C2 Wordlist Unit 3
C2 Wordlist Unit 3
C2 Wordlist Unit 3
Reading pages36-37
assorted bunch of volunteers, from teenagers
to elderly, turned up to help out at the bazaar.
➣bunch (v)
3.2 NGO (abbrev) /ˌen dʒiːˈəʊ/
a non-governmental organisation; a charity 3.12 heavenwards (adv) /ˈhevnwədz/
or other non-profit organisation not controlled towards the sky ● When asked where she
by governments ● Several new NGOs were was intending to find cash for theproject,
formed to offer aid to economic immigrants. Jean simply raised her eyes heavenwards and
shrugged.
3.3 relief (n)/rɪˈliːf/
practical emergency aid, such as food, 3.13 pretence (n)/prɪˈtens/
clothes or medical supplies ● Relief workers the act of pretending that sth is true ● The
have been doing their best to support the Smiths dropped their pretence of wealth when
earthquake victims. ➣relieve (v), relieved the banks cancelled their credit cards.
(adj) ➣pretend (v), pretender (n), pretend (adj)
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3.86 assault (v)/əˈsɔːlt/ 3.97 just (adj)/dʒʌst/
affect sth negatively and unpleasantly fair and morally correct ● Mrs Jones had just
● It could be argued that extreme political cause to complain about illegally parked cars
correctness assaults the rights to freedom of blocking the wheelchair ramp. ➣justice (n),
speech. ➣assault(n) justly (adv)
✎Opp: unjust
3.87 abuse (v)/əˈbjuːs/
treat sth/sb in a way that harms them ● In 3.98 benevolent (adj)/bəˈnevələnt/
our country, strict punishments are imposed willing to help and be generous towards others
on people who abuse children. ➣abuse (n), ● The centre receives financial support from a
abusive (adj), abusively (adv) benevolent localbusinessman.
➣benevolence (n)
3.88 boycott (v)/ˈbɔɪkɒt/
refuse to buy or use sth from a particular 3.99 corrupt (adj)/kəˈrʌpt/
source as a form of protest ● Activists are dishonestly using your position to get money
encouraging the public to boycott companies or some advantage ● Democracy is under
which are damaging the environment. threat from corrupt political practices.
➣boycott (n) ➣corrupt (v), corruption (n), corruptible (adj)
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3.108 do away with (phr v) /du əˈweɪwɪθ/ 3.117 biased (adj)/ˈbaɪəst/
put an end to ● There was a public outcry at tending to favour one thing over another
the government’s decision to do away with ● In view of the referee’s unfair decision, he
some popular TV channels. was clearly biased towards the hometeam.
➣bias (n)
✎Opp: unbiased
Phrasal verbs 3.118 privileged (adj)/ˈprɪvəlɪdʒd/
band together run up against having more rights or opportunities than others
round up come down to ● Until a few decades ago, only privileged
fall back on do away with families had the luxury of travelling abroad on
holiday. ➣privilege(n)
✎Opp: underprivileged
3.109 confront (v)/kənˈfrʌnt/ 3.119 whistle-blower (n) /ˈwɪslˈbləʊə(r)/
face up to and deal with directly ● Confronted a person who alerts people to the fact that
by a line of police, the hooligans following the a company or person in power is doing sth
peaceful demonstration retreated into the back illegal ● The politician's downfall was due to a
streets. ➣confrontation (n) whistle-blower's press release.
3.110 jump on the bandwagon (expr) /dʒʌmp ɒn
ðəˈbændwæɡən/
join others doing sth that is currently People
fashionable to be seen to do so ● Anna had
asylum seeker feminist
never really cared about animals; she was just
benefactor human chain
jumping on the vegetarian bandwagon to seek
beneficiary middleman
approval from her new boyfriend.
breadwinner philanthropist
3.111 bury your head in the sand (expr) /ˈberi bunch recipient
jɔː(r) hed ɪn ðəsænd/ coastguard signee
ignore a problem and refuse to admit it is there donor whistle-blower
● If politicians continue to bury their heads in
the sand regarding violence among football
fans, the problem will only getworse.
3.112 bring out the best in sb (expr) /brɪŋ aʊt ðə
best ɪnˈsʌmbədi/
Grammar pages41-42-43
cause sb to show their best qualities 3.120 polling station (n) /ˈpəʊlɪŋˈsteɪʃn/
● A few days’ work at the homelessshelter a place where people go to cast their vote
has brought out the best inMaria. in an election ● On election day, our local
primary schools are used as polling stations.
