On Screen p 107. Raising Funds For Our Local Animal Shelter. Report. Word Formation

 

Task description

Over the last year your school has been raising money in support of a local charity. You have been asked to write a report for staff and students on the past year of fundraising activities for the charity.

In your report you should briefly describe the chosen charity and its aims, evaluate the overall success of the fundraising and explain which activities were the most successful.

Raising Funds For Our Local Animal Shelter.

Introduction

For the last year our college has been running its own charity events to raise funds for our local animal shelter. This report will remind students and staff about the aims of the charity chosen, and explain how successful the (1)______________ (PIONEER) initiative has been so far.

The charity

The charity chosen by the college is the local animal shelter. Its aims are not only to give abandoned pets the best possible care at the shelter, but also to find every pet a new home. They use donations for (2)_____________ (SUPPLY) and to employ staff to check that adopted pets are treated well and are happy.

Overall success

On the whole, the school's (3)______________ (FUND) efforts have been (4)___________ (EXTREME) successful. We raised $5000 in 12 months, which the charity told us represents 20% of their (5)_____________ (OVER) donations this year. They were (6)____________ (ELATION) and have sent us many pictures of (7)___________ (JOY) pets that have been adopted thanks to our hard work.

Most successful activities

Coffee mornings and the sports events were the activities which helped raise the majority of the (8)____________ (SUBSTANCE) amount mentioned above. In particular, the 'man's best friend' 5km race, where students, teachers and many (9)____________ (WILL) members of the public participated with their dogs, succeeded in promoting the shelter. (10)______________ (INTEREST), we are told that several adoptions took place the following week.

Conclusion

As can be seen in this report, the (11)______________ (CHARITY) events organised by the schools have been (12)____________ (REMARKABLE) successful on the whole. Moreover, the charity chosen is (13)______________ (IMMENSE) pleased to have the school's (14)_____________ (VALUE) help and we are not at all (15)_____________ (SATISFACTION) with how the funds raised are being used. 

KEY

1. pioneering

 

 

 

2. supplies

supplies: (pl) provisions: food, equipment. The things such as food, medicines, fuel, etc. that are needed by a group of people, for example an army or expedition. Sp. suministro. E.g. Our backpacks held all of our supplies for the 7-day hike. Sp. Nuestras mochilas contenían todos nuestros suministros para la excursión de siete días. 

3. fundraising

 

 

 

4. extremely

 

 

5. overall

overall: considering or including everything. Total. 

E.g.

The overall cost of the exhibition was £400,000.  

The overall result is an increase in population.  

An overall winner and a runner-up were chosen.  

We don’t want all the details now, just the overall picture.

6. elated

elated: extremely happy and excited, especially because of something that has happened or is going to happen. OPP depressed. 

E.g.  

He felt elated.

elated at/by  She was elated at the prospect of a holiday. 

7. joyful

 

 

 

8. substantial

 

 

 

9. willing 

10. Interestingly,

11. charitable

 

 

 

12. remarkably

 

 

 

13. immensely 

14.invaluable/ valuable

15. dissatisfied / unsatisfied

On Screen p 53. It’s a dog’s life. Writing an article

Task description:

A monthly magazine about social issues has asked readers to send in articles on worthy causes. You decide to write an article in which you describe a charity you support, explain how and why you support it, and assess its importance for the community.

What does it (1)__________ to make a huge difference in someone’s life? Would you be (2)__________________ to learn that all you need is a friendly pet and few hours a week?
But let me back (3)_______________ a bit. When my elderly neighbour moved (4)_____________ aged care, I decided to visit her one Sunday. I wasn’t sure (5)_____________ to expect: Would she feel depressed at having to leave her own home?
I needn’t have (6)_____________. An amazing charity called Pet Set had taken care of that. Sitting by her (7)___________ was a big white English Bulldog, Winston. It was Winston’s job to offer companionship to the elderly residents, and this he (8)______________with great success. Apparently, Winston visited three times a week and (9)__________ everyone’s spirits. Speaking with his owner, I learned that Pet Set volunteers take their good-natured dogs to places like aged care facilities and hospitals to (10)__________ improve the wellbeing of residents and patients.
‘What a great idea!’ I thought. Wanting to take part, but not (11)___________ a pet, I offered my time (12)_______________ an administration officer. Twice a week, I work the phones and organise the volunteers. Knowing that I’m doing something (13)______________ with my time is important to me. Getting to know the dogs and seeing the joy they bring is an (14)_____________ bonus.
I constantly hear heart-warming stories resulting (15)__________ these visits. For the elderly residents who have experienced the trauma of giving (16)______________ their own beloved pets, a regular visit from a friendly dog does (17)_____________ for their morale and gives them something to look forward to. (18)_____________ for the dogs, they love the attention and the treats they get!
Don’t think twice about it. I encourage anyone who has spare time and a placid pooch to enquire about getting involved. (19)__________ if, like me, you don’t have a pet, there are ways you can help. Look (20)______________ it – you won’t regret it



