Lesson 1

Question 1

abandon

v.

Answer 1

To leave; to give up
To save their lives, the sailors had to abandon the sinking ship.
Parts of speech abandonment

• abandon somebody The baby had been abandoned by its mother.
• abandon somebody to something ‘We have been abandoned to our fate,’ said one resident.
  abandon something Snow forced many drivers to abandon their vehicles.
  abandon something to somebody/something They had to abandon their lands to the invading forces.

Question 2

adversely

adv.

Answer 2

In a harmful way; negatively
Excessive rainfall early in the spring can adversely affect the planting of crops.
Usage tips Adversely is often followed by affect.
Parts of speech adversity n, adverse adj

Question 3

aggregate

adj.

Answer 3

Gathered into or amounting to a whole
It is impossible to judge last year’s performance without knowing the aggregate sales numbers.
Usage tips Aggregate is often followed by a term like sum, total, or numbers.
Parts of speech aggregate v, aggregate n

Idioms
* in (the) aggregate
​(formal) added together as a total or single amount
Businesses are, in the aggregate, deeper in debt than ever before.
* on aggregate
​(British English, sport) when the scores of a number of games are added together

Question 4

cultivation

n.

Answer 4

Preparing the land to grow crops; improvement for agricultural purposes
With the development of land cultivation, hunters and gatherers were able to settle in one place.
**Parts of speech **cultivate v
* under cultivation fertile land that is under cultivation (= being cultivated)

• the deliberate development of a particular relationship, quality or skill
  the cultivation of a good relationship with local firms

Question 5

fertilize

v.

Answer 5

To supply with nourishment for plants by adding helpful substances to the soil.
This farm fertilizes tomatoes more than any other crop.
Parts of speech fertilizer n, fertilization n
fertilize something to put pollen into a plant so that a seed develops; to join sperm with an egg so that a baby or young animal develops
* Flowers are often fertilized by bees as they gather nectar.

Question 6

intensify

v.

Answer 6

To increase in power; to act with increased strength
Jacob’s long absence intensified his certainty that he should marry Rose.
Parts of speech intensification n, intense adj
syn. heighten

• intensify something The opposition leader has intensified his attacks on the government.

Question 7

irrigation

n.

Answer 7

The supplying of water to dry land
In dry areas of the country, you can see ditches all over the farmland for irrigation. Parts of speech irrigate v

(medical) the process of washing out a wound or part of the body with a flow of water or liquid
* colonic irrigation

Question 8

obtain

v.

Answer 8

To gain possession of; to get
After a series of difficult interviews, he finally was able to obtain the job.
[transitive]
* to obtain information/data/results
* I’ve been trying to obtain permission to publish this material.

• [intransitive]
  (not used in the progressive tenses)
  (of rules, systems, customs, etc.) to exist
  SYNONYM apply
  These conditions no longer obtain.

Question 9

photosynthesis

n.

Answer 9

The process by which green plants make their own food by combining water, salts, and carbon dioxide in the presence of light.
Oxygen is a by-product of the process of photosynthesis.
Parts of speech photosynthesize v.

Question 10

precipitation

n.

Answer 10

Water that falls to the Earth’s surface
In the Pacific Northwest, the high level of precipitation ensures rich, green plant life.