từ vựng ielts theo chủ đề

Forms of government central government: this is the national government of a country local government: this is the regional form of government that typically takes care of more local is

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GOVERNMENT

1 Forms of government

central government: this is the national government of a country

local government: this is the regional form of government that typically takes care of more local issues

the authorities: this is a general term for all forms of government – note that we use it in the plural

regulatory bodies: these are bodies which are sometimes set up by the government and sometimes

self-regulatory and typically they control one specific area such as advertising Legislation

is not always the answer

enforcement agencies: these are bodies that have direct control of how laws are being

obeyed This is something central government does not always do itself An example of an enforcement agency is the body that monitors pollution in rivers

international organisations: don’t forget these either many problems need global solutions and demand international cooperation from bodies like the UN

2 What central governments do

pass/introduce legislation: The time has come when the government needs to introduce new

legislation to protect the privacy of citizens.

bring in/enact laws: One possible solution is for the government to bring in laws that

prohibit the sale of tobacco to anyone under 21

adopt policies: One possibility is for the government to adopt policies that encourage

mothers to return to work

take measures/action: The situation is now so severe that the government must take

measures to police the internet.

raise (and lower) taxes: One way to limit air pollution from aircraft would be for the

government to raise airport tax.

have/provide a budget/funding: It is the responsibility of the government to provide more

funding for research into renewable energy.

ban/prohibit: Most people would agree that there should be a ban on the sale of automatic

weapons

3 People within a government

departments: The Health Department should ensure that doctors are not forced to work a

60-hour week

political parties; This is one issue where all political parties should work together to

TỪ VỰNG IELTS THEO CHỦ ĐỀ

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provide a solution

politicians: If enough people protested then politicians would have to listen and take action

4 What local governments do

impose fines: Local councils should ensure that householders are fined if they do not

recycle their waste properly

provide resources/services: Local government needs to provide adequate resources for

schools so that they can cope with the influx of children who speak English as a second language.

maintain: If local governments maintained the roads in a better condition, then there would

be fewer problems with traffic congestion.

fund: Councils could fund local community projects where residents work as volunteers in

schools and hospitals

hire: It would certainly help if local councils hired more staff

5 Thinking long-term and short short-term

temporary: One idea is that the government could introduce a temporary restriction on

immigration to determine what effect it would have on employment rates

long-term The government needs to consider the long-term effect of a poorly trained

workforce

immediate Governments of wealthier countries should provide financial assistance to people

in disaster zones to help with their immediate needs

a stopgap measure While this may only be a stopgap measure, it would help if governments

sent financial aid to disaster areas.

6 How people can influence governments

lobby politicians: Individuals could help here by lobbying their elected representatives and MPs to try and force them to introduce legislation.

engage in peaceful protests/demonstrations It is possible that the government might be

swayed by peaceful demonstrations asking for more action on the environment.

IMMIGRATION

The key words for describing immigration are

immigrant – the person

immigrate – the verb

immigration – the idea

Note that immigrants (people who enter a country) are also emigrants (people who leave a country) and also migrants.

1 Some common word combinations

illegal immigrants: – people who enter a country illegally

economic migrants: – people who move country to earn more money

migrant workers: – note that migrant can also work as an adjective

immigrant community/population: – this can be used for people who have settled in country

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for some time

influx of immigrants: – this is usually used in a negative sense meaning that there are too many immigrants

first generation immigrant: – this is either an immigrant or a child on an immigrant

[sometimes it is hyphenated as “first-generation”]

2 Arguments in favour of immigration

dynamism: Immigrants provide dynamism which is beneficial to the economy and helps

growth and competitiveness For example, many immigrants set up their own businesses

unskilled labour: In many countries there is a shortage of unskilled labour and the

immigrant population is typically willing to do work that the native population is not This is particularly the case in agricultural communities where immigrants provide seasonal labour

in the harvest season

skilled labour: A large proportion of young immigrants are highly-qualified university graduates and they work in fields where there is a shortage of skilled labour

childcare: Another benefit that immigrants bring is that they often work in childcare or as home helps and this enables more mothers to return to work.

boost the economy: Most research shows that encouraging immigration actually provides a

boost to the economy as immigrants are net contributors to the GDP There is also evidence that they actually claim fewer benefits and pay more tax than the native population

principle of freedom of movement: There is also the consideration that the principle of

freedom of movement is a human right and that people should be allowed to choose where they live

short-term only: It should also be considered that many younger migrants return home once

they have earned enough money and will never claim pensions in their host country

3 Arguments against immigration

integration: The major argument against immigration is that so many migrants fail to

integrate with the local community and culture and this leads to social tension and even

unrest

local services and jobs: One common difficulty is that they increase the pressure on local services and create competition for local jobs and this creates ill-will

claim benefits/social housing: One reason why people want less immigration is that

immigrants do not pay tax and still claim benefits and require social housing that is paid for

by taxpayers

schools: Another serious issue is that in some areas schools do not have sufficient places for the children and so class sizes become unmanageable

language: Related to this is the problem that many immigrants only have a basic command

of the language and this can lead to difficulties in the classroom and elsewhere

loss of trained workers: The impact on poorer countries who lose much of their trained workforce through emigration should also not be forgotten

overcrowding/population: Many countries need to limit immigration because they are

already suffering from over-population.

