My wordlist

Unit 1

Word

Part of Speech

Definition

Sample Sentence

accuracy
accurate

nU
adj

the quality of being accurate

correct or true in every detail

adapt

to change your ideas or behaviour so that you

can deal with a new situation
to try and make your life a bit more exciting in
some way
the practice of treating older people in an unfair
or insulting way, for example, by not giving
them jobs
to make someone feel that they do not belong
in a place or group
to make something or someone different
kind and good
to be determined to keep away from someone
or something completely
a large building on a farm where animals,
crops, or machines are kept
to show signs that prove that something
happened or was true
the act of burying something in the ground

Typing involves two skills: speed and accuracy.

Computer calculations are supposed to be
accurate, but they occasionally do make small
errors.
I don't adapt easily to new situations.

add a bit of spice to life

ageism

nU

alienate

alter
angelic
avoid (sth) like the plague

v
adj

barn

nC

bear testimony to
burial

nC

bury

certain

adj

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Do you prefer to have your life 'all mapped out'

or doesuncertainty 'add a bit of spice to life'?
Reducing isolation, defeating ageism and
promoting quality in the care of older people.

Some activities are offered for the elderly so

that they are not alienated from the community.
I get my mother to alter my clothes.
The angelic features of the seven-year-old ...
Ever since we split up, I feel like he's been
avoiding me like the plague.
He and his wife have bought a second home;
it's a barn that they plan to convert.
Bearing testimony to the time he spent on the
road ...
They found an ancient burial ground which
may bring us new evidence of how people lived
in that age.
to cover something with a layer or pile of things Many small animals bury their food because
they are incapable of eating it all at once.
having no doubts that something is true
I was certain that he was the one for me.

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certainty

nU

change a light bulb

change a nappy

change a plug

change a tyre

child

nC

childhood

nU

chitchat

nU

cocooned

adj

come as a surprise

come of age
come up to retirement

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the feeling of being completely sure about

something

There is little certainty that he will be running

this office again, given what he did at the
Christmas party.
to remove an old light bulb and replace it with a Since we switched to LED lights, we rarely
new one
need to change a light bulb now.
if you change a baby or change its nappy, you You should attend this class, as they'll teach
take off the dirty nappy and put a clean one on you everything from how to change a nappy to
how to be a better father.
to remove the wire or wires from a plug that
My father taught me how to change a plug
isn't working, and put in new wires so that it
when I was young, but I've completely
does work
forgotten how to do it. These days I would just
call an electrician.
to replace a tyre on a car with a fresh one,
It's very handy to know how to change a tyre
possibly because the old one has got a
when you are driving long distances.
puncture
a young person from the time they are born
She was always climbing trees as a child.
until they are about 14 years old
the time of your life when you are a child
I look back on my childhood with great
fondness.
friendly conversation about things that are not Even longer-term climate shifts find their way
very important
into chitchat.
to cover or surround someone or something
The resort was a bit cocooned from the local
town so I didn't feel like we were getting a
genuine experience.
to be surprising or shocking
It might come as a surprise, then, how much of
the basic science behind global climate change
is rock-solid.
to reach the age when you are legally an adult She recently came of age.
to get nearer to a particular time or stage in a
She's coming up to retirement.
process

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composed

adj

calm and relaxed

consult

to discuss something with someone, or to get

their permission before you make a decision

convert

cool

adj

to change from one system, use, or method to

another, or to make something do this
very calm and relaxed, especially in a difficult
situation

crack jokes

to tell jokes

decide

decision

nC

devastating

adj

do a dummy run

embroiled in

adj

employ

employee

nC

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to make a choice about what you are going to

do
a choice that you make after thinking carefully

'Now is the first time that I actually feel happy

in my own skin,' admits a calm and composed
Susie.
Let me consult with my accountant, as he
might have a better idea of what to do with the
money.
I have no idea what the currency rate is for
converting my country's currency into sterling.
When my dad had an accident my mum was
very cool and collected - she called an
ambulance immediately.
My boss is a funny guy. He always cracks
jokes during meetings.
... so they decided to hold another meeting.

What is the biggest decision you have made in

your life so far?
very shocking or upsetting
A devastating hurricane swept down the length
of the coast.
a test of something in which you practise using Let's do our first dummy run after we put the
or doing it before using or doing it in a real
wheels on our handmade eco-car.
situation
involved in a difficult situation
At the turn of the century, Russia finds itself
embroiled ina growing class battle.
to pay someone regularly to do a job for you or When you employ people, you have to make
to work as a member of your organization
sure you know both their personalities and
qualifications.
someone who is paid regularly to work for a
Dan was chosen to be employee of the month
person or an organization
for getting the top sales figures in the
company.

