a period of ten years
Computers have developed remarkably over the past decade.
marvel
to feel wonder, surprise, or great interest; to be amazed
We marveled at her excellent piano playing.
robotics
the science or business of making robots
In the future, robotics will be doing much of the production work that factory workers do today.
resemble
to be like or look like
The child resembled his parents in appearance.
span
to reach across; to be as wide as
When he puts his fingers on a piano, he spans the entire length of the keyboard.
note
a key of an instrument, such as a piano or organ
I can read the music notes on the page.
reproduce
to make something that is similar or the same as something
The teacher reproduced 50 copies of the exam.
humanoid
having human characteristics or a human form
Asimo is a humanoid robot. That means he looks like a human.
interact
to talk or do things with others
Chimpanzees are also social animals, so they interact with one another and they hunt in groups.
facial
having to do with the face
They are twins, but their facial features are very different.
popular
liked or approved of by many
The hamburger began life as a popular dish in the German city of Hamburg.
contain
to have inside or to include
A vegetarian won't eat anything that contains meat.
chain
a group of companies owned by the same leader or manager
Jenna owns a chain of fast food restaurants on the East coast.
chopped
cut into very small pieces
To make a hamburger, mix chopped raw onion with some ground beef and add pepper and salt.
raw
uncooked
I didn't cook these carrots. I like to eat them raw.
mixture
several different things together
The walls were built using a mixture of water, rock, and dirt.
rare
cooked only a little
Different people like their meat cooked well, medium, or rare.
unhealthy
not good for people’s health
Eating too much ice cream can be unhealthy.
lean
having little or no fat (in meat)
This steak is really lean.
grill
to cook food over an open fire using a grill
My dad bought some fish that he is going to grill outside for dinner tonight.
unite
to join together and act as a group
If we unite, we can finish our project faster.
part
one of many pieces or sections of a larger thing
I can only understand part of this lesson.
kingdom
a community ruled over by a king or queen
The UK is called a “kingdom” because it has a king or a queen.
sometimes
occasionally, less than always and more than never sometimes, I go to bed after midnight.
different
unlike, not the same
She speaks many different languages.
own
belonging to oneself
I have my own book.
dialect
a form of a language from a certain area
She speaks a dialect of Spanish.
province
a large section of a country which has its own administration
Whereas China is divided into provinces, the UK is divided into counties.
local
existing in or belonging to the area; nearby the topic area
Like provinces, many counties have their own local government.
government
the group of people who lead a country
A tax is money people pay to the government.
design
to plan how something will be built or what it will look like
My father is designing a new kind of airplane that can carry one thousand passengers.
influence
to affect how someone thinks about or does something
This painting influenced many artists, who copied its style and use of color.
form
the shape of something or the way it appears
The Casa Mila is not square but has the form of a figure eight.
sharp
ending in a point or an angle
This knife is very sharp, so be careful not to cut yourself.
organic
natural, found in nature, not made or done by people organic foods are not only healthier, but they’re also better for the environment!
curve
a line that is not straight but bends like a circle
The driver lost control on a curve and the vehicle hit a tree.
mold
to give something such as clay or dough a shape with your hands
The children molded the big piece of clay into a artistic masterpiece.
column
a tall piece of stone that holds up a building
The front of the building has three beautiful columns that go from the floor to the roof.
mosaic
a picture that is made out of smaller pieces of stone
One side of the bathroom wall is decorated with mosaics.
material
what something is made out of
Do you know what material this shirt is made out of?
transportation
a way of moving from one place to another
In some countries, the bicycle is the preferred form of transportation.
partly
in some degree, not completely
This chair is made partly of wood, but mainly of metal.
prefer
to like more; to rather choose one over another
I prefer to sit at the front of the bus.
invent
to design and create a new or improved product
Do you know who invented the automobile?
vehicle
any device used for transportation
Dan wants a new vehicle, but he's not sure if he want a car or a truck.
pedal
a part to push with your feet to make the bicycle move
A Scottish blacksmith invented bicycle pedals.
modern
relating to the present time modern bicycles are more comfortable than the early ones.
equal
the same, not more or less than
I have two apples and you have two apples. We are equal.
especially
particularly; for a specific purpose especially, he loved stories about ghosts, witches, and magic.
upright
straight up and down in position; vertical
Special bicycles for women allowed riders to sit more upright.
treat
a delicious food given or eaten as a reward
Chocolate treats are usually shared among family and friends.
