QS leap

Question 1

strive

Answer 1

VERB
If you strive to do something or strive for something, you make a great effort to do it or get it.
He strives hard to keep himself very fit. [VERB to-infinitive]
She strove to read the name on the stone pillar. [VERB to-infinitive]
The region must now strive for economic development as well as peace. [VERB + for]
[Also VERB]
Synonyms: try, labour, struggle, fight More Synonyms of strive
striving
Word forms: plural strivings
UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [also NOUN in plural]
…a politician consumed by his own passionate striving for leadership

Question 2

entitle

Answer 2

1. VERB
   If you are entitled to something, you have the right to have it or do it.
   If the warranty is limited, the terms may entitle you to a replacement or refund. [VERB noun + to]
   They are entitled to first class travel. [VERB noun to noun]
   There are 23 Clubs throughout the U.S., and your membership entitles you to enjoy all of them. [VERB noun to-infinitive]
2. VERB [usually passive]
   If the title of something such as a book, film, or painting is, for example, ‘Sunrise’, you can say that it is entitled ‘Sunrise’.
   Chomsky’s review is entitled ‘Psychology and Ideology’.
   …a performance entitled ‘United States’.

Question 3

protean

Answer 3

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone or something as protean, you mean that they have the ability to continually change their nature, appearance, or behaviour.
[formal]
He is a protean stylist who can move from blues to ballads and grand symphony.
Synonyms: changeable, variable, volatile, versatile

Question 4

exemplary

Answer 4

1. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   If you describe someone or something as exemplary, you think they are extremely good.
   Underpinning this success has been an exemplary record of innovation.
2. ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
   An exemplary punishment is unusually harsh and is intended to stop other people from committing similar crimes.
   He demanded exemplary sentences for those behind the violence.
   Synonyms: warning, harsh, cautionary, admonitory

Question 5

protracted

Answer 5

ADJECTIVE
Something, usually something unpleasant, that is protracted lasts a long time, especially longer than usual or longer than you hoped.
[formal]
After protracted negotiations, Ogden got the deal he wanted.
…a protracted civil war.
The struggle would be bitter and protracted.
Synonyms: extended, long, prolonged, lengthy

Question 6

fallacy

Answer 6

VARIABLE NOUN [oft NOUN that]
A fallacy is an idea which many people believe to be true, but which is in fact false because it is based on incorrect information or reasoning.
It’s a fallacy that the affluent give relatively more to charity than the less prosperous.
It exposes the fallacy of short-term industrial gain at long-term environmental expense.
[Also + of]
Synonyms: error, mistake, illusion, flaw

Question 7

resurrected

Answer 7

VERB
If you resurrect something, you cause it to exist again after it had disappeared or ended.
Attempts to resurrect the ceasefire have already failed once. [VERB noun]
Sam Torrance is the man I have to thank for resurrecting my career. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: revive, renew, bring back, kick-start [informal] More Synonyms of resurrect
resurrection (rezərekʃən ) UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
This is a resurrection of an old story from the mid-70s. [+ of]
Synonyms: raising or rising from the dead, return from the dead, restoration to life More Synonyms of resurrect
Synonyms: revival, restoration, renewal, resurgence

Question 8

decimated

Answer 8

1. VERB
   To decimate something such as a group of people or animals means to destroy a very large number of them.
   The pollution could decimate the river’s thriving population of kingfishers. [VERB noun]
   British forces in the Caribbean were being decimated by disease. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: destroy, devastate, wipe out, ravage More Synonyms of decimate
   decimation (desɪmeɪʃən ) UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [usually NOUN of noun]
   …the decimation of the great rain forests.
2. VERB
   To decimate a system or organization means to reduce its size and effectiveness greatly.
   …a recession which decimated the nation’s manufacturing industry. [VERB noun]
   Synonyms: reduce, diminish, decrease, weaken More Synonyms of decimate
   decimation UNCOUNTABLE NOUN [usually NOUN of noun]
   Government policies have resulted in a decimation of essential services used by the poor.

