Unit 3 – A change for the better?

p30 – Vocabulary

landline noun [ C ] /ˈlændlaɪn/ 
a telephone connection that uses wires, as opposed to a mobile phone
I’ll try you again later when I get to a landline.
I’ll be at home, so you can call me on the landline.

via preposition /ˈvaɪə/ 
using a particular method or person to send or deliver something
Blake spoke to the audience live via satellite from San Diego.
It’s easy to check your bank account via the Internet.
I only found out about it via my sister.

p31 – Reading

pull the plug (on something) 

to stop an activity, especially by no longer providing the money needed to allow it to continue
The Arts Council had pulled the plug on the scheme.
If the viewing figures drop much more, the TV network will probably pull the plug on the whole
series.
The Swiss entrepreneur has pulled the plug on any further investment in the firm.

indignant adjective  /ɪnˈdɪɡnənt/
angry because of an unfair situation or someone’s unfair behaviour
She wrote an indignant letter to the paper complaining about the council's action.
He became very indignant when it was suggested he had made a mistake.
Liz was indignant at the way her child had been treated.

take turns
if people take turns or take it in turns to do something, they do it one after the other
You’ll have to take turns on the swing.
We take turns doing the dishes.
Dad and I usually take turns to cook.

inhabit verb [T often passive]  /ɪnˈhæbɪt/ 

to live in a particular place
The islands are inhabited by 177,000 people.
These remote islands are inhabited only by birds.

pond noun [ C ]  /pɒnd/
an area of water similar to a lake but smaller, especially one that has been built artificially

graceful adjective  /ˈɡreɪsfəl/
graceful movement is smooth and beautiful
She rose to her feet in one graceful movement.
Her movements were graceful and elegant.

piracy noun [ U ]  /ˈpaɪ.rə.si/
the crime of making and selling illegal copies of computer programs, books, videos, or CDs
The authorities have recently cracked down on software piracy.

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shrug verb [ I or T ]  /ʃrʌɡ/ -gg-
to move your shoulders up and let them drop to show that you do not know something or do not care
‘"Where's Dad?" "How should I know?" replied my brother, shrugging.
He shrugged his shoulders as if to say that there was nothing he could do about it.

indifferent adjective /ɪnˈdɪfərənt/
not thinking about or not interested in somebody or something
It’s easy to be indifferent to money when you’ve never been poor.
Why don't you vote - how can you be so indifferent (to what is going on)?
He found it very hard teaching a class full of indifferent teenagers.

feature film
a film that is usually 90 or more minutes long
A high-profile Hollywood feature film now runs about $ 50 million to produce.

be plenty more where sb/sth came from

to be a lot more things or people of the same type available
Have another sandwich - there's plenty more where that came from.

infuriating adjective /ɪnˈfjʊərieɪtɪŋ/
extremely annoying
It's infuriating when people keep spelling your name wrong, isn't it?  
I can't believe she's been reading our mail. How infuriating!

let alone
used for saying that something is even less likely to happen than another unlikely thing
I hardly have time to think these days, let alone relax.
Brian would never even read a newspaper, let alone a book.

broad adjective /brɔːd/ 
including many different things or people
The magazine covers a broad range of subjects, from sewing to psychology.
The new TV show has broad appeal.
The show aims to reach the broadest possible audience.

at your fingertips
near you, or available for you to use immediately
He has all the information he needs at his fingertips.
We have all the facts and figures at our fingertips.

convenience noun  /kənˈviːniəns/ 
a condition that makes it easier to do something and helps you to avoid wasting time or effort
Many people enjoy the pleasures and convenience of living in a city centre.
Ready meals sell well because of their convenience.
Please return the completed form at your earliest convenience.

self-imposed adjective /ˌselfɪmˈpəʊzd/
decided by yourself, without being influenced or ordered by other people
The end of the year was their self-imposed deadline for finishing the work.
After the military coup, the family left for self-imposed exile in America.

attention span
the length of time that you can pay attention to one thing without becoming bored or thinking about
something else
Young children have quite short attention spans.

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exile noun /ˈeksaɪl/ 
a situation in which you are forced to live in a foreign country because you cannot live in your
own country, usually for political reasons
The country’s former leader has been living in exile for two years.
After a decade of civil war, the losers are being forced into exile.
Wanted in Rome on corruption charges, he now lives in self-imposed exile in Tunisia.

infinitely adverb/ˈɪnfɪnətli/ 
very, or very much
It tastes infinitely better than the last coffee we had.
I’m infinitely grateful for your help.
Travel is infinitely more comfortable now than it used to be.

main course noun [ C ]  /ˌmeɪn ˈkɔːs/ 

the biggest part of a meal
I had the lasagne for my main course.

side dish noun [ C ]  /ˈsaɪd ˌdɪʃ/

in a restaurant, an extra dish of food, forexample vegetables or salad, that is served with
the main dish, sometimes on a separate plate
As a side dish, serve plain white rice.

