Chapter-by-chapter vocabulary
chapter; ^ AWL terms (Academic Word List--as discussed in
class); * key terms; ** key
terms we've had before; = one-word
synonyms (be sure you know how to spell both words)
0.5 is the chapter on Uncle Sam
Most of these
definitions came from the textbook; see "use
policy" regarding other definitions.
Fall Semester
Uncle Sam article:
(Sam) * agriculture: the practice, science or process of
growing food
(Sam) * cartoon (political): a humorous drawing (e.g., in a
newspaper), often about politics or everyday life
(Sam) * to downsize: to make a workforce smaller, esp. to
save money
(Sam) folklore: the traditional beliefs or stories told by
a group of people (often to explain customs or practices)
(Sam) * to make sth official: to let others know publicly
or in some legal way (i.e., sth that used to be secret or informal)
(Sam) * manufacturing: the practice or process of making
things (esp. in factories or on a large scale)
(Sam) * multicultural: involving or including people or
ideas from many different countries, races, or religions
(Sam) * the origin of sth: where sth came from; the place
or situation in which sth began
(Sam) * to recruit: to look for people to join your
company, school, army, etc.
(Sam) revolution: time when people change a political
system by mass demonstrations, war, or other force
(Sam) * a service economy: when more workers provide a
service instead of a product (e.g., cooking, teaching, consulting,
banking)
(Sam) * slogan: a short phrase (also called a catchphrase)
that is easy to remember and is used in advertisements, or by politicians,
organizations, etc
(Sam) * voluntarily: by choice; because you want to (adv)
1 * abbreviation: a short form of a word, expression,
title, name, and so forth (examples: etc., i.e., Dr., NBA)
1 ^ to affect: to produce a change, result, deep emotion
1 * Alexis de Tocqueville: French sociologist who wrote the
influential book Democracy in America in 1831
1 ^ to approach: to come near
1 ^ aspect: one part of an idea that has many parts
1 * assimilated: became part of a country or group and were
accepted by other people in it
1 bi-: prefix meaning two
1 biculturalism: relating to two distinct cultures or
places
1 bilingualism: the ability to speak two languages equally
well
1 ^ category: group of things that all have the same
qualities
1 * census: an official population count
1 Cinco de Mayo: a traditional Mexican holiday that honors
the Mexican army's victory over an invading French force at Puebla, Mexico
in 1862
1 ^ * classic: considered important, with a value that
lasts for a long time; books, films, clothes, etc, that never "go out of
style"
1 ^ * community: the people who share an area, town,
profession, interest, heritage, etc.
1 ^ * concept = idea; an idea of how sth should be done
1 ^ to constitute: a "part" of sth that makes us think of
the whole/conclusion (e.g., your sister as part of your family, or a fact
as part of a convincing argument)
1 ^ * context: setting; whatever comes before and after sth,
which often helps us understand it
1 ^ * to contribute = to give
1 ^ to convince: to make someone think something is true
1 ^ * to create: to make, invent or design sth original
1 crucible: a container in which substances are heated to a
very high level (such as to mix different metals)
1 * cultural pluralism: the principle that people of
different races, religions, and political beliefs can live together
peacefully in the same society
1 ^ * culture: ideas, beliefs, and customs of a group of
people
1 ^ * data: information or facts
1 ^ debate: a discussion of different opinions
1 ^ * decade: a period of ten years
1 descent: family origins, especially in relation to the
country where one's family came from
1 ^ * distinct: clearly different or separate
1 ^ * diverse: made up of distinct and different parts,
characteristics, etc.
1 ^ * to dominate: to control due to power, authority,
overwhelming influence, etc.
1 effect: a result or change; the way sb/sth changes an
event, action, person, etc.