3.113 fall on deaf ears (expr) /fɔːl ɒn defɪəz/
be ignored ● Although several storm warnings 3.121 abolition (n)/ˌæbəˈlɪʃn/
were issued, the advice fell on deaf ears and the end of a law; the end of sth by order of a
motorists got trapped in snowdrifts. law ● Human rights groups are pushing for
the abolition of the death penalty in countries
3.114 get behind sth (expr) /get bɪˈhaɪndˈsʌmθɪŋ/
where it still exists. ➣abolish (v)
support sth ● If the United Nations doesn’t get
behind the immigration crisis, our countrywill 3.122 abolish (v)/əˈbɒlɪʃ/
never be able to deal with it alone. end sth officially, by order of law ● The death
penalty was completely abolished in the UK in
3.115 spare no effort (expr) /speə(r) nəʊ ˈefət/ 1998. ➣abolition (n)
do as much as possible to achievesth
● The firefighter spared no effort and rescued 3.123 corruption (n)/kəˈrʌpʃn/
the puppy from the bottom of thewell. illegal behaviour by sb who exploits their
position of power for personal gain ● A special
3.116 obedience (n)/əˈbiːdiəns/
force was set up to clamp down on corruption
willingness to follow orders and behave are
you are told to ● As Julie’s dog wouldn’t listen among tax officials. ➣corrupt (v), corrupt (adj),
to a word she said, she had to send it to corruptible (adj)
obedience training. ➣obey (v), obedient (adj), 3.124 obliterate (v)/əˈblɪtəreɪt/
obediently (adv) destroy or remove all evidence of sth ● The
✎Opp: disobedience rain had obliterated the tell-tale tyre marks
from the crash scene. ➣obliteration (n)
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3.125 feminist (n)/ˈfemənɪst/
sb who believes in and supports that women’s Speaking page45
and men’s rights and opportunities should be
equal ● Not everyone seems to have grasped 3.135 underprivileged (adj) /ˌʌndəˈprɪvəlɪdʒd/
with less money or opportunities thanothers
that feminists stand up for equality of men’s
● What support is there for underprivileged
rights as well as women’s. ➣feminism (n),
families?
feminist (adj)
✎Opp: privileged
3.126 breadwinner (n)/ˈbredwɪnə(r)/
the main wage-earner of a household
● When Dad lost his job, Mum became the Feelings:adjectives
sole breadwinner who had to support all ofus.
altruistic impoverished
3.127 aftershock (n)/ˈɑːftəʃɒk/ apathetic just
an earthquake that follows as a consequence benevolent matter-of-fact
of a (usually) larger one ● After the 6.5 Richter biased merciful
earthquake, the townspeople spent the brutal prejudiced
night in the park, fearing further damage by callous selfless
aftershocks. conscious soul-crushing
3.128 asylum seeker (n) /əˈsaɪləmˈsiːkə(r)/ corrupt straitened
sb who requests permission to stay safely in harrowing traumatic
another country after being forced to leave humane underprivileged
their own in danger of their lives ● Amongst humbling
the crowd of immigrants at the port were a
number of asylum seekers waiting to have
their passports and documents checked.
3.129 coastguard (n)/ˈkəʊstɡɑːd/
the organisation responsible for policing
Writing pages46-47
activities at sea near the coastline and 3.136 huddle (v)/ˈhʌdl/
rescuing ships in trouble ● Realising we would sit with your arms and legs close to your body
never make it to shore without the engine, we for protection or warmth; sit or stand close
sent up a distress flare which was seen by the together with others ● We all huddled round
coastguard. the campfire and told ghost stories.
