27.01 Hearts and minds

Question 1

an exclusive or special right, power, or privilege

Answer 1

prerogative /prɪˈrɒɡ.ə.tɪv/

• Stay here or go somewhere else. It’s your prerogative

Question 2

relaxed in manner and character; not usually worried about other people’s behaviour or things that need to be done:

Answer 2

laid-back

• I’ve never seen her worried or anxious in any way - she’s so laid-back.

Question 3

in human form

Answer 3

incarnate /ɪnˈkɑː.nət/

*One survivor described his torturers as devils incarnate.

Question 4

to weigh

Answer 4

tip the scale at

*The baby tipped the scales at 3.75 kg

Question 5

not in use any more, having been replaced by something newer and better or more fashionable

Answer 5

obsolescence /ˌɒb.səˈles.əns/
obsolete /ˌɒb.səlˈiːt/

*Mobile phone technology is developing so quickly that many customers are concerned about obsolescence.

*Gas lamps became obsolete when electric lighting was invented.

Question 6

to accept defeat

Answer 6

succumb (to)

*I’m afraid I succumb to the temptation and have a piece of cheesecake.

*I ‘m sure it is only a matter of time before he succumbs to my charms.

Question 7

Be careful (syn)

Answer 7

mind yourself

Question 8

wasteful (syn)

Answer 8

profligate (very formal)

*She is well-known for her profligate spending habits.

Question 9

the feeling of having little energy or of being unable or unwilling to do anything

Answer 9

lethargy /ˈleθ.ə.dʒi/
* Symptoms include loss of appetite, lethargy, and vomiting.

adj: lethargic /ləˈθɑː.dʒɪk/
*I was feeling tired and lethargic.

Question 10

to do something unexpected that surprises and sometimes worries a person or animal

Answer 10

startle /ˈstɑː.təl/

*She was concentrating on her book and his voice startled her.

*You startle me!

Question 11

frighten (syn)

Answer 11

Give smb a jump/ hop/ scare
*I think we gave him a pretty good scare.

Question 12

Big scare (verb syn)

Answer 12

jump out of my skin

Question 13

the heart are beaten fast

Answer 13

Heart pounding

*That’s my heart pounding, like a jackhammer.

Question 14

Naked swimming

Answer 14

Dip in the nip

Question 15

noise and activity

Answer 15

hustle and bustle

*I come from New York, so I’m used to hustle and bustle.

Question 16

full of activity, or very busy and fast

Answer 16

hectic pace /ˈhek.tɪk/

• The area has become a haven for people tired of the hectic pace of city life.

Question 17

Idiom: used to say that other people could be listening to what someone is saying

Answer 17

Idiom: walls have ears

*Lower your voice and be careful what you say. The walls have ears.

Question 18

Idiom: used to say that people can do things more quickly and easily when they work together

Answer 18

many hands make light work

• It’s a big job, but many hands make light work.

Question 19

Idiom: —used to say that it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone

Answer 19

two heads are better than one

*We need to work together to figure this out. Two heads are better than one.

Question 20

Idiom: — a person who gives sympathy and support

Answer 20

a shoulder to cry on

• She’s always been a sympathetic shoulder to cry on.
• He offered me a shoulder to cry on when my husband left me.

Question 21

Idiom: — said to someone with cold hands in order to stop them from being embarrassed

Answer 21

cold hands, warm heart

Question 22

idiom: —used to say that different people have different ideas about what is beautiful

Answer 22

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Question 23

idiom: —used to say that a person’s family is more important than a person’s other relationships or needs

Answer 23

blood is thicker than water

Question 24

proverbial saying: — when you recognize that you should not risk losing something you already have by trying to get something you think might be better

Answer 24

a bird in the hand (is worth two in the bush)

Question 25

device for measuring blood pressure

Answer 25

blood pressure monitor *Home blood pressure monitors are easy to use.

Question 26

a piece of medical equipment that doctors use to listen to your heart and lungs

Answer 26

stethoscope /ˈsteθ.ə.skəʊp/

Question 27

idiom: means if you keep quiet and do not speak up, you will not attract attention or gain any benefits.

Answer 27

a closed mouth catches no fly

Question 28

a type of sea creature with a shell in two parts that can close together tightly, and a soft body that can be eaten

Answer 28

clam /klæm/ *This is one of the biggest species of clam.

Question 29

the speed at which an event happens/ the speed at which a piece of music is played

Answer 29

tempo /ˈtem.pəʊ/ *We're going to have to up the tempo (= work faster) if we want to finish on time.

Question 30

allowed number

Answer 30

quota *The country now has a quota on immigration.

Question 31

one animal eating another

Answer 31

predation /prɪˈdeɪ.ʃən/ * For local cattle ranchers, predation by mountain lions is a problem.

Question 32

the fact that a product is intentionally designed and made so that it will not last for a long time

Answer 32

built-in/planned obsolescence * Sadly, built-in obsolescence was the engine that drove the economy.

Question 33

What is a canal?

Answer 33

A long straight passage dug in the ground and filled with water for boats and ships to travel along ## Footnote Canals are often artificial waterways constructed for navigation.

Question 34

Define streams.

Answer 34

A small, narrow river ## Footnote Streams are typically smaller than rivers and can be tributaries to larger bodies of water.

Question 35

What is a harbour?

Answer 35

An area of water on the coast, protected from the open sea by strong walls, where ships can shelter ## Footnote Harbours provide safe docking for vessels against rough seas.

Question 36

What does rinsing mean?

Answer 36

Wash something with clean water only, not using soap ## Footnote Rinsing is often done to remove dirt or debris without the use of detergents.

Question 37

Describe marshes.

Answer 37

An area of low land that is always soft and wet because there is nowhere for the water to flow away to ## Footnote Marshes are important ecosystems that support diverse wildlife and plants.