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Lexis and Vocabulary

997 questions

All types997Multiple choice475Matching152Fill in the blank370
Question 521Question →

In the sentence, 'The committee chairman reminded all delegates that personal grievances should not interfere with public policy, urging them to _____ this principle throughout the meeting,' which fixed phrase correctly fills the blank?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: bear in mind

Answer

The correct phrase to complete the sentence is 'bear in mind'.
The fixed phrase 'bear in mind' is the standard, idiomatically correct expression in English meaning to remember or take something into account.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the required meaning in the sentence context.
The sentence requires a fixed expression that means 'to remember or keep under consideration'.
The chairman is asking delegates to keep a principle in their thoughts during discussions.
2
Evaluate the options against standard British English collocational usage.
'Bear in mind' is the established standard expression, whereas 'keep in head', 'hold in thought', and 'carry in memory' are unidiomatic word combinations.
Fixed phrases rely on conventionalized word pairings that cannot be substituted with literal synonyms.

Key Concept

Collocations and Fixed Phrases
Question 522Question →

Despite facing __________ weather conditions during the trans-Saharan expedition, the team leader chose to __________ from taking hasty measures until the main supply convoy arrived. Which pair of words correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: adverse / forbear

Answer

The word pair 'adverse / forbear' correctly completes the sentence.
The correct response combines 'adverse' (meaning hostile or unfavorable, appropriate for environmental conditions) and 'forbear' (a verb meaning to refrain or hold back).

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the first blank modifying 'weather conditions'.
The sentence describes harsh or unfavorable external environmental conditions. The adjective required is 'adverse' (meaning hostile, detrimental, or unfavorable). By contrast, 'averse' describes an internal feeling of unwillingness or opposition (e.g., 'he is averse to risk').
Correctly identifying the semantic distinction between 'adverse' (unfavorable) and 'averse' (opposed) eliminates choices containing 'averse'.
2
Analyze the grammatical function and meaning required for the second blank after 'chose to'.
The position following 'chose to' requires an infinitive verb meaning to abstain or refrain from acting. The verb form is 'forbear' (spelled without an 'e' after 'for'). The word 'forebear' (with an 'e') is a noun meaning ancestor.
Distinguishing the verb 'forbear' (to hold back) from the noun 'forebear' (ancestor) resolves the second blank.

Key Concept

Distinguishing orthographically and phonetically similar confusable word pairs (paronyms and homophones) in context.
Estimated Time:1m 15s
Question 523Question →

When a commercial bank faces extreme financial distress and is unable to meet its obligations, a court or regulatory body may appoint an independent officer to take control of its assets and manage its affairs on behalf of creditors. Which of the following specialized terms correctly describes the legal and financial status of the bank in this situation?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: receivership

Answer

receivership
The term 'receivership' is the precise occupational term in banking and legal registers describing the condition of an insolvent company managed by an official receiver.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence
The context relates to banking, corporate insolvency, financial regulation, and the court-ordered management of assets for creditors.
Specialized register questions require identifying the exact terminology used within a specific professional domain.
2
Evaluate the specialized register terms among the options
The term 'receivership' specifically denotes placing an insolvent business under the custody of a receiver in corporate law.
The distractor options belong to the medical, penal/employment, and diplomatic/journalism registers respectively.

Key Concept

Occupational and Specialized Registers (Banking and Corporate Law)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 524Question →

Before the board of directors convenes to review the merger, the chief financial officer must ________ the committee of the revised asset valuation and carefully ________ the financial risks involved. Which of the following word pairs correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: apprise / appraise

