During essay writing, try to practise and write more difficult words that will impress the markers.
Hope that this will help to improve your English results! (Grammar is another important thing to note. Please be careful of common errors such as tenses)
PART 1
New vocabulary:
Abound
1.to occur or exist in great quantities or numbers: a stream in which trout abound. 2.to be rich or well supplied (usually fol. by in): The region abounds in coal. 3.to be filled; teem (usually fol. by with): The ship abounds with rats.
Annals
1.a record of events, esp. a yearly record, usually in chronological order. 2.historical records generally: the annals of war. 3.a periodical publication containing the formal reports of an organization or learned field.
Badger
–verb (used with object)to harass or urge persistently; pester; nag: I had to badger him into coming with us.
Compound
to put together into a whole; combine: to compound drugs to form a new medicine. to make or form by combining parts, elements, etc.; construct: to compound a new plan from parts of several former plans. to make up or constitute: all the organs and members that compound a human body.
Drudgery
menial, distasteful, dull, or hard work.
Eminent
1.high in station, rank, or repute; prominent; distinguished: eminent statesmen. 2.conspicuous, signal, or noteworthy: eminent fairness. 3.lofty; high: eminent peaks. 4.prominent; projecting; protruding: an eminent nose.
Implore
–verb (used with object)1.to beg urgently or piteously, as for aid or mercy; beseech; entreat: They implored him to go. 2.to beg urgently or piteously for (aid, mercy, pardon, etc.): implore forgiveness.
Interminable
–adjective1.incapable of being terminated; unending: an interminable job. 2.monotonously or annoyingly protracted or continued; unceasing; incessant: I can't stand that interminable clatter. 3.having no limits: an interminable desert.
Perceive
–verb (used with object),-ceived, -ceiv·ing. 1.to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses: I perceived an object looming through the mist. 2.to recognize, discern, envision, or understand: I perceive a note of sarcasm in your voice. This is a nice idea but I perceive difficulties in putting it into practice.
Realm
–noun1.a royal domain; kingdom: the realm of England. 2.the region, sphere, or domain within which anything occurs, prevails, or dominates: the realm of dreams. 3.the special province or field of something or someone: the realm of physics; facts within the realm of political scientists.
Replete
–adjective1.abundantly supplied or provided; filled (usually fol. by with): a speech replete with sentimentality. 2.stuffed or gorged with food and drink. 3.complete: a scholarly survey, replete in its notes and citations.
Tinge
–verb (used with object)1.to impart a trace or slight degree of some color to; tint. 2.to impart a slight taste or smell to. –noun3.a slight degree of coloration. 4.a slight admixture, as of some qualifying property or characteristic; trace; smattering: a tinge of garlic; a tinge of anger.
Voracious
–adjective1.craving or consuming large quantities of food: a voracious appetite. 2.exceedingly eager or avid: voracious readers; a voracious collector.
Avid
–adjective1.enthusiastic; ardent; dedicated; keen: an avid moviegoer. 2.keenly desirous; eager; greedy (often fol. by for or of): avid for pleasure; avid of power.
Cajole
–verb (used with object), verb (used without object),-joled, -jol·ing. to persuade by flattery or promises; wheedle; coax.
Hapless
–adjectiveunlucky; luckless; unfortunate.
Intrepid
–adjectiveresolutely fearless; dauntless: an intrepid explorer.brave
Enhance
–verb (used with object),-hanced, -hanc·ing. 1.to raise to a higher degree; intensify; magnify: The candelight enhanced her beauty. 2.to raise the value or price of: Rarity enhances the worth of old coins.
Fabricate
–verb (used with object),-cat·ed, -cat·ing. 1.to make by art or skill and labor; construct: The finest craftspeople fabricated this clock. 2.to make by assembling parts or sections. 3.to devise or invent (a legend, lie, etc.). 4.to fake; forge (a document, Signature, etc.).
Irate
1.angry; enraged: an irate customer. 2.arising from or characterized by anger: an irate letter to the editor.
Nuance
1.a subtle difference or distinction in expression, meaning, response, etc. 2.a very slight difference or variation in color or tone
Pretext
1.something that is put forward to conceal a true purpose or object; an ostensible reason; excuse: The leaders used the insults as a pretext to declare war. 2.the misleading appearance or behavior assumed with this intention: His many lavish compliments were a pretext for subtle mockery.
Reticent
–adjective1.disposed to be silent or not to speak freely; reserved. 2.reluctant or restrained.
vigilant
1.keenly watchful to detect danger; wary: a vigilant sentry. 2.ever awake and alert; sleeplessly watchful.
Bristle
–verb (used without object)3.to stand or rise stiffly, like bristles. 4.to erect the bristles, as an irritated animal (often fol. by up): The hog bristled up. 5.to become rigid with anger or irritation: The man bristled when I asked him to move. 6.to be thickly set or filled with something suggestive of bristles: The plain bristled with bayonets. The project bristled with difficulties. 7.to be visibly roused or stirred (usually fol. by up). –verb (used with object)8.to erect like bristles: The rooster bristled his crest. 9.to furnish with a bristle or bristles. 10.to make bristly.
Caustic
–adjective1.capable of burning, corroding, or destroying living tissue. 2.severely critical or sarcastic: a caustic remark.
Inadvertent
1.unintentional: an inadvertent insult. 2.not attentive; heedless. 3.of, pertaining to, or characterized by lack of attention.
Incipient
beginning to exist or appear; in an initial stage: an incipient cold.
Stipulate
–verb (used without object)1.to make an express demand or arrangement as a condition of agreement (often fol. by for). –verb (used with object)2.to arrange expressly or specify in terms of agreement: to stipulate a price. 3.to require as an essential condition in making an agreement: Total disarmament was stipulated in the peace treaty. 4.to promise, in making an agreement. 5.Law. to accept (a proposition) without requiring that it be established by proof: to stipulate the existence of certain facts or that an expert witness is qualified.
Repudiate
–verb (used with object),-at·ed, -at·ing. 1.to reject as having no authority or binding force: to repudiate a claim. 2.to cast off or disown: to repudiate a son. 3.to reject with disapproval or condemnation: to repudiate a new doctrine. 4.to reject with denial: to repudiate a charge as untrue. 5.to refuse to acknowledge and pay (a debt), as a state, municipality, etc.
Laceration
–noun1.the result of lacerating; a rough, jagged tear. 2.the act of lacerating.
Disdain
–verb (used with object)1.to look upon or treat with contempt; despise; scorn. 2.to think unworthy of notice, response, etc.; consider beneath oneself: to disdain replying to an insult. –noun3.a feeling of contempt for anything regarded as unworthy; haughty contempt; scorn.
Part 2
New phrases
To eat a humble pie To admit your mistakes and apologise
To pour oil on troubled water To make peace, calm someone down
A wet blanket One who spoils the fun
Pyrrhic victory A too costly victory
A lick and a promise Do something in a hasty manner
Behind the eight ball In trouble
Put the cart before the horse Do things backwards
Chip off the old blocks Son who is like his father
In the world, the flesh, and the devil Temptations
Have the upper hand Gain control
In a beeline Directly
Break the ice Make a start
Steal one's thunder 抢风头
Bury the hatchet make peace
Take the bull by the horns To face a problem directly
Keep the pot boiling To maintain interest
Indian summer Warm autumn weather
Wash dirty linen in public Opening discuss private affairs
To feather one's nest Grow rich by taking advantages of circumstances
Fair weather friends Unreliable acquaintances
