Capitán Riley 02_05

Question 1

1. me ha despertado un rayo que ha caído en el agua
2. La PERTINAZ lluvia de los últimos días
3. una APARATOSA + TORMENTA ELÉCTRICA
4. unas nubes negras tan bajas que parecen rozar LAS COPAS DE LOS ÁRBOLES

Answer 1

1. I was woken up by a lightning bolt striking the water (clue: in Spanish NOT gerund)
2. The PERSISTENT rain of the last few days
3. a DRAMATIC-SPECTACULAR + THUNDERSTORM
4. some black clouds so low that they seem to skim the TREETOPS

Question 2

1. El resto hemos IDO DETRÁS, motivados más por EL MORBO que … (ir detrás)
2. una grieta no más grande que LA RANURA de una HUCHA
3. las ramas han comenzado a ARAÑAR el costado (think uña)
4. con la mirada perdida en la INSONDABLE oscuridad

Answer 2

1. The rest of us FOLLOWED, motivated more by MORBID CURIOSITY than … (vb loc - to follow)
2. a crack no bigger than the SLOT in a PIGGY BANK
3. branches began to SCRATCH the side (clue: how remember to scratch)
4. with her gaze lost in the IMPENETRABLE darkness.

Question 3

1. el CROAR de las ranas ARBÓREAS
2. han comenzado a TREPAR POR mis piernas (trepar = to crawl, normally)
3. escribiendo estas líneas a la luz del QUINQUÉ
4. el irritante ZUMBAR de los mosquitos

Answer 3

1. the CROAKING of TREE frogs (clue: adj of tree)
2. they began to CREEP UP my legs (clue: vb only means creep if refer to insects)
3. writing these lines by the light of the OIL LAMP
4. the irritating BUZZING of mosquitoes

Question 4

1. en ENDEBLE tablón que HACÍA LAS VECES DE pasarela (hacer las veces de)
2. CONFIEMOS EN QUE el pez no se coma la LOMBRIZ y se largue
   3a. o simplemente no queriendo AHONDAR más EN el tema
   3b. ahondar = to deepen (lit) + to delve (fig)
3. apartó la mirada sin decir nada (apartar la mirada)

Answer 4

1. on the FLIMSY-RICKETY plank that SERVED AS a footbridge (vb loc = to work/serve as)
2. LET´S HOPE THAT the fish don’t eat the WORM and leave (clue: loc vb = to trust + not gusano)
   3a. or simply not wanting TO DELVE any further into the subject
   3b. explain vb = to delve
3. SHE LOOKED AWAY without saying anything (vb loc)

Question 5

1a. hizo un mohín con los labios, pensativa
1b. hacer un mohín = to make a face or grimace
2. Riley AGUARDÓ un instante a que
3a. Quizá lo único RESEÑABLE
3b. reseñable

Answer 5

1a. she POUTED her lips, thoughtful
1b. what vb loc mean when not referring to lips
2. Riley WAITED a moment FOR (clue: not esperar)
3a. Perhaps the only NOTEWORTHY thing
3b. origin noteworthy (adj)

Question 6

1. la mujer DE la que A SU PESAR se había enamorado
2. en un vano intento POR + DESPEJARSE
   3a. Esa asociación de ideas lo AGUIJONEÓ de inquietud
   3b. aguijonear = to sting (eg scorpion) or to prick (from an espina) lit) + to torment (fig)
3. BUSCÓ A TIENTAS el MECHERO que guardaba en el bolsillo del pantalón
   4b. blindly, gropingly
   4c. a tientas ie with touch

Answer 6

1. the woman with whom TO HIS REGRET he had fallen in love (adv loc)
2. in a vain attempt TO + CLEAR HIS HEAD
   3a. That association of ideas TORMENTED him WITH anxiety
   3b. explain to torment vb
3. he FUMBLED FOR the LIGHTER that he kept in his trouser pocket
   4b. what adv loc mean on own?
   4c. explain adv loc?