1 em-: prefix meaning out of
1 ^ to emerge: to come out
1 to emigrate: to permanently leave one's country
1 ^ to establish: to start something that will continue
1 ^ * to estimate: to judge by calculating and guessing
1 ^ * ethnic: [adj] related to race or nationality
1 ^ to exclude: to leave out on purpose
1 ^ * factor: one of several things that influence or cause
a result
1 * generalization: a broad statement about people or
situations (that is not often completely true)
1 * heritage: traditional beliefs, values, and customs of a
family, country or society
1 ^ * hypothesis: an explanation not yet proven
1 ^ to identify: to recognize or discover sb/sth correctly
1 * identity: the qualities a group of people have that
make them different from other people
1 il-: prefix meaning not
1 illegal: not legal
1 im-: prefix meaning into
1 ^ * to immigrate: to permanently move into a new country
1 ^ * incidentally: by the way
1 industrialized: characterized by producing/making/mining
things (as opposed to growing/raising food)
1 ^ institute: an organization focused on a particular
purpose (e.g., research, technical education, social work)
1 ^ * institutions: large organizations, especially ones
dedicated to public service; (when singular, “institution” can also refer
to an established social system)
1 inter-: prefix meaning between
1 * interracial: between or by combining people of
different races (e.g., __ harmony/marriage/sports/education)
1 ^ * job = work
1 ^ legal: related to what is “right” or “OK” according to
law or the courts
1 ^ * license: an official document that gives you
permission to do sth (drive a car, marry, etc)
1 ^ * to maintain: to make sth continue in the same way
(e.g., by regulating or fixing it)
1 ^ * major = serious; more important than other things
1 ^ * minor: not serious; less important than other things
1 * minority: a group of people whose race is different
from that of most people in a country
1 ^ * to motivate: to increase sb's interest or excitement,
resulting in action, participation, etc.
1 ^ motive: the reason for doing something or behaving in a
certain way
1 multi-: prefix meaning many
1 ** multicultural: involving or including people or ideas
from many different countries, races, or religions
1 ^ * neutral = impartial; not supporting one side or the
other
1 neutral observer: someone who observes without expressing
an opinion
1 ^ * participants: people who are taking part in an
activity
1 ^ to participate in: to take part, or be able to share in
an activity
1 ^ percent: a portion of 100
1 ^ period: the punctuation mark at the end of an English
sentence; an interval of time
1 * personal space: the distance you like to keep between
yourself and others (depending on your relationship)
1 * politically correct (PC): language or behavior
carefully chosen not to offend or insult anyone (esp., in keeping with
ideals currently promoted in the American media)
1 * poll: a survey that asks many people the same question
to find out general opinions about sth
1 pollsters: people trained to create and conduct opinion
polls
1 ^ to process: to deal with an official document, request,
etc., in the usual way (often through a series of steps)
1 * quota: a limit on the number allowed
1 ^ * resource: something useful but normally limited
(i.e., some have it, but others don't have as much)
1 reunifications: the joining of the parts of something
together again
1 ^ * to reveal: to show sth that was hidden
1 ^ * role = part (that someone plays)
1 * to scan: to quickly look through text to find a
particular piece of information (date, time, name, fact, etc.)
1 ^ * significant: important or influential (esp., in
relation to future events)
1 ^ * specific = particular; something particular the
reader/listener knows about; not general
1 ^ to specify: to say sth in a clear, detailed way
1 ^ to survive: to continue (to live) in spite of
difficulties
1 ^ text: written material, esp. in a book/magazine
1 ^ * tradition: a belief, custom, or way of doing
something that has existed for a long time; [uncountable] all of these
beliefs, customs, etc., in general. (传统)
1 ^ * unique: being the only one of its kind; one of a kind
1 * URL: a web address (abbreviation for uniform resource
locator)
1 ^ to vary: to be different
1 ^ * virtual: seen or created on a computer instead of in
the real world; almost always, almost exactly so
1 ^ visible: able to be seen
1 working: employed, or not broken
2 * abundant = plentiful
2 ^ to accumulate: to gradually get more and more money,
possessions, or knowledge over a period of time
2 ^ * to achieve: to succeed in getting the results you
wanted; to reach (goals, success, etc)
2 ^ * to acquire: to get something, such as by buying,
reading, or being near it
2 ^ adult: a fully grown person or animal
2 are apt to: have a natural tendency to do something
2 aristocrats: people who belong to the highest social
class
2 ^ to attach: to connect two things in a strong way; to
add one object to another
2 ^ * authority: the power you have because of your
official position
2 ^ * benefit: something that gives advantages or improves
life in some way
2 ^ * challenge: sth that tests strength, skill, or
ability; sth difficult to accomplish or win
2 * charity: an organization that gives money, goods, or
help to people who are poor, sick, etc.
