Unit 6
Stone Age | noun | stəʊn eɪdʒ | a very early time in human history, when only stone was used for making tools, weapons, etc. |
mammoth | noun | ˈmæməθ | an animal like a large hairy elephant that lived on Earth thousands of years ago |
zoologist | noun | zuːˈɒlədʒɪst | a scientist who studies animals and their behaviour |
die out | phrv | to stop existing | |
drive sb to sth | phrase | /draɪv/ | to make somebody very angry, crazy, etc. or to make them do something extreme |
extinction | noun | ɪkˈstɪŋkʃən | when a particular type of animal or plant stops existing |
astonishing | adj | /əˈstɒnɪʃɪŋ/ | very surprising; difficult to believe |
permafrost | noun | ˈpɜːməfrɒst | a layer of soil that is always frozen in countries where it is very cold |
marsh | noun | mɑːʃ | an area of low flat ground that is always wet and soft |
Ice Age | noun | aɪs eɪdʒ | one of the long periods of time, thousands of years ago, when ice covered many northern countries |
tusk | noun | tʌsk | one of a pair of very long pointed teeth, that stick out of the mouth of animals such as elephants |
confrontation | noun | ˌkɒnfrənˈteɪʃən | a situation in which there is a lot of angry disagreement between two people or groups |
swamp | noun | swɒmp | land that is always very wet or covered with a layer of water |
excavation | noun | ˌekskəˈveɪʃən | if a scientist or archaeologist excavates an area of land, they dig carefully to find ancient objects, bones, etc. |
appeal | noun | /əˈpiːl/ | a quality that makes somebody/something attractive or interesting |
highlight | verb | /ˈhaɪlaɪt/ | to emphasize something, especially so that people give it more attention |
modern comforts | phrase | /,mɒdn ˈkʌmfəts/ | a thing that makes your life easier or more comfortable |
unearth | verb | /ʌnˈɜːθ/ | to find something in the ground by digging |
sizeable | adj | /ˈsaɪzəbl/ | fairly large |
fraction | noun | /ˈfrækʃn/ | a small part or amount of something |
come to light | phrase | to become known to people | |
settlement | noun | /ˈsetlmənt/ | a place where people have come to live and make their homes |
superior | adj | /suːˈpɪəriə(r)/ | better in quality than somebody/something else |
unsympathetically | adv | /ˌʌnˌsɪmpəˈθetɪkli/ | in a style that is not suitable, and does not go well with other things that are in the same place |
turn sth into sth | phrv | to make somebody/something become something | |
auction sth off | phrv | /,ɔːkʃn 'ɒf/, | to sell something at an auction, especially something that is no longer needed or wanted |
stubbornly | adv | ˈstʌb ənli | determined not to change your mind, even when people think you are being unreasonable |
persistent | adj | pəˈsɪstənt | continuing to exist or happen, especially for longer than is usual or desirable |
illusion | noun | ɪˈluːʒən | an idea or opinion that is wrong, especially about yourself |
disabled access | phrase | accessibility; the ability for people with disabilities to independently and safely enter and use buildings, facilities, and public spaces | |
boom | noun | buːm | a quick increase of business activity |
obliged | adj | əˈblaɪdʒd | to be forced to do something |
meet the demand | phrase | to satisfy the needs or desires of customers or users for a particular product or service | |
museum attendance | phrase | the number of people who visit a museum | |
quest | noun | kwest | a long search for something that is difficult to find |
reflection | noun | careful thought about something, sometimes over a long period of time | |
worthy | adj | ˈwɜːði | deserving respect from people |
ancestor | noun | ˈæntsestə | a member of your family who lived a long time ago |
investigation (into) | noun | /ɪnˌvestɪˈɡeɪʃn/ | an official examination of the facts about a situation, crime, etc. |
disapprove (of) | verb | /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/ | to think that somebody/something is not good or suitable |
publicity | noun | /pʌbˈlɪsəti/ | the attention that is given to somebody/something by newspapers, television, etc. |