approach noun  /əˈprəʊtʃ/ 
a particular way of thinking about or dealing with something
We need a fresh approach to sports in education.
He has a relaxed approach to life.
As a writer she takes a completely new approach to the classic horror story.

capable adjective /ˈkeɪpəbəl/ #  incapable

able to do something
I want to see you achieve what you are capable of.
The port is capable of handling 10 million tonnes of coal a year.
He is capable of anything if it furthers his ambition.

turn out
to produce something, especially in large numbers
The company turns out 2,000 small planes a year.
Our factory is turning the dolls out as fast as it can.

with ease
easily
Young children seem to master computer games with ease.

corresponding adjective /ˌkɒrɪˈspɒndɪŋ/
similar to, connected with, or caused by something else
Company losses were 50 percent worse than in the corresponding period last year.
As the course becomes more difficult, there's usually a corresponding drop in attendance.

caffeinated adjective /ˈkæfɪneɪtɪd/
containing caffeine
caffeinated drinks / beverages

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beverage noun [ C ] /ˈbevərɪdʒ/
a drink
Hot beverages include tea, coffee, and hot chocolate.
We do not sell alcoholic beverages.

prospect noun /ˈprɒspekt/ 
the possibility that something will happen, especially something good
The prospects for employment in the technology sector are especially good right now.
Doctors say there is little prospect of any improvement in his condition.
We have an exciting match in prospect.
Is there any prospect of the weather improving?
There's every prospect of success.

extent  noun [ S or U ]  /ɪkˈstent/ 
the size and importance of a problem or situation
We were shocked by the extent of the damage.
The government underestimated the extent of the contamination.
the degree to which something happens or is likely to happen
The extent to which your diet is successful depends on your willpower.
Languages vary in the extent to which they rely on word order.

eloquent adjective /ˈeləkwənt/

expressing what you mean using clear and effective language
an eloquent speech

p35 – Listening

take/accept delivery of something

to receive
We have recently taken delivery of two new computers.
We expect to take delivery of our new car next week.

companion noun [ C ]  /kəmˈpænjən/

a friend or pet that you spend a lot of time with
a travelling companion
The dog soon became my constant companion.

varied  adjective  /ˈveərɪd/ 
including a wide range of things or people
The choir has a varied programme of concerts throughout the year.
With its varied climate, the country attracts both winter and summer sports enthusiasts.
The responsibilities of government are many, and they are varied.

display verb [ T ]  /dɪˈspleɪ/ 
to show a feeling, quality, or attitude by the way you behave
From an early age he displayed a talent for singing.
My grandfather disapproved of displaying emotion in public.

concern noun /kənˈsɜːn/
a feeling of worry about something, especially one that a lot of people have about an important issue
Many people expressed concern over moves to restore the death penalty.
There’s a lot of public concern about modern farming methods.
Doctors said her condition was causing concern.
There is growing concern about the safety of mobile phones.

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domestic adjective /dəˈmestɪk/
belonging to or relating to the home, house or family
domestic chores/duties/arrangements

application noun /ˌæplɪˈkeɪʃən/ 
a particular use that something has
the practical applications of this technology
The research has many practical applications.

give away
to tell information or facts that you should keep secret
If captured, they might give away vital military secrets.
The party was meant to be a surprise, but Sharon gave it away.
I won't give the game (= the information or plan) away.

exhaustive adjective /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/ 
thorough or complete, including everything
an exhaustive study/report/investigation
The list is by no means exhaustive.

posture noun /ˈpɒstʃə/

the position that your body is in when you sit, stand, or walk
Exercise can improve your posture.
She's got very good/bad posture.
He always adopts/assumes (= moves into) the same posture for the cameras.

elderly adjective /ˈeldəli/ 
an elderly person is old
An elderly gentleman was standing at the reception desk.
Not all elderly people can live with their relatives.
This treatment is unsuitable for patients who are elderly and frail.

ridicule noun [ U ] /ˈrɪdɪkjuːl/ 
remarks or behaviour intended to make someone or something seem silly by making fun of them in
an unkind way
The idea met with such ridicule that it was dropped.
Her old-fashioned ideas risk making her an object of ridicule.
The government could be held up to ridicule if the project goes ahead unchanged.

menacing adjective /ˈmenɪsɪŋ/
intended to threaten or frighten someone
a menacing look/tone/gesture

menace noun /ˈmenɪs/ 
someone or something that is dangerous and likely to cause harm
the growing menace of global pollution
The escaped prisoners are considered a menace to society.

menace verb [ T ] /ˈmenɪs/
to threaten someone or something
Hurricane Hugo menaced the eastern coast for a week.

clumsy adjective /ˈklʌmzi/ 
a clumsy object is too large and heavy to be useful
The first mobile phones were heavy and clumsy to use, but nowadays they are much easier to handle.

