Part 2

Question 1

Bleak (adj.) [C2]

Answer 1

Not welcoming or attractive; without hope for the future; мрачный, безрадостный, унылый
“Financial times were hard and the future looked bleak”

Question 2

Blunt (adj.) [C2]

Answer 2

1. Not sharp; тупой (предметы)
2. Direct, without trying to be polite; грубый, прямой, резкий
   “I’ll be blunt - that last piece of work you did was terrible”

Question 3

Variety is the spice of life

Answer 3

Doing many different things makes life interesting; Разнообразие - это вкус жизни

Question 4

Try your hand at something

Answer 4

To try doing something for the first time; попробовать свои силы
“He decided to try his hand at knitting and discovered he was good at it”

Question 5

Pristine (adj.)

Answer 5

New or almost new, and in very good condition; чистый, нетронутый, неиспорченный
“The car seemed to be in pristine condition”

Question 6

Subscribe to something

Answer 6

To agree with or support an opinion, belief or theory; подписываться (под словами), соглашаться
“I subscribe to your previous point”

Question 7

Consensus (n.) [C2]

Answer 7

A generally accepted opinion or decision among a group of people; консенсус, согласие
“We have to a consensus”

Question 8

Take issue with someone/something [C1]

Answer 8

To disagree strongly; не соглашаться
“I took issue with him over his interpretation of the instructions”

Question 9

Contentious (adj.)

Answer 9

Causing or likely to cause disagreement or argument; противоречивый, спорный
“She has some very contentious views on education”

Question 10

Give an inch/budge/move an inch

Answer 10

To not change your opinion; поддаваться, уступать
“She’ll not give an inch, however hard you try to persuade her”

Question 11

Miss the boat [C2]

Answer 11

To lose an opportunity to do something by being slow to act; остаться ни с чем, прошляпить
“He missed the boat by waiting till today”

Question 12

Pluck up your courage [C2]

Answer 12

To force yourself to be brave enough to do something, although you are frightened or worried about it; набраться смелости, собраться с духом
“He finally plucked up courage to ask her to marry him”

Question 13

Beyond/without a shadow of (a) doubt [C2]

Answer 13

True; без тени сомнения
“I am convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that she is to blame”

Question 14

Incentive (n.) [C2]

Answer 14

Something that encourages a person to do something; motivation; стимул, побуждение, мотивация
“Bonus payments provide an incentive to work harder”

Question 15

Intrinsic (adj.) [C2]

Answer 15

Being an extremely important and basic characteristic of a person or thing; присущий, свойственный, существенный
“Maths is an intrinsic part of the school curriculum”

Question 16

Linger (v.) [C2]

Answer 16

To take a long time to leave or disappear; задерживаться, оставаться, сохраняться
“It’s impossible to forget such events - the linger in the memory forever”

Question 17

Cling (on) to something [C2]

Answer 17

To try very hard to keep something; держаться, цепляться
“He clung on to power for another ten years”

Question 18

Comprehend (v.)

Answer 18

To understand something completely; постигать, понимать
“I fail to comprehend their attitude”

Question 19

Dawn on someone [C2]

Answer 19

Understand something after a period of not understanding it; осенить, понять, осознать
“It finally dawned on him that she had been joking”

Question 20

Dazzling (adj.) [C2]

Answer 20

1. So bright that you can’t see after looking at it; ослепительный
   “A dazzling white light”
2. Extremely attractive or exciting
   “A dazzling smile”

Question 21

Go downhill [C2]

Answer 21

To gradually become worse; ухудшаться, скатываться
“They can be shy and hesitant, especially when things go downhill”

Question 22

Elaborate (adj.) [C2]

Answer 22

Containing a lot of careful detail or many detailed parts; тщательно продуманный, подробный
“He came out with such an elaborate excuse that I didn’t quite believe him.”

Question 23

Elusive (adj.) [C2]

Answer 23

Difficult to describe, find, achieve or remember; труднодостижимый, смутный
“Success, however, remained elusive for her”

Question 24

Eradicate (v.) [C2]

Answer 24

To get rid of something completely or destroy something bad; искоренить, устранить
“The government claims to be doing all it can to eradicate corruption”

Question 25

Excel (v.) [C2]

Answer 25

To be extremely good at something; преуспевать
“Rebecca always excelled in languages at school”

Question 26

Expertise (n.)

Answer 26

High level of knowledge or skill; экспертиза, компетентность
“I have no expertise in sewing”

Question 27

Proficient (adj.)

Answer 27

Skilled and experienced; опытный, искусный, умелый
“It takes a couple of years of regular driving before you become proficient at it”

Question 28

Exquisite (adj.) [C2]

Answer 28

Very beautiful and delicate; изысканный, утончённый
“She has an exquisite taste”

Question 29

Go so far as to do something [C2]

Answer 29

To be willing to do something that is extreme; бы даже
“I would even go as far as to say that it is an intrinsic element of peace”

Question 30

Take something to heart [C2]

Answer 30

Think about something seriously, often because it upsets you; принимать близко к сердцу
“Don’t take it to heart - he was only joking”