Lesson 1 Education

Study abroad is an arduous but rewarding process.

 

Teaching can be a very rewarding career.

 

The educational aspirations/pursuits of rural youth tend to be different from those of students living elsewhere.

 

Traditional ways of teaching form the basis of the lesson.

 

Using lateral thinking, the students can solve problems in an unconventional manner.

 

The students should not rely on linear thinking habits. Instead, they should think more innovatively.

 

He made an attempt to break the mould of British Politics.

 

In the process of being educated we can learn from the achievements of those more gifted than ourselves.

 

Rote memorization is not entirely useless. It can help children to learn the basics such as the multiplication tables.

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-Learning the facts by hearts

 

-Motivate students to read extensively.

 

In concerns some parents that these examinations may induce cramming.

 

No one minds mistakes or ignorance as long as you are prepared to learn from them.

 

At school students should be taught respect for the rights of others and standards of upright conduct.

 

Students’ autonomy should be encouraged when there are not enough teachers to go around.

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Lydia lacks self-discipline and is unable to finish anything.

 

His dad was always telling him to set a good example for his younger brother.

 

Meet one’s expectations.

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Jam kept falling short of my expectations.

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So far, no teaching methods can be guaranteed success.

 

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this class in the past couple of months.

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She’s a well-round person who not only works hard but also has a varied social life.

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Their comprehensive coverage of different types of examples renders work sheets unnecessary.

 

Self-paced distance learning offers students convenience and flexibility.

 

Academic attainment=academic performance

 

Promote equality ~ repress individuality

 

Co-education ~ a single sex school

 

The students are well-behaved.

 

A positive outlook on life can help students to succeed both academically and socially.

 

Educators should ensure that today’s students will become productive and well-adjusted adults of tomorrow.

 

Drop out of school=skip school

 

In some countries, to come of age means to reach the age when someone is legally recognized as an adult and is legally responsible for his/her own behavior.

 

Bilingual ~ monolingual

 

It is about time you stopped slacking off and did some work.

 

I am sure you can solve the problem if you apply yourself.

 

His teacher described him as a disruptive student-always distracting other children.

 

Megan had an unruly class of adolescents on Thursday.

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Ricky sometimes likes to act up in class.

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The coach apologized for his team’s indiscipline.

 

…culturally-competent university graduates who can meet the new market demands…

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Education should be geared to the students’ needs and abilities.

 

The workshop helps students to put theory into practice…

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Students acquired first-hand experience with sth….

 

The responsibility for educating children used to fall both on parents and on teachers.

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The responsibility for limiting children’s access to violence on TV rests with parents.

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Parents should not shirk their responsibility for educating their children.

 

There is no reason to deny students the freedom to choose subjects that interest and motivate them.

The students’ interest in sport was kindled by Emma’s excellent teaching.

 

There is no substitute for a face-to-face relationship with a caring and well-informed teacher.

 

All classroom learning is, in fact, a compromise between the different needs of various students. (also Vt.)

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There’s a happy medium between studying all the time and not studying at all.

 

My mentor took me under her wing at a time when I needed her the most.

 

She will be burning the midnight oil tonight.

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Exam-orientated education may cause students to study too intensively.

 

Lesson 2 Work

Women who were unemployed were included in the research.

 

Madison found a sense of fulfillment and joy as a teacher.

 

All her efforts met with frustration.

 

This brain drain was coursed by highly-skilled people only offering their services to the highest bidder.

 

Work experience (not working experience)

 

The employees have been complaining about the excessive workload—they have to work too much in too little time.

 

However, the process took a long time and was labor intensive.

 

Working to oppressive deadline can increase the risk of a heart attack.

 

Jasmine is very resilient and effective at working under enormous stress.

 

The company will build an employee-friendly environment, with various programs from childcare and family care to leisure support.

 

Many nannies work long hours for low pay.

 

We really admire your work ethic.

 

Telecommunicating may give employees very flexible work arrangements with their employers.

 

A properly designed program should be well-staffed and well-managed.

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Now the company is seriously short-staffed because business is picking up.

 

In the course of your work you may have access to information relating to the company’s business.

 

This decision has caused friction between the employees and the manager.

Sometimes conflicts arise between older and younger employees.

 

There has been a continuous search for the cure for stress-induced diseases.

 

Successful professionals tend to work at a steady pace.

 

Every company should have goals to eliminate occupational hazards in the workplace.

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Noise-induced hearing loss is one of the most common occupational diseases in the UK.

 

The toughest part of Katie’s job is not the laborious/backbreaking tasks.

 

Who’s the eager beaver who came in at the weekend to finish this work?

 

Age is not of itself an indicator of ability.

 

Jake felt out of his element in this company.

 

Most British companies still aren’t really attuned to the needs of this market.

 

She was already working around the clock.

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The construction workers worked non-stop to build a new school for the children.

 

Nothing could divert his attention from work.

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He was distracted from his work by the noise.

 

Keira leads a busy life.

 

Conner was completely tied up at work.

 

Being an art director is a stressful and time-consuming job.

 

Theo decided to quit his cushy job at a holiday resort.

 

Learning a second language fuels children’s intelligence and makes their job prospects brighter.

 

A close rapport was built between Nathan and me.

 

In this country, employees are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of gender.

 

Lesson 3 People

He is determined and self-reliant

 

The increased productivity from farmland made some counties self-sufficient in grain.

 

The young entrepreneur is a self-made man.

 

When Joseph began the job, he showed initiative.

 

James apologized of his own accord.

 

She is a tenacious athlete.

 

John is an honorable person who always keeps her word.

 

Lewis behaved as any upright citizen would have under those circumstances.

 

Often they had to display great courage to preserve their integrity or to make their way to the top.

 

I appreciate Anna’s down-to-earth approach to problem-solving and decision making.

 

Max is very arty and a bit of a dreamer.

