C|
ABC
A fair crack of the whip never hurt anyone...
cfujl Did you know...
that an American cabstand (=the place where taxis wait for customers) is a British taxi rank?
n
1. Match the words or phrases in bold in Column A with their meanings in Column B. Make the necessary changes.
Column A
Column B
a) Your joke takes the cake!
1. succeed (in a profession)
b) It is a calamity to face unemployment.
2. punish severely
c) It was so callous of him to speak to me like that!
3. extremely rude
d) You’ve carved a niche for yourself as a teacher.
4. disaster
e) Mum’s been on my case, lately.
5. a series of bad incidents
f) I don’t think he should be castigated for so petty a crime.
6. criticise a lot
g) Her life seems to be a chapter of accidents.
7. be very amusing
2. What’s the difference between candied and candid? Look at the examples below:
% I don’t like candied fruit. % Peter has always been candid and polite. 18
a
S
AS EASY AS ABC
Do not confuse...
chard (n= a vegetable) with charred (adj= burnt) clanger (n= a silly mistake) with clangour (n= a loud sound) n clatter (n= a loud noise) with clutter (n= a number of things scattered) n complacent (adj= pleased with oneself) with complaisant (adj= willing to please) n n
3. Choose the correct item (A-B-C) a) She’s an unassuming, _________________ woman.
A. chaste
B. chased
C. chastised
b) She’s _______________ of her duties, I assure you.
A. cognitive
B. cognate
C. cognisant
c) He gave her the ________________ shoulder, as soon as he saw her.
A. cold
B. coal
C. cool
d) Dr. Babiniotis was the first to ___________ the word ‘tachyfageion’ (meaning ‘fast food’).
A. coil
B. coin
C. coincide
e) Do you go _____________ turkey after you’ve quit eating chocolate?
A. cold
B. coal
C. cool
f) They stole the money in ___________ with a policeman.
A. collision
B. collusion
C. colloquium
4. Study the following clusters of words and find the odd-one-out. (Three of them are, more or less, synonymous). a) cackle giggle laugh calm b) cajole captivate allure hypnotise c) cease desist stop chide d) chagrin annoyance charity disquiet e) cloak clog conceal cover
adrowqtrp9wotewl;xc./nsad’tw]wq 19
AS EASY AS ABC
2. Fill in the blanks with a suitable word or phrase in bold. Make the necessary changes. fastidious without fear or favour
run to fat fecund
fathomless feeble
fatuous feign
fawn fetter
a) I’ve been ___________________ lately, so I’d better cut down on sweets. b) You shouldn’t have come up with so _______________ a query! c) I have no intention of ________________ over him just because we’re close friends! d) We should stick to the rules ___________________________. e) His is a rather ______________ imagination! f) Human psyche is ___________________! g) He has always been __________________ about cleanliness. h) A high percentage of women are said to ______________ orgasm. i) A man is ______________ by his needs. j) I can’t stand _____________ excuses! 3. Spot the mistake and correct it. a) Shops are few and far among around here. b) This lock is a bit fidgety. c) I’ll fight my angle, no matter what! d) She was to become a permanent fixity on the board in later years. e) He showed a fragrant disregard for the norm. 4. Study the following clusters of words and find the odd one out. (Three of them are, more or less, synonymous). a) b) c) d) e)
flair flush suggest emotional fleeting
S
Do not confuse...
flare flash flay flinty transient
flame sparkle arraign considerable short-lived
fire flicker inveigh sympathetic permanent
fleet (adj= fast, quick) with flit (v= move quickly) flock (v= go somewhere in great numbers) with flog (v= batter or beat sb with a stick). n finch (n= a small bird with a short beak) with flinch (v= move your face or body away from sb / sth out of pain or fear) n flatter (v= praise sb in order to please them) with flutter (v= move sth (especially one’s eyelashes) lightly up and down) n forbear (v= choose not to do sth) with forebear (n= ancestor) n n
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AS EASY AS ABC
5. Match the words/phrases in Column A with those in Column B. Then, fill in the blanks below with the correct word or phrase. (Make the necessary changes).
