English 16

Question 1

peddle (v)

Answer 1

If you peddle stories or information, you spread them by telling different people: (negative)

The organization has peddled the myth that they are supporting the local population

Question 2

A string of events

Answer 2

A string of similar events is a series of them that happen one after the other.

The incident was the latest in a string of attacks

Question 3

mastermind (v)

Answer 3

to plan a difficult activity, often a crime, in detail and make certain that it happens successfully:

He’s believed to have masterminded the attacks.

Question 4

railroad (v)

Answer 4

to force something to happen or force someone to do something, especially quickly or unfairly:

We were railroaded into signing the agreement

Question 5

prosecute (v)

Answer 5

to officially accuse someone of committing a crime in a law court, or (of a lawyer) to try to prove that a person accused of committing a crime is guilty of that crime:

起訴
Shoplifters will be prosecuted.

Question 6

disgrace (n)

Answer 6

embarrassment and the loss of other people’s respect, or behaviour that causes this:

They were sent home in disgrace

Question 7

smear (v)

Answer 7

to publicly accuse someone of something unpleasant, unreasonable, or unlikely to be true in order to harm their reputation:

She decided to sue for libel after the newspaper smeared her private life.

Question 8

-mongering ( a suffix)

scandal-mongering

Answer 8

the act of encouraging a particular activity, especially one that causes trouble:

They accused him of rumour-mongering/scandal-mongering.

Question 9

spectacularly (adv)

Answer 9

in a very beautiful way that people admire:

At night, the city is spectacularly lit.

Question 10

in the dark

Answer 10

in a state of ignorance.

the player is still in the dark about his future

Question 11

free-for-all

Answer 11

a violent situation or argument that a lot of people join in:

The fight on the basketball court turned into a free-for-all.

Question 12

tear up

Answer 12

to get tears in your eyes, so that you almost start to cry, because you are experiencing strong emotion:

She teared up as the award was presented to her.

Question 13

cheap shot

Answer 13

an unfair, negative remark made by someone to achieve an advantage over someone else:

Making fun of his name was a cheap shop

Question 14

alumnus (n)

Answer 14

someone who has left a school, college, or university after finishing their studies there:

校友

Several famous alumni have agreed to help raise money for the school’s restoration fund.

Question 15

ultimatum (n)

Answer 15

最後通牒

a threat in which a person or group of people are warned that if they do not do a particular thing, something unpleasant will happen to them. It is usually the last and most extreme in a series of actions taken to bring about a particular result:

He gave her an ultimatum - she could either stop seeing Peter and come back to him or it was divorce.

Question 16

account for sth

Answer 16

to form the total of something:

Students account for the vast majority of our customers.

Question 17

in the midst of sth

Answer 17

in the middle of an event, situation, or activity:

I’m sorry but I’m too busy - I’m in the midst of writing a report

Question 18

contemplate (v)

Answer 18

to spend time considering a possible future action, or to consider one particular thing for a long time in a serious and quiet way:

I’m contemplating going abroa

Question 19

little/small wonder that

Answer 19

it is not really surprising:

Her car isn’t working, so it’s little wonder (that)

she hasn’t come to visit you recently

Question 20

inconceivable (adj)

Answer 20

impossible to imagine or think of:

The idea that they might not win was inconceivable to them.

Question 21

I have come to understand

Answer 21

over a period of time my mind has developed an understanding for something

Question 22

bilateral treaty

Answer 22

雙邊條約

a treaty strictly between two state parties. These two parties can be two nations, or two international organizations

Question 23

disparity

Answer 23

a lack of equality or similarity, especially in a way that is not fair:

the growing disparity between rich and poor

Question 24

imbue something/someone with something

Answer 24

to fill something or someone with a quality or feeling:

Her poetry was imbued with a love of the outdoors

Question 25

disenchantment (n)

Answer 25

a feeling of no longer believing in the value of something, especially having learned of the problems with it:

There is growing disenchantment with the way the club is being run

Question 26

hash sth out

Answer 26

to talk about something with someone else in order to reach agreement about it:

You two hash out the details of the presentation.

Question 27

Coin the term

Answer 27

to invent a new word or expression, or to use one in a particular way for the first time:

Allen Ginsberg coined the term “flower power”

Question 28

undercut (v)

Answer 28

to charge less than a competitor:

Big supermarkets can undercut all rivals, especially small family-owned shops

Question 29

rosy (adj)

Answer 29

If a situation is described as rosy, it gives hope of success or happiness:

Our financial position is rosy.

Question 30

No Spring Chicken

Answer 30

in a negative way to describe someone who is no longer young

Question 31

chances are

Answer 31

it is likely:

Chances are (that) they’ll be late anyway.

Question 32

wanton destruction

Answer 32

(of something bad, such as damage, cruelty, waste)

extreme and showing no care at all

Question 33

all hands on deck

Answer 33

everyone is needed to help in a particular situation

• It’s all hands on deck as the crew work as team to make the show look its best.

Question 34

She’s always got her beady eyes on what I’m doing

Answer 34

she watches me closely

Question 35

massage parlor

Answer 35

massage business

Question 36

ulterior motive

Answer 36

a secret purpose or reason for doing something:

He claims he just wants to help Lisa but I suspect he has an ulterior motive

Question 37

conduct (v)

Answer 37

to organize and perform a particular activity:

We are conducting a survey to find out what our customers think of their local bus service.

Question 38

coherent (adj)

Answer 38

If an argument, set of ideas, or a plan is coherent, it is clear and carefully considered, and each part of it connects or follows in a natural or reasonable way.

Question 39

in vain

Answer 39

unsuccessfully:

I tried in vain to start a conversation.

Question 40

premeditated (v)

Answer 40

(especially of a crime or something unpleasant) done after being thought about or carefully planned:

預謀

premeditated murder

Question 41

That being said

Answer 41

taking into consideration what has just been said…