PEOPLE AND PLACES

Question 1

HACKNEYED

Answer 1

A hackneyed phrase or idea has been said or used so often that it has become boring and has no meaning

Example: The plot of the film is just a hackneyed boy-meets-girl scenario

The book’s storyline is so hackneyed, a girl alone in the world and the popular guy

Question 2

MUNDANE

Answer 2

Very ordinary and therefore not interesting

Example: Mundane matters such as paying bills and shopping for food do not interest her

His project was so mundane, a soda volcano

Question 3

ECCENTRIC

Answer 3

Strange or unusual, sometimes in a humorous way

Example: eccentric behaviour

His clothes were very eccentric that night

Question 4

COMPULSIVE

Answer 4

**Doing something a lot and unable to stop doing it

Example: a compulsive liar/thief/eater

**If a film, play, sports event, book, etc. is compulsive, it is so interesting or exciting that you do not want to stop watching or reading it

Example: Her latest book is compulsive reading/a compulsive read

Question 5

CORNY

Answer 5

(especially of jokes, films, stories, etc.) showing no new ideas or too often repeated, and therefore not funny or interesting

Example: I couldn’t watch the whole movie - it was just too corny

The situation in the book is so corny, the writer is not original at all

Question 6

CLIFFHANGER

Answer 6

A story or a situation that is exciting because its ending or result is uncertain until it happens

Example: Many of Hitchcock’s films are real cliffhangers

The story had a cliffhanger ending

Question 7

UNCONVINCING

Answer 7

Not sound or seem true or real

Example: They gave some unconvincing explanations for the system failure

He told me and stupid and unconvincing explanation about why he was late

Question 8

ATROCIOUS

Answer 8

**Violent and shocking

Exampe: An atrocious crime

**Of very bad quality

Example: An atrocious film/piece of acting

The weather has been atrocious all week

Question 9

FAR-FETCHED

Answer 9

Very unlikely to be true, and difficult to believe

Example: A far-fetched idea/story

He told me a far-fetched explanation of why he didn’t called

Question 10

DISTURBING (memory)

Answer 10

Making you feel worried or upset

Example: The following programme contains scenes that may be disturbing to some viewers

That memory was so disturbing that till this day gives me shaking chills

Question 11

BITTERLY (memory)

Answer 11

In a way that shows strong negative emotion such as anger or disappointment

Example: She wept bitterly at the news

That meory was so bitter that it still makes me upset

Question 12

CONTRIVED

Answer 12

Artificial and difficult to believe

Example: I enjoyed the film, but felt the ending was a bit contrived

His excuse sounded a bit contrived

Question 13

TOPICAL

Answer 13

Of interest at the present time; relating to things that are happening at present

Example: The discussion focused on topical issues in medicine

In Argentina, people make topical jokes about poitics and every other random situation

Question 14

NEGATIVE

Answer 14

Bad or harmful

Example: The warm winter has had a very negative effect/impact on the ski industry

The test resaults were negative

Question 15

GLAMOROUS

Answer 15

Attractive in an exciting and special way

Example:a glamorous job

Her party dress was so glamorous

Question 16

FEATURELESS

Answer 16

Looking the same in every part, usually in a way that most people consider to be boring

Example: A grey featureless landscape

A featureless desert

Question 17

VIVID (memory)

Answer 17

Vivid descriptions, memories, etc. produce very clear, powerful, and detailed images in the mind

Examen: He’s one of those people with a very vivid imagination - every time he hears a noise he’s convinced it’s someone breaking in

He gave a very vivid and often shocking account/description of his time in prison

Question 18

DISTANT (memory)

Answer 18

Far away

Example: This memory is quite distant, I don’t remember very well

She could hear the distant sound of fireworks exploding.

Question 19

SHORT-TERM (memory)

Answer 19

Relating to a short period of time or lasting a short period of time

Example: short-term memory

Our short-term aim is to deal with our current financial difficulties

Question 20

LONG-TERM (memory)

Answer 20

Continuing a long time into the future

Example: the long-term effects of the drug

This memory is a long-term one, it was so funny I never want to forget

Question 21

DREADFUL (memory)

Answer 21

**Causing fear, shock, or suffering

Example: The news report was so dreadful that I just had to switch it off

**Of very low quality or very unpleasant

Example: The food was bad and the service was dreadful

Question 22

FADED (memory)

Answer 22

Having weakened or diminished with the passage of time

Example: a faded memory

It all seems quite faded now

Question 23

CHERISHED (memory)

Answer 23

Bringing the pleasure of love or caring about someone or something that is important to you

Example: Her most cherished possession is a 1926 letter from F. Scott Fitzgerald

That was my mos cherished memory ever

Question 24

NOSTALGIC (memory)

Answer 24

Feeling happy and also slightly sad when you think about things that happened in the past

Example: alking about our old family holidays has made me feel all nostalgic

Remembering that mekes me so nostalgic

Question 25

FUZZY (memory)

Answer 25

Not clear Example: The basic facts of the story are starting to emerge though the details are still fuzzy My head's a little fuzzy this morning after all that wine last night

Question 26

PRECIOUS (memory)

Answer 26

Of great value because of being rare, expensive, or important Example: A precious moment/memory Clean water is a precious commodity in many parts of the world

Question 27

TREASURED (memory)

Answer 27

To take great care of something because you love it or consider it very valuable Example: I will always treasure those memories of my dad This pen that my grandfather gave me is one of my most treasured possessions

Question 28

BITTER-SWEET (memory)

Answer 28

Containing a mixture of sadness and happiness Example: The bittersweet end to the movie is just right This memory is bittersweet, so much happened good and bad

Question 29

HAUNTING (memory)

