Reading for the Real World 3/e-Intro Unit 08 (E)

arena

a place or area of confl ict or competition

The new arena was all set to hold the championship match.

assignment

a job or duty that is given to someone

You must complete this assignment by tomorrow.

aviation

the business or practice of fl ying airplanes, helicopters, etc.

During the 1930s, America recaptured the technological lead in aviation.

bacteria

very small living things that often cause disease

There is bacteria everywhere, even if you have just cleaned it.

beeswax

a substance made by bees that is used for making candles and other products

Rolled beeswax candles are made from a honeycombed sheet wrapped around a wick.

boundary

a limit

The city boundaries are marked by the railroad tracks.

craft

a vehicle that travels through the air or through space

The craft that landed on the Moon in 1969 was named the "Eagle."

crystal

a substance that has a uniform structure and is formed when the substance turns into a solid

A snow crystal falls from the sky.

decade

a period of ten years

She stayed for two decades!

dock with

to join with (another spacecraft)

The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to dock with Russia's Mir space station.

donor

a person or organization that gives something, such as money

He was proud to be a blood donor.

ecological

relating to the relationships between living things and their environment

That is called an ecological system.

entrepreneur

a businessperson who develops a new business

The entrepreneur worked hard for his success.

innovation

a new device, idea, or method

The Internet is, hands down, the most important innovation of our time.

insulation

a material or substance used to stop heat, electricity, or sound from going into or out of something

Fat can act as an insulator to keep animals and humans warm in cold weather.

lab

a place equipped for scientifi c study or testing; laboratory

She is working in the lab now.

nationalism

a belief that your country is better than other countries

nationalism became a new current of modern history.

orbit

to travel around

It takes Earth just over 365 days to completely orbit the sun.

outer

located farther out or away from a center

Remove and throw away any outer packaging.

petroleum

a kind of oil that is the source of gasoline and other products

Gasoline is made from petroleum.

pioneer

to help create or develop new ideas, methods, etc.

Hotmail is seen as a pioneer of viral marketing.

replicate

to repeat or copy exactly

My mom cooked the most delicious meal. I wonder

rocket

a spacecraft or missile propelled by a very powerful engine

The rocket shot up into the sky.

shock-absorbing

able to protect other things from feeling jolts or bumps

This car is fitted with a shock-absorbing device.

solar cell

a device that uses light or heat from the sun to produce electricity

A solar cell makes energy from sunlight.

sphere

an area of infl uence or activity

In the political sphere, the result was democracy, in which supporters of rival policies vied for rhetorical supremacy.

spin-off

a positive effect that was not the main goal of a project

There are amazing things spinning off from the oil and gas industries.

temperature

a measurement that indicates how hot or cold something is

The temperature in the desert is very high during the day.

thereby

by means of that act, those words, etc.

He didn’t score a goal, thereby ending his chance at setting a record.

urine

waste liquid that collects in the bladder before leaving the body

Before I started working for the company, I was made to give a urine sample to test for illegal drugs.

utilize

to make use of

We utilized all the resources for our profit.