sites require protection from mass tourism damage.
language preservation → Language preservation programs keep minority dialects alive.
cultural homogenization → Cultural homogenization often accompanies economic globalization.
indigenous practices → Recording indigenous practices preserves invaluable knowledge.
world heritage protection → World heritage protection needs international collaboration.
cross-cultural influence → Cross-cultural influence enriches cuisine and the arts.

Censorship and freedom of speech

freedom of expression → Freedom of expression is essential for democratic debate.
media restrictions → Media restrictions can limit citizens’ access to diverse viewpoints.
political censorship → Political censorship undermines government accountability.
artistic freedom → Artists often campaign for greater artistic freedom.
public debate → Open public debate fosters better policy making.
controversial opinions → Universities are key forums for discussing controversial opinions.
information control → Information control by state media raises bias concerns.
online censorship → Online censorship affects global platforms in different ways.
hate speech → Laws try to balance free speech with limits on hate speech.
civil liberties → Protecting civil liberties remains central to human rights work.

Exercise 1: Collocation Recognition & Matching

This exercise helps you pair nouns with their correct verbs/adjectives.

Part A: Match the terms from the left column with the terms from the right column to form a common collocation.

Term A		Term B
1. consumer		a. behavior
2. brand		b. loyalty
3. persuasive		c. techniques
4. false		d. claims
5. target		e. audience
6. product		f. placement
7. celebrity		g. endorsements
8. advertising		h. revenue
9. cultural		i. identity
10. creative		j. expression

Part B: Now, match the terms related to cultural preservation, censorship, and globalization.

Term A		Term B
1. traditional		a. customs
2. cultural		b. erosion
3. global		c. culture
4. heritage		d. sites
5. language		e. preservation
6. freedom of		f. expression
7. media		g. restrictions
8. political		h. censorship
9. hate		i. speech
10. civil		j. liberties

Gap Fill With Context

Complete the following sentences using the collocations from the box. You will need to change the form of the word to fit the sentence grammatically.

Box of Collocations
`cultural homogenization`	`cross-cultural influence`	`world heritage protection`	`indigenous practices`	`cultural exchange`
`artistic freedom`	`public debate`	`controversial opinions`	`information control`	`civil liberties`

While some fear that globalization leads to , others argue that it actually increases and enriches local traditions.
The United Nations is involved in for sites like the Great Barrier Reef, which includes working with local communities to document related to the ecosystem.
A healthy democracy requires robust where even can be discussed openly, without excessive by the state, which can threaten .

Exercise 3: Error Correction

Each sentence contains one incorrect collocation. Identify the mistake and rewrite the sentence using the correct collocation from the list.

The company’s marketing plan was very successful in reaching young people.

2. Many people feel a strong connection to their cultural heritage because of their national identity.

3. The emotional effect of the music was powerful and moved the audience to tears.

4. The government was accused of practicing information management to suppress the story.

5. The art gallery’s new display of modern art has been very popular.

6. There are concerns about the loss of culture in small communities due to globalization.

7. The right to speak freely is a fundamental human right.

Exercise 5: IELTS Writing Task 2 – Planning & Vocabulary

This exercise helps you plan an essay and select relevant vocabulary.

Essay Question:
Some people think that advertising has a negative impact on customers and society. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Step 1: Brainstorming Arguments & Vocabulary

View 1: Negative Impact (e.g., consumer manipulation, false claims, creates materialism)
View 2: Positive or Necessary Impact (e.g., informs consumers, funds media, builds brand loyalty)

View 1: Negative Impact	Relevant Collocations	View 2: Positive Impact	Relevant Collocations
1. Manipulates desires	`persuasive techniques`, `consumer manipulation`	1. Provides information	`marketing strategies` (informative)
2. Promotes unhealthy ideals	`false claims`, `celebrity endorsements` (for unhealthy products)	2. Drives economy	`advertising revenue`, `consumer behavior` (stimulates demand)
3. Creates unnecessary wants	`target audience` (vulnerable groups)	3. Supports free services	`advertising revenue` for free media

Step 2: Write a sample body paragraph.
Choose one view from your table and write a coherent paragraph arguing for it. Use at least 4 collocations from the list.

Your Paragraph (Arguing for a Negative Impact):

Exercise 6: IELTS Speaking Part 3 – Practice Questions

Prepare short answers to these typical IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions. Try to incorporate the suggested collocations naturally.

How has advertising changed in the last 20 years?
(Try to use: target audience, persuasive techniques, advertising revenue)
Why is it important to preserve traditional cultures?
(Try to use: cultural identity, traditional customs, cultural erosion)
What is the role of artists in society?
(Try to use: creative expression, artistic freedom, emotional impact)
Should there be limits on freedom of speech?
(Try to use: hate speech, controversial opinions, civil liberties)

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