 

The last dinner by Leonardo da Vinci set the benchmark for religious painting.

 

Do you think it is possible to be friends with someone if you never meet them in person?

 

Christopher is a writer, composer and actor— a real Renaissance man.

 

Georgia is a very versatile young artist.

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Artistic people

 

He is a world-renowned artist.

 

Most overnight successes actually take years.

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An instant commercial success

 

The war hero’s legacy lives on.

 

The actor has a large following on Twitter.

 

Jim is a real go-getter.

 

John is a consummate leader.

 

There has always been an interest in geniuses and prodigies.

 

People who live next door to you (neighborhood)

 

Go from rags to riches

 

Poverty is a subject very close to Olivia’s heart.

 

Eileen has been concerned about what others think of her.

 

Have an extra bathroom is at first a luxury for the people, but after they had children It become a necessity.

 

Being recognized in the street is part and parcel of being famous.

 

Paparazzi follow celebrities everywhere they go in order to take picture.

 

They live extravagant lifestyles with huge mansions and luxury cars.

 

Lesson 4 Traffic & Transport

The traffic bottlenecks make goods transport difficult.

 

The traffic was stalled and we inched along across the bridge.

 

Certain areas are used for particular experiments and are therefore temporarily out of bounds to the public.

 

A new study shows that the daily struggle of bumper-to-bumper traffic is getting worse.

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The bus terminal was jam-packed with commuters.

 

The volume of traffic on the roads has increased dramatically.

 

Aerial photos can show traffic density.

 

Big cars tend to be gas guzzlers. Small cars are more fuel-efficient.

 

He was found guilty of reckless driving.

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Drunk driving

 

Even the smallest amount of alcohol in the blood can impair a person’s driving ability.

 

It was a difficult drive but we arrived home safe and sound.

 

It was difficult to figure out the twists and turns in the plot.

 

During the afternoon rush hour, the traffic was a messy free-for-all.

 

It is safe to increase signage at the intersections.

 

Chloe jammed on the brakes when the lights turned red.

 

Going over the speed limit is particular dangerous when it snows.

 

Lesson 5 Food

Raw vegetables are actually more nutritious than cooked vegetables.

 

Take more exercise and try to avoid fattening food.

 

Strawberries are in season.

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Out of season

 

Food supplies were a constant concern.

 

Canned vegetables / TV dinners / frozen food

 

Some people believe a salt-free diet is wholesome.

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An unhealthy diet

 

He eats less greasy food.

 

My doctor told me to cut down on carbohydrates.

 

Fast food junkies should be made aware of the psychological reasons for fast food addiction.

 

Carbonated drinks can destroy the protective enamel around teeth.

 

Dietary habits can be very difficult to change.

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Eating disorder

 

Iron and zinc are two important trace elements that the human body needs.

 

Many dieticians believe that protein-rich diets are best at keeping weight

 

I have got a sweet tooth.

 

Molly is a gourmet.

 

A mouth-watering chocolate cake

 

Lesson 6 Media

We have plenty ways to disable pop-up advertising windows.

 

The TV advertising slots for a major sports event may be sold for up to $ 100 million.

 

The new product is being intensively advertised on TV.

 

In the UK, peak / prime time usually takes place from 6:30 pm until 10:30 pm.

 

The new series had high ratings right from the start.

 

The kids are very well-informed about all of the different video games.

 

TV advertising interrupts exciting programs and spoils our enjoyment.

 

TV advertising arouses the viewers’ desire to buy new product.

 

Today many TV programs pursue well-worn themes that are common to all cultures, such as romance and crime.

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These hackneyed subjects are no longer wanted by the editors — unless the theme is given a decidedly new twist.

 

The media hype surrounding the new product continues.

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Newsworthy event

 

The European sovereign debt crisis has dominated the headlines.

 

The newspaper has been accused of distorting the truth.

 

To find truly unbiased reporting

 

The film has been heavily censored.

 

The censorship of pornography is fully-justified.

 

Public figures

 

Celebrities tend to court media publicity because media attention is important to their career.

 

They keep a low profile and avoided loud conversations.

 

A glamorous celebrity

 

The seriousness of the situation has been exaggerated in the press.

 

They blow the story out of proportion.

 

Current concerns are misrepresented by the press.

 

Many people go to the cinema to escape reality.

 

One of the reasons why reality shows are so big today is we like to know about the private lives of others.

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Quiz show

 

There will be a meeting for all cast members this afternoon.

 

Cinematography

 

 

Lesson 7 Science & Technology

The Internet has become widely available to households in the UK by 2000.

 

The business of national security has been shrouded in secrecy.

 

The biologists have been breaking new ground in genetic research.

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Scientific breakthroughs

 

The advent of the jet engine resulted in a large number of very fast planes.

 

Eventually these were superseded / supplant by “small clock”, or French, hours, which split the day into two 12-hours periods.

 

TV viewers welcomed the arrival of HDTV with open arms.

 

The government has been trying to popularize these eco-friendly cars.

 

So integral have these time-based technologies become to day-to-day existence that our dependency on them is recognized only when they fail to work.

 

Genetically-modified food

 

This idea is to minimize the risk of flawed results.

 

Cloud computing will permit access to multiple data centers anywhere on Earth.

 

The benefits of telecommuting include energy conservation improved workplace safety and enhanced family value.

 

Communications equipment

 

Teleconferencing

 

These scientists are discussing the possibility of a manned mission to Mars.

 

There are unique benefits in carrying out scientific research in space because of zero gravity.

 

Pilkington had been experimenting with improving the melting process.

 

A good reason to support space exploration is to satisfy human curiosity.

 

A hard-won discovery

 

Some people argue that the space race is just a pointless waste of taxpayers’ money.

 

The way many people interact with each other has changed because of technology.

 

Identify theft

 

Three local men were convicted of E-mail fraud.

