PD_27/07/20(PS2;Kaplan;SE)

Question 1

dim

Answer 1

VERB
If you dim a light or if it dims, it becomes less bright.
Dim the lighting–it is unpleasant to lie with a bright light shining in your eyes. [VERB noun]
The houselights dimmed. [VERB]
Synonyms: grow or become faint, fade, dull,

Question 2

bestow

verb [ T often passive ] formal

Answer 2

to give something as an honour or present:

The George Cross is a decoration that is bestowed upon/on British civilians for acts of great bravery.

Question 3

inasmuch as

Answer 3

PHRASE
You use inasmuch as to introduce a statement which explains something you have just said, and adds to it.
[formal]
This was a good decision inasmuch as it worked for you.

Question 4

odyssey

Answer 4

COUNTABLE NOUN
An odyssey is a long exciting journey on which a lot of things happen.
[literary]
The march to Travnik was the final stretch of a 16-hour odyssey.

Question 5

spiteful

Answer 5

ADJECTIVE
Someone who is spiteful does cruel things to hurt people they dislike.
He could be spiteful.
…a stream of spiteful telephone calls.
Synonyms: malicious, nasty, vindictive, cruel

Question 6

perseverance

Answer 6

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Perseverance is the quality of continuing with something even though it is difficult.
Synonyms: persistence, resolution, determination, dedication

Question 7

ascent

Answer 7

COUNTABLE NOUN
An ascent is an upward journey, especially when you are walking or climbing.
He led the first ascent of Kangchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain. [+ of]
Synonyms: climbing, scaling, mounting, climb

Question 8

psyche

Answer 8

COUNTABLE NOUN
In psychology, your psyche is your mind and your deepest feelings and attitudes.
[technical]
‘It probably shows up a deeply immature part of my psyche,’ he confesses.
His exploration of the myth brings insight into the American psyche.
Synonyms: soul, mind, self, spirit

Question 9

Daedalus

Answer 9

NOUN
Greek mythology
an Athenian architect and inventor who built the labyrinth for Minos on Crete and fashioned wings for himself and his son Icarus to flee the island

Question 10

herculean

Answer 10

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
A herculean task or ability is one that requires extremely great strength or effort.
[literary]
…his herculean efforts to bring peace to our troubled island.

Question 11

Gordian

Answer 11

1. pertaining to Gordius, ancient king of Phrygia, who tied a knot (the ˈGordian ˈknot) that, according to prophecy, was to be undone only by the person who was to rule Asia, and that was cut, rather than untied, by Alexander the Great

Question 12

interminable

Answer 12

ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as interminable, you are emphasizing that it continues for a very long time and indicating that you wish it was shorter or would stop.
[emphasis]
…an interminable meeting.
Synonyms: endless, long, never-ending, dragging

Question 13

paltry

Answer 13

1. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   A paltry amount of money or of something else is one that you consider to be very small.
   …a paltry fine of £150.
   They suffered an electoral catastrophe, winning a paltry 3 seats.
2. GRADED ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   You can use paltry to describe something or someone that you consider to be small or unimportant.
   The parents had little interest in paltry domestic concerns.
   Synonyms: insignificant, trivial, worthless, unimportant

Question 14

afflict

Answer 14

VERB
If you are afflicted by pain, illness, or disaster, it affects you badly and makes you suffer.
[formal]
The organization has been afflicted by political corruption for decades. [be V-ed + by/with]
There are two main problems which afflict people with hearing impairments. [VERB noun]
The afflicted person should keep off solid foods and drink plenty of fluids. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: torment, trouble, pain, hurt

Question 15

customary

Answer 15

ADJECTIVE
Customary is used to describe things that people usually do in a particular society or in particular circumstances.
[formal]
It is customary to offer a drink or a snack to guests.
At Christmas it was customary for the children to perform bits of poetry.
They interrupted the customary one minute’s silence with jeers and shouts.
Synonyms: usual, general, common, accepted

Question 16

consummate

Answer 16

1. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   You use consummate to describe someone who is extremely skilful.
   [formal]
   He acted the part with consummate skill.
   Those familiar with Sanders call him a consummate politician.
   Synonyms: skilled, perfect, supreme, polished
2. VERB
   If two people consummate a marriage or relationship, they make it complete by having sex.
   [formal]
   They consummated their passion only after many hesitations and delays. [VERB noun]
3. VERB
   To consummate an agreement means to complete it.

Question 17

middling

piddling

Answer 17

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe a quality such as the size of something as middling, you mean that it is average.
The Beatles enjoyed only middling success until 1963.
…a man of middling height.
Synonyms: moderate, medium, average, fair

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
Piddling means small or unimportant.
[informal]
…arguing over piddling amounts of money.
Synonyms: trivial, little, petty, worthless

Question 18

expulsion

Answer 18

1. VARIABLE NOUN
   Expulsion is when someone is forced to leave a school, university, or organization.
   Her hatred of authority led to her expulsion from high school. [+ from]
   …the high number of school expulsions.
   This led to his suspension and, finally, expulsion from the party in 1955.
   Synonyms: ejection, exclusion, dismissal, removal More Synonyms of expulsion
2. VARIABLE NOUN
   Expulsion is when someone is forced to leave a place.
   [formal]
   …the expulsion of migrant workers. [+ of]
   …a new wave of mass expulsions.

