IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

Table of Contents

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT ......... 3

MEDIA AND ADVERTISING ........ 8

THE ENVIRONMENT .................... 14

BUSINESS AND MONEY ............... 20

GOVERNMENT ............................... 25

SPORT AND EXERCISE ................ 30

SPACE EXPLORATION ................. 35

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

1. crime of passion

Meaning: refers to a crime, especially murder, caused by sexual jealousy

Example: People who carry out crimes of passion often regret their actions later, when they
reflect on what they have done.

2. to serve a prison sentence

Meaning: to carry out confinement in prison as a punishment

Example: They are serving long prison sentences for their part in the assassination.
3. to turn to crime/ drugs

Meaning: To start committing crimes or using drugs.

Example: During periods of high youth unemployment, some youngsters turn to crime to
obtain money.

4. to be tough on crime

Meaning: To punish crime severely

Example: The crime rate is likely to fall if governments take strong measures to be tough on
crime.

5. to contest the verdict

Meaning: not agree with the decision of the jury after the trial of a case

Example: In many countries, the accused person has the right to contest the verdict which
was reached in the court.

6. to take into consideration

Meaning: to think about a particular fact or detail and allow it to have some influence when
you are making a decision

Example: The previous criminal records of those who are found guilty must be taken into
consideration when a sentence is passed.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

7. to reintegrate back into society/ community

Meaning: to restore someone through education or therapy

Example: There is an increasing focus among policy-makers and practitioners on
identifying programs and strategies that will help prisoners successfully reintegrate back
into their communities without re-offending.

8. to be soft on crime

Meaning: not to impose strict punishments on offenders

Example: In order to deter criminals effectively, governments must not follow policies
which are soft on crime.

9. a policy of zero tolerance

Meaning: a policy of applying laws very strictly, so that every illegal action is punished,
even if it is not very serious

Example: I would argue that the most effective way to reduce crime is to implement a
policy of zero tolerance.

10. a chance of rehabilitation

Meaning: a chance of helping someone to have a normal life after serving a prison sentence

Example: We should give ex-offerders a chance of rehabilitation and teach them how to
become useful members of society.

11.to embark on something

Meaning: To start something new

Example: Young people sometimes embark on a life of crime as a result of the bad influence
of criminals whom they know.

12.to make a fresh start

Meaning: to try something new after making mistakes in one’s life

Example: I believe that people should have the opportunity to make a fresh start after they
are released from prison.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

13. to act as a deterrent

Meaning: a measure which makes somebody less likely to do something

Example: Longer prison sentences would act as a deterrent and would be one useful
measure to tackle rising crime.

14. to release back into society.

Meaning: to give freedom to prisoners who have finished their sentences.

Example: He was released back into society after serving two years of a five-year sentence.

15. corporal punishment

Meaning: to punish by physically harming the offender

Example: Many schools have abandoned the policy of corporal punishment for children
who misbehave and prefer to give extra work or detention after school instead.

16. drug trafficking

Meaning: importing and selling illegal drugs

Example: Some people argue that legalising drugs would put an end to the evil of drug
trafficking and the violence associated with it.

17. a non-custodial sentence

Meaning: a sentence which is not served in prison

Example: There is a wide range of non custodial sentences which a court may give to
offenders, including: fines, probation orders or community service orders.

18. to be found guilty

Meaning: the court decided that the person did commit the crime

Example: If people are found guilty of committing serious offences, heavy punishments
should be imposed.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

19. the full weight of the law

Meaning: all the strictest punishments available according to the laws of a country.

Example: In order to deter crime, the full weight of the law must be imposed for all serious
offences.

20. to impose a ban on sth

Meaning: to enforce an official rule which says that something is not allowed

Example: Most governments have imposed a ban on the sale of tobacco to those aged under
16.

21. to convict a criminal

Meaning: to find an offender guilty and to punish them

Example: Once the courts have convicted a criminal, the punishment should be severe.

22. law-abiding citizens

Meaning: people who obey and respect the law

Example: The government could take some effective steps to protect law-abiding citizens.

23. to enforce the law

Meaning: to make sure that the law is obeyed

Example: The role of the police and the courts is to enforce the law.

24. capital punishment

Meaning: punishment by death

Example: In some states of America, those who commit murder are sometimes sentenced
to capital punishment.

25. forensic evidence

Meaning: connected with the scientific tests conducted by the police when investigating a
crime

Example: Modern police methods include the use of forensic evidence, such as DNA
samples, to investigate crimes.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

26. to install surveillance cameras

Meaning: to put cameras in a place where a crime is likely to be committed

Example: The security company has installed surveillance cameras at all the entrances and
exits of the shopping mall.