KEY



1. take



2. surprised



3. up



4. into



5. what



6. worried



7. side



8. did



9. raised/ lifted



10. help



11. having



12. as



13. worthwhile



14. added



15. from



16. up



17. wonders



18. As



19. Even



20. into

Objective Proficiency p 115. Vocabulary

2002 Edition p 117: 
Ex 2

• Pest: an insect or animal that destroys plants, food, etc. Sp. plaga. E.g. pest control. Insect/plant/garden pests.
• Pose something: to create a threat, problem, etc. that has to be dealt with. E.g. to pose a threat /challenge /danger /risk. The task poses no special problems.
• Remarkable: /rɪˈmɑːkəbl /unusual or surprising in a way that causes people to take notice. E.g. a remarkable achievement/career/talent. What is even more remarkable about the whole thing is…
• Get, etc. somewhere under your own steam: (informal) to go somewhere without help from other people. E.g. I'll get to the party under my own steam.
• Excess: /ɪkˈses/ more than is necessary, reasonable or acceptable. E.g. The increase will not be in excess of (= more than) two per cent.
• Produce: / ˈprɒdjuːs/ [uncountable] things that have been made or grown, especially things connected with farming. Sp. productos alimenticios. E.g. farm produce. The shop sells only fresh local produce. It says on the label ‘Produce of France’. 
• Cargo: / ˈkɑːɡəʊ/ the goods carried in a ship or plane. Sp. Carga. E.g. The tanker began to spill its cargo of oil. A cargo ship.
• Smuggle: to take, send or bring goods or people secretly and illegally into or out of a country, etc. Sp. Hacer contrabando. E.g. They were caught smuggling diamonds into the country. He managed to smuggle a gun into the prison. Smuggled drugs. We do not yet know how the bomb was smuggled abroad.
• Stowaway: a person who hides in a ship or plane before it leaves, in order to travel without paying or being seen. 

Ex 4

• Terrapin: /ˈterəpɪn/ a small turtle (= a reptile with a hard round shell), that lives in warm rivers and lakes in N America.
• Mutant: / ˈmjuːtənt/ different in some way from others of the same kind because of a change in its genetic structure. E.g. a mutant gene. A mutant strain (type) of the virus.
• Vicious: /ˈvɪʃəs/ (of animals) aggressive and dangerous. E.g. a vicious dog.
• Walter Raleigh: /ˈrɔːli/, /ˈræli/, or /ˈrɑːli/ was an English aristocrat, writer, poet, soldier, courtier, spy, and explorer. He is also well known for popularising tobacco in England. He rose rapidly in the favour of Queen Elizabeth I, and was knighted in 1585. He was involved in the early English colonisation of Virginia under a royal patent. In 1591 he secretly married Elizabeth Throckmorton, one of the Queen's ladies-in-waiting, without the Queen's permission, for which he and his wife were sent to the Tower of London. After his release, they retired to his estate at Sherborne, Dorset.
• Myxomatosis: / ˌmɪksəməˈtəʊsɪs/ an infectious disease of rabbits that usually causes death.
• Dietary: / ˈdaɪətəri/ E.g. dietary advice/changes/habits. Dietary fibre. Chocolate is a dietary change that has been introduced.
• Cocoa: / ˈkəʊkəʊ/ dark brown powder made from the crushed seeds (called cocoa beans) of a tropical tree.

