Advanced English Vocabulary Set 9 Flashcards
He had developed a vaccine using _________ forms of polio.
very dangerous and affects people very quickly
virulent
It is _____-_______ that childhood experiences influence our adult behaviour.
clearly true and needing no more proof
self-evident
I had to listen to Michael ___________ against the government.
to criticize strongly
fulminating
We hope that the military regime will _______ from its acts of violence.
to stop doing something
desist
He ___________ cruelty of all kinds.
to hate something very much
abominates
A ____________ child， she went to university at the age of 15.
showing unusually early mental development or achievement
precocious
I try to ___________ a sense of responsibility in my children.
to fix ideas， principles etc in sb’s mind
inculcate
The British government __________ by breaking off diplomatic relations.
to do sth bad to sb because they have done something bad to you
retaliated
I’m so tired， my poor ___________ brain can’t absorb any more.
confused
befuddled
His speeches tend to be rather ____-______.
continuing to talk for too long or using too many words in a way that is boring
long-winded
Strong winds and loose rocks made climbing ___________.
particularly dangerous because you cannot see the dangers very easily
treacherous
He raised the water bottle to his ________ lips.
very dry
parched
Morishita leads an ________ lifestyle.
very rich， spending a lot of money
opulent
The media was criticized for its thoughtless ____________ into the domestic grief of the family.
the sudden arrival of sth into where they aren’t welcome
incursion
She’s been making _________ attempts to learn the trumpet.
not impressive， ridiculous
risible
____ ________ the country began to question the decisions their leaders were making.
in small stages
By degrees
The doctor said only his legs are paralysed， not his whole body， but I think that will be ______ __________ to him.
won’t make him feel better
cold comfort
He was ______ on the ________ answering the reporter’s questions.
able to react quickly to a situation
quick on the draw
I was afraid my daughter would never find a husband， that she’d be _____ on the ________.
not married and people believe they are too old to get married
left on the shelf
Jay made the trip north to be with his mother when she ______ her ____.
to die
breathed her last
I advised her to take the job offer， but she has a ______ of her ____， so I don’t know what she’ll decide.
the ability to act or think independently
mind of her own
I managed to brake just in time but it was a _____ _________.
when an accident or unpleasant situation almost happened and was only just avoided
near miss
Court rulings often have a ______ _______， spreading into areas of law that weren’t part of the original cases.
to affect something else， which then affects other things
ripple effect
The judge found himself on the ______ ____ from women for remarks he made about discrimination in the workplace.
in a situation that attracts criticism
firing line
We were quickly running out of money but managed to ____ ______ by getting a small loan.
to obtain a longer period before something happens
buy time
I saw this happen， and you can’t just call me crazy and ______ me _______.
to not give sth serious consideration
brush me aside
A movie was shot ___ _______.
away from the studio
on location
In under two years， it was transformed from a state-owned ______ __________ into a successful company.
sb that is in trouble and needs help
lame duck
I had a two hour _____ _____ and nearly fell asleep at my desk in the afternoon.
when you drink alcohol instead of having a meal
liquid lunch
I’m not ___ the ________ for a car at the moment.
interested in buying sth
in the market
Stephen King ____ _________ by electronically distributing his novella.
to become an important news story
made headlines
My boss has been ____ ________ lately， but I keep wondering why!
very happy
all smiles
I really enjoy a good mystery story that ______ me _________ the whole time.
to cause you to be uncertain
keeps me guessing
Americans don’t ________ ______ to being told what to say.
to not like sth that sb says or does
take kindly
The abortion issue is a political ____ _______ in the United States.
sth difficult or dangerous to deal with
hot potato
Football players can’t be _______ the ______ just because they are so valuable to team owners.
not having to obey rules
above the law
He may be old in years， but he’s still ____ _______ as a ______ and knows what he’s talking about.
intelligent
as sharp as a tack
He was ___ ________ to admit he had made a mistake.
brave enough to do sth
man enough
Most characters in his films are somewhat ________ than ______.
more exciting or interesting than ordinary people
larger than life
At the end of the second day’s play， Ballasteros is _________ the ______.
