UNITS 11&12 • TOPIC

Question 1

approximate

uk |əˈprɒk.sɪ.mət| us |əˈprɑːk.sə.mət|

adjective

Answer 1

1. not completely accurate but close
* “The train’s approximate time of arrival is 10.30.”
* “The approximate cost will be about $600.”
* “Can you give me an approximate idea of the numbers involved?”

Question 2

approximate

uk |əˈprɒk.sɪ.meɪt| us |əˈprɑːk.sə.meɪt|

verb

Answer 2

1. to be almost the same as
* “The newspaper reports of the discussion only roughly approximated to (= were not exactly the same as) what was actually said.”
* “Student numbers this year are expected to approximate 5,000 (= to be about 5,000).”

Question 3

ascribe something to something

uk |əˈskraɪb| us |əˈskraɪb|

verb

Answer 3

1. to believe or say that something is caused by something else
* “To what do you ascribe your phenomenal success?”

Question 4

ascribe something to someone

uk |əˈskraɪb| us |əˈskraɪb|

verb

Answer 4

1. to believe or claim that something was said, written, or created by a particular person
* “After years of research, scholars have finally ascribed this anonymous play to Christopher Marlowe.”

Question 5

ascribe something to someone/something

uk |əˈskraɪb| us |əˈskraɪb|

verb

Answer 5

1. to believe that a particular quality or feature belongs to or is typical of someone or something
* “People like to ascribe human feelings to animals.”

Question 6

assign

uk |əˈsaɪn| us |əˈsaɪn|

verb

Answer 6

1. to give a particular job or piece of work to someone [often passive]
* ”[+ two objects] UN troops were assigned the task of rebuilding the hospital.”
* “The case has been assigned to our most senior officer.”

2. If you assign a time for a job or activity, you decide it will be done during that time
* “Have you assigned a day for the interviews yet?”

3. If you assign a characteristic or value to something, you say that it has it
* “Each visitor to the site chooses an online alter ego, which is assigned a name.”

4. to decide a reason for something
* “Detectives have been unable to assign a motive for the murder.”
* “The report assigned the blame for the accident to inadequate safety regulations.”

5. to send someone somewhere to do a job
* “She was assigned to the newspaper’s Berlin office.”

6. to put a value in a particular position in the memory of a computer [computing specialized]

7. to give property, money, or rights using a legal process [law specialized]
* “Her property was assigned to her grandchildren.”

Question 7

attribute

uk |ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt| us |ˈæt.rɪ.bjuːt|

noun

Answer 7

1. a quality or characteristic that someone or something has
* “Organizational ability is an essential attribute for a good manager.”

Question 8

blow

uk |bləʊ| us |bloʊ|

verb

Answer 8

1. to move and make currents of air, or to be moved or make something move on a current of air [I/T]
* “The letter blew away and I had to run after it.”
* “[blow something down] A gale-force wind had blown the fence down .”
* “The wind was blowing harder every minute.”
* “I blew the dust off the books.”
* “I wish you wouldn’t blow smoke in my face.”

2. to make a sound by forcing air out of your mouth and through an instrument, or to make a sound when someone does this [I/T]
* “Ann blew a few notes on the trumpet.”
* “He scored the winning goal just before the whistle blew.”

3. to blow air down a tube into a piece of heated soft glass, in order to shape it into an object [T]
* “a beautiful blown glass vase”

Question 9

blow

uk |bləʊ| us |bloʊ|

noun

Answer 9

1. a hard hit with a hand or a weapon [C]
* “a sharp blow to the stomach”

2. an unexpected event that has a damaging effect on someone or something [C]
* “Losing his job was a severe blow to his confidence.”
* “Her death came as a terrible blow to her parents.”

3. an act of blowing [C usually singular]
* “a blow on the trumpet”
* “It took him three blows to get all the candles out.”

4. a walk in the fresh air [C usually singular UK old-fashioned]
* “Shall we go out for a blow?”

5. →cannabis [U UK slang]

6. →cocaine [U US slang]

Question 10

cause

uk |kɔːz| us |kɑːz|

noun

Answer 10

1. the reason why something, especially something bad, happens [C/U]
* “[cause of] The police are still trying to establish the cause of the fire.”
* “She had died of natural causes.”
* “I wouldn’t tell you without (good) cause (= if there was not a (good) reason).”
* “I believe there is just cause (= a fair reason) for taking this action.”

2. a reason to feel something or to behave in a particular way [U]
* “[cause for concern] He’s never given me any cause for concern.”

3. a socially valuable principle that is strongly supported by some people [C]
* “They are fighting for a cause - the liberation of their people.”
* “I’ll sponsor you for £10 - it’s all in a good cause.”