Question 19

ebb

Answer 19

VERB
When the tide or the sea ebbs, its level gradually falls.
When the tide ebbs it’s a rock pool inhabited by crustaceans. [VERB]

3. VERB
   If someone’s life, support, or feeling ebbs, it becomes weaker and gradually disappears.
   [formal]
   …as a man’s physical strength ebbs. [VERB]
   Were there occasions when enthusiasm ebbed? [VERB]

Question 20

undertake

Answer 20

1. VERB
   When you undertake a task or job, you start doing it and accept responsibility for it.
   She undertook the arduous task of monitoring the elections. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: take on, embark on, set about, commence

Question 21

acquiesce

verb [ I ] formal

Answer 21

to accept or agree to something, often unwillingly:

Reluctantly, he acquiesced to/in the plans.

Question 22

forge

verb

Answer 22

to make an illegal copy of something in order to deceive:
a forged passport
a forged signature
A number of forged works of art have been sold as genuine.

to make or produce something, especially with some difficulty:
The accident forged a close bond between the two families.
She forged a new career for herself as a singer.

to suddenly and quickly move forward:
Just 100 metres from the finishing line Jackson forged ahead.
She forged through the snow.

Question 23

opine

verb [ T ] formal

Answer 23

to express an opinion:
[ + speech ] Power grows from the barrel of a gun, opined Mao.
[ + that ] Ernest Rutherford opined that his work on radioactive substances would be of little or no practical use.

Question 24

aver

Answer 24

VERB
If you aver that something is the case, you say very firmly that it is true.
[formal]
He avers that chaos will erupt if he loses. [VERB that]
‘Entertaining is something that everyone in the country can enjoy,’ she averred. [VERB with quote]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: state, say, maintain, declare

Question 25

profess

Answer 25

1. VERB
   If you profess to do or have something, you claim that you do it or have it, often when you do not.
   [formal]
   She professed to hate her nickname. [VERB to-infinitive]
   Why do organisations profess that they care? [VERB that]
   ‘I don’t know,’ Pollard replied, professing innocence. [VERB noun]
   …the Republicans’ professed support for traditional family values. [VERB-ed]
   Synonyms: claim, allege, pretend, fake
2. VERB
   If you profess a feeling, opinion, or belief, you express it.
   [formal]
   He professed to be content with the arrangement. [VERB to-infinitive]
   Bacher professed himself pleased with the Indian tour. [V pron-refl adj]
   …a right to profess their faith in Islam. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: state, admit, announce, maintain

Question 26

rustic

Answer 26

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You can use rustic to describe things or people that you approve of because they are simple or unsophisticated in a way that is typical of the countryside.
[approval]
…the rustic charm of a country lifestyle.
…a half dozen or so wonderfully rustic old log cabins.
Synonyms: rural, country, pastoral, bucolic

Question 27

scapegoat

Answer 27

COUNTABLE NOUN
If you say that someone is made a scapegoat for something bad that has happened, you mean that people blame them and may punish them for it although it may not be their fault.
I don’t deserve to be made the scapegoat for a couple of bad results. [+ for]
Synonyms: fall guy, victim, patsy [informal], whipping boy

Question 28

ostracize

ostensible

Answer 28

VERB [usually passive]
If someone is ostracized, people deliberately behave in an unfriendly way towards them and do not allow them to take part in any of their social activities.
[formal]
She claims she’s being ostracized by some members of her local community. [be VERB-ed]
Synonyms: exclude, reject, boycott, avoid

appearing or claiming to be one thing when it is really something else:
Their ostensible goal was to clean up government corruption, but their real aim was to unseat the government.
ADJECTIVE [ADJECTIVE noun]
Ostensible is used to describe something that seems to be true or is officially stated to be true, but about which you or other people have doubts.
[formal]
The ostensible purpose of these meetings was to gather information on financial strategies.
Synonyms: apparent, seeming, supposed, alleged More Synonyms of ostensible
ostensibly (ɒstensɪbli) ADVERB [usu ADV with cl/group]
…ostensibly independent organisations.
A bachelor farmer began to call, ostensibly to talk to her father, but really to see her.
Synonyms: apparently, seemingly, supposedly, outwardly

Question 29

excommunicate

Answer 29

VERB
If a Roman Catholic or member of the Orthodox Church is excommunicated, it is publicly and officially stated that the person is no longer allowed to be a member of the Church. This is a punishment for some very great wrong that they have done.
Eventually, he was excommunicated along with his mentor. [be VERB-ed]
In 1766 he excommunicated the village for its ‘depraved diversion’. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: expel, ban, remove, exclude

Question 30

contingency

contingent

Answer 30

VARIABLE NOUN
A contingency is something that might happen in the future.
[formal]
I need to examine all possible contingencies.
Synonyms: possibility, happening, chance, event