Column A
Column B
a) fit the bill
i. criticise sb/sth angrily
b) foot the bill
ii. lonely and sad
c) foray
iii. full of insincere praise
d) forlorn
iv. fail; deteriorate
e) forthwith
v. be suitable
f) founder
vi. a short attempt at sth
g) fulminate
vii. pay the bill
h) fulsome
viii. immediately
i) furtive
ix. secretive
j) fusty
x. old-fashioned
a) I can’t be the only one to ____________________ every time we go out! b) She cast a ______________ glance at the guard, who was fast asleep. c) We have to see to it that our plan does not _____________ in the end. d) I cannot but __________________ at the inconsistencies of the system. e) She lives in the ______________ hope of seeing him again. f) Many people make _______________ into our neighbouring country to buy cheaper cigarettes. g) Mary _______________________: she has everything a man has dreamt of. h) I know I’m a good singer; I don’t set great store by critics’ ___________ praise. i) Unless you pay _____________, you will be evicted. j) How can such a handsome man wear _________ clothes? 6. Which clusters of words/phrases collocate with the words in bold?
false
far
fight
find
l fault with sb/sth4one’s feet4it in one’s heart l alarm4move4start l a losing battle4shy of sb/sth4back l and wide4be it from me4from doing sth4flung 31
P|
ABC
1. Is it true or false that...
a picayune is used to refer to a very important person? n when sth is no picnic, they are difficult? n if sth is not your pigeon, they are not your responsibility? n when you pilfer sth, you actually create it? n if you take sth with a pinch of salt, you are incredulous of it? n
I'm not pallid! He is dark!
2. Study the following clusters of words and find the odd-one-out. (Three of them are, more or less, synonymous). a) b) c) d) e)
pacify remind soothe calm track pact treaty agreement paddy fit remorse anger pageant entertainment performance skill palatable incorrigible pleasant tasty
3. Fill in the blanks with a suitable word or phrase in bold. Make the necessary changes. a past master not be a patch on sth/sb patent paucity pay dividends peckish
pave the way for keep your eyes peeled
a) It was ______________ that he had been lying to everyone! b) If you feel a bit ______________, why not try this snack? c) While you’re here with the baby, _________________________, will you? d) The government is ___________________________ more unemployment! e) He’s _________________________ at negotiations. He’s second to none! f) Your hard work will _____________________________, in the end, I’m sure! g) Due to a _____________ of evidence, we cannot draw any conclusions. h) His recent work __________________________ his earlier achievements. Has he lost all inspiration?
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4. Spot the mistake and correct it.
AS EASY AS ABC
a) I wouldn’t like my friends to pamper to my whims! b) Do you think there is panache for the economic crunch? c) China is a papa tiger. d) It is of paranoid importance to summon him to my office. e) Last time I saw her, she was pairing her nails. 5. Guess the meaning... n Schools a) Schools b) Schools c) Schools
in in in in
Greece Greece Greece Greece
are are are are
in a parlous condition. on the increase. in a state of uncertainty. branching out into new domains.
n I’m rather partial to such topics. a) I’m rather opposed to such topics. b) I often discuss such topics. c) I like such topics. n If a) If b) If c) If
things things things things
come to a pretty pass, we might even leave the country. get worse, we might even leave the country. change, we might even leave the country. get better, we might even leave the country.
6. Choose the correct item (A-B-C) a) Our school sets the _______________ in the field of foreign languages.
A. pace
B. pack
C. pact
b) His books pack quite a _______________. They’re unputdownable.
A. pad
B. pace
C. punch
c) There was no theft in the neighbourhood on ___________ of punishment.
A. pain
B. pace
C. pair
d) The defendant was at great ______ to convince the judge of his innocence.
A. paints
B. pains
C. pairs
e) She had a _______________ complexion.
A. pallid
B. palpable
C. paltry
f) He’s just a ______________ little boy!
A. pallid
B. palliative
C. pampered
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AS EASY AS ABC
Did you know... that, if sb spends a penny, they urinate? n that ‘penurious’ means ‘very poor’? n that, if sb has a peremptory tone of voice, they sound harsh and domineering? n that, if you do sth at your peril, you do it with a risk of harm? n that a period piece is sb or sth old-fashioned? n that, if you perjure yourself, you lie in court? n
7. Match the words/phrases in Column A with their synonyms in Column B and their antonyms in Column C.
Column A
Column B
Column C
honorable
1) pauper
a. clear
i.
