Money plays a vital role in the world we live in. It provides us with the bare (1)___________ (NECESSARY) such as clothing, housing, transport and our staple (2)______________ (STUFF). Beyond that, it allows for life's little (3)____________ (LUXURIOUSLY) such as the occasional holiday. However, money is a (4)______________ (EDGE) sword, and along with its many benefits come significant drawbacks.
The most serious of these is the (5)______________ (DISTRIBUTE) of wealth. Perhaps never before in history has so much been in the hands of so few; the (6)___________ (CALL) "one per cent". When wealth is not divided (7)_________________ (EQUALITY), it creates class divisions and this situation leads to social (8)_______________ (RESTED). We need only to look back to the French Revolution to see what form this (9)____________ (ROAR) can take. (10)_____________ (GRANT), we are no longer living in the eighteenth century, but the same problems continue to plague us. The (11)_________________ (HAVE)- then, as now- express their (12)______________ (DESPERATE) and (13)__________________ (RESENTFUL) towards the rich and to corrupt governments by (14)______________ (RIOTER), looting and striking.
Not only can money cause problems at the (15)________________ (SOCIETY) level, but it can also ruin individual lives. In the case of (16)_______________________ (WIND) such as an (17)___________________ (HEIR) or a lottery win, the sudden shift to (18)_____________ (WEALTHY) can become a (19)______________ (CURSED). There have been (20)______________ (NUMBER) stories in the media about lottery winners being (21)________________ (HARASSMENT) for money, or whose friends and family (22)__________________ (EXPLOITATION) their (23)_________________________ (KIND). Some have squandered their fortunes (24)___________________ (RECKLESSNESS) due to poor money (25)___________________ (MANAGE) and ended up (26)__________________ (BREAK). Others find themselves (27)____________________ (DEBT). The most (28)_______________ (FORTUNE) have met (29)__________________ (TRAGEDY) ends, the victims of (30)_________________ (RUE) killers.
In (31)_____________________ (SUM), it would seem that money is an issue that can divide people, at times quite (32)_____________ (VIOLENCE). Whether it creates two (33)______________ (DISTINCTION) classes in society or tears families apart and destroys (34)_______________ (FRIEND), it is a (35)_________________ (POWER) force in our world.
KEY
1. necessities
2. foodstuffs [usually plural]
any substance that is used as food
- essential foodstuffs
- Cross-border trade in foodstuffs and consumer goods is increasing.
- Rationing of basic foodstuffs was introduced.
3. luxuries
luxuriously /lʌɡˈʒʊəriəsli/
luxury /ˈlʌkʃəri/
4. double-edged
5. redistribution
the act of sharing something out among people in a different way
- the redistribution of wealth
6. so-called
7. equally
8. unrest
rested: feeling healthy and full of energy because you have had a rest
- I awoke feeling rested and refreshed.
unrest: a political situation in which people protest or behave violently E.g. There is growing unrest throughout the country. Political/social/industrial etc unrest. The protests were the biggest show of social unrest since the government came to power
9. uproar
[uncountable, singular] a situation in which there is a lot of public criticism and angry argument about something that somebody has said or done. Outcry. E.g. The article caused (an) uproar.
10. Granted
used when you admit that something is true SYN admittedly. E.g. Granted, the music is not perfect, but the flaws are outweighed by the sheer joy of the piece.
11. have-nots
12. desperation
13. resentment/ resentfulness
14. rioting
15. societal
16. windfalls
windfall /ˈwɪndfɔːl $ -fɒːl/ noun [countable] 1 an amount of money that you get unexpectedly. Sp. dinero caído del cielo. E.g. his £2 million windfall in the lottery. windfall gain/profit etc (=high profit that you did not expect to make)2 a piece of fruit that has fallen off a tree.
17. inheritance
18. wealth
19. curse
cursed (adj) having a curse on it; suffering from a curse. Sp. maldito
- The necklace was cursed.
- The whole family seemed cursed.
20. numerous
21. harassed
22. exploited
23. kindness
24. recklessly
in a way that shows a lack of care about danger and the possible results of your actions. Sp. temerariamente; (=thoughtlessly) imprudentemente
E.g. to drive recklessly. Sp. conducir temerariamente
to spend recklessly Sp. derrochar dinero
- He admitted driving recklessly.
- She had fallen hopelessly and recklessly in love.
recklessness: behaviour that shows a lack of care about danger and the possible results of your actions. Sp. temeridad, Imprudencia.
- He was full of boyish recklessness and irresponsibility.
25. management
26. broke
27. indebted
/ɪnˈdetɪd/ owing money to someone the 17 most heavily indebted nations.
be (deeply/greatly) indebted to somebody: to be very grateful to someone for the help they have given you. E.g. We are deeply indebted to Dr Allen.
28. unfortunate
29. tragic
30. ruthless
so determined to get what you want that you do not care if you have to hurt other people in order to do it. Sp. despiadado -a, cruel• a ruthless dictator Sp. un despiadado dictador. E.g. a ruthless dictator. They have shown a ruthless disregard for basic human rights.
rue: /ruː/ verb [transitive]
rue something to feel bad about something that happened or something that you did because it had bad results. To wish that you had not done something. synonym: regret. Sp. lamentar (la decisión, etc.) rue the day (that) Sp. maldecir el día en que. E.g. She learned to rue the day she had met Henry. He rued the day they had bought such a large house.
31. summary
32. violently
33. distinct
/dɪˈstɪŋkt/
1. easily or clearly heard, seen, felt, etc.
- There was a distinct smell of gas.
- His voice was quiet but every word was distinct.
2. clearly different or of a different kind. Sp. distinto.
- The results of the survey fell into two distinct groups.
- distinct from something Jamaican reggae music is quite distinct from North American jazz or blues.
- We are talking about rural areas, as distinct from major cities.
34. friendships
35. powerful
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