English Vol. 2

Question 1

Retaliate

Answer 1

If you retaliate when someone harms or annoys you, you do something
which harms or annoys them in return.
I was sorely tempted to retaliate.

The company would retaliate against employees who joined a union.
re|talia|tionrɪtælieɪʃənPolice said they believed the attack was in retaliation for the death of the drug trafficker.BBC

Question 2

Convene

Answer 2

If someone convenes a meeting or conference, they arrange for it to take place.
You can also say that people convene or that a meeting convenes .

Last August he convened a meeting of his closest advisers at Camp David.

Question 3

Combustible

Answer 3

A combustible material or gas catches fire and burns easily.

The ability of coal to release a combustible gas has long been known.

Question 4

Savor

Answer 4

If you savor an experience, you enjoy it as much as you can.

She savored her newfound freedom.

If you savor food or drink, you eat or drink it slowly in order to taste its full flavor and to enjoy it properly.

Just relax, eat slowly and savor the full flavor of your food.

Question 5

Pertinent

Answer 5

Something that is pertinent is relevant to a particular subject.

She had asked some pertinent questions.
…name, address, and other pertinent information.

Question 6

in principle

Answer 6

as a general idea or plan, although the details are not yet established or clear.
“the government agreed in principle to a peace plan that included a ceasefire”

Question 7

Eradicate

Answer 7

To eradicate something means to get rid of it completely.

They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.

eradi|ca|tionɪrædɪkeɪʃən…a significant contribution toward the eradication of corruption.BBC

Question 8

Savvy

Answer 8

If you describe someone as having savvy, you think that they have a good understanding and practical knowledge of something.
He is known for his political savvy and strong management skills.

Question 9

Sovereign

Answer 9

A sovereign state or country is independent and not under the authority of any other country.

Lithuania and Armenia signed a treaty in Vilnius recognizing each other as independent sovereign states.

Sovereign is used to describe the person or institution that has the highest power in a country.
Sovereign power will continue to lie with the Supreme People’s Assembly.

Question 10

Leave in a bind

Answer 10

In a difficult, threatening, or embarrassing position; also, unable to solve a dilemma.

Question 11

Presumably

Answer 11

If you say that something is presumably the case, you mean that you think it is very likely to be the case, although you are not certain.
The spear is presumably the murder weapon.

Question 12

Whereas

Answer 12

You use whereas to introduce a comment that contrasts with what is said in the main clause.

Benefits are linked to inflation, whereas they should be linked to the cost of living.

Question 13

Contingency

Answer 13

A contingency is something that might happen in the future.

I need to examine all possible contingencies.

adjective
A contingency plan or measure is one that is intended to be used if a possible situation actually occurs.
We have contingency plans.

Question 14

Incumbent

Answer 14

An incumbent is someone who holds an official post at a particular time.

In general, incumbents have a 94 percent chance of being re-elected.

adjective
Incumbent is also an adjective.
…the only candidate who defeated an incumbent senator.
If it is incumbent on or upon you to do something, it is your duty or responsibility to do it.
She felt it was incumbent on herself to act immediately.

Question 15

Deterrence

Answer 15

Deterrence is the prevention of something, especially war or crime, by having something such as weapons or punishment to use as a threat.
…policies of nuclear deterrence.

Question 16

Futile

Answer 16

If you say that something is futile, you mean there is no point in doing it, usually because it has no chance of succeeding.

He brought his arm up in a futile attempt to ward off the blow.

Question 17

Ward

Answer 17

A ward is a room in a hospital which has beds for many people, often people who need similar treatment.
They transferred her to the psychiatric ward.

Question 18

Autocracy

Answer 18

Autocracy is government or control by one person who has complete power.
Many poor countries are abandoning autocracy.
count noun

An autocracy is a country or organization that is ruled by one person who has complete power.

She ceded all power to her son-in-law who now runs the country as an autocracy.

Question 19

Impoverish

Answer 19

Something that impoverishes a person or a country makes them poor.

We need to reduce the burden of taxes that impoverish the economy.

im|pov|er|ishedThe goal is to lure businesses into impoverished areas by offering them tax breaks.National Public Radio

A person or thing that impoverishes something makes it worse in quality.
A top dressing of fertilizer should be added to improve growth as mint impoverishes the soil quickly.

Question 20

Elicit

Answer 20

If you elicit a response or a reaction, you do or say something that makes other people respond or react.

Mr. Norris said he was hopeful that his request would elicit a positive response.

If you elicit a piece of information, you get it by asking the right questions.
My letters to her have elicited no response.

Question 21

Hypocrite

Answer 21

If you accuse someone of being a hypocrite, you mean that they pretend to have qualities, beliefs, or feelings that they do not really have.

The magazine wrongly suggested he was a liar and a hypocrite.

