B2 - Lesson 39 - The News Flashcards
unbiased [/ʌnˈbaɪəst/]
unbiased information, advice etc is fair because the person giving it is not influenced by their own or other people’s opinions SYN impartial
We aim to provide a service that is balanced and unbiased.
an unbiased observer
biased [/ˈbaɪəst/]
unfairly preferring one person or group over another
Of course I’m biased, but I thought my daughter’s paintings were the best.
racially biased attitudes
emotive [/ɪˈməʊtɪv/]
making people have strong feelings SYN emotional
emotive issue/subject/word etc
Child abuse is an emotive subject.
smuggling [/ˈsmʌɡəlɪŋ/]
the crime of taking something illegally from one country to another
He was arrested in connection with drug smuggling.
probe [/prəʊb/]
to ask questions in order to find things out, especially things that other people do not want you to know
probe into
I don’t want to probe too deeply into your personal affairs.
Police probed claims that he had sold drugs.
blaze [/bleɪz/]
a big dangerous fire – used especially in news reports → ablaze
It took almost 100 firemen to bring the blaze under control.
kidnap [/ˈkɪdnæp/]
to take someone somewhere illegally by force, often in order to get money for returning them → ransom
Police appealed for witnesses after a woman was kidnapped at gunpoint.
plea [/pliː/]
a request that is urgent or full of emotion
plea for
a plea for help
bid [/bɪd/]
an offer to pay a particular price for something, especially at an auction
bid for
They put in a bid for the house.
the person who places the highest bid
rival [/ˈraɪvəl/]
a person, group, or organization that you compete with in sport, business, a fight etc SYN competitor
This gives the company a competitive advantage over its rivals.
rival for
his chief rival for the job
clash [/klæʃ/]
if two armies, groups etc clash, they start fighting – used in news reports
Troops clashed near the border.
opinion poll []
the process of asking a large group of people the same questions in order to find out what most people think about something
An opinion poll showed that 70% of adults were against legalizing drugs.
threat [/θret/]
a statement in which you tell someone that you will cause them harm or trouble if they do not do what you want
Your threats don’t scare me.
dispute [/dɪˈspjuːt,/]
a serious argument or disagreement
dispute with
The firm is involved in a legal dispute with a rival company.
dispute over
He got into a dispute over a taxi fare.
attempt [/əˈtempt/]
an act of trying to do something, especially something difficult
attempt to do something
All attempts to control inflation have failed.
break out []
if something unpleasant such as a fire, fight, or war breaks out, it starts to happen
I was still living in London when the war broke out.
2 to escape from a prison
of
Three men have broken out of a top-security jail.
3 to change the way you live because you feel bored
of
She felt the need to break out of her daily routine.
slick [/slɪk/]
1 if something is slick, it is done in a skilful and attractive way and seems expensive, but it often contains no important or interesting ideas
a slick Hollywood production
slick advertising
The presentation was very slick.
2 if someone is slick, they are good at persuading people, often in a way that does not seem honest
a slick used-car salesman
pose [/pəʊz/]
1 CAUSE PROBLEM [transitive] to exist in a way that may cause a problem, danger, difficulty etc
pose a threat/danger/risk
Officials claim the chemical poses no real threat.
trade [/treɪd/]
1 BUYING/SELLING [uncountable] the activity of buying, selling, or exchanging goods within a country or between countries SYN commerce
trade between
There has been a marked increase in trade between East and West.
international trade agreements
wed [/wed/]
to marry – used especially in literature or newspapers
fizzy [/ˈfɪzi/]
a fizzy liquid contains bubbles of gas → sparkling, flat
fizzy water
expose [/ɪkˈspəʊz/]
To Reveal
1 SHOW to show something that is usually covered or hidden
He lifted his T-shirt to expose a jagged scar across his chest.
expose something to something
Potatoes turn green when exposed to light.
2 TO SOMETHING DANGEROUS to put someone in a situation where they are not protected from something dangerous or unpleasant
expose somebody to something
The report revealed that workers had been exposed to high levels of radiation.
axe [/æks/]
تبر
To Cut
vow [/vaʊ/]
To Promise
a serious promise → oath
Jim made a vow that he would find his wife’s killer.