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enthusiasm

nU

expect
expectations

find one's way into

fritter (sth) away

fulfilled

adj

fuse

get on for (+ age)

go awry

v
v

grasp

gripping

adj

almost a particular time, number, age etc.

to not happen in the way that was hoped or
planned
to take and hold something or someone very
tightly
holding something or someone very tightly

handheld

nC

small enough to hold in your hands

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the feeling of being very interested in

something or excited by it
to think that something will happen
a belief that something should happen in a
particular way, or that someone or something
should have particular qualities or behaviour
if something finds its way into somewhere, it is
in that place but you do not know how it arrived
there
to waste time or money on things that are not
necessary or important
happy and satisfied, especially because you
are doing something important or using your
abilities
if two substances fuse, or if you fuse them,
they become joined to form one thing

I had no cares in the world and used to do

everything with such enthusiasm.
Where might you expect to find each extract?
My expectations have not been met.

Even longer-term climate shifts find their way

into chitchat.
Together we were earning around 100,000
and yet it just got frittered away in cabs and
restaurants.
It aims to ensure that they are valued by
society, become integrated and feel fulfilled.
Alexander fuses a talent for quick-paced,
clear-eyed prose with an uncanny ability to
understand the mind of the worker as well as
the aristocrat.
He's getting on for 70.
Once a peaceful demonstration goes horribly
awry, rebellion takes hold of the country ...
I grasped the rope so that I didn't fall off the
wall.
The Romanov Bride is a gripping and
emotional journey through one of the most
turbulent times in Russian history.
New technology blows my mind; you can do
pretty much anything from calling people to
making slides for presentations with modern
handheld equipment.

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handle

harsh

adj

have one's ups and downs

heart-rending

adj

hold (sth) up to close scrutiny

human-induced

adj

humble beginnings

n pl

icebreaker

nC

ill at ease

adj

in a similar vein

in short supply
intrusion

nC

jot (sth) down

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to be able to deal successfully with a large

amount of work or information
harsh conditions or places are unpleasant and
difficult to live in
a variety of situations and experiences that are
sometimes good and sometimes bad
making you feel very sad and sympathetic
because someone is suffering

After a few months, he couldn't handle it

anymore.
It's a bit harsh that I got an F for not turning in
just one assignment.
The barrister, the builder and the taxi driver
have all had their ups and downs.
She was about six months old and going to a
nursery two or three mornings a week while I
went for job interviews. It was just
heart-rending,' he remembers.
to look at something very closely, possibly
They are uncomfortable about having their
looking for faults or mistakes
lives held up to such close scrutiny.
something that is caused by humans
Weather has always seemed to transcend
politics, but human-induced climate change is
wedded to politics.
from a low social class
Tony is evidence that humble beginnings need
not prevent one from getting on in life.
something that you say or do to make people
When strangers meet at a bus stop or in a
feel more relaxed at a party or other social
coffee shop, weather is the universal
event
icebreaker.
not confident or relaxed
Susie, who at 21 was visibly ill at ease in front
of the cameras.
continuing with something similar to what came The government passed a law banning
before
smoking in public places. In a similar vein, they
also raised tax on cigarettes. The goal was to
cut down the number of people smoking.
available only in small quantities, so that there Water is in short supply because it didn't rain
is not enough
during the rainy season.
something that interrupts a peaceful situation
It is an intrusion into their privacy.
or a private event
to write something in a quick informal way
What's your email address? I'll just jot it down.

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live up to expectations
long-standing

to be as good as what was expected or

promised
having existed for a long time

map (sth) out

to plan in detail how something will happen

meet expectations
midlife crisis

nC

newborn

nC

novel

nC

novelist

nC

obedience

nU

obey

occur

occurrence

nC

on the wrong side

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to be as good as what was expected or

promised
strong feelings of worry and doubt that some
people have about their lives when they reach
middle age
recently born

I always wonder if I can live up to my parents'

expectations.
The long-standing rule of the elite Romanov
dynasty is challenged by the common people.
It was as if my life was mapped out for
me,'says Andrew.
My expectations have not been met.
He's having a midlife crisis.

I feel nervous holding a newborn baby. I worry

I might drop it.
a long written story about imaginary or partly
My dream is to write a novel. I think I have a
imaginary characters and events
story in me that's good enough to publish.
someone who writes novels
I always wanted to be a novelist but since true
stories are more interesting, I became an
essayist instead.
the practice of doing what someone tells you to Obedience was one of the most important
do, or of obeying a law or rule
things for students to have back in my
grandparents' days, but nowadays students
challenge teachers more and more.
to do what a law or a person says that you
You must obey without question in the military.
must do
to happen, to exist or be found somewhere
The pronouns that and those often occur in
sentences which include a comparison.
the fact of something existing or happening,
They had never witnessed such a strange
especially something unexpected and
occurrence, and probably never would again.
unpleasant
younger or older than
She's on the wrong side of 40.