 

E-mail spamming

 

This high-tech gizmo is a fat removal device.

 

Supersonic travel

 

Mechanized farming has reduced the cost of production of various crops.

 

Some people argue that mass production of standardized goods on assembly line is uncreative.

 

Information highway

 

The agency’s services have helped laboratories to speed up the pace of scientific discovery.

 

The agency will set priorities for their scientific research.

 

Virtual reality

 

High-definition TV can give the audience clear, crisp pictures with vivid colors.

 

Automation systems have brought liberation from exhausting labor, and have set us free to enjoy more interesting work and leisure.

 

Some people argue that automation will result in the loss of jobs.

 

A sure measure to boost crop yield

 

It is conceivable that robots will steadily replace humans in repetitive jobs.

 

The experts believe cloud computing will help many companies to realize their untapped potential.

 

There has never been any unbiased evidence that this disease is genetic; in fact, some scientific evidence has emerged to the contrary.

 

There is considerable evidence suggesting that exposure to lead may increase the release of human stress hormone.

 

 

Lesson 8 Friendship & Co-operation

Human beings are social creatures.

 

He is a gregarious and outgoing kind of person.

 

They start to socialize with other kids.

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Means of communication

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The job requires excellent communication skills / interpersonal skills.

 

Paul’s project manager was very supportive of him.

 

We soon realized we were kindred spirits.

 

My kids and their cousins just don’t get along.

 

Isabel is very generous but her sister is the complete opposite of her.

 

First impressions are most lasting.

 

Honest is the best policy.

 

I don’t think I am on the same wavelength as my tutor.

 

I don’t see eye to eye with my dad on many things.

 

Michael had a lot of money and he knew a lot of people, but most of them turned out to be fair-weather friends.

 

Oliver had been stabbed in the back by people who he thought were his friends.

 

Pets make us feel wanted and console us at times of sorrow.

 

Her new book deals with life’s joys and sorrows.

 

The British media should compete on a level playing field.

 

She admitted that she’d been defeated fair and square.

 

Lesson 9 Likes and Dislikes

Amelia got carried away when she started talking about the book.

 

Erin is not very good at keep / stay / remain calm in the difficult situation.

 

I adore sun-bating.

 

Joe is passionate about swimming.

 

The farmers avidly took to pesticides as a sure measure to boost crop yield.

 

He was a young actor with a yearning for recognition (have a yearning for sth.)

 

The skills are superior to our own.

 

In the past they were indifferent to conservation issues.

 

He parents were very concerned about her safety.

 

Molly has a strong aversion to spiders.

 

I can’t stand people dropping litter.

 

Marty loathes spiders.

 

Isaac detests being late.

 

Lesson 10 Effort, Plan & Decision

Please let me know in advance.

 

Emma had phoned beforehand to let me know.

 

The researchers drew up a list demanding new standards for future research.

 

Cindy has her heart set on having a big house.

 

The audiences have mixed feeling about the new film.

 

Zak’s future at the company is still up in the air.

 

Maisie is still wavering between visiting her parents and going to France.

 

He had convinced the company to build a full-scale plant.

 

The staff had no say in the matter.

 

All your work will bear fruit in the end.

 

A fruitful discussion

 

You reap what you sow.

 

A golden opportunity

 

Seize the opportunity.

 

All my efforts went down the drain.

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All our efforts were in vain.

 

She will have to exert herself more than she does now if she wants succeed in sales.

 

I am sure you can solve the problem if you apply yourself.

 

His idea came to fruition with an exhibition of the student’s work.

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Our plan fell by the wayside because they didn’t want to get involved.

 

The weak link in the chain is the computer software that controls the entire system.

 

The only fly in the ointment was my sister who insisted on whispering through the first half of the show.

 

Censorship cuts both ways.

 

The declared this plan a recipe for disaster.

 

Experts are only human. They’re not infallible.

 

 

Lesson 11 Clothing & Fashion

I had to wear my brother’s hand-me-downs.

 

He was an old man in a tattered grey coat.

 

Noah is a firm believer in dressing for success.

 

Don’t dress for style, dress for comfort.

 

Brandon is well-known for his impeccable taste in clothing.

 

Revealing clothing would be too tacky and impolite for such a formal occasion.

 

Scarlett believes if clothes make the man, then it is shoes that define the woman.

 

Casual clothes

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Dressy clothes

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Elegant clothes

 

Bailey is very fashion-conscious.

 

Blake is in danger of becoming a fashion victim.

 

Breathable clothing

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Waterproof clothes

 

 

Lesson 12 Reading & Writing

Reading is a multisensory experience.

 

The electronic media may be too soulless to replace books.

 

The government is funding an adult literacy program.

 

In this country, nearly half of the population is illiterate.

 

Students’ messy handwriting may cause poor grades on their written work.

 

Even in an outline document like this, you really have to be careful to avoid typos.

 

Talking book=audio book

 

 

Lesson 13 Money

They have a lot of disposable income.

 

Many people believe that conspicuous consumption is an antisocial behavior.

 

A new tax has been levied on cigarettes.

 

A small family car is more economical than a large car.

 

We need a cost-effective solution to the problem.

 

These education budget cuts are really penny-wise and pound-foolish.

 

Edward does not have any other source of income apart from his job.

 

They had to scrimp and save to pay for the holiday.

 

My wages were so low I had to take a side job just to make ends meet.

 

I am always broke by the end of the month.

 

Over a billion people are still living in abject poverty.

 

One important consideration will be the cost of living if you are a student planning on moving to London.

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Standard of living

 

A tank of petrol can cost you a fortune these days.

 

The bill for dinner in that restaurant is exorbitant.

 

Apart from the prohibitively medicine prices, the cost of maintaining medical equipment is rising as well (a prohibitive price).

 

You can buy two and pay for just one—the other is free of charge.