Answer

apprise / appraise
The correct option is 'apprise / appraise' because 'apprise' accurately fits the first blank, meaning 'to inform or notify' (used in the pattern 'apprise someone of something'), while 'appraise' fits the second blank, meaning 'to assess or evaluate' the financial risks.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the syntactic and semantic context of the first blank: 'must ________ the committee of the revised asset valuation'.
The sentence requires a verb meaning 'to inform' or 'to notify', which is 'apprise' (commonly used in the pattern 'apprise [someone] of [something]').
'Appraise' means to assess or set a value on, which does not take the prepositional object construction 'appraise [someone] of'.
2
Analyze the semantic requirement of the second blank: 'carefully ________ the financial risks involved'.
The context requires a verb meaning 'to evaluate' or 'to assess', which corresponds to 'appraise'.
'Apprise' means to notify, which makes no sense when applied directly to abstract risks.
3
Combine the chosen words to form the complete solution.
The correct pair is 'apprise / appraise'.
This sequence satisfies both the grammatical collocation constraints and the distinct semantic requirements of each clause.

Key Concept

Distinction between phonetically and orthographically similar verbs: 'apprise' (to inform) vs 'appraise' (to assess)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 525Question →

Read the sentence below carefully.

The committee chairman delivered a TRENCHANT analysis of the proposed reform, leaving no doubt about the critical flaws in the draft resolution.

Which of the following words is most nearly opposite in meaning to the word TRENCHANT as used in the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: vague

Answer

The word most nearly opposite in meaning to 'trenchant' is 'vague'.
In the context of the sentence, 'trenchant' means sharp, incisive, and clear-cut. The word 'vague' means indistinct, unclear, or lacking precision, which serves as its direct antonym.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual meaning of the target word in the sentence.
In the given context, 'trenchant' describes an analysis that is sharp, incisive, clear, and forceful.
Determining the precise contextual meaning is necessary before searching for its opposite.
2
Evaluate the choices to identify the word that expresses the opposite meaning.
'Vague' means indefinite, lacking sharpness or clarity, which stands as the direct opposite of sharp and incisive.
An antonym must express the opposing quality of the target word within the sentence context.

Key Concept

Contextual Antonyms
Question 526Question →

In contract law and commercial transactions, when a fresh agreement replaces an existing contract by substituting a new party who assumes both the rights and obligations of an original party, thereby completely discharging the original party from liability, which specialized legal term correctly identifies this procedure?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: novation

Answer

Novation
The correct answer is 'novation' because in legal and commercial law register, it specifically denotes the creation of a new obligation in place of an old one, or the complete substitution of a new contracting party for an old one with the consent of all parties, extinguishing the original liability.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the legal context described in the stem.
The stem describes a scenario where an original party is completely released from liability because a third party assumes all rights and obligations through a fresh agreement.
Identifying the exact operational boundary of the commercial/legal process is essential to selecting the precise technical term.
2
Distinguish between legal terms related to contractual modification.
'Novation' extinguishes the former obligation and creates a new contract with party substitution. 'Assignment' only transfers rights/benefits without releasing the assignor from obligations.
Register precision in law requires understanding subtle distinctions between related procedures.
3
Select the specialized legal register term that satisfies all criteria.
The correct term is 'novation'.
'Novation' is the only term that matches both party substitution and full discharge of the original party's liability.

Key Concept

Occupational and Specialized Legal Register
Question 527Question →

During a financial restructuring exercise, a commercial bank gathered a pool of illiquid debt assets, such as residential mortgages, and repackaged them into marketable interest-bearing securities sold directly to capital market investors. In corporate finance and banking registers, which of the following terms precisely describes this financial operation?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Securitization

Answer

Securitization is the correct financial and banking register term for converting a pool of illiquid assets into tradable capital market securities.
Securitization is the standard technical term in banking, investment, and financial registers for the practice of aggregating individual illiquid financial obligations (such as mortgages or credit card loans) and issuing new securities backed by those assets for capital market trading.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the occupational context and scenario described in the stem.
The context belongs to the banking and corporate finance register, involving asset pooling and market instrument creation.
Identifying the specific domain ensures the selection of the precise technical terminology required.
2
Distinguish between closely related specialized financial terms.
While 'factoring' involves selling invoice receivables and 'amortization' describes loan repayment schedules, only 'securitization' describes transforming illiquid loan pools into negotiable market securities.
Specialized registers demand exact semantic matching to the operational process described.