Objective Proficiency p 114. Vocabulary

2002 Edition p 116:
Ex 1
Text A

• Far off: a long distance away. E.g. a far-off land. 
• Landmass: a large area of land, for example a continent. E.g. 2500 kilometres from the neares landmass.
• Wage: to begin and continue a war, a battle, etc. E.g. The rebels have waged a guerrilla war since 2007. Wage something against/on somebody/something He alleged that a press campaign was being waged against him.
• Gough: /ɡɒf/ 
• Warfare: the activity of fighting a war, especially using particular weapons or methods. E.g. air/naval/guerrilla, etc. warfare. Countries engaged in warfare. 
• A foregone conclusion: if you say that something is a foregone conclusion, you mean that it is a result that is certain to happen. Sp. de prever. E.g. The outcome of the vote is a foregone conclusion.
• Battered: / ˈbætəd /attacked violently and injured; attacked and badly damaged by weapons or by bad weather. E.g. battered women/children The child had suffered what has become known as ‘battered baby syndrome.’Rockets and shells continued to hit the battered port. After the hurricane, thousands were rescued from the battered coastal towns.
• Unbowed: /ˌʌnˈbaʊd/ not defeated or not ready to accept defeat. E.g. The losing team left the field bloody but unbowed.
• Overrun, overran, overrun: to fill or spread over an area quickly, especially in large numbers. Sp. invadir. E.g. The house was completely overrun with mice. Enemy soldiers had overrun the island. The tiny village was overrun by tourists.
• Intrepid: /ɪnˈtrepɪd/ very brave; not afraid of danger or difficulties. Fearless. Sp. intrépido. E.g.an intrepid explorer.
• Stretch: a continuous period of time. Spell. E.g. They worked in four-hour stretches. She used to read for hours at a stretch (= without stopping). 
• Scope: the opportunity or ability to do or achieve something. Sp. posibilidades. E.g. There's still plenty of scope for improvement. Her job offers very little scope for promotion. The extra money will give us the scope to improve our facilities. First try to do something that is within your scope. 
• Grudge match: a match where there is strong dislike between the teams and they take revenge on each other.
• Dingo / ˈdɪŋɡəʊ/ plural dingoes: a wild Australian dog.

• Yam: the large root of a tropical plant that is cooked as a vegetable. Sp. boniato, ñame. 

• Stowaway: a person who hides in a ship or plane before it leaves, in order to travel without paying or being seen.
• Utility: the quality of being useful. Usefulness. E.g. This information is of the highest utility to a historian.
• Idiocy: /ˈɪdiəsi/ very stupid behaviour; the state of being very stupid. Stupidity. Sp. Idiotez. E.g. It is sheer idiocy to go climbing in this weather. 
• Go on to do something: to do something after completing something else. E.g. The book goes on to describe his experiences in the army. After her early teaching career she went on to become a doctor.

1. 

• Overcome somebody/something to defeat somebody. E.g. In the final game Sweden easily overcame France.

Objective Proficiency p 113. Vocabulary

Ex 5

• Suggest: E.g. I suggested going in my car. I suggest (that) we go out to eat.
• Declare: to state something firmly and clearly. E.g. Few people dared to declare their opposition to the regime. He declared that he was in love with her. 
• Decide: E.g. We've decided not to go away after all. Why did you decide to look for a new job? She decided (that) she wanted to live in France.
• Sigh: /saɪ/ to say something with a sigh. Sp. suspirar. E.g. ‘Oh well, better luck next time,’ she sighed. 
• Catch your death (of cold):  (old-fashioned, informal) to catch a very bad cold.
• Object: E.g. I really object to being charged for parking. He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence.
• Claim: to say that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it. E.g. He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing.  I don't claim to be an expert.
• Insist on doing sth: E.g. They insist on playing their music late at night.  
• Refuse to do something: E.g. He flatly refused to discuss the matter. She refused to accept that there was a problem. 

