15/04/2016

Front 1

PICAYUNE

[,piki'ju:n]

Back 1

Small value or importance; petty; trifling

Hint 1

Airline disaster investigators spend their lives rummaging through the debris, knowing that it might be the most picayune detail that leads them to understand the cause of a crash.

Front 2

GERRYMANDER
[,dʒeri'mændə]

Back 2

To divide a geographic area into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections

Hint 2

The verb gerrymander first appeared in 1812 when Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry redrew district boundaries, hoping it would help his party in an upcoming senate election. Then somebody noticed that the new district looked like a salamander, so they combined Gerry and -mander to create the new word gerrymander. And then a newspaper printed a cartoon with a giant salamander making fun of Gerry, which is what happens to politicians who don’t behave.

Front 3

MAVERICK (n),(adj)
['mævərik]

Back 3

(n): An independent individual who does not go along with a group or party; a nonconformist [,nɔnkən'fɔ:mist]
(adj): unconventional

Hint 3

1. A maverick on a motorcycle might blaze his own trail, or show a maverick touch in a rough sport by wearing a helmet with the word "Mom" inside a heart.

2. But the maverick CEO strongly hinted that he would like to make a deal with Viacom.

Front 4

JUGGERNAUT (n)
['dʒʌgənɔ:t]

Back 4

An irresistible force that crushes everything in its path
( sức công phá)

Hint 4

1. If the army marching into your country is a juggernaut, you're doomed.

2. If you're trying to market a new Cola product, you're up against corporate giant Coca-Cola, a beverage juggernaut if ever there was one.

Front 5

SERENDIPITY
[,seren'dipiti]

Back 5

An accidental but fortunate discovery

Hint 5

You can thank serendipity if you find a pencil at an empty desk just at you walk into an exam and realize that you forgot yours.

Front 6

ZENITH

Back 6

The highest point; the peak; APEX ['eipeks] ( đỉnh cao) [ An actor who wins an Oscar can say she's reached the apex of her career.]

Hint 6

1. The sun reaches its zenith when it is as high in the sky as it is going to go on that day.

2. For example, you can say that the high school quarterback hit his zenith in high school, and it was all downhill from there. Do yourself a favor and try to delay your zenith so you'll have something to look forward to in your future!

Front 7

NADIR
['neidiə]

Back 7

The worst moment of a particular situation

Hint 7

1. The nadir of his/her career

2. The company losses reached their nadir in 2009.

Front 8

EXPUNGE, EXCISE, EXPURGATE
[eks'pʌndʒ], [ik'saiz], ['ekspə:geit]

Back 8

To take OUT; delete; remove; Expurgate= censor: sàng lọc, cắt bỏ

Hint 8

1. After Nicholas proved he had been in school on the day in question, the absence was expunged from his record.

2. When it comes to things children read or watch, there's often the difficult question of what to expurgate and what to leave alone.

Front 9

ECCENTRIC

Back 9

Literally OUT of the center; departing from a recognized, conventional, or established norm; an odd, UNCONVENTIONAL (Word 7) person

Front 10

EXTRICATE
['ekstrikeit]

Back 10

To get OUT of a difficult situation or entanglement (thoát ra)

Hint 10

I cannot extricate myself from this task

Front 11

EXEMPLARY

Back 11

Standing OUT from the norm; outstanding; worthy of imitation

Front 12

ENUMERATE
[i'nju:məreit]

Back 12

To count OUT; to list; to tick off the reasons for: đếm, liệt kê

Hint 12

Before you ask for a raise, you better be able enumerate all the reasons why you deserve more money.

Front 13

ELUSIVE
[i'lu:siv]

Back 13

OUT of reach and therefore difficult to catch, define, or describe

Hint 13

1. Ever try to catch a mouse? It's not easy, because mice are quick and elusive — they're tough to catch. Rabbits are speedy, so they're elusive too.

2. Also, things that are tough to understand or describe are elusive — like the concepts of love and beauty. If you had an idea and then forgot it, the idea is elusive: it slipped away. Anything you can't get hold of, with your hands or with your brain, is elusive.