Key Concept

Occupational and Specialized Registers (Banking and Corporate Finance terminology)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 528Question →

Match each of the advanced phrasal verbs listed on the left with its correct contextual definition on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Egg on
Claw back
Fob off on
Rail against

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct pairings are: 'Egg on' matches 'To encourage or incite someone to perform a risky or unwise action'; 'Claw back' matches 'To recover or regain money, resources, or advantages through persistent effort'; 'Fob off on' matches 'To deceptively pass an unwanted task or inferior item onto another person'; and 'Rail against' matches 'To protest or express strong, angry dissatisfaction persistently'.
'Egg on' correctly pairs with encouraging risky behavior; 'Claw back' correctly pairs with recovering lost funds or resources; 'Fob off on' correctly pairs with deceptively passing off unwanted responsibilities; and 'Rail against' correctly pairs with protesting vehemently.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the meaning of 'Egg on'
Identify that 'egg on' is an idiomatic phrasal verb meaning to urge or incite someone into doing something rash.
Matching the phrasal verb with its precise idiomatic sense.
2
Analyze the meaning of 'Claw back'
Identify that 'claw back' means to regain or reclaim funds, assets, or progress through deliberate effort.
Distinguishing economic and formal idiomatic usage from literal interpretations.
3
Analyze the meaning of 'Fob off on'
Determine that 'fob off on' implies deceptively getting someone else to accept a burden or worthless item.
Understanding complex three-word phrasal and prepositional verb structures.
4
Analyze the meaning of 'Rail against'
Establish that 'rail against' means to speak or write vehemently against an authority or situation.
Connecting prepositional verbs with formal expressive contexts.

Key Concept

Contextual meanings of multi-word phrasal and prepositional verbs
Question 529Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying a word that is opposite in meaning to the capitalized word. Which word best completes the blank?

Fill in the blanks below

While the manager's initial explanations were NEBULOUS, his final report was so that none of the board members had any remaining doubts.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The word that best completes the blank is 'clear' (or synonyms of clarity such as 'lucid', 'explicit', or 'distinct'), which is directly opposite in meaning to 'NEBULOUS'.
The target word 'NEBULOUS' describes something vague, hazy, or unclear. The introductory word 'While' signals a contrast between the initial explanations and the final report. Therefore, an antonym expressing clarity or explicit detail—such as 'clear', 'lucid', or 'explicit'—is required to complete the sentence logically.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Determine the contextual meaning of the capitalized target word 'NEBULOUS'.
'NEBULOUS' means vague, indistinct, ill-defined, or cloudy in thought.
Understanding the exact contextual meaning of the target word is essential before identifying its opposite.
2
Analyze the sentence structure for logical indicators of contrast.
The subordinating conjunction 'While' sets up a direct opposition between the initial explanations and the final report.
The sentence requires a word in the blank that provides a sharp contrast to vagueness.
3
Identify an antonym that restores logical coherence to the sentence.
Words such as 'clear', 'lucid', 'explicit', or 'distinct' represent the exact opposite of vagueness and fit the sentence context perfectly.
Inserting a word denoting clarity fulfills the requirement for an antonym and completes the contrasting thought.

Key Concept

Antonyms and Words Opposite in Meaning
Question 530Question →

Which preposition correctly completes the sentence below to form a standard English fixed phrase?

Fill in the blanks below

The armed robbery occurred broad daylight, shocking the entire neighborhood.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct preposition to fill the blank is 'in', forming the standard fixed phrase 'in broad daylight'.
The expression 'in broad daylight' is a well-established fixed phrase in Standard English meaning during the daytime when things are clearly visible. 'In' is the only preposition that naturally collocates with 'broad daylight'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the target fixed phrase in the sentence context.
The sentence requires an idiom meaning during the daytime when actions are clearly visible.
The noun phrase 'broad daylight' forms a rigid, conventional prepositional collocation in Standard English.
2
Select the pre-established preposition that collocates with 'broad daylight'.
The preposition 'in' is selected.
'In broad daylight' is a fixed idiom; substituting other prepositions like 'at', 'on', or 'under' creates an unnatural collocation.

