Difficult: Set 4

Question 1

to flatter with the purpose of getting something

Answer 1

butter up

It is no use trying to butter her up. She won’t forget that YOU forgot to call her on her birthday last week.

Question 2

to cause to make mistakes

pv

Answer 2

trip up

The first question on the test tripped me up, and I lost my concentration on the rest of the test.

Question 3

do very well on an assignment or test

Answer 3

ace

I can’t believe she aced the test because she didn’t study much last night.

Question 4

idiom

I’ll get a perfect score on the chemistry test. __ _____.

no problem, sth that is easy to do

Answer 4

No sweat

Question 5

pv

The teacher ______ ___ the assignment at the end of class.

give sth to each member of a group

Answer 5

passed out

Question 6

There are plenty of ______ straight A students in that class.

smart or intelligent

Answer 6

bright

Question 7

I usually go ________ home after work to have dinner with my family.

immediately or directly

Answer 7

straight

Question 8

become upset or emotional

idiom

Answer 8

get worked up

My mom got all worked up when she found out that someone broke into her car and stole her purse.

Question 9

continue to employ someone in a job

idiom

Answer 9

keep someone on

After the flower shop was robbed, the owner realized he didn’t have enough money to keep some of the employees on for a while.

Question 10

to be hurt, damaged, or killed because of something or someone

phrase

Answer 10

fall victim to someone/something

• Sea turtles in this region often fall victim to the effects of pollution.
• The company has fallen victim to increased competition.
• For the article, he interviewed two people who had fallen victim to identity theft.

Question 11

a robbery where a gun is often used

Answer 11

stick-up

Three men burst into the store and announced it was a stick-up, and they demanded that everyone get on the floor.

Question 12

fill a space completely, often in a quick and careless manner

Answer 12

stuff

The shoplifter stuffed the stolen merchandise in his socks and pants before she left the store.

Question 13

____ _____! I can’t believe you’re hiding your money.

an expression of disgust or surprise

Answer 13

Good grief

Question 14

easily annoyed or angered person

adj

Answer 14

cranky

Our manager was very cranky this morning when he found out someone had stolen money from the cash register.

Question 15

someone you feel sorry for

Answer 15

poor devil

Question 16

I only have a few dollars and some _____ ______ in my register.

coins

Answer 16

loose change

Question 17

very thin and weak because of being sick or not eating enough food

истощенный

Answer 17

emaciated

It wouldn’t even fit an emaciated snake.

Question 18

We take a lot of ______ in our clothing.

satisfaction

Answer 18

pride

Question 19

The quality of your merchandise is ______ at best.

некачественный, халтурный

Answer 19

shoddy

Question 20

Your service, well, is ___-________.

absent/lacking

Answer 20

non-existent

Question 21

They’ve been seeing each other __ and ___ since Christmas.

время от времени, периодически

Answer 21

on and off

Question 22

that’s pretty _________

worrying

Answer 22

worrisome

Question 23

in control of a situation and aware of changes

idiom

Answer 23

on top of something

• The stock market has been unpredictable, and you really have to stay on top of things.
• You know, it’s really important because you’ve got to get on top of it.

Question 24

I was trying to ____ a mosquito buzzing around my head

to hit sth like an insect

Answer 24

swat

I spent the whole afternoon swatting flies instead of concentrating on my reading.

Question 25

Carol took up _______ when she was in elementary school.

the art or sport of shooting arrows

Answer 25

archery

Question 26

accept something even though it is not what you want

pv

Answer 26

settle for

We didn’t have any more steak for dinner, so I had to settle for rice and beans.

Question 27

The other kids are always _______ me about it.

make fun of or tease

Answer 27

razzing

Some of the kids razzed their friend for kissing a girl.

Question 28

adv.

While she waited, she walked _________ around the parking lot.

without clear direction

Answer 28

aimlessly

She wandered aimlessly through the cold morning streets, not sure which way she was going.

Question 29

The men were ____ after hiking 10 hours in the snow.

very tired

Answer 29

beat

Question 30

starting price

Answer 30

introductory price

We want to offer you a free trial membership to our sports club downtown at the introductory price of $39.95

Question 31

Well, this is a ____-__-_-________ deal.

