Vocabulary Reference: Ambition, Success, and History

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering ambition, success, collocations, historical terms, and word formations from the provided lecture notes.

Motivate

To provide a reason or incentive for someone to work hard.

Ordinary

Normal or common; not special or different.

Self-belief

Confidence in one's own abilities and potential for success.

Skill

A particular ability, such as an artistic talent, that a person possesses.

Build a business

The process of establishing a commercial organization, which requires determination.

Build confidence

The act of increasing one's self-assurance, often through positive thought.

Gain experience

To acquire knowledge or skills through practical involvement, such as a Saturday job.

Gain understanding

To acquire a better grasp of a subject after conducting research.

Give advice

To offer suggestions or recommendations about what someone should do, such as for a CV.

Give someone a chance

To provide an opportunity to an individual despite they might lack relevant experience.

Make a difference

To have a positive effect or impact on a situation.

Make an impression

To produce a strong or favorable effect on others, often through behavior or appearance.

Take advantage of

To make good use of an opportunity, such as a free online course.

Take part in

To participate in an event or competition.

Going places

An expression used to describe someone or something that is likely to become very successful.

Make or break

A critical point or time that will result in either great success or total failure.

Set his sights

To establish a specific goal or ambition to achieve something.

Set the world on fire

To be extremely successful and cause a lot of excitement or interest.

Track record

The past performance or achievements of a person or organization.

Weather the storm

To survive or reach the end of a very difficult situation, such as a pandemic.

Battle

A fight between organized forces in a specific area.

Castle

A large fortified building; many were built in England by William the Conqueror.

Civilisation

A complex human society, such as the ancient Incas.

Destroy

To damage something so severely that it no longer exists or cannot be repaired.

Discover

To find or find out about something for the first time.

Emperor

The ruler of an empire, such as Qin Shi Huang who was the first of a united China.

Era

A long and distinct period of history characterized by a particular feature, such as an era of peace.

Evidence

Facts or information indicating whether a belief is true, such as proof that the Maya settled in a specific area.

Exhibit

An object or collection of objects on public display in a museum.

Expert

A person who has comprehensive and authoritative knowledge in a particular area, such as Mayan civilisations.

Historian

A person who studies and writes about the past.

Invade

To enter a country or region with an armed force to conquer it, as William the Conqueror did in 1066.

Origins

The point or place where something begins or is created.

Preserve

To maintain something, such as a mediaeval building, in its original state or in good condition.

Pyramid

A monumental structure built in ancient Egypt to serve as a tomb for pharaohs.

Rebuild

To build something again after it has been damaged or destroyed.

Ruins

The remaining parts of a building that has been destroyed or decayed over time.

Site

A specific location where a building is situated or where an event, like an accident, occurred.

Tomb

An enclosure or vault for burying the dead.

Trade

The action of buying and selling goods and services, often across long routes.

Tunnel

An artificial underground passage, such as one through a mountain.

Archaeologist

A person who studies human history by looking for clues and excavating sites.

Artefact

An object made by a human being, typically one of historical or cultural interest.

Collection

A group of accumulated objects or works, such as a series of poems published together.

Famous

Known about by many people, such as the Eiffel Tower.

Fortunately

A term used to express that something happened by good luck.

Historical

Relating to history or past events, such as a historical novel.

Originally

In the beginning or at first.

Valuable

Worth a great deal of money or having high importance.

Visitor

A person who goes to see a person or place, such as someone visiting the Louvre.