27.to put on probation

Meaning: to make a convicted person see an official at regular intervals to check on their
good behavior, as an alternative to going to prison
Example: The young offender was put on probation, as his crime was not serious enough to
send him to prison.

28. to punish wrongdoers

Meaning: to punish people who do something illegal

Example: Stricter measures must be introduced by governments to punish wrongdoers.

29.to arrest suspects

Meaning: to stop and hold people who the police think may have committed a crime

Example: The government should give the police greater powers to arrest suspects.

30.the letter of the law

Meaning: the exact wording of the law, without considering any excuses

Example: I believe that the courts must apply the strict letter of the law and impose the
harshest possible sentences on criminals.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

MEDIA AND ADVERTISING

1. to broadcast propaganda

Meaning: to send out a programme on television or radio that may be false or exagerrated
in order to gain support for a political leader, a party, etc

Example: The media in North Korea broadcast propaganda every day about the dangers
of war with South Korea and the USA.

2. a leading article
Meaning: a piece of writing which deals with the most important news item of the day.

Example: Newspapers in my country often have a leading article on some sensational

crime that has been committed.

3. editorial policy

Meaning: the policy of the newspaper, as decided by the person in charge of producing the
newspaper

Example: The editorial policy of a newspaper determines whether serious news items are
reported in a responsible way.

4. sensational journalism

Meaning: reporting which tries to get your interest by presenting facts or events as more
shocking or worse than they are.

Example: Unfortunately, sensational journalism has resulted in much public distrust of

the media.

5. to carry a story

Meaning: to include an item in a news report

Example: The media nowadays carries too many stories about celebrities and trivia and
not enough serious news.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

6. news coverage

Meaning: the reporting of news and sport in newspapers, tv, or radio.

Example: The US presidential election received global news coverage, so that the whole
world became interested in the outcome.
7. to make front page headlines

Meaning: to be an important item of news in the newspapers, on radio or TV.

Example: It seems that every insignificant event in the lives of celebrities makes front
page headlines.

8. breaking news

Meaning: newly received information about an event that is currently taking place OPIC

Example: One disadvantage of the printed media is that it is unable to carry the latest
breaking news stories.

9. up to the minute

Meaning: having the latest information

Example: Newspapers are unable to provide up to the minute news coverage of events as
they happen.

10. stale news

Meaning: information that is no longer interesting or new, because it has already been
reported

Example: Newspapers have now become only a source of stale news, which is a major
reason why they have become less popular.

11. falling circulation

Meaning: the decline in the number of copies of a newspaper sold each day

Example: As a result of their falling circulation, newspapers are losing advertising

revenue.

IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

12. celebrity endorsement

Meaning: A form of brand or advertising campaign that involves a well known person using
their fame to help promote a product or service

Example: Celebrity endorsement by famous TV stars is commonly used by companies to

encourage consumers to trust and buy their products.

13. to subscribe to a magazine

Meaning: to pay money regularly in order to receive a copy of a magazine

Example: Those with a strong interest in a particular field sometimes prefer to subscribe
to a magazine which has articles relating to that area.

14. the financial/business sections

Meaning: Newspapers have increasingly turned to providing expert, detailed analysis of

recent events, for example in their financial or business sections.

15. online advertising

Meaning: advertising a product or service on the internet

Example: The growing popularity of online advertising has resulted in a loss of revenue
for the printed media in general.

16. to slash the prices of products

Meaning: to reduce the price dramatically

Example: Supermarkets, for example, always carry huge in-store advertisements when they
slash the prices of products.

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17. to be wary of something

Meaning: not completely trusting or certain about something

Example: Consumers must always be wary of the claims made in advertisements, because
such claims are often exagerrated or untrue. IELTS TOPIC VOCABULARY BY NGOCBACH

18. to promote their products

Meaning: to make products popular by advertising them

Example: Most large enterprises contract specialist marketing companies to promote

their products.

19. to buy goods impulsively

Meaning: to buy things suddenly without any planning and without considering the effects
they may have

Example: Advertising motivates consumers to buy goods impulsively.

20. to be swayed by advertisements

Meaning: to be influenced to buy things as a result of advertising

Example: If consumers were not easily swayed by advertisements, the advertising

industry would not exist.

21. market research

Meaning: the action of collecting information about what people buy

Example: In deciding how to promote their products or services, businesses should first
conduct market research.

22. a price war

Meaning: a situation in which companies or shops continually reduce their prices in order
to attract customers away from their competitors

Example: Advertising plays a key role in price wars between supermarkets.

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23. to launch a product

Meaning: to introduce a new product

Example: Companies have recognised that the services of the marketing industry are
essential to launch a new product successfully.