Front 14

EXORBITANT
[ig'zɔ:bitənt]

Back 14

Literally OUT of orbit and therefore unreasonably expensive (đắt k đáng)

Hint 14

It's a good hotel but the prices are exorbitant.

Front 15

REDUNDANT

Back 15

Needlessly repetitive; saying things AGAIN and AGAIN: lặp, thừa

Hint 15

Have you ever heard someone tell a story and repeat the same thing over and over? The repeated parts are redundant.

Front 16

TIP FOR A DIRECT HIT On the SAT the word REDUNDANCY usually refers to the duplication or repetition of equipment needed to provide a backup in case the primary systems fail. For example, scuba equipment includes a REDUNDANT regulator in case there is a problem with the main air regulator. This REDUNDANCY is an important safety precaution.

Back 16

TIP FOR A DIRECT HIT On the SAT the word REDUNDANCY usually refers to the duplication or repetition of equipment needed to provide a backup in case the primary systems fail. For example, scuba equipment includes a REDUNDANT regulator in case there is a problem with the main air regulator. This REDUNDANCY is an important safety precaution.

Front 17

REPUDIATE, RECANT, RENOUNCE
[ri'pju:dieit],

Back 17

To take BACK; to reject; DISAVOW: khước từ

Hint 17

If you grow up religious, but repudiate all organized religion as an adult, you might start spending holidays at the movies, or just going to work.

Front 18

RELINQUISH
[ri'liηkwi∫]

Back 18

To surrender or give back (or return) a possession, right, or privilege; give up

Hint 18

1. The monkey wouldn't relinquish its grasp on the banana.

2. You relinquish your plan to sneak into town when your parents find out what's going on.

Front 19

RESILIENT

Back 19

Bouncing BACK from ADVERSITY or misfortune; recovering quickly

Front 20

REAFFIRM

Back 20

To assert AGAIN; to confirm; state positively

Front 21

RETICENT
['retisnt]

Back 21

Unwilling to tell people about things

Hint 21

1. If you're reticent about your feelings, you like to keep them to yourself, and you're probably quiet in rowdy groups where everyone is talking over each other.

2. She was shy and reticent.

3. He was extremely reticent about his personal life.

Front 22

REBUFFi
[ri'bʌf]

Back 22

To repel or drive BACK; to bluntly reject (khước từ)

Hint 22

You might decide to rebuff a classmate's invitation to the dance after hearing him gossip meanly about a friend.

Front 23

RENOVATE

Back 23

To make new AGAIN; restore by repairing and remodeling

Front 24

REJUVENATE

Back 24

To make young AGAIN; to restore youthful vigor and appearance

Front 25

RESURGENT
[ri'sə:dʒənt]

Back 25

Rising AGAIN; sweeping or surging BACK: Hồi sinh; trỗi dậy (sau khi bị phá hủy, thất bại..)

Hint 25

An old song's popularity might be resurgent after it's featured on the soundtrack of a popular new movie.

Front 26

DELETERIOUS
[,deli'tiəriəs]

Back 26

Harmful to living things; injurious

Hint 26

1.Smoking has obvious deleterious effects on your health, not to mention your social life.

2. For most plants, a lack of sunlight has very deleterious consequences, but there are some plants that actually do very well in the dark.

Front 27

DECRY
[di'krai]

Back 27

Express strong disapproval of

Hint 27

When you dye your hair pink and orange, your mother decries your act as a horror and bursts into tears. She criticizes your choice of colors, stating that pink and purple would have looked better.

Front 28

DESPONDENT

Back 28

DOWNCAST; very dejected; FORLORN

Front 29

DENOUNCE
[di'nauns]

Back 29

To put DOWN in the sense of a making a formal accusation; to speak against (lên án, tố cáo)

Hint 29

When you stand on your desk and tell the class that your partner is cheating, you denounce him or her.