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overwhelming

adj

pointer

nC

preteen

nC

procedure

nC

proceed

put (sth) aside

quarterlife crisis

quick-paced

adj

research

nU

researcher

nC

revolve around

self-restraint

nU

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much larger, stronger, more important etc. than

anything else in a situation
something that shows the development or
progress of a situation
a child between the ages of 9 and 12
a way of doing something, especially the
correct or usual way
to continue to happen
to keep something so that it can be used or
taken away later
a minor breakdown that occurs in your
mid-20s, leading you to make unusual and
sudden decisions, such as leaving your job,
buying a sports car, etc.
including a lot of different things happening
quickly
the detailed study of something in order to
discover new facts, especially in a university or
scientific institution
someone who does research, especially
someone who works for a television or film
company collecting relevant facts and ideas
to have something as a very important part or
purpose
the ability to control your feelings and stop
yourself from doing things that are not right or
sensible

University courses are so overwhelming. I don't

know if I can keep up.
The rising level of unemployment is one pointer
indicating that hard economic times lay ahead.
Many kids want to refer to themselves as
preteens to make them feel a bit more adult.
I am familiar with the emergency procedure in
this building.
You may proceed to the next stage of the
exam.
We could so easily have put a bit aside, but we
were just irresponsible.
Like the midlife crisis, the quarterlife crisis
occurs when there is a major change in our
lives.
The novel used quick-paced, clear-eyed prose.
Make sure you research the university before
you complete your application.
If you want to sell this product, your company
should hire a market researcher to investigate
the target consumers.
Most of the debate among experts these days
revolves around interpretation.
My grandfather believed in self-restraint; he
never cried and rarely smiled.

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senior citizen

nC

serve as shorthand for

settle down

shift (away) from/towards

spectate

spectator

nC

stability

nU

stable

adj

startlingly

adv

stick with

sweltering

adj

switch

take out a mortgage

tired

adj

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someone who is more than 60 years old

A lot of senior citizens prefer their homes to be

in the quiet countryside, instead of noisy city
centres.
a shorter or quicker way of saying something
It often serves as shorthand for one's entire
world view.
to begin to live a quieter life by getting married Do you not want to settle down? You are
or staying permanently in a place
almost forty and all your friends are married!
if an idea, attitude, or plan shifts, or if someone I think the focus of language lessons should
shifts it, it changes
shift away from grammar and towards more
vocabulary learning.
to watch a public activity or event, especially a It is always fun to spectate at a sporting event,
sports event
especially when the games are closely
matched.
someone who watches a public activity or
I come to see the horse races every week as a
event, especially a sports event
spectator.
a situation in which things happen as they
I don't want to live in a country with no political
should and there are no harmful changes
stability.
not changing frequently and not likely to
When job-hunting, many look for a stable
suddenly become worse
income, while others look for excitement.
surprisingly, or very unusually
They came from startlingly different
backgrounds.
to continue to do or use something, and not
That's a very good idea but I'll stick with my
change it
own for now, thanks.
extremely hot in an unpleasant or
Yesterday's sweltering heat ...
uncomfortable way
to change from one thing to another, or to
I often channel-hop when I watch TV, switch
make something do this
between channels to see what's on.
to get a loan from a bank or building society in Your job as a sales representative is well-paid
order to buy a house
and has enabled you to take out a mortgage on
a smallhouse.
needing to rest or sleep
I feel tired and my neck hurts.

My wordlist
tiredness

nU

toddler

nC

transcend

transfer

transform

transition

nC

tread water
true

adj

truth

nU

turbulent

adj

turn (+ age)
twentysomething

v
nC

vary

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the state of being tired, and needing to rest or

sleep
a very young child who is learning how to walk

Constant tiredness could cause serious illness

so you should try to get regular rest.
When you have active toddlers at home, you
have to watch them constantly.
to become free of negative attitudes, thoughts, Weather has always seemed to transcend
or feelings that limit what you can achieve
politics.
to move someone or something from one place I cannot understand why such vast sums of
to another
money are involved when a football player
transfers from one club to another.
to make someone or something completely
The internet has radically transformed my life.
different, usually in a way that makes them
more attractive, easier to use etc.
the process of changing from one situation,
The transition from childhood to adulthood can
form, or state to another
be ...
to not make progress, especially because you This project is pretty much just treading water,
have to wait for something else to happen first not progressing at all.
based on facts or things that really happen,
The same is true of other pronouns.
and not made up
the actual facts or information about
There's a lot of truth in the maxim, 'ignorance is
something, rather than what people think,
bliss'.
expect, or make up
a turbulent situation, place, or period is one in The Romanov Bride is a gripping and
which there is a lot of uncontrolled change
emotional journey through one of the most
turbulent times in Russian history.
to become a particular age or a particular time He's just turned 30.
someone who is between the ages of 20 and
Teenagers have an easier life than
29
twentysomethings.
to be different in different situationsT] to
I need to vary my diet more - I always eat the
change something
samethings.

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wise

adj

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a wise person is able to make good choices

and decisions because they have a lot of
experience

He didn't have any education, but my

grandfather was a wise man.

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