Issues Now in the News 3e-Book 1 (E)

audition

a performance to try out for a show or part

She had an audition for a part in the television play.

bookmaker

someone whose job is to take bets

A British bookmaker was taking bets in April on an ABBA comeback after singer Agnetha Faltskog hinted at a possible reunion.

coincide

to happen at the same time as something else

Her arrival coincided with his departure.

emblazon

to decorate with colors or symbols

His name was emblazoned across the front of the theater.

feature

to be an important part or include as an important part

That film features the best of the British actresses.

former

in the past; previous

In former times, people did not travel so much.

mockup

a model for study or display

A mockup of the old ABBA studio features a self-playing piano.

nostalgia

a longing for the past

She felt a great nostalgia for her childhood.

outlandish

extremely strange and unusual

The catchy tunes, outlandish costumes, and shimmering boots made ABBA a global phenomenon.

phenomenon

a remarkable development or event

Magnetic attraction is an interesting phenomenon.

presage

to indicate or foretell something to come

The dark low clouds presage the storm.

quash

to stop from happening

Her conviction was quashed on appeal.

reunion

an event where people who have not seen each other for a long time come together

The singer Agnetha Faltskog hinted at a possible reunion.

rumor

a piece of gossip or unconfirmed information

I heard a rumor that you had got a new job.

shimmering

shining with a glistening or tremulous light

The catchy tunes, outlandish costumes, and shimmering boots made ABBA a global phenomenon.

blindfolded

covered someone's eyes with cloth so the person cannot see

blindfolded teenagers are stepping down the stairs.

cacophony

a harsh discordant mixture of sounds

Birds form a group and create a cacophony of sound to ward off the attacks.

carnival

an amusement show or circus

The school carnival always starts at the end of the year.

chide

to scold or rebuke

She chided him for not replying to her letters.

connotation

a suggested or secondary meaning

The king's use of the word "common" had a negative connotation under the circumstances.

dazzling

extremely bright, especially so as to blind the eyes temporarily

Tom surprised his wife with a dazzling new ring.

democracy

a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives

democracy is the foundation of the American government system.

derogatory

disparaging; insulting

The drunken man spouted many derogatory words to customers.

discrimination

an act of keeping people separated based on race, sex, etc.

discrimination in the workplace is against the law.

emancipate

to free someone from slavery or captivity

The citizen must be emancipated from theobsessive secrecy of government.

enormous

very large in size, quantity, or extent

We did manage to get an enormous amount of work done.

festive

happy and joyful

The whole town was in a festive mood.

mimic

to imitate

The baby mimicked every sound the dog made.

minstrel

a musician who travels around and performs

Poetry is often sung by minstrels and ballad singers.

obviously

in a clear and understandable manner

With all his experience, he was obviously the best person for the job.

off-limits

Out of bounds

Up to recently these waters were off limits to Western travelers.

parasol

a small umbrella

A parasol is another kind of umbrella.

participant

a person who takes part in something

He didn't participate in the discussion as a participant.

preside

to be in charge of something

Johnson has presided over eight matches since Beck’s dismissal.

recently

of a period of time not long ago

recently there has been a lot of rain.

relevant

related or connected to a topic

The thirty-year-old book about politics is still relevant to our society today.

rival

to compete with

His accomplishments rival those of his father.

root

the basic cause, source, or origin of something

Money is the root of all evil.

sarcastic

marked by or given to using irony in order to mock orconvey contempt

I think they’re being sarcastic.

segregation

a state of racial separation

Racial segregation in the United States prevented blacks and whites from eating in the same restaurants.

slavery

the condition of a slave; to be in bondage

slavery in some countries still exists today.

spectator

a person who watches an event

More than 50,000 spectators filled the stadium to watch the baseball game.

thrive

to be or become healthy or successful

To my surprise, our business thrives even though the overall economy is worsening.

traditionally

in a traditional manner

Italy traditionally has had some of the highest voting figures in general elections in Europe.

troupe

a group of theatrical performers

She was once in a troupe of actors.

a myriad of

a vast number of something

Africa starts with 53 nations loaded with a myriad of problems and needs.

advocacy

the act of arguing in favor of a cause or policy

Janine's strong advocacy for the event made people want to attend.

allocate

to designate for a certain purpose

The government allocated $100 million to aid the disaster relief effort.

catch up with (something)

to succeed in reaching a person who is ahead of one

They had actually reached the car when he caught up with them.

census

an official population count

There are approximately 1.3 billion people in China according to a census conducted in 2005.

cohabitate

to live together as spouses, especially when not legally married

That couple has cohabited for many years.

comprise

to consist of; to be made up of

Her favorite CD comprised musics of different styles.

correlation

the relationship between things that tend to happen together

There is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease.

demographer

a person who studies demography

Frey and other demographers said many of the population shifts could be longer-lasting.

dissuade

to discourage

His friends tried to dissuade him from flying.

draconian

exceedingly harsh; very severe

The Nazis destroyed the independence of the press by a series of draconian laws.

elderly

being very old

The elderly have priority seating on the subway.

eligible

able to take part in or apply for

This is subject to winners being eligible for race competition licences.

