Chapter 1 Flashcards

1
Q

Coinage
“2500 Invention of coinage - a universal money”

A

/ˈkɔɪnɪdʒ/
n
[noncount]
- the act of creating a new word or phrase that other people begin to use
- money in the form if coins
- the art of process of creating money

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2
Q

Coinage

A

/ˈkɔɪnɪdʒ/
n
[count]
- a word that sb has created

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3
Q

Transcend
“The Present Humans transcend the boundaries of planet Earth.”

A

/trænˈsend/
v
[+obj] formal
- to rise above or go beyond the normal limits of (sth)

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4
Q

Fellow

A

/ˈfeləʊ/
n
[count]
<informal + somewhat old-fashioned>
- a male person: a boy or man
- a male companion of a girl or woman: boyfriend

<old-fashioned> (usually plural)
- a member of a group of people who have shared interests, activities, etc.
(Fellow)
- a member of a literary, artistic, or scientific organisation
- a senior member of some British colleges and universities
(chiefly US)
- an advanced student at a university who is given money to pay for food, housing, etc.
</old-fashioned>

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5
Q

Fellow
“This book tells the story of how these three revolutions have affected humans and their fellow organism.”

A

/ˈfeləʊ/
adj
(always used before a noun)
- used to describe people who belong to the same group or class or who share a situation, experience, etc.

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6
Q

Hike

A

/haɪk/
v
[+obj] [no obj]
- to walk a long distance esp for pleasure or exercise: to go on a hike
[+obj]
- to suddenly increase the cost, amount or level of (sth)
- to pull of lift (sth, such as yourself or a part of your clothing) with a quick movement (up sth)
- (American football) to pass the ball back to the quarterback at the start of a play

n [count] hiker
n [noncount] hiking
adj hiking

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7
Q

Hike
“On a hike in East African 2 million years ago, you might well have…”

A

/haɪk/
n
[count]
- a usually long walk esp for pleasure or exercise
- a usually sudden increase in the cost, level or amount of sth

(US, informal, impolite) take a hike
- used in speech as an angry way of telling somebody ti leave

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8
Q

Chafe
“… temperamental youths chafing against the dictates of society…”

A

/tʃeɪf/
v
[no obj]
- to become irritated or annoyed: to feel impatient (against/ at/ under sth)
- to become sore or damaged from rubbing
[+obj] [no obj]
- to cause the soreness or damage by rubbing against sth (such as your skin)

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9
Q

Weary
“… and weary elders who just wanted to be left in peace…”

A

/ˈwɪəri/
adj
- lacking strength, energy, or freshness because if a need for rest or sleep: tired
- bored or annoyed by sth because you have seen it, heard it, done it, etc. many times or for a long time (of sth | used in combination)

<literary>
- causing you to feel tired

adv wearily
n [noncount] weariness
</literary>

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10
Q

Weary

A

/ˈwɪəri/
v
[+obj] (somewhat formal)
- to make (someone) very tired

phr v
weary of (sth)
- to become bored by (sth)
- to stop being interested in (sth)

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11
Q

Matriarch
“… and wise old matriarchs who had already seen it all.”

A

/ˈmeɪtriɑːk/
n
[count]
- a woman who controls a family, group or government
>< patriarch

adj matriarchal
n [non count] matriarchy

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12
Q

Fathom

A

/ˈfæðəm/
n
[count]
- a unit if length equal to six feet (1.8 meters) used esp for measuring the depth of water

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13
Q

Fathom
“…that their descendants would one day walk on the moon, split the atom, fathom the genetic code and write.”

A

/ˈfæðəm/
v
[+obj]
- to understand the reason for (sth) (Brit: out sth)

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14
Q

Banal
“This banal fact used to be one of history’s most closely guarded secrets.”

A

/bəˈnɑːl/
adj
- boring or ordinary: not interesting

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15
Q

Bereft
“… an orphan bereft of family, lacking siblings or cousins…”

A

/bɪˈreft/
adj
- sad because a family member or friend has died

(of sth)
- not having (sth that is needed, wanted or expected)

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16
Q

Orangutan
“Our closest living relatives include chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans.”