Question 11

cause

uk |kɔːz| us |kɑːz|

verb

Answer 11

1. to make something happen, especially something bad
* “The difficult driving conditions caused several accidents.”
* ”[+ obj + to infinitive] The bright light caused her to blink.”
* “Most heart attacks are caused by blood clots.”
* ”[+ two objects] I hope the children haven’t caused you too much trouble.”

Question 12

coincidence

uk |kəʊˈɪn.sɪ.dəns| us |koʊˈɪn.sɪ.dəns|

noun

Answer 12

1. an occasion when two or more similar things happen at the same time, especially in a way that is unlikely and surprising [C]
* “[what a coincidence] You chose exactly the same wallpaper as us - what a coincidence!”
* “Is it just a coincidence that the wife of the man who ran the competition won first prize?”
* “a series of strange/amazing coincidences”

2. chance or luck [U]
* “[by coincidence] Just by coincidence, I met my old schoolmate again 50 years later.”
* ”[+ that] It was sheer coincidence that I remembered his phone number.”
* “[pure coincidence] By pure coincidence, both books were published on the same day.”
* “[sheer coincidence] It’s sheer coincidence that I walked along the same street and into the same bar as her.”
* “[strange coincidence] By some strange coincidence, he was passing the house just when it happened.”

Question 13

curse

uk |kɜːs| us |kɝːs|

verb

Answer 13

1. to use a word or an expression that is not polite, usually when you are very angry [I/T]
* “We could hear him cursing and swearing as he tried to get the door open.”
* “Please don’t curse in front of the children.”
* “[curse at] He leaned out of the window and cursed at passing pedestrians.”
* “I heard them yelling and cursing me as I ran away.”

Question 14

curse

uk |kɜːs| us |kɝːs|

noun

Answer 14

1. magic words that are intended to bring bad luck to someone [C]
* “[put a curse on] In the story, a wicked witch puts a curse on the princess for a hundred years.”

2. a cause of trouble and unhappiness [C]
* “Noise is the curse of modern city life.”

Question 15

deliberate

uk |dɪˈlɪb.ər.ət| us |dɪˈlɪb.ɚ.ət|

adjective

Answer 15

1. (often of something bad) intentional or planned
* “a deliberate attack/insult/lie”
* “We made a deliberate decision to live apart for a while.”

2. A deliberate movement, action, or thought is done carefully without hurrying
* “From her slow, deliberate speech I guessed she must be drunk.”

Question 16

deliberate

uk |dɪˈlɪb.ə.reɪt| us |dɪˈlɪb.ə.reɪt|

verb

Answer 16

1. to think or talk seriously and carefully about something
* “[deliberate on] The jury took five days to deliberate on the case.”
* “The committee has deliberated the question at great length.”
* ”[+ question word] He’s deliberating whether or not to accept the new job that he’s been offered.”

Question 17

determine

uk |dɪˈtɜː.mɪn| us |dɪˈtɝː.mɪn|

verb

Answer 17

1. to control or influence something directly, or to decide what will happen [T often passive]
* “The number of staff we can take on will be determined by how much money we’re allowed to spend.”
* “Your health is determined in part by what you eat.”
* “Eye colour is genetically determined.”
* “[formal] [+ question word] Officials will determine whether or not the game will be played.”
* “People should be allowed to determine their own future.”

2. to make a strong decision [T formal]
* ”[+ that] She determined that one day she would be an actor.”
* ”[+ to infinitive] On leaving jail, Joe determined to reform.”

3. to discover the facts or truth about something [T formal]
* “The police never actually determined the cause of death.”
* ”[+ question word] It is the responsibility of the court to determine whether these men are innocent.”
* ”[+ that] The jury determined that the men were guilty.”

Question 18

fate

uk |feɪt| us |feɪt|

noun

Answer 18

1. what happens to a particular person or thing, especially something final or negative, such as death or defeat [C usually singular]
* “[decide someone’s fate] We want to decide our own fate.”
* “His fate is now in the hands of the jury.”
* “The disciples were terrified that they would suffer the same fate as Jesus.”
* “Parents in children’s stories often meet a harsh fate.”

2. a power that some people believe causes and controls all events, so that you cannot change or control the way things will happen [U]
* “When we met again by chance in Cairo, I felt it must be fate.”
* “Fate has brought us together.”

Question 19

fluctuate

uk |ˈflʌk.tʃu.eɪt| us |ˈflʌk.tʃu.eɪt|

verb

Answer 19

1. to change, especially continuously and between one level or thing and another
* “[fluctuate according to] Vegetable prices fluctuate according to the season.”
* “Her wages fluctuate between £150 and £200 a week.”
* “[fluctuate wildly] Her weight fluctuates wildly.”
* “fluctuating prices”

Question 20

foresee

uk |fəˈsiː| us |fɚˈsiː|

verb

Answer 20

1. to know about something before it happens
* “I don’t foresee any difficulties so long as we keep within budget.”

