openMind

level 3 WORD LIST

UNIT five
Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
ask a favor phrase /æsk ə ˈfeɪvər/ to request that someone does I need to ask a favor. Will you
something to help you drive me to the train station?
ask permission phrase /æsk pərˈmɪʃ(ə)n/ to request that someone in Children should ask permission
authority gives you the right to from their parents before
do something downloading apps.
base on verb /beɪs ɑn/ to use particular ideas or My opinion of him is based on
facts to make a decision, do a gossip; I have never met him!
calculation, or develop a theory
benefit noun [count] /ˈbenəfɪt/ an advantage you get from a Communication with friends is
situation good for us; it has social and
psychological benefits.
collect verb /kəˈlekt/ to get things and keep them First we collect the data, and
together for a particular reason then we analyze it.
conflict noun [count] /ˈkɑnˌflɪkt/ angry disagreement between I try to avoid conflict at work
people or groups because I like a positive
working environment.
connotation(s) noun [count] /ˌkɑnəˈteɪʃ(ə)n/ an additional idea or emotion The verb “gossip” has negative
that a word suggests to you, connotations, but gossiping
that is not part of its usual isn’t always bad.
meaning
controversial adjective /ˌkɑntrəˈvɜrʃ(ə)l/ a controversial subject, There are controversial plans
opinion, or decision is one that to build a highway through the
people disagree about or do town.
not approve of
conversation noun [count] /ˌkɑnvərˈseɪʃ(ə)n/ a talk between two or more Two-thirds of all human
people, usually a private and conversation is gossip.
informal one
convince verb /kənˈvɪns/ to persuade someone to do He convinced me to buy the
something secondhand car, even though
I wanted a new one.
criticism noun [noncount] /ˈkrɪtɪˌsɪzəm/ comments that show that you Most gossip is not based
think something is wrong or bad on criticism. Some gossip is
positive about people.
data noun [noncount] /ˈdætə/ facts or information used for Do a survey to collect data for
making calculations or decisions: your report.
can be followed by a plural verb
in scientific English, in which
case the singular is datum
desktop noun [count] /ˈdeskˌtɑp a computer that is designed I have a desktop computer
computer kəmˈpjutər/ for use in a single location, for in the office and a laptop for
example, at a desk when I work at home.
direct adjective /dɪˈrekt/ saying what you really think in My boss is very direct and
a very clear and honest way she often offends people in
the office.
element noun [count] /ˈelɪmənt/ a small but important amount Gossip is just communication
of a particular quality or feeling about people with an
evaluative element.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

