Lesson One

Question 1

a chill/shiver runs up/down someone’s spine

Answer 1

idiom: used to say that someone feels very thrilled, frightened, etc.
-A shiver runs up my spine when I listen to a beautiful Beethoven symphony.
-A (cold) shiver ran down my spine when I heard his angry voice.

Question 2

Myriad

Answer 2

N: a very large number of something

Example:
-a myriad of choices
-And now myriads of bars and hotels are opening up along the coast.

Question 3

Spring something on someone

Answer 3

Phrasal verb: to suddenly tell or ask someone something when they do not expect it

Example:I hope he’s not going to spring any nasty surprises on us at the meeting this morning.

Question 4

Consolation

Answer 4

N: something that makes someone who is sad or disappointed feel better.

Example:
-consolation to: If it’s any consolation to you, you’re not the only one he was nasty to.
-His visit home was some consolation to his mother.
-if it’s any consolation- If it’s any consolation, I feel the same way.
-words of consolation: I didn’t know what to say - I just offered a few words of consolation.

Question 5

Cringe

Answer 5

V: to feel very embarrassed, and often show this by a physical movement or expression

Example:
-cringe at: I cringed at the sight of my dad dancing.
-Their praise was so gushing it made me cringe.
-When I hear my own voice played back I just sit there cringing.

Question 6

Gushing

Answer 6

Adj: expressing a positive feeling, especially praise, in such a strong way that it does not sound sincere

Example:One of the more gushing newspapers described the occasion as “a fairy-tale wedding”.

Question 7

Gushing

Answer 7

Adj: expressing a positive feeling, especially praise, in such a strong way that it does not sound sincere

Example:One of the more gushing newspapers described the occasion as “a fairy-tale wedding”.

Question 8

Briefcase

Answer 8

N: a usually flat, rectangular container, used esp. for carrying business papers

Question 9

Engulf

Answer 9

V: to surround and cover something or someone completely

Example:
-The flames rapidly engulfed the house.
-be engulfed by/in: Northern areas of the country were engulfed by/in a snowstorm last night.
-The war is threatening to engulf the entire region.

Question 10

Snare

Answer 10

V: to get or achieve something that is difficult to get

Example:
Arriving in Nashville, she had hopes of snaring a country-music record contract.

Question 11

Abruptly

Answer 11

Adv: in a sudden, unexpected, and sometimes unpleasant way

Example: He stood up abruptly and went outside.

Question 12

Procedure

Answer 12

N: a set of actions that is the official or accepted way of doing something

Example:
-The company has new procedures for dealing with complaints.
-You must follow correct procedure at all times.

Question 13

Trench

Answer 13

N: a long, narrow ditch.

Example:dig a trench around the perimeter of the fire

Question 14

Primeter

Answer 14

N: the outer edge of an area of land or the border around it

Example:
-Protesters cut a hole in the perimeter fence.
-A river runs along one side of the field’s perimeter.

Question 15

Excavate

Answer 15

V: to remove earth that is covering very old objects buried in the ground in order to discover things about the past

Example:
Ice age bones are being excavated in the caves.

Question 16

Registry

Answer 16

N: a place where official records are kept

Example:
a land/business/electoral registry

Question 17

Preliminary

Answer 17

Adj: coming before a more important action or event, especially introducing or preparing for it

Example:
-Preliminary results show that the vaccine is effective, but this has to be confirmed by further medical trials.
-We’ve decided to change the design based on our preliminary findings.

Question 18

Bustling

Answer 18

Adj: If a place is bustling, it is full of busy activity

Example:
-This used to be a bustling town but a lot of people have moved away over recent years.
-The house, usually bustling with activity, was strangely silent.

Question 19

Far-flung

Answer 19

Adj: used to refer to places that are a great distance away, or something that is spread over a very large area

Example:
She has travelled to the most far-flung corners of the world.

Question 20

Arid

Answer 20

Adj: very dry and without enough rain for plants

Example:The desert is so arid that nothing can grow there.

Question 21

Unwieldy

Answer 21

Adj: An unwieldy object is difficult to move or handle because it is heavy, large, or a strange shape

Example:
A piano is a very unwieldy item to get down a flight of stairs.

Question 22

Flight of stairs

Answer 22

N: a set of steps or stairs, usually between two floors of a building

Question 23

Mounting

Answer 23

Adj: gradually increasing

Example:
-mounting anxiety/excitement
-mounting debts

Question 24

Ripe

Answer 24

Adj:
(of fruit or crops) completely developed and ready to be collected or eaten

Example:
Those bananas aren’t ripe yet - they’re still green.

Question 25

Charcoal

Answer 25

N: a hard, black substance similar to coal that can be used as fuel or, in the form of sticks, as something to draw with Example: charcoal for the barbecue

Question 26

Fermentation

Answer 26

N: a process of chemical change in food or drink because of the action of yeast or bacteria, which may cause it to produce bubbles or heat, or turn sugars in it into alcohol Example: -Ethanol is an alcohol produced by fermentation of sugars. -Fermentation takes about 48 hours.