frown on

to disapprove of somebody/something

The communist Party no longer frowns on making money; in fact it welcomes it.

household

a social unit composed of those living together in the same dwelling

There are six members in total in our household.

institution

an organization that is created for a particular cause or purpose

Banks are vital institutions that businesses and people use every day.

legislation

a law or set of government rules

The president vetoed the legislation, forcing the law makers to compromise in order to pass the bill.

levy

to impose

The citizens of the colony protested when the king levied new taxes on them.

living structure

one's living situation

There are different types of living structues in the United States.

marital status

one's situation with regard to whether one is single, married, separated, divorced, or widowed

A ring on Paul's finger alluded to his marital status.

norm

the normal situation; the usual

The cultural norm in Japan is to bow when you meet someone.

premarital

occurring or existing before marriage

This premarital cohabitation allows a sense of choice if the relationship fails.

sibling

a brother or sister

Jackie’s siblings included three brothers and a sister.

split

to separate into two or more groups

I don't want to split up.

spouse

A spouse is the person to whom someone is married.

I live in a home with my spouse and our two children.

suspend

to postpone or delay

You must suspend the project until we have more information.

temporarily

of a limited amount of time

The game was stopped temporarily because of rain.

welfare

the health and happiness of a person or group

Having plenty of clean water is necessary for the welfare of people.

widely

in a lot of different places or by a lot of people

We could say that dogs are the most widely known pet.

widower

a man who has lost his spouse by death and has not married again.

A widower, whose wife died from leukaemia last year, is appealing to people to join the bone marrow register on her birthday.

caricature

a drawing of someone that focuses on their main features in an extreme way so as to make them look funny

The street artist drew a caricature of my family.

contradiction

a difference between two or more statements or ideas that makes it impossible forthem both to be true

I do not believe there is a contradiction.

depict

to represent something by using a picture

North Korea is often depicted as a dark and colorless place.

fundamentalist

someone who believes that original religious laws should be strictly followed

The government contends that he is fundamentalist.

grave

very serious in a way that causes worry

The consequences will be very grave if nothing is done.

hypocrisy

behavior in which someone pretends to have qualities or beliefs that he or she does not really have

It is, in my opinion, an example of gross hypocrisy.

impulse

a tendency or motivation that is not necessarily rational

I had a sudden impulse to buy that $300 bag.

provoke

to cause a feeling or action; to stir up

The decision provoked a storm of protest from civil rights organizations.

rebuke

to criticize harshly and publicly

She had rebuked him for drinking too much.

satirical

using humor to show something to be ridiculous or foolish

I play the guitar and write satirical songs.

secular

not religious or connected to religion

Since that time, Bangladesh has been both less socialistic and less secular.

signatory

a person or organization that signs an official agreement

In our programs, an explicit contract is signed, and we are always a signatory.

suffice

to be enough

The food rations will suffice until the end of the month.

viable

able to be done or worth doing

Her method of solving the math problem seemed viable.

xenophobic

having a fear or hatred of foreigners

They have had a dangerous, xenophobic environment for decades.

absurd

ridiculously unreasonable, unsound, or incongruous

It is also absurd to attempt to preserve items.

bark

the tough outer covering that protects a tree or other plant

Tom, however, looked for some pieces of bark and wrote on them.

be recognized by

to win official commendation

She has been recognized by the United Nations for her outstanding contributions to the chemistry.

collaboration

the act of working with somebody else to do or create something

The singer did a collaboration song with two other singers.

conservation

the act of taking care of nature through wise use of resources

Today we are going to discuss wildlife conservation issues.

couple

to link or combine (something) with something else

The two train cars had been coupled together.

depict

to represent something by using a picture

North Korea is often depicted as a dark and colorless place.

direct

to lead a group of people who are acting or playing music

A new manager has been appointed to direct the project.

ethnobotanist

a person who studies the practices and beliefs of a group of people as they relate to plants

He eventually left to become curator of the herbarium at the California Academy in San Francisco and has become a renowned ethnobotanist.

ferocious

extremely fierce; savage or cruel; violent

he put up a sign in her front yard to warn trespassers of her ferocious guard dog.

fieldwork

a session of training or research done outside a classroom

Jim performed fieldwork in Lesotho, a small nation in Africa.

for the most part

mostly, mainly

The path for the most part sticks to the coast.

foremost

being the best or most important

First and foremost, never be late to class or you will lose points.

hallucinogenic

able to cause hallucinations, or visions of things not actually present

They engage in group meditation after ingesting a hallucinogenic tea.

headwaters

the source of a stream or river

These paths follow rivers right up into their headwaters.

humility

the condition of being humble

He needs the humility to accept that their way may be better.

ideally

in a perfect way

ideally, we'd like to see a little more rain this year for our crops.

illiterate

not able to read

There are many illiterate people in the world who have not been given the opportunity to attend school.

indigenous

originating in a particular region or environment

The Native Americans were the indigenous people of North America.

intoxicated

under the influence of alcohol or another drug

His velvety mouth and full lips, combined with his amber-oak scent, intoxicated her senses.

mentor

a person with experience or knowledge who advises someone.