A

/əˈræŋətæn/
n
[count]
- a large ape that has very long arms and reddish-brown hair

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17
Q

Archair
“About 2 million years ago, some of these archaic men and women left their homeland…”

A

/ɑːˈkeɪɪk/
adj
- old and no longer used = old
- old and no longer useful: outdated
- of or relating to ancient times

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18
Q

Cradle
“The cradle of humanity continued to nurture numerous new species…”

A

/ˈkreɪdl/
n
[count]
- a bed for a baby that us usually designed to rock back and forth while pushing gently (sometimes used figuratively: out of the cradle)
- the place where sth begin (sing, of sth)
- sth that is used to hold or support sth else
- a platform designed to move up and down the sides of a building so that workers can paint, clean, etc.

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19
Q

From (the) cradle to (the grave)

A

idm
- from the beginning until the end of life

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20
Q

Rob the cradle

A

idm
(US, informal)
- to date or marry someone who is much younger than you

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21
Q

Cradle

A

/ˈkreɪdl/
v
[+obj]
- to hold (sth or someone) gently in your arms and hands

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22
Q

Fallacy
“It’s a common fallacy to envision these species as arranged in a straight line of descent…”

A

/ˈfæləsi/
n
[count]
- a wrong belief: a false or mistaken idea
[noncount]
- the quality of being false or wrong

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23
Q

Envision
“… to envision these species as arranged in a straight line of descent…”

A

/ɪnˈvɪʒn/
v
[+obj] (chiefly US)
- to think of (sth that you believe might exist or happen in the future): to picture (sth) in your mind

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24
Q

Beget
“…with Ergaster begetting Erectus, Erectus begetting the Neanderthals, and…”

A

/bɪˈɡet/
v
begat /bɪˈɡæt/ begotten /bɪˈɡɒtn/

<formal>
- to cause (sth) to happen or exist
<old-fashioned, literary>
- to become the father of (someone)

n [count] beggeter
</formal>

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25
Q

Exclusivity
“It’s our current exclusivity, not that multi-species past, that is peculiar - and perhaps incriminating.”

A

/ˌekskluːˈsɪvəti/
also exclusiveness /ɪkˈskluːsɪvnəs/
n
[noncount]
- the quality or state of being exclusive: the quality of being limited to people of wealth or high social class

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26
Q

Incriminate
“It’s our current exclusivity, not that multi-species past, that is peculiar - and perhaps incriminating.”

A

/ɪnˈkrɪmɪneɪt/
v
[+obj]
- to cause (someone) to appear guilty of or responsible for something (such as a crime)

adj incriminating

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27
Q

Sport

A

/spɔːt/
n
[count]
- a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other
- to say if someone has behaved politely or not after losing a game or contest (used with: good, bad, etc.)
- <informal + old-fashioned> someone who is kind and generous
- <informal + old-fashioned> used as a friendly way to address someone (esp a man)
[count] [noncount]
- <plural> sports in general (Brit: sing)
- a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment (for sport)</plural>

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28
Q

In sport

A

<somewhat formal + old-fashioned> in a joking way: in a way that is not serious

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29
Q

Make sport of

A

<somewhat formal + old-fashioned> to laugh at and make jokes about (someone or something) in an unkind way = make fun of

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30
Q

Sport

A

/spɔːt/
adj
[always used before a noun]
- done for enjoyment rather than as a job or for food for survival
- (chiefly US) participating in an activity (such as hunting or fishing) for enjoyment rather than as a job or for food for survival

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31
Q

Sport
“Modern Sapiens sport a brain averaging 1,200-1,400 cubic centimeters.”

A

/spɔːt/
v
[+obj]
- to wear (something) in a way that attracts attention
[no obj]
- <literary> to play in a happy and lively way</literary>

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32
Q

Enamoured
“We are so enamoured of our high intelligence that we assume that when it comes to cerebral power, more must be better.”

A

/ɪˈnæməd/
adj
- in a state in which you love, admire, or are very interested in something or someone (usually + of/with)

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33
Q

Cerebral
“…when it comes to cerebral power, more must be better.”

A

/ˈserəbrəl/
adj
- <always> (medical) of or relating to the brain
- related to the mind rather than to feelings: intellectual and not emotional</always>

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34
Q

Atrophy

A

/ˈætrəfi/
n
[noncount]
- (medical) gradual loss of muscle or flesh usually because of disease or lack of use (often used figuratively: emotional/intellectual atrophy)

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35
Q

Atrophy
“Secondly, their muscles atrophied.”