2 ^ ** concept = idea; an idea of how sth should be done
2 ^ * constant = never-ending; all the time or always the
same
2 ^ * constitution: a set of basic laws and principles that
a democratic country is governed by
2 ^ ** context: setting; whatever comes before and after
sth, which often helps us understand it
2 ^ * to convert: to change from one form, system, or
purpose to a different one
2 ^ ** decade: a period of ten years
2 ^ decline = decrease (in quality, importance, numbers,
etc.)
2 defied: refused to obey someone or do what was expected
2 ^ to define: to describe accurately; to talk about the
limits or qualities that make sth different
2 ^ to design: to create, plan, or develop sth for a
specific purpose
2 destiny: a sense that things should and will happen in
the future, or the mysterious power that makes them happen
2 ^ * to diminish = to lessen; to become smaller or less
important
2 ^ * the economy: the system related to the way goods and
services are made, distributed and used; a country's system of production,
distribution and consumption of money, things and services
2 ^ * to eliminate: to get rid of sth completely
2 ^ * emphasis: additional importance
2 * endowed = given (a good quality)
2 ^ energy: the physical and mental strength that makes you
able to be active
2 ^ enormous: extremely large in size or amount
2 ^ to ensure = to guarantee; to make certain something
will happen properly
2 ^ * ethic: a general idea or set of moral beliefs that
influences people’s behavior and attitudes
2 ^ * ethical: relating to principles of what is right and
wrong
2 ^ eventual: in the end; happening at the end of a lot of
time, effort, etc.
2 ^ * evident = obvious; easily noticed or understood
2 * facet: one of several parts of someone’s character or a
situation
2 ^ * to finance: to provide a lot of money so sb can buy
sth (like a house or computer); the people or company you finance must pay
you back over a period of time, and must pay you a little extra (called
“interest” or “financing costs”) for loaning them this money.
2 ^ * financial: relating to money
2 foundation: a basic idea or principle
2 ^ fundamental: of central and underlying importance
2 ^ * generation: people of the same age, or the period of
time between someone’s birth and the birth of his/her children (three
generations would include you, your father, and your grandfather)
2 ^ * global = international; relating to the whole world
2 * hereditary: can be passed from an older to a younger
person in the same family
2 inalienable: that cannot be taken away from you;
intrinsically yours, and by right unable to be taken away or transferred
to another
2 ^ * individual: one person, considered separately from
the group
2 ^ intelligence: the ability to understand or apply what
one learns; military information about enemies
2 ^ * to issue: to officially give or offer for sale
(information, warnings, documents, reports, currency, etc.)
2 ^ labor: hard work; work using physical effort
2 ^ ** to maintain: to make sth continue in the same way
(e.g., by regulating or fixing it)
2 * materialistic: concerned mainly with money and tangible
things, rather than with charity, morality, and intangible things
2 ^ * natural resources: a country's land, minerals, or
natural energy that can be used to increase its wealth
2 ^ * nevertheless: in spite of (despite) sth just
mentioned (where "what was mentioned" might seem to make your next point
hard to accept)
2 * peers: people who are the same age or have the same
type of job or rank
2 ^ to perceive: to see or understand in a particular way
2 * plight: a bad, serious, or sad condition or situation
2 * prestige: the respect and importance that a person,
organization, or profession has
2 * profound: important and having a strong influence or
effect
2 ^ * to promote: to help sth or sb advance and be
successful
2 ^ * to pursue: to continue to try to do/complete sth or
follow sth/sb (often in spite of difficulties)
2 pursuit: a determined action to achieve or get sth
(pursuits can also refer to one's hobbies)
2 ^ to reject: to choose not to accept a thing/person/idea
2 ^ * reliant: being dependent on someone
2 ^ * to rely on = to depend on
2 ^ * to seek = to look (with effort)
2 self-evident: easily noticed or understood; obvious
2 ^ to shift: to move from one place or position to another
2 ** slogan: a short phrase (also called a catchphrase)
that is easy to remember and is used in advertisements, or by politicians,
organizations, etc
2 ^ * status: social or professional rank or position in
relation to others
2 ^ * substitute = replacement; a person/thing you can use
when the normal one is not available
2 ^ * survey: a group of questions that are asked to many
people in order to discover general opinions)
2 * tangible = concrete; able to be touched
2 ^ * theme: main subjects or ideas in a piece of writing,
speech, or movie
2 ^ * uniform: the same; a standardized set of clothes for
fellow students, police officers, soldiers, etc.