24. target audience

Meaning: consumers whom businesses aim at when selling their products

Example: Companies which sell soft drinks, like Coca Cola, aim mainly at a target audience
of children and adolescents.

25. brand awareness

Meaning: the action of bringing the name of a company to the attention of the public

Example: Advertising, not the quality of the product, is responsible for creating brand
awareness among consumers, as can be seen by the success of market leaders such as Nike
or Coca Cola.

26. prime time television

Meaning: the hours during which most people are watching TV

Example: Although advertising on prime time television is expensive, it is guaranteed to

reach a large audience. VOCABULARY BY NGOCBACH
27. the electronic media

Meaning: broadcast media which use electronic technology, such as the internet, television,
radio, DVDs, etc.

Example: In contrast, to print media, the electronic media are growing in popularity,
especially among the youth.

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28. to impose regulations on

Meaning: to control something by means of rules

Example: Governments must impose regulations on the advertising industry in order to

protect consumers.

29. commercial advertising

Meaning: advertising on the radio or television, between or during programmes.

Example: Commercial advertising on television provides the revenue for most TV

channels.

30. telemarketing

Meaning: a method of selling things or taking orders for sales by telephone

Example: Telemarketing has become a growth industry, employing millions of people

across the world.

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IELTS VOCABULARY BY TOPICS

THE ENVIRONMENT
1. to discharge chemical waste

Meaning: to dispose of waste products from chemical processes.

Example: Nowadays, more and more company and industrial zones have been discharging
chemical waste into rivers, causing death to many fish and other aquatic animals.

2. environmental degradation

Meaning: the process or fact of the environment becoming worse

Example: Africa is a continent in which environmental degradation is evident in the spread

of deserts and the extinction of animal species.

3. to take action on global warming

Meaning: to do what has to be done on problems related to global warming

Example: There have been numerous international conferences to warn of the dangers, but
many governments have refused to take action on global warming.

4. to be bio-degradable

Meaning: a substance or chemical that can be changed to a natural harmless state by the
action of bacteria

Example: Most plastics are not biodegradable, and remain as waste products in the
environment for thousands of years.

5. to deplete natural resources

Meaning: To reduce the amount of natural resources.

Example: Timber companies must not be allowed to deplete natural resources by cutting
down trees without planting new trees to replace them.

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6. ozone layer depletion

Meaning: refers to a steady decline in the total amount of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere

Example: Ozone layer depletion has the effect of allowing harmful radiation from the sun to
penetrate the atmosphere and this increases the risk to humans of skin cancer.

7. an ecological crisis

Meaning: a serious situation that occurs when the environment of a species or a population
changes in a way that destabilizes its continued survival

Example: Environmental degradation caused by human activity is provoking an ecological

crisis which threatens our existence.

8. carbon footprint

Meaning: a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced by the daily activities
of a company or person

Example: By providing subsidies, governments should encourage companies to reduce

their carbon footprint through energy efficiency or other ‘green measures’.

9. to cut down on emissions

Meaning: to reduce the amount of gases sent out into the air

Example: People must be made aware of the need to cut down on emissions from their
cars if we are to reduce air pollution.

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10. to fight climate change

Meaning: To try to prevent changes in climate patterns, such as rainfall, temperature and
winds.
Example: Unless we consume less of the Earth’s natural resources, it will be impossible to
fight climate change and safeguard our future.

11. to reduce the dependence/reliance on fossil fuels Meaning: to decrease people’s

consumption of fossil fuels, like oil, coal or gas.

Example: Governments must invest heavily in solar and wind energy projects in order to
reduce our dependence/reliance on fossil fuels.

12. to alleviate environmental problems

Meaning: to make bad environmental problems less severe

Example: Everyone can assist in the effort to alleviate environmental problems in the
local community through simple actions such as recycling waste or planting a tree in their
garden.

13. to throw one’s weigh behind sth

Meaning: To use one's influence to help support

Example: The council is to throw its weight behind a campaign to save one of the
borough's best-loved beauty spots.

14. to hold sbdy accountable for + noun/gerund Meaning: to consider someone

responsible for something; to blame something on someone

Example: Companies which discharge chemical waste from their factories into the sea or
into rivers must be held accountable for their actions and be fined heavily.

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15. to achieve sustainable development

Meaning: economic development that is achieved without depleting natural resources

Example: Organic methods must be introduced everywhere in order to achieve
sustainable development in agriculture.

16. alternative energy sources

Meaning: refers to any energy source that is an alternative to fossil fuel

Example: Clean energy which does not pollute the Earth can only come from greater
reliance on alternative energy sources.