Key Concept

Collocations and Fixed Phrases
Question 531Question →

During the policy review, the board rejected the consultant's specious arguments, noting that despite their surface plausibility, they lacked empirical backing. Which of the following words is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as used in the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: deceptive

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'specious' in this context is 'deceptive'.
In the given sentence, 'specious' refers to reasoning that appears sound or attractive on the surface but is actually unfounded or misleading. The term 'deceptive' precisely captures this sense of false plausibility.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the contextual clues in the sentence
The sentence indicates that the consultant's reasoning appeared plausible on the surface but lacked empirical backing and was rejected.
Contextual clues reveal that the target word describes something superficially convincing yet fundamentally flawed.
2
Determine the contextual meaning of the target word
The word 'specious' means having a false appearance of truth or plausible correctness.
Establishing the precise definition in context narrows down the choices to the appropriate synonym.
3
Evaluate the choices for contextual equivalence
The word 'deceptive' is the only option that expresses superficial plausibility concealing an underlying flaw.
The other choices represent an antonym, a paronym/homophone confusion, or an unrelated register term.

Key Concept

Determining contextual synonyms of sophisticated vocabulary
Question 532Question →

After several hours of intensive dialogue, the mediation council managed to __________ the striking workers to return to the negotiating table. Which option correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: prevail on

Answer

prevail on
The prepositional verb 'prevail on' (or 'prevail upon') means to persuade or induce someone to take a specific course of action. In the context of the sentence, the mediation council succeeded in persuading the workers to return to the negotiating table.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the semantic requirement of the sentence context.
The sentence requires a prepositional verb that means 'to persuade someone to perform an action'.
The mediation council is attempting to convince striking workers to resume negotiations.
2
Distinguish between the meanings of different particles paired with the verb 'prevail'.
'Prevail on' means to persuade, whereas 'prevail over' means to defeat, and 'prevail against' means to withstand.
Prepositional verbs derive their specific meanings from the particle attached to the base verb.
3
Choose the option that aligns with the context of persuasion.
'prevail on' is the correct prepositional verb.
It accurately completes the statement with the intended sense of successful persuasion.

Key Concept

Prepositional Verb Particle Differentiation ('prevail on' vs. 'prevail over')
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 533Question →

Fill in the blanks in the sentence below with the correct pair of commonly confused words.

Fill in the blanks below

To avoid drawing unwanted public attention during the investigation, the auditor was advised to remain , while evaluating each subsidiary of the conglomerate as a economic unit.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The correct words are 'discreet' for the first blank and 'discrete' for the second blank.
The word 'discreet' means cautious, reserved, or careful to avoid notice, matching the auditor's required behavior in the first blank. The word 'discrete' means separate, distinct, or unconnected, fitting the description of individual corporate units in the second blank.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context requirements for the first blank.
The context 'to avoid drawing unwanted public attention' requires an adjective meaning prudent, circumspect, or careful in conduct, which is 'discreet'.
The homophone 'discrete' means separate or distinct and does not describe cautious behavior.
2
Analyze the context requirements for the second blank.
The context requiring the evaluation of subsidiaries individually requires an adjective meaning separate, distinct, or detached, which is 'discrete'.
Using 'discreet' for the second blank would incorrectly imply that the corporate unit itself possesses secrecy or tact rather than distinctness.