Question 27

Bale

Answer 27

N: a large amount of something such as hay, paper, wool, or cloth that has been tied tightly together

Question 28

Stacked

Answer 28

Adj: covered or filled with a large amount of things Example: The fridge is stacked with food

Question 29

Symbiotic

Answer 29

Adj: involving two types of animal or plant in which each provides the conditions necessary for the other to continue to exist Example:a symbiotic relationship

Question 30

Genus

Answer 30

N: a group of animals or plants, more closely related than a family, but less similar than a species

Question 31

Gland

Answer 31

N: an organ of the body or of a plant that secretes (= produces) liquid chemicals that have various purposes Example: The glands in my neck are a little bit swollen.

Question 32

Squirt

Answer 32

(to force a liquid) to flow out through a narrow opening in a fast stream Example: -He squirted some ketchup on his burger. -There was a leak in one of the pipes and water was squirting out all over the kitchen floor.

Question 33

Irritant

Answer 33

N: a substance that makes part of your body sore or painful Example:Pollen is an irritant, causing red and sore eyes in sensitive people.

Question 34

Irritant

Answer 34

N: a substance that makes part of your body sore or painful Example:Pollen is an irritant, causing red and sore eyes in sensitive people.

Question 35

Marauding

Answer 35

Adj: going from one place to another killing or using violence, stealing, and destroying Example: Witnesses reported gangs of marauding soldiers breaking into people's houses and setting fire to them.

Question 36

Wasp

Answer 36

N: a flying insect, often black and yellow, that can sting (= produce a small, painful skin injury) Example: -There's a wasps' nest in that old tree. -a wasp sting

Question 37

In conjunction with

Answer 37

Collocation; together. Example:herbal medicine was used in conjunction with acupuncture and massage

Question 38

Distinctive

Answer 38

Adj: Something that is distinctive is easy to recognize because it is different from other things Example: -a distinctive smell/taste -She's got a very distinctive voice.

Question 39

Primarily

Answer 39

Adv: mainly Example: -We're primarily concerned with keeping expenditure down. -Baseball is primarily a summer game.

Question 40

Combustion

Answer 40

N: the process of burning

Question 41

Agitate

Answer 41

V: to make someone feel worried or angry Example:I didn't want to agitate her by telling her.

Question 42

By-product

Answer 42

N: something that is produced as a result of making something else, or something unexpected that happens as a result of something Example: -Buttermilk is a by-product of making butter. -Illness is one of the by-products of overcrowded housing.

Question 43

Furnace

Answer 43

N: a container that is heated to a very high temperature, so that substances that are put inside it, such as metal, will melt or burn Example: -People who work with furnaces in a steel factory need to wear protective clothing. -like a furnace: This room's like a furnace (= is very hot)!

Question 44

Deterioration

Answer 44

N: the fact or process of becoming worse Example: -deterioration in: We've seen a deterioration in relations between the countries. -When we arrived, we were appalled at her deterioration.

Question 45

Appalled

Answer 45

Adj: having strong feelings of shock or disapproval Example: -an appalled silence/fascination -I am absolutely appalled by/at the state of our cities.

Question 46

Crumble

Answer 46

V: to break, or cause something to break, into small pieces Example: -She nervously crumbled the bread between her fingers. -The cliffs on which the houses are built are starting to crumble.

Question 47

Culprit

Answer 47

N: someone who has done something wrong; guilty person Example: Police hope the public will help them to find the culprits.

Question 48

Rag

Answer 48

N: a torn piece of old cloth Example: I keep these rags for cleaning the car.

Question 49

Calfskin

Answer 49

N: leather made from the skin of a young cow Example:calfskin boots

Question 50

Pit

Answer 50

N: a large hole in the ground, or a slightly low area in any surface Example: -They'd dug a shallow pit and left the bodies in it. -These pits in my skin are from when I had chickenpox.

Question 51

Nostril

Answer 51

N: either of the two openings in the nose through which air moves when you breathe Example:The horses came to a halt, steam streaming from their nostrils

Question 52

Burrow

Answer 52

N: a hole in the ground dug by an animal such as a rabbit, especially to live in

Question 53

Prong

Answer 53

N: one of two or more long, sharp points on an object, especially a fork

Question 54

Fang

Answer 54

N: a long, sharp tooth Example: The dog growled and bared its fangs.

Question 55

Scent

Answer 55

N: a pleasant natural smell Example: the scent of roses

Question 56

Palate

Answer 56

N: the top part of the inside of your mouth

Question 57

Jacobson’s organ

Answer 57

N: either of two small organs in the nose, just above the top of the mouth, that are involved in smell. They are found in humans and many animals, but are especially well developed in snakes and lizards Example:The snake tastes scent particles from the air using a special membrane, called Jacobson's organ, at the back of its mouth.

Question 58

Membrane

Answer 58

N: a thin piece of skin that covers or connects parts of a person's or animal's body Example:The cornea is the transparent membrane that covers the front of the eye.

