tutorStudy Options
Test your vocabulary, listening or reading skills with the quizzes below.
Vocabulary Quiz
picks up • underlying • distraction
awesome • round-trip
  1. Many people watch television as a from every day life.
  2. Some of the things in this museum are .
  3. I think you still have some anger towards her.
  4. Did you want a ticket or one way?
  5. This song really my spirits.
Comprehension Quiz
Answer the following questions about the interview.
image

122 The Moon and Beyond

Ebony talks about space travel and what life might be like in the future.

  • Transcript
  • Vocabulary
notes
Vocabulary notes (text only) explain key vocabulary and phrases from the interview. Learn more here.

pick up spirits

They are trying to pick up spirits.

To 'pick up someone's spirits' is to make him feel happier if he is sad or angry.  Notice the following:

  1. Shopping really picks up my spirits.
  2. Just having her here will pick up your spirits.

underlying

All the other underlying issues.

'Underlying' issues are problems that are not really obvious at first look, but exist in a hidden way.  If someone had a bad experience with dogs when she was younger she may have underlying issues about being close to dogs.  Notice the following:

  1. She had a lot of underlying issues from her time working in that school.
  2. Some people don't know what their underlying issues are until they are in an uncomfortable situation.

billboard distraction

Is this some kind of billboard distraction?

In this case 'billboard distraction' is used as a metaphor. A 'distraction' is something that attracts our attention and makes us stop thinking about what is happening. Literally a billboard is a big advertisement on the side of the road that attracts our attention when we are driving. Notice the following:

  1. All of the community service is just billboard distraction from what the company really does.
  2. You can lose your focus really easily with all of the billboard distraction.

awesome

It's an awesome idea.

An 'awesome' idea is a very very good idea.  Notice the following:

  1. We had an awesome night at the concert yesterday.
  2. His mother is interesting and awesome.

round-trip

You definitely would need a round-trip ticket.

A 'round-trip' ticket is a ticket to a place and then a ticket to return, like a complete circle.  Notice the following:

  1. They bought round-trip ticket in case they decided to come home.
  2. The drive is about 2 hours round-trip.

 

More Elllo English Sites
ellloclass.org
English Speaking
toetal.org
TOEIC Practice
soundgrammar.com
Grammar Lessons
English Vocabulary MP3
Vocabulary Set A
1000 words - $9.95
Vocabulary Set B
1000 words - $9.95
Combo Set A + B
2000 words - $14.95
Other Languages by Elllo
spanishear.com
Learn Spanish
japanesego.com
Learn Japanese
thailandbasics.org
Learn Thai
Follow Us
facebook facebook facebook