Wordsmith - Test your wordpower - extra.guernseydonkey.com

Improve and test your wordpower by matching each of the words below to one of the multiple possible definitions.

Vocabulary Ratings
14-15 correct	…………………..	excellent
12-13 correct	…………………..	good
9-11 correct	…………………..	fair

(1) gridlock A: computer error. B: immune reaction. C: traffic jam. D: wrestling move.

C: Traffic jam in which major intersections are blocked and vehicles are unable to move because of their excessive numbers, Combination of grid and lock.

(2) machismo {mack eez mo} A: leader. B: acuity. C: exaggerated manliness. D: aggression.

C: Exaggerated sense of manliness and the attitude that men should dominate; as, the machismo of the dictator. Spanish macho (male).

(3) yuppie A: tropical fish. B: young professional. C: fashion model. D: board game.

B: Young urban professional, viewed as upwardly mobile, trendy and affluent. Acronym.

(4) masterclass A: powerful group. B: top students. C: chess players. D: expert instruction.

D: Session in which a distinguished expert gives instruction, typically to advanced learners in a particular field.

(5) franglais {frahn glay} A: type of yoghurt. B: French use of English words. C: display of cool attachment. D: subtle banter.

B: French use of English words and expressions; for example, “une cover girl avec beaucoup de sex appeal.” Blend of Francois (“French”) and Anglais (“English”).

(6) neo-colonialism A. military invasion. B: exploitation of one country by another. C: territorial exploration. D: yearning for the past.

B: The current exploitation of one nation by another through economic and political pressures. Greek neo- (new) and English colonialism (acquisition of a colony).

(7) refusenik A: Soviet astronaut. B: rubbish tip. C: one refusing to co-operate. D: religious fanatic.

C: Person who refuses to co-operate; originally, a Soviet Jew refused permission to emigrate. From Latin refusus and Russian -nik.

(8) flexitime - system allowing A: planned holidays. B: routine exercise. C: variable work schedules. D: integration of lists.

C: System allowing employees variable work schedules. Combination of flexible and time.

(9) streetwise A: good navigator. B: careful with money. C: capable of dealing with danger. D: local-history expert.

C: Capable of dealing with dangerous situations or rough people, especially in big cities.

(10) stonewall A: to panic. B: be heavy-handed. C: insult. D: be uncooperative.

D: To be uncooperative or evasive; hinder. “He stonewalled the prosecuting lawyer.” From the immovability of a stone wall.

(11) glitch A: decorative knot. B: elf. C: malfunction. D: flash.

C: Malfunction; as, a glitch in the bank’s computers. Origin unknown.

(12) newspeak A: journalistic jargon. B: pidgin English. C: dialect. D: misleading language.

D: Deliberately misleading, ambiguous language, especially by government officials; for example, “negative growth in the economy.” Combination of new and speak. Coined by George Orwell in his novel 1984.

(13) glasnost A: democracy. B: restructuring. C: friendliness. D: openness.

D: Openness in the divulging and discussion of official policy ; specifically as a reform measure in the Soviet Union. Russian.

(14) plea bargain A: admission of a crime. B: wage negotiation. C: second chance. D: merciful decision.

A: Agreement between a prosecutor and a defendant who pleads guilty to a crime so as to receive a lighter sentence. From American legal usage.

(15) bionics - study of A: biology and technology. B: upper atmosphere. C: life in deep space. D: germs and viruses.

A: Study of biology and technology to help solve engineering problems. From biology and electronics.

(16) des res A: invitation requiring reply. B: table booking. C: nice house. D: computer term

C: House with many features attractive to prospective purchasers. Abbreviation of desirable residence.

(17) champagne socialist A: drunken revolutionary. B: hypocritical left-winger. C: cocktail. D: windbag politician.

B: Person with an extravagant lifestyle at odds with his/her professed socialism.

(18) camp A: outdoorsy. B: modern. C: exclusive. D: bizarre.

D: So affected and exaggerated as to be bizarre; effeminate; as, to decorate with camp furnishings. Origin uncertain.

