IELTS, TOIEC book

Question 1

a departure from what is normal, usual, or expected, typically an unwelcome one.

Answer 1

aberration
they described the outbreak of violence in the area as an aberration

Question 2

leave hurriedly and secretly, typically to escape from custody or avoid arrest.

Answer 2

abscond
the barman absconded with a week’s takings

Question 3

the action of renouncing or rejecting something.

Answer 3

abnegation
abnegation of political power

Question 4

difficult to understand
2

Answer 4

obscure,
abstruse
an abstruse philosophical inquiry

Question 5

accept something reluctantly but without protest.

Answer 5

acquiesce
Sara acquiesced in his decision

Question 6

(typically of speech or discussion) angry and bitter.

Answer 6

acrimonious
“an acrimonious dispute about wages

Question 7

a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

Answer 7

adage
“the old adage ‘out of sight out of mind’”

Question 8

urge or request (someone) solemnly or earnestly to do something

Answer 8

adjure
“I adjure you to tell me the truth

Question 9

clever or skillful

Answer 9

adroit
“he was adroit at tax avoidance

Question 10

excessive praise or admiration

Answer 10

adulation
he found it difficult to cope with the adulation of the fans

Question 11

render (something) poorer in quality by adding another substance.

Answer 11

adulterate
“the brewer is said to adulterate his beer”

Question 12

To describe roughly or briefly or
give the main points or
summary of

Answer 12

adumbrate

Question 13

a difficult or unpleasant situation.

Answer 13

adversity
“resilience in the face of adversity”

Question 14

behaviour, speech, or writing that is pretentious and designed to impress.

Answer 14

affectation
“the affectation of a man who measures every word for effect”

Question 15

form or group into a class or cluster.

Answer 15

aggregate
“socio-occupational groups aggregate men sharing similar kinds of occupation”

Question 16

the state of mind in which someone acts against their better judgement through weakness of will.

Answer 16

akrasia

Question 17

brisk and cheerful readiness.

Answer 17

alacrity
“she accepted the invitation with alacrity”

Question 18

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Answer 18

allegory
“Pilgrim’s Progress is an allegory of the spiritual journey”

Question 19

make (suffering, deficiency, or a problem) less severe.

Answer 19

alleviate
“he couldn’t prevent her pain, only alleviate it”

Question 20

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

Answer 20

allusion
“an allusion to Shakespeare”

Question 21

combine or unite to form one organization or structure.

Answer 21

amalgate
“he amalgamated his company with another”

Question 22

the state of having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone.

Answer 22

ambivalence
“the law’s ambivalence about the importance of a victim’s identity”

Question 23

characterized by friendliness and absence of discord.

Answer 23

amicable
“an amicable settlement of the dispute”

Question 24

belonging to a period other than that being portrayed.

belonging or appropriate to an earlier period, especially so as to seem conspicuously old-fashioned.

Answer 24

anachronistic
“‘Titus’ benefits from the effective use of anachronistic elements like cars and loudspeakers”
she is rebelling against the anachronistic morality of her parents”

Question 25

Is a word or phrase made by transposing the letters of another word or phrase. In other words, any phrase or word that exactly reproduces the letters in another order is

Answer 25

anagram secure is an anagram of rescue; angel is an anagram of glean; state is an anagram of taste, etc

Question 26

in a new or different and typically more positive way. once more; again.

Answer 26

anew "her career had begun anew, with a lucrative Japanese modelling contract" "tears filled her eyes anew"

Question 27

complete destruction or obliteration.

Answer 27

annihilation "the threat of global annihilation"

Question 28

an official or legal cancellation

Answer 28

annulment the act of annulling something. "the applicant sought the annulment of the decision"

Question 29

ack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

Answer 29

apathy "widespread apathy among students"

Question 29

regard w disgust and hatred

Answer 29

abhor he abhorred sexism in any way or form.

Question 30

the highest point in the development of something; a climax or culmination.

Answer 30

apogee "a film which was the apogee of German expressionist cinema" 2. ASTRONOMY the point in the orbit of the moon or a satellite at which it is furthest from the earth.

Question 31

the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political belief or principle.

Answer 31

apostasy "the execution of their leader for apostasy brought widespread criticism"

Question 32

the highest point in the development of something; a culmination or climax. 2. the elevation of someone to divine status.