Question 21

freak

uk |friːk| us |friːk|

noun

Answer 21

1. a thing, person, animal, or event that is extremely unusual or unlikely, and not like any other of its type [C]
* “I was born with black hair all over my back, like some sort of freak.”
* “[freak of nature] The pearl is so big that it has been described as a freak of nature.”
* “[humorous] At my school you were considered to be a freak if you weren’t interested in sport.”

Question 22

freak

uk |friːk| us |friːk|

verb

Answer 22

1. to become or cause someone to become extremely emotional
* “My parents freaked when I told them I was pregnant.”

Question 23

freak

uk |friːk| us |friːk|

adjective

Answer 23

1. very unusual or unexpected
* “[freak accident] She was crushed in a freak (= very unlikely) accident in a cave in France.”
* “The village was destroyed by a freak storm.”

Question 24

gamble

uk |ˈɡæm.bəl| us |ˈɡæm.bəl|

verb

Answer 24

1. to do something that involves risks that might result in loss of money or failure, hoping to get money or achieve success [I]
* “[gamble on] Anyone who gambles on the stock exchange has to be prepared to lose money.”

2. to risk money, for example in a game or on a horse race [I/T]
* “I like to gamble when I play cards - it makes it more interesting.”
* “[gamble on] He gambles on the horses (= horse races).”
* “[gamble away] He gambled away all of our savings.”

Question 25

**gamble** | uk |ˈɡæm.bəl| us |ˈɡæm.bəl| ## Footnote noun

Answer 25

**1. a risk that might result in loss of money or failure** * *"[take a gamble] Her publishers knew they were taking a gamble when they agreed to publish such an unusual novel."* * *"[a gamble paid off] It was a gamble using such an inexperienced director, but it paid off (= was successful)."*

Question 26

**haphazard** | uk |ˌhæpˈhæz.əd| us |ˌhæpˈhæz.ɚd| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 26

**1. not having an obvious order or plan** * *"He tackled the problem in a typically haphazard manner."*

Question 27

**hazard** | uk |ˈhæz.əd| us |ˈhæz.ɚd| ## Footnote noun

Answer 27

**1. something that is dangerous and likely to cause damage** * *"a health/fire hazard"* * *"[hazard to] The busy traffic entrance was a hazard to pedestrians."* **2. an area of a golf course (= area of land used for playing golf) that provides an obstacle (= something that blocks you so that movement, going forward, or action is made more difficult)** * *"In golf, hazards are just another part of the game."* * *"The golf course now features the most dramatic water hazards."*

Question 28

**hazard** | uk |ˈhæz.əd| us |ˈhæz.ɚd| ## Footnote verb

Answer 28

**1. to risk doing something, especially making a guess, suggestion, etc.** * *"[hazard a guess] I wouldn't like to hazard a guess."* **2. to risk doing something that might cause harm to someone or something else [formal]** * *"The policy hazarded the islands and put the lives of the inhabitants at risk."*

Question 29

**inadvertent** | uk |ˌɪn.ədˈvɜː.tənt| us |ˌɪn.ədˈvɝː.t̬ənt| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 29

**1. not intentional** * *"All authors need to be wary of inadvertent copying of other people's ideas."*

Question 30

**instrumental** | uk |ˌɪn.strəˈmen.təl| us |ˌɪn.strəˈmen.t̬əl| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 30

**1. If someone or something is instrumental in a process, plan, or system, that person or thing is one of the most important influences in causing it to happen [after verb formal]** * *"[instrumental in] She was instrumental in bringing about the prison reform act."* **2. involving only musical instruments, and no singing** * *"instrumental music"* * *"an instrumental piece/arrangement"*

Question 31

**instrumental** | uk |ˌɪn.strəˈmen.təl| us |ˌɪn.strəˈmen.t̬əl| ## Footnote noun

Answer 31

**1. a piece of music without singing**

Question 32

**jinxed** | uk |dʒɪŋkst| us |dʒɪŋkst| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 32

**1. having or believed to bring bad luck** * *"I must be jinxed - whenever I wash a wine glass, it breaks."* * *"Some people believe the family is jinxed."*

Question 33

**likelihood** | uk |ˈlaɪ.kli.hʊd| us |ˈlaɪ.kli.hʊd| ## Footnote noun

Answer 33

**1. the chance that something will happen** * *"This latest dispute greatly increases the likelihood of a strike."* * *"[+ that] There is every likelihood that more jobs will be lost later this year."* * *"There is little likelihood now that interest rates will come down further."*

Question 34

**lucky charm** | uk |ˌlʌk.i ˈtʃɑːm| us |ˌlʌk.i ˈtʃɑːrm| ## Footnote noun

Answer 34

**1. an object or person that is thought to bring good luck** * *"He keeps a rabbit's paw as a lucky charm."* * *"The shop sold amulets, crystals, and other good luck charms."* * *"She came to think of him as her lucky charm, as good things tended to happen when they were together."*