ingredient
a part of a mixture that makes a whole, especially when cooking
What are the ingredient in this cake?
pudding
a thick, sweet dessert made with flour, milk, eggs, and flavoring
Do you like to eat strawberry pudding?
custom
behavior which is usual to a particular society or person
In some countries, it is a(n) custom to bow when greeting someone.
on occasion
sometimes but not frequently; occasionally
Everyone, on occasion, makes mistakes.
invade
to enter with an army to take power and land
Europeans first tasted chocolate in the early 1500s when the Spanish invaded Mexico.
emperor
a king who rules many countries
Montezuma was an Aztec emperor.
manufacture
to make or produce by hand or machinery, especially on a large scale
Do you know how chocolate is manufactured?
process
a series of actions in order to achieve a particular result
The manufacturing of chocolate from the cocoa bean is a long process.
roast
to cook by direct exposure to dry heat, like in an oven
These nuts have been roasted in an oven.
elderly
old
People should let the elderly sit down on the subway.
knight
a title of honor given to a member of a king’s army
The king and queen rewarded the knight for his bravery.
ridiculous
silly, not making sense
Don Quixote tells the tale of an elderly man’s ridiculous adventures.
meager
a small amount; barely enough
The family was poor, living on his father’s meager income.
support
the things someone needs to survive
The charity provides support to needy families.
immerse
to fill or cover with; to be fully involved in
I quickly became immersed in the story and felt like I was really there.
eager
very interested and excited; enthusiastic
The boy was eager to complete his work, so he could play.
identify
to understand because you share the same feelings
We must identify the problem so that we can come to a solution.
royalties
money paid to an author for each book that is sold
Authors were not paid royalties for their books at that time.
dividend
rewards given as a result of an action
A dividend is the part of a company's profits which is paid to people who have shares in the company.
remember
to think about again; to not forget
I can’t remember where I put my backpack.
rapid
extremely fast
A person’s eyes move quickly or rapidly during REM sleep.
even though
in spite of some fact being true; although
I will work some more even though I am very tired.
brain
an organ that controls the body and enables it to think and feel
Our brains can make interesting dreams when we sleep.
probably
likely to be true; with a greater than 50% chance of happening
It will probably rain this afternoon. We should take our umbrellas.
nightmare
a bad or frightening dream
I have been having so many nightmares since I saw that horror movie.
interpretation
an informed opinion about what something means
There are books about the interpretation of dreams.
suggest
to offer ideas you believe might be true
I suggest that you look for that book in the library.
however
on the other hand; in contrast
I won’t give you any money. however, I will lend you some.
specific
clearly defined or identified
She gave me a list of specific things to buy.
overweight
above a normal or healthy weight
Jacob is overweight, so he needs to go on a diet.
nutritional
related to contents of food that help you to remain healthy
Fish, vegetables, and fruit have high nutritional value.
consist
to be made up or composed of
A healthy diet should consist mainly of grains, fruits, and vegetables, plenty of fish, and some meat.
plenty
a large amount; more than enough
It’s important to get plenty of rest before an exam.
fiber
parts of plants that your body cannot digest
Eat plenty of high fiber foods, such as brown rice.
diet
all the food and drink someone regularly consumes
It was a low-fat diet that included plenty of fish, seafood, and chicken.
fat
the oily or greasy part of a food
Don’t eat meat that contains a lot of fat.
staple
food that is important to people’s everyday lives
It is well-known that bamboo shoots are a panda's staple diet.
dairy
foods, such as butter and cheese, made from milk dairy foods such as milk, cheese, and butter are also becoming popular in Japan.
recent
having happened not long ago
In recent weeks, I’ve been feeling very tired.
species
a class of similar plants or animals
There are many species of mammals.
risk
the chance of loss as a result of some hazard
The blue whale is at risk of becoming extinct.
reason
an explanation for why something happens; a cause
There are many reasons why we should take more action to protect endangered species.
hunt
to follow and try to kill for food or sport
The African elephant is in danger because humans hunt them for their tusks.
habitat
the natural environment of an animal or plant
The places where animals live are called their habitats.
disease
an illness that prevents animals or plants from being healthy diseases are the reason the koala bear is endangered.
marsupial
a kind of animal whose females carry their babies in a pouch
A kangaroo is a famous marsupial.
mammal
kind of animal that gives birth to babies and feeds them with milk
Monkeys, elephants, and whales are mammals. They all give birth to their babies.
insect
a small, six-legged animal such as a fly or ant
The African elephant, as well as hundreds of birds, fish, insects, and other mammals, needs our protection.
