Monthly Archives: July 2013
Crossword – TOEFL 16
Posted on 2013/07/28
Across
1 A description of someone that is only partially true, and exaggerates certain characteristics to make them seem silly (10)
6 A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement (5)
9 Oblong piece of solid material (3)
10 Continue (6)
11 Fat (5)
13 Something that is out of place because it doesn’t fit in with the time period (11)
17 Embezzle (14)
18 To revoke formally (6)
20 Beneficial (9)
23 Very critical or angry (5)
24 The ordinary people in an organization, rather than the leadership (10)
25 Expensive, priceless (10)
27 To make taunting, heckling, or jeering remarks (4)
28 Appropriate to one’s purpose (9)
29 Depict unfairly (4)
Down
2 Changing suddenly (6)
3 Happening right away, without delay (13)
4 Not to be trusted, perfidious (11)
5 Uncooked (3)
6 Vulgar (5)
7 Assert with confidence (4)
8 Uniform, having no variation (4)
12 Able to be understood, intelligible (14)
14 To damage something or make it not as good as it should be (6)
15 Cosmetics (6)
16 Incapable of getting tired (13)
17 Damage (3)
19 Historical period (3)
20 Administrative district of a city (4)
21 Go astray (3)
22 Of a voice characterized by richness and clearness (7)
26 Provoke (3)
Idiom Focus: Business Idioms 12
Posted on 2013/07/27
Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.
bail (someone/something) out: rescue someone (or a company) with financial problems by providing for their debt.
Example:
Many people object to the idea that public tax money should be used to bail out private companies, like auto manufacturers and banks.
kickback: a kind of bribe for conducting business with a favored vendor or contractor, paid like a commission for the bribe taker.
Example:
The contractor gave the building inspector a kickback every time he cited a building owner for code violations and then directed them to ABC Remodeling to get the problem fixed.
Crossword – Basic Vocabulary 47
Posted on 2013/07/21
Across
1 The act of discovering (9)
4 Tart green (4)
6 State of being forgiven (11)
9 None (2)
10 Small, annoying insect (3)
11 Substance used for treating illness (8)
12 To ____ or not to ____ (2)
13 Opposite of “from” (2)
14 Formed by sediment (11)
15 Moral rightness (7)
17 Not tame (4)
18 Opposite of “high” (3)
20 Reverse the doing of something (4)
22 Head covering (3)
23 Musical play (5)
24 Pleasant (4)
25 Distinguishing object used as a guide for navigation (8)
27 Large, mouse-like rodent (3)
29 Breathing organ (4)
30 Mirror (7-5)
33 Single (3)
35 Boarding place for dogs (6)
36 Expand (7)
37 Bargain (4)
Down
1 Blemish (6)
2 Watery animal fluid (5)
3 Practice (8)
5 Lots (4)
7 Single (10)
8 Expert’s area of focus (14)
10 Utensil for pouring liquid into a narrow opening (6)
12 Place where you can go to drink alcohol (3)
16 Mesh (6)
17 Interior wooden fittings of a house (8)
19 Conjunction: While on the contrary (7)
21 Writing liquid (3)
23 Merely (4)
26 Can do (4)
28 Paper used for blowing your nose (6)
31 Color of Grandma’s hair (British spelling) (4)
32 Use a knife (3)
34 Used for catching fish (3)
Idiom Focus: Business Idioms 11
Posted on 2013/07/20
Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.
cut off: stop, interrupt.
Example:
Some people talk too much on the phone. You have to just cut them off so you can get back to work.
bang for the buck: good value for your money.
Example:
Tom really got a big bang for his buck when he picked up some good file cabinets at the used office furniture store for just ten dollars.
Crossword – Irregular Verbs 18
Posted on 2013/07/14
To complete this crossword, use the appropriate past tense / past participle of the verb in the parentheses.
Across
1 The noise of the blast was so loud that it could be (hear) from several miles away. (5)
3 Uncle Jack’s toes were badly (frostbite) when he got lost in the wilderness. (11)
7 Our catering company was able to get the job for the convention, because we (undercut) the competition’s estimate by fifteen percent. (8)
9 We (rid) the dog of his fleas by giving him a bath and putting a flea collar on him. (3)
10 Many sailors (dive) off the sinking ship and swam to the nearby island. (4)
11 The alcoholic had (backslide) for several years after his wife’s death. (11)
13 The light rain didn’t even get the sidewalk (wet) under the trees. (3)
15 The candidate’s off-the-cuff remarks were (misunderstand) by the general public. (13)
19 Even though the candidate (underspend) compared to his opponent, he still managed to win the election. (10)
20 Peter (outrun) the others, and was the first to arrive. (6)
23 The tree (bear) no fruit for the first three years. (4)
24 I have (proofread) your paper several times, and could find only three mistakes. (9)
26 Once the lion had (eat) his fill, he walked away and left the carcass for the jackals. (5)
28 The king (tread) upon the rights of his subjects and ignored their petitions. (4)
31 At this time of year there are maple seeds (strew) over the entire lawn. (6)
32 The clothes Aunt Edna made for the baby (fit) like a glove. (3)
33 The boss (speak) to the company president about the new employee suggestion box. (5)
Down
1 I was afraid, so I (hide) myself. (3)
2 (Do) you hear the news about the governor? (3)
3 Playing outside during stormy weather is (forbid). (9)
4 Fearful of hearing bad news, Joan (sit) down and took a deep breath. (3)
5 Think of all the men who have (bleed) and died to preserve our freedoms. (4)
6 The pitcher (throw) the ball to the second baseman, who tagged the runner out. (5)
8 Teenagers who don’t get at least 2200 calories per day are probably (underfeed). (8)
12 Jack had (swim) five miles every day as part of his training for the triathalon. (4)
14 Joan had no idea the library book had a (tear) page. (4)
16 This vehicle model was (test-drive) extensively before it was introduced to the public at the car show. (4-6)
17 The man on the bicycle was easily (overtake) by the speeding car. (9)
18 Rip Van Winkle’s wife (browbeat) him from morning till night, so he often sought to escape her sharp tongue. (8)
19 There are many places on the Internet where you can buy (unspin) wool. (6)
21 Steve was afraid to go home to his mother because he (tear) his jacket. (4)
22 The governor (swear) an oath to fulfill the duties of his public office. (5)
25 The money we earned at our garage sale (offset) our vacation expenses. (6)
27 On our vacation we (take) many pictures. (4)
29 The messenger had (run) halfway on foot, only to be stopped by the swollen river. (3)
30 He’s (dig) his own grave by nursing his desire for revenge. (3)
Idiom Focus: Business Idioms 10
Posted on 2013/07/13
Every Saturday I’ll give you a couple of idioms to learn. An idiom is a saying or phrase whose meaning cannot be taken from the literal meanings of the words.
fill the bill: be exactly what is needed
Example:
This new scheduling software should fill the bill for our advertisement sales staff.
bean-counter: accountant.
Example:
I’m so glad I don’t work in accounting. I can’t imagine being a bean-counter is very interesting.