 

Even if you don’t make a fortune from this herb, there are few sights more attractive than a field of purple coneflowers.

 

Unfortunately, the gap between the haves and the have-nots has been widening.

 

Benjamin accumulated much of his wealth through real estate investment.

 

She’s an acquisitive person, always wanting to gain and possess new things.

 

Reece wants the job purely for the reason of vanity.

 

Joel had to tighten his belt since he lost his job.

 

The business is run on a shoestring (do sth. on a shoe string)

 

The medical charges are beyond the means of needy families.

 

The hotel we stayed in was dirt-cheap, but our room was very nice.

 

These shoes are a bargain at just 15 pound.

 

Smell is probably the most undervalued sense in many cultures.

 

Rosie went on a shopping spree this weekend.

 

Scarlett found it hard to keep track of her expenses.

 

Kaya never lost track of her favorite celebrities.

 

We tried to raise eighty thousand pounds, but unfortunately we fell short by about ten thousand.

 

Only well-heeled business people won’t balk at this price, especially when buyers can get just 3 hours of battery life.

 

The laptop looks pretty cool and this is the closest I’ve ever got to actually coveting a Dell laptop.

 

I envy people who are always optimistic.

 

Financial aid

 

This society has been having a “keeping up with the Joneses” complex for years and now it’s crashing down around its people.

 

Peer pressure can be very disorienting for children.

 

 

Lesson 14 Music

Jacob is really musically-inclined; he can play so many instruments.

 

She has an awful voice and simply can’t carry a tune.

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Some singers in these pop groups are totally tone-deaf.

 

Their open-air concert was a resounding success.

 

Alex found the blaring music from the speakers very annoying.

 

His music is suffused with passion.

 

The city is steeped in history and tradition.

 

Acoustic music has had resurgence in popularity due to the recent popularity of musicians playing live without electric amplification.

 

A song needs a lot of airplay in order to become a hit.

 

Each week the new UK pop charts are announced on Sunday.

 

Bestseller / best-selling album

 

The band rose to success suddenly and then disappeared just as quickly. It was just another flash in the pan.

 

The singer’s first album was a smash hit and now she’s attempting to duplicate that success.

 

She really has what it takes to become a successful artist.

 

 

Lesson 15 Travel

Holidaymakers

 

The booked flight

 

It is hardly surprising that tourists flock to see the area.

 

Paid holidays

 

Jayden is an avid backpacker and photographer.

 

Package tours are a more convenient way to pick and choose how you want to travel in this region.

 

Peak season / high season

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Slack season / low season

 

Jet airliners

 

Jet lag can be quite irritating.

 

It is pity that these tourist destinations have become so commercialized.

 

By travelling abroad people can discover new ways of thinking and different lifestyles, which makes them more tolerant and open-minded.

 

The photo taken by the astronaut was an eye-opener.

 

Some may argue that international tourism breaks down barriers and eliminates preconceptions.

 

The experience only confirmed Lauren’s prejudices about these products.

 

Sports event are essential in easing international tension.

 

Some people argue that international tourism is a major contributor to international peace and deepens mutual understanding among nations.

 

Smells that are considered to be offensive in some cultures may be perfectly acceptable in others.

 

On the one hand, international tourism generates tax revenue; on the other hand, it incurs additional costs.

 

Tourist attraction

 

It is already 11:20. Let’s hit the road.

 

Stick around. Holly’s band is going to play soon.

 

Jeep Patriot may be a good option for buyers who like to venture off the beaten path.

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I will need a map to find that building—it is in the middle of nowhere.

 

The itineraries are too rigid.

 

Travel light / luggage

 

 

Lesson 16 Sports

Doing strenuous sports activities may result in exhaustion.

 

I am hoping tennis will help me build up my stamina.

 

Determining how many calories you can burn by playing certain sports in not an exact science.

 

Players with athletic talent learn easily and excel quickly.

 

Aaron was a record-breaking athlete.

 

Doing exercises can offer a new outlet for our energy.

 

Rest time gives the pupils a chance to let off steam.

 

The two teams are fairly evenly-matched.

 

Manchester United defeated its opponent in a cliffhanger.

 

That was the most predictable match in the past two years.

 

Team spirit / team work

 

A sense of good sportsmanship

 

 

Lesson 17 Skill

Acquire knowledge / a skill

 

Innate talent is what differentiates a person who has been trained to play a sport or a musical instrument, from those players who are naturally good.

 

Consulting experts can be useful in certain circumstances.

 

Problem-solving ability

 

Oscar has the knack of making friends wherever he goes.

 

Corey reads many mediocre novels.

 

Chris knows the system inside out.

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After 30 years in the business, she knows it backwards and forwards.

 

After a couple of days of using the new operating system, I think I’ve finally got the hand of it.

 

My German is very rusty these days.

 

Sophie’s debating skill was honed at the debating club.

 

Reece is adept at cooking.

 

Katrina is proficient in math.

 

Quantum physics is completely beyond me.

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I was out of my depth in the advanced class so I had to move to the intermediate class.

 

Sarah’s looking for volunteers to act as guinea pigs for her new recipe (use sb. as a guinea pig)

 

The band used their recent tour of Europe as a testing ground for their new songs.

 

 

Lesson 18 Crime, Law & Justice

The judicial system is set up to benefit law-abiding citizens.

 

The judicial system

 

Pilots are bound by fewer regulations.

 

Britain has passed new legislation to regulate research on human cloning.

 

Some people argue that the death penalty is essential for upholding an ordered society.

 

The police will aim to curb lawless behavior without using excessive force.

 

Those at the bottom of society may be more likely to be tempted into a life of crime as a solution to their problems.

 

Legal age

 

You will face disciplinary action.

 

The career criminal was convicted of four charges.

 

The government is bringing in stricter laws to deter drivers from speeding.