17. food miles

Meaning: Distance food has to travel between where it is grown or made and where it is
consumed

Example: We can all reduce our carbon footprint by flying less, and reduce our food miles
by buying local produce.

18. captive breeding

Meaning: the reproduction of animals in confinement, not in their natural habitats.

Example: A successful captive breeding programing zoos has resulted in an increase in the
world’s panda population.

19. to stem from

Meaning: to be caused by

Example: Scientists say that global warming partly stems from the increase in car exhaust
emissions.

20. environmental impact assessment

Meaning: a study into how a development, like a new road, a new dam or other
construction activity will affect the plants, animals and local communities living in an area.
Example: The government must commission an independent environmental impact
assessment whenever a new development is proposed.

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21. the greenhouse effect

Meaning: the natural process by which the sun warms the surface of the Earth.

Example: Our burning of fossil fuels is increasing the greenhouse effect and making the
Earth hotter, endangering all life on the planet.

22. global warming

Meaning: the process by which the Earth is getting hotter, as a result of the greenhouse
effect – in particular the increase in carbon dioxide in the air.

Example: Perhaps the major environmental challenge which faces humanity today is global
warming, because it threatens our survival.

23. habitat destruction

Meaning: the process that occurs when a natural habitat, like a forest or wetland, is
changed so dramatically by humans that plants and animals which live there.

Example: The elephant population in the world is declining because of habitat destruction
caused by human exploitation of the environment.

24. endangered species

Meaning: plants or animals that only exist in very small numbers, so that in future they may
disappear forever

Example: One example of an endangered species is the lowland gorilla, which has almost
disappeared as a result of the destruction of its forest habitat.
25. on the brink of extinction

Meaning: an animal or plant which has almost disappeared from the planet

Example: Before the captive breeding program in zoos, the giant panda was on the brink
of extinction

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26. renewable energy

Meaning: energy is renewable when it source, like the sun or wind, cannot be exhausted or
can easily be replaced (like wood, as we can plant trees for energy)

Example: More funding is required from government funds to help companies to develop
renewable energy, such as companies which produce solar panels for buildings.

27. wind farms

Meaning: an area of land on which there are a lot of windmills or wind turbines for
producing electricity

Example: Wind farms should be constructed in mountainous areas or in the sea, close to
land.

28. environmentally friendly

Meaning: behavior or products that do not harm the environment

Example: We can help to protect the environment by using detergents and cosmetics that
are environmentally friendly.

29. toxic waste

Many species of fish are endangered as a result of the toxic waste dumped by industries
into the rivers and the sea.
30. the green movement

Meaning: all the organisations concerned with the protection of the environment

Example: Individuals should join one of the organisations which form part of the green
movement, in order to campaign for changes in official policy on the environment.

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BUSINESS AND MONEY

1. To take something into consideration/ account

Meaning: to consider or remember something when judging a situation

Example: No business will succeed if it fails to take the needs of customers into
account/into consideration.

2. To break into a market

Meaning: to enter a market with the connotation that entrance to the industry was difficult.

Example: It is difficult to break into the market for designer sportswear because there is
too much competition from leading brands like Nike.

3. To keep someone’s word

Meaning: to uphold one's promise; to do as one says

Example: I lent him a lot of money, so I hope that he keeps his word and repays the loan.

4. To reach a consensus

Meaning: to come to an agreement

Example: The directors of the company have reached a consensus on the new business
plan.
5. To make the most of something

Meaning: to make something appear as good as possible; to exploit something; to get as

much out of something as is possible.

Example: They designed the advertisements to make the most of the product's features.

6. To go out of business

Meaning: if a company goes out of business, it stops doing business permanently, especially
because it has failed

Example: If we sold food at those prices we’d soon go out of business.

7. To do market research

Meaning: to collect information about what people buy and why they choose it.

Example: Advertising companies do a lot of market research before they design

promotion campaigns.

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8. To make cutbacks

Meaning: to decrease, to reduce

Example: The company made cutbacks at their stores in New York and many employees
were dismissed.

9. To manage expectations

Meaning: Seek to prevent disappointment by establishing in advance what can realistically

be achieved or delivered by a project, undertaking, course of action, etc.
Example: the company needs to manage the expectations of investors by presenting a
realistic figure for next year’s estimated profits.

10. To make a calculation

Meaning: to assess a situation and figure out (or guess) the outcome

Example: We cannot make a precise calculation of the price until we have all the costs.

11. To pay in arrears

Meaning: refers to making a payment to a supplier later than the terms of the arrangement
under which goods or services were purchased from the supplier.

Example: The company pays one month in arrears to all its suppliers and employees.