entertainment noun [noncount] /ˌentərˈteɪnmənt/ performances that people enjoy The survey showed that more
women read entertainment
news than sports news.
establish verb /ɪˈstæblɪʃ/ to make something start to The new leader established
exist or start to happen good relations with the
business community.
exchange phrase /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ to give someone information, She thinks she’s “exchanging
information ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃ(ə)n/ and then listen to what information,” but we think
information they give you she’s gossiping!
explain verb /ɪkˈspleɪn/ to tell someone something I was confused by the
in a way that helps them results until the teacher
understand it better explained them.
face-to-face adjective /feɪs tə feɪs/ involving two people who are I prefer to do business in
together in the same place face-to-face meetings rather
than via videoconferencing.
findings noun [noncount] /ˈfaɪndɪŋz/ information or opinions that The findings of the research
come from doing research were absolutely fascinating.
follow verb /ˈfɑloʊ/ to be interested in the I follow sports news during
progress or development of the Olympics, but not at any
someone or something other time.
give a speech phrase /ɡɪv ə spitʃ/ to speak to an audience in a The President gave an
formal setting excellent speech to Congress.
give a talk phrase /ɡɪv ə tɔk/ to present an informal lecture Pete gave a talk on his travels
about a subject in Nepal.
gossip noun [noncount] /ˈɡɑsɪp/ conversation about I never listen to office gossip.
unimportant subjects,
especially people’s private lives
gossip verb /ˈɡɑsɪp/ to talk about other people, My mom likes to gossip about
or about things that are not the neighbors with her friends.
important
human adjective /ˈhjumən/ relating to people Two-thirds of all human
conversation is gossip.
imply verb /ɪmˈplaɪ/ to show or suggest that I didn’t mean to imply that you
something exists or is true were interfering.
in person phrase /ɪn ˈpɜrs(ə)n/ to do something by going to You have to pick up the tickets
a place or person rather than in person. You can’t have them
by writing, telephoning, or sent in the mail.
sending someone else
indecisive adjective /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪv/ unable to make decisions Critics say the leader has been
weak and indecisive.
indicate verb /ˈɪndɪˌkeɪt/ to show that something will Research indicates that
happen, is true, or exists communicating with friends
lowers our stress levels.
laptop noun [count] /ˈlæpˌtɑp/ a small computer that you can I bought a laptop so I could
carry with you work on the train.
lower verb /ˈloʊr/ to reduce something in My doctor says I need to lower
number, amount, value, or my stress levels.
strength
majority noun [noncount] /məˈdʒɔrəti/ most of the people or things in The majority of our employees
a group are women; almost 75%!
negative adjective /ˈneɡətɪv/ harmful or bad Gossiping is not a negative
pastime.
neighbor noun [count] /ˈneɪbər/ someone who lives near you Jim and Margaret have been
our neighbors for years.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

news noun [noncount] /nuz/ information about something Most people in the survey get
that has happened recently news via the internet.
not necessarily phrase /nɑt ˈnesəˈserəli/ not always, or not in every Gossip is not necessarily
situation negative.
occupation noun [count] /ˌɑkjəˈpeɪʃ(ə)n/ a job. This word is used The study linked people’s
especially on forms and in stress levels to their
formal writing. occupations.
orally adjective /ˈɔrəli/ spoken, but not written For the “Speaking” exam, you
have to give your answers orally.
participant noun [count] /pɑrˈtɪsɪpənt/ someone who takes part in Since there were only fifteen
something participants in the survey, the
results are unreliable.
pattern noun [count] /ˈpætərn/ a series of actions or events The study examined patterns
that together show how things of behavior in young children.
normally happen or are done
politics noun [noncount] /ˈpɑlətɪks/ the study of how people gain I enjoy reading books about
and use political power politics because I’m interested
in government.
prove verb /pruv/ to provide evidence that shows He has proven that hard work
that something is true achieves good grades.
psychological adjective /ˌsaɪkəˈlɑdʒɪk(ə)l/ involving or affecting your mind Gossip can have psychological
benefits.
psychologist noun [count] /saɪˈkɑlədʒɪst/ someone who studies how She wants to be a psychologist
people’s minds work, and how because she is interested in
this affects their behavior how the brain works.
purpose(s) noun [count] /ˈpɜrpəs/ when considering one Do you use your cell phone
particular thing primarily for business
purposes?
rather than phrase /ˈræðər ðən/ used for saying that one thing Doug chose to quit rather
is preferred to another, or than admit that he’d made a
happens instead of another mistake.
reinforce verb /ˌriɪnˈfɔrs to make an idea, belief, or These latest figures reinforce
feeling stronger the view that economic growth
is slowing.
resolve verb /rɪˈzɑlv/ to solve a problem or to find a The conflict was resolved with
satisfactory way of dealing with intense negotiation.
a disagreement
section noun [count] /ˈsekʃ(ə)n/ something, or a group of The report is divided into four
things, that forms part of a main sections.
larger group
sex noun [count] /seks/ males or females considered as This is true for both sexes –
separate groups men and women.
similar adverb /ˈsɪmɪlər/ things that are similar share All the students in the class
some qualities, but are not have similar views about
exactly the same education.
similarity noun [count] /ˌsɪmɪˈlerəti/ the degree to which one thing I found some similarities
is similar to another thing, or between the two stories, but
the fact that they are similar they were mostly different.
simply adverb /ˈsɪmpli/ used for emphasizing that what Gossip is not always negative;
you are saying is nothing more it’s simply interesting to talk
than what you say it is about people.
smartphone noun [count] /ˈsmɑrtˌfoʊn/ a cell phone that also works as You don’t need to bring
a small computer, allowing you your laptop; you can use my
to store information and write smartphone!
letters and reports