The students each chose a mentor to help them with the experiment.

missionary

a person who travels to another place in order to convert others to a religion

David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary who traveled through Africa by himself.

off limits

not allowed to go there

This place is off limits to the children.

open one's mind

to consider

I will open my mind to your suggestion.

pass on

to give something to somebody else, especially after receiving or using it yourself

Pass the book on to me when you've finished with it.

recall

to remember something that occurred or was done in the past

She could not recall his name.

sacred

connected with God or a religious purpose

The land was considered sacred by the people's old religion.

shaman

a witch doctor; a healer who uses magic

Other religious practitioners include spirit mediums and shamans, most of whom are women.

tribe

a social group made up of many families that share the same language, customs, and beliefs

Various Indian tribes spread out over the plains and lived off the land.

venom

a poisonous liquid transmitted by biting or stinging

A snake’s venom can be used to cure the illnesses it creates.

absorb

to take in a gas or liquid

Use the sponge to absorb the water on the counter.

adapt

to change in order to function better in new surroundings

The bodies of seals are well adapted to the ocean water, where they spend most of their lives.

assure

to make certain; to ensure

Felton assured his master that he would not allow a woman to lead him astray.

bloom

to produce a flower

There are a lot of flowers in bloom here.

complex

having many details; hard to understand

The map was very complex and difficult to understand.

differentiate

to see or show a difference between things

He is no longer able to differentiate between fantasy and reality.

distant

far away in time or space

He traveled alone to a distant land.

diverse

having a variety of parts or aspects

More diverse materials are being considered to make buildings more earthquake-proof.

fellow

a graduate student employed to do research as well as to teach

Many of my fellows agreed with the plan to modernize our accounting system.

gravity

the pulling force an object has on other things related to the object's mass

Without gravity, we would all be floating in the air.

hectare

a unit for measuring an area of land, equal to 10,000 square meters

Measuring things in hectares is an old way of surveying land.

integrate

to connect or combine to form a whole

To improve efficiency of the company, they integrated many of the departments.

isolate

to separate something and keep it by itself

When you are isolated you begin to feel lonely.

paradise

a perfect place or situation

Bail is a lush tropical paradise.

stroll

an unhurried walk, often taken for pleasure

In the evening, Biddy and I strolled in the garden and talked.

abundant

plentiful; having a lot

There was abundant evidence to support his theory.

biodegradable

able to be naturally broken down by bacteria or weathering into environmentally safe substances

It is safe and easily biodegradable.

brewing

the business or occupation of a brewer

He worked in the brewing industry.

by-product

a material produced in addition to the principal, intended product

Silver is a by-product of tin smelting.

cob

a corncob

What's the best way to cook corn on the cob?

condensate

a substance formed by condensation, such as a liquid from a vapour

It relates to the use of liquid condensate from a rendering plant as fertiliser ongrazing land.

convert

to switch something from one state, method or purpose to another

You should convert your American dollars into Korean won.

cost effective

being a good value

This will lead to the most cost effective solutions.

derived

coming from or based on something

Its name is derived from its shape.

discard

one that is discarded or rejected.

discard any foods that have come into contact with flood waters.

ear

the fruiting spike of a corn stalk, including both the seeds and protective structures

The corn is in full ear.

erosion

the process of being worn away by water, wind, or ice

We need to plant more trees to stop the erosion of the hillside.

ethanol

a flammable liquid derived from fermentation

Some farmers grow crops to specifically create ethanol.

feasible

possible; reasonable

Do you think this project is not feasible?

ferment

to cause to undergo a chemical reaction in which sugar is converted to CO2 and alcohol

The wine will be stronger if you let it ferment longer.

generate

to produce, cause, or be the reason for something

We may have to close that branch because it does not generate enough sales.

husk

an outer layer or covering

His mom gave him some juice in a coconut husk.

in charge of

reposible for, in control of

He was in charge of his father's printing works.

livestock

animals that are raised in a farm

livestock such as cows and pigs live in the farm.

organic

from or relating to living organisms

ly healthier, but they’re also better for the environment!

plant

a factory where something is made

The paper and plastic were sent to a recycling plant where they were made into new things.

propagate

to cause to spread out; to multiply

The wild flowers and herbs get cut before they have a chance to flower and propagate.

refinery

a factory for separating and cleaning crude oil and natural gas

Oil and gas move to a factory called a refinery to be prepared.

residual

remaining after the main product is taken out or separated

residual oil is oil that does not move when fluids are flowed through the rock in normal conditions.

revenue

the money a business collects in exchange for goods or services

The revenue from her income property was not sufficient to cover her expenses.

stalk

the main stem of a plant

The corn stalk is ten feet tall.

substantial

of a considerable size or amount

He is a very rich man with a substantial amount of money and wealth.

to the tune of

roughly; about; as much as; to the approximate sum orextent of.

