Before the 1990s, TV viewers in the Gulf States had only a few choices of channels to watch. Each country generally had just its own, government-run station. In 1991, satellite TV transmission was introduced to the region and immediately became popular. Later, governments began to give licenses for private TV stations. Nowadays, there are numerous choices of channels for TV viewers.

numerous means

• limited in number

• very many

• regional

• local

Sir Isaac Newton’s famous principle of action and reaction explains equally what drives the flight of an inflated balloon around the room when you let go of its neck as well as that of a rocket into space. The force that is exerted by gases escaping from the base of each pushes them forward in an equal and opposite reaction to the escape of the gases.

exerted means:

• applied

• lost

• wasted

• expanded

The rotating hour and minute hands of a clock indicate the time of day. rotating means:

• moving slowly

• lengthening and shortening

• digital

• going around a central point

If you have ever used a library, you ought to be thankful that all of its materials are classified into specific categories. If there were no system for the arrangement of all the books, maps, and other materials, you might have to spend many hours looking for the item you wanted.

classified means:

• discovered

• examined

• desired

• organized

A popular type of glove for doing heavy-duty work is one that is made of leather and lined with cotton. Leather gives good protection to the hands from cuts and burns, while cotton keeps the hands cool and comfortable.

lined means:

• crowded

• manufactured

• covered inside

• closed up

Iron is the most used of all metals, making up 95% of all the metal produced worldwide. When iron is mixed with certain small amounts of carbon (a non-metal), steel is formed. Steel is said to be an alloy of iron and carbon. Alloys are manufactured to improve on the properties of their components. Steel is, in fact, stronger than iron, and it therefore has many uses.

alloy means:

• small amount of metal

• component of a metal

• property of a metal

• mixture of a metal and non-metal

When the moving parts of a machine come into contact with one another, there is friction. To reduce this wear as much as possible, it is important to make sure that oil or grease is applied to all the moving parts. Regular lubrication of the machine will ensure a longer life.

lubrication means:

• moving

• oiling or greasing

• wearing

• operation

Jafar buys Turkish coffee from a specialty shop. He selects the coffee beans he wants and then has them ground into powder.

powder means:

• fine particles

• coffee

• coffee beans

• supply

People who repair watches, cameras, medical equipment, or other precision instruments need to have a high level of skill and attention to detail. Such work has to be done with great exactness and according to professional standards.

precision means:

• electronic

• showing skill

• requiring accuracy

• very small

The average service life of sidewalks in Canada is 20–40 years and mainly depends on the geographic location and quality of the construction. Especially when and where climate and soil conditions are severe, sidewalks become more easily deformed. They may show signs of sinking, rising, and cracking, all of which make a sidewalk less practical and safe.

deformed means:

• improved in shape

• incorrectly formed

• dangerous

• beautiful