English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate » Unit 13: Global problems
| verb | noun:thing or idea | noun: person |
| explode | ||
| _____ | _____ | survivor |
| injure | _____ | |
| starve | _____ | |
| erupt | _____ |
famine /ˈfæmɪn/ [no food]
landslide [rocks and earth moving suddenly down a slope] epidemic [ disease affecting large numbers of people]
explosion ( e.g. a bomb)
major accident / incident (e.g. a plane crash)
hurricane / tornado /tɔːˈneɪdəʊ/
typhoon / tropical storm [ violent wind / storm]
war / civil war [ civil war is war between people of the same country]
Disasters not caused by human beings can be called natural disasters.
Injure /ˈɪndʒə/ is used about people.
Damage /ˈdæmɪdʒ/ is used about things.
200 people were injured. Many buildings were damaged.
Verbs connected with these words
A volcano has erupted in Indonesia. Hundreds are feared dead. The flu epidemic spread rapidly throughout the country. Millions are starving as a result of the famine. A big earthquake shook the city at noon today. The area is suffering its worst drought for many years. Civil war has broken out in the north of the country. A tornado swept through the islands yesterday.
The explosion resulted in 300 casualties. /ˈkæʒuəlti:z/ [dead and injured people]
The real victims of civil war are children left without parents. [those who suffer the results]
There were only three survivors /səˈvaɪvəz/. All the other passengers were reported dead. [people who live through a disaster]
Thousands of refugees /refjʊˈdʒiːz/ have crossed the border looking for food and shelter. [people who have escaped from their own country because of a war or other disaster]
Millions of migrants enter the country each year, looking for a better life. [people who travel from one country to another, often in order to find work]
During the battle, the dead and wounded /ˈwuːndɪd/ were flown out in helicopters. [ wounded: injured in a battle / by a weapon]
Here are some headlines from newspapers all connected with diseases and epidemics. Explanations are given.
Rabies /ˈreɪbiːz/ out of control in many parts of Asia: disease can be caused by bite from a dog, fox, etc., very serious
New AIDS unit to be opened this month: acquired immune deficiency syndrome; often caused by sexual contact or contact with contaminated blood
New malaria /məˈleəriə/ drug tested: usually caught because of mosquito bites
Cholera /ˈkɒlərə/ and typhoid /ˈtaɪfɔɪd/ injections not needed says Tourism Minister: diseases causing sickness, diarrhoea, etc., caused often by infected food and water
The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for elementary level (A2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with 60 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.
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The words you need to communicate with confidence. Vocabulary explanations and practice for advanced level (C1 to C2) learners of English. Perfect for both self-study and classroom activities. Quickly expand your vocabulary with over 100 units of easy to understand explanations and practice exercises.