2 ^ ** unique: being the only one of its kind; one of a
kind
2 ^ * welfare: money paid by the government to people who
are very poor, sick, not working, etc
(We'll look at chapter 3 in the spring)
4 ^ * to access: to legally be allowed to get/enjoy sth
(your grades, an entrance, a school, etc.)
4 ^ * adequate: well enough for a particular purpose
4 ^ area: a particular part of a country or city; a
particular subject or range of activities
4 ^ to automate: to start using a machine to do something
(often so a person doesn't need to do it)
4 * automatic: designed to operate by itself; done without
thinking about an action
4 ^ * aware: realizing that a problem exists; understanding
what is happening
4 ^ * capable: having the skills needed to do sth
4 ^ * circumstances = conditions; reasons that affect a
situation, action, event, etc.
4 ^ civil: related to the people, or laws that affect
private affairs (e.g., property or business, not crime)
4 ^ ** classic: considered important, with a value that
lasts for a long time; books, films, clothes, etc, that never "go out of
style"
4 clumsy gait: walking in an awkward way
4 ^ * complex = complicated; difficult to understand
because it involves many related parts
4 ^ to confine: to keep someone in a place that they cannot
leave
4 ^ to consist: to be made of a number of things
4 ^ * to construct: to build sth large
4 ^ * controversy = argument; a disagreement because people
have strong but different opinions on the subject
4 ^ * to cooperate: to work with sb to achieve sth
4 ^ * to demonstrate = to show; to show how sth works or
how sth is true
4 ^ * to deny: to say that sth is not true
4 desensitized: made emotionally insensitive
4 ^ to detect = to notice (esp sth others don't see)
4 * detective: sb paid to discover information (many work
as police officers, though “private detectives” like Sherlock Holmes
[福尔摩斯] work independently)
4 ^ to enable: to make it possible for sth to happen
4 erect: in an upright position; standing tall and proud
4 ^ ** evident = obvious; easily noticed or understood
4 exemplified: was a very typical example of sth
4 to fascinate: to interest greatly
4 ^ * feature: sth you notice because it seems interesting
4 ^ * final = last (in a series)
4 fistfights: fights using bare hands with the fingers
curled in toward the palm
4 ^ * to guarantee: to legally promise that something will
be done, fixed, or will otherwise happen
4 * to hail = to praise; to describe sb as being very good
4 harsh: difficult; severe
4 * idealized: remembered in a way that made sth/sb seem
much better than it really was
4 ^ image: the way others see you; sth that intentionally
looks like sth else (e.g., the face on a coin)
4 ^ * impact = effect, esp the strong effect sth has on sth
else
4 item: a single thing in a set, group, or list
4 * legacy: a situation that exists as a result of things
that happened at an earlier time
4 ^ * to legislate: to pass a law about sth
4 * literally: according to the most basic or original
meaning of a word or expression
4 * macho: very masculine [a 男子汉is considered macho]
4 ^ * normal = usual; commonly used
4 nostalgic: feeling or expression a slight sadness when
remembering happy events or experiences from the past
4 * obstacles: things that make it difficult for sb to
succeed
4 * optimism: a tendency to be positive or hopeful
4 * pessimism: a tendency to be negative or doubtful
4 ^ * phase: one of the stages of a process
4 ^ * physical: related to the body or personal touch (vs
the mind)
4 ^ portion = part (of a whole)
4 ^ * principal = main (i.e., most important)
4 prowess: great skill at doing sth; great bravery
4 ^ * to react: to act in response
4 ^ * region: a fairly large area of a state
4 ^ * to reinforce: to give strength or support to (a
building, idea, opinion, etc)
4 ^ ** to reveal: to show sth that was hidden
4 romanticized: talked or thought about things in a way
that made them seem more attractive than they really were
4 rugged: rough; tough
4 ^ * to secure: to get sth (a contract, a deal, a place in
history, etc) that will last a long time, esp. after a lot of effort
4 * the Smithsonian Institution: a group of world-class
museums and scientific institutes in Washington, DC; America's most
honored "national museums"
4 ^ source: place of origin
4 * survivor: sb who is still alive after almost being
killed
4 ^ task: an assigned job
4 * urbanized: characterized by city life (houses,
factories, stores), not rural life
4 ^ * version: a revised copy or different description of
something (“The latest version of this software doesn’t work with older
operating systems.” “I heard a different version of that story.”)