The hotel has been refurbished to the tune of two million dollars.

utilize

to make use of; to use

She utilized her negotiation skills to get the contract.

yeast

an organism that promotes fermentation, and is used in the making of alcoholic liquors and in baking

You must be careful not to use too much yeast, otherwise the bread will grow too big.

assessment

the process of forming a judgment or opinion after considering information carefully

Most courses have some kind of assessment to test how the students are performing.

cultivated

grown on a farm

She indicated a cultivated area not far from where she was working.

devastating

causing great damage or destruction

The devastating news caused her mother to have a heart attack.

emerging

to come out or become apparent

That seems to be the picture that is emerging.

exotic

of foreign origin

On their trip to Asia, they had discovered many exotic fruits and vegetables.

hemisphere

one half of the earth

The Earth is divided into the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

incrementally

in small amounts; gradually

We must build up our military capacity incrementally.

issue

a subject that people discuss or argue about, especially relating to society or politics

The men spoke about issues that were important to the people.

originate

to come into existence; to come from

The disease originated in birds, but it can be spread to the humans who handle them.

pallet

a small, portable platform that can be used to move goods

The pallet is tilting, loss of balance, falling down.

revise

to make a new, improved or up-to-date version

Please revise this paper prior to submitting it for your final grade.

sheer

used to emphasize the large size or amount of something

I was impressed by her sheer dedication to jogging.

timber

wood that can be used for building things

The land was full of ancient timber that was going to be turned into paper.

voracious

hard to satisfy; greedy

Boxer dogs have voracious appetites.

wander

to travel from place to place without a destination or purpose

Nicholas wandered the streets because it was too early to visit Madeline.

alter

to change, usually slightly

He altered the recipe by reducing the salt and adding some cumin.

boost

to expand; to make greater; to improve

We can boost our sales by 30-40% by this December.

commercial

viewed with regard to profit; designed for a large market

The program is now available for commercial sale.

compel

to urge; to drive forcefully or irresistibly

Traffic signs compel drivers to drive safely.

concept

an idea; a way of thinking

I understand the basic concept of this theory, but not the details.

confidence

a feeling of certainty in one's own capacity to succeed

I have confidence you will do well on your exam.

conform

to act in obedience to some rule or standard

The new student had to conform to the school’s dress code.

constantly

occurring continuously

As long as the wind constantly blows, windmills will be a good source of energy.

disorder

a problem with one's physical or mental health

The doctor didn't know what disorder the person had.

distorted

twisted out of a natural, normal, or original condition

She had a distorted understanding of a marriage because she grew up without a father.

eating disorder

any psychological disorder characterized by abnormal eating habits

Teenage girls who struggle with self-esteem often suffer from eating disorders.

embrace

to take or receive gladly

She was quick to embrace the opportunity.

feminist

a person who believes that men and women should have equal rights

Germaine Greer is a feminist writer from Australia who wrote The Female Eunuch.

impact

to have a strong effect on someone or something

Pollution from cars impacts the environment.

laxative

causing looseness or relaxation, especially of the bowels.

I'm going to prescribe a laxative.

nose job

a cosmetic alteration of a person's nose by plastic surgery

She had a nose job when she was in high school.

obsess

to think about too often

Some people are obsessed with sports.

playwright

a writer of plays; dramatist

Shakespeare is considered to be one of the greatest playwrights in modern history, having written numerous plays and poetry.

portray

to play the role of; to depict

Her picture portrayed the house she grew up in when she was little.

rip off

to get rid off something

I ripped off some toilet paper in the school bathroom.

ritual

a formal social or religious ceremony that is always performed in the same manner each time

Many people believe in the power of rituals, and therefore they still perform them for various reasons.

role model

a person or thing that others try to be like

He is a role model for all athletes.

self-esteem

the level of confidence and sense of worth a person feels for himself or herself

Having a good sense of self-esteem is important for everyone.

skinny

very lean or thin

Polly is very skinny. I think she needs to eat more.

spectator

a person who watches an event

More than 50,000 spectators filled the stadium to watch the baseball game.

spokesperson

a person chosen to speak officially for a group

The spokesperson was quick to deny the rumor.

stereotype

a standardized idea that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or superficial judgment

There’s a stereotype that pigs are dirty animals. But they are rather clean.

substitute

to take someone or somethings place of

My dad typically uses a sugar substitute in his morning coffee.

unattainable

not able to be obtained or secured

It's surely a dream that is unattainable.

vomit

to empty one's stomach by throwing up

When some people are very sick, they vomit.

broth

a liquid used for giving flavor when cooking

Too many cooks do spoil the broth.

cabinet

a space like a box with a door that is fixed on a wall and used for storing things

I keep jewelry, documents, and photographs in my bedside cabinet.

centerpiece

the most important feature

Marathon is considered the centerpiece of the Olympics.

enhance

to improve

His dramatic appearance enhanced his reputation.

fragrant

pleasant-smelling

We picked fragrant flowers from the garden for our mother.

ingredient

one of the foods or liquids used to make a meal

I cannot make this cake because I am missing the main ingredient.

medicinal

used for healing or treatment of disease

Various plants have medicinal properties and can be used to treat illnesses.

nutritious

containing things the body needs; healthful

Raw spinach is especially nutritious.

prevent

to stop from happening

There will be a picnic if nothing prevents.

relief

the ending or easing of suffering from an illness

Aspirin gave me relief from my headache.