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4 Measures and solutions

taxes and law: One possible measure is to ensure that migrants pay taxes and are subject to

the criminal justice system.

language requirements: Another measure that could be put in place is to insist on a

minimum language requirement so that all immigrants are able to integrate

into the community

deportation: Some people believe that all illegal immigrants should be deported

immediately

quota: The United States for example has a quota system whereby a fixed number of green

cards are issued every year.

CLIMATE CHANGE

1 Talking about the size of the problem

crisis: Climate change is a crisis that cannot be ignored by governments

record levels/amount: Despite the claims of some scientists, we are now producing record

levels of CO2 and there is no dispute about the connection between this and global warming

disaster/disastrous: It is not an exaggeration to say that the effects of global warming are

disastrous.

global: Although some areas are relatively unaffected now, climate change is a global

problem.

irreversible: The major concern is that the effects of our actions on the climate will be

irreversible.

long-term: The effects of our use of fossil fuels today may last for generations and it is

almost certain to have long-term consequences for humanity.

2 Negative Effects

ill-health: It sometimes goes unnoticed that there is a clear connection between climate change and ill-health.

floods/rainstorms: One result of the rising temperatures is that floods and rainstorms are

now a frequent occurrence

the Polar ice cap: One major concern is that rising temperatures in the Arctic are causing

the Polar ice cap to melt, which in turn is leading to rising sea levels

heatwaves and droughts: Most experts agree that there is an increased risk of heatwaves and other extreme weather conditions

the natural world: Climate change will not only have a severe impact on people, but also

devastate the natural world and lead to the extinction of important species

food shortages: We are already seeing in many parts of the world that climate change is leading to food shortages as a direct consequence of extreme weather conditions

housing/homelessness: One side-effect of rising sea levels is that more and more people who live by the coast will become homeless

conflicts/wars: If no action is taken on climate change, then it is likely that there will be more conflicts between nations, especially over water supplies.

cost: It has been shown that any delay in making emission cuts will increase the cost of

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reducing carbon dioxide by almost 50%

3 Causes

human activity: It is no longer possible to say that human activity does not affect weather

conditions

greenhouse gas emissions: If we are to halt climate change, we need to make substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions

power stations: One of the leading causes of climate change is the number of dirty power

stations using fossil fuels.

carbon emissions: Carbon emissions are still rising year by year and are at record levels illegal logging and deforestation: It should not be forgotten that illegal logging in the

Amazon Basin is still a major factor in climate change

burning fossil fuels: Individuals can make a small contribution by not burning wood and other fossil fuels.

CO2: The root cause of much global warming is the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere

4 Possible solutions

wind and solar power: An obvious solution is to deploy much more wind and solar power

renewable energy: Wind farms and other sources of renewable energy will help to reduce

Co2 emissions to an acceptable level

international action/cooperation: International action on climate change could have a

significant impact

quick/immediate action: Any action should be immediate because this is not a problem that

can be delayed

investment: There should be greater incentives to invest in renewables and to reduce the

current reliance on fossil fuels

decommission power stations: It goes without saying that coal-fuelled power stations should be decommissioned.

protest/campaign: Individuals can help force governments to act by taking part in legal protests against the continuing use of fossil fuels.

energy efficiency and waste: A greater emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing waste

would undoubtedly mean that less fuel was consumed

5 Ways of taking action

avert: Investment in renewable energy will help avert the impact of the CO2 emissions prevent: The only way to prevent the disaster is to reduce these emissions to zero

act/take action: Governments should take decisive action to halt global warming

fight/combat: A way needs to be found to make combatting global warming that is

affordable

sustainable and affordable: The key is to ensure that all countries around the world have the chance to adopt energy

6 How individuals can help

lobby MPs: If enough of us lobbied our MPs and other elected

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representatives then they would have to bring in legislation.

participate in peaceful protests: Another possibility is to take part in marches and other

peaceful protests to apply pressure on governments and raise

awareness of the issue.

community projects: In some areas there are small-scale community projects to encourage

local residents to install solar panels and, in some places, help pay for them

share transport: We also have the responsibility to consider how we contribute to global warming by making unnecessary car journeys We can always cycle to work, have a joint

school run with other parents and even share a car on the daily commute to work

diet and our carbon footprint: Reducing food wastage is perhaps the way individuals can

minimise their carbon footprint and so help global warming.

energy-efficient lightbulbs: Another small way in which we can use less energy is to switch

to energy efficient lightbulbs.

solar panels: There are an increasing number of solar panels on the market and these can

not only reduce energy bills but also mean that less carbon fuel is consumed.

heat insulation: Likewise, it is important that people insulate their houses well so that less

gas and electricity is consumed.