раз в жизни

Answer 31

once-in-a-lifetime

Question 32

do something a lot without achieving your goal

idiom

Answer 32

do something until someone is blue in the face

Listen. You can talk to me about the product until you’re blue in the face, but I still won’t buy it.

Question 33

always thinking about one specific think

idiom

Answer 33

one-track mind

Telemarketers only have a one-track mind: money, money, and more money. They never think about what customers really need.

Question 34

assist someone out of a difficult, often financial, situation

idiom

Answer 34

bail out

If your car is towed away, don’t expect me to bail you out.

Question 35

The police need to ______ these laws to preserve the peace.

defend (a law or policy)

Answer 35

uphold

Question 36

unreasonable or without good sense

Answer 36

ludicrous

The fine for parking illegally was so ludicrous that my roommate decided to fight it in court.

Question 37

I think I’ll __ ____ the budget tour to Hawaii on this trip.

choose sth

Answer 37

go with

Question 38

your intelligence or brain

Answer 38

gray matter

Contestants really have to use their gray matter to answer those tough questions.

Question 39

thinking quickly and intelligently

idiom

Answer 39

on the ball

If you are not on the ball, you won’t be able to win the game.

Question 40

the best, biggest, or most impressive

Answer 40

grand

Everyone was very impressed with the grand plan to build a modern library.

Question 41

a prize given to those who do not win a contest

Answer 41

consolation prize

Although I didn’t win on the game show, I still received a nice set of golf clubs as consolation prize.

Question 42

Which word matches the image?

Answer 42

a giant squid

Question 43

Rephrase

Sorry, you’re gonna have to address that complaint with the city.

Answer 43

Sorry, you’re gonna have to take that complaint up with the city.

Question 44

immediately, without delay

idiom

Answer 44

in nothing flat

You used to be able to get through airport security in nothing flat, but it takes more time now because of increased security measures.

Question 45

no decision has been made

idiom

Answer 45

up in the air

Our travel plans are still up in the air, but we should know more by tomorrow.

Question 46

powerful and beautiful creating a feeling of great respect

величественный

Answer 46

majestic

My Japanese students were very moved by the majestic view at Dead Horse Point National Park in Southern Utah.

Question 47

calm and peaceful

спокойный, безмятежный

Answer 47

serene

• a serene face/smile
• The serene expressions on the students’ faces told me they enjoyed the trip.

Question 48

having natural beauty

живописный

Answer 48

scenic

The drive home was very scenic, so we stopped several times along the way to take pictures.

Question 49

extremely pleasing or wonderful

невероятный, потрясающий

Answer 49

fabulous

The hotel was fabulous. It has very nice furnishings, and the view was wonderful.

Question 50

We had to drive to a very ______ area to see the waterfall.

far away in distance

Answer 50

remote

Question 51

Which word matches the image?

Answer 51

ruins

It’s a three-hour scenic hike to the Indian ruins from the trailhead.

Question 52

to maintain or protect in safe condition

Answer 52

preserve

The national park service has been trying to preserve the old trail to the Indian ruins.

Question 53

places like hotels or inns to stay and sleep

Answer 53

lodging

That travel guide has a lot of information on lodging in that area.

Question 54

a long walk, often through the mountains

Answer 54

trek

They estimate that the trek will take about a week.

Question 55

the quality of being very large and special or beautiful

величие, великолепие

Answer 55

grandeur

the grandeur of the hills

Question 56

a long, deep, narrow hole in rock or ice

расселина, ущелье

Answer 56

chasm

This very narrow, winding chasm, with its steep walls on either side of you.

Question 57

Rephrase

You’ll also hike and climb to remote Indian ruins.

Answer 57

You’ll also hike and scramble up to remote indian ruins.

Question 58

Which word matches the image?

Answer 58

rappelling

in UK abseiling

You’ll also learn the basics in rappelling—techniques designed specifically for the novice climber.