Question 35

**meander** | uk |miˈæn.dər| us |miˈæn.dɚ| ## Footnote verb

Answer 35

**1. If a river, stream, or road meanders, it follows a route that is not straight or direct. [I]** **2. to walk slowly without any clear direction [I usually + adv/prep]** * *"We spent the afternoon meandering around the streets of the old town."* **3. If a text, process, or activity meanders, it has no clear purpose or direction [I]** * *"The film meanders along with no particular story line."*

Question 36

**meander** | uk |miˈæn.dər| us |miˈæn.dɚ| ## Footnote noun

Answer 36

**1. a curve of a river or stream** **2. a journey that has no particular direction** * *"The TV series continues its haphazard meander around the globe - this week in Portugal."*

Question 37

**mishap** | uk |ˈmɪs.hæp| us |ˈmɪs.hæp| ## Footnote noun

Answer 37

**1. bad luck, or an unlucky event or accident** * *"The parade was very well organized and passed without mishap."* * *"A series of mishaps led to the nuclear power plant blowing up."*

Question 38

**mutate** | uk |mjuːˈteɪt| us |mjuːˈteɪt| ## Footnote verb

Answer 38

**1. to develop new physical characteristics because of a permanent change in the genes. These changes can happen naturally or can be produced by the use of chemicals or radiation** * *"These bacteria have mutated into forms that are resistant to certain drugs."* **2. to change from one thing or type of thing into another** * *"Jon has mutated from an awkward teenager into a sophisticated young man."*

Question 39

**odds** | uk |ɒdz| us |ɑːdz| ## Footnote noun

Answer 39

**1. the probability (= how likely it is) that a particular thing will or will not happen** * *"If you drive a car all your life, the odds are that you'll have an accident at some point."* * *"There are heavy odds against people succeeding in such a bad economic climate."* * *"What are the odds on him being (= do you think he will be) re-elected?"* * *"The overall odds of winning a lottery prize are 1 in 13."* * *"The odds are stacked against a woman succeeding (= it is not likely that a woman will succeed) in the business."* **2. in gambling (= the activity of risking money guessing the result of something), a probability expressed as a number** * *"The odds against my horse winning (= that it will not win)/on my horse winning (= that it will win) are a hundred to one."* * *"The odds that the US entrant will win the race are ten to one."*

Question 40

**pick** | uk |pɪk| us |pɪk| ## Footnote verb

Answer 40

**1. to take some things and leave others [T]** * *"Pick a card from the pack."* * *"[be picked for] One of my sisters has been picked for the Olympic team."* * *"[+ obj + to infinitive] She was picked to play for the team."* * *"The committee will pick the successful candidate from a short list of four."* * *"[pick someone out] The police asked him if he could pick out the killer from a series of photos."* * *"[pick something out of a hat] The fairest way to decide the winner is to pick a name out of a hat (= without looking or choosing)."* * *"[be picked at random] The winning lottery numbers will be picked at random (= without choosing)."* * *"[pick your way] They picked their way (= carefully chose a route) down the broken steps."* * *"[pick a winner] He's brilliant at picking winners (= choosing what will be successful)."*

Question 41

**pick** | uk |pɪk| us |pɪk| ## Footnote noun

Answer 41

**1. choice [U]** * *"You can have first pick of the desserts."* **2. a thing or person chosen, especially a player chosen to play for a sports team [C]** * *"He was expected to be one of the top 10 picks in the upcoming draft."*

Question 42

**pot luck** | uk |ˌpɒt ˈlʌk| us |ˈpɑːt ˌlʌk| ## Footnote noun

Answer 42

**1. anything that is available or is found by chance, rather than something chosen, planned, or prepared [U]** * *"We had no idea which hotel would be best, so we just took pot luck with the first one on the list."* * *"Mary's welcome to stay for dinner if she doesn't mind taking pot luck (= having whatever is available)."* **2. an informal meal where guests bring different dishes that are then shared with the other guests [C US (also potluck)]** * *"We're having a pot luck on Saturday."* * *"This fruit salad would make a great addition to a potluck, barbecue, or dinner party."* * *"I like having a pot luck where everyone brings their favorite dish."* * *"All the neighbours call each other by their first names and get together regularly for potlucks."*

Question 43

**pot luck** | uk |ˌpɒt ˈlʌk| us |ˌpɑːt ˈlʌk| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 43

**1. used to refer to an informal meal or event where guests bring different dishes that are then shared with the other guests** * *"A lady from church always brought this dish to our pot luck dinners."* * *"I have to get to a 6:30 potluck party."* * *"a potluck picnic"*