Ex 5

• Tentative: /tentətɪvli/ not behaving or done with confidence. Hesitantly. E.g. They have tentatively agreed to our proposal. She smiled tentatively.
• Reluctantly: /rɪˈlʌktəntli/ E.g. We reluctantly agreed to go with her. Reluctantly, he started the engine and drove off.
• Resignedly: /rɪˈzaɪnɪdli/ being willing to calmly accept something unpleasant or difficult that you cannot change. E.g. ‘I suppose you're right,’ she said resignedly.
• Peevishly: /ˈpiːvɪʃli/ easily annoyed by unimportant things; bad-tempered. Sp. de mala manera. E.g.  ‘It's your own fault,’ she said peevishly.
• Stubbornly: / ˈstʌbənli / determined not to change your opinion or attitude. E.g. She stubbornly refused to pay.
• Categorically: /ˌkætəˈɡɒrɪkli/ expressed clearly and in a way that shows that you are very sure about what you are saying. Sp. rotundamente. E.g. He categorically rejected our offer.  

Ex 6

• Sarcastically: E.g. ‘John can't come.’ ‘What a shame,’ my brother said sarcastically.   
• Pedantically: /pɪˈdæntɪkli/ too worried about small details or rules. E.g. "This large pastry shell is called vol-au-vent," she said pedantically. 
• Absent-mindedly: tending to forget things, perhaps because you are not thinking about what is around you, but about something else. E.g. She absent-mindedly twisted a strand (a single piece) of hair around her fingers.
• Decisively: /dɪˈsaɪsɪvli/ able to decide something quickly and with confidence. E.g. She shook her head decisively.
• Blankly: /ˈblæŋkli / showing no feeling, understanding or interest. E.g. She stared blankly into space, not knowing what to say next.
• Rudely: E.g. ‘What do you want?’ she asked rudely. 
• Cautiously: / ˈkɔːʃəsli/ being careful about what you say or do, especially to avoid danger or mistakes; not taking any risks. E.g. She looked cautiously around and then walked away from the house.

Ex 7

• Breed, bred, bred: to keep animals or plants in order to produce young ones in a controlled way. E.g. The rabbits are bred for their long coats. Greyhounds were originally bred as hunting dogs. The first panda to be bred in captivity.
• Nomad: /ˈnəʊmæd/ a member of a community that moves with its animals from place to place. 
• Drift: to move or go somewhere slowly. E.g. The crowd drifted away from the scene of the accident. Her gaze drifted around the room. People began to drift back to their houses.
• A game animal: a bird that people hunt for sport or food.  
• Spring up, sprang, sprung: to appear or develop quickly and/or suddenly. E.g. Play areas for children are springing up all over the place. Opposition groups are springing up like mushrooms.
• Hamlet: /ˈhæmlət/ a very small village.
• For something's sake: because of the interest or value something has, not because of the advantages it may bring. E.g. I believe in education for its own sake. Art for art's sake.
• Aristotle: /ˈær ɪ stɒt əl / 
• Pliny: /ˈplɪn i/
• Dilettante: /ˌdɪləˈtænti/ pl dilettanti /ˌdɪləˈtæntiː/ or dilettante: a person who does or studies something but is not serious about it and does not have much knowledge. E.g. a dilettante artist (Sp. de poca monta)
• Second-rate: not very good or impressive. E.g. a second-rate player.
• Menagerie: /məˈnædʒəri/ a collection of wild animals.
• Keep/lose track of somebody/something: to have/not have information about what is happening or where somebody/something is. Sp. mantener un registro. E.g. Bank statements help you keep track of where your money is going. I lost all track of time (= forgot what time it was). 

Objective Proficiency p 112. Vocabulary

Ex 1

• Endanger: /ɪnˈdeɪndʒə(r)/ to put somebody/something in a situation in which they could be harmed or damaged. E.g. The health of our children is being endangered by exhaust fumes. That one mistake seriously endangered the future of the company. The sea turtle is an endangered species (= it may soon no longer exist).  
• Ascension frigate bird: /əˈsenʃn/ /ˈfrɪɡət/ a tropical bird that lives near the sea, with dark feathers and a long beak with a hook.