Question 59

to be extremely eager to have or do sth

idiom

Answer 59

be dying for/to do sth

• I’m dying to hear your news.
• I’m dying for something to eat.

Question 60

someone who acts or behaves badly when they lose a game

idiom

Answer 60

sore / bad loser

I don’t like playing him very much because he’s always a sore loser when I beat him playing video games. He’ll run off and be mad the whole day.

Question 61

formal

to guess that sth is true because of the information that you have

заключать, делать вывод

Answer 61

infer

I inferred from the number of cups that he was expecting visitors.

Question 62

not usual or regular work

Answer 62

odd job

I had to accept a few odd jobs after I graduated before I found good steady work.

Question 63

a small outdoor store where things are sold

Answer 63

stand

I worked one summer at a fruit stand downtown to earn money to pay for college.

Question 64

We go on vacation _____ __ _ ____ ____.

very rarely

Answer 64

once in a blue moon

Question 65

I hope this money will ____ __ for the inconvenience.

compensate

Answer 65

make up

Question 66

Which word matches the image?

Answer 66

icicle

Question 67

The old stove ____ its last ______ weeks ago.

died

Answer 67

took its last breath

Question 68

in poor condition, dirty

Answer 68

trashy

Unfortunately, they lived for a short time in a real trashy apartment until they could afford something better.

Question 69

to suddenly begin to have a rash on your skin

Answer 69

break out

Emily’s son broke out in a very bad rash after he was stung by a bee in the backyard.

Question 70

Well the only _______ I know is in front of the stadium on 2nd Street.

a shop that sells flowers

Answer 70

florist

Question 71

a person who works long hours

Answer 71

workaholic

My brother is a workaholic, and he spends up to 14 hours a day running his business.

Question 72

a minor annoyance that bothers someone

Answer 72

pet peeve

A messy house is one of my pet peeves. I just wish my kids would clean up after themselves.

Question 73

expression

Sleeping in class really ____ the teacher

bother someone

Answer 73

bugs

bug someone

Sleeping in class really bugs the teacher, so you should get more rest at night.

Question 74

think of something suddenly

expression

Answer 74

pop into one’s mind

The words to this old song popped into my mind while I was riding my bike.

Question 75

doubtful or not sure about the truth of something

Answer 75

dubious

I was somewhat dubious about his claim that he graduate from that university.

Question 76

take a vacation from an activity or work

Answer 76

take off

I’m going to take off Friday to spend time with family for our son’s birthday.

Question 77

cause something to stop burning

Answer 77

extinguish

The kids accidentally caught some newspapers on fire at the birthday party, and I extinguished it quickly before there was a problem.

Question 78

A ceremony will be held to ____________ the battle.

ознаменовывать, отмечать

Answer 78

commemorate

Question 79

rephrase

difficult or rowdy guests

rowdy-шумный, буйный

Answer 79

unruly guests

Question 80

Rephrase

Free bathroom items like soap and shampoo

Answer 80

Complimentary toiletries like soap and shampoo

Question 81

a hotel with high standards of ___________

чистота, опрятность

Answer 81

cleanliness

Question 82

(several things or people) combined into one similar thing

idiom

Answer 82

rolled into one

This park is an entertainment center, educational center, and relaxation spa all rolled into one.

Question 83

empty of people in a barren or inhospitable state

Answer 83

desolate

We were surprised by the desolate landscape of the desert.

Question 84

make a collect call, where the recipient of the call pays for the charges

Answer 84

call collect

When I was a child, I used to call my parents collect from a payphone at school to avoid using my own money.

Question 85

having or showing a deep understanding or perception of something

Answer 85

insightful

The teacher made several insightful comments in the class about the impact of technology on today’s society.

Question 86

Which word matches the image?

Answer 86

rotary phone

Question 87

to fight or argue

сталкиваться, спорить

Answer 87

clash

• Government troops clashed with rebel soldiers.
• Many young people clash with their parents over what time they must be home at night.

Question 88

formal

to choose someone or something for a particular purpose or duty

назначать, устанавливать

Answer 88

designate

• The area has been designated as a nature reserve.
• Everyone is designated to clean different parts of the apartment every week.