Word of the Day: PERSONABLE (PUR-suh-nuh-buul)
Attractive, pleasing in appearance, handsome, comely, fair, presentable. In recent years, personable has come to be used to mean having a nice personality. You should avoid using the word in that way. The words sociable, affable, and amiable already suggest people who are friendly, pleasant, and approachable. There is no need for personable to take over this sense. An awkward or unbecoming person, no matter how friendly and pleasant, cannot correctly be personable. Reserve personable for someone who is either attractive in appearance or attractive both in appearance and personality.
Attractive, pleasing in appearance, handsome, comely, fair, presentable. In recent years, personable has come to be used to mean having a nice personality. You should avoid using the word in that way. The words sociable, affable, and amiable already suggest people who are friendly, pleasant, and approachable. There is no need for personable to take over this sense. An awkward or unbecoming person, no matter how friendly and pleasant, cannot correctly be personable. Reserve personable for someone who is either attractive in appearance or attractive both in appearance and personality.
DIATRIBE and TIRADE (n.)
A bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack
What do Coach Carter (Coach Carter), Coach Gaines (Friday Night Lights), and Coach Boone (Remember the Titans) all have in common? All three coaches were passionate about building character and teamwork. And, if necessary, all three didn't hesitate to deliver a TIRADE when a player failed to follow team rules or perform to the best of his ability. For example, Coach Boone demanded perfection. In one memorable DIATRIBE he insisted, “We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You fumble the football, and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind pants and then you will run a mile. Perfection. Let's go to world.”
Quick Quiz:
Sir Thomas Beechman, conductor and impresario who founded and led several major orchestras, was admired generally for the verve and elegance of his interpretations, and he endeared himself to the public by his witty tirades against —---------.
A. the aptitude of his contemporary musicians
B. the insufficiencies of British musical standards
C. public indifference to the salutary effects of music
Answer: B
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A bitter abusive denunciation; a thunderous verbal attack
What do Coach Carter (Coach Carter), Coach Gaines (Friday Night Lights), and Coach Boone (Remember the Titans) all have in common? All three coaches were passionate about building character and teamwork. And, if necessary, all three didn't hesitate to deliver a TIRADE when a player failed to follow team rules or perform to the best of his ability. For example, Coach Boone demanded perfection. In one memorable DIATRIBE he insisted, “We will be perfect in every aspect of the game. You drop a pass, you run a mile. You miss a blocking assignment, you run a mile. You fumble the football, and I will break my foot off in your John Brown hind pants and then you will run a mile. Perfection. Let's go to world.”
Quick Quiz:
Sir Thomas Beechman, conductor and impresario who founded and led several major orchestras, was admired generally for the verve and elegance of his interpretations, and he endeared himself to the public by his witty tirades against —---------.
A. the aptitude of his contemporary musicians
B. the insufficiencies of British musical standards
C. public indifference to the salutary effects of music
Answer: B
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Innocuous (adj.)
not offensive, dangerous, or harmful
Anxiety has been defined as a feeling of fear, dread, or apprehension that arises without a clear or appropriate real-life justification. Some authorities differentiate anxiety from true fear in that the latter is experienced in response to an actual threat or danger, such as those to one's physical safety. Anxiety, on the other hand, may arise in response to apparently INNOCUOUS situations or may be out of proportion to the actual degree of the external stress.
Quick Quiz:
The film producer dismissed the comment as quite innocuous, which —-------.
A. sounded like a harsh criticism out of ill will
B. was not intended to downgrade his work
C. he failed to answer due to its being hostile
Answer: B
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not offensive, dangerous, or harmful
Anxiety has been defined as a feeling of fear, dread, or apprehension that arises without a clear or appropriate real-life justification. Some authorities differentiate anxiety from true fear in that the latter is experienced in response to an actual threat or danger, such as those to one's physical safety. Anxiety, on the other hand, may arise in response to apparently INNOCUOUS situations or may be out of proportion to the actual degree of the external stress.
Quick Quiz:
The film producer dismissed the comment as quite innocuous, which —-------.
A. sounded like a harsh criticism out of ill will
B. was not intended to downgrade his work
C. he failed to answer due to its being hostile
Answer: B
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Word of the Day: RESOLUTE(REZ-uh-loot)
Firmly determined or settled, resolved, having a set opinion or purpose, steadfast, unwavering, persevering.
Resolute comes from the Latin resolvere, the source also of the verb to resolve, which means to decide, determine, settle once and for all: “After much debate, the board of directors resolved to go ahead with the five-year plan.” “The lawyers tried to resolve the case out of court.” Resolute means resolved in one's opinion or purpose: “He was resolute about earning a master's degree and starting a successful business.” Antonyms of resolute include irresolute, unsteady, and vacillating (VAS-i-lay-ting).