1. COUNTABLE NOUN
   A contingent of police, soldiers, or military vehicles is a group of them.
   [formal]
   The university has a large contingent of teacher training students.
   There were contingents from the navies of virtually all E.U. countries.
   Synonyms: group, detachment, deputation, set More Synonyms of contingent
2. COUNTABLE NOUN [oft adjective NOUN]
   A contingent is a group of people representing a country or organization at a meeting or other event.
   [formal]
   The strong British contingent suffered mixed fortunes.
   The whistles from the large contingent of England fans were deafening.
3. ADJECTIVE
   If something is contingent on something else, the first thing depends on the second in order to happen or exist.
   [formal]
   In effect, growth is contingent on improved incomes for the mass of the low-income population. [+ on/upon]
   Synonyms: chance, random, casual, uncertain

Question 31

exigency

noun [ C or U ] formal

Answer 31

the difficulties of a situation, especially one that causes urgent demands:
the exigencies of war
Economic exigency obliged the government to act.

Question 32

utility

Answer 32

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
The utility of something is its usefulness.
[formal]
Belief in the utility of higher education is shared by students nationwide. [+ of]
He inwardly questioned the utility of his work. [+ of]
Synonyms: usefulness, use, point, benefit

Question 33

contention

Answer 33

1. COUNTABLE NOUN [usually poss NOUN]
   Someone’s contention is the idea or opinion that they are expressing in an argument or discussion.
   This evidence supports their contention that the outbreak of violence was prearranged.
   Sufficient research evidence exists to support this contention.
   Synonyms: assertion, claim, stand, idea More Synonyms of contention
2. UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [usu n of N]
   If something is a cause of contention, it is a cause of disagreement or argument.
   They generally tried to avoid subjects of contention between them.
   A particular source of contention is plans to privatise state-run companies.
   Synonyms: dispute, hostility, disagreement, feuding

Question 34

squall

Answer 34

2. VERB
   If a person or animal squalls, they make a loud unpleasant noise like the noise made by a crying baby.
   There was an infant squalling in the back of the church. [VERB]
   …squalling guitars. [VERB-ing]
   Synonyms: bulging, poppingof an eye, proud [dialect], prominent
3. COUNTABLE NOUN
   A squall is a sudden strong wind which often causes a brief, violent rain storm or snow storm.
   The boat was hit by a squall north of the island.
   Synonyms: storm, gale, flurry, blow

Question 35

heirloom

Answer 35

COUNTABLE NOUN
An heirloom is an ornament or other object that has belonged to a family for a very long time and that has been handed down from one generation to another.

Question 36

to cross the Rubicon

Answer 36

PHRASE
If you say that someone has crossed the Rubicon, you mean that they have reached a point where they cannot change a decision or course of action.
[journalism]
He’s crossed the Rubicon with regard to the use of military force as an option.

Question 37

slipshod

Answer 37

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If something is slipshod, it has been done in a careless way.
The hotel had always been run in a slipshod way.
Synonyms: careless, sloppy [informal], loose, slapdash

Question 38

sloppy

Answer 38

1. ADJECTIVE
   If you describe someone’s work or activities as sloppy, you mean they have been done in a careless and lazy way.
   [disapproval]
   He has little patience for sloppy work from colleagues.
   His language is disjointed and sloppy.
2. ADJECTIVE
   If you describe someone or something as sloppy, you mean that they are sentimental and romantic.
   It’s ideal for people who like a sloppy movie.
   …some sloppy love-story.
   Synonyms: sentimental, mushy [informal], soppy [British, informal], slushy [informal]

Question 39

jaunty

Answer 39

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone or something as jaunty, you mean that they are full of confidence and energy.
…a jaunty little man.
Synonyms: sprightly, buoyant, carefree, high-spirited

Question 40

penny-pinching

Answer 40

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Penny-pinching is the practice of trying to spend as little money as possible.
[disapproval]
Government penny-pinching is blamed for the decline in food standards.
Synonyms: meanness, selfishness, parsimony [formal], stinginess

Question 41

covetous

Answer 41

ADJECTIVE
A covetous person has a strong desire to possess something, especially something that belongs to another person.
[formal, disapproval]
He has attracted covetous glances from England’s biggest clubs.
Synonyms: envious, jealous, yearning, greedy

Question 42

rapacious

Answer 42

having or showing a strong wish to take things for yourself, usually using unfair methods or force:
a rapacious landlord/businessman
her rapacious appetite for fame
greedy, avid

Question 43

beset

Answer 43

VERB
If someone or something is beset by problems or fears, they have many problems or fears which affect them severely.
The country is beset by severe economic problems. [be V-ed + by/with]
The discussions were beset with difficulties. [be V-ed by/with n]
…the problems now besetting the country. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: plague, trouble, embarrass, torture

Question 44

a good Samaritan

Answer 44

someone who gives help to people who need it

Question 45

commend

Answer 45

VERB
If you commend someone or something, you praise them formally.
[formal]
I commended her for that action. [V n + for/on]
I commend Ms. Orth on writing such an informative article. [V n + for/on]
The book was widely commended for its candour. [be VERB-ed + for]
The reports commend her bravery. [VERB noun]
His actions were commended by the Jury. [be VERB-ed + by]