Session #06

Question 1

Becoming

Answer 1

(adj): (formal) 1. (of clothes, etc.) making the person wearing them look more attractive = flattering — 2. suitable or appropriate for sb or their situation = fitting ≠ unbecoming — e.g. It was not very becoming behaviour for a teacher

Question 2

Flattering

Answer 2

(adj): 1. making sb look more attractive 2. saying nice things about sb/sth 3. making sb feel pleased and special — e.g. 1. A flattering dress 2. Flattering remarks 3. I found it flattering that he still recognized me after all these years

Question 3

Remark

Answer 3

(n): something that you say or write which expresses an opinion, a thought, etc. about sb/sth = comment — e.g. 1. to make a remark. 2. He made a number of rude remarks about the food.

Question 4

Dubious

Answer 4

(adj) : 1. (of person) not certain and slightly suspicious about sth; not knowing whether sth is good or bad = doubtful 2. Probably not honest = suspicious 3. that you cannot be sure about; that is probably not good
e. g. 1. I was rather dubious about the whole idea 2. They indulged in some highly dubious business practices to obtain their current position in the market

Question 5

Envisage

Answer 5

(v): to imagine what will happen in the future

e.g. What level of profit do you envisage?
I can’t envisage her copping with this job.

Question 6

Atrocious

Answer 6

(adj) : 1. very bad or unpleasant = terrible
2. very cruel or shocking

e. g. 1. She speaks French with an atrocious accent.
2. Atrocious acts of brutality.

Question 7

Sceptical

Answer 7

(adj): having doubts that a claim or statement is true or that something will happen

e.g. I am sceptical about his chances of winning.
The public remain sceptical of these claims.

Question 8

Emblem

Answer 8

(n) : 1. a design or picture that represents a country or an organization
2. something that represents a perfect example or principle

e.g. America’s national emblem, the bald eagle

Question 9

Tarnish

Answer 9

(v) : 1. if metal tarnishes or sth tarnishes it, it no longer looks bright and shiny
2. to spoil the good opinion people have of sth/sb = taint

e. g. 1. The mirrors had tarnished with age.
2. He hopes to improve the newspaper’s somewhat tarnished public image.

Question 10

Outreach

Answer 10

(n) : the activity of an organization that provides a service or advice to people in the community; especially those who cannot or are unlikely to come to an office, a hospital, etc. for help
e. g. An outreach and education program.

Question 11

Desert

Answer 11

(v) : 1. to leave sb without help or support = abandon
2. to stop using, buying or supporting sth

e. g. 1. She was deserted by his husband.
2. Why did you desert teaching for politics?

Question 12

Mistrust

Answer 12

(n) : a feeling that you cannot trust sb/sth = suspicion
e. g. She has a deep mistrust of strangers.
(v) : to have no confidence in sb/sth because you think they may be harmful; to not trust sb/sth

Question 13

Slime

Answer 13

(n) : any unpleasant thick liquid substance

e. g. The pond was full of mud and green slime.

Question 14

Sour

Answer 14

(adj) : (of people) not cheerful; bad-tempered and unpleasant
e. g. A sour face.

Question 15

Trumpet

Answer 15

(v) : to talk about sth publicly in a proud or enthusiastic way
e. g. To trumpet somebody’s acheivements.

Question 16

Expose

Answer 16

(v) : 1. to show sth that is usually hidden = reveal
2. to tell the true facts about a person or a situation and show them/it to be immoral, illegal, etc.

e. g. 1. He smiled suddenly, exposing a set of amazingly white teeth.
2. She was exposed as a liar and a fraud.

Question 17

Controversial

Answer 17

(adj): causing a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement

e. g. 1. A highly controversial topic.
2. A controversial plan to build a new road.

Question 18

Controversy

Answer 18

(n) : public discussion and agreement about sth that many people strongly disagree about, disapprove of, or are shocked by
e. g. To arouse/cause controversy.

Question 19

Gristle

Answer 19

(n): a hard substance in meat that is unpleasant to eat

Question 20

Misconception

Answer 20

(n): a belief or an idea that is not based on correct information, or that is not understood by people

e. g. 1. A popular misconception.
2. Let me deal with common misconception.

Question 21

Integrity

Answer 21

(n) : the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles
e. g. To behave with integrity.

Question 22

Consultancy

Answer 22

(n): a company that gives expert advice on a particular subject to other companies or organizations

Question 23

Enhance

Answer 23

(v) : to increase or further improve the good quality, value or status of sth/sb
e. g. This is an opportunity to enhance the reputation of the company.

Question 24

Mindset

Answer 24

someone’s way of thinking and the general attitudes and opinions they have about something; mentality

Question 25

Intelligence

Answer 25

secret information about a person, government or country

Question 26

Cover story

Answer 26

false story someone tells in order to hide the truth

Question 27

Infiltrate

Answer 27

(v): secretly enter a group or organization in order to spy on it or influence it - infiltrator (n)

Question 28

Deceptive

Answer 28

(adj): likely to make you believe sth that is not true = misleading

e. g. 1. A deceptive advertisement
2. Appearances can be deceptive.

Question 29

Defraud

Answer 29

(v): to get money illegally from a person or an organization by tricking them

e. g. 1. All three men were charged with conspiracy to defraud.
2. They were accused of defrauding the company of $14000.