➣huddle (n)
3.130 ordeal (n) /ɔːˈdiːl/
a very difficult experience ● My first day at 3.137 matter-of-fact (adj) /ˈmætə(r) əv fækt/
work after leaving school was quite an ordeal. plain-speaking and practicalwithout
expression of emotion ● She was remarkably
3.131 monsoon (n)/ˌmɒnˈsuːn/
matter-of-fact about having fled the horrors
a seasonal period of heavy rains in southern
Asia ● Low-lying villages in Bangladesh are of war.
liable to flooding during the monsoon season. 3.138 stature (n)/ˈstætʃə(r)/
height ● For one so large in stature, he was
3.132 fake (adj)/feɪk/
rather a coward.
made to appear to sth else; not real ● He was
arrested at the Australian border for tryingto 3.139 commend (v)/kəˈmend/
enter the country with a fake identity. ➣fake praise sb for doing sth ● The group were
(v), fake(n) commended for their successful fundraising
efforts. ➣commendation (n), commendable
3.133 solidarity (n)/ˌsɒlɪˈdærəti/
(adj), commendably (adv)
support for one group by another who share
the same values ● Several other public 3.140 no big deal (expr) /nəʊ bɪgdiːl/
services were striking in solidarity with the sth that is unimportant or not a problem
hospital staff. ● Sure, I’ll look after your pets when your
away; it’s no bigdeal.
3.134 abstain (v)/əbˈsteɪn/
choose not to do sth which you might normally 3.141 twist sb’s arm (expr) /twɪstˈsʌmbədiz ɑːm/
do ● Alistair abstained from voting in the persuade sb who is reluctant ● If you twist
election as he could agree with either of the Joe’s arm, I’m sure he’ll give you a lift tothe
candidates. ➣abstention (n), abstinence (n) station.
3.142 needless to say (expr) /ˈniːdləs təseɪ/
as is already understood ● Needless to say,
none of us had even read the book before we
saw the film.
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3.143 mainstream (adj)/ˈmeɪnstriːm/
broadly accepted as normal by the majority Video 3: DirtyEnergy
● Michele prefers obscure indie films to page 48
mainstream Hollywoodculture.
➣mainstream (n) 3.149 power plant (n) /ˈpaʊə(r)plɑːnt/
a building where electric power is produced
3.144 marginalise (v)/ˈmɑːdʒɪnəlaɪz/
● Residents living near the coal-fired power
make sb feel insignificant and not part of a
group ● We made sure the new student was plant have complained of health problems due
invited to the party so that she wouldn’t feel topollution.
marginalised. ➣margin (n), marginal (adj), 3.150 injustice (n)/ɪnˈdʒʌstɪs/
marginally (adv) unfairness or an unfair act ● 19th century
novelists drew attention to the social injustices
3.145 inspirational (adj) /ˌɪnspəˈreɪʃənl/ of the time.
that gives inspiration ● The president’s
✎Opp: justice
opening speech was trulyinspirational.
➣inspire (v), inspiration (n) 3.151 outrage (n)/ˈaʊtreɪdʒ/
sth very shocking which angers people
3.146 follow in sb’s footsteps (expr) /ˈfɒləʊɪn
● Environmental groups said the plans to build
ˈsʌmbədiz ˈfʊtstep/
the runway across the country park were an
choose the same job or the same way
outrage. ➣outrageous (adj), outrageously
of life as sb else, usually a family member,
did or does ● Ruth surprised us all by (adv)
studying art when she was expected to 3.152 banner (n)/ˈbænə(r/
follow in her parents’ footsteps and run the a large piece of fabric or paper with a message
family hotel. written on it showing support for a cause
● Demonstrators carried banners outside the
3.147 make your mark (expr) /meɪk jɔː(r) mɑːk/ court calling for the woman’srelease.
have an important effect on sth ● You have to
be particularly talented or well-connectedto 3.153 slogan (n)/ˈsləʊɡən/
make your mark in society. a catchphrase designed to attract attention
and get a message across quickly ● Protesters
3.148 enrich (v)/ɪnˈrɪtʃ/
carried banners bearing anti-war slogans
improve the quality of sth ● She hoped that
outside parliament.
her children’s books would enrich the lives of
their readers. ➣enrichment (n) 3.154 roadblock (n)/ˈrəʊdblɒk/
an obstacle that stops a plan progressing
● We’re facing so many legal roadblocks that
Expressions I don’t think we’ll ever manage to open our
restaurant.
bring out the best in sb
bury your head in the sand
catch sb red-handed
fall on deaf ears
Places/Locations
follow in sb’s footsteps pocket
get behind sth powerplant
jump on the bandwagon pollingstation
make your mark
needless to say
no big deal
reap the benefit Feelings: nouns
spare noeffort conscience obedience
turn your back on sb/sth dignity outrage
twist sb’s arm injustice sentiment
narcissism stigma
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