Question 44

**random** | uk |ˈræn.dəm| us |ˈræn.dəm| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 44

**1. happening, done, or chosen by chance rather than according to a plan** * *"random checks/tests/attacks"* * *"We asked a random sample/selection of people what they thought."* **2. strange or unusual [informal]** * *"I just saw Billy wearing a top hat - he's so random!"* **3. unknown and unexpected in a particular situation [informal]** * *"Some random guy walked in."*

Question 45

**random** | uk |ˈræn.dəm| us |ˈræn.dəm| ## Footnote noun

Answer 45

**1. an unknown or unexpected person** * *"You can't make a whole movie with randoms off the street."*

Question 46

**sign** | uk |saɪn| us |saɪn| ## Footnote verb

Answer 46

**1. to write your name, usually on a written or printed document, to show that you agree with its contents or have written or created it yourself [I/T]** * *"to sign a letter/cheque/contract/lease/agreement"* * *"Sign here, please."* * *"He signed his name at the end of the letter."* * *"[+ obj + noun] He signed himself "Mark Taylor"."* * *"She said the painting was by Picasso, but it wasn't signed."* **2. in sport, to make a legal written agreement to employ a player [T]** * *"The team has just signed a new player."* **3. to give an order or information, or make a request, using hand and body movements [T/I]** * *"[+ to infinitive] He signed for/to the waiter to bring him another drink."* * *"[+ that] He signed to the waiter that he wanted another drink."* **4. to use sign language (= language used by people who cannot hear or talk) [I/T]**

Question 47

**sign** | uk |saɪn| us |saɪn| ## Footnote noun

Answer 47

**1. a notice giving information, directions, a warning, etc.** * *"a road sign"* * *"a shop sign"* **2. a movement of the body that gives information or an instruction** * *"[as a sign that] She pointed to her watch as a sign that it was getting late and she wanted to leave."* * *"[make/give a sign to] He made/gave a sign to his boyfriend to stop talking."* * *"[make the sign of the cross] The priest made the sign of the cross (= made the shape of a cross by moving his hand between four points on his chest) when he entered the church."*

Question 48

**speculate** | uk |ˈspek.jə.leɪt| us |ˈspek.jə.leɪt| ## Footnote verb

Answer 48

**1. to guess possible answers to a question when you do not have enough information to be certain** * *"I don't know why she did it - I'm just speculating."* * *"A spokesperson declined to speculate on the cause of the train crash."* * *"Journalists are speculating about whether interest rates will be cut."* * *"[+ that] The newspapers have speculated that they will get married next year."* **2. to buy and sell in the hope that the value of what you buy will increase and that it can then be sold at a higher price in order to make a profit** * *"He made his money speculating on the London gold and silver markets."* * *"The company has been speculating in property for years."*

Question 49

**spontaneous** | uk |spɒnˈteɪ.ni.əs| us |spɑːnˈteɪ.ni.əs| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 49

**1. happening or done in a natural, often sudden way, without any planning or without being forced** * *"His jokes seemed spontaneous, but were in fact carefully prepared beforehand."* * *"[approving] She's such a spontaneous, lively woman."* **2. happening, especially in a living thing, without being caused by something outside, or without the organism's control [biology, medical specialized]** * *"Since spontaneous remissions are common in rheumatoid arthritis, it is impossible to attribute them to any particular therapy."* * *"Spontaneous maturation is when meiosis continues without hormonal stimulation."*

Question 50

**startle** | uk |ˈstɑː.təl| us |ˈstɑːr.t̬əl| ## Footnote verb

Answer 50

**1. to do something unexpected that surprises and sometimes worries a person or animal** * *"She was concentrating on her book and his voice startled her."* * *"The noise of the car startled the birds and the whole flock flew up into the air."* * *"Her article on diet startled many people into changing their eating habits."*

Question 51

**statistics plural** | us |stəˈtɪs·tɪks| ## Footnote noun

Answer 51

**1. a collection of numerical facts or measurements, as about people, business conditions, or weather** * *"The statistics show that, in general, women live longer than men."*

Question 52

**statistics** | us |stəˈtɪs·tɪks| ## Footnote noun

Answer 52

**1. the science of using information discovered from collecting, organizing, and studying numbers**

Question 53

**stray** | uk |streɪ| us |streɪ| ## Footnote verb

Answer 53

**1. to travel along a route that was not originally intended, or to move outside a limited area** * *"A herd of cattle had strayed into the road."* * *"They got lost when they strayed too far from the path."* * *"The ship strayed off course during the storm."* **2. to start thinking or talking about a different subject from the one you should be giving attention to** * *"I think we've strayed too far from our original plan."* * *"Sorry - I've strayed from the subject."*

Question 54

**stray** | uk |streɪ| us |streɪ| ## Footnote noun

Answer 54

**1. a pet that no longer has a home or cannot find its home** * *"a stray dog"* * *""Who owns that cat?" "I don't know. I think it must be a stray.""*