Question 7

1. lograron seguir una TROCHA natural
2. ocultos en la MALEZA
3. por las RENDIJAS de los POSTIGOS
   4a. Carmen, inconsciente y MANIATADA
   4b. maniatar = to tie s.o’s hands + to hobble, a horse

Answer 7

1. they managed to follow a natural PATH-TRAIL
2. hidden in the UNDERGROWTH/BUSH
3. by the CRACKS of the SHUTTERS
   4a. Carmen, unconscious and BOUND
   4b. bound (adj)

Question 8

1. Con un SOLIDEO y un BÁCULO en la mano
2. debían de ser los MANDAMASES de la tribu
3. un RUMOR recorrió a aquella pequeña multitud
4. VENGA YA, hombre. NO FASTIDIES.

Answer 8

1. with a SKULLCAP and a WALKING STICK in hand
2. they must be the BIG BOSSES of the tribe (also BIGWIGS + HEAD HONCHOS)
3. a BUZZ ran through that small crowd (clue: falso amigo)
4. COME ON, mate. DON’T MESS UP/SCREW UP.

Question 9

1. El BULTO era Verhoeven
2. El bóer YACÍA en posición fetal en el suelo (yacer)
   3a. SE SACUDIÓ en un espasmo de dolor INENERRABLE
   3b. sacudir = to shake -> sacudirse = to shake off + to jerk, move unexpectedly
   3c. inenerrable
   4a. la mujer soltó el machete por fin
   4b. soltar 1. to release, prisoner 2. to drop, weapon

Answer 9

1. The LUMP was Verhoeven
2. The Boer LAY in a foetal position on the floor. (vb = tumbarse)
   3a. he JERK in a spasm of INDESCRIBABLE pain
   3b. explain vb to jerk
   3c. explain adj indescribable
3. the woman finally DROPPED the machete
   4b. explain drop

Question 10

1a. ABRIÉNDOSE PASO entre la maleza
1b. abrirse paso
2a. nadar el TRECHO hasta el barco CORRIENTE ARRIBA
2b. trecho = tramo + corriente abajo
3a. AVANZÓ PENOSAMENTE contra la corriente
3b. penosamente (adj) = laboriously -> penoso (arduous + pitiful) -> pena (struggle/hardship + shame/regret + sadness + sentence, 4 crime)

Answer 10

1a. MAKING HIS WAY amongst/through the undergrowth
1b. loc vb = make your way, forge way (fig = to initiate activity)
2a. to swim the STRETCH to the boat UPSTREAM
2b. alt N = stretch + downstream?
3a. he TRUDGED-PLODDED against the current
3b. how get to trudge-plod? + adv -> adj -> N

Question 11

1. hasta alcanzar uno de LOS TRAVESAÑOS
   1b. la viga -> travesaño
   2a. SE ENCARAMÓ casi A PULSO hasta la cubierta
   2b. encaramarse = to climb up onto -> trepar = to climb, on hands and feet eg kids in a tree -> escalar, a mountain
   2c. a pulso = on own, by hard work
2. se trataba efectivamente de un cuchillo

Answer 11

1. until reaching one of the CROSSBEAMS
   1b. beam (N) -> crossbeam (N), also for goalposts
   2a. he almost CLAMBERED + UNDER HIS OWN STEAM onto the deak
   2b. explain clamber cf 2 vbs = to climb
   2c. Explain under own steam
2. it WAS indeed a knife (was = referring s.th already mentioned)

Question 12

1. La QUILLA golpeó contra el fondo con un FUNESTRO crujido de madera
2. RALENTIZANDO peligrosamente su giro (ralentizar)
3. AL TIEMPO QUE una voz ronca susurró en un tono CLARAMENTE amenazador
   4a. MALOGRANDO su única posibilidad de escapar
   4b. malograr = to ruin ->malograrse = 1. To spoil, rot (food) 2. To fall through (plans)

Answer 12

1. The KEEL hit the bottom with an OMENOUS creaking of wood
2. dangerously SLOWING DOWN its rotation (vb = alt ir más despacio)
3. AS (loc) a voice whispered in a DISTINCTLY threatening tone
   4a. RUINING his only possibility of escape
   4b. explain to ruin -> pronom vb meaning (2)