Answer 29

Beautiful, but in a sad way and often in a way that cannot be forgotten Example: a haunting melody The memory of the trip is a haunting one, so sad it end but so happy we lived it

Question 30

VAGUE (memory)

Answer 30

Not clearly expressed, known, described, or decided Example: I do have a vague memory of meeting her many years ago The patient had complained of vague pains and backache

Question 31

TRAUMATIC (memory)

Answer 31

Causing severe and lasting emotional shock and pain Example: Some of the most disturbed children had witnessed really traumatic things, such as rape and murder That memory must be so traumatic that her brain forbides her to remember

Question 32

LINGERING (memory)

Answer 32

Lasting a long time Example: She gave him a long, lingering kiss She says she stopped seeing him, but I still have lingering doubts

Question 33

FLEETING (memory)

Answer 33

Short or quick Example: A fleeting glimpse This is just a fleeting visit

Question 34

REKINDLE

Answer 34

To make someone have a feeling that they had in the past Example: The holiday was a last chance to rekindle their love She tried to rekindle the happiness of the relationship but it didn't work

Question 35

TRIGGER

Answer 35

To cause something to start Example: Some people find that certain foods trigger their headaches The racial killings at the weekend have triggered off a wave of protests

Question 36

CONJURE STH UP

Answer 36

To make a picture or idea appear in someone's mind Example: For some people, the word "England" may still conjure up images of pretty gardens and tea parties Her speach conjured up images of food in my mind

Question 37

BLOT OUT

Answer 37

To cause something to disappear, or to remove something unpleasant from your thoughts Example: He blots out the painful memories by keeping very busy A dark cloud blotted out the sun

Question 38

HECTIC

Answer 38

Full of activity, or very busy and fast Example: The area has become a haven for people tired of the hectic pace of city life She always has a hectic schedule

Question 39

FALL FOT STH. HOOK INE AND SINKER

Answer 39

**to fell completely in love Example: The moment I met my wife, I fell for her hook, line, and sinker **to completely believe something that someone tells you that is not true Example: She told him she needed the money for her baby and he fell for it hook, line, and sinker

Question 40

(TAKE) HEED

Answer 40

Pay attention Example: The company took no heed of (= did not consider) public opposition to the plans The airline has been criticized for failing to heed advice/warnings about lack of safety routines

Question 41

STRANDED

Answer 41

Unable to leave somewhere because of a problem such as not having any transport or money Example: He left me stranded in town with no car and no money for a bus If the tide comes in, we'll be stranded on these rocks

Question 42

DERELICT (buildings, places)

Answer 42

Derelict buildings or places are not cared for and are in bad condition Example: The theatre has been left to stand/lie derelict A derelict site over there

Question 43

GIVE IN (to comeone)

Answer 43

To finally agree to something that someone wants after first refusing or to accept that you have been defeated and stop arguing or fighting Example: If you want them to give in you'll have to offer them more than that After months of resisting the takeover, the company was forced by its shareholders to give in

Question 44

NOVELLA

Answer 44

a short novel Example: his last novella was amazing

Question 45

MAR

Answer 45

To spoil something, making it less good or less enjoyable Example: Sadly, the text is marred by careless errors It was a really nice day, marred only by a little argument in the car on the way home

Question 46

LADEN

Answer 46

Carrying or holding a lot of something Example: He always comes back from France laden with presents for everyone The table, as always, was laden with food

Question 47

MOUNT

Answer 47

**To gradually increase, rise, or get bigger Example: The children's excitement is mounting as Christmas gets nearer Tension was mounting as the minutes went by **To get on a horse, bicycle, etc.. in order to ride Example: She mounted her horse and rode off **To organize and begin an activity or event Example: to mount an attack/campaign/challenge/protest

Question 48

DOOM

Answer 48

Death, destruction, or any very bad situation that cannot be avoided; to make something bad certain to happen Example: The newspapers are always full of doom and gloom (= bad news and unhappiness) these days Mounting debts doomed the factory to closure

Question 49

GRIP

Answer 49

**To keep someone's attention completely Example: This trial has gripped the whole nation **When an emotion such as fear grips you, you feel it strongly Then he turned towards me, and I was suddenly gripped by fear

Question 50

BACKDROP

Answer 50

**The view behind something Example: The mountains form a dramatic backdrop to the little village **The general situation in which particular events happen Their love affair began against a backdrop of war

Question 51

RESONATE

Answer 51

**If an experience or memory resonates, it makes you think of another similar one Example: Her experiences resonate powerfully with me, living, as I do, in a similar family situation **To produce, increase, or fill with sound, by vibrating (= shaking) objects that are near; or to be filed with a particular quality Example The building resonates with historic significance The noise of the bell resonated through the building

Question 52

IN TATTERS

Answer 52

Badly damaged or completely spoiled Example: After the newspaper story appeared his reputation was in tatters The book was marveous, it's a shame it had to end in tatters

Question 53

ESOTERIC

Answer 53

Very unusual and understood or liked by only a small number of people, especially those with special knowledge Example: She has a somewhat esoteric taste in clothes Literary readings can sometimes seem esoteric, but we are trying to make them more attractive to more people

Question 54

TRITE

Answer 54

Lacking originality or freshness; dull on account of overuse Example: I know it will sound trite, but I've loved being part of this club His lyrics about love and peace are too trite for me to take them seriously

Question 55

CONCEALMENT

Answer 55

The act of hiding something Example: The concealment of evidence/facts/weapons He was arrested for the concealment of the suspect

Question 56

AT PLAY

Answer 56

Active or existing as something to be considered Example. It's a complicated matter with several important issues at play This plan has to work, there are several things at pay