 

He was accused of aiding the abetting the offender in the commission of the crime.

 

Person life may bring some convicts the constant threat of violence.

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He has been convicted of robbery.

 

The people who are guilty of serious offences should be brought to justice (bring sb. to justice).

 

Legal proceedings

 

Online crimes have proliferated in society during the last 5 years.

 

Neighborhood watch groups have been an effective means of crime prevention.

 

Seeing so much brutality may harden these young people to it.

 

Ethan fell victim to a very rare disease.

 

The kid has become hopelessly addicted to horror films.

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He’s been preoccupied with sports, which has affected his grades.

 

Online fraud

 

White-collar crimes are not victimless.

 

Jail terms may harden a convict against society as a result of the brutalizing treatment he / she receives.

 

Domestic violence

 

Vandalism is a major problem in this school.

 

The team will stand trial for illegal border-crossing.

 

He was charged with using the company’s money for his own purposes.

 

The repeat offender was sentenced to a harsher punishment for his second crime.

 

The prison service should try to rehabilitate prisoners so that they can lead normal lives when they leave prison.

 

I had my wallet stolen by a pickpocket this morning.

 

This part of town has been plagued with property crimes for years.

 

Retired people are often the victims of marketing scams.

 

The police are cracking down on illegal parking.

 

A variety of measures were taken by the government to stamp out bird flu.

 

 

Lesson 19 Nature

It is a gorgeous hotel in a tranquil and serene rural setting.

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James wanted a little cottage far away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

 

Jayden was really stressed out before the test.

 

The countryside is dotted with elegant buildings.

 

With its snow-capped mountain ranges and gorgeous glens, Scotland is an exciting place to visit.

 

There was a long and winding path leading up to the cottage.

 

England has an abundance of gentle rolling hills.

 

This area is characterized by grassy undulating hills.

 

Leo’s latest fashion collection features materials that have an iridescent quality.

 

I could see my shimmering reflection the water.

 

They explored the awe-inspiring mountains and abundant wildlife there.

 

The hustle and bustle of London is exhilarating.

 

Many different kinds of deciduous trees can be found on our campus.

 

Using evergreen trees as Christmas trees has long been part of the culture of the celebration of Christmas.

 

This park is renowned for the autumn foliage displays.

 

Toby’s got green fingers.

 

Natural resources

 

Survival of the fittest

 

The air was crystal-clear.

 

The movie had a murky plot.

 

The roses come into bloom / blossom at this time of year.

 

The age when trees are expected to bear fruit depends on the type of fruit you are growing.

 

 

Lesson 20 Health & Fitness

Life expectancy

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Life span

 

Sparing use of energy reserves should tend to extend life.

 

People generally believe that women are more health-conscious than men.

 

The doctors recommend that they continue their exercise regimen.

 

People are asked to refrain from smoking in a range of public places.

 

Without proper self-discipline, children may end up eating too much junk food.

 

Their levels of health and fitness are decreasing.

 

Parents have an obligation to immunize their children against common childhood diseases.

 

Medical treatment

 

Overweight people whose work is sedentary will find it much harder to lose weight.

 

More than 70 percent of computer users have experienced eye strain.

 

Exercise will improve your blood circulation.

 

Playing sports will increase your muscle strength.

 

I felt so refreshed after my holiday.

 

My friend and I felt invigorated by our walk.

 

20 years of smoking has taken its toll on Kyle’s health.

 

Students will have to take out insurance to cover the costs of all visits to doctors and other non-emergency medical situations.

 

He contracted the disease while he was travelling.

 

The doctor gives him a clean bill of health.

 

I am feeling a little under the weather— I guess I’ve caught a cold.

 

At 77, Andrew is still hale and hearty, getting up at 6 every morning to walk three miles.

 

My dad’s nearly eighty now but he is still as fit as a fiddle.

 

These children tend to eat food that is deficient in iron.

~

Food rich in calcium is especially beneficial for growing children.

 

 

Lesson 21 Culture

The UK is a cultural and social mosaic.

 

Romans disseminated temporal hours through Europe.

 

What they are certainly not finding, however, is any change in attitude of mainstream scientists.

 

In the UK a handshake is customary when a person is traduced to somebody new.

 

Action painting often looks childish to the non-artists because of the unorthodox techniques used to apply paint, such as throwing it on the canvas.

 

Speakers of two or more languages are in the minority.

 

Gone are the days when music was just a cultural expression.

 

Core values

 

Social mores refer to the socially-approved forms of behavior, which are generally promoted by customs and laws.

 

A shared ideology is a strong social bonding mechanism.

 

Some immigrants can assimilate into the local culture immediately.

 

There are many unspoken rules that we live by.

 

Their products are incompatible with the local customs.

 

You weren’t too worried about language barriers?

 

Indigenous people in primitive living conditions

 

Their worship of remote ancestors in represented with various rituals.

 

Remain intact

 

Seeing old school photos can make some of us quite nostalgic.

 

This country has a growing and forward-looking economy.

 

Acoustic music has had a resurgence in popularity due to the recent popularity of musicians playing without electric amplification on TV.

=

Make a comeback

=

It seems the high-tech media can help the traditional culture to regain its vitality.

 

Zoe always feels ill at ease at parties.

 

In the past, several languages have acted as lingua franca in different area of the world.

 

Some people believe that a single international language has become a practical necessity because of the increasing international communication.

 

A single international language may make it difficult to preserve the individuality of cultures.

 

Bilingual~monolingual

 

This close-knit community looks like a classic British village.

 

Some argue that technology leads to greater social economic division and a sense of alienation among people who are physically close to each other.

 

 

Lesson 22 Buildings

This hotel is still under construction.

 

Billy works in the construction industry.

 

The abandoned building looks dilapidated.

 

Buildings are showcases for the artistic achievement of citizen.

 

What about the location? It is be nice to be central.