to be likely to win
leading the field
My daughter is the _____ of my ______.
sb you love most
light of my life
He’s probably got enough money to buy a little ranch somewhere and still have a _____ of ________ left over.
a large amount of money
chunk of change
The kid next door threw a rock at him， but Ted _____ the ________ and the rock didn’t hit him.
to fall to the ground suddenly to avoid danger
hit the dirt
The mayor wants to ____ a _____ on spending.
stop sth from increasing
put a lid
Gone are the days when a university degree was a ____ _________ for life.
sth you use to get regular amounts of money for the rest of your life
meal ticket
the rural _________
an area of land that is far from the coast， large rivers， or the places where people live
hinterland
It was a decision which _________ him to political obscurity.
to make sb be in a particular situation， especially a bad one
consigned
Both stand for precisely the same ____________ things.
not important
inconsequential
But what if everything was burned on a _____ sixty years ago?
a high pile of wood on which a dead body is placed to be burned in a funeral ceremony
pyre
From her point of view， failure to act would be a ________ of governmental duty.
when someone fails to do what they should do as part of their job
dereliction
Bill sat in ________ silence and refused to eat his lunch.
angry and silent， especially because you feel life has been unfair to you
sullen
There’s no room for _________ if we want to stay in this competition!
a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
complacency
How could a ____-______ poet be so oblivious to taste?
having given yourself a title or position without having a right to it
self-styled
Two suspects have been __________ by the police for questioning.
to officially prevent someone from leaving a place
detained
Sarah with her numerous _______.
offspring
progeny
They viewed their achievements as an ________ of progress.
sth that is considered to be so good that it should be copied or imitated
exemplar
Her husband was a quiet， _____-_______ man who spent much of his time in his study.
not wanting to attract attention to yourself or your achievements
self-effacing
Once at the airport， we were herded to the gate and __________ into a small room.
to keep people in a particular area， especially in order to control them
corralled
When she told her family she was gay， they reacted with a mixture of shock and ____________.
disbelief
incredulity
Unions described the pay offer as ________.
so small that it not worth considering seriously
derisory
a ____-_______ politician
doing things only because they will give you an advantage
self-seeking
The term cyber-culture is _________ and seems to mean many different things to many different people.
vague and difficult to define
nebulous
You shouldn’t ________ their efforts.
to make remarks or jokes that show you think sth is silly or useless
deride
It feels _____-_______ spending so much on a pair of shoes.
allowing yourself to have or do things that you enjoy but do not need
self-indulgent
Hot liquid and ________ spilled over him， and he scrambled out from under the thing.
the inside parts of an animal or person’s body， especially their intestines
entrails
If the insurance company won’t pay for the damage， I’ll be ____ a _____.
in a difficult situation
up a tree
We get regular pay raises that are supposed to ___ ____ _____ inflation.
to stay at the same level
keep pace with
We have been told the Social Security trust fund will _____ _____ in a few more years.
to be all used up
run dry
My mother and sister are always yelling at each other， and I find myself caught ___ ____ ______.
to experience the influence of opposing groups in a disagreement
in the middle
Someone had to stay at home and ____ the _______ while my mother was out.
to be left in charge of sth when sb is away
hold the fort
the _________ summer sun
extremely hot
sweltering
Victims of the disease found themselves __________ by society.
to deliberately avoid someone or something
shunned
A former student has donated a __________ sum of money to the college.
very generous
munificent
The new law removed the last __________ of royal power.
a small part or amount of sth that remains when most of it no longer exists
vestiges
Terrorist groups and the government have been engaged in a costly war of _____________ since 1968.
the gradual weakening and destroying of sth
attrition
The storm continued __________ throughout the night.
without becoming any weaker
unabated
She was granted _________ after killing her violent husband.
forgiveness and less severe punishment for a crime
clemency
Peter， you are an __________ flirt!
bad in a way that cannot be changed or improved
incorrigible
Fenton’s remark drew ________ laughs.
showing that you think someone or something is stupid or silly
derisive
The business will soon become _____-_________.
able to earn enough money to support yourself
self-supporting