Question 13

1. sentarse AL ABRIGO DE miradas indiscretas
2. para saludar a CONVECINOS + CAMINO DE X
   3a. DA CARA A la BALAUSTRADA del MALECÓN
   3b. barandilla -> balaustrada (= barandilla lujosa) -> regala
3. con sus vasos A MEDIO + FREGAR
   4a. a medio + inf (eg vestir)

Answer 13

1. to sit SHELTERED FROM prying eyes (loc prep) (clue: prying eyes = Eng equiv)
2. to greet NEIGHBOURS + ON THE WAY TO X (loc. prep = towards) (clue: not vecinos)
   3a. FACE the BALUSTRADE of the ESPLANADE
   3b. railing (most gen) -> balustrade -> gunwale (like railing on side/edge of boat)
   4a. with their glasses HALF + WASHED
   4b. half done structure eg half dressed

Question 14

1a. Tú solo sonríe y HAZTE LA INTERESANTE (hacerse el/la interesante
1b. ¡No te hagas la dura! (hacerse la dura)
2. A LA VEZ QUE + RESALTABAN la estupenda silueta (resaltar)
3. Carmen sonrió TAIMADA (alt adj = ladino)
4. casi sufrieron un ictus cuando … (ictus = stroke)

Answer 14

1a. You just smile and PRETEND YOUR INTERESTED (loc vb, ie what need when want to get the attention of other sex.)
1b. Don’t play hard to get! (diff loc vb)
2. AT THE SAME TIME/WHILE + HIGHLIGHTING the stunning silhouette (loc adv) (vb = to emphasise)
3. Carmen smiled SLYLY/CRAFTILY (+ alt adj)
4, they ALMOST HAD A HEART ATTACK when … (clue: equiv Span exp, not lit)

Question 15

1a. Julie, ATUSÁNDOSE el vestido
1b. straighten or adjust clothing (eg tie) when preening
2a. Carmen sonrió POR LO BAJO
2b. under one´s breath
3. le pasó la mano por la espalda buscando RECONFORTARla
4a. ¿Os habéis echado novio?
4b. ECHARSE + un novio

Answer 15

1. Julie, STRAIGHTENING her dress
   1b. explain how use vb
   2a. Carmen smiled DISCRETELY (loc. adv)
   2b. what loc. adv mean re voice?
2. she ran her hand over her back seeking to COMFORT her (vb, as in console + cheer up)
   4a. Have you two got boyfriends?
   4b. loc vb = to get a boyfriend (clue: NOT conseguirse)

Question 16

1. me tumbé de nuevo en el chinchorro, durmiéndome EN EL ACTO
   2a. El rio SERPENTEAR a través de la jungla
   2b. en una DESESPERANTE sucesión de MEANDROS
2. ORA vamos al norte, ORA vamos al sur (ora … ora)
3. en REMANSOS del río

Answer 16

1. I lay down again in the chinchorro, falling asleep ON THE SPOT/INSTANTLY (loc adv)
   2a. the river MEANDERS through the jungle (clue; as in to curve)
   2b. in an EXASPERATING succession of BENDS
2. SOMETIMES we go north, OTHER TIMES we go south (clue: structure expresses alternating)
3. in the BACKWATERS of the river

Question 17

1. empequeñeciendo la nave
   1b. empequeñecer = to make look smaller -> to overshadow (fig)
2. se han borrado DE UN PLUMAZO
3. un espectáculo que no sabría CALIFICAR de otro modo que dantesco
   4a. dejándose llevar MANSAMENTE por la corriente
   4b. mansamente -> MANSO

Answer 17

1a. DWARFING the ship
1b. explain vb -> lit meaning -> fig meaning
2. they were erased WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN
3. a spectacle that I wouldn’t know how to DESCRIBE other than AS Dantesque (vb= to describe as)
4a. MEEKLY allowing themselves to be carried by the current
4b. meekly (adv) -> meek (adj)