12. To buy at auction

Meaning: to buy something at a usually public sale of goods or property, where people
make higher and higher bids (= offers of money) for each thing, until the thing is sold to the
person who will pay most

Example: Buying a property at an auction can be a nerve-wracking or exhilerating

experience.

13. To squander a chance/ savings

Meaning: to waste money or supplies, or to waste opportunities by not using them to your
advantage

Example: James squandered all his savings in an unsuccessful business venture to sell ice
cream in Alaska.

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14. Overhead cost

Meaning: refers to regular costs required to run a business, such as rent, electricity, wages
etc

Example: An increase in rents in the shopping mall increased the overhead costs of all the
shops which operated there.

15. A takeover

Meaning: an act of taking over a company by buying its shares

Example: Sony made a successful takeover of the broadcasting company CBS.

16. A merger

Meaning: the action of joining two or more businesses into one

Example: The directors of Kentucky Fried Chicken and Burger King are considering a
merger of the two companies.

17. A heavy workload

Meaning: having many tasks to perform

Example: Many employees of the company take time off work because of illness and stress
due to the heavy workload.

18. Compensation

Meaning: something that somebody gives you [usually money] because they have hurt you
or damaged something that you own

Example: I received a large sum of money as compensation for the injury which I
sustained at work.

19. Revenue

Meaning: the money that a government receives from taxes or which a company receives
from its business
Example: The tax revenues of the government have fallen as a result of the economic crisis.

20. White-collar

Meaning: working in an office, not a factory

Example: The insurance company is offering some white-collar jobs if you want to apply.

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21. Blue-collar

Meaning: connected with people who do physical work in industry

Example: He’s a blue-collar worker in a car factory.

22. To run your own business

Meaning: to have a business which you own

Example: I was tired of working for other people, so I decided to run my own business.

23. To earn a living

Meaning: to earn money

Example: I used to earn a living as a teacher, but now I sell used cars.

24. Enhance their public image

Meaning: to make their company appear more attractive to people

Example: In order to enhance their public image, some companies donate large sums of
money to charities.
25. To grow a business

Meaning: to expand a business, usually a new one

Example: The company started one year ago with only one shop, but they have grown the
business and now have ten shops.

26. To gain a competitive edge

Meaning: to achieve an advantage over another company or organization, often by

providing the same goods or services at a lower price

Example: The high quality of VW cars, combined with their affordable price, has enabled
the company to gain a competitive edge over all its rivals in world markets.

27. Maximize profits

Meaning: to increase profits to the highest possible level

Example: The company has hired a marketing consultant to recommend how to maximize
profits next year.

28. To conduct a business

Meaning: to operate a business in a particular way

Example: It is important to conduct a business with honesty in order to gain the

confidence of customers

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29. To be made redundant

Meaning: to lose one’s job

Example: The car factory has closed and 1000 employees have been made redundant.
30. Pension scheme

Meaning: a system in which you and your employer pay money regularly into a fund, to use
when you retire from work

Example: One of the benefits of working for a big corporation is that such large companies
usually provide a good pension scheme.

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GOVERNMENT

1. to abide by

Meaning; (formal) to accept and act according to a law, an agreement, etc.

Example: Motorists who do not abide by the rules of the road should be severely punished.

2. parliamentary democracy

Meaning: a system of government in which candidates are voted to represent the people of
a country in a national parliament or assembly

Example: Freedom of speech is usually one of the rights enjoyed by citizens in a

parliamentary democracy.

3. to adhere to

Meaning: to behave according to a particular law, rule, set of instructions,

Example: Governments which fail to adhere to their election promises generally become
unpopular very quickly.

4. constitutional government
Meaning: connected with the laws which a country is governed by

Example: The media have an important role to play in reporting on the actions of
politicians, to ensure the proper functioning of constitutional government.

5. the executive branch

Meaning: that part of the government organisation responsible for implementing laws and
decisions

Example: The enforcement of policies affecting schools and hospitals is the responsibility of
the executive branch of the government.

6. the legislative branch

Meaning: that part of the government responsible for making laws

Example: Laws relating to human rights have been passed by the legislative branch of
many national governments.

7. the separation of powers

Meaning: the principle that separates government authority into three branches –
legislative (the Parliament or Senate), executive (the President or Ministers) and the
judiciary (the judges and courts).

Example: In the USA, the independence of the courts from the government is safeguarded
by the separation of powers

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8. to adopt policies

Meaning: to start to use particular policies

Example: In order to deal with traffic congestion, the government must adopt policies to
restrict the use of private cars.
9. to impose spending cuts

Meaning: to introduce new rules to spend less money on something

Example: It is essential for the authorities to impose spending cuts on space programs in
order to fund health services.