 

Buckingham palace is an imposing building and is always surrounded by huge crowds of people.

 

Our hotel room was light and airy.

=

The laboratory is spacious and well-ventilated.

 

This building is a very significant landmark in the neighborhood.

 

The new shopping center is a real eyesore.

 

Timothy thinks that outlandish-looking building is a blot on the landscape.

 

The project aims to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.

~

Residential building

 

His new house is a far cry from the one bedroom cottage he lived in as a child.

 

That was an entirely different matter.

 

 

Lesson 23 Parties & Festivals

Set off / let off / light fireworks

 

Fireworks display / fireworks show

 

The church bells rang in the New Year.

 

Ryan made a New Year’s resolution to quit smoking.

 

They went overboard with the party preparation.

 

These young parents are ill-equipped to cope with their children without extra help.

 

We had a blast at the party last night.

 

Although we had to live on very modest incomes, we still enjoyed ourselves immensely.

 

Mandy really let her hair down. She laughed, clapped and danced at the party.

 

Some girls may feel inhibited by the presence of boys at the party.

 

We went to Allison’s party but there were so many strange people there and I felt a little out of place, so we left.

 

She’s found a niche for herself in the book trade.

 

I don’t want to be a wet blanket but you must stop disturbing the people next door.

 

 

Lesson 24 Government

It remains highly controversial whether the government should play a regulatory role in this industry.

 

…the Federal Aviation Administration to regulate and oversee the operation of aircraft in the skies over the United States.

 

Some think that the government should impose a ban on the sale of tobacco.

 

The new proposal will impose a financial burden on taxpayers.

 

Some people argue that capital punishment should be abolished because life imprisonment can serve the same purpose just as effectively.

 

Government agencies should be encouraged to implement the new system.

 

The meet this challenge, the following elements were put into effect.

 

Education is high on the government’s agenda.

 

The government is placing a high priority on health care reform.

 

Reforms within hospitals have been unsuccessful.

 

The government should translate its strategies into action.

 

They believe these draconian / stringent measures will keep water pollution to a minimum (take …. to).

 

They complained about the government’s laxity in providing relief to the earthquake victims.

 

Some governments are encouraging consumer spending to counteract recessions.

 

The government’s countermeasures against traffic congestion have been completely ineffective.

 

The crisis in banking and the high unemployment rate have been two recurring problems in this country.

 

Protectionist measures cannot provide an enduring solution to the economic downturn.

 

They believed it was a short-sighted tax policy.

 

The government would be well-advised to take prompt regulatory action.

 

These missions are projects that only governments have the authority to undertake.

 

Formulate polices / plans / strategies,  etc.

 

In many countries, the government has a monopoly over the tobacco industry.

 

They believe that huge amounts of government money have been spent on national defense.

 

The purpose of this is to safeguard our security.

 

The company had run a major budget deficit for the first two years before it started to make profit.

 

Government spending / government expenditure

 

The research plan was carried out at the taxpayer’s expense.

 

Relieve tax burden

 

In this country, farming is partly subsidized by the government.

 

The British government will allocate two million pounds to the National Health Service (NHS).

 

Some people believe that trade barriers are necessary in order to protect domestic industries.

 

Many people believe that free trade can help countries to make the most efficient use of their available resources.

 

Some third-world countries are continually fighting hunger and poverty.

 

Some people argue that the more knowledge they have, the greater their wealth and prosperity.

 

In some countries, the government runs school feeding programs so that underprivileged children can have enough food.

 

Charitable organizations

 

Some people argue that free health coverage for people who can pay health insurance premiums in a waste of public resources.

 

International aid

 

Low-interest loans

 

Some people argue that international aid promotes growth indirectly in less developed countries by safeguarding social stability.

 

There has been a chronic shortage of housing in this region.

 

 

Lesson 25 Environment

Some waste is disposed of under the sea.

 

Disposable chopsticks

 

She got caught in a vicious circle of dieting and weight gain.

 

The policy may have adverse effects on the economy.

 

Non-biodegradable material does not decay or dissolve away by natural forces.

 

Reusable / recyclable material

 

Long-term traffic and pollution reduction would depend on educating the public to use public transport more.

 

Electricity is often used wastefully.

 

Hydro-electric power

 

Scientists are wondering what effects global warming will have on the biosphere.

 

40% of the species on Earth are endangered species, which means they are at risk of becoming extinct.

 

Destruction of old material and formation of new material are in permanent dynamic equilibrium.

 

Scientists have been worried about the hole in the ozone layer which appeared over Antarctica.

 

These factories are releasing toxic gases into the atmosphere.

 

In some countries, air pollution is causing irreversible damage to the environment.

=

Be permanently damaged

 

Cities across the UK are cracking down on air pollution by enforcing strict car emission control.

 

Exhaust fumes contain carbon monoxide and can be extremely dangerous.

 

Britain has the highest death rates from respiratory diseases in Europe.

 

Accelerate soil erosion by water or wind may affect both agricultural areas and the natural environment.

 

Desertification is the process by which land changes into desert.

 

Groundwater

 

Seawater desalination involves removing the salt from water to make it drinkable.

 

Acid rain is causing immense damage to tropical rain forests.

 

The air has been saturated with harmful chemicals, dust and other contaminants.

 

The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has greatly upset the ecosystem.

 

In these circumstances, government intervention is important to redress the ecological balance.

 

Large amounts of industrial waste are discharged daily by the factory.

 

They accused BP of pursuing profit at the expense of the environment.

=

Sometimes pets may take up too much of a person’s attention at the cost of his / her family life.

 

Natural disaster

 

Ecological degradation means the deterioration of the environment, the destruction of ecosystems or the extinction of wildlife.

 

War sometimes creates artificial oil shortages for many countries.

=

Raw materials are in short supply.

 

Noise / light pollution

 

The beeping noise from the computer really got on my nerves.

