4.7.

Vocabulary for common topics

The following is intended as a brief outline of some useful vocabulary for common topics
that occur on the exam.

Education

Rephrasing of some common topic words:

children = juveniles, youngsters

education= learning, instruction, acquiring knowledge

students = pupils

parents = caregivers, guardians, mothers and fathers

schools = educational institutions

society = community, citizens

teachers = educators

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Some useful nouns:

Word Meaning
the curriculum the entire school program including course materials and testing of
students. Everything that a school aims to teach students.

graduate a person who has graduated from a school

illiteracy the inability to read and write

literacy the ability to read and write

nurture to help grow or develop

pedagogy the way of teaching including the instructional methods that is used

qualification what someone gets when they graduate from school. For instance,
a diploma is a qualification.

social skills the ability to communicate and interact well with others

student centred a philosophy of education where the student is the central focus
education

tuition the fees for studying a course

Some useful verbs:

Word Meaning
graduate to pass a course or level of study

concentrate to focus attention towards a particular activity, subject or problem

revise to review materials that have already been taught

enrol to join a class

indoctrinate to teach following a biased belief or point of view. For example,

Hitler indoctrinated young Germans with a hatred for other races.

interpret to understand in a particular way. For example, we need to

interpret the meaning of the painting.

persevere to not give up. To keep doing something for the success is achieved.

procrastinate to delay or put off doing something

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Some useful adjectives:

Word Meaning
academic relating to education especially universities.

co-educational when male and female students are taught together in the same
school.

single sex when only need male or female students are taught in the same
school.

hands-on to learn by actually doing. We can get hands-on experience by

actually doing things.

multi-disciplinary involving several different subjects or areas of study.

pedagogical relating to teaching methods and principles.

primary an elementary school or the first years of formal schooling.

education

secondary high school

education

segregated separated. For example, the classes are segregated by gender.

tertiary education university or vocation school

vocational concerns teaches the skills necessary for a particular job. This
concept is often applied to trade schools. So if you studying cooking
or the penetration you are going to a vocational school.

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Health

Rephrasing of some common topic words:

health= well-being, physical condition, fitness

healthy= fit, in good condition

unhealthy = unwell, poor medical condition

sick people = patients, people who are unwell

treatment = cure, healing

sickness= medical condition

Some useful nouns:

Word Meaning
addiction the condition of not being unable to stop doing something.
Especially something harmful like drinking alcohol or playing video
games.

allergy a strong reaction to something. For instance, an allergy to a certain

food.

anxiety stress

diagnosis an opinion of a patient's health condition or illness.

diet 1. everything that we eat.

2. a plan to eat carefully to reduce weight.

insomnia inability or difficulty to get to sleep.

ingredients the different foods that go into a recipe.

obesity being extremely overweight.

nutrition the health value of food.

physician another word for doctor.

treatment a way of curing an illness or medical condition.

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Some useful verbs:

Word Meaning
administer to give a treatment to a patient.

counteract to respond or act in opposition to something. For example, we need

to counteract the effects of global warming.

eliminate to get rid of something.

diagnose to work-out what is wrong with a patient.

diet to attempt to lose weight by eating more carefully.

prevent to stop something happening.

stipulate to require something. For example, the contract stipulates that you
must pay your medical bill by the end the month.

trigger to cause something to happen. For example, certain foods may

trigger an allergy.

Some useful adjectives:

Word Meaning
acute very serious

chronic long-lasting

hazardous very dangerous

nutritious used to describe food that is healthy. For example, fruit and
vegetables are very nutritious.

vital very important

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Media,

Rephrasing of some common topic words:

influence = effect on

negative development = harmful trend

internet =cyberspace

media =paparazzi [negative]

popularity = fame, attractiveness

Some useful nouns:

Word Meaning
a medium medium is the singular form of media [plural].

censorship when certain types of messages are blocked. For instance, the
government often uses censorship for movies that are violent or
have sexual content.

credibility refers to whether something is reliable or from a reliable source.

exaggeration when the truth is stretched or enlarged.

ideology a way of thinking or belief system.

journalism journalism is the way of reporting the news, by including

newspapers, magazines, radio and television, the internet.

journalist a person who has a career in journalism.

mass media mass media refers collectively to all the forms of media we have
such as television, radio, film, on-line services, magazines and
newspapers.

propaganda propaganda occurs the media favours certain kinds of stories or

distorts messages to influence the opinions of behaviour of people.

social media this usually refers to online tools for communication such as
Facebook and Twitter.