5 ^ * to accompany: to go with; to play music to help sb
("Shannon asked Joseph to accompany her across the ocean--as a servant!"
"Mom accompanied me on the train." "Molly will accompany Tim on the piano
as he sings.")
5 ^ * to adapt: to change sth to help it fit a different
purpose; "In general, people and animals adapt, while things are
adjusted."
5 ^ * to adjust: to change sth (often by small amounts) to
improve it or restore it to its original working condition; "He adjusted
the watch to keep better time."
5 ^ * to assemble: to put things/people together to make a
"whole" (group, machine, etc)
5 ^ available: easy to get
5 to censor: to examine books, movies, or letters to remove
anything that is offensive or unacceptable
5 ^ * century: period of 100 years
5 to cleanse: to make something completely clean
5 * commercial: [n] an advertisement on TV or radio; [adj]
relating to profit from business or trade (can also mean "for industrial
use")
5 ^ * to communicate: to exchange information in an
understandable way
5 ^ to compute: to determine an answer by math or by
computer
5 * computer literacy: being able to operate a computer and
use the internet
5 ^ * to conclude: to decide, based on convincing
information; to successfully finish
5 ^ conflict: a fight or argument
5 * connotation: the feeling or idea suggested by a word
5 ^ ** to construct: to build sth large
5 ^ to consume: to eat/use up (so that it is gone)
5 * decency: basic accepted behavior, especially moral and
sexual behavior
5 ^ ** declining: going down
5 deodorants: substance that you put on the skin under your
arms to stop unpleasant odors
5 ^ device: a machine, tool or method, used for a special
job or effect
5 diabetes: a disease in which there is too sugar in the
blood
5 * dilemma: a situation in which you have to make a
difficult choice between two or more actions
5 donation: gift, esp to a charity
5 ^ * to edit: to remove/replace mistakes or unnecessary
parts from an article, speech, play, etc.
5 * entry-level job: a first job for a person entering the
job market, such as a janitor, a dishwasher in a restaurant, or a day
laborer on a construction job
5 ^ * environment: the conditions around you that affect
you, esp. natural things like noisy, water and air.
5 ^ * expanding: becoming larger
5 ^ * expert: someone who knows a lot about something
5 ^ * to export: to send sth to another part of the world
(or to a different computer program!); "They export software that can
export jpg files as svg files."
5 ^ * fee: money paid (e.g. to a professional) for a
service or for permission to do sth; "Disneyland charges a big fee for
park entrance, in part because they must pay high insurance fees."
5 fragment: an incomplete piece or a piece that has broken
off of something
5 * fragmented: broken up (the connotation is “no longer
whole” or “no longer” as functional/useful as it once was”)
5 ^ * fund: money available for a specific reason
5 * garbage: trash, but esp left-over (smelly) food that
has been thrown away
5 ^ * goods = products
5 ^ * to grant = to give
5 ^ * grant: a large gift, such as land or a scholarship
5 ^ * guaranteed: certain to happen (because of a promise,
force of nature, etc)
5 ^ * incentive = encouragement; sth that encourages sb to
work hard to accomplish a goal
5 ^ * income: the money that you earn from your work or
that you receive from investments, the government, etc
5 ^ * to invest: to spend money in the hope of great reward
(e.g., a financial "return" or improved social condition) "Investing in
public housing helps the poor." "He invested in stock but lost a lot of
money."