 

The dogs next door are a total nuisance.

 

 

Lesson 26 Animals

Animal rights have been created to protect animals from cruelty or extinction.

 

Animal exploitation includes raising animals for food and clothing, using animals in entertainments and testing medicines, cosmetics or household products on animals.

 

Birds of prey / beasts of prey

 

Animal testing / animal experimentation

 

These games are a lot of fun, but they also teach the students about the lives of dinosaurs, how they found food and protected their habitat.

 

Wildlife

 

Dogs make good companions for humans.

 

People who feel lonely tend to desire company / crave companionship.

 

Stray animals

 

 

Lesson 27 Home Appliances

The antique furniture has been so well-kept that it’s still in good condition.

=

Miley’s bike has never been used, it’s in mint condition.

 

The artificially produced products are subjected to natural wear and tear during use.

 

For just 150 pounds, there will be no frills and they are afraid they can’t guarantee the quality, either.

 

The car has all the latest bells and whistles but I don’t think it is worth the money.

 

The battery has run down.

 

The coffee maker is on the blink again.

 

You have a right to insist on a refund.

 

Sophia has a slow and clunky computer.

 

A cumbersome camera is now a thing of the past.

 

Courtney’s new laptop is very handy and compact.

 

 

Lesson 28 Development

This company facilitated the development of cloud computing with some of its large-scale research projects.

 

Failure to establish an efficient transport network inhibited / arrested the development of international trade.

 

Changing seasons accompany our planet’s revolution around the sun.

 

The auto industry in this country is starting to lag behind that in other countries.

 

Information technology has forged ahead in the last two decades.

=

Make improvements

=

Working conditions at the company have improved beyond all recognition during the past two decades.

 

Some people believe that art is the most important instrument of social change.

 

The crisis is threatening to bring the economy to a standstill.

 

The principle of float glass is unchanged since the 1950s.

 

There has been a major shift in public opinion.

 

The government’s economic policy has been to shift the emphasis from the heavy industry to the light industry.

 

Employment is subject to the economic swings of boom and slump.

 

Economic recession

 

The effects of the change will be far-reaching (have / has far-reaching effects).

 

The war would set off a ripple effect / chain reaction that would put the whole world at risk.

 

An inquiring mind and the ability to combine ideas are the essential characteristics of a workforce in the knowledge economy.

 

Many people believe that the relentless urbanization has resulted in urban poverty, joblessness and crime.

 

The heavy influx of tourists has led to increased stress on local infrastructure and services.

 

Pedestrian zone / car-free zone

 

Green cars will free us up from the noisy and smoggy streets.

 

Typewriters have been rendered obsolete by computers.

 

Coal has already been largely displaced as a fuel for electricity.

 

The birth rate in England has fallen to an all-time low.

 

Population aging has emerged in many developing countries as well.

 

Old-fashioned as it may be, corporal punishment is often effective in enforcing authority.

~

Audiences have been reminded that they must work very hard to understand this avant-garde film.

 

At this stage, it is still difficult to say who will win the election.

=

At this point

=

At present

 

With the economy at a critical juncture, the government is unlikely to make such a risky move.

 

The conference has ushered in a period of international stability and cooperation.

 

This film has fundamentally changed the film industry.

 

Taking this job was a real milestone in his career.

 

Screensavers are no longer a necessity for us.

~

In that period, barriers to trade were high and thus operationally-independent branches remained a necessity.

 

The continuous of chemicals for the control of pests is proving to be counterproductive.

 

This solution may cause as many problems as it solves.

 

The rules are not etched / carved in stone; they can be altered to suit the changing circumstances.

=

These issues should be discussed—nothing is set in stone.

 

New strategies are needed to combat the age-old problem of discrimination at work.

 

An enduring problem

~

An enduring solution

 

The fact that the costs were so high must have posed a problem for the company.

=

The continuous use of chemicals for the control of pests, which poses a threat to agricultural crops and haman health, is proving to be counterproductive.

 

A low-carbon British economy would be a more thriving economy.

~

The UK economy has been very sluggish these past few years.

 

 

Lesson 29 Family & Childhood

Many people believe athletic ability runs in the family.

 

This disease is hereditary so her son may suffer from it too.

 

Freddie felt a particular attachment to his mother’s family.

~

It is sad to see some grown-up children estranged from their parents.

 

Mrs. Johnson is suffering from empty-nest syndrome.

 

People tend to live longer in societies with strong family bonds.

 

Drug abuse among married people often leads to family break-up.

 

Parents’ sense of obligation could be make them overly demanding.

 

Even though these parents can fulfill their financial obligations to their children, they cannot meet their children’s emotional needs.

 

Many women are now the breadwinners in their family.

 

After a while the couple began to take each other for granted.

 

Leah was grateful to Bradley for his support.

 

I like to help my family members. After all, charity begins at home.

 

In Ashlee’s first month at college she felt very homesick.

 

I visit that town so often it’s become a home from home for me.

 

Most of us have fond memories / recollections of our childhoods.

 

The way that teacher spoken to the kids left a bad taste in my mouth.

 

Most parents believe that children should participate in household chores such as cooking, washing and cleaning.

=

Housework

 

The children are old enough now to run their own errands.

 

Sometimes a pet can provide a person with a new focus for his / her love and devotion.

 

The couple will love, honor and cherish each other, in good times and in bad.

 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

 

Tim’s son is the apple of his eye.

 

Children should be brought up to respect the law.

=

Raise sb.

 

Child-rearing can be a difficult yet rewarding responsibility.

 

They believe that the best age for child-bearing is 25-30.

 

It is generally believed that women have maternal instincts that somehow make them better parents than fathers are.

 

Some people believe that the nurturing instinct can shape women’s careers.

 

Teachers should be more sensitive to the needs of the students whose parents are divorced.

 

They are getting married next year.