Front 30

DEMISE (n),(v)

Back 30

The end, termination, or death of something or someone; transfer

Hint 30

Is awareness of deforestation and the role of palm oil in the orangutans' demise reaching the public more?

Front 31

DEBUNK
[di:'bʌηk]

Back 31

To put DOWN by exposing false and exaggerated claims (bóc trần, vạch trần, hạ bệ)

Hint 31

Many magicians, including Houdini and Penn and Teller, have worked to debunk the idea that magic is anything other than a very clever illusion.

Front 32

DERIDE

Back 32

To ridicule or laugh at; treat or speak of with contempt

Hint 32

1. The jerk would deride the other kids on the bus by calling them names or pulling their hair until the driver decided to de-ride him by kicking him off the bus.

2. He derided his student's attempt to solve the biggest problem in mathematics

Front 33

DEVOID

Back 33

DOWN in the sense of being empty; completely lacking in substance or quality; BEREFT; vacant

Hint 33

1. A town devoid of inhabitants

2. You're stranded in the ocean, miles from shore, clinging to a sinking boat, and you can't swim? Sorry to say, your situation is devoid of all hope.

Front 34

IMPECCABLE
[im'pekəbl]

Back 34

Having NO flaws; perfect

Hint 34

1. A stand-up comedian needs impeccable timing for his jokes to work.

2. Because of the messy nature of picnic food, it is highly unlikely that you would leave with your clothing still as impeccable as when you arrived, especially if you like mustard and ketchup!c

Front 35

IMPLACABLE

Back 35

Incapable of being PLACATED or appeased

Hint 35

An implacable person just can’t be appeased. If you really offended your best friend and tried every kind of apology but she refused to speak to you again, you could describe her as implacable.

Front 36

INEXORABLE
[in'eksərəbl]

Back 36

NOT capable of being stopped; relentless; inevitable

Hint 36

1. When a person is inexorable, they're stubborn. When a thing or process is inexorable, it can't be stopped.

2. A speeding train with no brakes is inexorable; it's not stopping till it crashes.

Front 37

INCOHERENT

Back 37

NOT coherent and therefore lacking organization; lacking logical or meaningful connections

Hint 37

Incoherent speech is mumbled or jumbled.

Front 38

INSURMOUNTABLE
[,insə:'mauntəbl]

Back 38

That can not be dealt successfully

Hint 38

The Great Wall of China was meant to be an insurmountable deterrent to would-be invaders.

Front 39

IRREVERENT
[i'revərənt]

Back 39

Lacking proper respect or seriousness; disrespectful

Hint 39

For example, when people at the Louvre are standing in hushed awe in front of the "Mona Lisa" it would be irreverent to holler "What's so great about that?"

Front 40

CIRCUMSPECT (adj)
['sə:kəmspekt]

Back 40

Cautious and careful; PRUDENT; discreet ( Thận trọng)

Hint 40

He was very circumspect in his financial affairs.

Front 41

CIRCUITOUS
[sə'kju:itəs]

Back 41

indirect or roundabout; circular; wingding

Hint 41

1. If you're in a hurry to get to the hospital where your wife is having a baby, you want to take the straightest, fastest way, not a circuitous one!2. For example, if you want someone to get you another piece of cake but just you sit there looking longingly at your empty plate, saying "More cake sure would be nice," then you're being circuitous. And annoying.

Front 42

CIRCUMVENT (v)
[,sə:kəm'vent]

Back 42

Avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

Hint 42

Someone who trains elephants but somehow gets out of picking up after them has found a way to circumvent the cleaning of the circus tent.

Front 43

CIRCUMSCRIBE
['sə:kəmskrɑib]

Back 43

To limit or restrict

Hint 43

If you spend too much time watching TV instead of fulfilling other obligations, you might circumscribe your TV-watching time to one hour daily (or two hours, if your favorite show is on).

Front 44

MAGNANIMOUS

Back 44

noble and generous in spirit; forgoing resentment and revenge

Hint 44

Letting your little sister have the last of the cookies, even though you hadn't eaten since breakfast, would be considered a magnanimous act.

