Test Your English # 04

1. "Have you got a ___ cigarette?"
"Sorry, I was going to smoke it myself."

Spare

Surplus

Free

Smoking

The correct answer is "spare". In the given conversation, the person asking for a cigarette is inquiring if the other person has an extra or additional cigarette that they could give. The response "Sorry, I was going to smoke it myself" suggests that the person only had one cigarette and had intended to smoke it themselves. Therefore, the word "spare" fits best in this context as it implies having an extra or unused item that can be shared.

Explanation

The correct answer is "spare". In the given conversation, the person asking for a cigarette is inquiring if the other person has an extra or additional cigarette that they could give. The response "Sorry, I was going to smoke it myself" suggests that the person only had one cigarette and had intended to smoke it themselves. Therefore, the word "spare" fits best in this context as it implies having an extra or unused item that can be shared.

2. A house cat's prominent vibrissae are known as ___.

Whiskers

Moustache

Sideburns

Hair

A house cat's prominent vibrissae are known as whiskers. Whiskers are long, stiff hairs that are highly sensitive to touch. They are located on the cat's muzzle, above the eyes, and on the back of the front legs. Whiskers play a vital role in a cat's sensory perception, helping them navigate and detect objects in their environment. They are used to determine the width of openings, sense air movements, and even communicate with other cats. Whiskers are an essential feature of a cat's anatomy and serve various important functions.

Explanation

A house cat's prominent vibrissae are known as whiskers. Whiskers are long, stiff hairs that are highly sensitive to touch. They are located on the cat's muzzle, above the eyes, and on the back of the front legs. Whiskers play a vital role in a cat's sensory perception, helping them navigate and detect objects in their environment. They are used to determine the width of openings, sense air movements, and even communicate with other cats. Whiskers are an essential feature of a cat's anatomy and serve various important functions.

3. Brigitte Bardot was once a sex kitten in dozens of ___ French movies: her films of the early and mid 1950s were generally lightweight romantic dramas, some of them historical, in which she was cast as ingénue or siren, often in varying states of undress.

Frothy

Heist

Red and covetous

Debut

Brigitte Bardot was known for her roles in lightweight romantic dramas, which were often frothy in nature. These films portrayed her as an ingénue or siren, and she was frequently shown in various states of undress. The term "frothy" accurately describes the light and playful nature of these movies, making it the correct answer.

Explanation

Brigitte Bardot was known for her roles in lightweight romantic dramas, which were often frothy in nature. These films portrayed her as an ingénue or siren, and she was frequently shown in various states of undress. The term "frothy" accurately describes the light and playful nature of these movies, making it the correct answer.

4. For language to be meaningful, its names must be correlated with objects. If an object is entirely inaccessible to me, I cannot give it a name, I cannot talk about it. So a language containing names of objects beyond my ___ would be incomprehensible to me.

Readings

Den

Pen

Ken

Beyond my ken: range of what one can know or understand.

Explanation

Beyond my ken: range of what one can know or understand.

5. Game and Fish folks are pretty excited about a little critter that's shown up in the state. It's a 6-inch long lizard that's called a skink. Game official Lucy Wang said it's black with a bright blue tail. She said it's an exciting find because when one of the lowest species on the food chain can ___, that means the ecosystem is healthy.

Hive

Jive

Show up

Thrive

The correct answer is "thrive". The passage states that when a species on the lowest level of the food chain can thrive, it indicates that the ecosystem is healthy. This suggests that the skink's presence in the state is a positive sign for the ecosystem's well-being.

Explanation

The correct answer is "thrive". The passage states that when a species on the lowest level of the food chain can thrive, it indicates that the ecosystem is healthy. This suggests that the skink's presence in the state is a positive sign for the ecosystem's well-being.

6. The ___ voyage of a ship is the first journey made by the craft after shakedown. Notable ___ voyages that ended in disaster include those of the RMS Titanic, Batavia, and the Swedish warship Vasa.

