LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

Question 1

CULTURE SHOCK

Answer 1

A feeling of confusion felt by someone visiting a country or place that they do not know

Example: It was a real culture shock to find herself in New York after living on a small island

When she first arrived, she suffered a culture shock cause she is not used to hugging when greeting somene

Question 2

CULTURAL IDENTITY

Answer 2

The sense of belonging people have to a certain nation

Example: Even though he was borned Russian, his cultural identity is German

Peoples cultural identity has to be the first thing to take into account on al international argument about territory

Question 3

CUSTOM

Answer 3

The whole body of usages, practices, or conventions that regulate social life

Example: In my country, it’s the custom (for women) is to get married in white

Kissing while greeting is a custom which is beginning to die out due to the pandemic

Question 4

TRADITIONS

Answer 4

A belief, principle, or way of acting that people in a particular society or group have continued to follow for a long time, or all of these beliefs, etc. in a particular society or group

Example: Fireworks have long been an American tradition on the Fourth of July

We decided to break with tradition this year and go away for Christmas

Question 5

MELTING POT

Answer 5

A place where many different people and ideas exist together, often mixing and producing something new

Example:

Question 6

HIGHBROW

Answer 6

(of books, plays, etc.) involving serious and complicated or artistic ideas, or (of people) interested in serious and complicated subjects

Example: This is a film for highbrows

Not all cientists are highbrows

Question 7

LOWBROW

Answer 7

(of entertainment) not complicated or demanding much intelligence to be understood

Example: He regards the sort of books I read as very lowbrow

I like a lowbrow action movie once in a while

Question 8

DEPICT

Answer 8

To represent or show something in a picture or story

Example: Her paintings depict the lives of ordinary people in the last century

In the book, he depicts his father as a violent person

Question 9

ROOTED IN

Answer 9

Having developed from something

Example: The problems were rooted in the area’s history

Her opinions are deeply rooted in her faith

Question 10

EVOCATIVE

Answer 10

Making you remember or imagine something pleasant or an emotional response

Example: Evocative music

The painting is so evocative, it brings me back to the 17th century

Question 11

TIMELESS

Answer 11

Something that is timeless does not change as the years go past

Example: a timeless book/play/film/classic

Picasso’s paintings have a timeless quality

Question 12

CONTEMPORARY

Answer 12

Existing or happening now

Example: Contemporary music/literature/art/fashion

Belonging to the same or a stated period in the past

Most of the writers he was contemporary with were interested in the same subjects

Question 13

INNOVATIVE

Answer 13

Using new methods or ideas

Example: She was an imaginative and innovative manager

The techniques of the painting are very innovative, no one could have thought of that before

Question 14

STARTLING

Answer 14

Causing momentary fright, surprise, or astonishment

Example: He made some startling admissions about his past

It is startling the combination of colours the painter did in his work of art, I never expected a painter of that time to make use of those colours

Question 15

ARRESTING

Answer 15

Very attractive in a way that attracts a lot of attention

Example: An arresting-looking woman

The writer has an arresting style

Question 16

COMPELLING

Answer 16

Very exciting and interesting and making you want to watch or listen

Example: I found the whole film very compelling

The book was so compelling that I finished it in a day

Question 17

DISPROVE

Answer 17

To prove that something is not true

Example: The allegations have been disproved

There is no evidence to disprove or prove the alegations she made

Question 18

CONFUTE

Answer 18

To prove a person or an argument to be wrong

Example: Theories which will eventually be confirmed or confuted by experience

Vulnerable, uninformed wives have hardly been in a position to confute men

Question 19

IMPLAUSIBLE

Answer 19

Difficult to believe, or unlikely

Example: The whole plot of the film is ridiculously implausible

The plot of the novel involving a 23-year-old brain surgeon, is implausible to begin with

Question 20

DEROGATORY

Answer 20

Showing strong disapproval and not showing respect

Example: He made some derogatory comment/remark about her appearance

He referred to the survivors in derogatory terms

Question 21

DEMISE

Answer 21

**The end of something that was previously considered to be powerful, such as a business, industry, or system

Example: The demise of the company was sudden and unexpected

**The death of a person

Example: His demise affected everyone in the family

Question 22

QUERY

Answer 22

A question, often expressing doubt about something or looking for an answer from an authority

Example: If you have any queries about your treatment, the doctor will answer them

Most of the job involves sorting customers out who have queries

Question 23

LINGUA FRANCA

Answer 23

A language used for communication between groups of people who speak different languages

Example: The international business community sees English as a lingua franca

Some people believe that in the future, Chinese will be the new lingua franca

Question 24

PREFACE

Answer 24

Something that comes before and introduces a more important thing, esp. an introduction at the beginning of a book that explains its aims

Example: Each work is prefaced by a descriptive note and concludes with an author’s note

We’re hoping these talks could be a preface to peace

Question 25

UNCULTIVATED

Answer 25

Someone who is uncultivated has not had a good education and may not know a lot about art, music, painting, etc Example: We must always remember that he was not an ignorant or uncultivated soldier He is a bit uncultivated due to the fact that his parents couldn't afford a proper education

Question 26

UNASSAILABLE

Answer 26

In such a strong position that cannot be defeated, attacked, doubt or argued with Example: The president looked unassailable with over 60 percent of the vote The conclusions were unassailable

Question 27

MIGHTY

Answer 27

Very large, powerful, or important Example: Their mighty army marched on Moscow He held the baby in his mighty hands

Question 28

CONVERSELY

Answer 28

In an opposite way Example: Poor health is accepted as an attribute of normal ageing. Conversely, youth is depicted as a time of vitality and good health Capitalism can be seen as the best organization system or conversey, the worst thing that we hae implemented in the world

Question 29

COERCION

Answer 29

The use of force to persuade someone to do something that they are unwilling to do (uso de la fuerza) Example: He claimed the police had used coercion, threats, and promises to obtain the statement illegally The use of coercion by the goverment is one of the most anti-democratic actions that can be made.