Answer 32

apotheosis "his appearance as Hamlet was the apotheosis of his career" Similar: culmination climax crowning moment peak pinnacle summit zenith apex acme apogee high point highest point height high water mark Opposite: nadir "death spared Pompey the task of having to account for the apotheosis of Caesar"

Question 33

pacify or placate (someone) by acceding to their demands. 2. assuage or satisfy (a demand or a feeling).

Answer 33

appease "amendments have been added to appease local pressure groups" "we give to charity because it appeases our guilt"

Question 34

inform or tell (someone).

Answer 34

apprise "I thought it right to apprise Chris of what had happened"

Question 35

a thing that is very old or old-fashioned, especially an archaic word or style of language or art.

Answer 35

archaism "conscious archaisms inspired by French harpsichord music" the use or conscious imitation of archaic styles or features in language or art. "Mozart's use of archaism"

Question 36

1. a very typical example of a certain person or thing. 2. PSYCHOANALYSIS (in Jungian theory) a primitive mental image inherited from the earliest human ancestors, and supposed to be present in the collective unconscious.

Answer 36

archetype "he was the archetype of the old-style football club chairman"

Question 37

(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation. 2. lacking in interest, excitement, or meaning.

Answer 37

arid "the arid plains north of Cape Town" "his arid years in suburbia"

Question 38

a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief. "his assertion that his father had deserted the family"

Answer 38

assertion "the assertion of his legal rights"

Question 39

showing great care and perseverance.

Answer 39

assiduous "she was assiduous in pointing out every feature"

Question 40

make (an unpleasant feeling) less intense. satisfy (an appetite or desire).

Answer 40

assuage "the letter assuaged the fears of most members" "an opportunity occurred to assuage her desire for knowledge"

Question 41

severe or strict in manner or attitude. (of living conditions or a way of life) having no comforts or luxuries. having a plain and unadorned appearance.

Answer 41

austere "he was an austere man, with a rigidly puritanical outlook" "conditions in the prison could hardly be more austere" "the cathedral is impressive in its austere simplicity"

Question 42

LITERARY help or benefit. 2. INDIAN use or take advantage of (an opportunity or available resource).

Answer 42

avail "no amount of struggle availed Charles" "you can avail discounts on food" "he begged her to reconsider, but to no avail"

Question 43

extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

Answer 43

avarice "he was rich beyond the dreams of avarice"

Question 44

a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.

Answer 44

axiom "the axiom that sport builds character"

Question 45

the playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks. verb exchange remarks in a good-humoured teasing way.

Answer 45

banter "there was much good-natured banter" "the men bantered with the waitresses"

Question 46

reluctant to draw attention to oneself; shy.

Answer 46

bashful "everything you need to know but have been too bashful to ask"

Question 47

demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.

Answer 47

bellicose "a mood of bellicose jingoism"

Question 48

well meaning and kindly. (of an organization) serving a charitable rather than a profit-making purpose.

Answer 48

benevolent "he was something of a benevolent despot" "a benevolent fund"

Question 49

cause (someone) to become perplexed and confused.

Answer 49

bewilder "she was bewildered by his sudden change of mood"

Question 50

a thing that is helpful or beneficial.

Answer 50

boon "the route will be a boon to many travellers"

Question 51

(of water) slightly salty, as in river estuaries.

Answer 51

brackish "a cup of brackish water"

Question 52

bold and without shame. verb endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame.

Answer 52

brazen "he went about his illegal business with a brazen assurance" "there was nothing to do but brazen it out"

Question 53

begin to grow or increase rapidly; flourish.

Answer 53

burgeon "the city's suburbs have burgeoned, sprawling out from the centre"

Question 54

persuade (someone) to do something by sustained coaxing or flattery.

Answer 54

cajole "he hoped to cajole her into selling the house"

Question 55

mutual trust and friendship among people who spend a lot of time together.

Answer 55

camaraderie "the enforced camaraderie of office life"

Question 56

the quality of being open and honest; frankness.

Answer 56

candor "a man of refreshing candor"

Question 57

bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.

Answer 57

cantankerous "he can be a cantankerous old fossil at times"

Question 58

To criticize someone or something severely; verbal punishment.

Answer 58

castigate "he was castigated for not setting a good example"

Question 59

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

Answer 59

catharsis "music is a means of catharsis for them"

Question 60

make petty or unnecessary objections.

Answer 60

cavil "they cavilled at the cost"

Question 61

(of a route or journey) longer than the most direct way.

Answer 61

circuitous "the canal followed a circuitous route"