Unit 7

Question 1

afloat

Answer 1

1
floating in water; not sinking.
they trod water to keep afloat

2
out of debt or difficulty.
I contrived to stay afloat in honest self-employment

Question 2

characteristic

Answer 2

Adjective
1
typical of a particular person, place, or thing.
large farms are characteristic of this area

Noun
1
a feature or quality belonging typically to a person, place, or thing and serving to identify it.
inherited characteristics such as blood groups

Question 3

compete

Answer 3

Verb
1
strive to gain or win something by defeating or establishing superiority over others who are trying to do the same.
universities are competing for applicants

Question 4

edge

Answer 4

Noun
1
the outside limit of an object, area, or surface; a place or part farthest away from the center of something.
a willow tree at the water’s edge

2
the sharpened side of the blade of a cutting implement or weapon.
a knife with a razor-sharp edge

3
a quality or factor that gives superiority over close rivals or competitors.
the veal had the edge on flavor

Verb
1
provide with a border or edge.
the pool is edged with paving

2
move gradually, carefully, or furtively in a particular direction.
she tried to edge away from him

Question 5

financial

Answer 5

Adjective
1
relating to finance.
an independent financial adviser

Question 6

inevitably

Answer 6

Adverb
1
as is certain to happen; unavoidably.
inevitably some details are already out of date

Question 7

initial

Answer 7

Adjective
1
existing or occurring at the beginning.
our initial impression was favorable

Noun
1
the first letter of a name or word, typically a person’s name or a word forming part of a phrase.
they carved their initials into the tree trunk

Verb
1
mark or sign (a document) with one’s initials in order to authorize or validate it.
the man initaled the three warrants

Question 8

motivation

Answer 8

Noun
1
the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.
escape can be a strong motivation for travel

Question 9

niche

Answer 9

Noun
1
a comfortable or suitable position in life or employment.
he is now a partner at a leading law firm and feels he has found his niche

Adjective
1
denoting products, services, or interests that appeal to a small, specialized section of the population.
other companies in this space had to adapt to being niche players

Verb
1
place (something) in a niche or recess.
these elements were niched within the shadowy reaches

Question 10

particular

Answer 10

Adjective
1
used to single out an individual member of a specified group or class.
the action seems to discriminate against a particular group of companies

2
especially great or intense.
when handling or checking cash the cashier should exercise particular care

Question 11

personalized

Answer 11

Adjective
1
designed or produced to meet someone’s individual requirements.
a steward will deliver personalized service to every passenger

3
(especially of a deity or spirit) personified.
religious and magical systems involve personalized gods, spirits, or demons

Question 12

potential

Answer 12

Adjective
1
having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future.
a two-pronged campaign to woo potential customers

Noun
1
latent qualities or abilities that may be developed and lead to future success or usefulness.
a young broadcaster with great potential

Question 13

product

Answer 13

Noun
1
an article or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale.
food products

2
a thing or person that is the result of an action or process.
his daughter, the product of his first marriage

Question 14

profit

Answer 14

Noun
1
a financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent in buying, operating, or producing something.
pretax profits

Verb
1
obtain a financial advantage or benefit, especially from an investment.
the only people to profit from the entire episode were the lawyers

Question 15

project

Answer 15

Noun
1
an individual or collaborative enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.
a research project
Verb
1
estimate or forecast (something) on the basis of present trends or data.
spending was projected at $72 million

2
extend outward beyond something else; protrude.
I noticed a slip of paper projecting from the book

Question 16

reputation

Answer 16

Noun
1
the beliefs or opinions that are generally held about someone or something.
his reputation was tarnished by allegations that he had taken bribes

Question 17

sound

Answer 17

Noun
1
vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear.
light travels faster than sound

Verb
1
emit or cause to emit sound.
a loud buzzer sounded

Adjective
1
in good condition; not damaged, injured, or diseased.
they returned safe and sound

Question 18

tip

Answer 18

Noun
1
the pointed or rounded end or extremity of something slender or tapering.
George pressed the tips of his fingers together
3
a sum of money given to someone as a reward for their services.
he never leaves a tip

