comprehension and summary

Question 1

revolting
BrE / rɪvəʊltɪŋ /
NAmE / rɪvoʊltɪŋ /
adjective

Answer 1

extremely unpleasant

syn: disgusting
- a revolting smell
- a revolting little man

Question 2

outing
BrE / aʊtɪŋ /
NAmE / aʊtɪŋ /
noun

Answer 2

1 [ countable ] ~ (to…) a trip that you go on for pleasure or education, usually with a group of people and lasting no more than one day
syn : excursion
- We went on an outing to London.
- a family outing

Question 3

freebie
BrE / fribi /
NAmE / fribi /
noun

Answer 3

( informal )
something that is given to sb without payment, usually by a company
- He took all the freebies that were on offer.
- a freebie holiday

Question 4

journo
BrE / dʒɜnəʊ /
NAmE / dʒɜrnoʊ / ( plural journos )
noun

Answer 4

( BrE , slang )

a journalist

Question 5

dawn on sb [no passive ]

Answer 5

if sth dawns on you, you begin to realize it for the first time

• it dawns on sb that …
• suddenly it dawned on me that they couldn’t possibly have met before.

Question 6

skim
BrE / skɪm /
NAmE / skɪm /
verb

Answer 6

2 [ intransitive ,  transitive ,  no passive ] to move quickly and lightly over a surface, not touching it or only touching it occasionally; to make sth do this
- ~ along/over, etc. sth We watched the birds skimming over the lake.

Question 7

sparkle verb, noun
BrE / spɑkl /
NAmE / spɑrkl /

Answer 7

verb
1 [ intransitive ] ~ (with sth) to shine brightly with small flashes of light
- sparkling eyes
- The sky sparkled with brilliant stars.

Question 8

glitter verb, noun
BrE / ɡlɪtə(r) /
NAmE / ɡlɪtər /

Answer 8

verb
1 [ intransitive ] to shine brightly with little flashes of light, like a diamond
syn: sparkle
- The water glittered in the sunlight.

Question 9

thread noun, verb
BrE / θred /
NAmE / θred /

Answer 9

verb
2 [ intransitive ,  transitive ] to move or make sth move through a narrow space, avoiding things that are in the way
syn: pick your way
> ~ your way + adv./prep. It took me a long time to thread my way through the crowd.

Question 10

chalet
BrE / ʃæleɪ /
NAmE / ʃæleɪ /
noun

Answer 10

2 ( BrE ) a small house or hut , especially one used by people on holiday/vacation at the sea

Question 11

sip verb, noun
BrE / sɪp /
NAmE / sɪp /

Answer 11

verb
( -pp- ) [ intransitive ,  transitive ]
to drink sth, taking a very small amount each time
>~ (at sth) She sat there, sipping at her tea.
>~ sth He slowly sipped his wine.

Question 12

suet 
BrE   / suɪt / 
BrE   / sjuɪt / 
NAmE   / suɪt / 
  noun

Answer 12

[ uncountable ]
hard fat from around the kidneys of cows, sheep, etc, used in cooking
- suet pudding (= one made using suet )

Question 13

fly fishing

Answer 13

the sport of fishing in a river or lake using an artificial fly at the end of the line to attract and catch the fish

Question 14

renowned
BrE / rɪnaʊnd /
NAmE / rɪnaʊnd /
adjective

Answer 14

famous and respected
syn: celebrated , noted
a renowned author
>~ as sth It is renowned as one of the region’s best restaurants.
>~ for sth She is renowned for her patience.

Question 15

angling
BrE / æŋɡlɪŋ /
NAmE / æŋɡlɪŋ /
noun

Answer 15

[ uncountable ] ( BrE )

the art or sport of catching fish with a fishing rod , usually in rivers and lakes rather than in the sea

Question 16

remotely
BrE / rɪməʊtli /
NAmE / rɪmoʊtli /
adverb

Answer 16

1 ( usually in negative sentences ) to a very slight degree

syn: slightly
- It wasn’t even remotely funny (= it wasn’t at all funny) .

Question 17

alacrity
BrE / əlækrəti /
NAmE / əlækrəti /
noun

Answer 17

[ uncountable ] ( formal )
great willingness or enthusiasm
- They accepted the offer with alacrity.

Question 18

twinge
BrE / twɪndʒ /
NAmE / twɪndʒ /
noun

Answer 18

2 ~ (of sth) a sudden short feeling of an unpleasant emotion

• a twinge of disappointment
• She felt a twinge of guilt about cancelling at the last moment.
• I felt a twinge of envy at her success.

Question 19

resentment
BrE / rɪzentmənt /
NAmE / rɪzentmənt /
noun

Answer 19

[ uncountable ,  singular ]
a feeling of anger or unhappiness about sth that you think is unfair
> to feel/harbour/bear resentment towards/against sb

Question 20

farm sb/sth out to sb

Answer 20

to send out work for other people to do

- The company farms out a lot of work to freelancers.

Question 21

hasty 
BrE   / heɪsti / 
NAmE   / heɪsti / 
  adjective 
( hasti • er ,  hasti • est )

Answer 21

1 said, made or done very quickly, especially when this has bad results
syn: hurried
> a hasty departure/meal/farewell
&raquo_space; hasti • ly / BrE heɪstɪli ; NAmE heɪstɪli / adverb
-Perhaps I spoke too hastily.
- She hastily changed the subject.

Question 22

reassure 
BrE   / riəʃʊə(r) / 
BrE   / riəʃɔ(r) / 
NAmE   / riəʃʊr / 
  verb

Answer 22

to say or do sth that makes sb less frightened or worried
syn: set sb’s mind at rest
>~ sb (about sth) They tried to reassure her, but she still felt anxious.
>~ sb that… The doctor reassured him that there was nothing seriously wrong.

Question 23

in the wake of sb/sth

Answer 23

coming after or following sb/sth

• A group of reporters followed in her wake.
• The storm left a trail of destruction in its wake.

Question 24

fumbling
BrE / fʌmblɪŋ /
NAmE / fʌmblɪŋ /
adjective

Answer 24

awkward, uncertain or hesitating

- a fumbling schoolboy

Question 25

deft
BrE / deft /
NAmE / deft /
adjective

Answer 25

1 ( of a person’s movements ) skilful and quick
>deft hands/fingers/footwork
- In one, deft movement, he had her hand locked behind her back.

Question 26

gliding
BrE / ɡlaɪdɪŋ /
NAmE / ɡlaɪdɪŋ /
noun

Answer 26

[ uncountable ]

the sport of flying in a glider

Question 27

feast noun, verb
BrE / fist /
NAmE / fist /

Answer 27

verb
[ intransitive ] ~ (on sth)
to eat a large amount of food, with great enjoyment
-We sat in the yard feasting on barbecued chicken and beer.

Question 28

sb can (not) help (doing) sth | sb can not help but do sth

Answer 28

used to say that it is impossible to prevent or avoid sth

• I can’t help thinking he knows more than he has told us.
• It couldn’t be helped (= there was no way of avoiding it and we must accept it) .
• I couldn’t help it if the bus was late (= it wasn’t my fault) .

Question 29

eliminate
BrE / ɪlɪmɪneɪt /
NAmE / ɪlɪmɪneɪt /
verb

Answer 29

1 to remove or get rid of sth/sb
>~ sth/sb Credit cards eliminate the need to carry a lot of cash.
>~ sth/sb from sth The police have eliminated two suspects from their investigation.
- This diet claims to eliminate toxins from the body.