2) peeve
b. spoil; destroy
ii. rich
3) pejorative
c. annoy
iii. enable
4) pellucid
d. liking; taste
iv. relentless
5) put paid to
e. destitute
v. please
6) penchant
f. derogatory
vi. complicated
7) penitent
g. remorseful
vii. aversion
8. Replace the words/phrases in italics with the synonymous ones given below. There is one you won’t need. (Make the necessary changes). i) in the pink ii) pitfall iii) plain sailing iv) platter v) plangent vi) pliable vii) plummet viii) ponder ix) portend x) precarious a) Our profession is faced with many difficulties, which I wouldn’t like to discuss right now. b) The mournful tones of the harp moved her to tears. c) Prices have gone down because of the crisis. d) I want you all to think about the consequences of such an action. e) She looked in perfect condition after her holidays. f) He should learn how to swim, while his mind is still flexible. g) The exam was, unexpectedly, very easy! h) The black clouds were a sign of a storm. i) Everybody’s position in the company is unsteady.
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ds
AS EASY AS ABC
9. Fill in the gaps with the words given in bold. (Some of them may be used more than once). (Make any necessary changes). perish pay perk pernicious
a) --I dread the idea of his turning up unexpectedly! --______________ the thought! b) I had to _____________ through the nose for this painting! c) A mobile phone and a car are the most common ____________ of a prestigious job. d) Millions of people _______________ during the two World Wars. e) For some, television has quite a _________________ effect on society. f) One of the things that people ____________ lip service to nowadays is democracy. 10. Put the words given in the appropriate form to fill in the gaps. a) The _______________________ was sentenced to three years in prison. (PERPETRATE) b) _____________________ is a virtue, don’t you think? (PERSPICACIOUS) c) I’m not at all _____________________, when it comes to hiding the truth. (PERSUADE) d) This is not ___________________ to our discussion. (PERTAIN) e) There is a _______________ sense of pessimism, nowadays. (PERVADE) f) She looked at me ___________________. (PETULANT)
11. Match the following phrases with their meanings. PHRASES
a) How did he take possession of these items? b) I’ll keep you posted. c) Lots of films are going to pot with the new bill. d) The powers that be show a blatant disregard for those in need. e) There is no precedent for such a decision! f) It cost me a pretty penny to buy all this furniture. MEANINGS
i) inform ii) be ruined iii) a rule for a future action iv) acquire; obtain v) a lot of money vi) people in power
dsfklsafksjflk;dsa;otwesa’dd’sg 61
AS EASY AS ABC
misogynist: E a person who dislikes or despises women mitigate: E make sth less severe or serious; alleviate; allay mob: E a large, disorderly crowd of people mollify: E appease sb’s anger or anxiety; reduce the severity of sth a money-spinner: E sth that rakes in money be over the moon: E be very happy; be elated be of little moment: E be of little importance; be of little consequence once in a blue moon: E very rarely on the spur of the moment: E on impulse money burns a hole in one’s/sb’s pockets: E waste money put one’s money where E show by one’s actions that one supports one’s mouth is: or believes sth be in the money: E be rich morbid: E gloomy; grim morbidity: E gloom morose: E unhappy moth-eaten: E worn out mournful: E sorrowful mouthpiece: E pawn
N
nag: E harass others to do what one wants; complain; whine; henpeck nail one’s colours to the mast: E publicly state one’s opinions drop names: E mention famous people’s name in order to promote oneself navigable: E (of sea or road) suitable for vessels or vehicles naughty: E badly behaved; unruly; rude necessitate: E make sth necessary nebulous: E referring to clouds; hazy; vague; ambiguous neat: E tidy; orderly; done with efficiency nefarious: E criminal; wicked; infamous
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AS EASY AS ABC
