Essential vocabulary for this lesson
To complete this lesson, you will need to know the following vocabulary. When you are sure you know all the words, continue to the next page.
| Vocabulary | Description | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| OVERSEE | To manage, supervise or control. | My manager is overseeing the project. |
| CENTRALLY CONTROLLED | Controlled by a country’s government, not by local governments. | The economy was largely centrally controlled under the old regime. |
| INEQUALITY | A difference, something that is not equal. | Even today, there are inequalities in the workplace for men and women. |
| WEALTHY | Having a lot of something (commonly money). | Bill Gates is a very wealthy man. |
| LESS ADVANTAGED | Not having an equal situation to others; having fewer economic or social advantages. | The charity provides extra support to less advantaged families. |
| DISPARITY | A difference, something that is not similar. | There are disparities in economic stability in different regions. |
| PATIENT | Someone receiving medical care (noun); tolerant, understanding, calm (adjective). | When training a dog, you need to be patient. Shouting at the animal will not help. |
| SPHERE | Area, field. | There are many opportunities in the sphere of business at the moment. |
| UNIFORM | The same, equal, very similar (adjective); a specific set of clothes for a job (noun). | Fast food chains attempt to offer a uniform standard of service across all their sites. |
| ADVOCATE | Supporter, backer, believer (noun); to support, to back, to believe in (verb). | Some countries advocate higher wages for teachers. |
| NUMEROUS | Existing in large numbers; many. | There are numerous examples of successful community projects in the report. |
| DETRACT FROM | To reduce the value, quality, or enjoyment of something. | The loud music detracts from the students’ ability to concentrate. |
| PATIENCE | The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious. | Teachers need patience when helping beginners learn new skills. |
| UNDERMINE | To weaken or damage (something, especially gradually or insidiously). | Constant criticism can undermine a student’s confidence. |
| DRAWBACK | A disadvantage or problem that makes something less effective or attractive. | One drawback of the proposal is the high cost involved. |
| REITERATE | To say or do again; to repeat for emphasis or clarity. | The lecturer reiterated the main points at the end of the session. |
| EMPHASISE | To reinforce, to restate, to highlight. | When you write a conclusion to your essay, you should emphasise your main argument. |
| CONVENTIONAL | Following accepted customs and traditions. | In western countries, it is conventional for the bride to wear a white dress on her wedding day. |
| HIERARCHY | A group of people or things arranged in order of rank or grade. | Most larger corporations have a management hierarchy. |
| MUTUALLY DEPENDENT | When two things or people need or rely on each other. | The two industries are mutually dependent for supplies and labour. |
| INSURMOUNTABLE | Too great to be overcome; impossible to deal with. | The team faced what seemed an insurmountable problem with limited funding. |
| CONCRETE | Real, not theoretical or abstract; (also) a building material made from cement, sand and water. | Provide a concrete example to support your argument. |
| PRIMARILY | Most importantly; chiefly; primarily. | The course is designed primarily for students with little prior experience. |