 

 

Lesson 30 Solutions

Scientists hope the data from this expedition will pave the way for a more detailed exploration of Mars.

 

The committee will meet today to lay the groundwork for talks next month.

 

However, there is still a big stumbling block.

 

Preventative measures

 

Take precautions against sth.

 

To ensure the highest quality, inspection takes place at every stage.

 

In reality, the end does not necessarily justify the means.

 

Well-intentioned development projects can have unexpected effects on the environment.

 

They claim that getting a home mortgage is a necessary evil these days.

 

Try to choose the lesser of two evils when you don’t like either of the candidates.

 

No firm decision will be made until next month so we will have to wait and see (adopt a wait-and-see attitude).

 

We need to take immediate action before it is too late.

 

His words only added fuel to the fire. The lady became furious.

 

Attempts to restrict parking in the city center have further aggravated / exacerbate the problem of traffic congestion.

 

New evidence suggests that we’ve been barking up the wrong tree in our search for a cure for the disease.

=

The company blamed the shrinking profit on a misguided investment plan.

 

Some people claim that there is still no practically feasible alternative to using animals for food and clothing.

=

They consider it a viable alternative to the present system of welfare benefits.

 

As a last resort, you can take your case to court.

 

Teenage mothers often have no option but to live with their parents.

 

It is about time we gave our teachers a degree of respect.

=

It is high time the Wall Street bankers came back to planet Earth.

 

They proposed a new initiative to tackle the shortage of teachers.

 

If you want to overcome an obstacle, make sure you don’t get sidetracked.

 

Complete equality in classrooms still remains a desirable ideal rather than an achievable reality.

 

This teaching method is good in theory, but not in reality.

 

 

Appendix A Expressing Thoughts and Opinions in Task-2 Essays:

People have mixed views on whether it is a positive or negative influence on society.

 

It will be difficult for people to reach a consensus on this issue.

 

I take the view that free education should be available to financially needy people.

 

They are of the opinion that morality cannot be legislated.

 

Euthanasia is a highly charged issue in many European countries.

 

The song’s lyrics ignited fierce debate last year.

 

It is a well-established fact that very young children learn best by rote.

 

The tide of opinion is now running steadily against the new traffic law.

 

The majority of people oppose the proposed tax reform.

 

It stands to reason that a child who is constantly criticized will grow up to have no self-confidence.

 

The concerns that the new law will curtail NGO activities are well-justified.

 

It is an inescapable fact that some students behave badly and damage the learning environment.

 

Many people feared that war was unavoidable.

 

The differences between the British and America academic systems are noticeable.

 

There were substantial differences in the proportion of men and women at various levels.

 

We should look into the underlying cause of this problem.

 

Their fundamental mistake is to rely too much on technology.

 

 

Appendix B Some Commonly-Used Phrases and Expressions for Task-1 Essays

The housing market saw an upward trend in 2003.

 

The prices of consumer goods witnessed a downward trend.

 

In contrast, the cost of furniture and equipment saw an opposite trend.

 

The petrol price rocketed to a record high.

 

The rate of heart disease soared to 79 per 1,000 people.

 

The figures show that the unemployment rate peaked at 9.8% in October.

 

The crime rate rose throughout the 1990s and reached the highest point in 2001.

 

There was a slump in the demand for new cars in 2007.

=

There was a substantial decline in the unemployment rate.

 

The criminal-offence rate fell consistently / continuously from 2001 to 2011.

 

That number rose to 3,900 by 2004 and then plummeted to 760 by 2008.

 

The number of full-time jobs generated by the retail industry dropped swiftly to 14,000.

=

Then the interest rate went up steeply to 4.2%.

 

The government claimed that the recession had bottomed out.

=

Inflation dropped to its lowest level in five years.

 

By 2002, this improvement had reached a plateau.

 

Level out at…/ maintain the same level / remain stable

 

Their total leisure time per week fluctuate between 22 hours and 35 hours.

 

A more dramatic rise is predicted between 2020 and 2025.

 

A hike in the oil price is anticipated.

 

The figure is projected / forecast to reach 26.18% by 2050.

 

The energy available exceeded the energy demand from the late 1960s to the early 1980s.

=

The growth rate of Molosop is expected to surpass that of Densaunt by 2035.

 

The company profits doubled in 1998.

 

Be twice /three time / four times as many as…

 

This is in stark contrast with 1990 when 60% of those who held an undergraduate diploma were men.

=

This new trend is in marked contrast with the trend it experienced in the 1980s.

 

The number of patients fell sharply over the following three months (days / months / years).

 

Thus we can see that the new organization is only marginally more efficient than the old one.

=

The aging of the population is only fractionally faster than that in the last.

~

Keolho’s birth rate is considerably higher than that of Nowsba.

 

The amount of money people save increases in inverse proportion to the amount they spend.

~

The amount of energy consumed in this factory is in proportion to its number of products.

 

While spending increased for equipment and insurance, there were corresponding drops in expenditure on things such as books and on workers’ salaries.

 

Interestingly, when there are three or more children in the household, men are found to work even fewer hours around the house.

 

Not surprisingly, the number of cases of the disease dropped to approximately 1,700 in 2008.

 

 

Appendix C Essential Adverbs for Task-2 Essays

Some subjects are very popular among students, most notably computer science.

 

Some groups, namely students and retirees, will benefit from the new tax.

 

Some people think that friendship is essentially a partnership.

 

The rate of the disease has been growing, particularly among elderly people.

 

The medicine does not cure the disease. It merely relieves the pain.

 

Theoretically, anyone can become a model. Realistically though, in order to become a model a person has to meet multiple criteria.

 

Historically / traditionally, relations between these two countries have never been close.

 

The projects vary considerably in objectives.

 

There are relatively few female airline pilots.

 

Where the cost of government is high, resources for development are correspondingly low.