Stories to build your vocabulary (E1) - Lucy gets a date!

Lucy was walking on the beach. She met Professor Liu.
He had an unkempt(=untidy) hair style. As she reached close to him, she figured out that he had put on a toupe(=a small artificial hairpiece worn to cover a bald spot.). He must be a bit thin on top(=to have lost some of the hair on your head), she conjectured(=guessed). However, Lucy did not frown(=furrow one's brows in an expression indicating disapproval, displeasure, or concentration) because she was stuck by the radiance(= happiness, beauty, or good health that you can see in someone's face) of his face.
Liu: Are you about to ask me out(=make a date)?
Lucy was taken to surprise.
Lucy: Why would you ask?
Liu: You have been gazing(=looking steadily and intently, especially in admiration, surprise, or thought)at me for the last 5 minutes.
Lucy: um..I was wondering if I could ask you some questions.
Liu: My subject of specialization is Quantum Mechanics.
Liu smirked(=smile in a silly way). Lucy surmised(=supposed that something is true without having evidence to confirm it) that she was in a stew(=in trouble).
Lucy: Whoa..I had the preoccupied notion that it was a spooky(=sinister or ghostly in a way that causes fear and unease) subject. I could never wrapped my head around it(=I could never understand it). So, my question is, are you free this weekend?
He cracked up(=laughed a lot) and nodded. 
Liu: I can't extend a silly excuse, which I used to, because I don't procrastinate(=to put off or delay) dates.

BOOST your VOCABULARY Part 2

Main word: AVOID
Synonyms: Fudge, flinch, shy away from, eschew

ESSENTIAL WORDS FOR GRE,IELTS,TOEFL

Keep these images linked to the word so that you never forget it. The examples are the reflections of realistic incidents or contemporary headlines so that the words will be etched in your memory along with the images.  

1. BANG FOR THE BUCK

Definition: value returned for investment of effort

Example Man of Steel gives you the right bang for your buck, but we wish this Superman soared a bit higher.

2. SHAMBLE

Definition: A situation of great disorder

Example The finance ministry asserted the fact that Indian rupee is not in shambles despite sinking to all time low against dollar.



3. DENOUEMENT

Definition:The outcome of a complex sequence of events.

Example Duckworth-Lewis will have a significant bearing on the tournament's denouement.

4. BOLSTER

Definition: to support.

Example US court bolsters same sex marriage.

5. BREAK THE /ONE'S DUCK

Definition: To do something significant for the first time.

Example English team failed to break the duck of 38 years as they lost to India in the final match of Champions' trophy.