(19) troika {troy kuh} A: Soviet bureaucrat. B: type of pastry. C: hang-gliding manoeuvre. D: group of three.

D: Any group of three, especially in a position of authority. Russian (a vehicle drawn by three horses abreast).

(20) big-bang theory -that which pertains to A: the universe's origin. B: an atomic explosion. C: humour. D: anger.

A: Assertion that the universe began about 15 billion years ago with a huge explosion of super-dense mass

Wordsmith – Test your wordpower

<b>(1) gridlock</b> <b>A:</b> computer error. <b>B:</b> immune reaction. <b>C:</b></b> traffic jam. <b>D:</b> wrestling move.

<b>(2) machismo</b> {mack eez mo} <b>A:</b> leader. <b>B:</b> acuity. <b>C:</b> exaggerated manliness. <b>D:</b> aggression.

<b>(3) yuppie</b> <b>A:</b> tropical fish. <b>B:</b> young professional. <b>C:</b> fashion model. <b>D:</b> board game.

<b>(4) masterclass</b> <b>A:</b> powerful group. <b>B:</b> top students. <b>C:</b> chess players. <b>D:</b> expert instruction.

<b>(5) franglais</b> {frahn glay} <b>A:</b> type of yoghurt. <b>B:</b> French use of English words. <b>C:</b> display of cool attachment. <b>D:</b> subtle banter.

<b>(6) neo-colonialism</b> A. military invasion. <b>B:</b> exploitation of one country by another. <b>C:</b> territorial exploration. <b>D:</b> yearning for the past.

<b>(7) refusenik</b> <b>A:</b> Soviet astronaut. <b>B:</b> rubbish tip. <b>C:</b> one refusing to co-operate. <b>D:</b> religious fanatic.

<b>(8) flexitime</b> - system allowing <b>A:</b> planned holidays. <b>B:</b> routine exercise. <b>C:</b> variable work schedules. <b>D:</b> integration of lists.

<b>(9) streetwise</b> <b>A:</b> good navigator. <b>B:</b> careful with money. <b>C:</b> capable of dealing with danger. <b>D:</b> local-history expert.

<b>(10) stonewall</b> <b>A:</b> to panic. <b>B:</b> be heavy-handed. <b>C:</b> insult. <b>D:</b> be uncooperative.

<b>(11) glitch</b> <b>A:</b> decorative knot. <b>B:</b> elf. <b>C:</b> malfunction. <b>D:</b> flash.

<b>(12) newspeak</b> <b>A:</b> journalistic jargon. <b>B:</b> pidgin English. <b>C:</b> dialect. <b>D:</b> misleading language.

<b>(13) glasnost</b> <b>A:</b> democracy. <b>B:</b> restructuring. <b>C:</b> friendliness. <b>D:</b> openness.

<b>(14) plea bargain</b> <b>A:</b> admission of a crime. <b>B:</b> wage negotiation. <b>C:</b> second chance. <b>D:</b> merciful decision.

<b>(15) bionics</b> - study of <b>A:</b> biology and technology. <b>B:</b> upper atmosphere. <b>C:</b> life in deep space. <b>D:</b> germs and viruses.

<b>(16) des res</b> <b>A:</b> invitation requiring reply. <b>B:</b> table booking. <b>C:</b> nice house. <b>D:</b> computer term

<b>(17) champagne socialist</b> <b>A:</b> drunken revolutionary. <b>B:</b> hypocritical left-winger. <b>C:</b> cocktail. <b>D:</b> windbag politician.

<b>(18) camp</b> <b>A:</b> outdoorsy. <b>B:</b> modern. <b>C:</b> exclusive. <b>D:</b> bizarre.

<b>(19) troika</b> {troy kuh} <b>A:</b> Soviet bureaucrat. <b>B:</b> type of pastry. <b>C:</b> hang-gliding manoeuvre. <b>D:</b> group of three.

<b>(20) big-bang theory</b> -that which pertains to <b>A:</b> the universe's origin. <b>B:</b> an atomic explosion. <b>C:</b> humour. <b>D:</b> anger.

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