planet
Earth; a world
We live on a planet.
unique
the only one of its kind; unlike anything or anyone else
Places in the past used to have their own unique character.
character
an attribute or trait that makes someone or something unique
New York City has its own interesting character.
traveler
a person who visits various places around the world
I want to be a world traveler and see many countries.
lifestyle
a particular way of living of a person or group
He became a good friend and enjoyed a happier lifestyle.
century
one hundred years
Before the twentieth century, most cities were very different from one another.
increasingly
becoming greater or more common
The world is increasingly becoming more modern and less traditional.
teenager
someone between thirteen and nineteen years old
A person between 13 and 19 years old is called a teenager.
national
relating to a nation or country
Public health is a national issue that affects the whole country.
common
found in large numbers; happening often
McDonald’s are very common to any big city.
wedding
a ceremony to marry two people
How was your sister’s wedding?
comprise
to include or contain
Ireland is comprised of many counties.
parliament
the legislative body of the major political unit within Great Britain
Every year, Queen Elizabeth opens parliament.
locate
to be in a place
In which area of the city is your home located?
crown
to place a crown on to officially make king or queen
To become a king or queen of England, you must be crowned in Westminster Abbey.
bury
to put something into a hole and cover it with earth
They buried their grandfather under his favorite tree after he died.
royal
something connected with a king, queen, or their family
The queen is part of the royal family.
visit
to travel to a place for an amount of time
Will you visit me when I move to London?
boast
to talk so proudly that others may find it irritating
London also boasts such attractions as Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, and the London Eye, which is a huge Ferris wheel.
railway
a railroad that runs within a small area
London was also the first city in the world to build an underground railway, known as the tube.
tube
the underground railway line in London
London was also the first city in the world to build an underground railway, known as the tube.
history
an established record of; background; past
The history of Korea in the Joseon time is very interesting.
smoke
to inhale the fumes of burning plant material such as tobacco
Fewer people are smoking tobacco now than in the past because they know it can make them very sick.
sniff
to smell or breathe in quickly through the nose
Tobacco can be chewed, sniffed, or smoked.
medicine
something used to treat an illness or disease
If you are sick, you should take some medicine.
colony
a country started and controlled by another country
Virginia was a British colony.
export
something that is shipped to other regions or countries for sale or
Rice is an important export in many countries.
pipe
a device used for smoking
He smokes tobacco in his pipe.
addicted
being unable to stop using or doing something
Don’t start smoking or you will become addicted.
evidence
a proof showing something is either true or false
The police found evidence that Chris was the thief.
cause
to make happen
The storm caused a blackout in many towns.
obtain
to get something usually by effort
Buskers perform their acts hoping to obtain donations.
donation
something, often money or goods, given to help others
We are collecting donations for flood victims.
talent
a natural ability
The musician has a true talent on the piano.
comedic
having to do with comedy
I want to continue playing in comedic movies.
persuade
to convince; to make someone agree
The children persuaded their parents to buy them gifts.
planned
arranged to produce an effect
Circle shows are carefully planned acts intended to attract a crowd around the buskers.
progress
to move forward in position or time
I enjoy watchin g a show that progresses toward a happy ending.
constraint
a limit or restriction
The boss gave us a time constraint of three days to finish the project.
aptly
in a suitable manner; appropriately
The bear was very big and aptly named "Big Bear."
cyber
relating to the Internet and technology
These days, cyber crime is a serious problem in Korea.
abalone
a shellfish that has mother-of-pearl inside its shell
When it is properly prepared, abalone is delicious.
demand
the degree to which people want to buy, do, or eat something
Some things are very cheap because there isn’t much demand for them.
situation
the state of something with respect to certain circumstances or conditions
My situation was difficult. I did not know what to do.
criminal
a person who commits a crime
If you break the law, you are a criminal.
supply
the quantity of goods and services that is available to buy
Our supply of milk is low, so we should order more.
smuggle
to illegally take or bring things out of or into a place
Abalone farmers have trouble with criminals, who want to steal their crop and smuggle it into other countries.
expert
a person who is very skilled or knowledgeable
A(n) expert at cooking abalone, Yeung has cooked for many famous people.
prize
something that is won
He has cooked for China’s leaders in Beijing and has won prizes in many countries.
orphanage
a place where orphans, children who do not have parents, live and are looked after
How many children are there in the orphanage?
famous
very well known
Yeung Koon Yat is a(n) famous chef whose first job was washing dishes in a restaurant.