Firmly determined or settled, resolved, having a set opinion or purpose, steadfast, unwavering, persevering.
Resolute comes from the Latin resolvere, the source also of the verb to resolve, which means to decide, determine, settle once and for all: “After much debate, the board of directors resolved to go ahead with the five-year plan.” “The lawyers tried to resolve the case out of court.” Resolute means resolved in one's opinion or purpose: “He was resolute about earning a master's degree and starting a successful business.” Antonyms of resolute include irresolute, unsteady, and vacillating (VAS-i-lay-ting).
Curtail (v.)
To cut short or reduce
The Gulf Oil Spill created an unprecedented environmental and economic disaster. As a toxic oil slick spread across the Gulfs once original beaches and wetlands, frustrated workers lost jobs while worried tourists CURTAILED and even cancelled vacation trips to the region. The spill underscored America's dependence upon gasoline. On average, Americans consume about 386 million gallons of gasoline each day. This massive rate of consumption cannot go on forever. Many experts argue that Americans must CURTAIL their fuel consumption by developing renewable sources of energy.
Quick Quiz
As part of her class management policy she always tries to curtail —------.
A. testing students on previously taught materials
B. expelling overly noisy students from class
C. whispering and note-passing in class.
Answer: C
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To cut short or reduce
The Gulf Oil Spill created an unprecedented environmental and economic disaster. As a toxic oil slick spread across the Gulfs once original beaches and wetlands, frustrated workers lost jobs while worried tourists CURTAILED and even cancelled vacation trips to the region. The spill underscored America's dependence upon gasoline. On average, Americans consume about 386 million gallons of gasoline each day. This massive rate of consumption cannot go on forever. Many experts argue that Americans must CURTAIL their fuel consumption by developing renewable sources of energy.
Quick Quiz
As part of her class management policy she always tries to curtail —------.
A. testing students on previously taught materials
B. expelling overly noisy students from class
C. whispering and note-passing in class.
Answer: C
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Word of the Day: SUPPOSITION (SUHP-uh-ZISH-in)
An assumption, theory, hypothesis.To suppose means to assume as true, put something forward for consideration. A supposition is something supposed, an idea put forward for consideration. A hypothesis (hy-PAHTH-uh-sis), a conjecture (kun-JEK-chur), and a supposition are all assumptions or theories. A hypothesis is a preliminary or incomplete theory based on insufficientevidence: “There are conflicting hypotheses about the origin of the universe.” (The plural, hypotheses, is pronounced hy-PAHTH-uh-seez.) A conjecture is an assumption based on so little evidence that it is merely an educated guess: “Every week we hear different conjectures about trends in the stock market.” A supposition may be based on ample evidence or no evidence at all, and may be either sensible or irrational: “His suppositions about the company's financial condition proved consistent with the facts.”
An assumption, theory, hypothesis.To suppose means to assume as true, put something forward for consideration. A supposition is something supposed, an idea put forward for consideration. A hypothesis (hy-PAHTH-uh-sis), a conjecture (kun-JEK-chur), and a supposition are all assumptions or theories. A hypothesis is a preliminary or incomplete theory based on insufficientevidence: “There are conflicting hypotheses about the origin of the universe.” (The plural, hypotheses, is pronounced hy-PAHTH-uh-seez.) A conjecture is an assumption based on so little evidence that it is merely an educated guess: “Every week we hear different conjectures about trends in the stock market.” A supposition may be based on ample evidence or no evidence at all, and may be either sensible or irrational: “His suppositions about the company's financial condition proved consistent with the facts.”
SUBTLE (adj.)
A gradual change that is difficult to detect immediately
In the movie Clueless, Josh and Cher initially appear to dislike each other. In fact, Josh calls her a "superficial space cadet" and criticizes her for lacking direction. However, as the movie unfolds, there is a SUBTLE change in their relationship as they slowly become closer and closer. In the movie Billy Madison, a similar SUBTLE change occurs between Veronica Vaughn and Billy Madison. In the beginning, Ms. Vaughn detests Billy for his immature behavior. However, as Billy gradually matures, he begins to win Veronica's respect.
Quick Quiz:
The warning signs of the disease are so subtle that they —---------.
