VOC U7 Definitions - EN - DEF

Question 1

a calculated risk (Investing is about taking calculated risks.)

Answer 1

something that may be dangerous or unpleasant, that you do after thinking carefully about what might happen

Question 2

arise v. [I] (arose, arisen) (More problems like those at the nuclear power plant are certain to arise.)

Answer 2

if a problem or difficult situation arises, it begins to happen

Question 3

assess v. [T] (It is difficult to assess all the complex processes driving climate change.)

Answer 3

to make a judgement about a situation after thinking carefully about it

Question 4

catastrophic adj. (The failure of the talks could have catastrophic consequences.)

Answer 4

extremely bad

Question 5

engage with someone/something phr. v. (The students were engaged with the novel and debated the actions of the characters.)

Answer 5

to become involved or interested in someone or something, and do things because of this

Question 6

establish v. [T] 5It was quickly established that several members of the crew had been negligent.)

Answer 6

to find out facts that will prove that something is true

Question 7

fall out phr. v. (She fell out with some of her colleagues.)

Answer 7

to have an angry argument or disagreement and stop being friendly to someone

Question 8

foresee v. [T] (Few analysts foresaw that oil prices would rise so steeply.)

Answer 8

to think or know that something is going to happen in the future

Question 9

forward thinking (With a bit of forward thinking, we make sure your budget goes as far as possible.)

Answer 9

plans, ideas, etc. that are helpful in a way that prepares you for the future

Question 10

groundbreaking adj. (Her groundbreaking legal work changed the way sexual harassment was viewed.)

Answer 10

work or research that involves making new discoveries, using new methods, etc.

Question 11

hazard n. [C] (One of the most widespread natural hazards is flooding.)

Answer 11

a risk that cannot be avoided

Question 12

identify v. [T] (identified, identifying, identifies) (They identified a number of problem areas.)

Answer 12

to recognise or discover something and understand what it is like

Question 13

impact n. [C] (We need to assess the impact on the environment.)

Answer 13

the effect or influence that an event, situation, etc. has on someone or something

Question 14

measure n. [C] (New safety measures were being demanded after last night’s horrific train crash.)

Answer 14

an action, especially an official one, that is intended to deal with a particular problem

Question 15

minimise (also minimize) v. [T] (Investing in unit trusts minimises the risks if stock markets fall.)

Answer 15

to reduce something that is difficult, dangerous or unpleasant to the smallest possible amount or degree

Question 16

needs analysis n. [C] (The company did a needs analysis to determine what areas employees needed more training in).

Answer 16

a process in which you examine what a person or business needs from a product, activity, etc.

Question 17

on the/someone’s radar (The company has been on the radar of environmental activists for several years.)

Answer 17

if something is on your radar, you have noticed it and are giving it some attention

Question 18

operator n. [C] (They are the leading tour operator in the UK.)

Answer 18

a person or company that runs a particular business

Question 19

portfolio n. [C] (plural portfolios) (European stocks make up 50% of his investment portfolio.)

Answer 19

a collection of shares and other investments owned by a particular person or company

Question 20

pose v. [T] (Officials claim the chemical poses no real threat.)

Answer 20

to exist in a way that may cause a problem, danger, difficulty, etc.

Question 21

preventive adj. (There have been many improvements in car safety and other preventive measures.)

Answer 21

intended to stop something you do not want to happen, such as illness, from happening;

Question 22

probability n. [C,U] (plural probabilities) (The probability of the product’s sales increasing in Japan is really very low.)

Answer 22

how likely something is, sometimes calculated in a mathematical way

Question 23

risk analysis n. [C] (plural analyses) (The factory, which treats hazardous waste, had a risk analysis carried out last year in response to public concern.)

Answer 23

a careful examination of a situation or activity to see what the risks may be and what you can do to prevent them

Question 24

risk analyst n. [C] (Risk analysts prepared a summary of the possible risks, both financial and physical.)

Answer 24

someone whose job is to examine a business or activity to see what the risks may be and what can be done to prevent them

Question 25

risk assessment n. [C,U] (Any organisation employing more than four people must carry out a health and safety risk assessment.)

Answer 25

an examination of the possible risks involved in doing something, so you can decide whether something is worth doing, and can plan to reduce the risks

Question 26

risk-sensitive adj. (During a recession, many lenders are more risk-sensitive than they are in a good economic climate.)

Answer 26

easily upset or worried about the possibility that something bad, unpleasant or dangerous may happen

Question 27

risk-tolerant adj. (Many financial advisers say that even if you’re risk-tolerant, you shouldn’t put more than 10% of your wealth into a single asset.)

Answer 27

able to accept the possibility that something bad, unpleasant or dangerous may happen

Question 28

run a/the risk (The country needs this trade agreement, or it runs the risk of hurting the economy).

Answer 28

to do something that may be dangerous or unpleasant

Question 29

scaremongering n. [U] (We hear scaremongering that a minimum wage will destroy jobs.)

Answer 29

the practice of deliberately making people worried or nervous, especially in order to get a political or other advantage

Question 30

stockbroker n. [C] (The securities can be sold any business day by placing an order with a stockbroker.)

Answer 30

a person or organisation whose job is to buy and sell stocks, shares, bonds, etc. for people

Question 31

suffer v. [I,T] (Only some of the buildings had suffered damage in the hurricane.)

Answer 31

to have something bad happen to you, or to experience something bad

Question 32

variance n. [C,U] (Variance measures how different a price or number is from the average, and thus helps to determine risk.)

Answer 32

the amount by which two or more things are different or by which they change

Question 33

volatile adj. (Bonds started the year in a highly volatile trading environment.)

Answer 33

a volatile situation is likely to change suddenly and without warning

Question 34

volatility n. [U] (There has been a lot of volatility in the stock market in the last few weeks.)

Answer 34

the fact or state of being likely to change suddenly and without warning