Question 55

**stray** | uk |streɪ| us |streɪ| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 55

**1. Stray things have moved apart from similar things and are not in their expected or intended place** * *"There are still a few stray spots of paint on the window pane."* * *"Several journalists have been killed or injured by stray bullets while reporting on the civil war."*

Question 56

**superstition** | uk |ˌsuː.pəˈstɪʃ.ən| us |ˌsuː.pɚˈstɪʃ.ən| ## Footnote noun

Answer 56

**1. belief that is not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but is connected with old ideas about magic, etc.** * *"According to superstition, if you walk under a ladder it brings you bad luck."* * *"I don't believe in the old superstition that the number 13 is unlucky."*

Question 57

**superstitious** | uk |ˌsuː.pəˈstɪʃ.əs| us |ˌsuː.pɚˈstɪʃ.əs| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 57

**1. based on or believing in superstitions (= beliefs based on old ideas about luck and magic rather than science or reason)** * *"superstitious nonsense"* * *"Some people are superstitious about spilling salt on the table."*

Question 58

**transpire** | uk |trænˈspaɪər| us |trænˈspaɪɚ| ## Footnote verb

Answer 58

**1. If it transpires that something has happened, this previously secret or unknown fact becomes known [I formal]** * *"[+ that] It may yet transpire that ministers knew more than they are admitting at the moment."* * *"As it later transpired, she had known him at school."* **2. to happen [I formal]** * *"No one is willing to predict what may transpire at the peace conference."* **3. If a body or plant transpires, it loses water through its surface or skin. [I/T biology specialized]**

Question 59

**uncertainty** | uk |ʌnˈsɜː.tən.ti| us |ʌnˈsɝː.tən.ti| ## Footnote noun

Answer 59

**1. a situation in which something is not known, or something that is not known or certain** * *"Nothing is ever decided, and all the uncertainty is very bad for staff morale."* * *"Life is full of uncertainties."*

Question 60

**wobble** | uk |ˈwɒb.əl| us |ˈwɑː.bəl| ## Footnote verb

Answer 60

**1. to (cause something to) shake or move from side to side in a way that shows poor balance [I/T]** * *"That bookcase wobbles whenever you put anything on it."* * *"Don't wobble the table, please, Dan."* * *"[figurative] The company's shares wobbled with the news of a foreign takeover bid."* **2. to be uncertain what to do or to change repeatedly between two opinions [I informal]** * *"The government can't afford to wobble on this issue."*

Question 61

**wobble** | uk |ˈwɒb.əl| us |ˈwɑː.bəl| ## Footnote noun

Answer 61

**1. a movement from side to side that shows poor balance** * *"I gave the poles a slight wobble and the whole tent collapsed."* * *"[figurative] The closure of the company's German subsidiary caused a sharp wobble in its profits."* **2. a feeling of not being certain about something [UK informal]** * *"She's having a bit of a wobble about the move to New York."*

Question 62

**agriculture** | uk |ˈæɡ.rɪ.kʌl.tʃər| us |ˈæɡ.rə.kʌl.tʃɚ| ## Footnote noun

Answer 62

**1. farming** * *"Agriculture is still largely based on traditional methods in some countries."* * *"The area depends on agriculture for most of its income."* * *"70 percent of the country's population practises subsistence agriculture."*

Question 63

**appreciate** | uk |əˈpriː.ʃi.eɪt| us |əˈpriː.ʃi.eɪt| ## Footnote verb

Answer 63

**1. to recognize how good someone or something is and to value them or it** * *"There's no point buying him expensive wines - he doesn't appreciate them."* * *"[greatly appreciated] Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated."* * *"[much appreciated] His visits were much appreciated by the boys."* **2. to understand a situation and realize that it is important [T]** * *"We appreciate the need for immediate action."* * *"[+ that] I appreciate that it's a difficult decision for you to make."* * *"[+ question word] I don't think you appreciate how much time I spent preparing this meal."*

Question 64

**catastrophe** | uk |kəˈtæs.trə.fi| us |kəˈtæs.trə.fi| ## Footnote noun

Answer 64

**1. a sudden event that causes very great trouble or destruction** * *"They were warned of the ecological catastrophe to come."* **2. a bad situation** * *"The emigration of scientists is a catastrophe for the country."*

Question 65

**crop** | uk |krɒp| us |krɑːp| ## Footnote noun

Answer 65

**1. (the total amount collected of) a plant such as a grain, fruit, or vegetable grown in large amounts [C]** * *"The main crops grown for export are coffee and rice."* * *"a bumper (= very good) potato crop"* **2. a group of people or things with something in common, that exist at a particular time [C usually singular informal]** * *"[crop of] The judges will select the best from this year's crop of first novels."* **3. a short hairstyle [C]** * *"Her hair was cut in a short crop."* **4. a part of the throat in many birds where food is stored before going into the stomach [C]** **5. a short stick used to control a horse by hitting it [C]**

