#3 COVID: One year on link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/6-minute-english/ep-210225 1.pandemic Not the real thing, of course, but rather a pandemic of stories about anarchists and conspiracies and such . 2.wimpy I'm far too wimpy to go rock climbing. 3.take hold The economic recovery is just beginning to take hold now. 4.kick in Another plan would require employers to kick in $20 per worker to set up the fund. 5.sheer The suggestion is sheer nonsense . 6.genome For the last 20 years researchers have been able to calculate genome sizes and mutation rates . 7.lock down England is being locked down for a third time. 8.feeble The heartbeat was feeble and irregular.