A

/ˈætrəfi/
v
[no obj]
- if a part of the body atrophies, it becomes weak because it is not used or because it does not have enough blood

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36
Q

Biceps
“Like a government diverting money from defence to education, humans diverted energy from biceps to neurons.”

A

/ˈbaɪseps/
n
[count] <plural>
- a large muscle at the front of the upper arm</plural>

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37
Q

Wrestling
“…and shoot them from a safe distance instead of wrestling.”

A

/ˈreslɪŋ/
n
[noncount]
- a sport in which two people try to throw, force, or pin each other to the ground

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38
Q

Flint
“…but apart from some flint knives and pointed stocks, humans had precious little to show for…”

A

/flɪnt/
n
[noncount]
- a hard type of rock that produces a small piece of burning material (called a spark) when it is hit by steel
[count]
- a piece of flint
- a piece of metal used for producing a spark

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39
Q

Scaffolding
“Adjusting to an upright position was quite a challenge, especially when the scaffolding had to support an extra-large cranium.”

A

/ˈskæfəldɪŋ/
n
[noncount]
- the metal poles and wooden boards that are used to build or support a scaffold (a cradle)

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40
Q

Cranium
“…had to support an extra-large cranium.”

A

/ˈkreɪniəm/
n
[count] (plural: crania /ˈkreɪniə/)
- (technical) skull

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41
Q

Lofty
“Humankind paid for its lofty vision and industrious hands with backaches and stiff necks.”

A

/ˈlɒfti/
adj
- <literary> (of buildings, mountains, etc.) rising to a great height: very tall and impressive = high
- (of a thought, an aim, etc.) very high and good: deserving to be admired
- showing the insulting attitude of people who think that they are better, smarter, or more important than other people = haughty = arrogant</literary>

adv loftily
n [noncount] loftiness

42
Q

Industrious
“…and industrious hands with backaches and stiff necks.”

A

/ɪnˈdʌstriəs/
adj
- working very hard: not lazy

adv industriously
n [noncount] industriousness

43
Q

Stiff
“…and stiff necks.”

A

/stɪf/
adj
- difficult to bend or move (as stiff as a board = very stiff)
- painful to move or use
- showing pain in movement or use
- thick and difficult to stir or pour
- difficult, strict, or severe (a stiff fine/task/competition)
- not graceful, relaxed, or friendly (a stiff manner, stiff writing/dialogue = too formal)
- very expensive
- strong and forceful (stiff resistance, a stiff wind)
- containing a lot of alcohol

adv stiffly
n [noncount] stiffness

44
Q

Stiff upper lip

A
  • a calm and determined attitude in a difficult situation (keep a stiff upper lip)
45
Q

Stiff

A

/stɪf/
adv
- <informal> very much: to an extreme degree (scared/bored stiff)</informal>

46
Q

Stiff

A

/stɪf/
n
[count] <informal>
- the body of a dead person
- (US) a person who you think is lucky, unlucky, etc.
- (US) an ordinary or dull person (working stiff)</informal>

47
Q

Stiff

A

/stɪf/
v
- (US) <informal> to not give as much money as you should give to (someone) (stiff someone on something = stiff the waiter on the tip)</informal>

48
Q

Frozen stiff

A
  • completely stiff because of being wet and frozen
  • <informal> extremely cold
    </informal>
49
Q

Gait
“An upright gait required narrower hips, constricting the birth canal - and this just when babies’ heads were getting bigger and bigger.”

A

/ɡeɪt/
n
[count]
- a particular way of walking

50
Q

Colt

A

/kəʊlt/
n
[count]
- a young male horse (%filly, stallion)
- (Brit) a member of a sports team for young people

51
Q

Trot (v)
“A horse can trot shortly after birth…”

A

/trɒt/
v
[no obj]
- (of a horse) to move at a speed faster than walking by stepping with each front leg at the same time with the opposite back leg
- (always followed by an adv/prop) to run at a slow, steady pace
- (always followed by an adv/prep) to move quickly: hurry (trot off to help, trot along after his mother)

52
Q

Hot to trot (idm)

A

(informal)
- to be very enthusiastic to start an activity
- to be excited in a sexual way

53
Q

Trot out (phr v)