10. to raise taxes on

Meaning: to increase the amount of tax on something

Example: Governments should raise taxes on cigarettes to persuade more people to give
up smoking.

11. to curb public spending on

Meaning: to restrict what the government spends on something

Example: I would argue that it is preferable to curb public spending on building new
roads rather than to impose spending cuts on education.

12. to allocate resources to

Meaning: to make money and materials available to do something

Example: If governments allocate more resources to improving public transport, this will
reduce the problem of traffic congestion in cities.

13. to introduce restrictions on

Meaning: to limit what people can do or what can happen

Example: The government must introduce restrictions on smoking in public places.

14. to infringe on/upon something

Meaning: to limit somebody’s legal rights

Example: Governments must sometimes infringe upon individual freedoms in the wider
interests of society.

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15. to be a government priority

Meaning: something which is so important that the government should deal with it first.

Example: In developing countries, spending on health and education should be top

government priorities.

16. to prioritize expenditure on

Meaning: to put the need to spend money on certain things first

Example: I believe that it is important to prioritize expenditure on medical research in

order to save lives.

17. to provide funding for

Meaning: to give money to enable something to be done

Example: Providing funding for health care must be a priority of governments.

18. high on the agenda

Meaning: something which is among the first things in the list of actions to be taken

Example: The rehabilitation of prisoners must be high on the agenda of prison authorities
everywhere.

19. to exert pressure on

Meaning: to use power to influence somebody or something

Example: Environmental organisations should exert pressure on governments to invest in

renewable energy projects.

20. to form a pressure group

Meaning: to organize a group of people who try to influence the government to achieve the
action that they want.

Example: Activists in my country have formed a pressure group to persuade the

government to close nuclear power stations.

21. to provide public subsidies for

Meaning: to give government money to reduce the costs of services or to produce goods in
order to keep the price low

Example: In order to promote agriculture that is environmentally-friendly, the government

should provide public subsidies for organic farmers.

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22. international bodies

Meaning: organizations which operate in many countries

Example: National governments ought to give funds to international bodies, like the Red
Cross and the United Nations, to deal with emergency situations.

23. national and local authorities

Meaning: government organizations acting at a national level or within a smaller, local area

Example: Tackling crime is a responsibility of both national and local authorities.

24. non-governmental organizations: NGOs

Meaning: a charity or association that is independent of government or business

Example: Individuals could donate money to NGOs to help others in need of food, shelter
and medical services.

25. to campaign for something

Meaning: to take part in a series of activities in order to achieve a specific aim.

Example: People who are concerned about the environment should campaign for stricter
controls on pollution.

26. government decision-making

Meaning: the process of deciding about something official

Example: Pressure groups are sometimes able to influence government decision-making.

27. to impose an official ban on

Meaning: to say or declare that something is not allowed

Example: Governments ought to impose an official ban on the use of mobile phones on
public transport.

28. government sponsorship

Meaning: the act of providing financial support by the government

Example: Government sponsorship of the arts is necessary if creative talent is to be

encouraged.

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29. a welfare state

Meaning: a taxation system which allows governments to provide for the economic and
social well-being of its citizens

Example: In order to eradicate poverty, I believe that a welfare state should be established
in all developing countries.

30. a stopgap measure

Meaning: a policy or action adopted for a short time until some more permanent solution is
found

Example: Building more prisons will not solve the problem of rising crime rates, but it is a
stopgap measure which the government must take to protect ordinary citizens.

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SPORT AND EXERCISE

1. to take up sport/to take up exercise

Meaning: to start doing a sport, to start doing exercise

Example: Governments should provide sports facilities to encourage more people to take
up sport.

2. to get into shape

Meaning: to become fit

Example: If people have a sedentary lifestyle, they must do regular exercise to get into
shape.

3. to keep fit

Meaning: to stay in good physical condition

Example: A healthy diet and plenty of exercise are essential for people to keep fit.

4. to exert oneself

Meaning: to make a big physical effort to do something

Example: I believe that sports professionals deserve high salaries, because constant hard
training is necessary so that they can exert themselves to the limit when they compete.

5. to work out at the gym

Meaning: to train the body by physical exercise at the gym

Example: As part of a healthy lifestyle, people of all ages should work out at the gym on a
regular basis.

6. to be out of condition

Meaning: to be physically unfit

Example: One of the causes of obesity is that many people are out of condition and fail to
exercise regularly.

7. to be in the peak of condition

Meaning: to be in the best possible physical condition

Example: Sports professionals should receive high salaries, because they must always be in
the peak of condition in order to perform at the highest levels.

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8. to take gentle exercise

Meaning: to do exercise which is not physically demanding or tiring

Example: Even the elderly can keep fit by taking gentle exercise, like jogging or even a
walk in the park.