• Gorilla: /ɡəˈrɪlə/ 
• Bison: /ˈbaɪsn/ 

Ex 2

• Rhino: /ˈraɪnəʊ/ plural rhinos.
• Rhinoceros: /raɪˈnɒsərəs/ plural rhinoceros or rhinoceroses.
• Biodiversity: /ˌbaɪəʊdaɪˈvɜːsəti/ the existence of a large number of different kinds of animals and plants which make a balanced environment. E.g. The mining project threatens one of the world's richest areas of biodiversity.
• Range (of something): /reɪndʒ/ a variety of things of a particular type. E.g. The hotel offers a wide range of facilities. There is a full range of activities for children. This material is available in a huge range of colours.
• Albeit: /ˌɔːlˈbiːɪt/ although. E.g. He finally agreed, albeit reluctantly, to help us.
• Enclosure: /ɪnˈkləʊʒə(r)/ a piece of land that is surrounded by a fence or wall and is used for a particular purpose. E.g. a wildlife enclosure. In most places rhinos live either in fenced enclosures or under armed guard.
• Out-of-the-way: far from a town or city. E.g. a little out-of-the-way place on the coast.
• Roam: /rəʊm/ to walk or travel around an area without any definite aim or direction. Wander. E.g. The sheep are allowed to roam freely on this land. To roam the countryside/the streets, etc.
• Come to something: to reach a particular situation, especially a bad one. E.g. The doctors will operate if necessary—but it may not come to that. Who'd have thought things would come to this (= become so bad)? 
• Slaughter: /ˈslɔːtə(r)/ the killing of animals for their meat. E.g. cows taken for slaughter.
• Launch something: to start an activity, especially an organized one. E.g. To launch an appeal/an inquiry/an investigation/a campaign. To launch an attack/invasion.
• Poach: /pəʊtʃ/ to illegally hunt birds, animals or fish on somebody else's property or without permission. Sp. Cazar furtivamente. E.g. The elephants are poached for their tusks.
• Rife: /raɪf/ if something bad or unpleasant is rife in a place, it is very common there. Widespread. E.g. It is a country where corruption is rife. Rumours are rife that he is going to resign.
• Harsh: /hɑːʃ/ very difficult and unpleasant to live in. E.g. a harsh winter/wind/climate. The harsh conditions of poverty which existed for most people at that time.
• Thrive: /θraɪv/ to become, and continue to be, successful, strong, healthy, etc. Sp. prosperar, crecer con fuerza. E.g. New businesses thrive in this area. These animals rarely thrive in captivity.    

Ex 3  

• Gist: /dʒɪst/ (usually the gist) the main or general meaning of a piece of writing, a speech or a conversation. Sp. lo esencial. E.g. to get (= understand) the gist of an argument. I missed the beginning of the lecture—can you give me the gist of what he said? I'm afraid I don't quite follow your gist (= what you really mean). Students are taught the skills of reading and listening for gist.
• Roam: / rəʊm/ to walk or travel around an area without any definite aim or direction. Wander. E.g. The sheep are allowed to roam freely on this land.  To roam the countryside/the streets, etc.
• Footprint: /ˈfʊtprɪnt/ a mark left on a surface by a person's foot or shoe or by an animal's foot. E.g. footprints in the sand.
• Outline: to give a description of the main facts or points involved in something. Sp. explicar resumidamente. E.g. We outlined our proposals to the committee.

P. 185

• Was not to: must changes to had to and mustn't becomes was not to for obligation in reported speech. E.g. you mustn't tell my mother: she said I was not to tell her mother.
• Rubbish tip: a place where you can take rubbish/garbage and leave it. Sp. Vertedero.

Ex 4 

• Scum: /skʌm/ an insulting word for people that you strongly disapprove of. Sp. escoria. E.g. Don't waste your sympathy on scum like that. Drug dealers are the scum of the earth (= the worst people there are).
• Abuse: rude and offensive remarks, usually made when somebody is very angry. E.g. to scream/hurl/shout abuse. She screamed abuse at Tom. A stream/torrent of abuse. The man burst into a torrent of foul-mouthed racist abuse.
• Hurl: 1. to throw something/somebody violently in a particular direction. E.g. He hurled a brick through the window. 2. hurl abuse, accusations, insults, etc. (at somebody) to shout insults, etc. at somebody. E.g. Rival fans hurled abuse at each other.
• Foul-mouthed: using rude, offensive language. E.g. a foul-mouthed racist.
• Scold: /skəʊld/ to speak angrily to somebody, especially a child, because they have done something wrong. E.g. He scolded them for arriving late.
• Stern: serious and often disapproving; expecting somebody to obey you. E.g. a stern face/expression/look. Sternly (adv) /stɜːnli/ E.g. The librarian sternly told us off for talking. 

