RCIIS - EAP

LEAP 3 – Listening and Speaking

Chapter 1 – Vocabulary List
OLD EDITION

Words with an asterisk * is not on the academic list

Nouns
Benefit plural benefits: a good or helpful result or effect
[count]

 the benefits of fresh air and sunshine

 A benefit of museum membership is that purchases are discounted.
 There are many financial benefits to owning your own home.

[noncount]

 I see no benefit in changing the system now.

 We're lucky to be able to get the full benefit of/from her knowledge.
 These changes will be of benefit to all of you. [=will help/benefit all of you]

a: money that is paid by a company (such as an insurance company) or by a

government when someone dies, becomes sick, stops working, etc.

[count]

 He began collecting his retirement benefits when he was 65.

b [count]: something extra (such as vacation time or health insurance) that is given by
an employer to workers in addition to their regular pay

 The company provides health (insurance) benefits.

 The job doesn't pay much, but the benefits are good.

— often used before another noun

 a company with a good benefit plan/package/program

3) [count]: a social event to raise money for a person or cause

 The school is having/holding a benefit to raise money for a new gymnasium.

 a charity benefit

— often used before another noun

 a benefit concert/dinner/event/performance
 have the benefit of: to be helped by (something) OR to be able to use (something)

 Her judgment will be better when she has the benefit of more experience.

the benefit of the doubt

◊ When people give you the benefit of the doubt, they treat you as someone who is honest or
deserving of trust even though they are not sure that you really are.

 He might be lying, but we have to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept what he says for now.

with the benefit of: with the help of (something) OR by using (something)

 With the benefit of hindsight, he saw where he had made a mistake.

 She'll do better with the benefit of more experience.

Depression plural depressions

[noncount]: a state of feeling sad

 anger, anxiety, and depression

b: a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, and
unimportant and often is unable to live in a normal way

 She has been undergoing treatment for severe/deep depression.

 Many people suffer from clinical depression for years before being diagnosed.
 bouts/periods of depression

2: a period of time in which there is little economic activity and many people do not have
jobs

[count]

 After several years of an economic boom, it looks as though we may be heading toward
a depression.
 He grew up during the (Great) Depression. [=the 1930s, when the U.S. and many other countries
were in a very bad depression]

[noncount]

 periods of economic depression

3 [count]: an area on a surface that is lower than other parts OR a low spot

 The photographs show depressions in the moon's surface.

4 [count] weather: a large area where there is low pressure in the atmosphere with
usually clouds and rain

 a tropical depression

Distraction* plural distractions: something that makes it difficult to think or pay

attention

[count]

 It was hard to work with so many distractions.

 One of them created a distraction while the other grabbed the money.

[noncount]

 He worked without distraction.

2 [count]: something that amuses or entertains you so that you do not think about
problems, work, etc.

 He found reading to be a good distraction. [=diversion]

 A weekend at the beach was a good distraction from her troubles.

3 [noncount]: a state in which you are very annoyed or upset

 Their endless chatter drove her to distraction.

Equipment* [noncount]: supplies or tools needed for a special purpose

 sports/stereo/laboratory equipment
 The photographer came early to set up his equipment.
 I'm looking for a hobby that doesn't require a lot of fancy equipment.
 an expensive piece of medical equipment

2: the act of equipping someone or something

 Not enough funds were provided for the equipment of the troops.

Impact* plural impacts: the act or force of one thing hitting another
[count]
  No one could have survived such an impact.

[noncount]

 The bomb exploded on/upon impact (with the ground). [=when it hit the ground]

2 [count]: a powerful or major influence or effect

 These warnings have been heard so often that they have lost their impact.
 The book had a huge impact when it first came out.
 We need to be concerned about the environmental impactsof all this construction.
 She expects to make an immediate impact at work.

— often + on

 The stress of her job is having a negative impact on her health. [=is harming her health]
 We hope that these programs will have a positive impact onthe community. [=will help the
community]

Instructor plural instructors [count]: a person who teaches a subject or

skill OR someone who instructs people

 a swimming/driving instructor

Stress* plural stresses [noncount]: a state of mental tension and worry caused by
problems in your life, work, etc.

 She uses meditation as a way of reducing/relieving stress.

 Hormones are released into the body in response to emotional stress.
 He needs help with stress management. [=ways to deal with stress]

b: something that causes strong feelings of worry or anxiety

[noncount]

 I'm sorry for being grumpy. I've been under (a lot of) stress at work lately.

[count]

 She is dealing with the stresses of working full-time and going to school.
 He talked about the stresses and strains of owning a business.

2): physical force or pressure

[noncount]

 Carrying a heavy backpack around all day puts a lot of stress on your shoulders and back.
 To reduce the amount of stress on your back, bend your knees when you lift something heavy.
 The ship's mast snapped under the stress of high winds.

[count]

 measuring the effects of stresses on the material

3) [noncount]: special importance or attention that is given to something

 The teacher laid/put stress on [=emphasized] the need for good study habits.

4): greater loudness or force given to a syllable of a word in speech or to a beat in

music

[noncount]

 Stress falls on the first syllable of the word “language.”

[count]

 Stresses fall on different beats in different parts of the song.

 The stress [=accent] is on the first syllable.

Styles* plural styles: a particular way in which something is done, created, or

performed
[count]

 I don't like the flowery style of his writing.


She has a unique style of singing.
 a baseball pitcher with an unusual style

[noncount]

 She writes with more attention to style than to content.

 The room was decorated in modern style.