9. alternative forms of exercise

Meaning: taking exercise in less common ways, involving the mind as well as the body

Example: Alternative forms of exercise, such as yoga and tai chi, are popular in my
country among people of all ages.

10. to outlaw dangerous sports

Meaning: to ban or prohibit sports which have a high risk of causing injury

Example: I believe that the government should outlaw dangerous sports because
participants may suffer serious injuries.

11. on safety grounds

Meaning: for reasons of safety

Example: Boxing is a very dangerous sport and must be outlawed on safety grounds.

12. a high/low probability of injury

Meaning: you are very likely/not very likely to be injured

Example: If anyone plans to take up mountaineering or skydiving, they should be aware

that there is a high probability of injury.

13. life-threatening injuries

Meaning: injuries which are so serious that the person may die

Example: Paragliding and cliff-jumping are two examples of extreme sports in which life-
threatening injuries are sustained all too often by those who take part.
14. an extreme sport

Meaning: a sporting activity which is very dangerous

Example: Personally, I cannot understand why some people take up an extreme sport, and
they should consider all the risks first.

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15. essential sports gear

Meaning: the equipment and clothing needed to practice a particular sport

Example: In order to reduce the risks associated with dangerous sports, participants
should undergo rigorous training and use all the essential sports gear required.

16. to take sensible precautions

Meaning: to do something in advance in order to prevent problems or to avoid danger

Example: Anyone engaging in an extreme sport must take sensible precautions and seek
expert advice.

17. to foster a competitive spirit

Meaning: encourage the desire to beat others in a sports event

Example: The problem with encouraging sport at school is that it fosters a competitive
spirit among students, instead of teaching children simply to do the best that they can in all
aspects of life.

18. the Olympic ideal

Meaning: the ultimate goal is not to win but to know that you have taken part and done
your best in a competition

Example: Unfortunately, professional sport is just another branch of the entertainment

industry, and the Olympic ideal has been lost.
19. a win-at-all-costs attitude

Meaning: an idea that a match or competition must be won, using all possible means

Example: Youth sport is being ruined by a win-at-all-costs attitude, which includes

cheating and breaking the rules in order to achieve victory.

20. be disqualified from participating

Meaning: not to be allowed to join a competition

Example: Sportsmen or sportswomen who take drugs should be disqualified from

participating in sport for a long time.

21. performance-enhancing drugs

Meaning: drugs which improve the ability of a sportsperson to compete

Example: Athletes who take performance-enhancing drugs are not only cheating, but
they also set a bad example for young people.

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22. to fail a drugs test

Meaning: to fail an examination before or after a competition to make sure that you have
not taken illegal drugs to improve your performance

Example: Cycling is a sport which has been discredited in recent years, as so many
competitors have failed drugs tests.

23. to use illegal substances

Meaning: to use drugs or medicines which are not allowed under the rules of a competition
Example: In professional sport, it has become increasingly common to use illegal
substances in order to win at all costs.

24. to place too much value on sport

Meaning: to regard sport as too important

Example: I would argue that schools place too much value on sport in the curriculum, and
participation in sport should be an out-of-school activity.

25. a sports fan

Meaning: a person who takes a keen interest in sport

Example: While I think that it is healthy to be a sports fan, people should remember that
for most people, sport is just entertainment, not a matter of life and death.

26. to set a record

Meaning: to achieve the best result ever achieved in a sport

Example: Real Madrid have set a record for the number of goals scored in a match.

27. sports coverage

Meaning: the activity of reporting news related to sport

Example: Many top sports stars are now known to millions of people around the world
because of global sports coverage by the media.

28. sports commentators

Meaning: people who are experts on sport and talk or write about it in the media

Example: Not only sports stars, but even some sports commentators have become well-
known celebrities.
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29. sports merchandising

Meaning: the activity of selling products connected with a sport or sportsperson

Example: Sports merchandising is a multi-billion dollar business worldwide, in the form

of t-shirts and sports equipment.

30. the endorsement of sporting goods

Meaning: an advertising statement, usually by a famous sportsperson, saying that they use
or like a particular product.

Example: In addition to their fabulous salaries, sports celebrities also make a great deal of
money through their endorsement of sporting goods such as trainers or even casual
clothes or deodorants!

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SPACE EXPLORATION
1. The space race

Meaning: competition between the US and the Soviet Union in the 1950s and 60s to be the
first to explore space

Example: The space race in the 1950s marks an important point in the development of
space exploration

2. A space probe

Meaning: a type of space craft that does not have a person inside

Example: Space probes can be sent to far distances for long periods of time to gather
information about different areas in space.
3. A lunar module

Meaning: a small craft used for travelling between the moon and the larger space craft
orbiting the moon.

