Select any word on this page to check its defini­tion and pronun­ci­ation in a dic­tionary.

Click brown words for a pop-up expla­na­tion.

Michal Ryszard Wojcik’s SuperMemo collection sample

The following is a sample set of items from Michal Ryszard Wojcik’s SuperMemo collections for learning English.

Author’s comments

The questions in some of the items are of the form: What is a _______?. The answer field contains a definition. These items are word-definition items. Mind you, it is not important to give the same definition. You can give no definition and still pass the item correctly. The correct answer is to think to oneself what the word means. The provided definition is there so you can verify if your idea matches the proper meaning. You do not need to memorize the definition!

The sample also contains sentence items. In sentence items, the question field contains a full English sentence. It contains no direct question. The sentence contains one word or phrase which I considered interesting or difficult. The “question” is to understand the sentence. If you can understand the sentence, then you pass the element correctly. The answer field contains an explanation of the difficult part. But mind you, you do not have to memorize the explanation! You only need to understand the interesting sentence.

You can download this sample as a SuperMemo collection from the SuperMemo Library.

Q
How do you proverbially express that there is pleasure and satisfaction in avenging a wrong done to one?
A
Revenge is sweet.

revenge [ri 'vendZ]
Q
= a difficulty to be overcome; obstacle; roadblock; hindrance
The final exam is the student's last ______ before graduation.
A
hurdle ['he:(r) d.l]

The final exam is the student's last hurdle before graduation.
Q
= to make a distinction between A and B;
differentiate between A and B;
distinguish between A and B;
tell between A and B

{Give yet another synonym.}
A
to discriminate between A and B [dis 'kri mi neit]

You must try to discriminate between facts and opinions.

The two brothers are very much alike.
It's difficult to discriminate between them.
Q
What adjective can you use instead of "insincere" when you want to impress somebody with your vocabulary?
A
disingenuous [dis in 'dZen ju ..s]
= lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity; insincere
Q
You've been eavesdropping. Someone says to you:

"We were alone when we talked. How did you know what she said?"

How do you react to this?
A
Walls have ears.

- We were alone when we talked.
How did you know what she said?
- Walls have ears, you know.
Q
When you gradually wear your new shoes for longer and longer periods until you can wear them comfortably all the time, you ______________.
A
... break them in.

to break in one's new shoes

These shoes hurt my feet before I broke them in.
His new running shoes weren't broken in correctly.
Q
If you think that a person is uneducated and stupid because they come from the country, you call them a ________.
A
a hick [hik]

He is an obnoxious hick.

New Yorkers have a horrid way of making people feel like hicks.
Q
What idiom can you use to express that it was so quiet that even the smallest sound could be heard?
A
One could hear a pin drop.
You could hear a pin drop.
Q
When you seriously believe that what you are doing is right, honest, or legal, even though it may not be the case, you do it _________.
A
in good faith

The two doctors were acting in good faith.

If you do something in good faith, your reasons for doing it are honest and sincere and you do not intend to harm anyone.
Q
How do you describe a person who finds it difficult to behave naturally and show their feelings? (Give an adjective.)
A
inhibited [in 'hi bi tid]

Men are more inhibited about touching each other than women.
Q
If you hear something from someone who knows that it is definitely true, you can say that you hear it ______________.
A
from the horse's mouth

I got it straight from the horse's mouth.

If you hear something from the horse's mouth, you hear it from someone who is in a position to know that it is true.
Q
How to proverbially express the following?

Make immediate use of an opportunity; choose the best time for doing anything, the time when conditions are most favorable.
A
Strike while the iron is hot.

I wouldn't delay asking the shop to return your money if you are not satisfied with the goods. Strike while the iron is hot and go to see them while they still remember you.

iron ['ai ..(r)n]
Q
When you want to criticize someone because you think they behave just like everyone else and don't think for themselves, you can say that they follow _____________.
A
to follow the herd

They are individuals; they will not follow the herd.

herd [he:(r)d]
Q
If you touch someone's feet with your own feet as a playful way of expressing your romantic or sexual feelings toward them, you do what?
A
I play footsie with them

to play footsie with someone

['fut si:]
Q
What do you say to show that you understand and sympathize with the problem or difficult experience that someone is telling you about?
A
I know the feeling.
Q
When you no longer know how much time has passed since you last knew what the time was, you have ____________.
A
... lost track of time.

to lose track of time
Q
What is a Marilyn Monroe look-alike?
A
A look-alike of a famous person is a person who has a very similar appearance to the famous person.

look-alike ['luk .. laik]
Q
I've got the hots for her.
A
the hots = sexual desire
Q
He shifted his attention from the town to the surrounding hills.
A
to shift one's attention from one thing to another
Q
Pronounce "Robert".
A
Robert ['rob ..(r)t]
Q
The astronauts are preparing for touchdown tomorrow morning.
A
touchdown ['t^tS daun]
= the landing of an aircraft or spacecraft
Q
She is an anchor for CNN International's World News.
A
an anchor ['@N k..(r)]
= the main broadcaster on a program of news, sports, etc., who often coordinates the reports of the program's other broadcasters
Q
What funny phrase can you use to indicate that what you have just said is not a joke? (Sherlock Holmes used this phrase.)
A
Even my limited sense of humour could have evolved a better joke than that.
Q
Those not attending the meeting may vote by proxy.
A
If you do something by proxy, you arrange for someone else to do it for you.

