Lesson 1

I Vocabulary

10 adventurous a /ədˈventʃərəs/ thích phiêu lưu, thích mạo hiểm

38 correlation n /ˌkɒrəˈleɪʃən/ sự tương quan

44 poverty-stricken a / povətɪ,strɪckən / Nghèo xơ xác

47 sporadically adv /spəˈrædɪkəl̩i / một cách lác đác, lẻ tẻ

48 universally adv /ˌjuːnɪˈvɜːsəli / một cách phổ biến, thông dụng 49 consistently adv / kənˈsɪstəntli / một cách kiên định

II Structures

1 cut the mustard = succeed/ come up to

3 be as fast as possible nhanh nhất như có thể

6 a far cry from = completely different khác biệt hoàn toàn

8 completely different from hoàn toàn khác với 9 originally derived from bắt nguồn từ cái gì

11 hit the nail on the head = describe exactly

what is causing a situation or problem diễn tả chính xác nguyên nhân của tình huống hay vấn đề

13 pin down = discover the exact details about st

tìm ra thông tin chính xác của cái gì 14 put some money aside = save money tiết kiệm tiền

15 carry it off = succeed in winning the prize thành công trong việc giành giải 16 carry the day = be successful thành công

17 come what may = whatever happens dù có chuyện gì xảy ra 18 miss the boat = lose an opportunity to buy

the tickets by being slow to act

không mua được vé 19 put stories about = tell a lot of people st

20 get one's back up = annoy sb làm phiền ai

21 chip in góp vốn

22 cooking up cunning plans tạo ra những kế hoạch xảo quyệt, láu cá

III Practice exercise 1

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) CLOSEST in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following questions.

Question 1: I didn't c ut the mustard as a hockey player.

A be as good as expected B be as fast as possible C be as clever as a cook D be as fresh as a daisy

Question 2: All this luxury was a far cry from the poverty of his childhood.

A absolutely similar to B completely different from

Question 3: I think Mick hit the nail on the head when he said that what's lacking in this company is a

feeling of confidence.

A exaggerated the problem B took the issue easy C described the situation exactly D made a decision hastily

Question 4: From childhood, Marie was remarkable for her prodigious memory, and at the age of 16

won a gold medal on completion of her secondary education.

Question 5: In 1921, accompanied by her two daughters, Marie Curie made a t riumphant journey to the

United States to raise funds for research on radium.

Question 6: I've got a busy day tomorrow, so I think I'll hit the sack.

A be successful B go to bed C prepare carefully D feel exhausted

Question 7: How can social scientists measure something as hard to pin down as happiness?

Question 8: Compared with the depressed, happy people are less self-focused, less hostile and abusive, and less susceptible to disease.

Question 9: People have become happier over time as their cultures have become more affluent

Question 10: Those whose income has increased over a 10-year period are not happier than those whose income is stagnant

Question 11: I will put some money aside for my son and his family, but the rest will go towards the

church, the community, and charity.

Question 12: In 1986 Chadwick was one of the first women shortlisted for the Turner Prize, but failed toc arry it off.

A attend the ceremony B take it along C pursuit her ambition D win a prize

Question 13: I don't have any illusions that my libertarian argument is going to carry the day

Question 14: The volume of traffic has increased in recent years and the incessant roar of trucks and

buses makes the city centre an extremely noisy place.

A very loud and persistent noise B sporadic clatter

Question 15: They're going to make the change, come what may

A if there's no exception B no matter what happens C no matter how everything occurs D in case the result is not good

Mark the letter A, B, C, or D on your answer sheet to indicate the word(s) OPPOSITE in meaning to the underlined word(s) in each of the following

Question 16: There were tickets available last week, but he missed the boat by waiting till today to try to

buy some.

Question 17: I also used to put stories about , hinting that staff were being watched all the time, just to

keep them alert.

Question 18: Of course, for the students, who graduated last week, all the technological details of why and how were peripheral to having a chance to learn the violin.

Question 19: So when I got this letter asking us to contribute a few days ago, it really got my back up

Question 20: We have thought of a few options like borrowing a barn on a farm and doing it all up and looking at everyone else chipping in.

A hindering B contributing C participating D helping

Question 21: The company has been cooking up cunning plans to revitalize the business for the past 10

years; yet all it has delivered is relentless decline.

A concocting sly plans B creating guileless plans C contriving crafty plans D preparing careful plans

Question 22: Would you please put your hands together and join me in welcoming our debaters

Question 23: The Government aims to rejuvenate market towns, and to focus improved health-care

access and standards on them.

Question 24:I was trying to pay my compliments but she misunderstood.

A express formal greetings B give compliments C express informal salutations D return compliments

Question 25: When Jack retired, his boss made a speech paying tribute to all he had done for the

company.

Question 26: Indeed, in most nations the correlation between income and happiness is negligible - only

in the poorest countries, such as Bangladesh and India, is income a good measure of emotional well-being.

Question 27: Dora Della Street has lots of u pmarket shops and rather pricey.

A for poverty-stricken people B for people with expensive tastes C for prominent people D for well-known people

Question 28: Some of the inner-city areas are an urban wasteland and are somewhat dangerous for

A an empty and bad-condition city area B a crowded and high-quality city center C a desolate and good-condition area D a city area that has many criminals

Question 29: The match was so much enjoyed by all concerned that it was unanimously agreed to make

this the first of a regular series.

A disapprovingly B totally C consistently D Universally

Question 30: As a student, I can't afford to stay in smart hotels I always have to look for budget accommodation.

A very cheap place B free housing C deluxe place D economical room