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(In 1974, Poland won the World Cup, but the success turned out to be an aberration, and Poland have not won a World Cup since). commencer à apprendre
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(n.) something that differs from the norm
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(Because he always wound up getting hit in the head when he tried to play cricket, Marcin began to abhor the sport). commencer à apprendre
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(Though Mr. Pospiesznywanted to stay outside and work in his garage, when his wife told him that he had better come in to dinner, he acquiesced to her demands.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to agree without protesting
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(For some reason, Simon loved to help his girlfriend whenever he could, so when his girlfriend asked him to set the table he did so with alacrity.) commencer à apprendre
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(An amiable fellow, Neil got along with just about everyone.) commencer à apprendre
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(When Jerry cries, his mother gives him chocolate toappease him.) commencer à apprendre
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(The professor is an expert inarcane Kashubian literature.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) obscure, secret, known only by a few
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(The banker’s avarice led him to amass an enormous personal fortune.) commencer à apprendre
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(Critics condemned the writer’sbrazen attempt to plagiarise Frankow-Czerwonko’s work.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) excessively bold, brash, clear and obvious
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(Simon’s brusque manner sometimes offends his colleagues.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) short, abrupt, dismissive
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(Magda's friends cajoled her into drinking too much.) commencer à apprendre
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(The murderer’s callous lack of remorse shocked the jury.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) harsh, cold, unfeeling
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(We were surprised by the candor of the politician’s speech because she is usually rather evasive.) commencer à apprendre
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(Hania chided Gregory for his vulgar habits and sloppy appearance.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to voice disapproval
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(Though I promised Marta’s father I would bring her home promptly by midnight, it would have been more circumspect not to have specified a time.) commencer à apprendre
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(Announcing to her boyfriend that she was going to the library, Maria actually went to meet George for a clandestine liaison.) commencer à apprendre
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(The court decided that David Beckham did not have to honor the contract because he had been coercedinto signing it.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to make somebody do something by force or threat
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(William could not figure out what Harold had seen because he was too distraught to deliver a coherent statement.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) logically consistent, intelligible
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Simon tried to shock his friends out of their complacency by painting a frightening picture of what might happen to them. / We’re finally making a profit, but there is no reason for complacency. commencer à apprendre
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(n.) self-satisfied ignorance of danger, a feeling of calm satisfaction with your own abilities or situation that prevents you from trying harder
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(Shortly after we met, he became my chiefconfidant.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a person entrusted with secrets
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(She connived to get me to give up my plans to start up a new business.) commencer à apprendre
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(The cumulative effect of hours spent using the World English website was a vast improvement in his vocabulary and general level of English.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) increasing, building upon itself, adding
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(The large raise that he gave himself debased his motives for running the charity.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to lower the quality or esteem of something
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(Andrzej Lepper, the leader of the Polish Self Defence party decried the appaling state of Polish roads.) commencer à apprendre
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(Donata is always excessively deferential to any kind of authority figure.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) showing respect for another’s authority
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(Though everyone else at the party was dancing and going crazy, she remained demure.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) quiet, modest, reserved
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(The native speaker often derided the other teacher’s accent.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to laugh at mockingly, scorn
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(The despot issued a death sentence for anyone who disobeyed his laws.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) one who has total power and rules brutally
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(The diligent researcher made sure to double check her measurements.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) showing care in doing one’s work, being precise
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(When he found out he had won the lottery, the postman was elated.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) overjoyed, thrilled
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(The best man gave such an eloquent speech that most guests were crying.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) expressive, articulate, moving (ex. speech)
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(The accountant was fired for embezzling €10,000 of the company’s funds.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to steal money by falsifying records
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(I feel such empathy for my dog when she’s upset so am I!) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own
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(John and Scott have clearly not forgiven each other, because the enmity between them is obvious to anyone in their presence.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) ill will, hatred, hostility
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(My English teacher is such an erudite scholar that he has translated some of the most difficult and abstruse Old English poetry.) commencer à apprendre
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(Kamila extolled the virtues of a vegetarian diet to her meat-loving boyfriend.) commencer à apprendre
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(When I arrived an hour late to class, I fabricated some excuse about my car breaking down on the way to work.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to make up, invent (ex... evidence)
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(That beast looks so feral that I would fear being alone with it.) commencer à apprendre
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(Whenever I read an Agatha Christie mystery novel, I am always flabbergasted when I learn the identity of the murderer.) commencer à apprendre
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(I won't forsake my conservative principles.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to give up, renounce
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(Although the child insisted he wasn’t tired, his fractious behaviour - especially his decision to crush his jam sandwiches all over the floor - convinced everyone present that it was time to put him to bed.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) troublesome or irritable
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(Claudia’s placement of her drugs in her sock drawer was not as furtive as she thought, as the sock drawer is the first place most parents look.) commencer à apprendre
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(Helen’s fried chicken tastes so divine, I don’t know how anyone can call gluttony a sin.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) overindulgence in food or drink
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(Every evening the guy at the fish and chip shop gives me a gratuitous helping of vinegar.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) uncalled for, unwarranted
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(The superstar’s haughty dismissal of her co-stars will backfire on her someday.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) disdainfully proud
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(Once the politician began passing legislation that contradicted his campaign promises, his hypocrisy became apparent.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) pretending to believe what one does not
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(If your grades were as impeccable as your brother’s, then you too would receive a car for a graduation present.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) exemplary, flawless
