Listening to the News: Voice of America-Book 3 (E)

contribution

the act of helping a cause, person, or group by giving money, things, or services
His contributions to the arts were significant; he had created five art museums.

dedication

the commitment to work hard for something important
You need to have complete dedication to this sport to be successful.

discrimination

the act of unfairly treating some persons or groups better than others
discrimination in the workplace is against the law.

elect

to select someone for an office or position by voting for them
Mr. Gregsbury did not keep the promises he made when he was elected to parliament.

feature

to have something as an important part
This radio station is popular because it always features one local band's music.

focal

being important or central to something
The meeting's focal point was the introduction of the new vice president into the company.

honor

to respect someone or something
The professor was honored for his dedication to human rights in a ceremony Friday night.

protest

to argue about it with someone
The people protested the decision of the president.

race

a group of people with the same cultural history and language
A person should be judged by their abilities not their race.

right

something which one is legally or morally allowed to do
I have no right to speak.

chronic

(usually of disease) continuing over a long period of time
Debbie has a chronic pain in her back.

evident

reasonable
Based on the student's poor test scores, it is evident he is unsuccessful in school.

exclusively

in an EXCLUSIVE manner
This book is offered exclusively through the internet.

infectious

capable of causing INFECTION by the spreading of BACTERIA or a VIRUS to others
John was not able to leave the hospital because he was considered to be very infectious.

migrate

to move regularly to a different place at a certain time of year
Some birds migrate south in winter.

political

relating to matters of government
The reporter interviewed the mayor for the newspaper's political page.

primarily

of a main purpose; chiefly
Baseball is primarily a summer sport because it's played outside.

prosperous

being successful and having a lot of money
In the newspaper pictures, people looked prosperous and healthy.

tremendous

very good or very impressive
There was tremendous effort by the community after the neighborhood was devastated by the fire.

tuberculosis

a disease affecting especially the lungs
tuberculosis is not as common as it once was thanks to modern medicine.

breed

a group of animals of the same type developed by people under controlled conditions
My dog is a mixed breed.

chromosome

a strand of DNA that holds our genetic information
There are twenty-three pairs of chromosomes in a human being.

commonly

in an ordinary manner
In the past, people from Asia were commonly referred to as 'Orientals.'

comparison

a likening between things
A bar graph shows comparisons and how information changes over time.

complete

to make something whole or fill in what is missing
I need three more words to complete the puzzle.

disorder

a state of confusion or a lack of organization
Teenage girls who struggle with self-esteem often suffer from eating disorders.

diversity

a state or quality of having a range of different things and ideas
You can see a diversity of animals at the zoo.

domesticate

to train an animal to live with humans as pets or to do work
They domesticated the wolf, and now he is considered to be a part of the family.

genome

A genome is the collection of all the genes in a living thing.
Understanding the human genome may help cure many diseases.

hump

a rounded mass, such as the structure on the back of a camel
He cannot stand straight, and on his back is a huge hump.

barrier

something that is in your way
The Great Wall was a barrier between China and its enemies.

beneficial

helpful, profitable
Learning English can be very beneficial.

colonize

to take control over an area and live there or send others to live there
England colonized the Eastern US.

defense

the act or means of keeping something safe
The defense force protects our country.

donate

to give to a fund
I'm going to donate the money to a charity.

essential

being the most basic, or ignificant quality of a situation or subject
It is essential for businesses to keep their records accurate and up to date.

injury

physical or emotional harm or damage that a person experiences
He dropped out of the race because of an injury.

previously

of an earlier time
We previously thought that it was not a good idea.

recruit

To recruit people means to select them to join or work for an organization.
We successfully recruited someone to be the new manager.

susceptible

being at risk of developing a certain illness or problem
She had to be very careful after the surgery because she was easily susceptible to illnesses.

infant

a child in the beginning stage of life; a baby
We were delighted to have twins, but it was difficult when they were infants because they demanded so much attention.

lullaby

a song sung to put a baby into sleep
He gently crooned a lullaby for his baby.

painful

causing or feeling physical pain or hurt
It was a painful decision to break up with her.

physiological

relating to how the body functions
The physiological reports show that his body is functioning normally.

prick

piercing something with a sharp point
John pricked my hand with a needle.

procedure

the usual or standard way in which something is done
I have to learn the procedure of shutting down an activating the security system.

prove

to result in a certain way
I can prove what I have seen.

review

examine or access
Responses to survey questions are influenced by events, and we should consider this when reviewing the results of a survey.

rigorous

strict or harsh
However, there are others who believe that the "wisdom of crowds" will never displace top scientific journals and a rigorous peer review process.

soothing

When something is soothing, it makes you calm or relaxed.
The soothing music helped the baby fall asleep.

