Book Short Stories

Question 1

curb

Answer 1

to control or limit something that is not wanted:

• You realling need to curb your spending;
• The government should act to curb tax evasion.

Question 2

subside

Answer 2

If a condition subsides, it becomes less strong or extreme:

• The police are hoping that the violence will soon subside.
• As the pain in my foot subsided, I was able to walk the short distance to the car.

Question 3

keep “something” at bay

Answer 3

to prevent someone or something unpleasant from harming you:

-Exercise can help keep fat at bay.

Question 4

nod

Answer 4

to move your head down and then up, sometimes several times, especially to show agreement, approval, or greeting, or to show something by doing this:

• Many people in the audience nodded in agreement.

Question 5

ordeal

Answer 5

a veryunpleasantandpainfulordifficultexperience:

• Thehostages’ ordeal came to an end whensoldiersstormedthebuilding.

Question 6

over-the-counter

Answer 6

a medicine that can be bought without a prescription (doctor’s order)

Question 7

shelves

Answer 7

furniture for storage

Question 8

sigh

Answer 8

aslow,noisybreath:

“Ah, you’re here,” she said andheaveda sighofrelief.

Question 9

splitting headache

Answer 9

a verybadpaininyourhead:

I’ve got asplittingheadache.

Question 10

wander

Answer 10

towalkaroundslowlyin arelaxedway or without anyclearpurposeordirection:

• Wespentthemorningwanderingaroundtheoldpartof thecity.
• She wasfoundseveralhourslater, wanderingthestreets,lost.

Question 11

subtle

Answer 11

smallbutimportant:

• There are subtledifferencesbetween the two.
• The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

Question 12

washed down “something”

Answer 12

means to drink a liquid to help swallow something.