Test 21

Question 1

suave (adj)

The manager was suave and sophisticated.

/swɑːv/

Answer 1

confident, attractive, and polite; smooth and pleasant in manner

Question 2

orbituary (n)

an orbituary column/notice

Answer 2

an article about sb’s life and achievements, that is printed in a newspaper soon after they have died

Question 3

pusillanimous (adj)

syn: cowardly

Answer 3

frightened to take risks

Question 4

impious (adj) >< pious (adj)

impiety >< piety

Answer 4

showing a lack of respect for God and religion

Question 5

bellicose (adj)

syn: aggressive, warlike

bellicosity (n)

Answer 5

having or showing a desire to argue or gith

Question 6

punctilious (adj)

a punctilious host

(n): punctiliousness

Answer 6

very careful to behave correctly or to perform your duties exactly as you should

Question 7

despondent=dejected (adj)

despondency (n): a feeling of sad

She was becoming increasingly despondent about the way things were going.

Answer 7

sad, without much hope

Question 8

despoil=plunder=pillage (v)

Many of the tombs had been despoiled

Answer 8

steal sth valuable from a place; make a place less attractive by damaging or destroying it

Question 9

contrite (adj)

(n): contrition: remorse

He looked so contrite that for a moment she nearly he really was sorry about what he had said.

Answer 9

very sorry for sth bad that you have done

Question 10

clamarous (adj)

(v)/(n): clamour

Answer 10

1) making a loud noise
2) making demands for sth

Question 11

demonstrable (adj)

There is no demonstrable link between the two events.

Answer 11

that can be shown or proved

Question 12

quixotic (adj)

This is a vast, exciting and some say quixotic project.

Answer 12

having or involving ideas or plans that show imagination but are usually not practical

Question 13

antediluvian (adj)

syn: antiquated

My mother has some hopelessly antediluvian ideas about the role of women.

Answer 13

very old-fashioned

Question 14

frantic (adj)

They made frantic attempts to revive him.

Let’s go back. Your parents must be getting frantic by now.

Answer 14

1) done quickly and with a lot of activity, but in a way that is not very well organised (=hectic)
2) unable to control your emotions (beside yourself)

Question 15

subjugate (v)

(n): subjugation

Her personal ambitions had been subjugated to the needs of her family.

Answer 15

defeat sb/sth, to gain control over sb/sth

Question 16

actuate (v)

Answer 16

1) make a machine or device start to work (=activate)
2) motivate

Question 17

extol (v)

Doctors often extol the virutes of eating less fat.

Answer 17

praise sb/sth very much

Question 18

indignant (adj)

Answer 18

feeling or showing anger and surprise because you think that you have been treated unfairly