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(Most of your comments are so impertinent that I don’t wish to dignify them with an answer.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) rude, insolent (children)
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(Watch out: once you shun Grandmother’s cooking, she is totally implacable.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) incapable of being appeased or mitigated
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(The impudent young woman looked her teacher up and down and told him he was hot.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) casually rude, insolent, impertinent
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(The discussion wasn’t going anywhere until her incisive comment allowed everyone to see what the true issues were.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) clear, sharp, direct
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(Why should my indolent children, who can’t even pick themselves up off the sofa to pour their own juice, be rewarded with a trip to Burger King?) commencer à apprendre
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(She proved how inept she was when she forgot two orders and spilled a pint of cider in a customer’s lap.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) not suitable or capable, unqualified
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(The infamy of his crime will not lessen as time passes.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) notoriety, extreme ill repute, disgrace, shame
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(When I told you I needed the car last night, I certainly never meant to inhibit you from going out.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to prevent, restrain, stop
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(His incredible athletic talent is innate, he never trains, lifts weights, or practices.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) inborn, native, inherent
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(My insatiable appetite for blondes was a real problem on my recent holiday in Japan!) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) incapable of being satisfied
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(Because of the sensitive nature of their jobs, those who work for MI5 must remain insular and generally only spend time with each other.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) separated and narrow-minded; tight-knit, closed off
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(After scaling a live volcano prior to its eruption, the explorer was praised for his intrepid attitude.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) brave in the face of danger
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(I’m the first to admit that I’m an inveterate cider drinker—I drink four pints a day.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) stubbornly established by habit
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(The crowd was jubilant when the firefighter carried the woman from the flaming building.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) extremely joyful, happy
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(Echoing throughout our village, the funeral knell made the grey day even more grim.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) the solemn sound of a bell, often indicating a death
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(Although the dancers were all outstanding, Joanna’s control of her lithe body was particularly impressive.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) graceful, flexible, supple
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(Barry’s story, in which he described a character torturing his neighbour's tortoise, was judged too lurid to be published on the English Library's website.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) ghastly, sensational
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(John is a real maverick and always does things his own way.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) an independent, nonconformist person
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(Ms. Stone’s etiquette maxims are both entertaining and instructional.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a common saying expressing a principle of conduct
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(The ornate needlework in the bride’s gown was a product of meticulous handiwork.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) extremely careful with details
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(Refusing to display even a modicum of sensitivity, Magda announced her boss’s affair to the entire office.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a small amount of something
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(David’s morose nature made him very unpleasant to talk to.) commencer à apprendre
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(It was difficult to decide what to do on Saturday night because the city presented us with myriad possibilities for fun.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) consisting of a very great number
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(My day was boring, but the nadir came when my new car was stolen.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) the lowest point of something
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(Because he was moving the following week and needed to get rid of his furniture more than he needed money, Kim sold everything for a nominal price.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) trifling, insignificant
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(Because we were all novices at archery, our instructor decided to begin with the basics commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a beginner, someone without training or experience
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(The nuances of the poem were not obvious to the casual reader, but the teacher was able to point them out.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a slight variation in meaning, tone, expression
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(Oblivious to the burning smell emanating from the kitchen, my father did not notice that the rolls in the oven were burned until much too late.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) lacking consciousness or awareness of something
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(Donald acted like Susan’s servant, obeying her every request in an obsequious manner.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) excessively compliant or submissive
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(Political opponents warned that the prime minister’s obtuse approach to foreign policy would embroil the nation in mindless war.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) lacking quickness of sensibility or intellect
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(Doctors wish there was a single panacea for every disease, but sadly there is not.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a remedy for all ills or difficulties
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(A hush fell over the classroom when the teacher returned to find Magdalena acting out a parody of his teaching style.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a satirical imitation
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(Fiona’s dinner parties quickly became monotonous on account of her penchant for Indian dishes.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a tendency, partiality, preference
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(The actor agreed to accept the role after a three-month perusal of the movie script.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a careful examination, review
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(The wedding banquet included a plethora of oysters piled almost three feet high.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) an abundance, excess
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(James has a predilection for eating toad in the whole with tomato ketchup.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) a preference or inclination for something
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(Mary was delighted by the quaint bonnets she saw in Romania.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) charmingly old-fashioned
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(It’s best to think things over calmly and thoroughly, rather than make rash decisions.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) hasty, incautious, in-hurry
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(After being refurbished the old Triumph motorcycle commanded the handsome price of $6000.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to restore, clean up
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(Tom made a strong case for an extension of his curfew, but his mother repudiated it with a few biting words.) commencer à apprendre
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(v.) to reject, refuse to accept
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(Surprisingly, the teacher’s writing was rife with spelling errors.) commencer à apprendre
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(One of the salient differences between Alison and Helen is that Alison is a couple of kilos heavier.) commencer à apprendre
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(adj.) significant, conspicuous
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(In an amazing bit of serendipity, penniless Mark found a $50 bill on the back seat of the bus.) commencer à apprendre
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(n.) luck, finding good things without looking for them
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