All Categories MCQs
Topic Notes: All Categories
General Description
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
78871
We'll have to play it by ear since we don't know how many people are coming to the party.
Answer:
decide how to deal with a situation as it develops, rather than planning in advance
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'play it by ear' means to improvise or make decisions as you go along, depending on the situation. The uncertainty about the number of guests makes advance planning difficult, necessitating improvisation. Option (b) is the correct definition. Option (a) and (c) are incorrect literal interpretations. Option (d) is the opposite of what the idiom means.
78872
His promotion was a real feather in his cap.
Answer:
an achievement to be proud of
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'a feather in one's cap' refers to a notable achievement or a source of pride. A 'promotion' is a significant professional accomplishment. Option (c) correctly defines this idiom. Option (a) is a literal interpretation. Option (b) is the opposite of a proud achievement. Option (d) is an incorrect interpretation based on the literal quality of a feather.
78873
Don't throw in the towel now; you are so close to finishing the marathon.
Answer:
give up or admit defeat
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'throw in the towel' means to quit or surrender. It originates from boxing, where a fighter's corner would throw a towel into the ring to signal defeat. The encouragement to keep going because he is 'so close to finishing' makes the meaning clear. Option (a) is the correct definition. Options (b) and (c) are literal interpretations. Option (d) is an unrelated action.
78874
He is a jack of all trades, but a master of none.
Answer:
a person who can do many different types of work but is not an expert in any of them
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The full idiom is 'a jack of all trades is a master of none.' It refers to a person who has a competent range of skills in various areas but does not have outstanding expertise in any particular one. The phrase itself provides the definition. Option (b) is the correct explanation. Option (a) contradicts the 'master of none' part of the idiom. Options (c) and (d) are incorrect interpretations.
78875
The company is in the red and may have to lay off some employees.
Answer:
operating at a financial loss; in debt
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'in the red' means to be in debt or losing money. It originates from the accounting practice of using red ink to denote financial losses. The possibility of having to 'lay off some employees' is a consequence of financial trouble. Option (c) is the correct meaning. Options (a) and (d) are the opposite. Option (b) is a literal misinterpretation.
78876
His ideas are often a bit off the wall, but they sometimes lead to amazing innovations.
Answer:
unusual, eccentric, or unconventional
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'off the wall' describes something or someone that is bizarre, unconventional, or eccentric. The fact that the ideas lead to 'innovations' suggests they are out of the ordinary. Option (c) is the correct definition. Option (a) is the opposite. Option (b) is a literal interpretation. Option (d) is a different negative trait.
78877
I heard through the grapevine that she is getting married next month.
Answer:
I heard the news informally through gossip or rumor
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'hear through the grapevine' means to hear news or information through an informal, person-to-person chain of communication, like gossip or rumor. It implies the information is not from an official source. Option (d) is the correct definition. Options (a) and (b) describe formal communication, the opposite of the idiom. Option (c) is a literal and imaginative misinterpretation.
78878
He's all bark and no bite; he threatens and shouts, but he would never actually harm anyone.
Answer:
someone who is threatening and aggressive in words but not in action
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'all bark and no bite' refers to someone who is full of angry threats but is not willing or able to act on them. The sentence itself explains the meaning by contrasting his 'threatens and shouts' with the fact that he would 'never actually harm anyone.' Option (b) is the correct definition. Option (c) is the literal origin of the idiom but refers to an animal, not a person. Options (a) and (d) describe different personality types.
78879
The police are still in the dark about the identity of the thief.
Answer:
unaware or uninformed about something
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'in the dark' means to be in a state of ignorance, lacking information about something. In this case, the police lack information about the 'identity of the thief.' Option (b) correctly defines this state. Options (a) and (c) are literal interpretations of 'dark.' Option (d) is irrelevant.
78880
When her business failed, she had to start from scratch.
Answer:
from the very beginning, without any advantage
**Rule: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions.** The idiom 'from scratch' means to start from the very beginning, without using anything that has been prepared before. A business failure often means losing everything and having to begin anew. Option (a) is the correct definition. Option (b) is a possible action but not the meaning of the idiom. Option (c) is the opposite. Option (d) is a literal and incorrect interpretation of 'scratch'.