daydream

pleasant thoughts about something you would prefer to be doing or something you would like to do
She daydreamed as her teacher talked about American history.

devise

to think of and plan something
Sam devised a clever escape plan.

distract

to take focus from
He was trying to study, but the music distracted him.

executive

related to managing people in a business, or the job of managing people
This floor is exclusive to our executive employees.

harness

capture the power of something
Scientists are trying to find ways to harness the power of the world's oceans.

pay attention

to listen closely and focus
The students were not paying attention to the teacher.

phenomenon

A phenomenon is something that can be seen as it is happening.
I was amazed when I saw the phenomenon of shooting stars.

psychologist

an expert who studies the mind and behavior
Sigmund Freud is one of the world's most famous psychologist.

solve

to figure out a way to handle a difficult problem
We must solve the riddle in order to move on to the next step.

stir

to move food or liquid around using a spoon or other objects
You must stir the pasta sauce slowly.

adolescence

the developmental period between childhood and adulthood
She is picky because was in the stage of adolescence.

commit

to do something, usually negative
You must be ready to deal with the consequences if you commit a crime.

depression

a state of sadness and low spirits
Sir Charles suffered from depression.

disability

the condition of not being able to do things in a normal way
Due to his disability, Ron has to use a wheelchair to get around.

eliminate

to remove something that is no longer wanted or needed
All the mistakes were eliminated from the document.

implication

something implies or suggested as natural to be
The Equal Rights Amendment had important implications for racial discrimination.

incidence

frequency of occurrence
The incidence of autism has increased in the recent years.

mental

to do with your mind
I made a mental picture of the room.

potential

the possible outcome
He is a potential prime minister.

suicide

the act of purposely killing yourself because you no longer wish to live
She says she wants to commit suicide because she does not want to continue living.

aim

a result that your plans or actions are intended to achieve
Our short term aims are to get out of debt and purchase a house.

competition

the act or process of trying to win or be better than others at something
I finally won at the ski competition.

exotic

(of plants or animals) being from a different area of the world
Hawaii, because of its tropical climate, is considered one of the exotic locations for tourists to go.

infrastructure

An infrastructure is a collection of services needed to run a society or business.
Power lines are important parts of a city’s infrastructure.

interference

an act of intervention
Government interference was responsible for the deaths of several civilians.

martial arts

a kind of training used for fighting or self-defense, like karate, taekwondo, or kung fu
Doing martial arts is a good way to stretch your whole body.

neglect

to disregard someone or something; not to give someone or something proper care
Be sure not to neglect your parents when they are old.

overcome

to control a problem or difficulty successfully
It took a long time to overcome my sadness after my cat died.

struggle

to make great efforts; to try hard
Some patients struggle many years in their fight with cancer.

well-known

famous; talked about
George Clooney is a well-known actor.

attribute

(usually with 'to') to identify something as being caused by a specific action, event, or person
He attributes his good looks to his mother.

blaze

To blaze means to burn brightly or powerfully.
The small fire soon blazed into a large dangerous one.

chemical

something that scientists use in chemistry
The scientist mixed the chemicals.

department

one of the major sections of an organization
His major was classified under the department of Education.

embassy

the group of people who officially represent their country
The French embassy is near the German and American ones, just down the street.

escape

to leave a place, particularly when someone or something is keeping you there
The rabbit escaped from the fox.

evacuate

to move people from a dangerous place to somewhere safe
Some forty people were evacuated from the dangerous area.

poisonous

causing sickness or death when consumed by a person or animal
Not all mushrooms are edible; some are very poisonous.

pregnant

expecting a baby
My friend is pregnant with a boy.

toxic

having poisonous qualities
Many companies are dumping toxic wastes into the ocean which is killing the fish.

caution

to give someone a warning about a possible danger
You should drive with caution near those cliffs.

ecosystem

all the plants and animals in an area with properties specific to that area
Urban areas are now trying to help save the ecosystems that were once so plentiful in cities.

explode

to fly apart violently; to blow up
The barrel full of gun powder exploded as soon as the flames reached it.

invasive

entering or spreading in a place that belongs to someone or something else
Cancer is so deadly because it is such an invasive disease.

overtake

become more successful than
The beach was eventually overtaken by the sea.

pose

to create a difficult or dangerous situation
Smoking poses a threat to our health.

predator

one that kills or destroys
predators are animals that hunt and eat other animals.

reef

a line of rocks or sand that is below or just above the surface of the ocean
The whole reef is alive!

unwelcome

not wanted
The student felt very unwelcome at his new school.

urge

to ask or encourage someone to do something
The maid urged the Queen to let her help her.

