Cumbersome (Kum’bersome): Heavy and difficult to carry or wear, etc.

Synonyms — awkward, bulky, heavy, inconvenient.

Antonyms — compact, convenient, practical, handy.

— It is extremely cumbersome to work with this gadget.

Evoke (ee’vok): To bring a feeling, a memory to one’s mind.

Synonyms — arouse, call, induce, stimulate.

Antonyms — contain, inhibit, repress, restrain, stifle.

— The play evoked memories of their sufferings during Partition.

Intermittent (inter-mitt’nt): Not constant.

Synonyms — broken, discontinuous, fitful, irregular.

Antonyms — continuous, steady, unceasing.

— His intermittent bursts of interest have slowed down the entire project.

Livid (livvid): To be furiously angry

Synonyms—enraged, incensed, wrathful

Antonym — controlled

— Mr Gupta was livid with anger when he learnt his son was missing his classes.

Precocious (pri-koshuss): Having developed abilities before age.

Synonyms — advanced, highly evolved

Antonyms — dull, underdeveloped

— Their precocious son has been playing the guitar since the age of five.

Proficient (pro-fish’nt): To have the ability to do something in a skilled manner.

Synonyms — able, accomplished, skillful, competent.

Antonyms — incompetent, inept, unskilled.

— They need candidates who are proficient in English.

Match the constellations (Latin with the English names):

A                            B

1. Aquarius        a. crab

2. Cancer          b. ram

3. Gemini           c. fish

4. Aries             d. water bearer

5. Pisces           e. archer

6. Sagittarius     f. twins

Mackintosh is a coat made of a material that keeps one dry in the rain. Charles Mackintosh was a celebrated chemist (1766 to 1843). He invented the fabric of which these waterproof coats are made. It consists of a thin sheet of rubber sandwiched between two sheets of woven fabrics.

The little troubles and worries of life, so many of which we meet, may be as stumbling blocks in our way, or we may make them stepping stones to a noble character and to Heaven.

— H.W. Beecher.

1d, 2a, 3f, 4b, 5c, 6e.

— Illa Vij