Question 30

Fraudster

Answer 30

(n): a person who commits fraud - fraudulent (adj)

Question 31

Retention

Answer 31

(n) : (formal) the action of keeping sth rather than losing it or stopping it
e. g. The company needs to improve it training and retention of staff.

Question 32

Unwittingly

Answer 32

(adv) : without being aware of what you are doing or of the situation you are envolved in - unwitting (adj)
e. g. She had broken the law unwittingly

Question 33

Devious

Answer 33

(adj) : 1. behaving in a dishonest or indirect way, or tricking people, in order to get sth = deceitful, underhand
2. a route or path that is not straight but has many changes in direction; not direct

e. g. 1. He got rich by devious means.
2. A devious route from the airport.

Question 34

Surreptitious

Answer 34

(adj) : done secretly or quickly, in the hope that other people will not notice - surreptitiously (adv)
e. g. She sneaked a surreptitious glance at her watch

Question 35

Seabed

Answer 35

solid surface of the Earth that lies under the ocean, at least 1.8 kilometres underwater

Question 36

Habitat

Answer 36

(n) : the place where a particular type of animal or plant is normally found
e. g. The panda’s natural habitat is the bamboo forest.

Question 37

Ambitious

Answer 37

(adj) : determined to be successful, rich, powerful, etc.

e. g. A fiercely ambitious young manager.

Question 38

Utilize

Answer 38

(v) : to use sth, especially for a practical purpose = make use of
e. g. The Romans were the first to utilize concrete as a building material.

Question 39

Rucksack

Answer 39

(n): a large bag, often supported on a light metal frame, carried on the back and used especially by people who go to climbing or walking = back pack

Question 40

Contentious

Answer 40

(adj): (formal) likely to cause disagreement between people

e. g. 1. A contentious issue/topic/subject.
2. Both views are highly contentious.

Question 41

Contradict

Answer 41

(v): to say that sth that sb else has said is wrong, and that the opposite is true

e. g. 1. All evening her husband contradicted everything she said.
2. You’ve just contradicted yourself.

Question 42

Conviction

Answer 42

(n) : 1. the act of finding sb guilty of a crime in court; the fact of having been found guilty
2. a strong opinion or belief
3. the feeling or appearance of believing sth strongly and of being sure about it

e. g. 1. She has six previous convictions for theft.
2. String political/moral conviction.
3. The leader’s speech in defence of the policy didn’t carry much conviction.

Question 43

Refugee

Answer 43

(n) : a person who has been forced to leave their country or home, because there is war or for political , religious or social reasons
e. g. A steady flow of refugees from the war zone.

Question 44

Viable

Answer 44

(adj) : that can be done; that will be successful = feasible

e. g. A viable option/proposition.

Question 45

Beanie

Answer 45

(n): a small close-fitting hat worn on the back of the head

Question 46

Comprehend

Answer 46

(v) : (formal) to understand sth fully

e. g. The infinite distance of space are too great for the human mind to comprehend.

Question 47

Patron

Answer 47

(n) : 1. a person who gives money and support to artists and writers
2. a famous person who supports an organization such as a charity and whose name is used in the advertisement s, etc. for the organization
3. (formal) a person who uses a particular shop/store, restaurant, etc.

e.g. 3. Patrons are requested not to smoke.

Question 48

Converge

Answer 48

(v): if ideas, policies, aims, etc. converge, they become very similar or the same ≠ diverge

Question 49

Defy

Answer 49

(v) : 1. to refuse to obey or show respect for sb in authority, a law, a rule, etc.
2. to be impossible or almost impossible to believe, explain, describe, etc.
3. to successfully resist sth to a very unusual degree

e. g. 1. I wouldn’t dared to defy my teachers.
2. A political move that defies explanation.
3. The baby boy defied all the odds and survived.

Question 50

Venomous

Answer 50

(adj) : 1. (of a snake, etc.) producing venom
2. (formal) full of bitter feeling or hatred

e.g. 2. A venomous look.

Question 51

Raid

Answer 51

(n) : 1. a surprise visit by the police looking for criminals or for illegal goods or drugs
2. an attack on a building, etc. in order to commit a crime

e. g. 1. They were arrested during a draw raid
2. An armed bank raid.

Question 52

Raid

Answer 52

(v) : 1. (of police) to visit a person or place without warning to look for criminals, illegal goods, drugs, etc.
2. to enter a place, usually using force, and steal from it = plunder, ransack

e.g. 2. May treasures were lost when the tombs were raided in the last century.

Question 53

Domonic

Answer 53

(adj) : connected with, or like, a demon

e. g. A demonic appearance.

Question 54

Repulsive

Answer 54

(adj): causing a feeling of strong dislike; very unpleasant = disgusting

Question 55

Torment

Answer 55

(n) : (formal) extreme suffering, especially mental suffering; a person or thing that causes this = anguish
e. g. She suffered years of mental torment after her son’s death.

(v) : (formal) 1. to make sb suffer very much = plague
2. to annoy a person or an animal in a cruel way because you think it is amusing = torture

e.g. 1. He was tormented by feeling of insecurity.

Question 56

Jockey

Answer 56

(n): a person who rides horses in races, especially as a job

Question 57

Pollinate

Answer 57

(v) : to put pollen into a flower or plant so that is produces seeds
e. g. Flowers pollinated by bees/the wind.

Question 58

Relent

Answer 58

(v): to finally agree to sth after refusing = give in

Question 59

Venial

Answer 59

(adj): (formal)(of a sin or mistake) not very serious and therefore able to be forgiven