Verb
1
attach to or cover the end or extremity of.
the peaks of the mountains were tipped with snow

Question 19

unique

Answer 19

Adjective
1
being the only one of its kind; unlike anything else.
original and unique designs

Question 20

vital

Answer 20

Adjective
1
absolutely necessary or important; essential.
secrecy is of vital importance

2
full of energy; lively.
a beautiful, vital girl

Noun
1
the body’s important internal organs, especially the gut or the genitalia.
he felt the familiar knot contract in his vitals

Question 21

bond

Answer 21

Noun
1
a relationship between people or groups based on shared feelings, interests, or experiences.
there was a bond of understanding between them

2
a connection between two surfaces or objects that have been joined together, especially by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure.
there was no effective bond between the concrete and the steel

Verb
1
join or be joined securely to something else, especially by means of an adhesive substance, heat, or pressure.
press the material to bond the layers together

Question 22

brand

Answer 22

Noun
1
a type of product manufactured by a particular company under a particular name.
a new brand of detergent

2
an identifying mark burned on livestock or (formerly) criminals or slaves with a branding iron.
the brand on a sheep identifies it as mine

Verb
1
mark with a branding iron.
the seller had branded the animal with his grandfather’s name

Question 23

burgeon

Answer 23

Verb
1
begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.
the city’s suburbs have burgeoned, sprawling out from the center

Question 24

conglomerate

Answer 24

Noun
1
a number of different things or parts that are put or grouped together to form a whole but remain distinct entities.
the Earth is a specialized conglomerate of organisms

Adjective
1
relating to a conglomerate, especially a large corporation.
conglomerate businesses

Verb
1
gather together into a compact mass.
atoms that conglomerate at the center

Question 25

consistently

Answer 25

Adverb
1
in every case or on every occasion; invariably.
the vehicle consistently outperforms some of the best competitors
2
in a fair and impartial way.
students have to be treated consistently by all staff members

Question 26

convince

Answer 26

Verb
1
cause (someone) to believe firmly in the truth of something.
Robert’s expression had obviously convinced her of his innocence

Question 27

endorsement

Answer 27

Noun
1
an act of giving one’s public approval or support to someone or something.
the issue of full independence received overwhelming endorsement

Question 28

fleeting

Answer 28

Adjective
1
lasting for a very short time.
hoping to get a fleeting glimpse of a whale underwater

Question 29

ignore

Answer 29

Verb
1
refuse to take notice of or acknowledge; disregard intentionally.
he ignored her outraged question

Question 30

loyalty

Answer 30

Noun
1
the quality of being loyal.
her loyalty to her husband of 34 years

Question 31

outperform

Answer 31

Verb
1
perform better than.
an experienced employee will outperform the novice

Question 32

passion

Answer 32

Noun
1
strong and barely controllable emotion.
a man of impetuous passion
2
the suffering and death of Jesus.
meditations on the Passion of Christ

Question 33

phenomenon

Answer 33

Noun
1
a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.
glaciers are unique and interesting natural phenomena

2
a remarkable person, thing, or event.
the band was a pop phenomenon just for their sales figures alone

Question 34

prevail

Answer 34

Verb
1
prove more powerful than opposing forces; be victorious.
it is hard for logic to prevail over emotion

Question 35

promote

Answer 35

Verb
1
further the progress of (something, especially a cause, venture, or aim); support or actively encourage.
some regulation is still required to promote competition

2
advance or raise (someone) to a higher position or rank.
she was promoted to General Manager

Question 36

reverse

Answer 36

Verb
1
move backward.
the truck reversed into the back of a bus

Adjective
1
going in or turned toward the direction opposite to that previously stated.
the trend appears to be going in the reverse direction

Noun
1
a complete change of direction or action.
the growth actuates a reverse of photosynthesis

Question 37

selective

Answer 37

Adjective
1
relating to or involving the selection of the most suitable or best qualified.
the mini-cow is the result of generations of selective breeding

Question 38

staple

Answer 38

Verb
1
attach or secure with a staple or staples.
Mark stapled a batch of papers together

Adjective
1
main or important, especially in terms of consumption.
the staple foods of the poor

