17:英検対策1級(Eiken Grade 1)

38: Eiken Grade 1 Vocabularies Lesson 38

Part 1: Vocabulary words

1. flounder verb [floun-der]

to not succeed or to come to nothing

◼ Example: Start-up companies are bound to flounder due to lack of planning.
◻ Note: Whenever your plans flounder, what do you do to get over it?

2. justify verb [juhs-tuh-fahy]

- to provide proof or a reason for
- someone/something to be morally right or fair

◼ Example: The teenager who was caught taking illegal drugs tried to justify his actions by saying that he was forced to take them.
◻ Note: What are your thoughts about “the end doesn’t justify the means”?

3. project verb [pruh-jekt]

forecast; to plan, suggest, calculate (something) based on current facts

◼ Example: He projected that the sales would increase by at least 5% in the next quarter.
◻ Note: Do you usually project your earnings and expenses in order to make an informed decision about purchasing something?

4. auspice noun [aw-spis]

usually “auspices”: used in this formal expression: “under the auspices of”, which means with the help, support, or protection of a person or organization

◼ Example: The renovation of the bridge was done under the auspices of Sony.

5. requisite noun [rek-wuh-zit]

something important/needed for a particular purpose

◼ Example: A healthy and active lifestyle is a requisite to stay fit.
◻ Note: Synonyms of 'requisite' are needed and needful.

6. prerequisite noun [pri-rek-wuh-zit, pree-]

something important/needed before something else can exist or happen

◼ Example: A senior citizen’s ID is a prerequisite for the senior citizens’ discount.
◻ Note: Synonyms of 'prerequisite' are requirement, essential and precondition.

7. deplete verb [dih-pleet]

use up or to reduce something in size or amount

◼ Example: She completely depleted her life savings when she invested in the stock market.
◻ Note: Would you deplete your life savings to invest in stocks?

8. gravity noun [grav-i-tee]

the state of being grave or serious

◼ Example: She didn’t realize the gravity of her gambling addiction until she lost everything that she had.
◻ Note: In Physics, 'gravity' means the force that attracts a body toward the center of the earth.

9. jinx noun [jingks]

a person/thing that brings/causes bad luck; a time/condition caused by a jinx

◼ Example: Turtles were believed by some to be a jinx, but others think that they represent longevity because of their long lifespans.
◻ Note: Do you believe in jinx?

10. omen noun [oh-muhn]

an event that serves as a sign of what’s about to happen

◼ Example: When my grandmother heard all the dogs in our neighborhood howl, she said that it was a bad omen.
◻ Note: Have you seen an omen?

Part 2: Exercise 1

Give the word being asked for each number.

◼ omen

◼ auspice

◼ gravity

◼ prerequisite

◼ requisite

◼ deplete

◼ project

◼ flounder

◼ justify

◼ jinx

__________ 1. an event that serves as a sign of what’s about to happen

__________ 2. with the help, support, or protection of a person or organization

__________ 3. use up or to reduce something in size or amount

__________ 4. to not succeed or to come to nothing

__________ 5. the state of being grave or serious

__________ 6. something important/needed for a particular purpose

__________ 7. a person/thing that brings/causes bad luck

__________ 8. forecast; to plan, suggest, calculate (something) based on current facts.

__________ 9. something important/needed before something else can exist or happen

__________ 10. to provide proof or a reason for someone/something to be morally right or fair

Part 2: Exercise 2

Choose the correct words to complete the sentences below.


1) A: The fact that you were invited to see the boss is already a good _________, so you can expect to hear some good news from him and hope for something big.
B: I still won’t count on it. It’s better to expect the worst than to keep my hopes up.

a. omen

b. buffer

c. prerequisite

d. requisite

2) In an effort to ________ her actions of not telling the truth, she said that she didn’t have any choice since her own reputation was at stake. Unfortunately, nobody bought it and they believed that it was just an excuse for her in discretion.

a. justify

b. deplete

c. project

d. flounder

3) They heard about the bullying issue but they didn’t seem to understand the _________ of the situation until they were asked to drop by the Principal’s office. The principal explained to them in detail the magnitude of the problem.

a. auspice

b. buffer      

c. requisite

d. gravity

4) Even if he wanted to exercise his right to vote, he can’t because being 18 and above is one of the __________ for voting, which is considered as the legal age in their country. He has to wait for one more year to be of the right age.

a. requisites

b. omens

c. auspices

d. prerequisites

5) Even though President Obama failed to reduce their country’s deficit, still, he claims that his plans aren’t ________ and he plans to stick to them. However, this claim was regarded by a number of Americans as nothing but obstinate.

a. depleting

b. projecting

c. floundering

d. justifying

6) Communication, respect, and love are the _________ for a long-lasting marriage for these are virtues upon which marriage is founded. Without these, relationships may fall apart and may not be able to recover anymore.

a. requisites

b. prerequisites

c. viabilities

d. feats

7) Two hundred impoverished students were given full scholarships under the _________ of Oprah who has always been active in sponsoring different projects for a good cause. Many international artists were actually inspired by Oprah to have foundations of their own to help children of the poor countries of the world.

a. prerequisites

b. omens

c. auspices

d. feats

8) There are organizations conducting seminars to raise awareness of how much our planet’s natural resources have________ which might eventually cause environmental Armageddon. However, some people think it’s too late to prevent it from happening because no one would be willing to give up convenience to save the planet earth.

a. depleted

b. foundered

c. projected

d. justified

9) She believes that someone put a _________ on her. On her way to work, her car broke down. At the office, she was told that the company filed for bankruptcy. At home, her husband left a note telling her that “It’s over.”

a. jinx

b. feat

c. gravity

d. knack

10) He had to fabricate some information when he ________ their company’s revenue in order to convince a potential business partner, which was discovered before the deal was closed. He was then terminated for such an act that put the whole company in a perilous situation.

a. depleted

b. floundered

c. projected

d. justified