A

phr v: trot (something) out/trot out (something)
(informal)
- (disapproving) to say (something that has been said before) as an excuse
- to bring (something) out to be displayed

54
Q

Trot (n)

A

/trɒt/
n
[singular]
- a horse’s way of moving that is faster than a walk but slower than a gallop (canter, gallop)
- a person’s way of running slowly
[plural]
- (informal) diarrhea

55
Q

On the trot (idm)

A

(Brit, informal)
- following one after another = in a row
- busy all the time = on the go

56
Q

Tow (v)

A

/təʊ/
v
[+ obj]
- to pull (a vehicle) behind another vehicle with a rope or chain

57
Q

Tow (n)

A

/təʊ/
n
[count]
- the act of pulling a vehicle behind another vehicle with a rope or chain (usually singular)

58
Q

In tow (idm)
“Lone mothers could hardly forage enough food for their offspring and themselves with needy children in tow.”

A

(or under tow or Brit on tow)
- used to describe a situation in which one vehicle, boat, etc. is being pulled by another
- if a ship or boat is “taken in tow”, it is tied to and pulled by another boat or ship (often used figuratively: the tourists were taken in tow by a friendly guide)
(informal)
- used to describe a situation in which someone is going to somewhere with another person or group

59
Q

Glaze (v)
“Most mammals emerge from the womb like glazed earthenware emerging from a kiln…”

A

/ɡleɪz/
v
[+obj]
- to give a smooth and shinny coating to (something)
[no obj]
- to become dull and lifeless (usually + over) (his eyes glazed over)

60
Q

Earthenware (n)
“…like glazed earthenware emerging from a kiln - any attempt at remoulding will scratch or break them.”

A

/ˈɜːθnweə/
n
[noncount]
- a heavy substance that is made by making clay and that is usually covered with another substance (called a glaze) before it is baked so that it will not absorb water

61
Q

Kiln (n)
“…emerging from a kiln - any attempt at remoulding will scratch or break them.”

A

/kɪln/
n
[count]
- an oven or furnace that is used for hardening, burning, or drying something (such as pottery)

62
Q

Subsist (v)
“…dwelt in constant fear of predators, rarely hunted large game, and subsisted.”

A

/səbˈsɪst/
v
[no obj] (formal)
- to exist or continue to exist

63
Q

Subsist on (phr v)

A

phr v: subsist on (something)
- to used (something) as a way alive: to live on (something)

64
Q

Niche (n)
“Some researchers believe this was our original niche.”

A

/nɪtʃ/
n
[count]
- a job, activity, etc. that is very suitable for someone
- the situation in which a business’s products or services can succeed by being sold to a particular kind or group if people (usually singular: fill a niche in the market) (often used before another noun: niche market/product/publication)
- (technical) an environment that had all the things that a particular plant or animal needs in order to live (fill an environmental/ecological niche)
- a curved space in a wall that is designed to hold a statue, vase, etc.

65
Q

Woodpecker (n)
“Just as woodpeckers specialise in extracting insects from the trunks if trees, the first humans specialised in extracting marrow from bone.”

A

/ˈwʊdpekə/
n
[count]
- a bird that has a very hard beak which it uses to make holes in trees to get insects for food

66
Q

Hyena (n)
“But it’s still not your turn because first the hyenas and jackals - and you don’t dare interfere…”

A

/haɪˈiːnə/
n
[count]
- a large animal of Asia and Africa that eats the flesh of dead animals

67
Q

Laugh like a hyena (idm)

A
  • laugh in a loud or foolish way
68
Q

Jackal (n)
“But it’s still not your turn because first the hyenas and jackals - and you don’t dare interfere…”

A

/ˈdʒækl/
n
[count]
- a wild dog found in Africa and Asia

69
Q

Scavenge (v)
“…and you don’t dare interfere with them scavenge the leftovers” (for the food)

A

/ˈskævɪndʒ/
v
[no obj] [+obj]
- (of an animal) to search (somewhere) for food to eat (no obj: often + for) (scavenge for food in the woods = scavenge the woods for food)
- to search through (somewhere/thing: waste, junk, etc.) for something that can be saved or used (no obj: often + for) (scavenge for antiques at the flea market = scavenge flea market for antiques)

n [count] scavenger

70
Q

Carcass (n)
“…your band dare approach the carcass, look cautiously left and right - and dig into the edible tissue that remained.”