Question 22

Tentative

Answer 22

Tentative agreements, plans, or arrangements are not definite or certain, but have been made as a first step.

Political leaders have reached a tentative agreement to hold a preparatory conference next month.
ten|ta|tive|lyADV with vThe next round of talks is tentatively scheduled to begin October 21st in Washington.National Public Radio

If someone is tentative, they are cautious and not very confident because they are uncertain or afraid.
My first attempts at complaining were kind of tentative.
ten|ta|tive|lyADV with vPerhaps, he suggested tentatively, they should send for Dr. Esteves.British books

Question 23

Rhetoric

Answer 23

If you refer to speech or writing as rhetoric, you disapprove of it because it is intended to convince and impress people but may not be sincere or honest.
The change is largely cosmetic, a matter of acceptable political rhetoric rather than social reality.
Rhetoric is the skill or art of using language effectively.
…the noble institutions of political life, such as political rhetoric, public office, and public service.

Question 24

Oligarchy

Answer 24

An oligarchy is a small group of people who control and run a particular country or organization. You can also refer to a country which is governed in this way as an oligarchy .
uncount noun
Oligarchy is a situation in which a country or organization is run by an oligarchy.
…a protest against imperialism and oligarchy in the region.

Question 25

Contingency

Answer 25

dependence on chance or on the fulfillment of a condition; uncertainty; fortuitousness: Nothing was left to contingency. a contingent event; a chance, accident, or possibility conditional on something uncertain: He was prepared for every contingency. something incidental to a thing.

Question 26

Exploit

Answer 26

If you say that someone is exploiting you, you think that they are treating you unfairly by using your work or ideas and giving you very little in return. Critics claim he exploited black musicians for personal gain. ex|ploi|ta|tionɛksplɔɪteɪʃənExtra payments should be made to protect the interests of the staff and prevent exploitation.Today If you say that someone is exploiting a situation, you disapprove of them because they are using it to gain an advantage for themselves, rather than trying to help other people or do what is right. The government and its opponents compete to exploit the troubles to their advantage. ex|ploi|ta|tion...the exploitation of the famine by local politicians.The Times If you exploit something, you use it well, and achieve something or gain an advantage from it. You'll need a good antenna to exploit the radio's performance. To exploit resources or raw materials means to develop them and use them for industry or commercial activities. I think we're being very short-sighted in not exploiting our own coal. ex|ploi|ta|tion...the planned exploitation of its potential oil and natural gas reserves.BBC count noun

Question 27

Exasperated

Answer 27

If someone or something exasperates you, they annoy you and make you feel frustrated or upset. The sheer futility of it all exasperates her. ex|as|pera|tionɪgzæspəreɪʃənMahoney clenched his fist in exasperation.British books

Question 28

Susceptible

Answer 28

If you are susceptible to something or someone, you are very likely to be influenced by them. Young people are the most susceptible to advertisements. James was extremely susceptible to flattery. If you are susceptible to a disease or injury, you are very likely to be affected by it. Walking with weights makes the shoulders very susceptible to injury.

Question 29

Flatter

Answer 29

If someone flatters you, they praise you in an exaggerated way that is not sincere, because they want to please you or to persuade you to do something. I knew she was just flattering me. If you flatter yourself that something good is the case, you believe that it is true, although others may disagree. If someone says to you " you're flattering yourself " or " don't flatter yourself," they mean that they disagree with your good opinion of yourself. I flatter myself that this campaign will put an end to the war.

Question 30

Plague

Answer 30

Plague or the plague is a very infectious disease that usually results in death. The patient has a severe fever and swellings on his or her body. ...a fresh outbreak of plague. count noun A plague of unpleasant things is a large number of them that arrive or happen at the same time. The city is under threat from a plague of rats. transitive verb If you are plagued by unpleasant things, they continually cause you a lot of trouble or suffering. She was plagued by weakness, fatigue, and dizziness.

Question 31

Conscience

Answer 31

Your conscience is the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is right or wrong. If you have a guilty conscience, you feel guilty about something because you know it was wrong. If you have a clear conscience, you do not feel guilty because you know you have done nothing wrong. I have battled with my conscience over whether I should actually send this letter. What if he got a guilty conscience and brought it back? uncount noun Conscience is doing what you believe is right even though it might be unpopular, difficult, or dangerous. He refused for reasons of conscience to eat meat. Conscience is a feeling of guilt because you know you have done something that is wrong. I'm so glad he had a pang of conscience. phrase If you have something on your conscience, you feel guilty because you know you have done something wrong. The drunk driver has two deaths on his conscience.

Question 32

Barrage

Answer 32

A barrage is continuous firing on an area with large guns and tanks. The artillery barrage on the city was the heaviest since the ceasefire. A barrage of something such as criticism or complaints is a large number of them directed at someone, often in an aggressive way. He was faced with a barrage of angry questions from the floor. A barrage is a structure that is built across a river to control the level of the water. ...a hydro-electric tidal barrage.