Question 59

Sincere

Answer 59

Adj:(of a person, feelings, or behaviour) not pretending or lying; honest Example: -a sincere apology -He seems so sincere.

Question 60

Caliber

Answer 60

N: the quality of someone or something, especially someone's ability Example: -If teaching paid more it might attract people of (a) higher caliber. -The competition entries were of such (a) high caliber that judging them was very difficult.

Question 61

Realism

Answer 61

N: a way of thinking and acting based on facts and what is possible, rather than on hopes for things that are unlikely to happen Example:His decision not to expand the business shows his down-to-earth realism.

Question 62

Down-to-earth

Answer 62

Adj: practical, reasonable, and friendly Example:She's a down-to-earth woman with no pretensions.

Question 63

Pretension

Answer 63

N: a claim or belief that you can succeed or that you are important or have serious value Example:The Chronicle has pretensions to being a serious newspaper.

Question 64

Pretension

Answer 64

N: a claim or belief that you can succeed or that you are important or have serious value Example:The Chronicle has pretensions to being a serious newspaper.

Question 65

Vitality

Answer 65

N: energy and strength Example:According to the packet, these vitamin pills will restore lost vitality.

Question 66

Stagecoaches

Answer 66

N: (in the past) a covered vehicle pulled by horses that carried passengers and goods on regular routes

Question 67

Inn

Answer 67

N: a small hotel, usually in the countryside

Question 68

Thatched

Answer 68

Adj: A thatched roof is made from straw or reeds; a thatched building has a roof that is made from straw or reeds Example:They live in a thatched cottage/a cottage with a thatched roof.

Question 69

Minute

Answer 69

V: to make a written record of what is said at a meeting Example:The chairman is minuted as having said that profits had fallen to an all-time low.

Question 70

Mannerism

Answer 70

N: something that a person does repeatedly with their face, hands, or voice, and that they may not realize they are doing Example: -He's got some very strange mannerisms. -We've spent so much time together that we've picked up each other's mannerisms.

Question 71

Moving

Answer 71

Adj: causing strong feelings of sadness or sympathy Example: -a very moving story -I find some of Brahms's music deeply moving.

Question 72

Bid someone/something farewell

Answer 72

Collocation: to say goodbye in an affectionate or loving way Example: -He bid us both a fond farewell. -We bade farewell to Costa Rica, but promised that we would return one day.

Question 73

Exclamation

Answer 73

N: something you say or shout suddenly because of surprise, fear, pleasure, etc. Example:an exclamation of delight

Question 74

Grim

Answer 74

Adj: extremely bad, worrying, or without hope Example:look grim؛ The future looks grim.

Question 75

Squalid

Answer 75

Adj: (of places) extremely dirty and unpleasant, often because of lack of money Example:Many prisons, even today, are overcrowded and squalid places.

Question 76

Break loose

Answer 76

Collocation: to become able to move around freely Example: -In the storm, the boat broke loose from its moorings. -The kite broke loose and drifted across the sky.

Question 77

Fleeting

Answer 77

Adj: short or quick Example: -a fleeting glimpse -This is just a fleeting visit.

Question 78

Vehemently

Answer 78

Adv: in a strong and emotional way Example:The president has vehemently denied having an extra-marital affair.

Question 79

Triumphant

Answer 79

Adj: having achieved a great victory (= winning a war or competition) or success, or feeling very happy and proud because of such an achievement Example: -It seemed as though the whole city had turned out for their team's triumphant homecoming. -She emerged triumphant from the court after all the charges against her were dropped because of a lack of evidence.

Question 80

Flogging

Answer 80

N: a punishment in which someone is beaten severely with a whip or a stick

Question 81

Haul

Answer 81

V: to pull something heavy slowly and with difficulty Example: -They hauled the boat out of the water. -haul yourself up: She hauled herself up into the tree.

Question 82

Antic

Answer 82

Adj: strange and unusual, especially in a silly or very energetic way Example: -Such an antic comedy does not need to be realistic. -His mood and behaviour vary, from silent intensity to almost antic animation.

Question 83

Vanquish

Answer 83

V: to defeat completely Example:Smallpox, a once deadly disease, has now been vanquished.

Question 84

Endure

Answer 84

V: to suffer something difficult, unpleasant, or painful Example: -We had to endure a nine-hour delay at the airport. -She's already had to endure three painful operations on her leg.

Question 85

Adversity

Answer 85

N: a difficult or unlucky situation or event Example: -She was always cheerful in adversity. -The road to happiness is paved with adversities.

Question 86

Confront

Answer 86

V: to face, meet, or deal with a difficult situation or person Example:As she left the court, she was confronted by angry crowds who tried to block her way.

Question 87

Confront

Answer 87

V: to face, meet, or deal with a difficult situation or person Example:As she left the court, she was confronted by angry crowds who tried to block her way.

Question 88

Mutiny

Answer 88

N: an occasion when a group of people, especially soldiers or sailors, refuses to obey orders and/or attempts to take control from people in authority Example: -Conditions on the ship were often very bad, and crews were on the point -of mutiny. There were rumors of mutiny among the troops.