Key Concept

Distinction between the homophones 'discreet' (prudent/cautious) and 'discrete' (separate/distinct)
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Question 534Question →

The parliamentary committee voted to ________ the minister for attempting to ________ official committee reports prior to their public release. Which pair of words correctly completes the sentence?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: censure / censor

Answer

censure / censor
The verb 'censure' means to express severe formal disapproval or issue an official reprimand, which fits the first blank regarding the parliamentary committee's action against the minister. The verb 'censor' means to examine and suppress or remove sensitive content from documents, perfectly fitting the second blank concerning official reports prior to public release.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the meaning required for the first blank
The context describes a parliamentary committee taking formal disciplinary action against an official, requiring a verb meaning 'to issue an official reprimand or express strong disapproval' (censure).
Understanding the contextual role of formal parliamentary reprimand resolves the first confusable word.
2
Analyze the meaning required for the second blank
The context refers to suppressing or editing official reports before publication, requiring a verb meaning 'to suppress or cut out objectionable parts of a document' (censor).
Differentiating between the noun 'sensor' and verbs 'censure' and 'censor' determines the correct word pair.

Key Concept

Distinguishing between homophones and paronyms (censure, censor, and sensor)
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 535Question →

Match each specialized occupational term on the left with its corresponding definition or professional domain usage on the right.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Cabotage
Galley proof
Subpoena
Amortization

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Cabotage matches the legal right of a foreign carrier to transport passengers/freight between domestic ports; Galley proof matches the preliminary print of a publication used for proofreading; Subpoena matches a court writ compelling witness testimony; Amortization matches the systematic installment reduction of a debt or asset cost.
Cabotage specifically defines the commercial transport rights within a single country by foreign vessels or aircraft. A galley proof is the preliminary draft printed for final proofreading in publishing. A subpoena is a judicial writ ordering a witness to appear in court. Amortization is the process of gradually liquidating a liability or writing down an asset over a set period.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the occupational field associated with each term on the left.
Cabotage belongs to Aviation/Nautical Law; Galley proof belongs to Publishing/Printing; Subpoena belongs to Legal Practice; Amortization belongs to Accounting/Finance.
Recognizing the specialized field narrows down the technical definitions.
2
Pair each specialized term with its precise technical meaning.
Cabotage pairs with domestic transport rights by foreign carriers; Galley proof pairs with trial print for proofreading; Subpoena pairs with a mandatory witness writ; Amortization pairs with installment-based debt reduction.
Matching each term to its exact domain usage ensures conceptual precision.

Key Concept

Occupational and Specialized Registers
Question 536Question →

Before taking off, the airliner was instructed by air traffic control to proceed slowly along the ground pathway from the terminal building toward the main runway.

Which of the following specialized aviation terms correctly describes this movement of an aircraft on the ground under its own power?

Show answer & explanation

Answer: Taxiing

Answer

Taxiing is the specialized aviation register term that means moving an aircraft slowly on the ground under its own power.
In aeronautical register, taxiing specifically denotes the slow movement of an aircraft on the ground under its own power, particularly when moving between the ramp or terminal and the runway.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context in the stem
The context describes an airplane moving along the ground towards the runway before takeoff.
Identifying the setting (aviation) and specific action (ground movement) narrows down the precise occupational register required.
2
Evaluate the choices against aviation terminology
'Taxiing' specifically denotes ground movement under the plane's own power, while 'cruising', 'pitching', and 'hovering' refer to airborne movements or helicopter flight states.
Matching the contextual definition with the standard aviation terminology establishes the correct term.

Key Concept

Aviation Register and Specialized Terminology
Question 537Question →

Match each specialized occupational term in Column A with its correct professional definition in Column B.