sensational | adj | /senˈseɪʃənl/ | (disapproving) (of a newspaper, etc.) trying to get your interest by presenting facts or events as worse or more shocking than they really are |
unwelcome | adj | /ʌnˈwelkəm/ | not wanted |
absorption | noun | əbˈsɔːpʃən, -ˈzɔːp- | a process in which something takes in liquid, gas, or heat |
census | noun | ˈsensəs | an official process of counting a country’s population and finding out about the people |
ancestral | adj | ænˈsestrəl | relating or belonging to someone's ancestors |
heritage | noun | ˈherɪtɪdʒ | the traditional beliefs, values, customs, etc., of a family, country, or society |
tailor-made | adj | ˌteɪl ə ˈmeɪd | exactly right or suitable for someone or something |
driven | adj | ˈdrɪvən | something that is motivated or determined by a specified factor or feeling |
forebear | noun | ˈfɔːbeə | someone who was a member of your family a long time in the past |
genealogy | noun | ˌdʒiːniˈælədʒi | the study of the history of families |
appeal (to) | verb | /əˈpiːl/ | to attract or interest somebody |
authenticity | noun | ɔːθenˈtɪsɪti | the quality of being real or true |
inauthentic | adj | /ˌɪnɔːˈθentɪk/ | not what somebody claims it is; that you cannot believe or rely on |
runaway | adj | /ˈrʌnəweɪ/ | happening very easily or quickly |
glorious | adj | /ˈɡlɔːriəs/ | (formal) deserving or bringing great success and making somebody/something famous |
sham | noun | ʃæm | someone or something that is not what they are claimed to be – used to show disapproval |
be down to sth/sb | phrase | to be caused by a particular person or thing | |
circumstances | noun | /ˈsɜːkəmstənsɪz/ | the conditions of a person’s life, especially the money they have |
inherit (sth from sb) | verb | /ɪnˈherɪt/ | to have qualities, physical features, etc. that are similar to those of your parents, grandparents, etc. |
scepticism | noun | ˈskeptɪsɪzəm | an attitude of doubting that particular claims or statements are true or that something will happen |
unlike | preposition | /ˌʌnˈlaɪk/ | used to contrast somebody/something with another person or thing |
bragging | noun | ˈbraɡɪŋ | excessively proud and boastful talk about one's achievements or possessions |
worthwhile | adj | /ˌwɜːθˈwaɪl/ | important, pleasant, interesting, etc.; worth spending time, money or effort on |
dwell on | phrv | dwel ɒn | to think or talk for too long about something that happened, especially something unpleasant |
await | verb | əˈweɪt | to wait for something |
rapture | noun | ˈræptʃə | great excitement and happiness |
pore over | phrv | pɔː ˈəʊvə | to read or look at something very carefully for a long time |
microfiche | noun | ˈmaɪkrəʊfiːʃ | a sheet of microfilm which can only be read using a special machine, especially in a library |
delight | noun | /dɪˈlaɪt/ | a feeling of great pleasure |
convict | verb | kənˈvɪkt | to prove or officially announce that someone is guilty of a crime after a trial in a law court |
death certificate | phrase | /ˈdeθ sətɪfɪkət/ | an official document, signed by a doctor, that states the cause and time of somebody’s death |
instantly | adv | /ˈɪnstəntli/ | immediately |
resist (the urge) | verb | /rɪˈzɪst/ | to stop yourself from having something you like or doing something you very much want to do |
psychobabble | noun | ˈsaɪkəʊˌbæbəl | language that sounds scientific but is not really, which some people use when talking about their emotional problems (disapproving) |
recount | verb | rɪˈkaʊnt | to tell someone a story or describe a series of events |
clergyman | noun | ˈklɜːdʒimən | a male member of the clergy |
predictably | adv | /prɪˈdɪktəbli/ | in such a way that you know in advance that something will happen or what it will be like |
high-minded | adj | ˌhaɪ ˈmaɪnd ɪd | having very high moral standards or principles |
scruple | noun | ˈskruːpəl | a belief about what is right and wrong that prevents you from doing bad things |
