Slumdog Millionaire
Vikas Swarup
Word / Chapter/Page / Phonetic Spelling / Part Of Speech / Med Star Rating / Definition / Sample Sentence / Translation / Exercises
acceptable / 7/53 / /əkˈseptəbl/ / adjective / 2 / good enough for a particular purpose / Your essay is not of an acceptable standard. / 1–10) Choose the correct words and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
acceptable / accused / airfield / air raid / altar / applause / armed forces / arrest / astronomer / bandage
1) Have you always worked in the ______?
2) I don’t like being ______of things I haven’t done.
3) The moon landing was fascinating from an ______’s point of view.
4) An officer told me they had a warrant for my ______.
5) A crowd had gathered around the ______to welcome the pilots home.
6) A nurse removed the ______protecting the wound.
7) I’m sorry, but your behaviour is not ______.
8) The ______lasted for several minutes after the end of the show.
9) No one who has lived through an ______can ever forget it.
10) A large, gold cross stood on the ______.
accused
to accuse someone / A Note About The Story
p5 / /əˈkjuːzd/ / verb / 3 / to say that someone has done something wrong / He accused her of stealing the money.
airfield
/ 5/33 / /ˈeəˌfiːld/ / noun [count] / a place where military aircraft arrive and leave / Several planes were standing on the airfield.
air raid / 5/32 / /ˈeə ˌreɪd/ / noun [count] / an attack in which planes drop bombs on a place / Large areas of the city were destroyed in the air raid.
altar / 2/13 / /ˈɔːltə/ / noun [count] / a table in a church where ceremonies are performed / She knelt before the altar.
applause / 12/82 / /əˈplɔːz/ / noun [uncount] / the sound made when people hit their hands together to show they have enjoyed something / The sound of applause was deafening.
the armed forces / 5/34 / /ðiː ˌɑːmd ˈfɔːsəz/ / noun [plural] / 1 / a country’s army, navy and air force / People in the armed forces are offered a house in which to live.
arrest / 1/12 / /əˈrest/ / noun [count and uncount] / 1 / a situation in which the police take someone to a police station because they think they have committed a crime / Police told her she was under arrest.
astronomer / 6/40 / /əˈstrɒnəmə/ / noun [count] / someone who studies the stars and planets / He’s a well-known astronomer who presents a weekly TV show.
bandage / 6/42 / /ˈbændɪʤ/ / noun [count] / 1 / a piece of cloth that you wrap around an injured part of your body / They put a bandage round her arm to stop the bleeding.
basement / 3/21 / /ˈbeɪsmənt/ / noun [count] / 1 / part of a building that is below the level of the ground / The party was held in the basement. / 11–20) Choose the correct words and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
basement / bayonet / beams / beggar / berth / bet / betray / big wheel / blind / bomb
1) From the ______, we had a fantastic view of the city.
2) I don’t understand why anyone would ______their friends.
3) She was born ______and deaf.
4) We took the escalator down to the ______.
5) A ______approached us with his hand held out.
6) He removed the ______from his rifle.
7) How much did you ______on the match?
8) The ______caused a huge amount of damage.
9) If you’re travelling overnight, it’s a good idea to reserve a ______.
10) One of the ______in the ceiling has come loose.
bayonet / 5/34 / /ˈbeɪənɪt/ / noun [count] / a long, sharp blade that is fixed to the end of a gun / Soldiers walked through the area with bayonets attached to their guns.
beam / 1/10 / /biːm/ / noun [count] / 2 / a long piece of wood, metal or concrete that supports a roof / The cottage is 450 years old and has lovely wooden beams.
beggar / 3/22 / /ˈbegə/ / noun [count] / someone who is very poor and asks people for money or food / The sight of so many beggars upset her.
berth / 8/55 / /bɜːθ/ / noun [count] / a bed on a train or ship / We’ve booked a two-berth cabin on the ferry.
bet / 10/76 / /bet/ / verb / 2 / to risk an amount of money on the result of a race or game / I bet £100 on the horse.
betray
to betray someone / 10/76 / /bɪˈtreɪ/ / verb / 2 / to do something to hurt someone or put them in a difficult situation / How could you betray us like that?
big wheel / 3/17 / /ˌbɪg ˈwiːl/ / noun [count] / a large wheel with seats at a fair that takes people round and round in the air / Do you fancy a ride on the big wheel?
blind / 3/22 / /blaɪnd/ / adjective / 2 / unable to see / She went blind in her old age.
bomb / 5/35 / /bɒm/ / noun [count] / 3 / a weapon designed to explode at a particular time or when it hits something / The bomb went off at a quarter past two in the packed city centre.
booth / 3/17 / /buːð/ / noun [count] / 1 / a small enclosed space where you can buy things or use a service / Anyone wishing to access the Internet may use one of the computers in the booths. / 21–30) Choose the correct words and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
booth / broke into / bruise / bullet / bunker / century / charity / in cold blood / comedy / commercial break
1) The movie is a nice, light-hearted ______.