Front 45

ERRONEOUS

Back 45

Filled with errors; wrong

Front 46

MOMENTOUS
[mou'mentəs]

Back 46

Filled with importance; very significant

Front 47

MELLIFLUOUS
[mə'lifluəs]

Back 47

Pleasing to the ear; sounds sweet and smooth

Hint 47

“Will your parents allow me to interview you directly?” he asked in a mellifluous voice.

Front 48

OMINOUS

Back 48

Filled with menace; threatening

Front 49

ACRIMONIOUS
[,ækri'mounjəs]

Back 49

Filled with bitterness; sharpness in words; RANCOROUS: chua cay, gay gắt (lời nói, thái độ)

Hint 49

Locked in a mean-spirited, bitter argument? That's an acrimonious situation that might result in fists flying unless you and your opponent can cool down.

Front 50

TIP FOR A DIRECT HIT The words ACERBIC (Word 206), ACUTE, and EXACERBATE (Word 271) also contain the Latin adjective acer. ACERBIC refers to the sharp wit often displayed by acidtongued critics. ACUTE refers to a sharp feeling or sense, as an ACUTE sense of smell. EXACERBATE means to make a problem sharper and thus worse.

Back 50

TIP FOR A DIRECT HIT The words ACERBIC (Word 206), ACUTE, and EXACERBATE (Word 271) also contain the Latin adjective acer. ACERBIC refers to the sharp wit often displayed by acidtongued critics. ACUTE refers to a sharp feeling or sense, as an ACUTE sense of smell. EXACERBATE means to make a problem sharper and thus worse.

Front 51

COPIOUS
['koupiəs]

Back 51

Filled with abundance; plentiful

Hint 51

If you take copious notes, you'll do well when it comes time for review sessions — unless you can't read your own handwriting.

Front 52

ABSTEMIOUS

Back 52

Filled with moderation; TEMPERATE (Word 89) in eating and drinking

Front 53

MALODOROUS
[mæl'oudərəs]

Back 53

Filled with an unpleasant odor; foul-smelling; having an unpleasant smell

Hint 53

If you walk into a malodorous room, you might start checking the bottoms of your shoes to see if you stepped in something, and if a plate of malodorous food is served, you might cover your nose and mouth.

Front 54

TEDIOUS

Back 54

Filled with boredom; very tiresome; dull and fatiguing

Front 55

WISTFUL

Back 55

Longing and yearning, tinged with MELANCHOLY (long-lasting sadness) and PENSIVENESS (Word 209)

Front 56

EARNEST

['ə:nist]

Back 56

Serious in intention or purpose; showing depth and SINCERITY of feelings

Hint 56

Your parents might not want you to drop out of school to follow some fly-by-night dream, but if you're earnest about wanting a career in show biz, they'll support you.

Front 57

DISGRUNTLED, DISCONTENTED

[dis'grʌntld]

Back 57

Angry; dissatisfied; annoyed; impatient; irritated

Hint 57

You could become adisgruntled employee if your boss swipes all your best ideas without giving you credit (or a raise).

Front 58

AUTHORITATIVE

[ɔ:'θɔritətiv]

Back 58

Commanding and self-confident; likely to be respected and obeyed, based on competent authority

Hint 58

Speak with an authoritative tone, or no one will listen to you. Why would they, if you sound like you don't even believe in yourself? Authoritative means sure or definitive.

Front 59

FRIVOLITY

[fri'vɔliti]

Back 59

The trait of being FRIVOLOUS; not serious or sensible: a type of clownishness or silliness: phù phiếm

Hint 59

If people are running around a classroom, throwing things, and laughing, the teacher might say, "Why all the frivolity?" This is a word for clowning or horsing around — not being serious. There's a happy flavor to this word.

