Topic 8. Society, cities and social issues

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to society, cities, and social issues.

Social issue

A problem that affects people in a community or society. "Homelessness is a serious ______ that many governments are trying to address."

Public health

The health of people in a community or population as a whole. "Clean drinking water and vaccination programmes are important for protecting ______."

Prosperity

A state of being successful, often with good economic conditions and a high standard of living. "Education and stable employment can contribute to a country's ______."

Development

The process of growing, improving or becoming more advanced. "The rapid ______ of technology has changed the way people communicate."

An ordinary person

Someone who is not famous or particularly unusual. "The documentary tells the stories of ______ who have achieved extraordinary things."

An entrepreneur

A person who starts and runs a business, usually taking financial risks. "The young ______ started an online business while he was still at university."

Entrepreneurial

Showing the ability or willingness to start and develop a business or new project. "She has an ______ mindset and is always looking for new business opportunities."

To go on strike

To stop working for a period of time to protest against working conditions or demand changes. "The workers decided to ______ because they wanted higher wages."

To commit a crime

To do something that is against the law. "People who ______ may face legal consequences."

A thief

Someone who steals things. "The police caught the ______ who had taken several phones from the shop."

A robber

Someone who steals from a person or place using force or threats. "The ______ threatened the shop assistant and demanded money."

Robbery

The crime of stealing from a person or place using force or threats. "The police are investigating a bank ______ that happened last night."

To provide someone with something

To give someone something they need or want. "Parents should ______ their children ______ support and opportunities to learn."

An advantage

Something that gives you a benefit or makes a situation better. "One major ______ of living in a city is having access to more public transport."

A disadvantage

Something that makes a situation less useful, attractive or beneficial. "One ______ of living in a large city is the high cost of housing."

Pros and cons

The positive and negative aspects of something. "Before choosing a university, it's useful to consider the ______ of each option."

Traffic congestion

A situation in which there are so many vehicles on the road that traffic moves slowly. "Governments can reduce ______ by improving public transport."

Rush hour

The time of day when roads and public transport are especially busy because people are travelling to or from work or school. "It takes twice as long to get home during ______."

A traffic jam

A line of vehicles that are moving very slowly or not moving at all. "We were late because we got stuck in a huge ______."

An opportunity

A situation or chance that allows you to do something useful or achieve something. "Learning another language can give you more ______ to study or work abroad."

A reliable person

Someone you can trust to do what they promise or need to do. "He's a ______, so I know he'll finish the task on time."

To make communication more accessible

To make it easier for more people to communicate. "Video calls can ______ for people who live in different countries."