Question 30

UNDERPLAY

Answer 30

To make something such as a dangerous situation seem less important or dangerous than it really is Example: While not wanting to underplay the seriousness of the situation, I have to say that it is not as bad as people seem to think The president tried to underplay the hole economic situation but the crisis was very obvious

Question 31

ENDURING

Answer 31

Existing for a long time Example: The enduring appeal of cartoons I hope that the friends I make here endure for ever.

Question 32

WITHER

Answer 32

To slowly disappear, lose importance, or become weaker Example: This country is in danger of allowing its industrial base to wither away The forces have wither over time

Question 33

UNCLUTTERED

Answer 33

(of a room, etc.) not having too many objects in it, and looking tidy; not containing too many small details or different parts Example: A clean, uncluttered home will always appear elegant The website has been given a new, uncluttered design

Question 34

UNBEATABLE

Answer 34

Unable to be defeated or improved because of excellent quality Example: The 23-year-old US tennis star looks unbeatable this season This is an unbeatable pizza, the best I've ever tried

Question 35

DISAGREEABLE//AGREEABLE

Answer 35

Unpleasant//Pleasant Example: She said some very disagreeable things A disagreeable young man We spent a most agreeable evening by the river

Question 36

UNBIASED

Answer 36

Able to judge fairly because you are not influenced by your own opinions Example: She has an unbiased opinion She gave me some useful unbiased advice

Question 37

AUSPICIOUS

Answer 37

Suggesting a positive and successful future Example: They won their first match of the season 5–1 which was an auspicious start/beginning Our first meeting was not auspicious - we had a huge argument

Question 38

INAUSPICIOUS

Answer 38

Showing signs that something will not be successful or positive Example: After an inauspicious start, Scotland went on to win the match The meeting of the minister of economy with the mamagers of the FMI was very inauspicious

Question 39

GLOBAL INFLUENCE

Answer 39

Influence produced globally Example: The USA is the principal center of global influence, almost every country in the world follows their trends

Question 40

INAPT

Answer 40

Not suitable for the situation Example: His comments were perhaps inapt His actions were rather inapt, howeaver, his intentions were good

Question 41

OVERPLAY

Answer 41

To make something seem more important than it really is Example: I think she's overplaying the significance of his remarks

Question 42

OVERPLAY

Answer 42

To make something seem more important than it really is Example: I think she's overplaying the significance of his remarks The president is overplaying his archivements making it seem tht he does everything right

Question 43

CULTURE VULTURE

Answer 43

Someone who is very interested in music, art, theatre, etc. Example: If you're a culture vulture, New York has everything you could want - opera, theatre, museums, and more I consider myself a culture vulture, I love literature, music, art and movies, form all timelines.

Question 44

INTO THE BARGAIN

Answer 44

In addition to other facts which have been mentioned previously Example: Our latest recruit is an excellent analyst, and a very good manager into the bargain Dickens was a colourful character and a gifted writer into the bargain

Question 45

WELL AND TRULY

Answer 45

Completely Example: We got well and truly lost when we were looking for the MET in NYC The party was well and truly over when he arrived

Question 46

EVER SUCH

Answer 46

Used as a more forceful way to say "such" Example: He's ever such a nice person When I was younger I used to read ever such a lot of detective stories

Question 47

PIONEER

Answer 47

A person who is one of the first people to do something Example: Mery Curie was one of the pioneers of modern science Adam Smith was the pioneer of capitalism

Question 48

VIVID SNAPSHOTS

Answer 48

(on a novel/book)Very clear idea of what the novel is like Example: This book has very vivis snapshots of reality

Question 49

WARTS AND ALL

Answer 49

Describing or including all the bad qualities in a person's character, with no attempt to hide them Example: He tried to paint the president as he really was, warts and all Warts and all, that is no small achievement in a field so full of comparative research

Question 50

PRONE TO STROPPINESS

Answer 50

Likely to be bad tempered or easily anoyed Example: Luci is very prone to stroppiness, she yelled Tom the other day just because he unplagged her headphones I tried to control myself, but I am afraid I can be very prone to stroppiness sometimes

Question 51

MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN

Answer 51

Very compatible, borned to be toghether, etc. Example: They seemed like a match made in heaven, I can't understand why they broke up You will realise thet the characters are a match made in heaven from the first moment you see them toghether

Question 52

WILL THEY WON'T THEY RELATIONSHIP

Answer 52

They go back and forth in a relationship (van y vuelven) Example: They are living a will they won't they relationship, I can't keep track of them

Question 53

GONE VIRAL

Answer 53

Made extremely public, especialyon the internet Example: His video went viral Her naked photos went viral, I can't iimagine how she must be feeling

Question 54

PUBLISHING PHENOMENON

Answer 54

best-seller//blockbuster Example: What made the book a publishing phenomenon was its format Her book is a publishing phenomenon, everyone in the UK is reading it