2) We give our old books and clothes to a local ______.
3) Someone ______our apartment during the night.
4) He enjoyed killing animals ______.
5) She had a big, yellow ______on her arm.
6) ‘I’m afraid we have to take another ______now.’
7) A ______hit her in the chest.
8) They were hiding in the ______.
9) She went into the ______to make a phone call.
10) That’s the first ______I’ve ever scored.
broke into
to break into something / 7/50 / /ˌbrəʊk ˈɪntuː/ / phrasal verb / to enter a building by force, especially in order to steal things / Thieves broke into our hotel room.
bruise / 4/29 / /bruːz/ / noun [count] / a mark that you get on your body if you hit it against something / He has a terrible bruise on his right eye.
bullet / 5/35 / /ˈbʊlɪt/ / noun [count] / 2 / a small piece of metal that is shot from a gun / A man was hit by a bullet and injured.
bunker / 5/33 / /ˈbʌŋkə/ / noun [count] / a room or set of rooms with strong walls that is built underground / In the event of a nuclear war, bunkers have been built to protect people.
century / 10/76 / /ˈsenʧəri/ / noun [count] / 3 / a score of 100 points made in cricket by one player / He hit a century in just under two hours.
charity / A Note About The Story
p5 / /ˈʧærəti/ / noun [count] / 3 / an organization that gives money or help to people who are poor or ill / Do you ever give money to charity?
in cold blood / 12/85 / /ɪn ˌkəʊld ˈblʌd/ / phrase / in a cruel, calm way, without showing any emotion / The judge said that the man had killed his victims in cold blood.
comedy / 4/27 / /ˈkɒmədi/ / noun [count] / 2 / a funny film, play or television programme / Dad’s Army is the name of a well known British TV comedy.
commercial break / 12/82 / /kəˌmɜːʃl ˈbreɪk/ / noun [count] / a short pause in a television programme when advertisements are shown / It’s time now for a commercial break.
cremate
to cremate someone / 5/33 / /krɪˈmeɪt/ / verb / to burn the body of a dead person / We decided to cremate the body, rather than bury it. / 31–40) Choose the correct words and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
cremate / How dare you / den / deputy / diplomat / engaged / exploded / fainted /
fortune-teller / foundry
1) David and Sarah have just got ______.
2) I like coming to the ______for a bit of peace and quiet.
3) He went terribly pale and ______.
4) The children pricked the balloon and it ______.
5) ______speak to me like that!
6) He’s a senior ______based in Moscow.
7) Scrap metal is melted down in the ______.
8) A ______predicted she would become very rich.
9) In western Europe, we usually ______people after their death.
10) She’s been promoted to be the boss’s ______.
How dare you? / 9/68 / /haʊ ˈdeə juː/ / verb / used to show that you are shocked or angry about something that someone has done / How dare you come into my office without knocking?!
den / 7/46 / /den/ / noun [count] / a room in a house where someone goes to be alone / She was sitting in the den doing a crossword.
deputy / 3/16 / /ˈdepjʊti/ / noun [count] / 3 / someone whose job is the second most important in a department or organization / She’s the sheriff’s deputy.
diplomat / A Note About The Author
p4 / /ˈdɪpləmæt/ / noun [count] / an official who represents their government in a foreign country / He’s the British diplomat in Paris.
engaged / 9/64 / /ɪnˈgeɪʤd/ / adjective / 2 / if two people are engaged, they have formally agreed to marry / How long have you been engaged?
exploded
to explode / 5/33 / /ɪkˈspləʊdɪd/ / verb / 2 / to burst with a lot of force and a loud noise / The bomb exploded in a busy railway station.
fainted
to faint / 1/12 / /ˈfeɪntɪd/ / verb / 1 / to suddenly fall to the ground and become unconscious / A woman had fainted and was lying on the floor.
fortune-teller / 3/17 / /ˈfɔːʧənˌtelə/ / noun [count] / someone who tells you what will happen to you in the future / Have you ever visited a fortune-teller?
foundry / 4/30 / /ˈfaʊndri/ / noun [count] / a factory where metal or glass is heated and made into different objects / He works at the local foundry.
gangster / 3/18 / /ˈgæŋgstə/ / noun [count] / a member of an organized group of criminals / Al Capone was a well-known American gangster. / 41–50) Choose the correct words and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
gangster / hang / heads / honeymoon / hosted / immigrant / interfere / Jesus / launching / mentally
1) Do you believe in ______?
