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(In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the success turned out to be an aberration, and Poland have not won a World Cup since). start learning
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(n.) something that differs from the norm
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(Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to play cricket, Marcin began to abhor the sport). start learning
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(Though Mr. Pospiesznywanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her demands.) start learning
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(v.) to agree without protesting
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(For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he could, so when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity.) start learning
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(An amiable fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.) start learning
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(When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate toappease him.) start learning
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(The professor is an expert inarcane Kashubian literature.) start learning
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(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few
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(The banker’s avarice led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.) start learning
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(Critics condemned the writer’sbrazen attempt to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonko’s work.) start learning
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(adj.) excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious
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(Simon’s brusque manner sometimes offends his colleagues.) start learning
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(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive
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(Magda's friends cajoled her into drinking too much.) start learning
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(The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.) start learning
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(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling
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(We were surprised by the candor of the politician’s speech because she is usually rather evasive.) start learning
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(Hania chided Gregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.) start learning
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(v.) to voice disapproval
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(Though I promised Marta’s father I would bring her home promptly by midnight, it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.) start learning
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(Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually went to meet George for a clandestine liaison.) start learning
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(The court decided that David Beckham did not have to honor the contract because he had been coercedinto signing it.) start learning
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(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat
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(William could not figure out what Harold had seen because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.) start learning
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(adj.) logically consistent, intelligible
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Simon tried to shock his friends out of their complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them. / We’re finally making a profit, but there is no reason for complacency. start learning
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(n.) self-satisfied ignorance of danger, a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
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(Shortly after we met, he became my chiefconfidant.) start learning
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(n.) a person entrusted with secrets
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(She connived to get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.) start learning
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(The cumulative effect of hours spent using the World English website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.) start learning
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(adj.) increasing, building upon itself, adding
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(The large raise that he gave himself debased his motives for running the charity.) start learning
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(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something
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(Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party decried the appaling state of Polish roads.) start learning
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(Donata is always excessively deferential to any kind of authority figure.) start learning
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(adj.) showing respect for another’s authority
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(Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained demure.) start learning
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(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved
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(The native speaker often derided the other teacher’s accent.) start learning
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(v.) to laugh at mockingly, scorn
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(The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws.) start learning
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(n.) one who has total power and rules brutally
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(The diligent researcher made sure to double check her measurements.) start learning
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(adj.) showing care in doing one’s work, being precise
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(When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was elated.) start learning
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(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled
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(The best man gave such an eloquent speech that most guests were crying.) start learning
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(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving (ex. speech)
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(The accountant was fired for embezzling €10,000 of the company’s funds.) start learning
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(v.) to steal money by falsifying records
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(I feel such empathy for my dog when she’s upset so am I!) start learning
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(n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own
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(John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the enmity between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.) start learning
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(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility
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(My English teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of the most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.) start learning
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(Kamila extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving boyfriend.) start learning
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(When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to work.) start learning
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(v.) to make up, invent (ex... evidence)
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(That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.) start learning
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(Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always flabbergasted when I learn the identity of the murderer.) start learning
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(I won't forsake my conservative principles.) start learning
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(v.) to give up, renounce
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(Although the child insisted he wasn’t tired, his fractious behaviour - especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced everyone present that it was time to put him to bed.) start learning
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(adj.) troublesome or irritable
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(Claudia’s placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtive as she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.) start learning
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(Helen’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how anyone can call gluttony a sin.) start learning
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(n.) overindulgence in food or drink
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(Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me a gratuitous helping of vinegar.) start learning
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(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted
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(The superstar’s haughty dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on her someday.) start learning
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(adj.) disdainfully proud
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(Once the politician began passing legislation that contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent.) start learning
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(n.) pretending to believe what one does not
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(If your grades were as impeccable as your brother’s, then you too would receive a car for a graduation present.) start learning
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(adj.) exemplary, flawless
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(Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don’t wish to dignify them with an answer.) start learning
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(adj.) rude, insolent (children)
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(Watch out: once you shun Grandmother’s cooking, she is totally implacable.) start learning
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(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated
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(The impudent young woman looked her teacher up and down and told him he was hot.) start learning
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(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent
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(The discussion wasn’t going anywhere until her incisive comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.) start learning
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(adj.) clear, sharp, direct
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(Why should my indolent children, who can’t even pick themselves up off the sofa to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?) start learning
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(She proved how inept she was when she forgot two orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customer’s lap.) start learning
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(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified
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(The infamy of his crime will not lessen as time passes.) start learning
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(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute, disgrace, shame
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(When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant to inhibit you from going out.) start learning
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(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop
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(His incredible athletic talent is innate, he never trains, lifts weights, or practices.) start learning
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(adj.) inborn, native, inherent
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(My insatiable appetite for blondes was a real problem on my recent holiday in Japan!) start learning
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(adj.) incapable of being satisfied
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(Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain insular and generally only spend time with each other.) start learning
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(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off
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(After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the explorer was praised for his intrepid attitude.) start learning
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(adj.) brave in the face of danger
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(I’m the first to admit that I’m an inveterate cider drinker—I drink four pints a day.) start learning
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(adj.) stubbornly established by habit
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(The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building.) start learning
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(adj.) extremely joyful, happy
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(Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.) start learning
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(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death
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(Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joanna’s control of her lithe body was particularly impressive.) start learning
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(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple
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(Barry’s story, in which he described a character torturing his neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.) start learning
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(adj.) ghastly, sensational
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(John is a real maverick and always does things his own way.) start learning
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(n.) an independent, nonconformist person
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(Ms. Stone’s etiquette maxims are both entertaining and instructional.) start learning
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(n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct
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(The ornate needlework in the bride’s gown was a product of meticulous handiwork.) start learning
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(adj.) extremely careful with details
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(Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda announced her boss’s affair to the entire office.) start learning
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(n.) a small amount of something
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(David’s morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.) start learning
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(It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.) start learning
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(adj.) consisting of a very great number
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(My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car was stolen.) start learning
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(n.) the lowest point of something
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(Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominal price.) start learning
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(adj.) trifling, insignificant
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(Because we were all novices at archery, our instructor decided to begin with the basics start learning
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(n.) a beginner, someone without training or experience
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(The nuances of the poem were not obvious to the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.) start learning
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(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression
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(Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.) start learning
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(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something
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(Donald acted like Susan’s servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.) start learning
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(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive
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(Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.) start learning
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(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
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(Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.) start learning
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(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties
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(A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Magdalena acting out a parody of his teaching style.) start learning
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(n.) a satirical imitation
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(Fiona’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Indian dishes.) start learning
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(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference
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(The actor agreed to accept the role after a three-month perusal of the movie script.) start learning
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(n.) a careful examination, review
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(The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.) start learning
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(n.) an abundance, excess
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(James has a predilection for eating toad in the whole with tomato ketchup.) start learning
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(n.) a preference or inclination for something
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(Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in Romania.) start learning
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(adj.) charmingly old-fashioned
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(It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make rash decisions.) start learning
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(adj.) hasty, incautious, in-hurry
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(After being refurbished the old Triumph motorcycle commanded the handsome price of $6000.) start learning
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(v.) to restore, clean up
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(Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but his mother repudiated it with a few biting words.) start learning
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(v.) to reject, refuse to accept
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(Surprisingly, the teacher’s writing was rife with spelling errors.) start learning
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(One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is that Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.) start learning
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(adj.) significant, conspicuous
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(In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.) start learning
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(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them
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