CSIM C2 READING PRACTICE: PROFICIENCY GOLD UNIT 09 PAGE 124

The dream came to her again, but this time it was different. Cassie no longer tried to run, allowed herself instead to drift, as though carried by some invisible, intangible force towards Tan’s Hill.

The woman waited, blue dress swirling around her, arms outstretched as if welcoming her. Cassie turned from the Greenway and began to climb the hill. This time she didn’t fight to reach the top. She seemed able, by sheer force of will, to rise easily and effortlessly up the slope. In her head, she could hear a voice calling to her. ‘Cassie! Caa-ssie! 

’For an instant Cassie tried to hurry, felt the resistance return and forced herself to relax, to give in to the strange current drifting her slowly towards her destination. She could see the woman clearly now, though she stood with her back to Cassie, face turned away. Cassie approached, reached out towards her. ‘I’m here.’ The woman turned, outstretched arms ready to embrace, fingers extended as though she couldn’t move from that sport, couldn’t quite reach out far enough to draw Cassie to her. 

‘Cassie …’ The voice was soft, whispering inside her head. Cassie reached out again, longing to touch, to make that last effort to contact, but her feet seemed to be sliding backwards. Looking down, she saw her  body, her legs being extended, stretched, as though something were pulling her down from the hill, but her will to be there kept her hands reaching, her upper body still and untouched. For a moment, Cassie found herself examining this strange phenomenon. Some part of herself knew she was dreaming, wondered which particular cartoon this ridiculous effect was from. Some other part of her mind railed against the distraction it offered, ordered her to look back at this strange woman, reach out thatl ittle bit further,  hold tight. 

A slight gasp made her turn. She stared horrified as the woman,mouth open now in some parody of a scream, hands thrown abruptly above her head, was sucked down, swallowed whole and alive into the hill  itself. 

There were seconds when Cassie could not act; she fell forward as though drawn by the other’s momentum. The, as though someone at the other end of herself, that part where her feet disappeared down the hill, had given a compressing, squashing back into their original form. Cassie hung on, trying to dig her fingers into the grassy slope, but there was no purchase. The dew-dampened grass came away in her hands. Her nails dug into the earth, only to be torn away again by the urgent pulling on her ankles.

Cassie woke with a sudden jolt as though falling from a great height. She lay still, trying not to waken Fergus, then on a sudden impulse, held her hands in front of her face, inspecting them closely. Somehow, she was not surprised to find still-damp mud caked beneath her fingernails.

http://es.scribd.com/doc/63712328/UNIT-9-The-mind-s-eye

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 13 an 14

13 Still-damp 
Estar todavía húmedo o mojado.

damp      
    1 damp   damper   dampest  
Something that is damp is slightly wet.
   Her hair was still damp.
   ...the damp, cold air...
   She wiped the table with a damp cloth.
ADJ-GRADED  
= moist  
    2 damp  
Damp is moisture that is found on the inside walls of a house or in the air.
   There was damp everywhere and the entire building was in need of rewiring.
N-UNCOUNT  

   See also rising damp.
    3 damp   damps   damping   damped  
If you damp something, you make it slightly wet.
   Hillsden damped a hand towel and laid it across her forehead.
VB  
= dampen  
Collins Dictionary

14.- to be a damp squib :, the concert was a bit of a damp squib el concierto fue decepcionante

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 12

12.- jolt sacudida, zarandeo

jolt      

    1 jolt   jolts   jolting   jolted  

If something jolts or if something jolts it, it moves suddenly and quite violently.

   The wagon jolted again.

   The train jolted into motion.

   They were working frantically in the fear that an aftershock would jolt the house again.

V-ERG  

    + jolt   jolts  

Also a noun.

   We were worried that one tiny jolt could worsen her injuries.

N-COUNT  

    2 jolt   jolts   jolting   jolted  

If something jolts someone, it gives them an unpleasant surprise or shock.

