English Vocabulary Profile

Question 1

A quiet place, with little activity

Answer 1

a sleepy little town

Question 2

To make something very wet.

Answer 2

The rain soaked my clothes.

The ink soaked through the paper onto the table.

Question 3

Smooth and wet and difficult to hold or walk on

Answer 3

Be careful - the floor’s slippery.

Question 4

A period of time that you allow for something in a plan

Answer 4

The programme is being moved to a later slot.

Customers will also be able to choose the date and even the time slot for the delivery.

Question 5

Air pollution in a city that is a mixture of smoke, gases, and chemicals

Answer 5

Smog hung over the city.

This will reduce smog and pollution, which has become an increasing problem worldwide.

Question 6

To take something into or out of a place in an illegal or secret way

Answer 6

He was arrested for smuggling cocaine into Britain.

Question 7

Used to emphasise that something surprising is true despite what you have just said

Car prices have gone down a lot, but ______, we couldn’t afford to buy one.

Answer 7

even so

Question 8

Used for saying what the purpose of an action is.

In order to

Answer 8

We took off our shoes so as to avoid scratching the newly finished floors

He went in very quietly so as not to wake the baby.

Question 9

Increasing very quickly

Answer 9

Soaring property prices

House prices have soared.

This is due to soaring house prices, especially in urban areas.

Question 10

Only and not involving anyone or anything else

Answer 10

The product’s success cannot be explained solely by the popularity of the ads.

I bought it solely for that purpose.

Question 11

In Britain, a lawyer who gives legal advice and help, and who works in the lower courts of law

Answer 11

We got a solicitor to draw up the contract.

Question 12

Agreement and support between people in a group who have similar aims or beliefs

Answer 12

Several lecturers joined the march to show solidarity with their students.

Question 13

The state of being alone

He went upstairs to read the letter __ ______

Answer 13

in solitude

Question 14

Slightly

Answer 14

She’s somewhat more confident than she used to be.

We found the article to be somewhat inaccurate

Question 15

Used to show that something happens immediately after something else.

Right away, immediately.

Answer 15

No sooner had we got home than the phone rang.

No sooner had I entered a pub than the waitress smiled warmly at me.

Question 16

To put seeds into the ground

Answer 16

Farmers had to plough(plow), sow and harvest cotton on their own, using their labour and hands.

Question 17

A substance made from beans and used to make many foods.

Answer 17

We offer a huge range of soya products, energy bars, jam and spreads, suitable for diabetics, and a good choice of herbal teas.

Question 18

Special or exciting.

I prefer parties with a more ________ atmosphere.

Answer 18

sparkling

Question 19

Someone who teaches at a university or college.

A person who gives lectures.

Answer 19

lecturer

Question 20

If you have time, money, etc. to _____, you have more than you need.

-

This also means ‘‘to give’’. Usually time or money.

Answer 20

Sorry, I wish I could go to the concert but I’ve got little or no time to spare, I have my work cut out for me.

-

I have to go soon, but I can spare a few minutes.

Thank you for sparing your time to read my letter.

Question 21

To arrange something over a large area, especially something that was folded.

Answer 21

I spread a blanket over his legs.

He spread the cards out on the table.

Question 22

A place where water comes out of the ground

Answer 22

There is a hot spring beside a river.

Question 23

Very shocking and surprising

He earns a ________ amount of money.

Answer 23

He earns a staggering amount of money.

However, it is expected to rise to a staggering 98% in 2010.

Question 24

Old and not fresh

The bread for breakfast was _____ and the rice for dinner was cold.

Answer 24

Cake goes stale quickly if it’s not covered.

The bread for breakfast was stale and the rice for dinner was cold.

Question 25

A _____ increase or fall in something is very big and quick.

There has been a _____ increase in prices.

Answer 25

A steep increase or fall in something is very big and quick.

There has been a steep increase in prices.

Question 26

To develop as the result of something

Her problems _____ from childhood.

Answer 26

Her problems stem from childhood.

Those issues stem from strong family values and religious beliefs.

Question 27

To continue to support someone when they are having problems

You can count on me…

Answer 27

I’ll stick by you whatever happens.

Question 28

To support someone or something when they are being criticised.

Get behind sb, back sb up.

Answer 28

Two brothers Lev and Dmitri used to stick up for each other at school, and could never be beaten.

Question 29

To begin your life, or the part of your life when you work, in a particular way

My dad’s first job was in a department store as a sales assistant…

Answer 29

My dad started out as a sales assistant in a department store.

Question 30

If a building _____, it has not been destroyed.

After the earthquake not a single building was left _______ in the village.

Answer 30

If a building stands, it has not been destroyed.

After the earthquake not a single building was left standing in the village.

Question 31

To be at a particular level, amount, height, etc.

Inflation currently _____ at three percent.

Answer 31

Inflation currently stands at three percent.

It was overtaken by furniture and equipment, which stood at 23[%] in 2001, but only at 15% in 1981.

Question 32

A table or small structure from which goods are sold or shown

Visit our ____ at the trade fair.

Answer 32

Visit our stand at the trade fair.

What I aimed for was to get in touch with as m[any] interesting companies as I could, and I really did it because there were lots of stands with a good choice of companies, ranging fro the biggest ones (IBB or Siemens, for example) to other smaller but also interesting.

Question 33

Unable to speak because you are so angry, shocked, surprised, etc.

Answer 33

I couldn’t believe what he was telling me - I was speechless.

I was speechless when I understood that everything has undergone rapid change, because of tourism.

*undergo = go through

Question 34

All the different ideas, opinions, possibilities, etc. that exist

Answer 34

They have support from across the whole political spectrum.

Question 35

Large and with a lot of space

Answer 35

A spacious apartment/office

Question 36

She smallest number of people that you need to keep an organisation working.

Answer 36

A skeleton crew/staff/service

The Red Cross has withdrawn all but a skeleton staf for the mission

The life-rescuing services are on call and a skeleton staff remains in all hospitals

Question 37

To drink, taking only a small amount at a time. Usually something hot, or alcoholic.

Answer 37

Back in the day women could spend the whole day brushing their hair or sipping tea, without feeling guilty for wasting their time.

Question 38

A bus, train, plane, etc. which travels regularly between two places, usually a short distance

Answer 38

There’s a shuttle service between the airport and the city center.

The Boston-New York shuttle

Question 39

To protect someone or something from something dangerous or unpleasant

Answer 39

Children raised by wealthy families are often shielded from the harshness of real problems.

Question 40

To be ready

We were __ ___ to go when they called us up.

Answer 40

We were all set to go when they called us up.

Question 41

To make something happen more slowly or later than it should

Putting off school has ___ ___ ____ a couple of years but now you’re free to choose and do what you really enjoyed doing

These delays have ___ ____ the publication date by a month.

Another failed harvest would really ___ these farmers ____.

Answer 41

Putting off school has set you back a couple of years but now you’re free to choose and do what you really enjoyed doing

These delays have set back the publication date by a month.

Another failed harvest would really set these farmers back.

Question 42

The interest rate has been ___ __ 5%.

Answer 42

The interest rate has been set at 5%.

Question 43

He told me never to __ ___ in his house again.

Answer 43

He told me never to set foot in his house again.