Not until the doctor confirms that my sister is _____ can the whole family stop worrying.

• on the round

• in the zone

• out of the woods

• beyond the pale

Answer explanation

OUT OF THE WOODS: no longer in danger / dealing w a particular difficulty, though not entirely resolved

if so's behavior is BEYOND THE PALE, it's unacceptable

If you are IN THE ZONE, you are happy or excited bc you are doing st very skilfully and easily.

Large, black rain clouds _____ in the sky this morning, signalling an approaching storm.

• scowled

• ruptured

• crouched

• glowered

Answer explanation

GLOWER: looked likely to produce rain

SCOWL: look at so/ st with a very annoyed expression

RUPTURE: to (cause st to) explode, break, or tear

I don’t know what’s so interesting that my daughter always listens to this speaker with _____ attention whenever there is his show on TV.

• spellbinding

• griping

• rapt

• blissful

Answer explanation

RAPT: so interested in 1 particular thing -> u're not aware of anything else

BLISSFUL: extremely or completely happy

SPELLBINDING: holding your attention completely ~ mesmerizing

Despite his competency, the director was _____ after a conflict with his boss and was demoted to a low-level employee.

• ratted out

• toned down

• crossed out

• struck off

Answer explanation

STRIKE OFF: remove a doctor, lawyer, etc from an official list -> they're no longer allowed to work in that job

Eight months of lockdown were eight months I was _____ in the stifling tiny flat of mine in the city, unemployed and unable to go anywhere.

• cooped up

• bottled up

• clocked up

• bricked up

Answer explanation

COOP UP: keep a person / animal inside a building in a small space

The well-reputed CEO _____ with £10,000 of the company's money last night and has come England’s most wanted man at the moment.

• debunked

• deflated

• absconded

• assailed

Answer explanation

ABSCOND (with): leave secretly & take with you st, esp $ -> not belong to you

ASSAIL: attack so violently or criticize so strongly

I thought I only liked the character Loki, but it turns out after that I like the actor himself as I can’t help _____ over photos of Tom Hiddleston.

• slobbing

• dredging

• drizzling

• drooling

Answer explanation

DROOL: show in a silly / exaggerated way -> u want/ admire sb/st very much

SLOB (n): a lazy, untidy, and often rude person

DREDGE: remove unwanted things from the bottom of a river, lake, etc. using a boat or special device

The monument is a(n) _____ reminder of those who died in the catastrophic Sichuan earthquake 14 years ago.

• poignant

• affective

• sardonic

• pungent

Answer explanation

POIGNANT: having a strong effect on ur feelings, esp in a way -> made u feel sad

SARDONIC: humorous in an unkind way -> shows you do not respect so/ st

PUNGENT (adj): smelling or tasting very strong and sharp

AFFECTIVE: connected with the emotions ~ emotional

The gentle colour _____ creates a relaxing ambience for the bedroom of my little daughter.

• complexion

• palette

• structure

• scheme

Answer explanation

COLOR SCHEME: the way -> colors are arranged, esp in the furniture and decoration of a room

COMPLEXION [C2]: the natural appearance of the skin on a person's face, esp its colour or quality

One special thing about Ron is that he never has a _____ plan - he just makes decisions as the need arises but still manages to ace any task given.

• base

• ground

• foundation

• post

Answer explanation

GROUND PLAN: a plan for future action