season

to add salt, pepper, or other spices to food

Add the mushrooms, and season to taste.

soothe

to cause to feel better

The mother soothed her crying baby by rocking him in her arms.

sore

hurting; aching

After I fell, my knees were sore.

variation

a different version

She made several variations to her famous chocolate chip cookies.

vinegar

a sour liquid that is a weak acid made from fermenting wine or beer

Be careful because too much vinegar will ruin the recipe.

alien

a being from another planet

Some people have said that they’ve met aliens.

bond

to form a close or intimate connection

Children in a nuclear family also have fewer chances to form strong bonds with grandparents.

catering

a job to organize food and drinks for an event

To serve at weddings, catering companies are often hired.

cuisine

a stlye of cooking

Japanese cuisine is very healthy.

curiosity

a strong desire to find out more information

Unable to contain her curiosity, Pandora opened the box and all the evil spirits were released upon mankind.

entrepreneurial

relating to the skills or activities of business owners who take risks

In research parks all over the country, innovative and entrepreneurial skills aredeveloping.

estimate

to guess; to approximate

It is estimated that over 98% of people in Korea are literate.

eventually

over time; at some point

eventually, David will realize that he is special.

immigrant

a person who moves to another country to permanently live

My parents were immigrants. They came from Poland.

recent

happening not long ago; close to the present

The mayor made a recent visit to the sick children in the hospital.

routinely

as part of the usual way of doing something

You should routinely visit your doctor to make sure that you are not having any health problems.

scrutinize

to examine very carefully

The lawyer scrutinized the criminal investigators role in the court case.

soar

to quickly increase to a high level

As the stock market and currency value declined, the price of gold soared.

sole

only; lone

Companies should not use viral marketing as their sole strategy.

via

by way of; through

We arrived in the city from the airport via the train.

abundant

plentiful; having a lot

There was abundant evidence to support his theory.

affordable

capable of being paid for without difficulty

The houses in Texas are very affordable compared to other states.

basin

a region where a large source of water is enclosed

Kathmandu sits almost in the middle of a basin, forming a square about 5km north-south and 5km east-west.

collaborate

to work with someone in order to achieve a result

The business partners collaborated to build a larger company.

contaminant

a chemical, waste, or infection that is added to something else and makes it dirty or polluted

Make sure that all equipment is clean and free of contaminants.

daunting

difficult; challenging

Due to the schedule change, she faced the daunting task of studying for five exams in a single night.

decentralized

not controlled by a central source or authority

To execute on so many fronts, he has decentralized the organization and delegated a lot of decision-making.

despite

happening without being stopped by something that could prevent the event that happens

He decided to buy the computer despite the high price.

dike

a thick wall that is built to stop water flooding onto very low-lying land from a river or from the sea.

The dike held during the flood.

elusive

hard to obtain or reach

The elusive fish only came out at night.

evaporation

the process of a liquid becoming a gas, steam, or vapor

evaporation is the process in which water is transformed from its liquid state to vapor state.

lament

A passionate expression of grief or sorrow

Dusty stood it on its head and made it a passionate lament of loneliness and love.

mandate

to command; to order

There is a new mandate that prohibits smoking in public places.

mark

to write or draw a line on something

I marked my name on my school uniform.

mediation

an attempt to solve differences between two parties

mediation involves adopting a neutral role between two opposing parties rather than taking up the case of one party against another.

note

to carefully notice, observe, or become aware of someone or something

As he entered the building, he noted the elegant furniture.

observance

An act performed for religious or ceremonial reasons

Many religions go through ceremonies or observances of rituals to become pure or to be healed.

plight

a difficult or bad situation

Everyone felt sorry for the young girl's plight.

point out

to indicate something; to highlight an idea

Could you point out the school office to me?

portable

easily carried or moved

Mp3 players are portable music players.

reverse

to change to the opposite direction.

They reversed their direction after seeing the sign.

sanitation

the cleanliness and safety of public facilities

This is because over 4,000 African children die every day from water and sanitation-related diseases.

sewage

human waste carried off in pipes or drains

Because of sewage in cities, we were able to defeat many diseases.

so-called

usually called

She is a so-called elite student.

sporadically

not often or on a regular schedule

She went to the gym sporadically.

statistics

collection of numerical data

The statistics show that teenagers are less likely to attend lectures than those over 20.

to this end

because

To this end I believe that the County Board must act now before an incident like this ends tragically.

tote

Carry, wield, or convey (something heavy orsubstantial)

Here are books well worth toting home.

transboundary

Across a boundary

transboundary air pollution is a contentious issue in many parts of the world.

absolutely

completely; without a doubt

You didn't understand anything, absolutely nothing.

anti-social

behaving in a way that is not normal or acceptable to most people in a society

Children can become violent and anti-social from games.

backlash

a strong, negative, and often angry reaction

The move provoked a furious backlash from union leaders.

culprit

the person responsible for doing something bad or illegal

Police are looking for the culprit responsible for the bank robbery.

demonize

to describe someone or something as evil or dangerous

And then the people we disagree with, we tend to demonize them.

