New York Times

Question 1

feisty

Answer 1

(Of a person, typically one who is relatively small or weak) lively, determined, and courageous:

Example:
‘a feisty heroine who’s more than a pretty face’
‘a feisty upstart’

Synonyms
spirited, spunky, plucky, gutsy, gutty, ballsy

Question 2

gingerly

Answer 2

in a careful or cautious manner

Question 3

to flung

Answer 3

a thing badly or clumsily done

Question 4

rambunctious

Answer 4

uncontrollably exuberant;

Example: Most of the kids at school were rowdy and rambunctious, but they know not to mess up with the principal.

Question 5

ailing

Answer 5

in poor health
kraenkelnd,
siech,
leidend

Question 6

conversant (with)

Answer 6

to be able to talk in another language;

having knowledge or experience

Question 7

haphazard

Answer 7

having not plan, order or direction

Question 8

concurrent

Answer 8

happening at the same time

Question 9

staunch

Answer 9

very devoted or loyal to a person, belief or cause

Question 10

to enliven

Answer 10

to make (sth.) more interesting, lively or enjoyable

Question 11

to cripple

Answer 11

to make (sth.) unable to walk or work properly

Question 12

to broach

Answer 12

Raise (a sensitive or difficult subject) for discussion:

‘he broached the subject he had been avoiding all evening’

Question 13

to fidget

Answer 13

Make small movements, especially of the hands and feet, through nervousness or impatience:
‘the audience had begun to fidget on their chairs’

Question 14

to frown

Answer 14

Furrow one’s brow in an expression of disapproval, displeasure, or concentration:
‘he frowned as he reread the letter’

Question 15

to hone

Answer 15

Refine or perfect (something) over a period of time:

‘she has taken numerous workshops to hone her skills over the years’

Question 16

to inundate

Answer 16

Overwhelm (someone) with things or people to be dealt with:

‘we’ve been inundated with complaints from listeners’

Question 17

salient

Answer 17

Most noticeable or important:

‘it succinctly covered all the salient points of the case’

Question 18

meticulous

Answer 18

Showing great attention to detail; very careful and precise:

‘he had always been so meticulous about his appearance’

Question 19

to rid (of sth.)

Answer 19

Make someone or something free of (a troublesome or unwanted person or thing):
‘we now have the greatest chance ever to rid the world of nuclear weapons’

Question 20

bribery

Answer 20

The giving or offering of a bribe; inducement; subordination, corruption:
‘he was convicted of racketeering and bribery’

Question 21

to blackmail

Answer 21

Demand money from (a person) in return for not revealing compromising or injurious information about that person; to force; to pressure; to pressurize
‘trying to blackmail him for $400,000’

Question 22

idiosyncratic

Answer 22

Of or relating to idiosyncrasy; peculiar or individual:
‘she emerged as one of the great idiosyncratic talents of the Nineties’

Synonyms: distinctive, individual, individualistic, characteristic, peculiar, typical, special, specific, unique, one-of-a-kind, personal;

Question 23

poised

Answer 23

1.) Having a composed and self-assured manner.

Example:
‘Keira was always in control, always composed, poised and confident.’

2.) Having a graceful and elegant bearing.

Example:
‘A poised and graceful swimmer, she never seemed to tire in the water.’

Synonyms: self-possessed, self-assured, composed, assured, self-controlled, cool-headed, calm, cool, {cool, calm, and collected}, at ease, tranquil, serene, unperturbed, unruffled, impassive, nonchalant, confident, self-confident, dignified, equable, imperturbable, suave, urbane, elegant

Question 24

to flounder

Answer 24

struggle mentally, be out of one’s depth, be in the dark, have difficulty, be confounded, be confused, be dumbfounded

Example: ‘you may find yourself floundering as you try to answer a question you have not really understood’

Synonyms: struggle, thrash, thresh, flail, toss and turn, twist and turn, pitch, splash, stagger, stumble, falter, lurch, blunder, fumble, grope, squirm, writhe

Question 25

to scramble

Answer 25

1.) Make one’s way quickly or awkwardly up a steep slope or over rough ground by using one’s hands as well as one’s feet:
Example: ‘we scrambled over the wet boulders’

2.) Move hurriedly or clumsily from or into a particular place or position:
‘she scrambled out of the car’

Synonyms: jostle, scuffle, tussle, struggle, strive, compete, contend, vie, jockey

Question 26

to cast

Answer 26

1.) Throw (something) so as to cause it to spread over an area:
‘the fishermen cast a large net around a school of tuna’

2.) Register (a vote):
‘residents turned out in record numbers to cast their votes’

Question 27

wobbling

Answer 27

Move unsteadily from side to side:
‘the table wobbles where the leg is too short’

Synonyms: rock, teeter, jiggle, sway, seesaw, shake

Question 28

to stagger

Answer 28

Walk or move unsteadily, as if about to fall:
‘he staggered to his feet, swaying a little’

Synonyms: lurch, walk unsteadily, reel, sway, teeter, totter, stumble, wobble

Question 29

deflating

Answer 29

1.) Let air or gas out of (a tire, balloon, or similar object):
‘he deflated one of the

2.) Cause (someone) to suddenly lose confidence or feel less important:
(as adjective deflated) ‘the news left him feeling utterly deflated’

Question 30

strident

Answer 30

1.) Loud and harsh; grating:
‘his voice had become increasingly sharp, almost strident’

2.) Presenting a point of view, especially a controversial one, in an excessively and unpleasantly forceful way:
‘public pronouncements on the crisis became less strident’

Synonym: harsh, raucous, rough, grating, rasping, jarring, loud, shrill, screeching, piercing, ear-piercing

Question 31

commanding

Answer 31

1.) (In military contexts) having a position of authority:
‘a commanding officer’

2.) Indicating or expressing authority; imposing:
‘a man of commanding presence’

Synonyms: dominant, dominating, controlling, superior, powerful, prominent, advantageous, favorable

Question 32

to beleagure

Answer 32

1.) Lay siege to:
‘he is leading a relief force to the aid of the beleaguered city’

Synonyms: besieged, under siege, blockaded, surrounded, encircled, beset, hemmed in, under attack

2.) Beset with difficulties:
‘the board is supporting the beleaguered director amid calls for his resignation’

Synonyms: hard-pressed, troubled, in difficulties, under pressure, under stress, with one’s back to the wall, in a tight corner, in a tight spot, up against it;

Question 33

to savage

Answer 33

1.) (Especially of a dog or wild animal) attack ferociously and maul: ‘ewes savaged by marauding dogs’

2.) Subject to a vicious verbal attack; criticize brutally:
‘Fowler savaged her in his next review’

Question 34

onslaught

Answer 34

1.) A fierce or destructive attack:
‘a series of onslaughts on the citadel’

Synonym: assault, attack, offensive, advance, charge, onrush, rush, storming, sortie, sally, raid, descent, incursion, invasion, foray, push, thrust, drive, blitz, bombardment, barrage, salvo

2.) A large quantity of people or things that is difficult to cope with: ‘an onslaught of electronic mail’