negligé: E a loose dressing gown for women negligent: E careless neglect: E abandon; fail to care for sth navvy: E unskilled worker navy: E a country’s force of ships negligible: E unimportant or small nuance: E subtle difference nuisance: E sb or sth annoying neigh: E (of a horse) whinny nemesis: E punishment for one’s wrongdoing; rival; enemy; foe nettle: E irritate; annoy; exasperate nevertheless: E however; in spite of; despite nibble: E take small bites out of hit a nerve: E broach a sensitive subject do the needful: E do what is necessary get it in the neck: E be severely criticised or punished; be castigated; be chastised if need be: E if necessary needs must when E one is forced to do things one does not the devil drives: like when in need niche: E place (in life) in the nick of time: E just in time nimble: E agile nitwit: E dimwit nil: E nothing; non-existent nobble: E bribe; grease sb’s palm noisome: E having an offensive smell; unpleasant; disagreeable nonchalant: E appearing calm; not showing anxiety, E interest, or enthusiasm nondescript: E lacking distinctive features; unremarkable; unexceptional nub: E crux; the central point of a matter; a small lump nuts: E crazy; mad nip sth in the bud: E stop sth (bad) at an early stage
O
oaf:
E stupid and clumsy
115
AS EASY AS ABC
obdurate: E stubborn do/pay/make obeisance to sb/sth: E show respect for sb or sth obesity: E the medical term for being overweight obfuscate: E deliberately make sth unclear or confusing under oath: E having sworn to tell the truth (in a court of law) sow one’s wild oats: E do wild or foolish things (from a sexual point of view) in one’s youth obedient: E submissive to others’ authority or power; complying with orders or requests; docile oblivious: E (+to/of) unaware of what is going on around one; absorbed; unconscious; indifferent oblong: E rectangular with unequal adjacent sides oblique: E slanting; angled; atilt; indirect; implicit obnoxious: E extremely unpleasant obscenities: E offensive words or images obscurity: E the state of being unknown or unimportant; the state of being difficult to understand obliging: E willing to help; helpful obligatory: E compulsory; mandatory obsequious: E obedient and servile; unctuous obsolete: E out of date; outdated; old-fashioned obstreperous: E noisy and unruly obstinate: E stubborn obtain: E acquire; get; secure obtuse: E slow to understand; slow on the uptake off-putting: E sth that puts you off; disconcerting; repellent offspring: E children; the product or result of sth it makes no odds: E it is not important; it makes no difference odious: E extremely unpleasant; repulsive in the offing: E likely to appear or happen soon on the off-chance: E just in case
116
AS EASY AS ABC
whinger: E sb who complains in an annoying way whip: E a strip of leather cord, used for flogging or beating sb whip-round: E a request for money (from a group of people) wig: E a covering for the head made of real or artificial hair wigging: E scolding; reprimand wimpish: E timid woe: E great sorrow or grief; distress; misery; melancholy; trouble; tribulation woebegone: E looking unhappy; sad; dejected
X
Xerox: E a xerographic copying process; a copy (a document) by the Xerox process xenophobia: E irrational aversion to, or fear of, people from other countries xerography: E a dry copying process whereby black or coloured powder adheres to parts of a surface, in order for a document to be copied Xmas: E informal term for Christmas X-ray: E a photographic or digital image of a part of the body xenon: E a chemical element of atomic number 54
Y
yacht: E a medium-sized sailing boat ideal for cruising or racing yack: E yak; talk at length; prattle; ramble yak: E a large domesticated wild ox yardstick: E a measuring rod; a standard used for comparison; gauge; benchmark yard: E a unit of linear measure equal to 3 feet yarrow: E a Eurasian plant with feathery leaves yaw: E (of a ship or aircraft) twist or oscillate about a vertical axis yarn: E spun thread used for knitting, weaving, or sewing; a long or
135
AS EASY AS ABC
rambling story that is implausible yawl: E a jolly boat with four or six oars yawning: E wide open yank: E pull with a jerk; tug yap: E let out a shrill bark yearn: E (+for) long for; crave; desire yell: E shout; yelp; howl yelp: E yell; shout; scream yen: E a strong desire or inclination; craving; the standard monetary unit of Japan throw off the yoke: E get rid of what thwarts you yolk: E the yellow internal part of an egg yob: E a rude, noisy, or aggressive youth yodel: E singing marked by an alternation between the normal voice and falsetto yucky: E disgusting yippee: E (exclamation) expressing delight or wild excitement yield: E produce; give way to (demands or pressure); surrender; capitulate
Z
zap: zealous: zonked out:
136
E energy; vigour E eager E drunk; exhausted
Key to
exercises