2) ______you win; tails you lose.
3) I’d be grateful if you wouldn’t ______.
4) Even young children were ______stones at the soldiers.
5) He came here as a poor ______, with no work and no family.
6) After the ceremony, the
couple left for their ______.
7) You will ______for your crimes.
8) I wasn’t ______prepared for the situation in which I found myself.
9) This part of the city is full of criminals and ______.
10) Who ______the discussion programme last night?
hang / 6/45 / /hæŋ/ / verb / 3 / to kill someone by putting a rope around their neck and making them fall / If they find out you’re a traitor, they will hang you.
heads / 1/12 / /hedz/ / noun [plural] / the side of a coin that has a picture of a head on it / The umpire asked the two players to call heads or tails.
honeymoon / 11/78 / /ˈhʌniˌmuːn/ / noun [count] / 1 / a holiday that two people take after they get married / We’re going to Morocco for our honeymoon.
hosted
to host something / A Note About The Story
p5 / /ˈhəʊstɪd/ / verb / 2 / to introduce and talk to the people taking part in a television or radio programme / She hosted a radio quiz show for over twenty years.
immigrant / 11/78 / /ˈɪmɪgrənt/ / noun [count] / 1 / someone who comes to live in a country from another country / Immigrants arrived in the country looking for work.
interfere
to interfere in something / 6/43 / /ˌɪntəˈfɪə/ / verb / 2 / to try to influence the way a situation develops, although you have no right to do this / You mustn’t interfere too much in children’s lives.
Jesus / 2/13 / /ˈʤiːzəs/ / noun [sing] / the man who some people believe to be the son of God / Some of the children at the orphanage had never heard of Jesus.
launching
to launch something / 5/33 / /ˈlɔːnʧɪŋ/ / verb / 3 / to send a rocket, satellite or other object into space or into the air / Protestors started launching missiles.
mentally / 9/62 / /ˈment(ə)li/ / adverb / in a way that relates to the mind or brain / I’m feeling mentally exhausted.
Ministry of Defence / 7/49 / /ˌmɪnɪstri əv dɪˈfens/ / noun [sing] / a government department that is responsible for protecting a country / She works as a civil servant in the Ministry of Defence. / 51–60) Choose the correct words and fill the gaps in the sentences below.
Ministry of Defence / monsoon / nominated / orphanage / outhouse / philosophy / praising /
presenters / priest / psychology
1) Birds had made a nest in the ______at the end of the garden.
2) The ______is situated in the centre of London.
3) When his parents were killed during the war, he had to be put into an ______.
4) Being successful in your career is often about having a strong mind and good ______.
5) People knelt before the shrine, ______the deity.
6) They ______her for the Orange Prize for Fiction.
7) During the ______, over 30 cm of rain can fall in one day.
8) ______is an abstract but fascinating area of study.
9) The service was conducted by a ______.
10) She’s one of TV’s most famous ______.
monsoon / A Note About The Story
p6 / /mɒnˈsuːn/ / noun [count] / a period of heavy rain in India and South-East Asia / How long does the monsoon season last?
nominated
to nominate someone or something / A Note About The Story
p6 / /ˈnɒmɪneɪtɪd/ / verb / 1 / to officially suggest that someone should get a job or prize / He was nominated as candidate for the Democrat party.
orphanage / 2/13 / /ˈɔːf(ə)nɪʤ/ / noun [count] / a place where children whose parents have died are looked after / Saya and her sister were brought up in an orphanage.
outhouse / 9/62 / /ˈaʊtˌhaʊs/ / noun [count] / a building near a house or joined to it, used for storing things / All the gardening equipment is in the outhouse.
philosophy / 1/4 / /fɪˈlɒsəfi/ / noun [uncount] / 3 / the study of knowledge and beliefs / She studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford.
praising
to praise someone / 3/23 / /ˈpreɪzɪŋ/ / verb / 2 / to show your love of a god with words or music / They sang a hymn praising God.