circumstance

a condition that can affect a certain event
The circumstances were not favorable for them to start a family.

cope

to solve a problem or difficulty successfully
Since her family moved frequently, she developed coping strategies for not getting depressed.

critical

involving skillful judgment
We use our creativity to make new objects and ideas, and we use critical thinking skills to solve problems.

hygiene

Hygiene is the conditions or methods needed for health and cleanliness.
People who brush their teeth at least twice a day are practicing good hygiene.

lifelong

lasting throughout one's life
As a lifelong latecomer, that is how I cured myself.

natural disaster

an event, such as an earthquake that causes destruction
Are there many natural disasters where you live?

optimal

in a most desirable manner
There is an optimal distribution that can be achieved.

stimulate

excite to action
Her lecture stimulated a great deal of talk.

traumatic

(medical) causing an injury
A traumatic event early in life can lead to phobias later in life.

vulnerable

being easily harmed, hurt, or wounded
There are hundreds of endangered species in the world which are vulnerable to factors such as climate, disease, and lack of food.

artificial

made by man; not natural; not real
artificial flavors and colors is very bad for the health.

convenience

the quality or state of making things easier to do while saving time
I miss the convenience of living in the city.

drive

to force someone or something to go somewhere or do something
If he does not stop lying, he will drive her to do something foolish.

effort

work of mind or body required to do something
She put a lot of effort into planning the party.

ornament

anything that beautifies or adorns
Let’s put up the Christmas ornaments on the tree, honey.

privilege

an advantage or right that is given to only a certain person or group of people
It has been our privilege to serve you on this flight.

roadside

the area of land that is on the side of the road
There was some beautiful scenery along the roadside.

robust

strong and healthy; vigorous
He was a tall and robust man.

threat

a statement that tells someone that he or she will be harmed or punished
Some couples see single women as a threat to their relationships.

wander

to travel around with no particular purpose or direction
The monk wandered over the countryside acquiring knowledge.

accelerate

to move or act more quickly
This car can accelerate to sixty miles an hour in eight seconds.

cooperation

act of working with someone toward a common goal
The goal of kindergarten is to teach children cooperation.

decade

a period of ten years
The decade-long effort to host the event had been difficult.

determine

to decide something
I will determine who will be my assistant after lunch.

fate

a power that some people believe controls what will happen in their lives
It was fate that my husband and I met on a busy train.

global warming

the increase in the temperature of the Earth that is caused partly by the increase in carbon dioxide in the air
Some scientist argue that global warming is not caused by human actions.

lag

(usually with ＂behind＂) to move at a slow pace in relation to others
As the race went on, the slow runners began to lag behind the leaders.

naturally

in the expected or usual way
They were naturally upset about their daughter’s death.

originally

in the beginning, before other things happened or before things changed
This restaurant was originally a clothing store.

urgent

expressing a need for action
I have come with an urgent and important message from your wife.

assert

to state something in a firm way and to confirm that it is true
It's important to assert one's innocence when falsely accused of a crime.

depressing

having the potential to cause sadness
I find rainy days to be depressing.

diabetes

a disease of too much sugar in the blood
When Jackie was 38 years old, his doctor told him he had diabetes.

ethnic

relating to groups of people with a common race, background, culture, customs, or origin
The people come from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds.

gene

a part of cell in a that controls the development and appearance of a living thing
When someone is good looking, people usually say that they have good genes.

overweight

If someone is overweight, they are very fat.
Roger eats too much, so now he’s overweight.

prescription

an official note written by a doctor that states what medicine a patient should receive
Many of the attendees wanted to know the prescription for success.

prevalence

commonness or frequence
The prevalence of many diseases often decreases once its major cause is identified.

tempt

to ENTICE or persuade a person to do something
The flashy commercial tempted me to buy their product.

unprecedented

without previous instance
The 20th century witnessed unprecedented new discoveries in technology.

concern

a feeling of worry
I was filled with concern after reading the newspaper.

estimate

to make a general guess or judgment without using exact calculations
I estimate there are about 90 jellybeans in the jar.

fluid

a liquid that flows smoothly, such as water
There is a lot of fluid in this cup.

ideally

in a perfect way
ideally, we'd like to see a little more rain this year for our crops.

impulse

a sudden desire to do something that is not planned or considered carefully
I had a sudden impulse to buy that $300 bag.

ingredient

one of the food items used when making a meal or drink
I changed the ingredients in the recipe.

kidney

one of a pair of organs in the body that cleans the blood by removing waste products
Blood is filtered in the kidney.

nutrition

Nutrition is the process by which people use food to stay healthy.
It is important to pay attention to nutrition if you want to be an athlete.

quality

the standard or value of something
These are very good quality shoes.

