Comprehensive High School & IELTS English Review: Units 1 to 3

Vocabulary flashcard deck featuring key terms, phrasal verbs, collocations, and word forms across Unit 1 (Family Life), Unit 2 (Humans and the Environment), and Unit 3 (Music).

Breadwinner

The primary member of a family who earns the money needed to support the household.

Homemaker

A person, traditionally a housewife, who manages household affairs and domestic chores rather than working outside the home.

Nuclear family

A small family unit consisting exclusively of two generations: parents and their children living together.

Extended family

A multi-generational family unit that includes grandparents, parents, children, and other relatives living in the same home.

Table manner

The accepted rules of polite social conduct and etiquette followed while dining at a table.

Set a good example for

To behave in an admirable way so that other people, especially children, will emulate that positive conduct.

Crash something into something

To cause a vehicle or heavy object to violently collide with another object.

In a nutshell

Expressed in very concise, clear, and brief terms without unnecessary details.

Take after

To resemble or show physical or behavioral similarities to an older family member.

Heavy lifting

Difficult, physically strenuous work or demanding domestic labor.

Strengthen family bonds

To reinforce and tighten the affectionate emotional connections uniting members of a family.

Irresponsibility

The failure to act with proper care, accountability, or regard for one's duties.

Beneficial

Producing positive, helpful, or advantageous results.

Gratitude

The feeling and expression of appreciation and thankfulness toward someone.

Supportive

Giving assistance, sympathy, or encouragement to someone in a difficult or developmental situation.

Antisocial

Hostile or unsociable toward others, avoiding interaction or acting contrary to social norms.

Invaluable

Extremely valuable or precious beyond measure; priceless.

Respectable

Regarded by society to be decent, honorable, and worthy of admiration.

Celebrated

Widely known, praised, and famous for outstanding achievements.

Differentiate

To recognize, identify, or express the points of difference between two or more things.

Inequality

An unfair situation where people do not have equal rights, status, or opportunities.

Divisive

Causing deep disagreement, hostility, or polarization among a group of people.

Collaborator

A person who works in partnership with others to achieve a shared goal or create a project.

Appreciable

Large or significant enough to be clearly perceived or noticed.

Carbon footprint

The total amount of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, emitted directly and indirectly by human activities.

Eco-friendly

Designed to cause minimal or no harm to the natural environment.

Sustainable

Able to be maintained over time without exhausting natural resources or causing ecological damage.

Decompose

To break down into smaller organic components through natural biological and chemical decay.

Multilateral

Involving three or more different parties, countries, or organizations in a mutual agreement.

Contaminate

To make a substance or environment impure, toxic, or polluted by adding harmful contaminants.

Drop litter

To carelessly discard waste or trash in public open areas instead of in a bin.

Go green

To adopt environmentally conscious habits and policies designed to protect nature.

Bring about

To cause something to occur or bring a process into existence.

Cut down on

To reduce the amount, quantity, or frequency of consuming something.

Break down into

To separate, disintegrate, or decompose into smaller physical or chemical elements.

Adopt a green lifestyle

To commit to living in a manner that protects ecosystems and reduces environmental waste.

Environmentalist

A specialist or activist committed to the preservation and protection of the natural environment.

Pollutant

A waste substance or chemical compound that causes environmental pollution.

Conservationist

An expert or advocate who promotes the preservation and responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Poisonous

Containing toxins that can produce sickness or death when ingested, breathed, or absorbed.

Electrify

To convert or equip a system, vehicle, or facility to operate using electric power.

Productivity

The rate, efficiency, and volume at which goods or useful outputs are produced.

Endanger

To expose someone, a species, or an ecosystem to risk, peril, or the danger of extinction.

Explosive

Likely to shatter or burst with sudden force; also refers to a substance capable of detonating.

Captivating

Holding one's interest and admiration by being remarkably charming and fascinating.

Improvisation

The creative musical act of making up and performing melodies spontaneously on the spot without a score.

Intangible

Lacking a physical body; unable to be touched, such as non-physical cultural customs and folklore.

Debut

The very first official public appearance, stage presentation, or commercial release of a performer or creation.

Spectator

A member of the audience who watches an athletic match or outdoor contest in person.

Audience

The group of people seated together to listen to or view an indoor theater play, talk, or musical concert.

Contemporary

Originating in or belonging to the modern, current historical period.

Clappers

A traditional wooden or bamboo percussion rhythm instrument beaten together to create tempo in music.

Lute

A historic plucked acoustic string instrument featuring a neck and a rounded, pear-shaped body.

Onlooker

A bystander who watches an occurrence unfold from the sidelines without participating directly.

Identify with

To feel a strong emotional bond, shared empathy, or sense of personal connection with someone.

Bring out

To publish, launch, or release a new commercial product, single, or studio music album.

Music to my ears

An expression describing welcome, satisfying, or reassuring news that brings delight.

Play by ear

To reproduce or play music purely by listening and sensory recall rather than reading written sheet notation.

Take up

To begin practicing, studying, or learning an unfamiliar recreational activity or musical instrument.

Chill out

To rest, wind down, and calm oneself away from stress or active work.

Performative

Pertaining to theatrical staging or characterized by deliberate public posturing and display.

Composition

An original written piece of composed music, literature, or fine art.

Emotionless

Completely detached from feeling; failing to reveal or express any emotional reaction.

Popularize

To introduce something to the general public and make it widely liked and recognized.

Multicultural

Reflecting, incorporating, or consisting of multiple diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

Judgemental

Tending to judge, evaluate, and critically reprimand others too harshly and hastily.