| Question | Answers |
| A small, narrow space between things or parts of things is an: | interstice |
| Lighthearted talk can be called: | persiflage |
| Which of the following is another word for trickster? | mountebank |
| A neighbourhood that is inhabited primarily by artists might be called a(n): | enclave |
| Which of the following words could not be used to replace plethora (sentence 1)? | paucity |
| In sentence 3, ancillary means: | auxiliary |
| Which of the following words could be used to replace cozened (sentence 4)? | tricked |
| If someone lets you have something gratis (sentence 5), they are passing it on to you: | without charge |
| A computer icon (sentence 6) is a(n): | image |
| A paean (sentence 7) is a: | song of praise |
The principle of expediency
Remember the main reason for all failures? Well, this principle will help you overcome it. Just answer yourself the question of how much you need English. “Everyone knows, but I don’t” or “I can watch movies without translation” – the reasons that will not make you pay attention to lessons every day.
Think about what learning English will give you, how worthwhile it is to study it. Self-study can only be successful if you have a high level of motivation. Will your career, education, or the outcome of an important business meeting depend on it? Now that’s a great goal that will get anyone into their books.
The principle of systematicity
Pay attention to the language you want to learn every day. The systematic study will bring results, even if you do 20-30 minutes a day. First, you will form a habit, and not the worst one, you agree. Secondly, frequent repetition contributes to better memorization. If you learned 50 words today and won’t think about English for a week, of those 50 words at best one or two will stay in memory. But if you learn 5 words every day, repeating every day the words you learned before, in 10 days your vocabulary will be 50 words richer.
in sandpainting, an art still practiced by the Navajos and Pueblos of the American Southwest, designs are created of ____________ representing animals, deities, and natural phenomena.
icons
Your _______ as an orator may earn you votes, but it cannot make up for your lack of experience in and knowledge of public affairs.
virtuosity
we did drop a few objectionable words from the dialogue, but this does not justify the critic’s claim that we _____ the play.
bowdlerized
a theory that seems valid in the confines of a small family group may be proved useless when applied in the _______ of society at large.
macrocosm
if you find these people so unpleasant, why do you ______ to associate with them?
condescend
they can’t force you to do anything, but it is quite possible that they will be able to _______ you into actions against your best interests.
cozen
the clash of wits between those two brilliant columnists was no mere _____ but an exchange of clever insults.
persiflage
the first _____ in the Communist world of the postwar era occurred in 1948, when Yugoslavia began in earnest to distance itself from the Soviet Union.
schism
our little group of would-be writers, painters, and musicians formed an _____ of culture in what we considered a hostile world.
enclave
in the great crises of life, you must depend basically on yourself; the help you get from others can only be ______.
ancillary
a truly great leader must possess both the inspiration of a visionary and the ________ skills of an experienced politician.
pragmatic
the sun left its mottled imprint on the wall as the rays filtered through the _______ of the iron grating.
interstices
in this situation, when I desperately needed material help, I was deluged with a(n) ______ of glib and gratuitous advice.
plethora
a political candidate who promises to solve all our social problems without ever mentioning higher taxes would certainly be dismissed as a ________.
mountebank
because he sees life as a pattern of ambiguities and contradictions, he likes to express himself in the form of ______ witticisms.
quizzical
the dictum “there’s no such thing as a free lunch” means that nothing worthwhile in life comes to us _______.
gratis
after the great victory, his quiet and modest statements were far more impressive than the most effusive _______ could have been.
paean
it is a common mistake to assume that shrewdness in business affairs must be accompanied by extreme _______.
rapacity
though acupuncture has been practiced in Eastern medicine for centuries, its _______ value has only recently been acknowledged in the West.
therapeutic
her easygoing attitude and resilience, far from being weaknesses, proved to be her ________ in surviving during that trying period.
forte
the introductory membership letter stated that the monthly magazine was delivered _________ but, nonetheless, the membership fees were exorbitant.
gratis
many of the celebrated composers of classical pieces were ______ long before they were even teenagers.
virtuosos
we exchanged agitated and _____ looks after the customs agent instructed us to carry our luggage to a special table for a thorough investigation.
quizzical
A(n) _______ of urban Australia, the Sydney Opera House is a building of unique and masterful construction.
icon
the teacher’s ________ tone inspired many students to drop the course.
condescending
DEIGN to respond to the question
condescend
gave their assistance FREELY
gratis
offered a HYMN of praise
paean
participated in the witty REPARTEE
persiflage
urges writers to CENSOR their screenplays
bowdlerize
awed by the gifts of the young MASTER
virtuoso
the CURATIVE benefits of mineral water
therapeutic
caused a BREACH in their ranks
schism
received a SURFEIT of gifts
plethora
belonging to a SUBSIDIARY organization
ancillary
she acquired the stroller FOR A PRICE
gratis
the boy’s LAMENT for his father
paean
with a GENEROSITY heretofore unseen
rapacity
please APPEND the volume and add the poem
bowdlerize
the workers formed a UNITED FRONT
schism
What point is there in dwelling on unproven theories when the problem we are facing demands that we be as _______ as possible?