5 leisurely: without hurrying (leisure time is time when
one is free from employment and duties of any kind)
5 ^ * the media: TV, radio, and newspapers
5 ^ medical: related to the treatment of a disease or other
health situation
5 ^ to negate: to deny or nullify (i.e., keep sth from
being effective or valid) "The chairman quickly negated resignation
rumors."
5 * novelty: new, unusual and interesting; "Their ads took
a novel approach, but the novelty soon wore off."
5 * obesity: the condition of being too heavy in a way that
is dangerous to your health
5 ^ * option = choice; sth different that could be done in
a particular situation
5 * paradox: a surprising or unlikely combination of
opposing qualities, ideas, etc.; a seeming contradiction
5 * plenty: enough, or more than enough
5 ^ * positive = certain; good
5 ^ potential: likely to develop in a certain/clear way
5 ^ predict: use special insight to say what will happen
before it happens, based on insight or a guess
5 ^ professional: related to a job that needs special
training or skill (and/or that pays well)
5 * to recycle: to process trash so that the material it is
made from can be used again (especially paper, plastic and glass) [adj:
'recycled' bottles]
5 ^ * to regulate = to control (esp. by rules or laws)
5 ^ * to relax: to rest (loosen muscles, become calm) after
doing something intense or demanding; "After work, I like to relax by
listening to music."
5 ^ to respond: to reply or react to sth said or done
5 * to restrict = to limit
5 ^ section: a part (of the whole)
5 ^ site = place
5 * to sponsor: to pay money in return for advertising; the
person or organization that pays the money
5 ^ * stress: mental, emotional or physical strain/tension
(often about your work or personal life)
5 ^ * subsidized: paid, in part, by sb else; partly paid
for
5 ^ subsidy: money given (often by the government) to
support sth that is in the public interest; "If you give farmers a
subsidy, they can sell food cheaper."
5 ^ * symbol (symbolized): represented an idea or quality
5 ^ * technique = method; the skillful way sth is done
5 ^ * technology: the techniques and machines (esp
computers) used to help people or industry
5 * trash = rubbish (BrE); things people throw away because
they don’t want them or because they are broken
5 ^ to undergo: to pass through a difficult experience,
emotion, etc.
5 * vice: a negative human personal quality, seen as bad or
immoral (in varying degrees, from "bad habits" to immoral wickedness); "I
know smoking is a vice, but I just can't quit."
5 * virtue: a positive human personal quality, seen as
morally good or righteous; "Patience is a virtue, but procrastination is a
vice."
5 ^ widespread: existing or happening in many places or
situations
(We'll look at chapters 6 & 7 in the spring)
8 to abolish: to officially end a law or system
8 ^ to accommodate: to acknowledge and allow (e.g., a
different opinion, a new team member, an unpopular change/need)
8 * assassination: the murder of an important person
8 ** assimilated: became part of a country or group and
were accepted by other people in it
8 ^ * bias: an opinion about whether something is good or
bad that influences how you deal with it
8 * civil rights: rights that every person in a country
should have; in the US, these include the right to vote and to be treated
fairly regardless of gender, race, or religion
8 construction: working on new buildings
8 * corrupt = dishonest
8 ^ * despite: even though something else exists or is true
8 ^ * discrimination: the practice of treating a person or
a group differently in an unfair way
8 ^ * documentation: official papers that are used to prove
that something is true
8 ^ ** to eliminate: to get rid of sth completely
8 gulf: great difference and lack of understanding between
two groups of people
8 ^ * inclined: influenced toward a particular action or
opinion
8 * inspiring: encouraging people to achieve something
great
8 ^ to instruct = to teach
8 ** legacy: a situation that exists as a result of things
that happened at an earlier time
8 to mingle: to meet and talk with a lot of different
people socially
8 mosaic: a picture made by fitting together small pieces
of colored stones, glass, or paper
8 to obliterate: to destroy something so that almost
nothing remains
8 ** paradox: a surprising or unlikely combination of
opposing qualities, ideas, etc.; a seeming contradiction
8 ^ phenomenon: something that is very unusual
8 ^ a process: a normal or repeatable series of actions or
steps
8 ^ to prohibit: to ban; to say sth must not be done, seen,
used, etc.