['prok si:]
Q
When you cannot be present at a meeting to vote in person, you arrange for someone to vote on your behalf. What special phrase can you use to describe such a situation?
A
to vote by proxy
['prok si:]

/to vote in person or by proxy/
Those not attending the meeting may vote by proxy.
Q
The criminals have done in the old man.
A
to do sb in = to kill them
Q
There were under twenty people _____ the lecture.
A
at the lecture

There were under twenty people at the lecture.
Q
Express more gracefully:
Her lips were painted red.
A
She wore red lipstick.
She was wearing red lipstick.
Q
Over time she internalized her parents' attitudes.
A
to internalize sth [in 'te:(r) n.l aiz]

If you internalize a belief or a set of values, it becomes part of your attitude or way of thinking.
Q
Pronounce "relaxation".
A
relaxation [,ri: l@k 'sei S..n]
Q
What is a watercourse?
A
= a channel through which water flows

watercourse ['wo: t..(r) ko:(r)s]
Q
What is circumstantial evidence?
A
= evidence that suggests but does not prove

circumstantial [se:(r) k.m 'st@n S.l]
Q
Pronounce "nylon".
A
nylon ['nai lon]
Q
Information is available ____ the push of a button.
A
at the push of a button

Information is available at the push of a button.
Q
Information is available at the ______ of a button.
A
at the push of a button

Information is available at the push of a button.
Q
Information is available at the push of a ______.
A
at the push of a button

Information is available at the push of a button.
Q
Information is available at ____ push of a button.
A
at the push of a button

Information is available at the push of a button.
Q
Information is available at the push of ___ button.
A
at the push of a button

Information is available at the push of a button.
Q
How do you describe meat or other food that is difficult to chew?
A
rubbery ['r^ b.. ri:]

Meat or other food that is rubbery is difficult to chew.
Q
What is rubbery meat?
A
rubbery ['r^ b.. ri:]
= difficult to chew

Meat or other food that is rubbery is difficult to chew.
Q
I admire the way she can just shrug off all her problems.
A
to shrug sth off [Sr^g]

If you shrug something off, you ignore it or treat it as if it is not really important or serious.
Q
Imagine this situation. You cannot be with a person at an important moment in their life. You regret it and you would like to be there. You will be thinking about them. What phrase can be used in this situation?
A
to be with someone in spirit

I'm afraid that we'll be abroad on the day of your marriage, but of course we'll be with you in spirit.
Q
His card preceded him ______ a few seconds and then he entered himself.
A
by a few seconds

His card preceded him by a few seconds and then he entered himself.
Q
When you have made a decision, and now you doubt if it was wise,
you have ____________ about this decision.
A
second thoughts

They were having second thoughts about the tax program.
He is not likely to have second thoughts at the last minute.
Q
What phrase can you use when you suddenly change your mind about something that you are saying or that you have decided to do?
A
on second thoughts

Tell me more about America. No, on second thoughts, tell me more about your family.
Q
= a piece of paper on which you indicate your choice when you vote
A
a ballot ['b@ l..t]
Q
What is a septuagenarian?
A
septuagenarian [sep tu: .. dZ.. 'ne..r i: ..n]
= a person who is between the ages of 70 and 80
Q
Pronounce "rheumatic".
A
rheumatic [ru: 'm@ tik]
Q
My boss delegated me to approach the local press.
A
to delegate ['de l.. geit]

If you delegate someone to do something, you give them the duty of acting on your behalf by making decisions, voting, or doing some particular work.
Q
How do you describe goods that are slightly dirty or damaged, because they have been displayed in a shop for a long time or have been touched by many customers?
A
shopworn goods

['Sop wo:(r)n]
Q
= a special building or a room in a hospital where dead bodies are kept before they are buried or cremated

{1/2}
A
a morgue [mo:(r)g]
a mortuary ['mo:(r) tSu e ri:]
Q
What is a passbook?
A
= a book held by a depositor in which his or her deposits and withdrawals are recorded by the bank; bankbook
Q
What is an alienist?
A
= a psychiatrist who has been accepted by a court of law as an expert on the mental competence of witnesses appearing before the court

['eil j.. nist]
Q
There was a shift in the wind.
A
A shift is a slight change from one direction to another.
Q
Don't try to shift the blame ____ me!
A
onto

If you shift the blame onto someone else, you make them take the responsibility for something bad.
Q
The mayor has the local police in his pocket.
A
If you have someone in your pocket, they are willing to do whatever you tell them (possibly because you have bribed them).
Q
I could tell that my opponent hardly understood what was going on. We played only 15 moves and I already knew that the game was _______.
A
in the bag

When you say that the game is in the bag, you are certain that you will win.
Q
When our team was leading by 20 points seven seconds before the end of the game, the coach already knew that the first prize was _______.
A
in the bag

When you say that something is in the bag, you are certain that you will get it.
Q
He said he'd be there, _________ or high water.
A
come hell or high water

If you say that something will happen come hell or high water, you mean that it will certainly happen, in spite of any difficulties that there might be.
  • Subscribe by e-mail or RSS to get notified when we publish a new update.