Question 39

status

Answer 39

Noun
1
the relative social, professional, or other standing of someone or something.
an improvement in the status of women

2
the position of affairs at a particular time, especially in political or commercial contexts.
an update on the status of the bill

Question 40

thirst

Answer 40

Noun
1
a feeling of needing or wanting to drink something.
they quenched their thirst with spring water

Question 41

boon

Answer 41

Noun
1
a thing that is helpful or beneficial.
the navigation system will be a boon to both civilian and military users

Question 42

branch

Answer 42

Noun
1
a part of a tree which grows out from the trunk or from a bough.
Sophie was in the branches of a tree eating an apple

Verb
1
(of a road or path) divide into one or more subdivisions.
follow this track south until it branches into two

2
(of a tree or plant) bear or send out branches.
this rose has a tendency to branch and spread at the top

Question 43

catch up

Answer 43

Noun
1
an informal meeting or conversation in which people find out or are briefed about things that have happened since they last met or spoke.
it’s the perfect destination for a coffee, some cake, and a catch-up
2
an act of catching up or matching someone or something in a particular activity.
the country’s catch-up phase of economic development

Question 44

coincide

Answer 44

Verb
1
occur at or during the same time.
publication is timed to coincide with a major exhibition

Question 45

confront

Answer 45

Verb
1
meet (someone) face to face with hostile or argumentative intent.
he confronted the robbers as they were trying to leave

Question 46

controversy

Answer 46

Noun
1
disagreement, typically when prolonged, public, and heated.
the announcement ended a protracted controversy

Question 47

decisive

Answer 47

Adjective
1
settling an issue; producing a definite result.
the Supreme Court voided the statute by a decisive 7–2 vote

Question 48

enticing

Answer 48

Adjective
1
attractive or tempting; alluring.
an enticing prospect

Question 49

epicenter

Answer 49

Noun
1
the point on the earth’s surface vertically above the focus of an earthquake.

Question 50

firm

Answer 50

Adjective
1
having a solid, almost unyielding surface or structure.
the bed should be reasonably firm, but not too hard

Verb
1
make (something) physically solid or resilient.
an exercise program designed to firm up muscle tone

a business concern, especially one involving a partnership of two or more people.
a law firm

Question 51

looming

Answer 51

Verb
1
appear as a shadowy form, especially one that is large or threatening.
vehicles loomed out of the darkness

Question 52

opponent

Answer 52

Noun
1
someone who competes against or fights another in a contest, game, or argument; a rival or adversary.
he beat his opponent by a landslide margin

Question 53

point

Answer 53

Noun
1
the tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object.
the point of his dagger

Verb
1
direct someone’s attention toward something by extending one’s finger or something held in one’s hand.
the boys were nudging each other and pointing at me

Question 54

preponderance

Answer 54

Noun
1
the quality or fact of being greater in number, quantity, or importance.
the preponderance of women among older people

Question 55

proponent

Answer 55

Noun
1
a person who advocates a theory, proposal, or project.
a collection of essays by both critics and proponents of graphology

Question 56

remainder

Answer 56

Noun
1
a part of something that is left over when other parts have been completed, used, or dealt with.
leave a few mushrooms for garnish and slice the remainder

Verb
1
dispose of (a book left unsold) at a reduced price.
titles are being remaindered increasingly quickly to save on overheads

Question 57

routinely

Answer 57

Adverb
1
as part of a regular procedure rather than for a special reason.
large-scale producers routinely vaccinate their birds against the disease

Question 58

shift

Answer 58

Verb
1
move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance.
I shift the weight back to the other leg

Noun
1
a slight change in position, direction, or tendency.
a shift in public opinion

2
one of two or more recurring periods in which different groups of workers do the same jobs in relay.
the night shift

Question 59

turnover

Answer 59

Noun
1
the amount of money taken by a business in a particular period.
a turnover approaching $4 million

2
the rate at which employees leave a workforce and are replaced.
high staff turnover left the program with too many young instructors

3
a small pie made by folding a piece of pastry over on itself to enclose a sweet filling.
an apple turnover

Question 60

wealthy

Answer 60

Adjective
1
having a great deal of money, resources, or assets; rich.
the wealthy nations of the world