Short discursive essay: which authority plays the most important role in encouraging healthy eating habits amongst children? Flashcards
Contemporary epoch
Type of word: Noun phrase
Meaning: A period of time in which events, trends, or developments are happening at the same time; a specific era or age that is characterized by its particular cultural, social, and technological attributes.
Chinese Meaning: 当代时代
Antonym(s): Historical epoch
Synonym(s): Present era, modern age
Sample sentence: The rapid advancements in technology have defined the contemporary epoch, reshaping the way we live and communicate.
epoch
Type of word: Noun
Meaning:
- A particular period of time marked by distinctive events, developments, or characteristics; an era.
- A point in time that is significant or noteworthy.
Chinese Meaning:
- 时代,纪元
- 重要时刻,时点
Antonym(s): None
Synonym(s): Era, age, period
Sample sentence:
- The Renaissance is considered an epoch of significant cultural and artistic growth.
- The invention of the internet marked an epoch in the history of communication and information sharing.
burgeoning
Type of word: Adjective or Verb (present participle of “burgeon”)
Meaning:
Adjective: Growing or expanding rapidly; flourishing; showing signs of vigorous growth.
Verb: To begin to grow or develop rapidly; to expand or flourish.
Chinese Meaning:
Adjective: 迅速增长的,蓬勃发展的
Verb: 迅速发展,蓬勃生长
Antonym(s): Declining, shrinking
Synonym(s): Growing, thriving, blossoming
Sample sentence:
Adjective: The burgeoning tech industry in the city has attracted a lot of young professionals.
Verb: With the increased investment, the small startup began to burgeon into a successful business.
sprouting
Type of word: Verb (present participle of “sprout”)
Meaning:
- To begin to grow from a seed or a bud; to emerge as a new shoot or branch.
- To start developing or appearing gradually.
Chinese Meaning:
- 发芽,抽芽
- 逐渐出现,逐渐发展
Antonym(s): Withering, wilting
Synonym(s): Growing, budding, emerging
Sample sentence:
- The first signs of spring were evident as flowers started sprouting in the garden.
- Small businesses were sprouting up in the neighborhood, creating a more vibrant local economy.
like mushrooms after the rain
Type of word: Idiomatic expression
Meaning: Referring to a sudden and rapid increase or proliferation of something, usually in a short period of time; similar to how mushrooms tend to grow quickly and abundantly after a rainfall.
Chinese Meaning: 像雨后的蘑菇一样迅速增加
Antonym(s): Sparse, scarce
Synonym(s): Rapidly, abundantly, proliferating
Sample sentence: New coffee shops were opening up like mushrooms after the rain in the trendy part of town.
sparce
Type of word: Adjective
Meaning: Scattered or thinly distributed; having a small amount, number, or density of something; not densely populated or crowded.
Chinese Meaning: 稀疏的,稀少的
Antonym(s): Dense, abundant
Synonym(s): Thin, scarce, limited
Sample sentence: The forest was so dense in some areas and so sparse in others that it created a stark contrast in the landscape.
societal
Type of word: Adjective
Meaning: Relating to society as a whole; concerning or affecting the larger community or social group rather than individuals in isolation.
Chinese Meaning: 社会的,社会上的
Antonym(s): Individual, personal
Synonym(s): Social, communal, collective
Sample sentence: The issue of healthcare is a significant societal concern, as it affects the well-being of the entire population.
posited
Type of word: Verb (past tense of “posit”)
Meaning:
- To assume or postulate something as a basis for further discussion, argument, or analysis.
- To put forward an idea, theory, or assertion for consideration.
Chinese Meaning:
- 假设,假定
- 提出,提议
Antonym(s): Refuted, rejected
Synonym(s): Proposed, suggested, asserted
Sample sentence:
- The researcher posited that the increase in temperature would lead to changes in the ecosystem.
- He posited a new hypothesis to explain the unusual behavior observed in the experiment.
non-communicable diseases
Type of word: Noun phrase
Meaning: Diseases that are not directly caused by infectious agents (such as bacteria, viruses, or parasites) and cannot be spread from person to person; often referred to as chronic diseases and include conditions like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory diseases.
Chinese Meaning: 非传染性疾病,慢性病
Antonym(s): Communicable diseases (infectious diseases)
Synonym(s): Chronic diseases, lifestyle diseases
Sample sentence: Non-communicable diseases are a major public health concern due to their long-term impact on individuals’ well-being and healthcare systems.
alarming statistic
Type of word: Noun phrase
Meaning: A data point or numerical value that causes concern, shock, or unease due to its significance, implications, or implications.
Chinese Meaning: 令人担忧的统计数据
Antonym(s): Reassuring statistic
Synonym(s): Disturbing statistic, concerning figure
Sample sentence: The alarming statistic of increasing pollution levels in the city raised awareness about the urgent need for environmental action.
can indeed shed light on gravity of …
Type of word: Phrase
Meaning: Expresses that a particular action or information can provide valuable insight or understanding about the seriousness or severity of a situation.