   A stinging slap across the face jolted her.

   Henderson was momentarily jolted by the news.

VB  

    + jolt   jolts  

Also a noun.

   The campaign came at a time when America needed such a jolt.

N-COUNT  

Collins DICTIONARY

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 11

11.- dew dampened

humedecida por el rocío

dew      

    dew  

Dew is small drops of water that form on the ground and other surfaces outdoors during the night.

   The dew gathered on the leaves.

N-UNCOUNT
damp      
    1 damp   damper   dampest  
Something that is damp is slightly wet.
   Her hair was still damp.
   ...the damp, cold air...
   She wiped the table with a damp cloth.
ADJ-GRADED  
= moist  
    2 damp  
Damp is moisture that is found on the inside walls of a house or in the air.
   There was damp everywhere and the entire building was in need of rewiring.
N-UNCOUNT  

   See also rising damp.
    3 damp   damps   damping   damped  
If you damp something, you make it slightly wet.
   Hillsden damped a hand towel and laid it across her forehead.
VB  
= dampen  
Collins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 10

10.- grassy slope

Pendiente cubierta de hierba

grassy      

    grassy   grassier   grassiest  

A grassy area of land is covered in grass.

   Its buildings are half-hidden behind grassy banks.

ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n  

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 09

9.- squashing back

aplastando hacia atrás

squash      

    1 squash   squashes   squashing   squashed  

If someone or something is squashed, they are pressed or crushed with such force that they become injured or lose their shape.

   Robert was lucky to escape with just a broken foot after being squashed against a fence by a car.

   Whole neighbourhoods have been squashed flat by shelling.

   She made clay models and squashed them flat again.

VB  

    2 squash  

If people or things are squashed into a place, they are put or pushed into a place where there is not enough room for them to be.

   There were 2000 people squashed into her recent show.

   The stage is squashed into a small corner of the field.

ADJ: v-link ADJ into n  

= cram  

    3 squash  

If you say that getting a number of people into a small space is a squash, you mean that it is only just possible for them all to get into it. (INFORMAL)

   It all looked a bit of a squash as they squeezed inside the small hatchback.

N-SING: a N  

= squeeze  

    4 squash   squashes   squashing   squashed  

If you squash something that is causing you trouble, you put a stop to it, often by force.

   The troops would stay in position to squash the first murmur of trouble.

VB  

    5 squash  

Squash is a game in which two players hit a small rubber ball against the walls of a court using rackets.

N-UNCOUNT  

    6 squash   squashes  

Squash is a drink made from fruit juice, sugar, and water. Squash is sold in bottles in a concentrated form to which you add water. (BRIT)

   ...a glass of orange squash.

N-MASS  

= cordial  

    7 squash   squashes  

A squash is one of a family of vegetables that have thick skin and soft or firm flesh inside.

N-VAR  

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 08

8.- jerk

Movimiento, tirón, sacudida

jerk      

    1 jerk   jerks   jerking   jerked  

If you jerk something or someone in a particular direction, or they jerk in a particular direction, they move a short distance very suddenly and quickly.

   Mr Griffin jerked forward in his chair.

   The car jerked to a halt.

   `This is Brady Coyne,' said Sam, jerking his head in my direction.

   Mike kept snatching him up by the collar and jerking him up.

   Eleanor jerked her wrist free.

   Foley raised his chin and jerked his neck as if his collar were too tight.

V-ERG  

    + jerk   jerks  

Also a noun.

   He indicated the bedroom with a jerk of his head.

