Unit 3

Word

Definition

Example

climb to the top of something

to move up to the highest point of something using your feet and hands, especially when this is difficult to do

We climbed five hundred steps to the top of the tower

guided tour

if someone takes you on a guided tour, they show you around a place of interest and tell you all about it

You will be taken on a guided tour of the palace

coach tour

a journey for pleasure, during which you visit several different towns, areas, etc. in a bus with comfortable seats

My grandparents are on a coach tour in New Zealand

walking tour

a holiday on which you walk a lot, especially in the countryside

We are planning a walking tour in Norway this summer

restore

to repair (an old building, piece of furniture or painting, etc.) so that it is in its original condition

The church was carefully restored after the war

ancient

belonging to a time long ago in history, especially thousands of years ago

We visited an ancient temple in the forest

remains

the parts of something that are left after the rest has been destroyed or has disappeared

You can still see the remains of the Roman settlement

have a great view of something

to be able to see a whole area well from somewhere, especially when it is very beautiful or impressive

We had a great view of Edinburgh from the top of the hill

steep

a road, hill, etc. that is steep slopes at a high angle

The road became rocky and steep

global

affecting or including the whole world

The financial crisis in 2008 affected the global economy

birth rate

the number of births for every 100 or every 1,000 people in a particular year in a particular place

The country's birth rate has decreased dramatically

be at risk of doing something

to be in a situation where you may be harmed

Their children are also at risk of developing the disease

research into something

serious study of a subject, in order to discover new facts or test new ideas

The charity funds research into the causes of cancer

cause

to make something happen, especially something bad

Scientists are trying to find out what causes the disease

invest in something

if a government, business or organisation invests in something, they spend a large amount of money to improve it or help it succeed

He invested £50,000 in his brother's business

predict

to say that something will happen, before it happens

Scientists are trying to predict what the Amazon will look like in 20 years' time

solar power

enerɡy created using the power of the sun's light and heat

The Mars rover operates using solar power

find a cure for something

to discover or create a medicine or medical treatment that makes an illness go away

Scientists are still hoping to find a cure for the common cold

cancer cells

cells in the body which start to grow in a way that is not normal because of a serious disease

Chemotherapy is treatment with drugs that destroy cancer cells

change

a situation in which someone or something becomes different, or the act of making something different

Reducing waste requires a fundamental change in attitude

earthquake

a sudden shaking of the Earth's surface that often causes a lot of damage

San Francisco was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1906

be affected by something

to feel strong emotions caused by something specific

We were all deeply affected by her death

identify

to recognise something or discover exactly what it is, what its nature or origin is, etc

Scientists have identified the gene that causes abnormal growth

gene

a part of a cell in a living thing that controls what it looks like, how it grows, and how it develops. People get their genes from their parents

Identical twins have the same genes

source

a thing, place, activity, etc. that you get something from

Beans are a very good source of protein

fall steadily

to go down gradually and continually to a lower level, amount, price, etc., especially a much lower one

The value of the company's exports has fallen steadily

increase dramatically

if something increases dramatically, it becomes bigger in amount, number or degree, in a great and sudden way

The population increased dramatically in the first half of the century

run out of something

to use all of something and not have any more left

They ran out of money and had to abandon the project

approve of someone or something

to think that someone or something is good, right or suitable

I approve of the decision to give the money to charity

believe in something

to think that something is effective or right

The school believes in letting children learn at their own pace

care for someone or something

to look after someone or an animal that is not able to look after themselves

He thanked the nurses who had cared for him

comment on someone or something

to express an opinion about someone or something

The minister said he would prefer not to comment on the accident until he knew more details

concentrate on something

to think very carefully about something that you are doing

I'm trying to concentrate on my work

congratulate someone on something

to tell someone that you are happy because they have achieved something or because something nice has happened to them

She congratulated me warmly on my exam results

consist of something

to be formed from two or more things or people

The audience consisted mainly of teenagers

contribute to something

to give (money, help, ideas, etc.) to something that a lot of other people are also involved in

The volunteers contribute their own time to the project

depend on something

if something depends on something else, it is directly affected or decided by that thing

Choosing the right bike depends on what you want to use it for

participate in something

to take part in an activity or event

The people should have the right to participate in discussions about their future

refer to something

to mention or speak about something

We agreed never to refer to the matter again

respond to something

to say or write something as a reply

Dave didn't respond to any of her emails

succeed in something

to do what you tried or wanted to do

She succeeded in persuading him

suffer from something

to have a particular disease or medical condition, especially for a long time

The writer suffered from ill health for most of his life

access healthcare

to be able to take advantage of the services that are provided for looking after people's health

An ageing population requires greater ease in accessing healthcare

swear

to use rude and offensive language

Don't swear in front of the children

personal space

the distance that you like to keep between you and other people in order to feel comfortable, for example when you are talking to someone or travelling on a bus or train

She objected to this invasion of her personal space

let someone off something

if you let someone off something, you allow them to get off a vehicle, etc. before you get off or on it yourself

We stood aside to let a mother and her children off the bus

no charge for doing something

if there is no charge, you do not have to pay any money for goods or services

There is no charge for using the swimming pool

in return

as payment or reward (for something)

He is always helping people without expecting anything in return

pay a fine

to pay money that you have to pay as a punishment

You have to pay a £60 fine if you park there for more than two hours

split the bill

to divide the cost of a meal and share it between two or more people

I split the bill for Mum's birthday lunch with my two brothers

show respect to someone

to act in a way that shows you believe that someone is important and should not be harmed, treated rudely, etc

We were taught to show respect to older people

respect someone's privacy

not to invade someone's freedom from public attention

Show teenagers that you respect their privacy by knocking on their bedroom door

bring the price down

to reduce the cost of (something)

The car manufacturer hopes the new technology will help to bring prices down

ask how much someone earns

to ask how much money someone receives for the work that they do

In many cultures it is considered rude to ask how much someone earns

hold hands

to have another person's hand in one of yours, for a period of time, usually as a sign of affection

Joanne and Kevin held hands on the sofa

in public

if you do something in public, you do it where anyone can see

In some countries, men and women are not allowed to show affection to each other in public

open a present in front of someone

to remove the wrapping from a gift where someone else can see you

They opened their wedding presents in front of all their guests

wait for everyone to be served

to wait until everyone has a plate of food and is ready to start eating

Wait for everyone to be served, then you can start eating your pizza

shake hands

to move someone's hand up and down with your own hand as a greeting or as a sign you have agreed something

We shook hands at the beginning of the interview

blow your nose

to clean your nose by forcing air through it into a cloth or a piece of soft paper

Amy finally stopped crying and blew her nose