Readers Digest Australia Sampler 2022

READER’S DIGEST VOCABULARY RATINGS 5–9: Fair 10–12: Good 13–15: Word Power Wizard Answers 1. pharaoh – (C) Egyptian king. The pharaoh commanded that a giant pyramid be built in his honour. 2. jubilee – (A) 50th anniversary. Our town celebrated its jubilee with a parade down Main Street. 3. cabal – (A) secretive group. The mayor and her cabal of insiders have ruled this city for decades. 4. golem – (B) artificial human. In Frankenstein , a young scientist brings a hideous golem to life. 5. hosanna – (B) shout of praise. The new production of Wicked opened to hosannas from theatre critics. 6. babel – (A) noisy confusion. “I can’t hear myself think over all this babel!” Akiko shouted. 7. matzo – (A) flatbread. The only matzo I eat is the kind that’s been covered in chocolate. 8. scapegoat – (C) one unfairly blamed. Though the whole team played badly, the opening batsman became the scapegoat for the loss. 9. philistine – (B) uncultured. Call my taste philistine if you like; I still think that The Three Stooges was hilarious. 10. maven – (A) expert. Jaden is the financial maven of our group, advising everyone on saving for retirement. 11. messiah – (B) saviour. The self-help guru has been hailed as a messiah by his followers. 12. jezebel – (B) immoral woman. “In my day, you’d be labelled a jezebel for showing your knees!” Aunt Betty said with a laugh. 13. behemoth – (A) something huge. The merger would create a tech behemoth that could crush all competition. 14. chutzpah – (B) nerve. “I can’t believe he had the chutzpah to say that to me!” Tamar fumed. 15. manna – (A) godsend. This medical breakthrough might be the manna that so many patients have been waiting for. 26 May 2022