A. cause so much trouble
B. are often ignored
C. are detected very easily
Answer: B
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A gradual change that is difficult to detect immediately
In the movie Clueless, Josh and Cher initially appear to dislike each other. In fact, Josh calls her a "superficial space cadet" and criticizes her for lacking direction. However, as the movie unfolds, there is a SUBTLE change in their relationship as they slowly become closer and closer. In the movie Billy Madison, a similar SUBTLE change occurs between Veronica Vaughn and Billy Madison. In the beginning, Ms. Vaughn detests Billy for his immature behavior. However, as Billy gradually matures, he begins to win Veronica's respect.
Quick Quiz:
The warning signs of the disease are so subtle that they —---------.
A. cause so much trouble
B. are often ignored
C. are detected very easily
Answer: B
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CRYPTIC (adj.)
Having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious
As Harry Potter and the Chambe1• of Secrets opens, Dobby delivers this CRYPTIC message to Harry: "Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts." But why must Harry stay away from Hogwarts? We don't know, because the message is CRYPTIC. Later in the same book, this CRYPTIC message appears on one of the walls at Hogwarts: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware." Once again, since the message is CRYPTIC, we are not sure what it means.
Quick Quiz:
Darby is a cheerfully relaxed young man who compiled cryptic crosswords for a monthly magazine in his spare time; crosswords that —-----------.
A. simple and at the same time time-consuming
B. are not easy to solve
C. are intended to distort reality
Answer: B
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Having a hidden or ambiguous meaning; mysterious
As Harry Potter and the Chambe1• of Secrets opens, Dobby delivers this CRYPTIC message to Harry: "Harry Potter must not go back to Hogwarts." But why must Harry stay away from Hogwarts? We don't know, because the message is CRYPTIC. Later in the same book, this CRYPTIC message appears on one of the walls at Hogwarts: "The Chamber of Secrets has been opened. Enemies of the Heir, Beware." Once again, since the message is CRYPTIC, we are not sure what it means.
Quick Quiz:
Darby is a cheerfully relaxed young man who compiled cryptic crosswords for a monthly magazine in his spare time; crosswords that —-----------.
A. simple and at the same time time-consuming
B. are not easy to solve
C. are intended to distort reality
Answer: B
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Word 28: ARBITRARY (AHR-bi-TRAIR-ee or -TRER-ee)
Unreasoned, based on personal feelings or preferences rather than on reason, logic, or law: “An arbitrary price for a product is not necessarily a fair price”; “His arbitrary decisions have cost the company a lot of money.”
Arbitrary comes from the same Latin source as the words arbiter (AHR-bi-tur) and arbitrator (AHR-bi-TRAY-tur). Arbiter and arbitrator both mean a judge or umpire who makes a final decision or resolves a dispute. Arbitrary means making discretionary judgments or decisions that may or may not be fair or reasonable. Arbitrary has two other useful meanings. It may mean determined or arrived at in a random or illogical manner. For example, the arrangement of furniture in a room may be arbitrary, without an evident theme or pattern; arbitrary decisions are arrived at in a hasty, haphazard way. Arbitrary may also mean exercising unrestrained or absolute power: an arbitrary government has no regard for individual liberty.
Unreasoned, based on personal feelings or preferences rather than on reason, logic, or law: “An arbitrary price for a product is not necessarily a fair price”; “His arbitrary decisions have cost the company a lot of money.”
Arbitrary comes from the same Latin source as the words arbiter (AHR-bi-tur) and arbitrator (AHR-bi-TRAY-tur). Arbiter and arbitrator both mean a judge or umpire who makes a final decision or resolves a dispute. Arbitrary means making discretionary judgments or decisions that may or may not be fair or reasonable. Arbitrary has two other useful meanings. It may mean determined or arrived at in a random or illogical manner. For example, the arrangement of furniture in a room may be arbitrary, without an evident theme or pattern; arbitrary decisions are arrived at in a hasty, haphazard way. Arbitrary may also mean exercising unrestrained or absolute power: an arbitrary government has no regard for individual liberty.
POMPOUS (adj.)
Filled with excessive self-importance; pretentious
In the Harry Potter saga Draco Malfoy is a POMPOUS bully who arrogantly proclaims that pure-blood wizards are far superior to Muggles (nonwizards) and especially Mudbloods (Muggle-born witches and wizards). The POMPOUS Malfoy loves to use verbal taunts to denigrate Hany, Ron, and Hermione. J.K. Rawling uses Draco as a literary FOIL (contrast) to her modest hero, Harry Potter.
Quick Quiz:
I didn’t like the way the pompous waiter served us. She served us in the manner of a person —----------.