Front 60

FRIVOLOUS

Back 60

Lacking any serious purpose or value; given to trifling or levity

Front 61

ACERBIC

Back 61

Harsh, bitter, sharp

Front 62

SOLEMN, GRAVE, SOMBER

Back 62

Not cheerful or smiling; serious; gloomy

Front 63

INQUISITIVE

Back 63

Curious or inquiring

Front 64

REFLECTIVE, PENSIVE

Back 64

Engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought, usually marked by sadness or MELANCHOLY

Front 65

EQUIVOCAL

Back 65

AMBIGUOUS (Word 21), open to interpretation, having several equally possible meanings

Front 66

DERISIVE

Back 66

Expressing contempt or ridicule

Front 67

EBULLIENT, ELATED, ECSTATIC, EUPHORIC, EXUBERANT

Back 67

Feeling or expressing great happiness or triumph

Front 68

BENEVOLENT

Back 68

Well-meaning and kindly

Front 69

MALEVOLENT

Back 69

Wishing evil to others, showing ill will

Front 70

WHIMSICAL

Back 70

Playful, fanciful, CAPRICIOUS (Word 63); given to whimsies or odd notions

Front 71

VINDICTIVE

Back 71

Having a strong desire for revenge

Front 72

PROSAIC

Back 72

Dull, uninteresting, ordinary, commonplace, tedious, PEDESTRIAN (Word 296), VAPID (Word 300), BANAL (Word 36), HACKNEYED (Word 36), unexceptional

Front 73

VITRIOLIC

Back 73

Bitter, caustic, ACERBIC (Word 206), filled with malice

Front 74

CONCILIATORY

Back 74

Appeasing, intending to PLACATE

Front 75

INFLAMMATORY

Back 75

Arousing; intended to inflame a situation or ignite angry or violent feelings

Front 76

DEROGATORY

Back 76

disrespectful

Front 77

PEJORATIVE

Back 77

negative, disparaging

Front 78

SIMILE

Back 78

An EXPLICIT (clearly stated) figure of speech that is a comparison between two essentially unlike things, usually using the words “like” or “as,” which points out a FIGURATIVE way that the two things ARE alike.

Front 79

PERSONIFICATION

Back 79

A figure of speech in which an inanimate object is given human qualities or abilities

Front 80

PARALLELISM/PARALLEL STRUCTURE

Back 80

A rhetorical device or SYNTACTICAL (relating to sentence structure) construction which involves using matching grammatical patterns to establish the equivalent relationship or importance of two or more items. PARALLELISM provides balance and authority to sentences.

Front 81

IRONY

Back 81

A figure of speech in which what we say or write conveys the opposite of its literal meaning

Front 82

SYNOPSIS

Back 82

A brief summary of the major points of a thesis, theory, story or literary work; an abstract; a PRÉCIS

Front 83

SATIRE, LAMPOON, PARODY

Back 83

A work that ridicules human vices and follies; comic criticism. Note that LAMPOON and PARODY are often used as verbs meaning to ridicule.

Front 84

HYPERBOLE

Back 84

A figure of speech in which exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect; extreme exaggeration

Front 85

EPIC

Back 85

A long narrative poem written in a grand style to celebrate the feats of a legendary hero

Front 86

SAGA

Back 86

A long narrative story; a heroic tale

Front 87

FORESHADOWING

Back 87

A suggestion or indication that something will happen in a story; a hint that PRESAGES

Front 88

ANECDOTE

Back 88

A short account of an interesting or humorous incident

Front 89

EULOGY

Back 89

A LAUDATORY (Word 91) speech or written tribute, especially one praising someone who has died: a speech of praise

Front 90

EUPHONY

Back 90

a pleasing sound

Front 91

EUPHORIA

Back 91

a feeling of well-being, an almost excessive feeling of buoyant vigor and health

Front 92

EUGENICS

Back 92

the science of improving offspring

Front 93

ALLUSION

Back 93

An indirect or brief reference to a person, event, place, phrase, piece of art, or literary work that assumes a common knowledge with the reader or listener

Front 94

CATALYST

Back 94

In chemistry, a CATALYST is a substance (such as an enzyme) that accelerates the rate of a chemical reaction at some temperature, but without itself being transformed or consumed by the reaction. In everyday usage a CATALYST is any agent that provokes or triggers change.