Chinese Meaning: 的确可以阐明…的严重性
Antonym(s): Cannot shed light on
Synonym(s): Can illuminate, can clarify, can reveal
Sample sentence: Analyzing the historical data can indeed shed light on the gravity of the economic challenges faced by the region.
dietary
Type of word: Adjective
Meaning: Relating to or concerning the food that one consumes; related to diet and nutrition.
Chinese Meaning: 膳食的,饮食的
Antonym(s): Non-dietary
Synonym(s): Nutritional, alimentary, food-related
Sample sentence: The dietary habits of an individual play a significant role in their overall health and well-being.
just an act of jumping on the bandwagon
Type of word: Idiomatic expression
Meaning: Referring to someone adopting a trend, belief, or activity simply because it is popular or fashionable at the moment, without genuinely understanding or committing to it.
Chinese Meaning: 跟风,随大流
Antonym(s): Original, independent
Synonym(s): Following the crowd, conforming
Sample sentence: Her sudden interest in veganism seemed more like just an act of jumping on the bandwagon, as she had never shown any concern for animal rights before.
pivotal
Type of word: Adjective
Meaning: Of crucial importance or significance; playing a central or essential role in a situation, event, or process.
Chinese Meaning: 关键的,中枢的
Antonym(s): Insignificant, trivial
Synonym(s): Crucial, central, essential
Sample sentence: The CEO’s decision to invest in research and development proved to be pivotal in the company’s success in the competitive market.
pragmatic
Type of word: Adjective
Meaning: Dealing with things sensibly and realistically; practical and focused on achieving practical results; guided by practical considerations rather than theoretical ideals.
Chinese Meaning: 实际的,务实的
Antonym(s): Idealistic, theoretical
Synonym(s): Practical, realistic, sensible
Sample sentence: Her pragmatic approach to problem-solving helped the team navigate challenges and find efficient solutions.
foster
Type of word: Verb
Meaning:
- To promote the growth or development of something; to nurture, encourage, or support the progress of an idea, relationship, or situation.
- To provide care and support to a child or young living being that is not one’s biological offspring.
Chinese Meaning:
- 促进,培养
- 养育,抚养
Antonym(s): Hinder, discourage
Synonym(s): Promote, nurture, cultivate
Sample sentence:
- The company aims to foster a culture of innovation to encourage new ideas from its employees.
- The couple decided to foster a child who needed a loving and supportive home.
health-adhering consumables
Type of word: Noun phrase
Meaning: Items or products that are consumed as part of a lifestyle focused on maintaining or promoting good health; foods, beverages, or supplements that are chosen with a priority on their health benefits.
Chinese Meaning: 注重健康的消费品,有益健康的消费品
Antonym(s): Unhealthy consumables
Synonym(s): Nutritious products, wellness-focused items
Sample sentence: The market for health-adhering consumables has been growing as more people seek out products that align with their wellness goals.
health-adhering
Type of word: Adjective
Meaning: Describing something that follows or adheres to principles, practices, or behaviors that contribute to good health and well-being.
Chinese Meaning: 注重健康的,遵循健康原则的
Antonym(s): Unhealthy, non-adhering
Synonym(s): Wellness-focused, health-conscious
Sample sentence: Her health-adhering lifestyle includes regular exercise, a balanced diet, and stress management techniques.
consumables
Type of word: Noun (plural form of “consumable”)
Meaning: Items or products that are used up or depleted as they are used, typically in the course of daily activities or processes; things that are meant to be consumed or expended.
Chinese Meaning: 消耗品,可耗费品
Antonym(s): Durable goods
Synonym(s): Supplies, provisions, materials
Sample sentence: The office manager ordered more printer ink and paper, as these consumables were running low and needed replenishing.
diet regime
Type of word: Noun phrase
Meaning: A structured plan or system of eating and drinking that is followed for the purpose of maintaining or improving one’s health, managing weight, or achieving specific dietary goals.
Chinese Meaning: 饮食计划,膳食方案
Antonym(s): Unregulated eating
Synonym(s): Dietary plan, eating regimen
Sample sentence: She decided to adopt a strict diet regime that included balanced meals and portion control to achieve her fitness goals.
regime
Type of word: Noun
Meaning:
- A system or organized method of rule or government, often used to describe a government or political system, especially when it is authoritarian or controlling.
- A prescribed plan or routine, typically related to diet, exercise, or lifestyle.
Chinese Meaning:
- 政权体制,政权机构
- 体系,制度
Antonym(s): Anarchy, disorder
Synonym(s): Government, administration, system
Sample sentence:
- The new regime implemented strict policies that limited personal freedoms and suppressed dissent.
- His exercise regime included daily workouts, a balanced diet, and sufficient sleep.
ubiquity
Type of word: Noun
Meaning: The state of being everywhere or being present, found, or experienced everywhere at the same time; the quality of being omnipresent or widespread.
Chinese Meaning: 无处不在,无所不在
Antonym(s): Rarity, scarcity
Synonym(s): Omnipresence, pervasiveness, universality
Sample sentence: With the ubiquity of smartphones, accessing information and staying connected has become an integral part of modern life.