1. Adjectives

Question 1

(+/-) if sb is ____, they say what they really think, even if what they say is impolite and will hurt or offend someone

грубоватый; прямой, резкий

Answer 1

blunt

(blʌnt)

• a blunt reply/remark/refusal
• To be blunt, I think that what he did was cowardly and pathetic.

Question 2

(-) if sb is ____, they are annoyingly loud, overconfident and aggressive

дерзкий, наглый, нахальный

Answer 2

brash

(bræʃ)

That TV presenter is far too noisy and brash for my liking.

Question 3

(-) if sb is ____, they get what they want by careful and clever planning, without caring about anyone else

расчётливый

Answer 3

calculating

(kælkjʊleɪtɪŋ)

Percy is disliked by most of his colleagues because of his sly and calculating ways of getting what he wants.

Question 4

(-) if sb is ____, they are cruel and heartless

чёрствый, бессердечный, безразличный

Answer 4

callous

(kæləs)

His callous disregard of her feelings upset her.

Question 5

(-) if sb is ____, they are bad-tempered and tend to argue with people about insignificant things

вздорный, придирчивый, сварливый

Answer 5

cantankerous

(kæntæŋkərəs)

Paul is not an easy person to have as a friend, because he is so cantankerous.

Question 6

(+) if sb is ____, they are happy and in a good mood

весёлый, радостный, живой, энергичный, неунывающий

Answer 6

cheerful

(ˈtʃɪrfl)

Why are you so cheerful today?

Question 7

(-) if sb is ____, they are very abrupt (and rude, as a result) when they talk to another person

отрывисто-грубый, резкий (о речи)

Answer 7

curt

(kɜːrt)

I knew from his curt tone that he was angry.

Question 8

(-) if sb is ____ , they are not faithful or loyal to their friends

непостоянный, переменчивый; ненадёжный

Answer 8

fickle

(ˈfɪkl)

How can you have trusted someone as fickle as Joan?

Question 9

(-) if sb is ____ , they are always trying to find out about other people’s lives, often by asking a lot of questions

любознательный, пытливый

Answer 9

inquisitive

(ɪnˈkwɪzətɪv)

She was nervous. The man in front of her was being unusually inquisitive.

Question 10

(+) interested in many different things and always wanting to know more about them (often used about children)

любознательный, пытливый

Answer 10

inquisitive

(ɪnˈkwɪzətɪv)

He is a very inquisitive child. He’s going to love school.

Question 11

(-/+) if sb is ____ , they are very careful about what they do, paying attention to small details and making sure that everything is correct or in order

тщательный, дотошный, педантичный

Answer 11

meticulous

(məˈtɪkjələs)

Mother was always meticulous about her appearance.

Question 12

(-/+) if sb is ____, they refuse to give up, despite difficulties or opposition

настойчивый, упорный

Answer 12

persistent

(pərˈsɪstənt)

The customer was most persistent and refused to speak to anyone but the manager.

Question 13

(-) if sb is ____, they do dangerous things without thinking about the consequences of their actions

безрассудный, безумный, опрометчивый

Answer 13

reckless

(ˈrekləs)

That was a very reckless thing to do. Do you realise you put your own life in danger?

Question 14

(-) if sb is ____ , they are cruel and cold and have no mercy or feelings for others [Note: also used to describe actions]

безжалостный, беспощадный, жестокий

Answer 14

ruthless

(ˈruːθləs)

• a ruthless decision / (in football) a ruthless tackle
• The dictator was ruthless in silencing opposition and had the mass media strictly censored.

Question 15

(-/+) if sb is ____ , they do not like the sight of, and are usually upset by, unpleasant things such as blood or needles

брезгливый; подверженный тошноте

Answer 15

squeamish

(ˈskwiːmɪʃ)

This horror film is not for people who are squeamish.

Question 16

(-) if sb is ____ they are bad tempered and do not speak much

замкнутый, сердитый, угрюмый

Answer 16

sullen

(ˈsʌlən)

Rob sat in his room, in one of his sullen moods again.

Question 17

(-) if sb is ____, they are prepared to act in an immoral and dishonest way to get what they want

беспринципный, без моральных убеждений

Answer 17

unscrupulous

(ʌnˈskruːpjələs)

He’s probably the most unscrupulous businessman I’ve ever met. He’d do anything to make a profit.

Question 18

(-) if sb is ____ , they lose their temper very quickly and very easily

непостоянный, изменчивый; ветреный, капризный

Answer 18

volatile

(ˈvɑːlətl)

We need someone who is calm, patient and level-headed. Joe is far too volatile.

Question 19

(-/+) if sb is ____ , they are very quiet and do not like talking to others

замкнутый, ушедший в себя

Answer 19

withdrawn

(wɪðˈdrɔːn)

Katy is so withdrawn and introverted that you can hardly get a word out of her.