transmit

To transmit something means to pass it from one person or place to another.
The radio tower transmits a signal to all the radios in a 20-kilometer radius.

container

an object that is used to hold or store things
There was a big container of baking soda in the kitchen cupboard.

educate

to teach at a school or university
It is important to educate children.

fertilizer

anything added to soil or water to make it better for growing things
Many farmers need to use fertilizer because there are not enough minerals left in the soil.

healthful

healthy; conducive to health
Eating vegetables and fruits is healthful.

homeless

having no home
After losing his job the man was suddenly homeless.

include

to take in or consider along with
Often these songs include lots of dancers in beautiful clothes.

influence

To influence someone or something is to have an effect over them.
My friend influenced my decision to attend Terrance University.

organic

food grown without synthetic chemical additives
organic apples taste better than other apples.

reconnect

to join or unite again
When I moved to a new work area in the office, I had to reconnect my computer to my company's system.

revolutionary

referring to a significant change in something
revolutionary discoveries in science is helping people to live longer lives.

barrier

something that is in your way
The Great Wall was a barrier between China and its enemies.

convey

to make someone aware of something through suggestion, action or statement
He conveyed his message by making a public speech and by writing a letter.

disgust

a very strong negative feeling towards someone or something
He felt disgust towards his date because she had a terrible eating habits.

express

To express a feeling or idea means to show others how one thinks or feels.
The nurse expressed her sympathy for the sick patient.

fascinating

inspiring great interest or attraction
The dog that can sing was very fascinating!

reassure

to think or say something in order to help someone be calm and feel less afraid
Mom reassured him his toy would be OK.

strengthen

to make stronger
The engineers strengthened the old bridges so that they could handle all the extra traffic.

universal

applicable everywhere in the world
Music is a universal language.

vice versa

If a statement is vice versa, then its two main ideas are switched with one another.
Students learn from their teachers, and vice versa.

vocalization

to make vocal or articulate
The animals used vocalizations to communicate with each other.

accessible

able to be entered or reached
Our hotel was easily accessible by car.

consequence

a result of a choice or action
As a consequence of missing my bus, I had to find another way to work.

environmental

of or about the natural world in which plants and animals live
Many schools are teaching their students to become more aware of environmental issues.

fragile

easily affected, broken, or harmed
fragile items need to be wrapped carefully.

govern

to exercise authority
A wise ruler must govern with mercy and justice.

impact

An impact is the effect someone or something has on another.
My grandmother had a great impact on my life.

leak

to flow like water slowly out of a container
Water is leaking from the garden hose.

magnify

to make larger or greater
We can magnify the image to better examine the details in the background

mandatory

If something is mandatory, then it is required by law.
It’s mandatory that everyone be at least sixteen to drive a car in the US.

presence

the condition or state of someone or something being at a certain place
The General Manager's presence made everyone nervous.

advanced

further along in complexity
The successful dogs now start advanced training.

anesthetic

relating to or producing insensibility
Because of his extreme fear, the dentist had to use anesthetics to clean his teeth.

assessment

a conclusion or opinion formed about someone or something after lengthy consideration
Most courses have some kind of assessment to test how the students are performing.

emergency

a time when someone needs help right away
There is a huge fire in my house! This is an emergency!

interact

to act with something else in order to produce a particular effect
interacting with others is a great way to learn new ideas.

mechanical

using or having to do with machines
The mechanical parts are old in this car.

nursing

the care of the sick or infirm
Her parents said nursing was a job for poor women.

physical

related to your body
Biking is good for your physical health.

symptom

a sign of an illness or problem
He didn't have any of the usual symptoms from the disease.

unpredictable

changing so frequently that it is difficult to know what will come next; changing one's behavior so often that it is difficult to know what to expect
The weather in my country is so unpredictable in the summer.

analyst

a person whose job it is to carefully examine something in order to better understand it
Our company hired an analyst to help us improve our profits.

announce

to make known publicly
The company will announce their new products at the conference.

convince

to make them sure of something
She convinced me to buy the house.

emission

the act of giving something off
The stimulated emission of radiation allows masers and lasers to operate.

manufacturer

a group or company that makes a certain product
The toy manufacturers came into great financial success during the holiday season.

opportunity

a chance to do or a time for doing
This would be a great opportunity to show her talents to all of her friends.

promote

To promote someone means to raise them to a higher position or rank.
After two years in the company, she was promoted to a manager.

prototype

the first sample product
Before an actual car model is put into mass production, companies create a prototype to see how well it might do on the market.

reputation

the opinion that people have about someone
The doctor had a reputation for helping people.

shift

to move something from one place to another
In order to fit more people at the table, they had to shift the chairs.