Example: When the first men walked on the moon they came out of the lunar module. The
first man to walk on the moon said "One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."

4. To put into orbit

Meaning: To send something into space, following a curved path of a planet or an object as
it moves around a star, a moon or a planet

Example: A new satellite has been put into orbit around the earth.

5. Manned space flight

Meaning: a voyage into space which has a person to control it

Example: As manned space flights are so dangerous, many checks must be carried out
first.

6. To launch a space rocket

Meaning: to send a rocket into space

Example: Nowadays, men launch space rockets – not ships – to discover new worlds.

7. The cosmos

Meaning: the universe, especially when it is thought of as an ordered system

Example: Although the challenge of exploring and understanding the cosmos is exciting, it
is also very expensive

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8. To pour money into space research

Meaning: to spend enormous amounts of money on space research

Example: Some people argue that it is wasteful to pour money into space research.

9. A test flight

Meaning: a flight during which a space craft or part of its equipment is tested

Example: Test flights add to the huge costs of space exploration.

10. A space shuttle

Meaning: a spacecraft designed to be used, for example, to travel between the earth and a
space station

Example: The first space shuttle was front-page news, but now people are no longer
excited by the concept.

11. A space station

Meaning: a large structure that is sent into space and remains above the earth as a base for
people working and travelling in space

Example: Even maintaining an international space station is so expensive that the costs
must be shared by several countries.

12. Space voyages

Meaning: journeys into space

Example: Public interest in the early space voyages was unprecedented.

13. Space tourism

Meaning: travelling to space as a form of vacation/holiday

Example: Billionaires are the only people who are likely to experience space tourism in
the foreseeable future.

14. To discover the mysteries of the universe

Meaning: to find out more about space

Example: Space exploration is an essential element in our attempt to discover the

mysteries of the universe.

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15. Space missions

Meaning: flights into space

Example: Recent space missions have begun to explore Mars and more distant parts of the
universe.

16. The conquest of space

Meaning: the act of gaining control over the difficult task of exploring space

Example: The conquest of space is a challenge that continues to inspire the public
imagination.

17. To be an inspiration to

Meaning: to make somebody excited about something, especially thinking of the future

Example: The images of the first men on the moon were an inspiration to people, and
made them more hopeful about the future.

18. Spacesuits and helmets

Meaning: the clothing worn by astronauts.

Example: Astronauts must find it difficult to carry out maintenance tasks during space
flights wearing uncomfortable spacesuits and helmets.

19. Vacuum-packed food

Meaning: a space that is completely empty of all substances, including all air or other gas

Example: During manned space flights, astronauts have to live off vacuum-packed food.

20. Weightless conditions

Meaning; having no weight or appearing to have no weight. As a result, astronauts appear

to float in space.

Example: Astronauts work in weightless conditions, which must make even routine tasks
very difficult.

21. To endure hardships and discomforts

Meaning: to experience and deal with conditions that are unpleasant

Example: I doubt that space tourism will have mass appeal in the future. Travellers would
have to endure hardships and discomforts such as weightless conditions, vacuum-
packed food and wearing spacesuits and helmets.

22. To float through space

Meaning: to move slowly in the air

Example: Space tourism would be really boring, simply floating through space and
looking out of the window of the spacecraft.

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23. Zero gravity

Meaning: having no force to pull objects to the ground, so that they float.

Example: Living in conditions of zero gravity in space must be extremely tiring and
uncomfortable.

24. Satellite technology

Meaning: the technology of sending electronic devices into space for communications
purposes

Example: Satellite technology has resulted in huge advances in communications and

information-gathering.

25. A spin-off

Meaning: a useful result of an activity that was designed to produce something different

Explanation: Space programs have produced spin-offs that have revolutionized modern
life, such as satellite television and communications.

26. To make space travel commercially viable

Meaning: to make space travel a success financially

Example: Holidays in space are just fantasy. It is doubtful if it will ever be possible to make
space travel commercially viable.

27. The quest for a new homeland

Meaning: the search for a new place to inhabit

Example: As humans are destroying their own planet, the quest for a new homeland in
the universe is essential.

28. Alien life forms

Meaning: creatures from another world

Example: One of the most exciting possibilities of the space program is finding alien life
forms on other planets.

29. Extraterrestrial life

Meaning: life that may exist on another planet

Example: The quest for extraterrestrial life will prove that humans are not alone in the
universe.

30. In the realm of science fiction

Meaning: only possible in science fiction stories, only fantasy

Example: Most of the arguments in favour of space programs are in the realm of science
fiction.