Question 9

falter

Answer 9

1. VERB
   If something falters, it loses power or strength in an uneven way, or no longer makes much progress.
   Normal life is at a standstill, and the economy is faltering. [VERB]
   The car was out of sight around a bend in moments, but the engine did not falter or slow down. [VERB]
   The faltering economy has affected the new party’s popularity. [VERB-ing]
2. VERB
   If you falter, you lose your confidence and stop doing something or start making mistakes.
   I have not faltered in my quest for a new future. [VERB]
   As he neared the house his steps faltered. [VERB]
   Synonyms: hesitate, delay, waver, vacillate More Synonyms of falter
3. VERB
   If your voice falters when you are speaking, you hesitate or pause, because you are unsure about what you are saying or are upset.
   Her voice faltered and she had to stop a moment to control it. [VERB]
   Synonyms: stutter, pause, stumble, hesitate

Question 10

ferocity

Answer 10

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
The ferocity of something is its fierce or violent nature.
The armed forces seem to have been taken by surprise by the ferocity of the attack.
Synonyms: savagery, violence, cruelty, brutality

Question 11

canicular

Answer 11

ADJECTIVE

of or relating to the star Sirius or its rising

Question 12

unfailingly

Answer 12

ADJECTIVE [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
If you describe someone’s good qualities or behaviour as unfailing, you mean that they never change.
He had the unfailing care and support of Erica, his wife.
…a man of unfailing courtesy and kindness.
He continued to appear in the office with unfailing regularity thereafter.
Synonyms: reliable, constant, dependable, sure More Synonyms of unfailing
unfailingly ADVERB [usually ADVERB adjective, oft ADVERB with verb]
He was unfailingly polite to customers.
Foreigners unfailingly fall in love with the place.

Question 13

onerous

Answer 13

ADJECTIVE
If you describe a task as onerous, you dislike having to do it because you find it difficult or unpleasant.
[formal]
…parents who have had the onerous task of bringing up a very difficult child.
Synonyms: trying, hard, taxing, demanding

Question 14

fend

Answer 14

VERB
If you have to fend for yourself, you have to look after yourself without relying on help from anyone else.
The woman and her young baby had been thrown out and left to fend for themselves.

Question 15

seclusion

Answer 15

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
If you are living in seclusion, you are in a quiet place away from other people.
She lived in seclusion with her husband on their farm in Panama.
They love the seclusion of their garden. [+ of]
Synonyms: privacy, isolation, solitude, hiding

Question 16

rancor

Answer 16

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Rancour is a feeling of bitterness and anger.
[formal]
‘That’s too bad,’ Teddy said without rancour.
Synonyms: hatred, hate, spite, hostility

Question 17

camaraderie

Answer 17

UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
Camaraderie is a feeling of trust and friendship among a group of people who have usually known each other for a long time or gone through some kind of experience together.
…the loyalty and camaraderie of the wartime Army. [+ of]
Synonyms: comradeship, fellowship, brotherhood, sisterhood

Question 18

facile

Answer 18

ADJECTIVE
If you describe someone’s arguments or suggestions as facile, you are criticizing them because their ideas are too simple and indicate a lack of careful, intelligent thinking.
[disapproval]
This subject is admittedly too complex for facile summarization

Question 19

presumptuous

Answer 19

ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you describe someone or their behaviour as presumptuous, you disapprove of them because they are doing something that they have no right or authority to do.
[disapproval]
It would be presumptuous to judge what the outcome will be.
Synonyms: pushy [informal], forward, bold, arrogant

Question 20

engrossed

Answer 20

ADJECTIVE [usually verb-link ADJECTIVE]
If you are engrossed in something, it holds your attention completely.
Tony didn’t notice because he was too engrossed in his work. [+ in]
Synonyms: absorbed, lost, involved, occupied

Question 21

minuscule

Answer 21

ADJECTIVE
If you describe something as minuscule, you mean that it is very small.
The film was shot in 17 days, a minuscule amount of time.
Synonyms: tiny, little, minute, fine

Question 22

vicious

Answer 22

1. ADJECTIVE
   A vicious person or a vicious blow is violent and cruel.
   He was a cruel and vicious man.
   He suffered a vicious attack by a gang of youths.
   The blow was so sudden and vicious that he dropped to his knees.
   Synonyms: savage, brutal, violent, bad More Synonyms of vicious
   viciously ADVERB [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
   She had been viciously attacked with a hammer.
   viciousness UNCOUNTABLE NOUN
   …the intensity and viciousness of these attacks. [+ of]
   Synonyms: depravity, evil, wickedness, vice More Synonyms of vicious
   Synonyms: malice, spite, malevolence, vindictiveness More Synonyms of vicious
   Synonyms: savagery, cruelty, brutality, ferocity More Synonyms of vicious
2. ADJECTIVE
   A vicious remark is cruel and intended to upset someone.
   It is a deliberate, nasty and vicious attack on a young man’s character.
   Synonyms: malicious, vindictive, spiteful, mean More Synonyms of vicious
   viciously ADVERB [ADVERB with verb]
   ‘He deserved to die,’ said Penelope viciously.