Unit 13

Question 1

Cataclysm

Answer 1

(n) a violent upheaval that causes great destruction and change
e. g. The French Revolution of 1789 was a cataclysm whose effects are still felt today.

Question 2

Upheaval

Answer 2

(n) a violent or sudden change or disruption to something

e. g. Major upheavals in the financial markets.

Question 3

Catalyst

Answer 3

(n) something causing change

e. g. The prime minister’s speech acted as a catalyst for debate.

Question 4

Categorical

Answer 4

(adj) absolute; without exception

e. g. A categorical assurance.

Question 5

Caucus

Answer 5

(n) a smaller group within an organization

e. g. The workers formed an informal caucus to discuss their problems.

Question 6

Causal

Answer 6

(adj) involving a cause

e. g. The causal factors associated with illness

Question 7

Caustic

Answer 7

(adj) sarcastically biting; burning

e. g. The players were making caustic comments about the refereeing.

Question 8

Celestial

Answer 8

(adj) concerning the sky or the heavens; sublime
e. g. Astronomers make use of the Doppler effect to measure the velocities and distant from Earth of stars and other celestial objects.

Question 9

Centrifugal

Answer 9

(adj) moving away from a center

e. g. As the empire expanded, there was a ever-increasing centrifugal stress as remote colonies sought autonomy.

Question 10

Centripetal

Answer 10

(adj) moving or directed toward a center
e. g. Astronomers calculate that the centripetal force exerted form the Earth’s gravity on the moon will keep the moon in orbit around the Earth for billions of years.

Question 11

Champion

Answer 11

(v) to defend or support

e. g. Robin Hood is famous for championing the underdogs of England.