Click a left item, then click its matching right item

Items

Cabotage
Escrow
Colophon
Triage

Matches

Show answer & explanation

Answer

Cabotage matches with domestic transport rights by foreign operators; Escrow matches with asset holding by an independent third party; Colophon matches with production and typography notes at the back of a publication; Triage matches with medical prioritization of patients.
Each specialized term accurately reflects its established occupational meaning: Cabotage denotes domestic transport rights exercised by foreign operators in transport registers; Escrow describes neutral third-party holding in legal/financial registers; Colophon signifies printing and typography notes at the end of a book in publishing registers; Triage designates priority-based patient sorting in medical emergency registers.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the occupational domain associated with each term in Column A
Cabotage belongs to Aviation/Maritime Law; Escrow belongs to Banking/Commercial Law; Colophon belongs to Publishing/Printing; Triage belongs to Medical/Emergency Care.
Recognizing the professional field of each technical term facilitates precise matching with domain-specific definitions.
2
Map each term to its exact technical definition in Column B
Cabotage pairs with foreign operator domestic carriage; Escrow pairs with third-party fund holding; Colophon pairs with publication metadata at the end of a book; Triage pairs with emergency medical sorting.
Applying exact technical definitions ensures accuracy and avoids confusion with adjacent occupational registers.

Key Concept

Occupational and Specialized Registers across Transport, Finance, Publishing, and Medicine
Question 538Question →

Fill in the blank in the sentence below with the appropriate idiomatic expression.

Fill in the blanks below

Rather than accepting responsibility for the administrative failure, the director attempted to to his subordinates.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

pass the buck
The idiom 'pass the buck' means to evade responsibility by passing blame or an unwanted task to someone else. In the sentence, the director avoids accountability for a failure by shifting blame to subordinates, making 'pass the buck' the only contextually accurate idiomatic expression.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context.
The context describes an executive who avoids taking responsibility for an administrative failure by trying to transfer the blame onto subordinate employees.
Understanding the figurative intent requires identifying the action of shifting blame or duty.
2
Identify the idiomatic expression that corresponds to shifting blame.
The idiomatic phrase 'pass the buck' means to shift responsibility or blame to another person.
This idiom perfectly fits the context of avoiding accountability by blaming subordinates.

Key Concept

Idioms and Idiomatic Expressions - Shifting Responsibility ('pass the buck')
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 539Question →

Read the sentence context below and fill in the blank with a word that is nearest in meaning to the target word 'cogent'.

Fill in the blanks below

The defense attorney presented a argument that left no room for doubt among the jury members.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

The word nearest in meaning to 'cogent' in this context is 'compelling' (or 'convincing' / 'persuasive').
The word 'cogent' describes reasoning or an argument that is clear, logical, and convincing. Therefore, words like 'compelling', 'convincing', or 'persuasive' serve as direct contextual synonyms.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the meaning of the target word 'cogent' within the sentence context.
The word 'cogent' means clear, logical, and powerfully convincing.
Identifying the core meaning of 'cogent' is essential to finding an accurate synonym that maintains the sentence's contextual meaning.
2
Determine the appropriate word that accurately replaces 'cogent' without altering the sentence's intent.
Words such as 'compelling', 'convincing', or 'persuasive' precisely convey the strong logical force of the lawyer's argument.
In legal and formal contexts, a cogent argument is one that effectively sways listeners through sound reasoning.

Key Concept

Contextual Synonyms and Word Meaning
Estimated Time:1m 0s
Question 540Question →

Complete the sentence below by supplying the appropriate particle to form the correct phrasal verb.

Fill in the blanks below

After interviewing over fifty qualified applicants, the recruitment panel managed to whittle the list to just three final candidates.
Show answer & explanation

Answer

down
The correct particle is 'down'. The phrasal verb 'whittle down' means to gradually reduce the size, number, or list of items or people. In this context, reducing fifty applicants to three finalists requires 'down'.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the context of the sentence to identify the intended meaning of the action.
The recruitment panel is systematically reducing a large pool of fifty applicants to a smaller number of three candidates.
Understanding the context helps determine which phrasal verb particle expresses gradual reduction.
2
Identify the standard phrasal verb formed with the verb stem 'whittle' that means to diminish or cut down numbers gradually.
The phrasal verb 'whittle down' means to reduce something in size, amount, or number by degrees.
'Whittle' literally means to carve wood by cutting thin slices; idiomatically, combining it with 'down' signifies narrowing options.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Particle Selection in Phrasal Verbs
Estimated Time:1m 0s
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