Question 33

Tenable

Answer 33

If you say that an argument, point of view, or situation is tenable, you believe that it is reasonable and could be successfully defended against criticism. This argument is simply not tenable.

Question 34

Indefinitely

Answer 34

If a situation will continue indefinitely, it will continue forever or until someone decides to change it or end it. The visit has now been postponed indefinitely.

Question 35

Perpetrate

Answer 35

If someone or something perpetuates a situation, system, or belief, especially a bad one, they cause it to continue. We must not perpetuate the religious divisions of the past.

Question 36

Preliminary

Answer 36

Preliminary activities or discussions take place at the beginning of an event, often as a form of preparation. Preliminary results show the Republican Party with 11 percent of the vote. count noun A preliminary is something that you do at the beginning of an activity, often as a form of preparation. You all know why I am here. So I won't waste time on preliminaries.

Question 37

Unsubstantiated

Answer 37

A claim, accusation, or story that is unsubstantiated has not been proven to be valid or true. I do object to their claim, which I find totally unsubstantiated.

Question 38

Refute

Answer 38

If you refute an argument, accusation, or theory, you prove that it is wrong or untrue. It was the kind of rumor that it is impossible to refute. If you refute an argument or accusation, you say that it is not true. Isabelle is quick to refute any suggestion of intellectual snobbery.

Question 39

Inflammatory

Answer 39

inflections: adjective If you accuse someone of saying or doing inflammatory things, you mean that what they say or do is likely to make people react very angrily. ...nationalist policies that are too drastic and inflammatory. An inflammatory condition or disease is one in which the patient suffers from inflammation. ...the inflammatory reactions that occur in asthma.

Question 40

Condescend

Answer 40

If someone condescends to do something, they agree to do it, but in a way which shows that they think they are better than other people and should not have to do it. When he condescended to speak, he contradicted himself three or four times in the space of half an hour. intransitive verb If you say that someone condescends to other people, you are showing your disapproval of the fact that they behave in a way which shows that they think they are superior to other people. Don't condescend to me.

Question 41

Swear

Answer 41

If someone swears, they use language that is considered to be vulgar or offensive, usually because they are angry. It's wrong to swear and shout. transitive verb If you swear to do something, you promise in a serious way that you will do it. Alan swore that he would do everything in his power to help us. We have sworn to fight cruelty wherever we find it. If you say that you swear that something is true or that you can swear to it, you are saying very firmly that it is true. I swear I've told you all I know. I swear on all I hold dear that I had nothing to do with this. If someone is sworn to secrecy or is sworn to silence, they promise another person that they will not reveal a secret. She was bursting to announce the news but was sworn to secrecy.

Question 42

Dissipate

Answer 42

When something dissipates or when you dissipate it, it becomes less or becomes less strong until it disappears or goes away completely. The tension in the room had dissipated. When someone dissipates money, time, or effort, they waste it in a foolish way. He needs someone who can keep him from dissipating his time and energy on too many different things.

Question 43

Consulate

Answer 43

A consulate is the place where a consul works. | ...the Canadian consulate in Seattle.

Question 44

Atrocity

Answer 44

An atrocity is a very cruel, shocking action. | The killing was cold-blooded, and those who committed this atrocity should be tried and punished.

Question 45

A snob

Answer 45

If you call someone a snob, you disapprove of them because they behave as if they are superior to other people because of their intelligence, taste, or social status. She was an intellectual snob.

Question 46

Vibrant

Answer 46

Someone or something that is vibrant is full of life, energy, and enthusiasm. Tom felt himself being drawn toward her vibrant personality. ...Shakespeare's vibrant language. vi|bran|cyvaɪbrənsiShe was a woman with extraordinary vibrancy and extraordinary knowledge.National Public Radio Vibrant colors are very bright and clear. Horizon blue, corn yellow and pistachio green are just three of the vibrant colors in this range. vi|brant|lyADV adj...a selection of vibrantly colored French cast-iron saucepans.British magazines

Question 47

Besieged

Answer 47

If you are besieged by people, many people want something from you and continually bother you. She was besieged by the press and the public. If soldiers besiege a place, they surround it and wait for the people in it to stop fighting or resisting. The main part of the army moved to Sevastopol to besiege the town.

Question 48

Trinity

Answer 48

In the Christian religion, the Trinity or the Holy Trinity is the union of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in one God.

Question 49

Befuddled

Answer 49

If something befuddles you, it confuses your mind or thoughts. ...problems that are befuddling them. be|fud|dled...his befuddled manner.GuardianToday

Question 50

Analytical

Answer 50

An analytical way of doing something involves the use of logical reasoning. I have an analytical approach to every survey.