A

/ˈkɑːkəs/
n
[count]
- the body of a dead animal
- (informal, humorous) a person’s body
- the remaining parts if an old vehicle, structure, etc.

71
Q

Rhinoceros (n)
“… and rhinoceros to be more bad-tempered.”

A

/raɪˈnɒsərəs/
n
[count]
- a large, heavy animal of Africa and Asia that has thick skin and either one or two large horns on its nose

72
Q

Gazelle (n)
“…so gazelles evolved to run faster…”

A

/ɡəˈzel/
n
[count]
- a small animal that is a mind of antelope and that is very graceful and fast

73
Q

Banana republic (n)
“Sapiens by contrast is more like a banana republic dictator.”

A

/bəˌnɑːnə rɪˈpʌblɪk/
n
[count] (disapproving, sometimes offensive)
- a small, weak country usually in a tropical area

74
Q

Dictator (n)
“…like a banana republic dictator.”

A

/dɪkˈteɪtə/
n
[count]
- a person who rules a country with total authority and often in a cruel or brutal way

75
Q

Underdog (n)
“Having so recently been one of the underdogs, we are full of fear and anxieties over our position, which makes us doubly cruel and dangerous.”

A

/ˈʌndədɒɡ/
n
[count]
- a person, team, etc. that is expected to lose a contest or battle
- a less powerful person or thing that struggles against a more powerful person or thing (such as a corporation)

76
Q

Torch (n)

A

/tɔːtʃ/
n
[count]
- a long stick with material at one end that burns brightly: the Olympic torch, (often used figuratively: the torch of truth/hope)
- blowtorch
- (Brit) flashlight

77
Q

Carry a torch

A

/tɔːtʃ/
- to continue to have romantic feelings for someone who does not love you (usually + for: carry a torch for him after all this time)

78
Q

Carry the torch

A

/tɔːtʃ/
- to support or promote a cause in an enthusiastic way = crusade: continues to carry the torch for justice

79
Q

Pass the torch

A

/tɔːtʃ/
- (chiefly US) if you pass the torch (on) or pass on the torch, you give your job, duties, etc. to another person: He’s retiring and passing the torch on to his successor

80
Q

Torch (v)
“Not long afterwards, humans may even have started deliberately to torch their neighbourhoods.”

A

/tɔːtʃ/
v
[+obj]
- to set fire to (something, such as a building) deliberately: to cause something to burn

81
Q

Thicket (n)
“A carefully managed fire could turn impassable barren thickets into prime grasslands teeming with games.”

A

/ˈθɪkɪt/
n
[count]
- a group of bushes or small trees that grow close together: a dense thicket of rosebushes (figuratively: a thicket of reporters, a tangled thicket of laws)

82
Q

Teem with (phrasal v)
“… prime grasslands teeming with games.”

A

/tiːm/
phrasal v: teem with something
- to be full of (life and activity): to have many (people or animals) moving around inside
• usually used as (be teeming with)
• sometimes used figuratively

adj teeming = bustling

83
Q

Tuber (n)
“…could walk through the smoking remains and harvest charcoaled animals, nuts and tubers.”

A

/ˈtjuːbə/
[count]
- a short, thick, round stem that is a part of certain plants (potato), that grows underground, and that can produce a new plant

adj tuberous

84
Q

Suffice (v)
“…a single hour suffices for people eating cooked food.”

A

/səˈfaɪs/
v
[no obj]
- to be or provide as much as is needed: to be sufficient: Her example alone could suffice to show…

85
Q

Suffice (it) to say

A

/səˈfaɪs/
- used to say that you could give more information about something but that the statement that follows is enough: Suffice it to say, she has a lot on her hands with four children

86
Q

Inadvertent (adj)
“…cooking inadvertently opened the way to the jumbo brains of Neanderthals and Sapiens.”

A

/ˌɪnədˈvɜːtnt/
adj
- not intended or planned: accidental, unintentional: an inadvertent error/omission

n [noncount] inadvertence
adv inadvertently

87
Q

Breadth (n)
“The power of almost all animals depends on their bodies: the strength of their muscles, the size of their teeth, the breadth of their wings.”