N-COUNT  

    2 jerk   jerks  

If you call someone a jerk, you are insulting them because you think they are stupid or you do not like them. (INFORMAL, OFFENSIVE)

N-COUNT  disapproval  

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 07

7.- slight gasp

Resuello, jadeo, grito ahogado

gasp      
    1 gasp   gasps  
A gasp is a short quick breath of air that you take in through your mouth, especially when you are surprised, shocked, or in pain.
   An audible gasp went round the court as the jury announced the verdict.
   She gave a small gasp of pain.
N-COUNT: usu with supp  

    2 gasp   gasps   gasping   gasped  
When you gasp, you take a short quick breath through your mouth, especially when you are surprised, shocked, or in pain.
   She gasped for air and drew in a lungful of water.
   I heard myself gasp and cry out.
VB  

    3 gasp  
You describe something as the last gasp to emphasize that it is the final part of something or happens at the last possible moment.
   ...the last gasp of a dying system of censorship.
   He snatched a last gasp winner.
PHR: usu PHR of n, PHR n  emphasis  

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 06

6.- to have/keep hold tight mantener, sostener con fuerza

agarrar con fuerza, tener algo bien agarrado

    2      tight 

            If you hold someone or something tight, you hold them firmly and securely.

                She just fell into my arms, clutching me tight for a moment.

                Just hold tight to my hand and follow along.

                Hold on tight!

            ADV-GRADED: ADV after v 

COLLINS DICTIONARY 

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 05

5.- to rail against

Clamar contra algo

To rail at someone

recriminar a algn, recriminarle algo a algn, recriminar a algn por hacer algo

    5      rail   rails   railing   railed 

            If you rail against something, you criticize it loudly and angrily. (WRITTEN)

                He railed against hypocrisy and greed.

                I'd cursed him and railed at him.

            VB 

COLLINS DICTIONARY 

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 04

4.- By sheer force of will

Por pura fuerza de voluntad

sheer      

    1      sheer 

         You can use sheer to emphasize that a state or situation is complete and does not involve or is not mixed with anything else.

             His music is sheer delight.

             Sheer chance quite often plays an important part in sparking off an idea.

             ...acts of sheer desperation.

            ADJ: ADJ n  emphasis 

            = pure 

    2      sheer   sheerer   sheerest 

            A sheer cliff or drop is extremely steep or completely vertical.

                There was a sheer drop just outside my window.

                A young man plunged from a sheer rock face to his death.

            ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n 

           

    3      sheer   sheerer   sheerest 

            Sheer material is very thin, light, and delicate.

                ...sheer black tights.

            ADJ-GRADED 

           

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 03

3.- OUTSTRETCHED extendido

outstretched      

            outstretched 

            If a part of the body of a person or animal is outstretched, it is stretched out as far as possible.

                She was staring into the fire muttering, and holding her arms outstretched to warm her hands.

                ...an eagle with outstretched wings.

            ADJ 

           

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

wide

    adjective

    1          broad, expansive, extensive, far-reaching, immense, large, sweeping, vast

    2          spacious, baggy, capacious, commodious, full, loose, roomy

    3          expanded, dilated, distended, outspread, outstretched

    4          distant, off course, off target, remote

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 02

2.- Swirling around arremolinarse

    separate  The pans were held in both hands and swirled around to separate gold particles from the dirt.

    swirl  The black water swirled around his legs, reaching almost to his knees.

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY 01

Proficiency: GOLD UNIT 9 VOCABULARY

1.- DRIFT dejarse llevar, ir sin rumbo

Drift apart: irse separando poco a poco

Drift away: dejarse llevar por la corriente

Drift off: quedarse dormido

Thesaurus:

drift

    verb

    1          float, be carried along, coast, go (aimlessly), meander, stray, waft, wander

    2          pile up, accumulate, amass, bank up, drive, gather

    noun

    3          pile, accumulation, bank, heap, mass, mound

    4          meaning, direction, gist, import, intention, purport, significance, tendency, thrust

(c) HarperCollins Publishers.

Meaning

drift        

    1      drift   drifts   drifting   drifted 

            When something drifts somewhere, it is carried there by the movement of wind or water.

                We proceeded to drift on up the river.

                The climbing balloon drifted silently over the countryside.

                The waves became rougher as they drifted.

            VB