Question 66

**crop** | uk |krɒp| us |krɑːp| ## Footnote verb

Answer 66

**1. to make something shorter or smaller, especially by cutting [T]** * *"He had his hair cropped when he went into the army."* **2. When animals such as sheep or horses crop grass or other plants, they eat the top parts. [T]** **3. to remove some or all of the edges from a picture, leaving only the most important part [T]** * *"He cropped the photo so that only the face remained."* **4. If a plant crops, it produces fruit, flowers, etc. [I usually + adv/prep]** * *"The carrots have cropped well (= produced a lot of carrots) this year."* **5. to grow crops on land [T usually passive]** * *"The land is intensively cropped."*

Question 67

**drought** | uk |draʊt| us |draʊt| ## Footnote noun

Answer 67

**1. a long period when there is little or no rain** * *"This year (a) severe drought has ruined the crops."*

Question 68

**evacuate** | uk |ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt| us |ɪˈvæk.ju.eɪt| ## Footnote verb

Answer 68

**1. to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe** * *"The police evacuated the village shortly before the explosion."* * *"[be evacuated from] A thousand people were evacuated from their homes following the floods."* * *"When toxic fumes began to drift toward our homes, we were told to evacuate."* **2. to empty something of its contents, especially the bowels [formal]** * *"The horse evacuated its bowels all over the path."* * *"products that stimulate the bowel to evacuate its contents"*

Question 69

**exploit** | uk |ɪkˈsplɔɪt| us |ɪkˈsplɔɪt| ## Footnote verb

Answer 69

**1. to use something in a way that helps you** * *"[exploit resources] We need to make sure that we exploit our resources as fully as possible."* **2. to use someone or something unfairly for your own advantage** * *"Laws exist to stop companies exploiting their employees."*

Question 70

**exploit** | uk |ˈek.splɔɪt| us |ˈek.splɔɪt| ## Footnote noun

Answer 70

**1. something unusual, brave, or funny that someone has done** * *"She was telling me about her exploits while travelling around Africa."*

Question 71

**famine** | uk |ˈfæm.ɪn| us |ˈfæm.ɪn| ## Footnote noun

Answer 71

**1. a situation in which there is not enough food for a great number of people, causing illness and death, or a particular period when this happens** * *"[widespread famine] Another crop failure could result in widespread famine."* * *"[die of famine] There were reports of refugees dying of famine."* * *"Thousands of people emigrated during the Irish potato famine of 1845–46."*

Question 72

**flood** | uk |flʌd| us |flʌd| ## Footnote verb

Answer 72

**1. to cause to fill or become covered with water, especially in a way that causes problems [I/T]** * *"Our washing machine broke down yesterday and flooded the kitchen."* * *"The whole town flooded when the river burst its banks."* * *"[be flooded out] Several families living by the river were flooded out (= forced to leave their houses because they became covered with water)."* **2. to fill or enter a place in large numbers or amounts [I usually + adv/prep, T]** * *"[flood into] Donations are flooding into the homeless shelter."* * *"[flood in] She drew back the curtains and the sunlight came flooding in."* * *"[be flooded with] He was flooded with (= suddenly felt a lot of) joy when his first child was born."* * *"[flood back] For Proust, the taste of a madeleine brought childhood memories flooding back (= made him suddenly remember a lot of things)."*

Question 73

**flood** | uk |flʌd| us |flʌd| ## Footnote noun

Answer 73

**1. a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry [C/U]** * *"After the flood it took weeks for the water level to go down."* * *"[in flood] The river is in flood (= water has flowed over its banks) again."*

Question 74

**fossil fuel** | uk |ˈfɒs.əl ˌfjʊəl| us |ˈfɑː.səl ˌfjʊəl| ## Footnote noun

Answer 74

**1. fuels, such as gas, coal, and oil, that were formed underground from plant and animal remains millions of years ago**

Question 75

**global warming** | uk |ˌɡləʊ.bəl ˈwɔː.mɪŋ| us |ˌɡloʊ.bəl ˈwɔːr.mɪŋ| ## Footnote noun

Answer 75

**1. a gradual increase in world temperatures caused by gases such as carbon dioxide that are collecting in the air around the earth and stopping heat escaping into space**

Question 76

**greenery** | uk |ˈɡriː.nər.i| us |ˈɡriː.nər.i| ## Footnote noun

Answer 76

**1. green plants or branches, especially when cut and used as decoration**

Question 77

**habitat** | uk |ˈhæb.ɪ.tæt| us |ˈhæb.ə.tæt| ## Footnote noun

Answer 77

**1. the natural environment in which an animal or plant usually lives** * *"With so many areas of woodland being cut down, a lot of wildlife is losing its natural habitat."*