2) [count]: a particular form or design of something

 The car is available in several different styles.

 a new dress style
 the Greek style of architecture

3) [count] : a way of behaving or of doing things

  His management style is abrasive.
 Openly criticizing a fellow worker is just not my style. [=I would never openly criticize a fellow
worker]
 You're a good negotiator. I like your style. [=I like the way you do things]

4) [noncount]: a particular way of living

 He has been living in high style. [=he has been living the way rich people live]

5) [noncount]: the quality that makes things attractive, fashionable, etc.

 He has a real sense of style.

 She's a woman of style. [=she's a stylish woman]

6) [noncount]: an easy and graceful manner

 It was an awkward moment, but she handled it with style.

7) [count]: the way that written words are spelled, capitalized, etc.

 Each newspaper had its own style.

 a style guide

In style: popular or fashionable

 clothes that are always in style [=in fashion]

2): in a way that is impressive or admired because it shows talent, good taste, etc. : in a
stylish way

 When she travels she likes to do it in style.

 He finished the tournament in style by winning his last match very quickly and easily.

out of style: not popular or fashionable OR not stylish

 a fad that has fallen/gone out of style

Verbs

Coordinate (coordinates; coordinated; coordinating): to make arrangements so that two or

more people or groups of people can work together properly and well

[+ object]

 She'll be coordinating the relief effort.

[no object]

 You'll have to coordinate with the sales department.

b [no object]: to act or work together properly and well

 National and international relief efforts must coordinate if the operation is to be successful.

2) [+ object]: to cause (two or more things) to be the same or to go together well : to

cause (two or more things) to not conflict with or contradict each other

 We need to coordinate our schedules.

 Dancers need to coordinate their moves.

3) [+ object]: to move (different parts of your body) together well or easily

 Since his illness, he has had trouble coordinating his arms and legs.

4): to look good with another color, pattern, style, etc.

[no object]

 This color coordinates with your outfit.

 The shirt and pants are available in three coordinating styles/colors.
 coordinating patterns

[+ object]

 We coordinated the curtains and the fabric of the furniture.

Focus* [count]: a subject that is being discussed or studied : the subject on which
people's attention is focused — usually singular

 The focus of our discussion/debate/attention will be drug abuse.

 The scandal became the primary focus of the day's news coverage.
 The study's main focus is adults with sleep disorders.

2): a main purpose or interest

[noncount]

 He's successful, but he feels that his life lacks focus.

[singular]
  His life lacks a focus.

3): a state or condition in which something can be clearly understood

 She tried to bring the important issues into focus. [=she tried to say clearly what the important
issues were]

Promote* (promotes; promoted; promoting): to change the rank or position of (someone)

to a higher or more important one

[+ object]


I was promoted today!
 He was promoted to senior editor.
 The army major was promoted to lieutenant colonel.

2): to help (something) happen, develop, or increase

 The President's visit was intended to promote [=further] foreign trade.

 Mediators were present to promote dialogue.
 Good soil promotes plant growth.
 The school distributed pamphlets promoting good dental hygiene.

3): to make people aware of (something, such as a new product) through advertising
OR to make (something) more popular, well-known, etc.

 The marketing department is busy promoting the new line of men's clothes for fall.
 The island is being promoted as a destination for romantic getaways.

Research: careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about something
[noncount]

 cancer/AIDS/drug research

medical/scientific/scholarly research
 She conducts research into/on the causes of Alzheimer's disease.

— often used before another noun

 research data/findings
 a research group/organization/scientist
 a research assistant

2) [noncount]: the activity of getting information about a subject

 He did a lot of research before buying his car.

 Utilize (utilizes; utilized; utilizing): to use (something) for a particular purpose
[+ object] formal

 The company will utilize [=make use of, use] available tax incentives to convert the factory to solar
power.
 Many of the library's resources are not utilized by townspeople.

Adjectives

Intense [more intense; most intense]: very great in degree OR very strong

 intense [=extreme] heat/cold/pain/pressure

 He shielded his eyes from the intense flash of light.
 She has an intense dislike for/of her husband's friend.
 intense anger

2): done with or showing great energy, enthusiasm, or effort

 After many years of intense study, he received his medical degree.

 an intense effort
 School reform is a subject of intense debate.
 The work requires intense concentration.

b) of a person OR very serious

 He was an intense young man who was very determined to do well in school.

Minimal [more minimal; most minimal]: very small or slight in size or amount


The storm caused minimal damage.
 The costs were minimal.
 areas at minimal risk for flooding
 They made the repairs with minimal disruption [=with the least possible disruption] to the schedule.

Overall: including everyone or everything

always used before a noun

 your overall score after two rounds

 What is the overall [=total] cost?

2): viewed as a whole or in general

 His mistake didn't change my overall impression of him.

 Your overall health is sound.
  She likes the overall quality of the product.
 The scratch didn't affect the car's overall appearance.

Unify (unifies; unified; unifying): to cause (people or things) to be joined or brought

together
[+ object]

 The creation of the national railroad system unified the country.

 two very different people unified by a common belief

Preposition

Despite: without being prevented by (something) — used to say that something

happens or is true even though there is something that might prevent it from happening
or being true


Despite [=in spite of] our objections, he insisted on driving.
 She ran the race despite an injury.
 Despite our best efforts to save him, the patient died during the night.

despite yourself: even though you do not want to

She stared at the couple despite herself.

 Despite myself, I began to enjoy the movie.
 They grew to love each other, almost despite themselves.