English Words - Reading

Question 1

Skim

Answer 1

Example: we might skim a particular passage in order to understand the general idea, or gist.

1. [with obj.] — remove (a substance) from the surface of a liquid • as the scum rises, skim it off.
2. remove a substance from the surface of (a liquid) • bring to the boil, then skim it to remove any foam.
3. ‹informal› steal or embezzle (money), especially in small amounts over a period of time • she was skimming money from the household kitty.
4. (often as noun skimming) — fraudulently copy (credit or debit card details) with a card swipe or other device.
5. [no obj., with adverbial of direction] — go or move quickly and lightly over or on a surface or through the air • he let his fingers skim across her shoulders.
6. [with obj.] — pass over (a surface), nearly or lightly touching it in the process • we stood on the bridge, watching swallows skimming the water.
7. [with obj.] — throw (a flat stone) low over an expanse of water so that it bounces on the surface several times.
8. [with obj.] — read (something) quickly or cursorily so as to note only the important points • he sat down and skimmed the report • [no obj.] she skimmed through the newspaper. 9. (skim over) — deal with or treat (a subject) briefly or superficially.

Question 2

Gist

Answer 2

Example: we might skim a particular passage in order to understand the general idea, or gist.

1. the substance or essence of a speech or text • she noted the gist of each message.
2. [Law] the real point of an action • damage is the gist of the action and without it the plaintiff must fail.

–origin early 18th cent.: from Old French, third person singular present tense of gesir ‘to lie,’ from Latin jacere. The Anglo-French legal phrase cest action gist ‘this action lies’ denoted that there were sufficient grounds to proceed; gist was adopted into English denoting the grounds themselves (sense 2).

Question 3

A dirty look

Answer 3

A facial expression that shows dislike or anger

Question 4

shock

Answer 4

A strong an unpleasant reaction you have when something bad happens that you do not expect

Question 5

spoon

Answer 5

cuillère

Question 6

startle

Answer 6

to suddenly frighten or shock someone, or to be shocked or surprised unexpectantly

Question 7

sneeze

Answer 7

Eternuer
To suddenly blow out air from your nose and mouth in a way that you cannot control

Question 8

trick

Answer 8

astuce
truc
blague
farce
tour

Question 9

weird

Answer 9

very strange

Question 10

He meant well

Answer 10

Il voulait bien