dispose

to throw or cast away

He disposed of the can by throwing it into the recycle bin.

distinguish

to know the difference between two or more things

Do you distinguish between difficult and dangerous?

high-profile

attracting a lot of attention, especially in the media

It has brought in many high-profile athletes to compete.

juvenile

a young person

We are also looking at new ways to prevent juvenile crime.

penalize

to punish someone or something as evil or dangerous

The team was penalized when they broke the rules.

perceive

to notice or realize

I could perceive from the conversation that they did not like each other.

predisposition

a predictable, particular way a person behaves due to his or her personality

The factors that shape our brain growth are genetic predisposition and environment.

prevalence

the fact or condition of being widespread

The prevalence of many diseases often decreases once its major cause is identified.

quadruple

to increase fourfold

China seeks to quadruple its income in twenty years.

rampage

a state of uncontrolled anger that results in damage or destruction

Gangs of youths went on the rampage in the city yesterday.

administrator

someone whose job is to manage an organization or project

Sara works as a school administrator.

arsenal

a large collection of weapons

He pointed out that Russia doesn't really need to join NATO because it possesses an arsenal of nuclear weapons.

bolster

to make something stronger or more effective

She must bolster her view immediately.

chunk

a large amount or part

There was a large chunk of ice in the freezer.

collaborative

involving two or more people working together

The book about the history of art was the result of a collaborative effort between a historian and an artist.

coordinate

to organize different groups to work together effectively

Each skating team had to coordinate their movements for the show.

divert

to change the course or direction of

When people bring up negatives, you divert the negative.

geosynchronous

having a fixed orbit over the same place

There, the rockets will link up, creating an 80-ton spacecraft that will ascend to 22,000 miles and lock into geosynchronous orbit.

hazardous

extremely dangerous, especially to health and safety

Drinking too much alcohol can be hazardous to your health.

incidence

the number of times something happens

There has been a decreased incidence of fatigue since we decided that everyone work no more than 8 hours in a day.

intolerable

impossible to bear or deal with

The weather was so intolerable that I had to put on my warmest clothes.

plausibly

believably; possibly

He argued very plausibly that the claims were true.

probability

a measure of how likely something is to happen

If she is young and attractive, the court may consider her remarriage to be a strong probability.

shatter

to break something suddenly into a lot of pieces

When the ball hit the window, the glass shattered.

vicinity

the area near a particular place

She left her car in the vicinity of the bus stop.

alternative

available as another choice

The alternative route was actually longer than the normal route.

anticipate

to expect

Her mom didn't anticipate the bad news from her daughter.

birthrate

the number of live births per thousand of population per year

With a declining birth rate and an ageing population, the first minister says they need fresh talent.

common thread

a theme or characteristic found in various stories or situations

There is common thread between mental health and sexual health services.

consequence

a result; an outcome

The consequence of not studying for an exam is failing.

contraception

the prevention of pregnancy by using certain tools, medicines, or practices

It had been her first time, they didn’t use any contraception.

demographer

a person who studies demography

Frey and other demographers said many of the population shifts could be longer-lasting.

dependent

relying on someone or something else for aid, support

She was dependent upon her parent’s finances.

domestic

relating to only your own country

Critics complain that a free trade agreement will hurt domestic production of certain products.

empowerment

the equipping of a person or group with power

Individuals are given empowerment to create their own dwellings.

enigma

a mystery; a puzzle

The enigmas of life are not easily resolved.

epidemic

the situation of an infectious disease affecting many people across a wide area

The country is facing a new flu epidemic.

evenly

in a manner that affects or influences all parts equally

The food was evenly distributed among the homeless people.

explosively

suddenly and dramatically

The game industry is growing explosively.

fertility

the ability to produce babies

South Korea has the lowest fertility rate in the world.

fine tune

to make small adjustments to (something) in order to achieve the best or a desired performance

We do not try to fine-tune the economy on the basis of short-term predictions.

immigrant

a person who moves to another country to permanently live

My parents were immigrants. They came from Poland.

induce

to encourage or persuade

The pickets induced many workers to stay away.

industrialized

establish or develop industrialism in

industrialized countries are polluting the world.

predominantly

mostly; for the most part

This neighborhood is predominantly comprised of people who moved here during the 1940s.

propel

to push forward; to give momentum to

President Bush helped propel this economy by using tax cuts.

rear

to raise a child by giving him or her food, education, etc.

