2019-03-01ReadersDigest_AUNZ

(John Hannent) #1

140 | March• 2019


WORD POWER


9.zircon– [B] gemstone. She thought
he gave her a diamond engagement
ring, but those gems were just zircons.
10.zloty–[B]Polishcurrency.How’s
thezlotyholdingupagainsttheeuro?
11.zoetrope– [A] optical spinning
toy.Beforethereweremovies,people
couldgettheillusionofmotionfrom
a zoetrope’s whirling images.
12.zori–[B]flatsandal.Afterthe
strap on her zori snapped, Joelle had
to go barefoot for the rest of the day.
13.zoology–[C]animalbiology.
Thezoologycoursereviewssome
of the major animal groups, their
behaviour and ecolog y.
14.zygomatic–[A]relatedtothe
cheekbone. Many football players
use a zygomatic stripe of greasepaint
to reduce the glare
of stadium lights.
15.zyzzyva–
[A] type of weevil.
“I can’t believe
this– there are
zyzzyvas in the
organic quinoa I
just bought!” Matt
exclaimed.

1.zabaglione–[C]whippeddessert
servedinaglass.Ihatetowastea
goodzabaglione,butI’monadiet.


2.zaftig– [B] pleasingly plump. The
characterinthatfilmwasabitzaftig,
thanks to her chocolate habit.


3.zax–[A]roofingtool.Kamalbuilt
thisentirecabinhimself,fromlaying
every floorboard to trimming every
rooftilewithazax.


4.zephyr– [B] gentle breeze. On
stressfuldays,Iliketofantasise
I’monatropicalbeachwithacool
zephyr blowing through my hair.


5.zeta–[B]sixthletteroftheGreek
alphabet.Theup-and-coming tech
firmusesazetaasitslogo.


6.zetetic–[B]investigative.
“Myzeteticmethods,”saidSherlock
Holmes, “are quite elementary,
my dear Watson.”


7.ziggurat–[B]
pyramidal tower.
The king ordered
hissubjectsto
buildagreat
ziggurat in his
honour.


8.zinfandel–[C]
redwine.“Doyou
think zinfandel
pairswellwith
nachos?”Alyssa
asked with a smirk.


WHAT’S FUNNY
ABOUT‘ZANY’?
In Italian comedies of
the 16th to 18th centuries,
a clown named Giovanni was
a stock figure. Typically a
servant who cleverly mocked
the other characters, this
clown became known by the
nickname Zanni. Eventually
Zanni became the adjective
zany, which we use today to
meankookyandmadcap,
like a screwball comedy film.

Answers


VOCABULARY
RATINGS
7-10:Fair
11–12:Good
13–15:Word
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