Front 95

CAUSTIC

Back 95

In chemistry, a CAUSTIC substance is one that burns or destroys organic tissue by chemical action. Hydrofluoric acid and silver nitrate are examples of CAUSTIC substances. In everyday usage, a CAUSTIC comment is one that hurts or burns.

Front 96

CRYSTALLIZE

Back 96

In chemistry, CRYSTALLIZATION is the process by which crystals are formed. In everyday usage, to CRYSTALLIZE means to give a definite form to an idea or plan.

Front 97

OSMOSIS

Back 97

In chemistry, OSMOSIS refers to the diffusion of a fluid through a semi-permeable membrane until there is an equal concentration of fluid on both sides of the membrane. In everyday usage, OSMOSIS refers to a gradual, often unconscious process of assimilation.

Front 98

SEDENTARY

Back 98

In ecology, animals that are SEDENTARY remain or live in one area. In everyday usage, SEDENTARY means settled and therefore accustomed to sitting or doing little exercise.

Front 99

VIRULENT

Back 99

In medical science, VIRULENT refers to a disease or toxin that is extremely infectious, malignant, or poisonous. In everyday usage, VIRULENT refers to language that is bitterly hostile, hateful, and antagonistic.

Front 100

EMPIRICAL

Back 100

In science, EMPIRICAL means originating in or based on direct observation and experience. EMPIRICAL data can then be used to support or reject a hypothesis. In everyday language, EMPIRICAL means to be guided by practical experience, not theory.

Front 101

ENTOMOLOGY

Back 101

The scientific study of insects

Front 102

TIP FOR A DIRECT HIT Many students confuse ENTOMOLOGY with ETYMOLOGY. ENTOMOLOGY is the study of insects, while ETYMOLOGY is a branch of linguistics concerned with the history and derivation of words.

Back 102

TIP FOR A DIRECT HIT Many students confuse ENTOMOLOGY with ETYMOLOGY. ENTOMOLOGY is the study of insects, while ETYMOLOGY is a branch of linguistics concerned with the history and derivation of words.

Front 103

GESTATE

Back 103

In science, GESTATE means to carry within the uterus from conception to delivery. In everyday language, GESTATE means to conceive and develop in the mind.

Front 104

PARADIGM

Back 104

In science, a PARADIGM is a framework or model of thought

Front 105

LUCRATIVE

Back 105

Very profitable

Front 106

EXTRAVAGANT

Back 106

Excessive and therefore lacking restraint

Front 107

AVARICE, CUPIDITY

Back 107

Excessive desire for wealth; greed; COVETOUSNESS (Word 32)

Front 108

GLUT, PLETHORA, SURFEIT

Back 108

A surplus or excess of something

Front 109

DESTITUTE, IMPOVERISHED, INDIGENT

Back 109

Very poor, lacking basic resources

Front 110

AFFLUENT, OPULENT

Back 110

Very rich, having abundant resources

Front 111

MUNIFICENT

Back 111

Very generous

Front 112

PARSIMONIOUS

Back 112

Excessively cheap with money; stingy

Front 113

DEPRECIATION

Back 113

Any decrease or loss in value caused by age, wear, or market conditions

Front 114

REMUNERATE

Back 114

To compensate; to make payment for; to pay a person

Front 115

ACCORD

Back 115

A formal concurrence, agreement, or harmony of minds

Front 116

ENLIGHTEN, EDIFY

Back 116

To inform, instruct, illuminate, and thus remove darkness and ignorance

Front 117

APPEASEMENT

Back 117

The policy of granting concessions to maintain peace

Front 118

NULLIFY

Back 118

To make null; declare invalid

Front 119

TRIUMVIRATE

Back 119

A group or association of three leaders

Front 120

PRETEXT

Back 120

An excuse; an alleged cause