Day 27. Reading Passage 3 (Life on Mars?) Word list 1
To draw up something (phr verb) - to prepare something in writing, esp. plans or a
formal document.
Example: The lawyers drew up a contract over the weekend. 2 Barren (adj) - unable to produce plants or fruit:
Example: We drove through a barren, rocky landscape.. 3
Desolate (adj) - a desolate place is empty and not attractive, with no people or
nothing pleasant in it.
Example: The house stood in a bleak and desolate landscape. 4 Hold the key (idiom) - to have control of something.
Example: Because the two main parties have won almost the same number o f votes, the minority group holds the key to the result. 5
Viciously (adv) - in a way that is cruel and shows an intention to hurt or upset
someone.
Example: The candidate viciously attacked his opponent in his speech. 6 Undertaking (n) - a job, task, or piece of work that someone has decided or agreed
to do.
Example:
a big/enormous/major undertaking. This is an enormous and most ambitious undertaking. 7
Albeit (conj) - although.
Example: He tried, albeit without success. 8 To pump (v) - to force liquid or gas to move somewhere.
Example: Our latest machine can pump a hundred gallons a minute. 9
To mimic (v) - resemble or imitate.
Example: He mimicked her accent. 10
To inhale (v) - to breathe air, smoke, or gas into your lungs.
Example: She became ill shortly after inhaling the fumes. 11
To emit (v) - to send out light, sound, or a smell, or a gas or other substance.
Example: The alarm emits a high-pitched sound if anyone tries to break in.