thousands
a number greater than two or three thousand
There are thousands of birds on the lake.
prehistoric
from a time before information was written down; very old
There are very few prehistoric animals alive now.
include
to contain; to have as a part of
There are twenty people on the bus, including the driver.
catch
to capture with a net or trap
Many people, including scientists, have tried to catch the animal or get good photographs of it.
good
having a satisfactory or pleasing appearance
The dress looks good.
submarine
ship that can travel below the surface of water submarines are boats that move under water.
equipment
tools needed or used for a particular purpose
What kind of equipment do you need to make that?
exist
to be real or living
Scientists say the Loch Ness monster doesn’t exist.
hope
to wish for; to want something to happen
I am hoping to visit Scotland one day.
mystery
something that is not understood or is puzzling
That was a great book. It had a lot of mystery to it.
widely
across a wide area; commonly
The sitar is still widely used in India.
rely on
to depend on; to need
Kyle relied on Lucy to help him with his school project.
pluck
to quickly pull strings with your fingers so they make a sound
Unlike other stringed instruments, the guitar’s strings are usually plucked or strummed.
take over
to replace as dominant
Mr. Jacobs will take over my job next week.
come from
to be from a certain place
Most musical styles today come from past forms of music.
solo
a piece of music or a dance performed by only one person
He focused on his solo albums and live performances.
accompany
to play or sing along with another
She will accompany her coworker to the meeting.
part of
one of many pieces or sections of a larger thing
The guitar has always been a part of rock music.
related
connected as a result of some similarity in type; sharing a common ancestor
Are you related to Heather? You two look alike.
pleasant
nice, enjoyable, or attractive
Many people think the guitar makes a(n) pleasant sound.
proclaim
to say, state, or announce publicly
The army general proclaimed that the war was won.
lyrics
the words to a song
Do you know the lyrics of many songs?
extinct
no longer living or existing
Dinosaurs became extinct millions of years ago.
consumer
a person who buys, eats, or uses goods and services
When shopping, you should be a smart consumer and compare prices.
tropical
of, relating to, or used in the tropics tropical fish like to live in warm water.
devastate
to destroy; to damage strongly
The typhoon devastated large areas of the country.
resistant
able to not be harmed by something
Most geckos have this type of water-resistant skin.
pesticide
a chemical that kill pests that can damage crops pesticides kill bugs, but they are also harmful to humans.
replacement
a person or thing that takes the place of another
We need a(n) replacement for our team because Lydia is ill.
engineer
to change the (genetic) structure of something; to plan and create
The car is beautifully engineered and a pleasure to drive.
novel
a long written story about real or imaginary characters and events
Zorba the Greek is a classic novel that was first published in 1946.
narrator
a person who tells a story
A narrator is the person who tells stories.
intellectual
a well-educated person who enjoys serious study and thought
The seminar was attended by intellectuals in the field of genetic engineering.
modest
not too proud or confident about yourself or what you can do
The famous scientist was a modest person with a quiet personality.
lively
very active and energetic
Jennifer is very lively: she’s always running and playing.
disused
no longer used
It's the old station, now disused.
foreman
a person who is in charge of a group of workers
My dad got a job as a(n) foreman on a building site.
inspiration
someone or something that gives you ideas for doing something
Where does the inspiration for your paintings come from?
appreciate
to recognize the good qualities of
The children appreciate everything that their mother does for them.
impressive
deserving attention, admiration, or respect
Her skills are impressive, so we decided to offer her the job.
housekeeper
a person who cooks, cleans, and looks after another’s house
The housekeeper will come this afternoon to clean.
skilled
having knowledge; having mastered something
Marie became skilled in wax modeling.
modeling
the act of making small copies of things using some material
Do you like modeling things?
museum
a place that holds objects of historical, artistic, or scientific
Dr. Curtius opened a wax museum Paris in 1770.
inherit
to receive from someone who has died
After Dr. Curtius died, Marie inherited the wax museum.
collection
a group of similar things gathered over time, usually as a hobby
Joe has a large collection of famous paintings.
marry
to take another as a spouse
My friend just got married. She had a beautiful wedding.
permanent
unchanging or very long lasting
Finally, Madame Tussaud set up a(n) permanent museum in London.
destroy
to ruin; to damage completely
His house was destroyed in the fire.
attraction
a place or thing that many people are interested in
Tussaud’s wax museum was rebuilt and is still one of London’s greatest tourist attractions.