Question 78

**harvest** | uk |ˈhɑː.vɪst| us |ˈhɑːr.vəst| ## Footnote noun

Answer 78

**1. the time of year when crops are cut and collected from the fields, or the activity of cutting and collecting them, or the crops that are cut and collected** * *"the grain/potato/grape harvest"* * *"We had a good harvest this year."* * *"[bumper harvest] Farmers are reporting a bumper (= very big) harvest this year."* * *"It won't be long now till harvest (time)."*

Question 79

**harvest** | uk |ˈhɑː.vɪst| us |ˈhɑːr.vəst| ## Footnote verb

Answer 79

**1. to pick and collect crops, or to collect plants, animals, or fish as food [I/T]** * *"In the US, winter wheat is harvested in the early summer."* * *"By the end of the year, growers in the state will have harvested 1.8 million barrels of fruit."* * *"About 30 million pounds of red snapper are harvested from US waters every year."* * *"Farmers sort the vegetables when they harvest."* **2. to take or collect a useful substance, for example water or a chemical element, from somewhere so that it can be used [T]** * *"Hydrogen and oxygen could be harvested from the frozen water reserves."* * *"We use harvested rainwater for most of our cooking."* **3. to take cells or other body parts from someone for medical use [T]** * *"The donor organ is harvested at the accident scene and rushed to a hospital."* * *"Stem cells harvested from cord blood have been used to successfully treat dozens of serious illnesses."* **4. to collect large quantities of information, especially automatically [T]** * *"The ministry will not harvest data about salaries, sexual orientation, or country of origin for foreigners."* * *"Unauthorized use of personal information harvested from social networks is likely to anger potential customers."* **5. to get an advantage or something valuable from a situation [T]** * *"He could harvest considerable political capital out of this incident."* * *"The only winners here seem to be the large, for-profit corporations who harvest profits from schools."*

Question 80

**hurricane** | uk |ˈhʌr.ɪ.kən| |ˈhʌr.ɪ.keɪn| us |ˈhɝː.ɪ.keɪn| |ˈhɝː.ɪ.kən| ## Footnote noun

Answer 80

**1. a violent wind that has a circular movement, especially in the West Atlantic Ocean** * *"[be hit by a hurricane] The state of Florida was hit by a hurricane that did serious damage."* * *"Hurricane force (= very strong) winds are expected tonight."*

Question 81

**instinct** | uk |ˈɪn.stɪŋkt| us |ˈɪn.stɪŋkt| ## Footnote noun

Answer 81

**1. the way people or animals naturally react or behave, without having to think or learn about it** * *"All his instincts told him to stay near the car and wait for help."* * *"[+ to infinitive] Her first instinct was to run."* * *"It is instinct that tells the birds when to begin their migration."* * *"[figurative] [have an instinct for] Bob seems to have an instinct for (= is naturally good at) knowing which products will sell."*

Question 82

**natural disaster** | uk |ˌnætʃ.ər.əl dɪˈzɑː.stər| us |ˌnætʃ.ɚ.əl dɪˈzæs.tɚ| ## Footnote noun

Answer 82

**1. a natural event such as a flood, earthquake, or tsunami that kills or injures a lot of people** * *"Europe's 2003 heat wave claimed more than 30,000 lives, making it the continent's largest natural disaster in 50 years."*

Question 83

**resource** | uk |rɪˈzɔːs| |ˈriː.sɔːs| us |ˈriː.sɔːrs| |ˈriː.zɔːrs| ## Footnote noun

Answer 83

**1. a useful or valuable possession or quality of a country, organization, or person [C usually plural]** * *"The country's greatest resource is the dedication of its workers."* * *"Britain's mineral resources include coal and gas deposits."* **2. [formal for] resourcefulness approving [U]**

Question 84

**resource** | uk |rɪˈzɔːs| |ˈriː.sɔːs| us |ˈriː.sɔːrs| |ˈriː.zɔːrs| ## Footnote verb

Answer 84

**1. to provide an organization or department with money or equipment** * *"The school must be properly resourced with musical instruments and audio equipment."*

Question 85

**scarce** | uk |skeəs| us |skers| ## Footnote adjective

Answer 85

**1. not easy to find or get** * *"Food and clean water were becoming scarce."* * *"scarce resources"*

Question 86

**scarce** | uk |skeəs| us |skers| ## Footnote adverb

Answer 86

**1. almost not** * *"I could scarce believe my eyes."*

Question 87

**species** | uk |ˈspiː.ʃiːz| |ˈspiː.siːz| us |ˈspiː.ʃiːz| |ˈspiː.siːz| ## Footnote noun

Answer 87

**1. a set of animals or plants in which the members have similar characteristics to each other and can breed with each other** * *"Mountain gorillas are an endangered species."* * *"Over a hundred species of insect are found in this area."*