A. who wanted to offer everything available
B. doing some poor soul a great favor
C. trying to make sure we would come to like her
Answer: B
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Filled with excessive self-importance; pretentious
In the Harry Potter saga Draco Malfoy is a POMPOUS bully who arrogantly proclaims that pure-blood wizards are far superior to Muggles (nonwizards) and especially Mudbloods (Muggle-born witches and wizards). The POMPOUS Malfoy loves to use verbal taunts to denigrate Hany, Ron, and Hermione. J.K. Rawling uses Draco as a literary FOIL (contrast) to her modest hero, Harry Potter.
Quick Quiz:
I didn’t like the way the pompous waiter served us. She served us in the manner of a person —----------.
A. who wanted to offer everything available
B. doing some poor soul a great favor
C. trying to make sure we would come to like her
Answer: B
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Forwarded from ibtil_ IELTS
Describe an article that you read from a magazine or from the internet about healthy life.
You should say:
When you read it
Where you read it
What it is about
And if you agree with the opinions in this article.
You should say:
When you read it
Where you read it
What it is about
And if you agree with the opinions in this article.
Forwarded from ibtil_ IELTS
Sample Answer:
Last Saturday, when I was staying at home browsing the webs, I accidentally saw an article about fad diets. The title was quite appealing since I was on diet and trying to find more effective ways to lose weight, so I clicked the link and started to read the article. The main idea of the article is reveal the negative parts of the fad diets. It mentions that fad diets can indeed lead to weight loss if you follow them exactly as they are designed, but that doesn't mean every food that fits a diet is healthy. The rules of the fad diets are difficult to follow for a long term, so most people give up. The weight they worked so hard to lose comes back, and they find a new diet, lose the weight once more, and end up on a weight loss roller coaster. This kind of yo-yo dieting can be bad for our health, so the article suggests us to give up fad diets and change to a healthy diet. The article also tells us how to pick the healthy food. It says that the closer the food is to its natural state, the better it is for us. So food like fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fish should be included in our diets, while fried food and sugary snacks should be avoided. After reading the article, I changed my opinion to fad diets. In order to lose weight, I had tried various fad diets before and couldn't stick to follow the rules. This article had pointed out the bad effects of fad diets and I totally agree with the view that a healthy diet is much better than a fad diet. After all, health is more important than beauty.
Last Saturday, when I was staying at home browsing the webs, I accidentally saw an article about fad diets. The title was quite appealing since I was on diet and trying to find more effective ways to lose weight, so I clicked the link and started to read the article. The main idea of the article is reveal the negative parts of the fad diets. It mentions that fad diets can indeed lead to weight loss if you follow them exactly as they are designed, but that doesn't mean every food that fits a diet is healthy. The rules of the fad diets are difficult to follow for a long term, so most people give up. The weight they worked so hard to lose comes back, and they find a new diet, lose the weight once more, and end up on a weight loss roller coaster. This kind of yo-yo dieting can be bad for our health, so the article suggests us to give up fad diets and change to a healthy diet. The article also tells us how to pick the healthy food. It says that the closer the food is to its natural state, the better it is for us. So food like fresh fruits, fresh vegetables and fish should be included in our diets, while fried food and sugary snacks should be avoided. After reading the article, I changed my opinion to fad diets. In order to lose weight, I had tried various fad diets before and couldn't stick to follow the rules. This article had pointed out the bad effects of fad diets and I totally agree with the view that a healthy diet is much better than a fad diet. After all, health is more important than beauty.
DISPARAGE (v.)
To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle
Did you see the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? If so, what was your opinion of the movie? Does it deserve to be praised or DISPARAGED? You might be surprised to learn that Megan Fox, the actress who played Mikaela Banes, DISPARAGED Transformers director Michael Bay for focusing more on special effects than acting. Fox also blasted Bay calling him a dictator "who wants to be like Hitler on his sets." Annoyed by Fox's DISPARAGING remarks, Bay shot back saying that Fox is young, "and has a lot of growing to do." Bay finally ended the war of words when he cut Fox from "Transformers 3" saying her role was not integral (essential) to the story.
Quick Quiz:
Mary actually disparaged the musician when she said he —---------.
A. had to focus less on his work
B. didn’t know how to play his instrument
C. had already taken many classes in music
Answer: B
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To speak of in a slighting or disrespectful way; belittle
Did you see the movie Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen? If so, what was your opinion of the movie? Does it deserve to be praised or DISPARAGED? You might be surprised to learn that Megan Fox, the actress who played Mikaela Banes, DISPARAGED Transformers director Michael Bay for focusing more on special effects than acting. Fox also blasted Bay calling him a dictator "who wants to be like Hitler on his sets." Annoyed by Fox's DISPARAGING remarks, Bay shot back saying that Fox is young, "and has a lot of growing to do." Bay finally ended the war of words when he cut Fox from "Transformers 3" saying her role was not integral (essential) to the story.