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Some useful verbs:

Word Meaning
broadcast to send messages. For instance, the TV broadcasts shows every
night.

censor to block or a strict information or content, especially when it

includes violence or inappropriate content.

exploit to take advantage of someone. For example, whenever a celebrity

makes a mistake and public the media is always there to exploit the
situation.

intrude to invade or interfere with someone. For example, the media often
intrudes on people's privacy.

publicise to make public.

Some useful adjectives:

Word Meaning
classical following a well-established tradition

contemporary Modern

cultural relating to culture. For example, cultural awareness is being aware

of someone's culture.

eclectic not following any one system, such as traditional publishing or

online publishing but selecting and using what are considered the
best elements of all systems.

inspirational motivating

monotonous boring

passionate intense or strong emotional feeling about something [positive]

vivid clear

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Technology
Rephrasing of some common topic words:

Recent = contemporary

Advances = developments

Improve = enhance, progress

Technology = scientific advancements

Some useful nouns:

Word Meaning
computerisation to control a process by using a computer.

digital divide the gap between those with easy access to information
technology, and those without it.

gadget any small piece of equipment.

innovation a new way of doing something, or a new application of a

technology.

revolution major change in the way of doing something.

technophobe someone who has a fear of resistance to technology.

technophile someone who embraces technology and uses it often.

telecommunications technology used in the field of communications.

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Some useful verbs:

Word Meaning
develop to make or create.

envisage to conceive or imagine an idea.

impact to have an influence.

revolutionise to make dramatic changes.

surpass to exceed or overtake. For example, technology is developing so

fast that it will one day surpass our ability to use it.

Some useful adjectives:

Word Meaning
computer literate able to understand and communicate about computers.

obsolete something that is no longer used. For example, typewriters are now
obsolete.

out-dated something that is no longer up-to-date.

state-of-the-art the latest in most recently available.

user-friendly easy to use.

virtual almost, especially as in almost real. For example, when we play

games using virtual reality they seemed like they are almost real.

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Crime
Rephrasing of some common topic words:

Punishment = penalty

Crime = law-breaking, transgression, offense

Criminal = lawbreaker, offender

Laws = regulations, rules

Some useful nouns:

Word Meaning
corporal to punish by physically harming the offender
punishment

capital punishment to punish by killing the offender

community service to spend time helping the community. For example, if a person
does a minor crime they are often only punished by having to do
community service.

consequences the result or effect of something

deterrent something that prevents an action

evidence proof that the crime occurred

fine money paid for a crime

imprisonment to put someone in prison

legislation laws that are made by the government

felony a major crime

misdemeanour a minor crime

motive reason for doing something

prevention stopping something from happening

victim the person who suffers from a crime or negative event

violation to break a rule

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Some useful verbs:

Word Meaning
commit to do something seriously wrong. for example, to commit murder or
suicide.

convict to judge someone as having done a crime

execute to kill someone

incarcerate to put someone in prison

rehabilitate to try to help a criminal become normal again

Some useful adjectives:

Word Meaning
guilty someone who has done something wrong

innocent someone who has done nothing wrong

minor not serious

major serious

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The environment

Rephrasing of some common topic words:

Environment = biosphere, ecosystem

Damage = devastation

Pollution= contamination

Problems = issues

Solutions= solving, ways to tackle

Some useful nouns:

Word Meaning
biodegradable something that is able to decay naturally and harmlessly.

biodiversity refers to the number and variety of plant and animal species that
exist in a particular environmental area or in the world generally.

climate the weather conditions of a region

climate change the concept that change is occurring to the earth's climate. [Many
people believe this is based on the influence of people].

deforestation the process by which the forests are cut down.

desertification the process by which fertile land is turned into deserts

fossil fuels a natural fuel such as coal, gas, or oil formed over long periods of
time from the remains of living organisms.

energy saving energy

conservation

environment the place where people animals and plants live, also known as the
natural world.

extinction the complete dying out of species

habitat a place where animals and plants live

natural resources resources derived from the environment. For example, wood and oil.

renewable energy describes a form of energy that can be produced as quickly as it is

used, such as solar energy.

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Some useful verbs:

Word Meaning
absorb to take in something. For example, the cloth absorbed the rain.

conserve to not waste something

deplete to use up

diminish to reduce something

discharge to release something

contaminate to make something become polluted

endanger to put something or someone in the danger

impact to influence

preserve to keep something safe

retain to keep something

Some useful adjectives:

Word Meaning
alternative a different way of doing something

critical extremely important

disposable something that can be thrown away

efficient performing or functioning in the best possible manner with the

least waste of time and effort

environmentally something that is good or not harmful to the environment

friendly

hazardous something dangerous

renewable able to be renewed or replenished

toxic something poisonous

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