"honeymoon"

Baptismal

Maiden

Prime

The correct answer is "maiden". In the context of the question, the term "maiden voyage" refers to the first journey made by a ship after its initial testing and shakedown. This term is commonly used in the maritime industry to describe the inaugural trip of a newly built vessel. The examples given, such as the RMS Titanic, Batavia, and the Swedish warship Vasa, highlight notable maiden voyages that ended in disaster.

Explanation

The correct answer is "maiden". In the context of the question, the term "maiden voyage" refers to the first journey made by a ship after its initial testing and shakedown. This term is commonly used in the maritime industry to describe the inaugural trip of a newly built vessel. The examples given, such as the RMS Titanic, Batavia, and the Swedish warship Vasa, highlight notable maiden voyages that ended in disaster.

7. A land speculator may be willing to pay ___ price for a city lot if he expects the value of the site to appreciate enough to make the investment worthwhile.

An incumbent

A well-earned

A steep

A little

A land speculator may be willing to pay a steep price for a city lot if he expects the value of the site to appreciate enough to make the investment worthwhile. This means that the speculator is willing to pay a high or significant amount of money for the lot because they anticipate that the value of the property will increase substantially in the future. The term "steep" in this context implies a significant or large amount, indicating the speculator's confidence in the potential appreciation of the site's value.

Explanation

A land speculator may be willing to pay a steep price for a city lot if he expects the value of the site to appreciate enough to make the investment worthwhile. This means that the speculator is willing to pay a high or significant amount of money for the lot because they anticipate that the value of the property will increase substantially in the future. The term "steep" in this context implies a significant or large amount, indicating the speculator's confidence in the potential appreciation of the site's value.

8. Early in the 1920's a new type of fictional detective came into being in the United States. Whereas the conventional private detective always has literary precedents, going back to Sherlock Holmes, the new type, variously called private investigator, ___, or hard-boiled dick, is the product of American reality.

Fictional cop

Eavesdrop mac

Private eye

Informant

The passage discusses the emergence of a new type of fictional detective in the United States in the 1920s. This detective is referred to as a "private investigator," "___," or "hard-boiled dick." Based on this information, the correct answer is "private eye," as it is one of the terms used to describe this new type of detective.

Explanation

The passage discusses the emergence of a new type of fictional detective in the United States in the 1920s. This detective is referred to as a "private investigator," "___," or "hard-boiled dick." Based on this information, the correct answer is "private eye," as it is one of the terms used to describe this new type of detective.

9. We had some ___ moments in the mountains. I think it was Oliver who did fall through the ice and dislocated his shoulder. Then the crevasses we came up against, you know, incredibly deep cracks in the ice: we had to negotiate our way around them. The first time it was a bit frightening, especially in a white-out of snow when you can't see anything!

Memorable

Hairy

Soothing

Nifty

The word "hairy" in this context means dangerous or risky. The speaker is describing their experiences in the mountains, which involved incidents like someone falling through the ice and encountering deep cracks in the ice. These situations were challenging and potentially hazardous, causing fear and anxiety. Therefore, "hairy" accurately describes the intense and risky moments they had in the mountains.

Explanation

The word "hairy" in this context means dangerous or risky. The speaker is describing their experiences in the mountains, which involved incidents like someone falling through the ice and encountering deep cracks in the ice. These situations were challenging and potentially hazardous, causing fear and anxiety. Therefore, "hairy" accurately describes the intense and risky moments they had in the mountains.

10. If you are barking ___ the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong.

From

To

Toward

Up

If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong. This phrase is often used to indicate that someone is pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action. The use of "up" in this expression suggests that the person's efforts are going in the wrong direction, similar to a dog barking at a tree that does not contain what they are looking for.

Explanation

If you are barking up the wrong tree, it means that you have completely misunderstood something or are totally wrong. This phrase is often used to indicate that someone is pursuing a mistaken or misguided course of action. The use of "up" in this expression suggests that the person's efforts are going in the wrong direction, similar to a dog barking at a tree that does not contain what they are looking for.