Objective Proficiency p 110. Vocabulary

Ex 1

• Heap (of something): an untidy pile of something. Sp. montón. E.g. The building was reduced to a heap of rubble. A compost heap. His clothes lay in a heap on the floor. Worn-out car tyres were stacked in heaps. A rubbish heap.
• Smog: a form of air pollution that is or looks like a mixture of smoke and fog, especially in cities
• attempts to reduce smog caused by traffic fumes.
• Halt: to stop; to make somebody/something stop. E.g. She walked towards him and then halted. I would try to halt global warming by curbing the use of cars.
• Curb something:  /kɜːb/ to control or limit something, especially something bad. Check. Sp. poner freno, controlar. E.g He needs to learn to curb his temper. A range of policies have been introduced aimed at curbing inflation. 

Ex 2 

• Carrier bag: a paper or plastic bag for carrying shopping.
• Disposable: /dɪˈspəʊzəbl/ made to be thrown away after use. Sp. desechable. E.g. disposable gloves/razors. Disposable nappies (British English). Disposable diapers (North American English).
• Thermostat: /ˈθɜːməstæt/ a device that measures and controls the temperature of a machine or room, by switching the heating or cooling system on and off as necessary. E.g. turn down the thermostat.
• Stationery: /ˈsteɪʃənri / 1 materials for writing and for using in an office, for example paper, pens and envelopes. 2 special paper for writing letters on. 

Recycled stationery paper:

• Drip: to produce drops of liquid. E.g. The tap was dripping. Be careful, you're dripping paint everywhere!
• Biodegradable: /ˌbaɪəʊdɪˈɡreɪdəbl/ a substance or chemical that is biodegradable can be changed to a harmless natural state by the action of bacteria, and will therefore not damage the environment. Opposite: non-biodegradable. E.g. All active ingredients of this soap powder are 98% biodegradable within three days.
• Herbicide: /ˈhɜːbɪsaɪd/ a chemical that is poisonous to plants, used to kill plants that are growing where they are not wanted.
• Insecticide: /ɪnˈsektɪsaɪd/ 

Ex 3 
Questions 

• Get across (to somebody)/ get something across (to somebody): to be communicated or understood; to succeed in communicating something. E.g. Your meaning didn't really get across. He's not very good at getting his ideas across.
• Landslide: /ˈlændslaɪd / a mass of earth, rock, etc. that falls down the slope of a mountain or a cliff. Sp. desprendimiento. E.g. The house was buried beneath a landslide.
• Susceptible: /səˈseptəbl/ susceptible (to somebody/something) very likely to be influenced, harmed or affected by somebody/something. Sp. Propens a. E.g. He's highly susceptible to flattery (se le puede persuadir alagándolo). Some of these plants are more susceptible to frost damage than others. Salt intake may lead to raised blood pressure in susceptible adults.There are few known diseases which are not susceptible to medical treatment. This type of rock is susceptible to landslides.
• Downwind: in the direction in which the wind is blowing. E.g. sailing downwind. Downwind of something Warnings were issued to people living downwind of the fire to stay indoors. He went downwind of the animals.
• Sight: a thing that you see or can see. E.g. It's a spectacular sight as the flamingos lift into the air. He was a sorry sight, soaked to the skin and shivering. The bird is now a rare sight in this country. He became a familiar sight on the streets of Oxford.
• Prove yourself (to somebody): to show other people how good you are at doing something or that you are capable of doing something. E.g. He constantly feels he has to prove himself to others (Sp. demostrar su valía).
• Amateurish: /ˈæmətərɪʃ/ /ˈæmətʃərɪʃ/  (also amateur / ˈæmətə(r)/ / ˈæmətʃə(r/) not done or made well or with skill. E.g. Detectives described the burglary as ‘crude and amateurish’. Opposite: professional.
• Alienate: /ˈeɪliəneɪt/ 1 alienate somebody to make somebody less friendly or sympathetic towards you. Sp. ganarse la antipatía de alguien. E.g. His comments have alienated a lot of young voters. 2 alienate somebody (from something/somebody) to make somebody feel that they do not belong in a particular group. Sp. alejar a alguien. E.g. Very talented children may feel alienated from the others in their class. 