deserting | adj | dɪˈzɜːtɪŋ | when someone leaves the army, navy, etc., without permission |
gold digger | noun | ɡəʊld ˈdɪɡə | people who dig for gold |
born-again | adj | ˌbɔːnəˈɡɛn | newly converted to and very enthusiastic about an idea or cause |
bore | noun | bɔː | something that is not interesting to you or that annoys you |
unsettling | adj | ʌnˈsetlɪŋ | making you feel nervous or worried |
DNA | noun | ˌdiː en ˈeɪ | deoxyribonucleic acid: a substance that carries genetic information in the cells of the body |
ethnicity | noun | eθ ˈnɪs ət i | the fact that someone belongs to a particular race of people |
migration | noun | maɪˈɡreɪʃən | when large numbers of people go to live in another area or country, especially in order to find work |
illogical | adj | ɪˈlɒdʒɪkəl | not sensible or reasonable |
changeable | adj | ˈtʃeɪndʒəbəl | likely to change, or changing often |
imaginable | adj | ɪˈmædʒənəbəl | used to emphasise that something is the best, worst, etc., that can be imagined |
recall | verb | rɪˈkɔːl | to remember a particular fact, event, or situation from the past |
so forth | phrase | səʊ fɔːθ | used to refer to other things of the type you have already mentioned, without actually naming them |
infer | verb | ɪnˈfɜː | to form an opinion that something is probably true because of information that you have |
sponsor | noun | ˈspɒnsə | a person or company that pays for a show, broadcast, sports event, etc., especially in exchange for the right to advertise at that event |
priority | noun | praɪˈɒrɪti | the thing that you think is most important and that needs attention before anything else |
dialect | noun | ˈdaɪəlekt | a form of a language which is spoken only in one area, with words or grammar that are slightly different from other forms of the same language |
irreversible | adj | ˌɪrɪˈvɜːsəbəl | irreversible damage, change, etc., is so serious or so great that you cannot change something back to how it was before |
accessible | adj | əkˈsesɪbəl | a place, building, or object that is accessible is easy to reach or get into |
innovative | adj | ˈɪnəvətɪv | an innovative idea or way of doing something is new, different, and better than those that existed before |
put an end to sth | phrase | to make something stop happening or existing | |
rein in | verb | reɪn ɪn | to start to control a situation more strictly |
redefine | verb | ˌriː di ˈfaɪn | define again or differently |
consecutive | adj | kənˈsekjətɪv | consecutive numbers or periods of time follow one after the other without any interruptions |
setback | noun | ˈsetbæk | a problem that delays or prevents progress, or makes things worse than they were |
strive | verb | straɪv | to make a great effort to achieve something |
pretence | noun | prɪˈtens | a way of behaving which is intended to make people believe something that is not true |
crush | verb | krʌʃ | to press something so hard that it breaks or is damaged |
oxen | noun | ˈɒks ən | (the plural form of 'ox') large cows or bulls |
interactive | adj | ˌɪntərˈæktɪv | one that allows you to communicate directly with a computer programme, etc., and does things in reaction to your actions |
prehistoric | adj | ˌpriːhɪˈstɒrɪk | relating to the time in history before anything was written down |
scarcely | adv | ˈskeəsli | almost not or almost none at all |
abruptly | adv | ə ˈbrʌptli | suddenly and unexpectedly |
devastating | adj | ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ | badly damaging or destroying something |
staggering | adj | ˈstæɡərɪŋ | extremely great or surprising |
immense | adj | ɪˈmens | extremely large |
bitterly | adv | ˈbɪtəli | in a way that produces or shows feelings of great sadness or anger |
dehydrated | adj | ˌdiːhaɪˈdreɪt | to remove the liquid from a substance such as food or a chemical |
decrease | verb | dɪˈkriːs | to become less or go down to a lower level, or to make something do this |
carnival | noun | ˈkɑːnɪvəl | a public event at which people play music, wear special clothes, and dance in the streets |