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VOCABULARY
1. adrenaline: (a) depression (b) expression (c)
recession (d) excitement.
2. bob: (a) make sudden movement (b) make
noise (c) make both ends meet (d) make diplomatice
move.
3. confetti: (a) day dreams (b) coloured paper
(c) popular music (d) reality show.
4. dross: (a) dutiful (b) non-sense (c) workable
(d) furious.
5. emblematic: (a) symbolic (b) funny (c) ener-
getic (d) laughable.
6. footloose: (a) bare-footed (b) lame
(c) free (d) wounded.
7. gung-ho: (a) rigid (unknowingly) (b) busy
(without business) (c) exhausted (over-work) (d) enthu-
siastic (unthinkingly).
8. hyperbole: (a) moderation (b) modesty
(c) exaggeration (d) pride.
9. intrepid: (a) cold (b) warm (c) indifferent (d)
fearless.
10. jiffy: (a) a moment (b) a gift (c) a surprise
(d) a decade.
11. kosher: (a) genuine (b) native (c) alien
(d) hybrid.
12. lemming: (a) brand ambassador (b) timely
decision (c) effective medium (d) migratory rodent.
13. masochist: (a) hurts others (b) helps needy
(c) derives pleasure (d) cheats unsuspecting.
14. nibble: (a) gradually make (b) slowly walk
(c) confidently argue (d) gradually destroy.
15. obviate: (a) reject (b) avoid (c) avail (d) sink.
16. peccadillo: (a) small offence (b) brief inter-
vention (c) healthy outlook (d) narrow escape.
17. recondite: (a) ancient (b) modern (c) obscure
(d) fresh.
18. syndrome: (a) set of diamonds (b) set of
opinions (c) herd of cattle (d) chips of same block.
ANSWERS
1. adrenaline: (d) excitement.
The upward trend in her vote bank sends the
required adrenaline to her committed voters.
2. bob: (a) make sudden movement.
In January 2008 India was on the verge of put-
ting its economy on a speed-boat that could have left
China bobbing in its wake.
3. confetti: (b) coloured paper (small pieces).
In early 2008 venture capitalists and private
equity firms flung money around like confetti.
4. dross: (a) rubbish, nonsense, unimportant.
Good policing is the first line of defence in the
battle against terror and the rest is dross.
5. emblematic: (a) symbolic (representation).
In the wake of Amarnath land row, protests
were emblematic of the anger and alienation on both
sides of the Pir Panjal.
6. footloose: (c) free (to act).
In order to fight footloose terrorism, the need is
to improve the level of governance in the country.
7. gung-ho: (d) enthusiastic (unthinkingly).
The mood in the party at the time of elections
was gung-ho.
8. hyperbole: (c) exaggeration.
The news-reader/news-caster tells the story as
an objective observer in a manner devoid of hyperbole.
9. intrepid: (d) fearless.
It is the meek who get counselled while the
intrepid wage action unhindered.
10. jiffy: (a) a moment, quickly.
Nine bills were passed in the Lok Sabha, all in a
jiffy.
11. kosher: (a) genuine, logitimate, correct.
There is no reason to believe that the confes-
sional statements of the lone captured terrorist are
not kosher.
12. lemming: (d) migratory rodent (rat/mice).
The politicians, in a remarkable imitation of
lemmings, tend to boost their image of insensitivity
and ineptitude by their thoughtless utterances.
13. masochist: (c) derives pleasure (from own
pain/humiliation).
A masochist approach by India to fighting
transnational terrorism raises troubling questions.
14. nibble: (d) gradually destroy/harm/affect.
Saudi peace plan on Israel-Palestinian conflict
remains nibbled by Israeli leaders.
15. obviate (b) avoid, prevent.
Automatic and independent prosecution of the
corrupt is required to obviate political discretion.
16. peccadillo: (a) small offence/sin.
Left red-faced by his sons peccadilloes, the
father disowned his son.
17. recondite: (c) obscure.
Her poems are fashionably experimental in
style and recondite in subject matter.
18. syndrome: (b) set of opinions/actions/events.
Unemployment, inflation and law wages are all
part of the same economic syndrome.

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