Efficiency is used to describe how much effort or resources are required to produce a result. If one man takes two days to build a wall to a particular standard and a second man takes one day to build a wall to the same standard, then the second man is twice as efficient as the first man. Efficacy is used to describe how much influence something has to cause a change in something. A single bucket of water would have no efficacy on a forest fire but great efficacy on a burning coal. In many cases effect is more common in normal speech.

It is an idiom that means that he is willing to meet the mother so she can confirm for herself that he is clean and presentable (which implies respectability) so he is therefore a sutable person for her daugher to associate with.

It means her father is very wealthy.

If you speak English frequently, you do it often. If you speak English fluently, you do it with a high level of skill.

We would say something like, 'The anticipation is/was worse than the reality.'

Tramp (usually used as a verb) = to walk in a resigned manner..., not enjoyable. ie to tramp around busy stores. Trek = usually a long, tiring journey, originally used to describe a migration of people from one part of the African Cape region to another area free of government. Not undertaken for pleasure Excursion = A short duration trip taken for pleasure. Usually begins in a vehicle followed by a walk around a place of interest and return by vehicle. Expedition = A journey undertaken by explorers or scientists or adventurers to fulfill a scientific aim or physical challenge.. This requires a great deal of planning and preparation. Hike = a long walk undertaken for pleasure, usually strenuous, in wilderness areas.

I think this is part of the lyrics from a Ralph McTell song, 'The Streets of London'? In this song the line is 'Fading with the medal ribbons that he wears...' He is talking about an old man who has served his country in the military and received medals for his service. Now he has nothing left in his life, no friends etcetera but still wears the medal ribbons to remind himself of his past life. No-one sees the old man anymore so he is 'fading away' just as the bright colours of his medal ribbons are fading with time. Avery sad image.