She felt her baby had a better chance with new parents better equipped to rear her child.

shrink

to become smaller

Some flowers are very sensitive and will shrink if you touch them.

spell disaster

get into trouble

Having no northern ice may spell disaster for people worried about globalwarming

surge

to increase suddenly and strongly

There has been a sudden surge in his popularity.

talk up

to discuss someone or something in a way that makes them seem more (or less) interesting or attractive

He is talking up the company to stock analysts.

tremendous

great; huge

The singer is enjoying a tremendous popularity.

trend

a general tendency

The recent trend in developed countries is to have less children.

urbanization

the movement of people from rural areas to cities

The urbanization of Texas is mainly the result of European settlement and culture.

vibrant

Full of energy and life

It was magical, everything was so vibrant and colorful, full of life and energy.

assertion

a definite statement or claim

He made the assertion that it would not rain tomorrow.

climate

the type of weather that a country or region has

The climates of northern countries like northern Canada, northern Europe, and Mongolia are very cold.

confront

to deal with (a difficult situation); to face

Milady was terrified when Athos confronted her with her real name.

depletion

reduction in the amount of something due to overuse or damage

The group had to travel back to the river due to the depletion of their water supplies.

frequent

happening often

Recently, the doctor has been a frequent visitor to our home to treat my sick brother.

infrastructure

the basic facilities, services, and installations needed for a society to function

Rome’s agricultural production could not provide sufficient energy to maintain its infrastructure and the welfare of its citizens.

migrate

to move from one country or region to another

Some birds migrate south in winter.

rally

to join in support of

People will rally around the company.

reliable

able to be counted on or trusted to work or be accurate

I'm not sure that this information is reliable.

reliance

the state of being dependent on a person or thing

I have reliance in my parents.

scorching

very hot

The scorching heat of the sun made the trouble.

spark

to ignite; to start, usually from a small source or cause

However, the system sparked a heated controversy.

swamp

to cover or fill with water

The little boat was swamped by the waves.

vigorous

sound; sturdy or robust

We had a very vigorous debate.

vulnerable

being easily harmed, hurt, or wounded

They become more vulnerable.

analyst

someone whose job is to carefully examine a situation or event so as provide others with information about it

Our company hired an analyst to help us improve our profits.

autonomous

independent; able to make decisions without help from others

By 10 months, most babies are autonomous enough to roam around the house by themselves.

barbarism

an uncivilized and usually cruel state of society

People are living in barbarism in some parts of Africa.

circumstance

a fact or condition that affects a situation

The circumstances were not favorable for them to start a family.

civilian

a non-military person

civilians do not have the same access to places that military personnel do.

combatant

a person that takes part in a war

In the long Russo-Swedish conflict, both combatants endured terrible sacrifices

deploy

to send out (usually soldiers or weapons) for a purpose

The Legion was often deployed in hopeless military situations.

embrace

to take or receive gladly

She was quick to embrace the opportunity.

equation

the set of factors and information a person must consider before making a decision about a situation

When pressure of competition was factored into the equation, the situation changed.

humanitarian

having concern for the aid or benefit of humans

Valentin was known to be a humanitarian thinker who tried to make the world a better place.

inconsistent

not compatible with another fact, rule, or belief

The answers on this exam are inconsistent.

intervention

the act of coming between two or more parties in a situation or disagreement to try to change the result

Many have raised several matters that Ann's kindly interventions have resolved.

loop

a group of people that knows and makes decisions about something

You don't seem to be in the loop!

surveillance

the process of carefully watching a person or place

The surveillance of the parking lot with cameras has reduced crime significantly.

treaty

an agreement between two or more governments

The two leaders signed the treaty to make the agreement legal.

abstinence

the practice of restraining oneself from indulging in something, typically alcohol or sex

I started drinking again after six years of abstinence.

armed conflict

war

It is important to prevent an armed conflict between two great nations of the globe.

backpedal

to reverse one's previous position

Boy had quickly backpedalled when asked to explainher suggestion.

campaign

a series of actions taken to achieve a goal, usually political or military

The local farmers have organized a campaign to get the government to increase taxes on imported vegetables.

displace

to make to leave the area where they live

Thousands of people have been displaced by the civil war.

eradicate

to end completely

The government concentrated all their efforts to eradicate corruption.

facilitate

to help in a way to make an action easier or better

The new trade agreement should facilitate more rapid economic growth.

feces

solid waste that comes out of a body from eating

It was covered in feces and urine.

festering

getting worse and worse

The wound is festering.

immunization

the act of administering medicine to prevent a disease

Schedule your dates for childhood immunization in order to prevent from fatal disease.

initiative

a plan of action; a program

The student took the initiative to learn Chinese before going on his exchange program to China.

intervention

the act of coming between two or more parties in a situation or disagreement to try to change the result

Many have raised several matters that Ann's kindly interventions have resolved.

limb

an arm, leg, or wing of a person or animal

A person's limbs are actually very fragile.

paralysis

the condition of being unable to move

His paralysis meant that he had to use a wheelchair to get around.

pledge

a promise to do something

He wrote a pledge in his blood.

poverty

the state or experience of being poor and having little or no money

poverty may drive people crazy.

rebound

to rise again after falling for some time

The ball rebounded from the goalpost and Owen headed it in.

recruit

a person newly enlisted in the armed forces and not yet fully trained.

The intention is to influence many of those new recruits into becoming Army Reserve officers.

returnee

a refugee returning from abroad.

I've never noticed a list of returnees on any memorial elsewhere.

reviled

criticizing in an abusive or angrily insulting manner

he was now reviled by the party that he had helped to lead.

staggering

shockingly large; overwhelming

I was staggered to find it was six o’clock.

stamp out

to destroy or get rid of something bad or unpleasant by force or with a lot of effort

Thats the only way to stamp out knife crime.

sterility

the condition of being unable to have children

The disease can cause sterility in males.

taunt

to provoke or challenge (someone) with insultingremarks

The last thing we want is to put ourselves in the position where he is taunted or provoked and reacts again.

template

a thin piece of metal or plastic which is cut into a particular shape.