Quick Quiz:
Mary actually disparaged the musician when she said he —---------.
A. had to focus less on his work
B. didn’t know how to play his instrument
C. had already taken many classes in music
Answer: B
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Forwarded from IBTIL TOEFL iBT💎
Monotonous
Charles Harrington Elster
Word of the Day: MONOTONOUS (muh-NAHT-uh-nus) Lacking variety, tediously uniform, unvarying and dull. Monotonous means literally having one continuous sound or tone. It combines the word tone with the prefix mono-, one, single. The prefix mono- appears in many English words, including monogamy (muh-NAHG-uh-mee), marriage to one person; monocle (MAHN-uh-kul), a single eyeglass; and monogram (MAHN-uh-gram), two or more letters woven into one.
That which is monotonous is boring because it lacks variety. A monotonous speaker says the same thing again and again in the same tone of voice. Monotonous music is dull and repetitive. A monotonous job is one where the routine never changes. The corresponding noun is monotony (muh-NAHT’n-ee), a tedious lack of variety.
That which is monotonous is boring because it lacks variety. A monotonous speaker says the same thing again and again in the same tone of voice. Monotonous music is dull and repetitive. A monotonous job is one where the routine never changes. The corresponding noun is monotony (muh-NAHT’n-ee), a tedious lack of variety.
DISMISSIVE (adj.)
refusing to consider someone or something seriously
What do the artist Jackson Pollock, the author J.K. Rowling, and the Teggae singer and rapper Sean Kingston have in common? All three had to overcome DISMISSIVE critics. Bewildered critics ridiculed Pollock, calling him "Jack the Dripper." Indifferent editors at numerous publishing houses rejected J.K. Rowling's story about a boy wizard named Harry Potter. And Sean Kingston almost quit the music industry after his idols Timbaland and Pharrel dismissed his early recordings.
Quick Quiz:
She was very dismissive when I tried to tell her about my problems at work, so I —------.
A. describe everything in detail
B. turned to a more sympathetic friend
C. admire her tolerance to handle personal problems
Answer: B
@ibtilTOEFLiBTGREIELTS
refusing to consider someone or something seriously
What do the artist Jackson Pollock, the author J.K. Rowling, and the Teggae singer and rapper Sean Kingston have in common? All three had to overcome DISMISSIVE critics. Bewildered critics ridiculed Pollock, calling him "Jack the Dripper." Indifferent editors at numerous publishing houses rejected J.K. Rowling's story about a boy wizard named Harry Potter. And Sean Kingston almost quit the music industry after his idols Timbaland and Pharrel dismissed his early recordings.
Quick Quiz:
She was very dismissive when I tried to tell her about my problems at work, so I —------.
A. describe everything in detail
B. turned to a more sympathetic friend
C. admire her tolerance to handle personal problems
Answer: B
@ibtilTOEFLiBTGREIELTS
ANGUISH (n./v.)
Agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
The movie Batman Begins opens with a young boy's ANGUISH. Eight-year-old Bruce Wayne falls into a cave, where he encounters a swarm of bats. Bruce develops a fear of bats and later urges his parents to leave an opera featuring bat-like creatures. Outside the theater, Bruce's parents are both killed in a robbery. Filled with ANGUISH, Bruce blames himself for his parents' murder and dedicates himself to seeking revenge by fighting the criminals who control Gotham City. As the Caped Crusader, Batman, Bruce wages a successful fight against crime but must face new and even more ANGUISHING questions: Does his crusade have an end? Can he ever have an ordinary life?
Quick Quiz:
She sat for a while, remembering the anguish of the earthquake victims, which made her want —---------.
A. to sob
B. them all killed
C. another milder earthquake
Answer: A
@ibtilTOEFLiBTGREIELTS
Agonizing physical or mental pain; torment
The movie Batman Begins opens with a young boy's ANGUISH. Eight-year-old Bruce Wayne falls into a cave, where he encounters a swarm of bats. Bruce develops a fear of bats and later urges his parents to leave an opera featuring bat-like creatures. Outside the theater, Bruce's parents are both killed in a robbery. Filled with ANGUISH, Bruce blames himself for his parents' murder and dedicates himself to seeking revenge by fighting the criminals who control Gotham City. As the Caped Crusader, Batman, Bruce wages a successful fight against crime but must face new and even more ANGUISHING questions: Does his crusade have an end? Can he ever have an ordinary life?
Quick Quiz:
She sat for a while, remembering the anguish of the earthquake victims, which made her want —---------.
A. to sob
B. them all killed
C. another milder earthquake
Answer: A
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