pragmatic
The coach used diagrams to show our receivers how to slip through the ______ in our opponent’s zone pass coverage.
interstices
once the advantage and royalties were settled, the publisher and agent negotiated ______ rights to be covered in the author’s contract.
ancillary
my classmates selected me to address the community affairs committee because public speaking is a(n) ______ of mine.
forte
when she neatly faked out the guard, pivoted, and drove in for a layup, I realized that I was seeing a true ________ on the basketball court.
virtuoso
I would have welcomed any firm answer, no matter how unfavorable, but all that I got from her was a(n) _________ smile.
quizzical
although we pride ourselves on the advance of civilization, the sad fact is that the _______ of modern humanity has resulted in more destruction and suffering than ever before in history.
rapacity
At the height of Beatlemania in the mid-1960’s the Fab Four assumed the stature of pop _______.
icons
when the soldiers realized that they had defeated the far more numerous enemy, their cheers rose in a great _______ of jubilation and victory.
paean
A good laugh invariably makes me feel better; I honestly believe that it has a(n) _______ effect on my disposition.
therapeutic
The stubborn old-timers who refused to sell their homes came to form a(n) ______ of “natives” surrounded by “city people”.
enclave
The situation is growing worse because there is a(n) ________ of good intentions but a dearth of common sense and willingness to work hard.
plethora
The “minor difference of opinion” developed into a(n) ________ that split the political party into two opposing factors.
schism
He considers himself such as a marvelous chess player that I’m surprised he would ______ to sit down at the board with a beginner like me.
condescend
His exaggerated claims for an expensive painkiller that turned out to be no more than aspirin exposed him as a(n) ________.
mountebank
His self-importance stems from his inability to appreciate the very minor part he plays in the ______ of human affairs.
macrocosm
In attempting to make the novel acceptable to the general public, the editor so _____ it that it lost its quality of stark realism.
bowdlerized
She thought of herself as a combination of Mark Twain and H.L. Mencken, but her attempts at “devastating _________” were not very funny.
persiflage
To promote circulation, the publisher offered to throw in home delivery _________ for new subscribers to the Sunday edition.
gratis
Playing on his vanity and his desire to be known as a “good guy”, I tried to ________ him into lending me his car.
cozen
A person who shows RAPACITY is NOT
A. generous
A MOUNTEBANK is a(n)
C. Swindler
To CONDESCEND is to
D. lower oneself
To COZEN is to
B. decieve
INTERSTICES are
A. intervening spaces
pragmatic
What point is there in dwelling on unproven theories when the problem we are facing demands that we be as … as possible?
interstices
The coach used diagrams to show our receivers how to slip through the … in our opponent’s zone pass coverage
ancillary
Once the advance and royalties were settled, the publisher and agent negotiated … rights to be covered in the author’s contract
forte
My classmates selected me to address the community affairs committee because public speaking is a(n) … of mine
virtuoso
When she neatly faked out the guard, pivoted, and drove in got a layup, I realized that I was seeing a true … on the basketball court
quizzical
I would have welcomed any firm answer, no matter how unfavorable, but all that I got from her was a(n) … smile
rapacity
Although we pride ourselves on the advance of civilization, the sad fact is that the … of modern humanity has resulted in more destruction and suffering than ever before in history
icons
At the height of Beatlemania in the mid 1960s the Fab Four assumed the stature of pop ….
paean
When the soldiers realized that they had defeated the far more numerous enemy, their cheers rose in a great … of jubilation and victory
therapeutic
A good laugh invariably makes me feel better; I honestly believe that it has a(n) … effect on my dispostition
enclave
The stubborn old timers who refused to sell their homes came to form a(n) … of “natives” surrounded by “city people”
plethora
The situation is growing worse because there is a(n) … of good intentions by a dearth of common sense and willingness to work harder
schism
The minor difference of opinion developed into a(n) … that split the political party into two opposing factions
condescend
He considers himself such a marvelous chess player that I’m surprised he would … to sit down at the board with a beginner like me
mountebank
His exaggerated claims for an expensive painkiller that turned out to be no more than aspirin exposed him as a(n) …
macrocosm
His self-importance stems from his inability to appreciate the very minor part he plays in the … of human affairs
bowdlerized
In attempting to make the novel acceptable to the general public, the editor so … it that it lost its quality of stark realism
persiflage
She thought of herself as a combination of Mark Twain and H.L. Mencken, but her attempts at “devastating persiflage” were not very funny
gratis
To promote circulation, the publisher offered to throw in home delivery … for new subscribers to the Sunday edition
cozen
Playing on his vanity and his desire to be known as a “good guy”, I tried to … him into lending me his car
