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VOCABULARY

1. Comprehensive

Definition: Complete and including everything that is necessary; thorough and extensive in scope.

Example 1: The report provides a comprehensive analysis of market trends over the past decade.
Example 2: Students must take a comprehensive exam covering all course material before graduating.
Example 3: The doctor performed a comprehensive medical evaluation to determine the cause of the symptoms.

2. Clandestine

Definition: Kept secret or done secretively, especially because of being illicit or unauthorized.

Example 1: The intelligence agents conducted clandestine operations to gather information from the hostile territory.
Example 2: Their clandestine meetings continued for months before anyone discovered their relationship.
Example 3: The journalist exposed the government’s clandestine surveillance program in a front-page article.

3. Charismatic

Definition: Exercising a compelling charm that inspires devotion in others; having a powerful personal quality that attracts people.

Example 1: The charismatic speaker captivated the audience with her passionate delivery and persuasive arguments.
Example 2: His charismatic leadership style motivated team members to exceed their performance targets.
Example 3: The charismatic musician has built a loyal fan base that follows him to every concert.

EXPRESSIONS

1. Cut to the chase

Definition: To get to the point without wasting time; to talk about the important aspects of something without discussing unnecessary details.

Example 1: I know you have a lot of background information, but can you please cut to the chase and tell me your decision?
Example 2: Let’s cut to the chase—we need to reduce expenses by 15% before the end of the quarter.
Example 3: The busy executive appreciated how her assistant would cut to the chase in their morning briefings.

2. Come rain or shine

Definition: Regardless of the weather or circumstances; no matter what happens; in any case.

Example 1: She walks her dog for an hour every morning, come rain or shine.
Example 2: The outdoor market operates come rain or shine, so vendors prepare for all weather conditions.
Example 3: I’ll be there to support you at your competition tomorrow, come rain or shine.

3. Cross that bridge when you come to it

Definition: To deal with a problem only when it actually arises, not before; to avoid worrying about possible future difficulties.

Example 1: We don’t know if the client will request changes to the design—we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Example 2: Don’t worry about potential side effects of the treatment yet; let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.
Example 3: We’re not sure if we’ll need extra funding for the project’s final phase—let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.

IDIOMS

1. Catch-22

Definition: A paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations; a dilemma with no good solution.

Example 1: It’s a catch-22: he needs experience to get the job, but he needs the job to gain experience.
Example 2: Working parents often face a catch-22 when sick leave policies don’t provide enough time to care for ill children.
Example 3: The policy presented a catch-22 for applicants who needed a job to get a visa but couldn’t get hired without having a visa first.

2. Cold feet

Definition: A feeling of fear or nervousness before doing something important; loss of courage or confidence.

Example 1: He got cold feet just before proposing and postponed it for another week.
Example 2: Many investors got cold feet when the market became volatile and withdrew their investments.
Example 3: Don’t get cold feet now—you’ve prepared for this presentation for weeks and you’ll do great.

3. Cost an arm and a leg

Definition: To be extremely expensive; to cost more than one can afford or more than something is worth.

Example 1: The tuition for that private university costs an arm and a leg, but the education is worth every penny.
Example 2: Repairing the vintage car cost him an arm and a leg, but he couldn’t bear to part with it.
Example 3: International data roaming costs an arm and a leg, so I always buy a local SIM card when traveling.

PHRASAL VERBS

1. Call off

Definition: To cancel something that has been planned; to abandon a plan or event.

Example 1: They had to call off the wedding when the groom fell seriously ill the day before.
Example 2: The search was called off after the missing hikers were found safe at a nearby cabin.
Example 3: The company called off the merger negotiations when they couldn’t agree on key terms.

2. Carry on

Definition: To continue doing something; to persist despite difficulties; to behave in an unruly or excessive manner.

Example 1: Despite the interruption, the presenter carried on with her speech as if nothing had happened.
Example 2: Please carry on with your work while I attend this important phone call.
Example 3: The children were carrying on so much at the restaurant that the parents decided to leave early.

3. Come across

Definition: To find something by chance; to give a certain impression to others; to be understood in a particular way.

Example 1: While cleaning the attic, I came across my grandfather’s collection of rare coins.
Example 2: She comes across as confident in interviews, which has helped her secure several job offers.
Example 3: His explanation didn’t come across clearly, leaving many in the audience confused.

SENTENCE PATTERNS

Contrary to [belief/expectation], + [statement of fact/reality]

Definition: A sentence pattern that introduces a contrast between what is commonly believed or expected and what is actually true.

Example 1: Contrary to popular belief, lightning can strike the same place multiple times.
Example 2: Contrary to our expectations, the small startup outperformed the industry giants in the first quarter.
Example 3: Contrary to what the forecast predicted, we enjoyed perfect weather for the entire outdoor festival.

AMERICAN CULTURE

County Fairs

Definition: Annual events held in rural communities across America that celebrate agricultural heritage, featuring livestock competitions, farm produce displays, carnival rides, games, and local food specialties.

Example 1: County fairs often include competitions for the best homemade pies, jams, and preserves, continuing traditions that date back to America’s agrarian past.
Example 2: For many rural youth, raising animals to show at the county fair through 4-H or Future Farmers of America represents their introduction to agricultural responsibility and business.
Example 3: The county fair midway, with its rides, games, and indulgent fair foods like funnel cakes and corn dogs, embodies a quintessential American summer experience for many families.

REVIEW

STORY: A LANGUAGE ADVENTURE

Maria had always dreamed of becoming fluent in English. On a crisp autumn morning, she embarked on what would become a truly comprehensive language journey.

Maria enrolled in an intensive English program at a prestigious international academy. During orientation, the director said, “Let me cut to the chase—learning a language requires dedication. You’ll need to practice come rain or shine.”

Her teacher, Mr. Johnson, was a charismatic instructor whose lessons captivated the entire class. He introduced unique methods that helped students remember difficult vocabulary.

“Don’t worry about making mistakes,” he often said. “We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Focus on communicating first, perfection will follow.”

Maria faced a catch-22 situation in her studies. To improve her speaking, she needed to practice with native speakers, but she got cold feet whenever opportunities arose because she wasn’t confident in her speaking abilities.

One day, while studying in the library, Maria came across a flyer for a language exchange program. Though private lessons cost an arm and a leg, this program was free. She decided to join despite her nervousness.

There were rumors of clandestine study groups that shared exam questions, but Maria refused to participate. “I want to learn properly,” she told her roommate.

When the midterm exams approached, many students panicked and wanted to call off their weekend plans to study. Maria, however, advised them to take breaks too. “You need to carry on with normal life while studying, or you’ll burn out,” she explained.

Contrary to popular belief, Maria found that watching American shows about county fairs improved her understanding of cultural idioms more than textbooks ever could. The scenes of families enjoying carnival rides, livestock competitions, and funnel cakes provided context for expressions she’d only read about.

By the end of the semester, Maria’s progress surprised even her strictest professors. Her persistence had paid off, proving that language learning isn’t just about vocabulary and grammar—it’s about embracing the culture and maintaining determination through challenges.

EnglishFluencyABCs_ReviewStory_LetterC.pdf