foreign languages Online Quiz - 55

This idiom describes being trapped between two equally bad or dangerous choices, with no good escape route. The 'devil' represents one threat while the 'deep blue sea' represents another, leaving you caught between them. Option C is incorrect because both alternatives are unpleasant, not pleasant.

To 'drink like a fish' is an idiomatic expression meaning to consume large amounts of alcohol, referring to the myth that fish drink water constantly. Therefore, Percy would be classified as someone who drinks heavily, not lightly or rarely.

Blue-chip companies are those with established reputations for quality, reliability, and financial stability. The term comes from poker where blue chips have the highest value. These companies typically have a long history of steady growth and reliable dividend payments, making them relatively safe investments.

'By the skin of one's teeth' means to barely succeed or escape by an extremely narrow margin. The phrase likely comes from the biblical Book of Job, referring to something so thin it's barely there. When someone misses something 'by the skin of their teeth,' they came extremely close to achieving it but failed at the last possible moment.

This is a theatrical idiom used to wish performers good luck before a show. The phrase comes from the superstition that wishing someone 'good luck' actually brings bad luck, so people say the opposite instead. Options A and D take the phrase literally, while C is unrelated.

This idiom describes being trapped between two equally bad or dangerous choices, with no good escape route. The 'devil' represents one threat while the 'deep blue sea' represents another, leaving you caught between them. Option C is incorrect because both alternatives are unpleasant, not pleasant.

"The Other Side of Midnight" (1973) is a bestselling romantic thriller by Sidney Sheldon. The novel tells the story of two women - Catherine Alexander and Noelle Page - whose lives become intertwined in a tale of love, betrayal, and revenge spanning from WWII to post-war America. Jeffrey Archer is known for works like "Kane and Abel", while Frederick Forsyth wrote thrillers like "The Day of the Jackal".

"The Devil's Alternative" (1979) is a political thriller by Frederick Forsyth about a fictional oil crisis and KGB plot. Forsyth, a former journalist, is renowned for meticulously researched thrillers like "The Day of the Jackal" and "The Odessa File". Alistair MacLean wrote adventure thrillers like "Where Eagles Dare", while Sidney Sheldon focused on romantic thrillers.

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (1979) is a science fiction comedy novel by Douglas Adams. It began as a BBC radio comedy before becoming a bestselling "trilogy in five parts". Adams' distinctive blend of absurdity, science fiction, and British humor made this a cult classic. John Grisham writes legal thrillers, Tom Clancy military techno-thrillers.

"The Dogs of War" (1974) is a mercenary warfare novel by Frederick Forsyth about a corporate plot to overthrow a West African government to gain access to platinum deposits. Forsyth's background in journalism and military research brings authenticity to his thriller novels. Sidney Sheldon wrote romantic dramas, not mercenary thrillers.

"Where Eagles Dare" (1967) is a WWII adventure thriller by Alistair MacLean about an Allied mission to rescue an American general from a Nazi fortress. MacLean was a Scottish author known for taut adventure thrillers often set during wartime. Frederick Forsyth's works came later and focus more on political/corporate intrigue.

"Tuesdays With Morrie" (1997) is a memoir by Mitch Albom about his conversations with his former sociology professor Morrie Schwartz during the professor's final weeks battling ALS. The book explores life's greatest lessons through their Tuesday discussions. It became a massive bestseller and inspired a TV movie.

"The Inscrutable Americans" (1991) is a comedic novel by Anurag Mathur about a young Indian man's culture shock experiences as a student in America. The humor comes from his misinterpretations of American culture and language. It's a satirical look at the East-West cultural divide through the eyes of a naive protagonist.

"The Fourth Estate" (1996) is a novel by Jeffrey Archer about two media magnates - one British, one Australian - and their ruthless battle for control of a newspaper empire. Archer, a former British politician, is known for plotting-heavy dramas often involving ambition, power, and revenge. The title refers to the press as the "fourth estate" of government.

"Master of the Game" (1982) is a multi-generational family saga by Sidney Sheldon about Kate Blackwell, a ruthless businesswoman who builds a corporate empire. The novel spans decades and follows the Blackwell family through secrets, betrayals, and revenge. Sheldon was the master of the family saga combined with thriller elements.

"A Time to Kill" (1989) is John Grisham's first novel, about a young lawyer defending a black man who killed two white men who raped his daughter. Set in Mississippi, it explores racial tensions and the death penalty. Grisham, a former attorney, launched the legal thriller genre with this book followed by many bestsellers like "The Firm".

"The Five People You Meet in Heaven" (2003) is Mitch Albom's bestselling novel about Eddie, a maintenance worker who dies and meets five people in heaven who explain the meaning of his life. Each person reveals how their lives intersected with Eddie's in unexpected ways. Albom's books blend fiction with philosophical reflections on life and death.

"Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah" (1977) is Richard Bach's philosophical novel about a pilot who meets a modern-day messiah figure named Donald Shimoda. The book presents life lessons through parables about breaking illusions and following your path. Bach, a former pilot, wrote the earlier bestselling "Jonathan Livingston Seagull".

The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari is a motivational fable by Robin S Sharma. It's about a lawyer who transforms his life through spiritual wisdom. Rhonda Byrne wrote The Secret, Richard Bach wrote Jonathan Livingston Seagull, and Mitch Albom wrote Tuesdays with Morrie.

Death at my Doorstep is a collection of short stories by Khushwant Singh, exploring themes of mortality and human nature. APJ Abdul Kalam wrote Wings of Fire, Mitch Albom wrote Tuesdays with Morrie, and Anurag Mathur co-wrote The Inscrutable Americans.