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

social noun [count] /ˈsoʊʃ(ə)l the activity of being with and I like learning English in a class
interaction ˌɪntərˈækʃən/ talking to other people, and rather than online because I
the way that people react to like the social interaction.
each other
social life phrase /ˈsoʊʃ(ə)l laɪf/ the time that you spend I don’t have much of a social
enjoying yourself with friends life right now because I am
studying for my exams.
social media phrase /ˈsoʊʃ(ə)l midiə a computer program or service He uses lots of different social
platform ˈplætˌfɔrm/ that allows communication media platforms to stay in
between people touch with friends around the
world.
social skills phrase /ˈsoʊʃ(ə)l skɪlz/ the ability to talk to other His social skills aren’t great, so
people confidently, particularly he wants a job where he can
people you don’t know work independently.
socially adverb /ˈsoʊʃ(ə)li/ in situations and activities He’s socially awkward; he finds
that involve being with it difficult to talk to people.
other people, especially for
enjoyment
source noun [count] /sɔrs/ the cause of an event or the The source of the story is not
place where it began clear, but they think it began in
the senate.
state verb /steɪt/ to express something in He stated that the project
speech or writing, especially in would be completed by April.
a definite or formal way
stress noun [noncount] /stres/ a worried or nervous feeling She is suffering from stress and
that stops you relaxing, needs to take some time off
caused, for example, by work.
pressure at work, or financial or
personal problems
subject noun [count] /ˈsʌbˌdʒekt/ an idea, problem, situation, etc. Can we talk about a different
that you discuss or write about subject, please?
summarize verb /ˈsʌməˌraɪz/ to provide a short account of Please summarize the report
the most important facts or findings into a short paragraph.
features of something
tell a joke phrase /tel ə dʒoʊk/ to say something that is He tells a lot of jokes, but I
intended to make people don’t find him very funny.
laugh (usually a short story with
a funny ending)
tell a story phrase /tel ə ˈstɔri/ to give a description of some His grandfather told him a
events story about the war.
tell the truth phrase /tel ðə truθ/ to give the actual facts about My sister is very honest. She
something, rather than what always tells the truth.
people think or say is true
trivial adjective /ˈtrɪviəl/ not very interesting, serious, or I don’t see Mary anymore
valuable because she just talks about
trivial things like shopping and
make up.
two-thirds noun [noncount] /tu θɜrdz/ two of three equal parts of Only two-thirds of the class
something passed the exam; that’s only
about 65%!
unexpected adjective /ˌʌnɪkˈspektəd/ something that is surprising If you get any unexpected
because you did not expect results, you may not have set
it at all, or you expected it to up the experiment properly.
happen in a different way
values phrase /ˈvæljuz/ the principles and beliefs that They have a different set of
influence the behavior and way values from us, and live a very
of life of a particular group or different life.
community

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

via preposition /ˈvaɪə/ using a particular method We keep in touch via social
or person to send or deliver media websites.
something
vital adjective /ˈvaɪt(ə)l/ very important, necessary, or It is vital that schools teach
essential students to use computer
technology.

workmate noun [count] /ˈwɜrkˌmeɪt/ someone you work with He always goes out with his
workmates after work on
Friday evenings.

Useful Expressions
Useful Expressions Topic / Category Sample Sentence
be good/bad for you Distinguishing fact and opinion Gossip can be good for you!
be true of Distinguishing fact and opinion This is particularly true of men.

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