English Quiz (Part 113)

'rally' Meaning

• a public meeting of a large group of people, especially supporters of a particular opinion; a car or motorcycle race, especially over long distances on public roads; a continuous exchange of hits between players in tennis, squash or badminton; an improvement; to (cause to) come together in order to provide support or make a shared effort; to return to a better condition; a sudden increase in share prices after a period when they have been falling or there has been low activity

• a sudden period of uncontrolled anger like a young child’s; a sudden period of extreme anger

• a sudden period of uncontrolled anger like a young child’s; a sudden period of extreme anger

Answer explanation

Example:

1. 5,000 people held an anti-nuclear rally.

2. an election/campaign rally

3. The French driver has taken the lead in the Paris-Dakar rally.

4. Share prices fell again today after yesterday's rally.

5. Supporters/Opponents of the new shopping development are trying to rally local people in favour of/against it.

6. The president has called on the people to rally to/behind the government.

7. The general rallied his forces to defend the town.

8. “Workers of the world unite!" was their rallying cry/call (= a phrase said to encourage support).

9. The nurse said my mother had rallied after a poor night.

10. The team played badly in the first half of the game but rallied in the second.

11. a rally in sth The shares of gold mining companies were boosted by a rally in bullion prices.

12. spark/cause/trigger a rally News of the retail industry's first-quarter profits triggered a rally in share prices.

13. stage/enjoy a rally Major oil producers staged a rally despite weaker prices for crude oil.

'tantrum' Meaning

• practical knowledge and ability; having or showing practical knowledge and experience

• to stop something or someone from moving; to prevent a company, country, or economy from using money or other assets; to prevent someone or something from being able to move or operate

• a sudden period of uncontrolled anger like a young child’s; a sudden period of extreme anger

Answer explanation

Example:

1. Charlie had/threw a tantrum in the shop because I wouldn't buy him any sweets.

2. If she doesn't get her own way, she has temper tantrums.

3. My mom would throw a tantrum if I wouldn’t eat.

'immobilize' Meaning

• existing very commonly or happening often

• to stop something or someone from moving; to prevent a company, country, or economy from using money or other assets; to prevent someone or something from being able to move or operate

• practical knowledge and ability; having or showing practical knowledge and experience

Answer explanation

Example:

1. You can immobilize the car by removing the spark plugs.

2. The broken limb must be immobilized as soon as possible.

3. Underdeveloped financial markets limit credit availability, immobilizing large amounts of cash that could be used more productively.

4. Commuter trains were immobilized by the storm.

'savvy' Meaning

• practical knowledge and ability; having or showing practical knowledge and experience

• existing very commonly or happening often

• a feeling of sadness and being sorry for something you have done; a strong feeling of guilt and regret about something you have done

Answer explanation

Example:

1. business savvy

2. She's very intelligent, but hasn't got much savvy.

3. Teenagers are savvier about handling their digital information than adults.

4. He dazzled the country as a modern, media-savvy politician.

5. She has a lot of marketing savvy.

'prevalent' Meaning

• an official order for the tax authorities to take a person’s or a company's assets if they do not pay the tax that they owe

• A feeling of sadness and being sorry for something you have done; a strong feeling of guilt and regret about something you have done

• existing very commonly or happening often

Answer explanation

Example:

1. These diseases are more prevalent among young children.

2. Trees are dying in areas where acid rain is most prevalent.

3. Drought conditions have been prevalent across the area for several years.

4. He was surprised by the prevalence of middle-aged women among the job seekers.

5. prevalent among sb/sth The use of feedback services is becoming more prevalent among small businesses.

'yield' Meaning

• an official order for the tax authorities to take a person’s or a company's assets if they do not pay the tax that they owe

• to supply or produce something positive such as a profit, an amount of food or information; to give up the control of or responsibility for something, often because you have been forced to; to bend or break under pressure; to stop in order to allow other vehicles to go past, especially before you drive onto a bigger road; If something yields information, it provides it; the total amount of profit or income produced from a business or investment; the average amount of money that an airline receives from each passenger for each mile they travel or that a hotel receives from each guest for each night they stay

• a feeling of sadness and being sorry for something you have done; a strong feeling of guilt and regret about something you have done

Answer explanation

Example:

1. an attempt to yield increased profits

2. The investigation yielded some unexpected results.

3. Favourable weather yielded a good crop.

4. They were forced to yield (up) their land to the occupying forces.

5. Despite renewed pressure to give up the occupied territory, they will not yield.

6. His legs began to yield under the sheer weight of his body.

7. If you're going downhill, you need to yield to bikers going uphill.

8. The bond's yield fell to 6.09%.

9. high/low yield These securities are speculative and may involve greater risks and have higher yields.

10. an increase/reduction in yield The payout on a 25-year policy is reduced to £100,271, which represents a reduction in yield from 13.3% to 13%.

11. Yield management is not really new to hoteliers, since identical rooms have been sold for higher prices during high season and for lower prices during low season for generations.