Transcript 
Extract 1

• Rubbish: comments, ideas, etc. that you think are stupid or wrong. Nonsense. E.g. Rubbish! You're not fat. You're talking a load of rubbish. It's not rubbish—it's true!
• Cut down (on something): to reduce the size, amount or number of something. E.g.The doctor told him to cut down on his drinking. I won't have a cigarette, thanks—I'm trying to cut down (= smoke fewer).
• Medley: /ˈmedli/ a mixture of people or things of different kinds. E.g. a medley of flavours/smells. The building was a medley of styles from different periods.
• Top: a thing that you put on the end of something to close it. E.g. Where's the top of this pen? A bottle with a screw top (Sp. tapón de rosca).
• Keen: 1. enthusiastic about an activity or idea, etc. E.g. a keen sportsman. One of the keenest supporters of the team. She was a star pupil—keen, confident and bright. 2. quick to understand. E.g. a keen mind/ intellect.
• Rapt: so interested in one particular thing that you are not aware of anything else. Sp. embelesado. E.g. a rapt audience. She listened to the speaker with rapt attention. He watched her with a rapt expression. Jill stared at them blankly, rapt in thought.
• Rough: not exact; not including all details. Approximate. E.g. a rough calculation/estimate of the cost. I've got a rough idea of where I want to go. There were about 20 people there, at a rough guess. A rough draft of a speech. A rough sketch.
• Spell something out: to explain something in a simple, clear way. E.g. You know what I mean—I'm sure I don't need to spell it out. Spell out  why, what, etc… Let me spell out why we need more money.
• Dump: a place where waste or rubbish/garbage is taken and left. Sp. vertedero. E.g. (British English) a rubbish dump. (North American English) a garbage dump. The municipal dump. A toxic/nuclear waste dump.
• Landfill: 1 [countable, uncountable] an area of land where large amounts of waste material are buried under the earth. Sp. vertedero. E.g. The map shows the position of the new landfills. A landfill site. 2 [uncountable] the process of burying large amounts of waste material. E.g. the choice of landfill or incineration. 3 [uncountable] waste material that will be buried.
• Roller coaster: a situation that keeps changing very quickly. E.g. The last few weeks have been a real roller coaster. An emotional roller coaster. The roller coaster changes in share prices.
• Get somebody: (informal) to annoy somebody. E.g. What gets me is having to do the same thing all day long.

Extract 2

• Chunk: a thick solid piece that has been cut or broken off something. E.g. a chunk of cheese.
• Be down to somebody/ something: to be caused by a particular person or thing. E.g. She claimed her problems were down to the media.
• Reverberate: / rɪˈvɜːbəreɪt/ to be repeated several times as it is reflected off different surfaces. Sp. retumbar, resonar. E.g. Her voice reverberated around the hall. The crash reverberated through the house.
• Sodden: extremely wet. Soaked. E.g. We arrived home completely sodden.
• The shape of things to come: the way things are likely to develop in the future. E.g. Are solar-powered cars the shape of things to come?
• Seep: to flow slowly and in small quantities through something or into something. Sp. filtrarse. E.g. blood was beginning to seep through the bandages. Water seeped from a crack in the pipe.
• Crumble: to break or break something into very small pieces. E.g. Rice flour makes the cake less likely to crumble.
• Sheer away/off (from something): to change direction suddenly, especially in order to avoid hitting something. Sp. desviarse, cambiar de rumbo. E.g. The car sheered away, just missing the bike. (figurative) Her mind sheered away from images she did not wish to dwell on.

Extract 3 

• Moor: /mɔː(r)/ /mʊə(r)/ a high open area of land that is not used for farming, especially an area covered with rough grass and heather. Sp. páramo, brezal. E.g. The North York moors. To go for a walk on the moors.
• Heather: /ˈheðə(r)/ a low wild plant with small purple, pink or white flowers, that grows on hills and areas of wild open land (= moorland ). Sp. Brezo.

