World Mysteries 2 - Vocabulary and Expressions

Comprehensive practice questions and answers for vocabulary, terminology, and key concepts from the World Mysteries Unit 2 text.

What is the definition of the adjective 'solitary'?

spending a lot of time alone

What is a 'tap'?

a device for controlling the flow of water from a pipe into a bath, etc

What does the verb 'suspend' mean?

hang sth from sth else

What term refers to being in the air or the sky, not on the ground?

mid-air (adj)

What is a 'monolith'?

a huge stone

What is the meaning of the phrasal verb 'wipe out'?

kill; destroy

How is 'overpopulated' defined?

with too many people

What does it mean if something is 'available'?

you can use, get or buy it

What is an 'epidemic'?

If there is an epidemic of a particular disease somewhere, it spreads quickly to a very large number of people there.

What is a 'drought'?

a long time without enough rain

Who are the 'Native American' people?

the original people living in North America

According to the transcript, when did the dinosaurs die out?

approximately $65$ million years ago

What is a 'settlement'?

a place where people come to live and build their homes

How is 'abandon' defined as a verb?

leave a place or thing permanently or for a long time

How many years are in a 'decade'?

$10$ years

What is an 'invasion'?

when the army of a country goes to another country in order to take control of it

What is 'migration' in the context of people?

movement to another place to find a better life

What does the expression 'come to light' mean?

become known

What is 'warfare'?

the activity of fighting in a war

What does 'downfall' refer to?

the sudden failure of an organisation

What city was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in $79AD$?

the city of Pompeii

What is a 'hoax'?

a trick sb uses to fool others

What is an 'illusion'?

sth we see that seems to be real but actually isn’t

What is a 'cemetery'?

a place where dead people are buried

If a place is 'haunted', what do people think is there?

ghosts

What is 'outer space'?

the space beyond the Earth’s atmosphere

What is a 'crop circle'?

a pattern that appeared in British farm fields and that some people believe were made by aliens

What does it mean to 'excavate'?

dig carefully to find ancient objects, etc.

What is a 'summit'?

the top of a mountain

What are 'goggles'?

special glasses which protect your eyes

What is an 'avalanche'?

lots of snow which falls down the side of a mountain

What phrasal verb means to study or try to find out something?

look into

What does it mean to 'adapt (to)'?

change your behaviour in order to be successful in a new situation

What is the meaning of the phrasal verb 'make out'?

manage to see sth

What expression is used to describe raining heavily?

it’s raining cats and dogs

What is a 'jellyfish'?

a sea creature with a body like jelly and long thin parts (tentacles) which can sting

What is the meaning of 'thrilling'?

very exciting and enjoyable

What is 'the press'?

newspapers

What does it mean to 'stammer'?

speak with many pauses and repeated sounds because you have a speech problem or because you are nervous

What is 'suspense'?

the feeling of worry or excitement that you have when you are waiting for sth to happen

If something is 'inexplicable', what does that mean?

too strange to be explained

What is another name for the 'Abominable Snowman'?

the Yeti

What is the meaning of 'vanish'?

disappear

What does 'remote' mean when describing a place?

far from inhabited places like towns