The University of Cambodia (UC)

Instructor: Houn Thon

VOCABULARY: Society and culture
 Words and phrases commonly used to talk about
society and culture.
1. bureaucracy /bjʊˈrɑː.krə.si/ (n) = rules and regulation often
involved a great deal of paperwork
2. close-knit /ˌkloʊsˈnɪt/ (adj.) = of knowing each other well
and helping each others
3. devout /dɪˈvaʊt/ (adj.) = having strong religious beliefs
4. red tape /ˌred ˈteɪp/ (n) = = official rules and processes that
seem unnecessary and cause delays
5. crack down on (a problem) = to take strong action to deal
with (a problem)
6. mild /maɪld/ (adj.) = quite warm

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 2

VOCABULARY: Society and culture

1. secular /ˈsek.jə.lɚ/ (adj.) = not having any connection with religion

2. damp /dæmp/ (n) = wet weather
3. drizzle /ˈdrɪz.əl/ (n) = light fine rain
4. thriving /ˈθraɪ.vɪŋ/ (adj.) = successful / growing / developing
5. male-dominated (adj.) = being controlled by men / men having a
lot of power
6. censorship /ˈsen.sɚ.ʃɪp/ (n) = the action of removing parts of a
book, film, newspaper etc. by people in authority because they
are not acceptable (syn. restriction / control / cutting)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 3

VOCABULARY: Society and culture

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 4

VOCABULARY: Society and culture
Could be both
Could be both
Positive
positive
positive
negative
Positive & negative
negative
negative
positive
negative
negative

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 5

DEVELOPING CONVERSATION: Disagreeing

 Ways of disagreeing politely:

We use several ways of expressions to disagree.
We usually then explain why we have a different
opinion.

A. It’s a very male-dominated society, isn’t it?

B. I don’t know about that. It might have that
reputation, but that wasn’t really my
experience of the place.

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 6

DEVELOPING CONVERSATION: Disagreeing

 Ways of disagreeing politely:

1. I’m not sure about that.
2. Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?
3. I wouldn’t go that far.
4. That’s a bit over the top, isn’t it?
5. Well, that one way of looking at things.
6. That’s a bit of overstatement, isn’t it?
7. I don’t really see it like that myself
Unit 2: Culture and Identity 7
DEVELOPING CONVERSATION: Disagreeing

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 8

GRAMMAR: Emphatic structures

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 9

GRAMMAR: Emphatic structures (cont.)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 10

GRAMMAR: Emphatic structures (cont.)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 11

GRAMMAR: Emphatic structures (cont.)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 12

GRAMMAR: Emphatic structures (cont.)

The thing that disturbs me is that lack of democracy.

What worries me the most is the amount of censorship.
The thing that annoys me is the way the president talks to everyone.
One thing that drives me mad is the amount of traffic in the city.
The thing that scares me is the amount of money spent on weapons.
One thing that bothers me is the lack of investment in art and culture.
What concerns me is the power judge have.
One thing that gives me hope for the future is the fact that young
people are so much more tolerant nowadays.

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 13

SPEAKING: Household Objects and Culture (P.16)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 14

VOCABULARY: Household Objects (cont.)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 15

VOCABULARY: Household Objects (cont.)
 Verbs associated with household objects

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 16

VOCABULARY: Household Objects (cont.)
 Verbs associated with household objects
1. stick in (v) = insert
2. cover (v) = to put or spread sth over sth
3. thread (v) = to put something long and thin such as
string or thread through a narrow hole or into a small
space
4. flush (v) = If you flush a toilet, or if a toilet flushes, its
contents empty and it fills with water again
5. plug in (v) = to connect a piece of electrical equipment
to another piece of electrical equipment or to the
main electricity supply
6. wring out (v) = twist and compress to force out water
or liquid
7. rinse (v) = use water to clean soap or dirt from sth
Unit 2: Culture and Identity 17
VOCABULARY: Household Objects (cont.)
Sample answers

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 18

VOCABULARY: Household Objects (cont.)

• rope is thicker' stronger than string

• wire is thinner than cable
• cloth is made of fabric and is thinner than a sponge
• a bucket is larger than a bowl and is used for cleaning outdoors. You
eat out of a bowl
• a hummer bangs nails into the wall and a drill makes small circular
hole to put screw into
• a mop is used with water on the floor, a brush is used to sweep
• a nail is used with a hammer, a screw used with a drill
• a ladder is something you can move around, stairs are permanent
• a knee pad is hard and protect your knee, a bandage is soft, used
on wounds
• soap is usually small and hard, used for washing your hands. face,
etc. washing up liquid is used for washing the dishes

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 19

VOCABULARY: Household Objects (cont.)

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 20

READING (1):
g

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 21

READING (1):
1. take something (or someone) for granted= you assume it
will never change and don’t value it as you should
We take running water for granted and often waste it.
I don’t take anything for granted.
1. bemusement (n) = a feeling of being slightly confused
2. aristocrat (n) = a person of high social rank who belongs to
the aristocracy

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 22

READING (1):

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 23

VOCABULARY: Expressions with things
Answers:
1. It’s not important. / It’s no big deal
2. It is not an appropriate behavior.
3. I would have to be lucky to be able to do that.
4. I’m not even thinking about it.
5. Early, when I first wake up.
6. It’s something.
7. Taking into account a number of factors
8. Events, naturally followed each other, were not
planned

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 24

REFERENCE
1. Dellar, H., & Walkley, A. (2012). Unit 1: Cities. In Outcomes advanced
student's book (pp. 8-13). Jason Mann.
2. Dellar, H., & Walkley, A. (2012). Unit 1: Cities. In Outcomes advanced
student's book: vocabulary builder (pp. 2-5). Jason Mann.

Unit 2: Culture and Identity 25