A

/bredθ/
n
[noncount]
- the distance from one side to the other side of something: width
- the quality of including many things: the wide scope or range of something: I admire his breadth of knowledge/experience/achievement

88
Q

Constrained (adj)

A

/kənˈstreɪnd/
adj
- (formal) not done or happening naturally: constrained smile/behaviour

89
Q

Constrain (v)
“…and are always constrained by their physical design.”

A

/kənˈstreɪn/
v
[+obj]
(formal, usually passive)
- to force (someone) to do something or behave in a particular way
- to limit (someone, something)

90
Q

Obedient (adj)
“When humans domesticated fire, they gained control of an obedient and potentially limitless force.”

A

/əˈbiːdiənt/
adj
- willing to do what someone tells you to do or to follow a law, rule, etc.: willing to obey

n [noncount] obedience: blind/unquestioning obedience, to act in obedience to the rules, obedience classes/school/training
adv obediently

91
Q

Morgue (n)
“If one of them turned up in a modern morgue, the local pathologist would notice nothing peculiar.”

A

/mɔːɡ/
n
[count]
- a place where the bodies of dead people are kept until they are buried or cremated (figuratively: like a morgue = a place which is very quiet and sad)
- (US) a place in the editorial offices of a newspaper, magazines, etc. where old articles and other documents are kept

92
Q

Overrun (v)
“Scientists also agree that about 70,000 years ago, Sapiens from East Africa spread into the Arabian peninsula, and from there they quickly overran the entire Eurasia.”

A

/ˌəʊvəˈrʌn/
v: -ran /ˌəʊvəˈræn/ -run /ˌəʊvəˈrʌn/
[+obj]
- to enter and be present in (a place) in large numbers: be overrun with/by (something): rats overran the ship, the city is overrun by tourists
- to run or go beyond or past (something): overrun the time allowed
- the spread over or throughout (something): weeds overran the garden

93
Q

Mingle (v)
“The ‘Interbreeding Theory’ tells a story of attraction, sex and mingling.”

A

/ˈmɪŋɡl/
v
[no obj] [+obj]
- to combine of bring together two or more things: the story mingles fact and/with fiction - several flavours mingle in the stew
[no obj]
- to move around during a party, meeting, etc. and talk informally with different people (often + with)

94
Q

Infirm (adj)
“They used tools and fire, were good hunters, and apparently took care of their sick and infirm.”

A

/ɪnˈfɜːm/
adj
- having a condition of weakness or illness that usually lasts for a long time and is caused especially by old age: mentally and physically infirm

95
Q

Handicap (n)
“…lived for many years with severe physical handicaps, evidence that they were cared for by their…”

A

/ˈhændikæp/
n
[count]
- (sometimes offensive) a physical or mental condition that may limit what a person can do: a physical or mental disability
- a problem, situation, or event that makes progress or success difficult
- (golf) a number that shows a golfer’s level of skill and that is used to allow golfers of different abilities to compete with each other
- a horse race in which some horses are required to carry more weight so that all the horses in the race will have an equal chance of winning

96
Q

Caricature (n)
“Neanderthals ate often depicted in caricatures as the archetypical brutish and stupid ‘cave men’, but recent evidence has changed their image.”

A

/ˈkærɪkətʃʊə/
n
[count]
- a drawing that makes someone look funny or foolish because some part of the person’s appearance is exaggerated
- someone or something that is very exaggerated in a funny or foolish way

n [count] caricaturist

97
Q

Revulsion (n)
“The opposing view, called the ‘Replacement Theory’ tells a very different story - one of incompatibility, revulsion, and perhaps genocide.”

A

/rɪˈvʌlʃn/
n
[noncount]
- (somewhat formal) a very strong feeling of dislike or disgust and horror = disgust = repugnance: a growing revulsion to war

98
Q

Unbridgeable (adj)
“…the genetic gulf separating the two populations was already unbridgeable.”

A

/ʌnˈbrɪdʒəbl/
adj
- used to say that two people, groups, or things are too widely separated or different from each other to ever be brought together, made to agree, etc.: unbridgeable gulf/gap between the rich and the poor

99
Q

Hinge (n)

A

/hɪndʒ/
n
[count]
- bản lề

v hinge (to attach something with a hinge)

100
Q

Hinge on (phrasal v)
“A lot hinges on this debate.”

A

/hɪndʒ/
phrasal v: hinge on/upon something
- (of an action, a result, etc.) to depend on something completely: his success hinges on how well he does at the interview