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rapid adjective /ˈræpɪd/ 
happening, moving, or acting quickly
We are seeing a rapid growth in the use of the Internet.
The patient made a rapid recovery.

be/become/get/grow accustomed to adjective  /əˈkʌstəmd/ 

to be familiar with something and accept it as normal
the little luxuries to which she was accustomed
He had become accustomed to living without electricity, and missed it very little.
His eyes quickly became accustomed to the dark.

p37 – Language focus

all but
almost
Mendel’s research was all but forgotten.
In some places, bus service has all but disappeared.

in its infancy
something that is in its infancy has only just started to develop
The system is still in its infancy.
Tourism on the island is still very much in its infancy.

take off
to become successful or popular very fast
Her business has really taken off.
Her singing career had just begun to take off.

p38 – Listening

insufficient adjective  /ˌɪnsəˈfɪʃənt/
not enough
There are insufficient funds in your account.
The police had insufficient evidence to arrest him.

apparently adverb  /əˈpærəntli/ 
based only on what you have heard, not on what you are certain is true
Apparently it's going to rain today.
Apparently, she resigned because she had an argument with her boss.

used to say that something seems to be true, although it is not certain

Seven people were shot yesterday in two apparently unrelated incidents.
An 80-year-old woman was badly hurt in what the police describe as an apparently motiveless attack

receptive adjective /rɪˈseptɪv/ 
willing to listen or to consider suggestions
a receptive audience
The company is receptive to new ideas at all times.
You may find them in a more receptive mood tomorrow.

interpersonal adjective  /ˌɪntəˈpɜːsənəl/ 
involving relationships between people: interpersonal relationships
interpersonal skills (=the ability to create good relationships between yourself and other people): 
The successful candidate should have strong interpersonal skills.

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habit noun  /ˈhæbɪt/ 
something that you do often or regularly, often without thinking about it
He had acquired some rather bad habits at college.
They were in the habit of going for long walks.
George has got into the habit of going to bed late.
I always buy the same brand of toothpaste out of habit.
I'm trying to get him to break (= end intentionally) the habit of switching on the TV when he
comes home at night.
I don't mind being woken up once or twice in the middle of the night by my flatmate so long as she
doesn't make a habit of it.

have the habit of doing something 

something annoying that someone often does
She has a habit of finishing off other people's sentences.
He had the annoying habit of tapping the table when he was nervous.

say noun [ S or U ]  /seɪ/
the right to give your opinion and be involved in a discussion about something
The council made the decision. We had no say in the matter.
Keep quiet for a minute and let me have my say.

go ahead
to start or continue to do something, especially after waiting for permission
Go ahead and eat before everything gets cold.
The club will be going ahead with its plans for a new stadium in the summer.
The organizers are going ahead with the scheme despite the objections of local residents.

get on
to deal with a job or situation or make progress
How are you getting on in your new home?
We're getting on quite well with the decorating.

a step in the right direction

an action that increases the possibility of success
Recruiting some new staff is a step in the right direction.
Most people believe that the decision to cut interest rates was a step in the right direction.

disrupt verb [ T ]  /dɪsˈrʌpt/
to interrupt something and prevent it from continuing by creating a problem
Protesters tried to disrupt the meeting.
Traffic was disrupted by a hoax bomb.
Heavy snow disrupted travel into the city this morning.
Long-haul flights can seriously disrupt your biological clock.

disruption noun [ C or U ] /dɪsˈrʌpʃən/ 
a situation in which something cannot continue because of a problem
The train strikes caused major disruption to thousands of commuters.
It would cause a tremendous disruption to our work schedule to install a different computer system.

disruptive adjective  /dɪsˈrʌptɪv/
causing trouble and therefore stopping something from continuing as usual
disruptive pupils
His teacher described him as a noisy, disruptive influence in class.

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expel verb [ T ]  /ɪkˈspel/
to force a student to leave a school permanently
He was expelled for threatening a teacher with a knife.
My brother was expelled from school for bad behaviour.

expulsion noun [ C or U ]  /ɪkˈspʌlʃən/

the permanent exclusion of a student from a school
They threatened him with expulsion from school.

double-glazed /ˌdʌbl̩ ˈɡleɪzd/
having windows with two layers of glass
The whole house is double-glazed.
along with
used for mentioning additional people or things that are also included or involved in something
Ramos was arrested along with eleven other men.
California, along with Florida and Hawaii, is among the most popular US tourist destinations.

acoustics noun [ U ]  /əˈkuːstɪks/
the way that sound is heard in a room, as a result of the room’s shape and size
The acoustics in the hall were terrible.

put/send someone to sleep
to cause someone to begin sleeping
The motion of the car sent me to sleep.
Listening to him talk about economics would put anyone to sleep.