Stagflation = high inflation + economic stagnation + high unemployment.

'Scuttle' figuratively = to deliberately abandon or cause a plan to fail.

'Stanch/staunch' = to stop the flow of something = put an end to.

'Belated' = coming later than expected. Synonym: 'Tardy'.

'Sequence' = things that follow in order = 'to follow'.

'Euphemism' = mild indirect word substituted for a harsh one.

'The Rainbow' (1915) is a famous novel by D. H. Lawrence.

'Tom Jones' published in 1749 — 1st half of the 18th century.

'Kubla Khan' (1797) is a famous poem by S. T. Coleridge.

T. S. Eliot was born in St. Louis Missouri USA in 1888.

O. Henry = pen name of William Sydney Porter.

'Pernicious' = harmful. Direct opposite: 'Innocuous' = not harmful.

'Not too difficult to understand' — 'too + adj + to + verb' structure.

'Since' + present perfect: 'have not had'.

Second conditional: If + past simple → would + base verb.

'It's time + subject + past simple verb' — 'you realized'.

'Enter into' an agreement = correct phrasal verb for formal arrangements.

'Would rather + V + than + V' = preference structure.

'Put up with' = tolerate/endure patiently — direct synonym.

'Slowcoach' = a very slow or lazy person who falls behind.