The man is laying out a template.

topple

to remove (a government or person in authority) from power; overthrow

We can topple all of these other kings.

tuberculosis

a disease affecting especially the lungs

tuberculosis is not as common as it once was thanks to modern medicine.

vaccine

a type of medicine that helps prevent a specific disease

The scientist created a new vaccine that will cure many patients.

volatility

the state of easily becoming violent or chaotic

There was little sign of serious volatility in financial markets.

vulnerable

being easily harmed, hurt, or wounded

They become more vulnerable.

accession

the act of a nation becoming part of an agreement already existing among other nations

This week, Bulgaria's intellectual potential will be called upon to aid the country in the process of its accession into the European Union.

assiduously

diligently; with constant effort and focus

Leaders worked assiduously to hammer out an action plan.

billionaire

a person who possesses over a billion units of a currency

She has succeeded in business and is now a billionaire.

command economy

business activities and the use of resources are decided by the government, and not by market forces.

We do not live in a command economy.

deficit

an amount of something that is less than what is actually needed

The deficit in the charity fund was caused by people paying their donations.

emblematic

serving as a symbol of a particular quality or concept;symbolic:

The dove is emblematic of peace.

emerge

to begin to develop; grow

He emerged as a key figure in the campaign.

entrepreneur

a person who starts a new business that seems risky or untried

The young entrepreneurs developed a system to help newcomers get settled into a new city.

exponentially

extremely rapidly

Technological development is accelerating exponentially.

extent

the point, level or limit to which something reaches

The extent of the damage caused by the fire was not known.

eye

to look at something with the intention of acquiring it

After eying them closely from the distance, they began to approach closer.

falter

to move unsteadily or hesitantly

His steps falter; the dancers seem to embrace him but they let go and he falls.

fierce

cruelly violent

fierce storms often raged along the coast.

hone

to sharpen to a fine point; to improve

Lisa honed her chess skills by hours and hours of practice.

infusion

the addiction of something such as money or a particular quality

The company needs an infusion of new blood.

inroad

an invasion or hostile attack; raid or incursion

It may also reference a sudden and violent inroad, or entrance of invaders.

make inroads

to encroach on or reduce something else

They have never seen a Korean SF film make inroads into America.

overhaul

to examine something thoroughly

The ship's engine had to be completely overhauled.

privatization

the act of changing from public ownership to private ownership

Another primary concern of the ANC government is the privatization of state assets.

privatize

to change from public ownership to private ownership

They were opposed to plans to privatize electricity and water.

prowess

great skill or ability in a particular field

Padraic will also be remembered for his prowess on the football field.

proximity

the state of being near

All the trees in the proximity of the beach had been cut down.

robust

strong and healthy

He was a tall and robust man.

sector

part of an area of activity, especially of business, trade

Nearly half of the funding came from the private sector.

specialist

a person who works in one specific area of a field or profession

The specialist told her that her eyes could get worse.

subsidiary

a company owned by another company

The company has subsidiaries in many different countries.

tackle

to deal with it in a determined and efficient way.

Such social problems need to be tackled right away.

transition

the process of changing from one thing to another

The weather gets colder during the transition from summer to autumn.

trappings

the outward signs; the appearances

I've spent the last few years acquiring the trappings and signs of the middle class.

upsurge

the strength or quantity of something; an increase

The recent upsurge in violence had forced a decision to cancel the scheduled tour, Merriman said.

animate

to make someone or something active or lively

Burns used the technique to animate historical photos in his popular documentaries.

applaud

to express support or appreciation

It was a display of pointless truculence and ignorance and he was applauded for it.

customize

to change in a way to specially suit a particular person or need

The software can be customized to the developingneeds of your students.

detergent

a liquid or powder used for washing something

My brother added too much detergent to the wash, and bubbles got all over the floor.

donor

a person who gives something to another person

He was proud to be a blood donor.

fraction

a smaller part of a larger whole

He was busy. He had done only a fraction of his homework.

function

to work properly

Even though he is blind, he can still function normally.

guideline

a rule or principle that provides information about appropriate behavior

The teacher did not have specific guidelines for the students to follow which caused some students to be very confused.

hurdle

one of several problems that you must solve before you can proceed

They can be used to overcome specific hurdles when developing good singing techniques.

marrow

the inside part of bones that makes blood cells

The bone marrow transplant is critical for people who can't produce their blood cells quickly.

reassemble

to put something together again after taking it apart

The computer was reassembled within a matter of hours.

regeneration

the process of growing new organs or tissues to replace lost or damaged organs or tissues

When a lizard loses its tail and then grows it back, this is an example of regeneration.

regulatory

related to a system or agency that controls and makes official rules for an activity or industry

There is thus no need for regulatory action

reject

to not accept something; to become sick after receiving a new organ

His body could begin to reject the implanted heart.

retain

to keep someone or something

Tom tried to retain his heavyweight championship.