• Dew: /djuː/ the very small drops of water that form on the ground, etc. during the night. Sp. rocío. E.g. The grass was wet with early morning dew.
• Drench: [often passive] to make somebody/something completely wet. Soak. E.g. We were caught in the storm and got drenched to the skin. His face was drenched with sweat. She drenched herself in perfume.
• Stag: a male deer.
• Belligerent: /bəˈlɪdʒərənt/ unfriendly and aggressive. Hostile. E.g. a belligerent attitude. He is always very belligerent towards me. 
• Clatter: a continuous rattling sound as of hard objects falling or striking each other. Sp. traqueteo. E.g. the horse spun round with a clatter of hooves.
• Rattle: a series of short loud sounds made when hard objects hit against each other. Sp. traqueteo, ruido E.g. the rattle of gunfire. From the kitchen came a rattling of cups and saucers.
• Spin, spun, spun: to turn round and round quickly. E.g. The dancers spun round and round.
• Hoof: plural hoofs or hooves. The hard part of the foot of some animals, for example horses.Sp. pezuña. 
• Antler: one of the two horns that grow on the head of male deer. Sp. cuerno. E.g. Poachers in search of antlers prey on red deer.
• Poacher: / ˈpəʊtʃə(r)/ a person who illegally hunts birds, animals or fish on somebody's else's property. Cazador furtivo.
• Prey on/upon somebody/something:  (of an animal or a bird) to hunt and kill another animal for food. Sp. cazar. E.g. Hawks (halcones) prey on rodents (Sp. roedores) and small birds.
• Creep, crept, crept: (+ adverb/preposition) (of people or animals) to move slowly, quietly and carefully, because you do not want to be seen or heard. E.g. I crept up the stairs, trying not to wake my parents. I heard someone creeping around the house. 
• Part: if two things or parts of things part or you part them, they move away from each other. Sp. abrirse. E.g. The crowd parted in front of them. The elevator doors parted and out stepped the President. Her lips were slightly parted. She parted the curtains a little and looked out.
• Be locked in/into something to be involved in a difficult situation, an argument, a disagreement, etc. E.g. The two sides are locked into a bitter dispute. She felt locked in a loveless marriage. Two stags locked in battle. 
• Bent on something/on doing something: determined to do something (usually something bad). Sp. estar empeñado. E.g. She seems bent on making life difficult for me. They weren't bent on mutual destruction.
• Wretched: used to show that you think that somebody/something is extremely annoying. Sp. maldito. E.g. Is it that wretched woman again? The wretched mist came down again. 
• Blot something out:  to cover or hide something completely. E.g. Clouds blotted out the sun.
• Bring something home to somebody: to make somebody realize how important, difficult or serious something is. Sp. dejar claro. E.g. The sight of his pale face brought home to me how ill he really was. The television pictures brought home to us the full horror of the attack. 
• Encroach: /ɪnˈkrəʊtʃ/ to slowly begin to cover more and more of an area. Sp. invadir, ocupar. E.g. The growing town soon encroached on the surrounding countryside. The encroaching tide (= that is coming in). The ever-encroaching hand of so-called progress.

Extract 4

• Put forward: to suggest something for discussion. E.g. to put forward a suggestion. 
• Take issue with somebody (about/on/over something): (formal) to start disagreeing or arguing with somebody about something. E.g. I must take issue with you on that point.
• Denude: /dɪˈnjuːd/ denude something (of something) (formal) to remove the covering, features, etc. from something, so that it is exposed. Sp. despojar. E.g. hillsides denuded of trees.
• Ravage: /ˈrævɪdʒ/ ravage something to damage something badly. Devastate. E.g. a country ravaged by civil war. A recession that has ravaged the textile industry.
• Tree-hugger: (informal, usually disapproving) a person who cares very much about the environment and tries to protect it. Sp. ecologista.
• Weirdo: /ˈwɪədəʊ/ plural weirdos. A person who looks strange and/or behaves in a strange way. Sp. bicho raro. E.g. It's dangerous to be out on your own there are too many weirdos around.
• Gaia: /ˈɡaɪə/ ( Greek Mythology the Earth personified as a goddess, daughter of Chaos) the Earth, considered as a single natural system which organizes and controls itself. 
• Enquiry: /ɪnˈkwaɪəri/ the act of asking questions or collecting information about somebody/something. E.g. scientific enquiry.
• Holistic: /həʊˈlɪstɪk/ /hɒˈlɪstɪk/ considering a whole thing or being to be more than a collection of parts. Sp. integral. E.g. a holistic approach to life.

Ex 4 

• A play on words: the humorous use of a word or phrase that can have two different meanings. Pun. Sp. juego de palabras.