Reading Flashcards
boom (v)
of business/economy : to have a period of rapid growth; to become bigger, more successful, etc
wilderness (n)
-a large area of land that has never been developed or used for growing crops because it is difficult to live there
Ex: The Antarctic is the world’s last great wilderness
a wilderness area ( = one where it is not permitted to build houses or road )
- a place that people do not take care of or control
Idiom : In the wilderness: no longer in an important, especially in politics
fragile (adj)
-easily broken or damaged
fragile china/glass/bones
-weak and uncertain; easily destroyed or spoilt
a fragile alliance/ceasefire/relationship
-delicate and often beautiful
fragile beauty
The woman’s fragile face broke into a smile
seasonality (n)
the fact of varying with the seasons
a high degree of climatic seasonality
harsh (adj)
harshness (n)
-cruel, severe and unkind
The minister received some harsh criticism
-(of weather or living conditions) very difficult and unpleasant to live in
a harsh winter/wind/climate
the harsh conditions of poverty which existed for most people at that time
prevailing (adj)
-existing or most common at a particular time
synonym: current, predominant
the prevailing economic
draw (v)
-to attract or interest somebody
draw somebody : The movie is drawing large audience
draw somebody to something: Her screams drew passers - by to the scene
Indigenous (adj)
belonging to a particular place rather than coming to it from somewhere else
Synonym: native
the indigenous people/languages of the area
indigenous to … The kangaroo is indigenous to Australia
Prime (adj)
main; most important;basic
My prime concern is to protect my property
Winning is not the prime objective in this sport
profound (adj)
-very great; felt or experience very strongly
The news came as a profound shock
The report has profound implications for schools
-showing great knowledge or understanding: profound insights/ a profound book
insufficient (adj)
insufficiency (n)
not large, strong or important enough for a particular purpose
Synonym : inadequate
insufficient time
His salary is insufficient to meet his needs
culprit (n)
-a person who has done something wrong or against the law
The police quickly identified the real culprits
-a person or things responsible for causing a problem
The main culprit in the current crisis seems to be modern farming techniques
undermine (v)
undermine something to make something, especially somebody’s confidence or authority, gradually weaker or less effective
This crisis has undermined his position
Recent changes have undermined teacher’s morale
be associated
be linked with = be related to
legion (adj)
[not before noun] formal : very many
Synonym : numerous: The medical uses of herb are legion
minimize (v)
limit
minimize something : to try to make something seem less important than it really is
Synonym : play down
He always tried to minimize his own faults, while exaggerating those of others