8 * Protestant: a major branch of Christianity (started in
the 1400s by Martin Luther in Germany); 新教
8 ^ to reside = to live (at a place)
8 ^ * residential: relating to homes (as opposed to
businesses or factories)
8 ^ * to retain = to keep
8 * to segregate: to separate one group from others, esp
because of race
8 ^ * somewhat: more than a little, but not very
8 * trickle: a movement of people or things, in very small
numbers or amounts
8 * victims: people who suffer bad treatment even though
they have done nothing to deserve it
9 ^ * academic: relating to education
9 ^ ** to achieve: to succeed in getting the results you
wanted; to reach (goals, success, etc)
9 the advent of: the coming of; the arrival of sth/sb
important (e.g., the computer age, airplanes, the Christian era)
9 ^ annual: happening once a year
9 burdens: difficult or worrisome things that you are
responsible for
9 charter schools: schools to which the state government
has given money and special permission to operate but that are operated by
parents, companies, etc, rather than by the public school system
9 ^ concentration: large amount of something in one place
9 ^ * core: the most important or central part
9 ^ * criteria: established standards used to judge
something
9 elite: limited to wealthy people with a high social
status
9 * to erase: to completely remove/destroy the contents as
if by wiping (so that the blackboard, hard disk, etc, can be used again)
9 ^ * to evaluate: to consider something carefully
9 * extracurricular: (adj, only before a noun) additional
activities, clubs, sports, jobs, etc., that students do but that are not
part of someone’s studies
9 filed briefs: submitted legal documents to be considered
by the court
9 * freshman: the first year of high school or college
("What year are we? We're freshmen.")
9 ^ * grade: a position or degree in a process (i.e.,
academic achievement, chemical purification); "The US school system has 12
grades." "Grade A eggs taste better than cheap eggs."
9 ** identity: the qualities a group of people have that
make them different from other people
9 ^ ignorance: a lack of education or understanding
9 * to ignore: to deliberately pay no attention to
9 ^ to indicate: to show or point to
9 ^ * indicator = sign
9 ^ to integrate: to combine in an effective way
9 junior: the third year of high school or college ("What
year am I? I'm a junior.")
9 ^ * to justify = to explain; to prove sth to be
just/right/valid
9 * mandatory: something that must be done, especially
because of a law or rule
9 ^ mature: fully grown and sensible
9 * means: a method or system
9 ^ * method: a planned way of doing something
9 * monetary: relating to money
9 ^ * to obtain = to get (as a result of effort)
9 ^ * perspective: way of thinking about something
9 ^ * predominantly: mostly or mainly
9 * prestigious: admired as one of the best and most
important (people, organizations, professions, etc.)
9 reaffirmed: formally stated an intention or belief again,
especially as an answer to a question or doubt
9 * to reflect = to show
9 * to regard: to think about
9 ** to retain = to keep
9 ^ * sector: part, area or segment (esp business or trade)
9 ^ * to select: to choose carefully
9 senior: the fourth year of high school or college
9 sophomore: the second year of high school or college
9 ^ * technical: relating to practical knowledge or skills;
referring to a specific subject or profession ("In technical school, he
learned to fix smart phones." "Adverb is a technical term for words that
describe verbs.")
9 toast: the act of raising a glass and drinking to express
thanks or good wishes [干杯]; a slice of bread that is intentionally
“overcooked” in an oven [烤面包]
9 ^ * to transform: to completely change the appearance or
form of something
9 * tuition: the money you pay for being taught at a school
or college
9 unfunded mandates: things that the government demands
that school districts (businesses, etc.) do, although they do not give the
money to meet the demand
9 ^ * to violate: to disobey or do something against
9 * vocational: training or advice relating to the skills
needed to do a particular job
9 vouchers: types of tickets that can be used instead of
money for a particular purpose
Don't forget to study the vocabulary for our films!