EMPLOYMENT

1 Employ - word formation

Employ

Some companies prefer to employ people with experience than better qualified graduates

Employment

We can see from the chart that the rate of employment fell by 25% in their third quarter of the year

Employee

Some companies do not reward their employees as well as others do

Employer

In this situation, it is the duty of the employer to make sure the female workers are not

discriminated against

Unemployment

Unemployment is a serious problem in some countries in Europe

2 Work

Workplace: Sadly, there is still amount of discrimination against women in the workplace

Working environment: Employers can help relieve the pressure on their employees by ensuring they have a pleasant working environment

Hours of work: In some professions, such as law, the hours of work are much longer than in others

The working week: There is much to be said for the proposal that the working week should

be reduced to 35 hours

Work-life balance: A sensible work- life balance can help employees work more efficiently

Work placement: Many large organisations have work placement programmes that provide students with experience before they start their career

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In/out of work: Unemployment has been on the increase in many countries and sometimes

up to 10% of the workforce are out of work

3 Job

Job security: For some people job security is more important than financial reward

Job placement: Some companies have job placement schemes for university students

Job satisfaction: It is hard to underestimate the value of job satisfaction.

Job description: Some employees have very broad job descriptions

Jobseeker: Employers can attract jobseekers with attractive employment packages

4 Career

Interview: These companies perhaps need to change the interview process so that they hire the right candidates

Qualifications: It is not always the case that a university degree is the best qualification in

the world of finance.

Experience: Some graduates have difficulty finding a job because they do not have the

relevant work experience.

Training: Employers need to provide training to ensure that their staff are able to adapt to these new technologies

Retire/retirement: In many countries the age of retirement is now 68 or even 70

Resign/resignation: There is a danger that employees will hand in their resignation and look for another job

Promotion: There is an argument for promoting employees who show the most potential

Redundant: One side-effect of adopting these new technologies is that it has led to mass

redundancies in manufacturing industries.

5 Adjectives to describe jobs

Rewarding: One of the most rewarding aspects of the work is the chance to work with children

Challenging: While this can be challenging, there is no doubt that it can be equally

rewarding

Repetitive: A great deal of office work is in fact quite repetitive and not especially

challenging

Ambitious: It is the type of opportunity that would suit an ambitious university graduate.

Stressful: One of most stressful aspects of the modern workplace is the constant threat of redundancy

Glamorous: Although business trips and the chance to travel abroad may seem glamorous, they are frequently the source of stress

ADVERTISING

1 Advert, advertisement or ad?

All these forms of the words are correct but ad is mostly used in spoken English

only You should also be aware of a common pronunciation problem:

advert

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advertise

advertisement

This means that you make an “iss” sound when say advertisement This is a very common mistake and one way to avoid it is to say and write advert

2 Different forms of advertising

Television commercial: The BBC is perhaps unique for not carrying any commercials

Radio spot: Radio stations make most of their revenue by selling airtime in the form of radio spots.

Billboard: Most major highways now have billboards by the roadside advertising everything from soap to gas

Flyer: It can be very effective to hand out flyers.

Small ads/ personal ads: Not all advertising is commercial, many newspapers

carry small ads for personal services.

Trailer: The trailer, as often as not, is actually better than the film itself.

Product placement: We are not always aware that we are being “sold” a product; for

instance, when products are placed in films

Promotion: The two for the price of one promotion can often be very misleading.

Endorsement: Many sports stars earn the majority of their income from endorsing various products

Sponsorship: It is unarguable that tobacco firms should not be allowed to sponsor sports events

3 Adjectives to describe advertising

Witty/ humorous: The idea is that if you can make someone laugh with a witty advert, then

they will be more likely to buy the product

Memorable: Almost all the best adverts are memorable in some way.

Persuasive: Some ads are extremely persuasive and we find we buy products we do not really need

Misleading: Although there are regulations against this, many adverts are still misleading

word-of-mouth: It is frequently said that the most effective form of advertising is

word-of-mouth advertising.

4 Other related words

Regulation: Most people would accept that the advertising industry needs some form of regulation.

Advertising agency: Advertising agencies frequently do extensive market research to

discover what attracts consumers

Target: The difficulty comes when adverts target young children who are too easily

influenced by them

Consumers: It can also be argued that consumers are able to decide for themselves what to buy

Brand awareness: Advertising is essential for companies that need to build their brand awareness.

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TECHNOLOGY

1 Progress words

When you write and speak about computers and technology, very often you will be asked to say how technology has changed or progressed

Innovation /innovative: The cloud is one of the latest innovations in computer technology

Advance: One major advance is in the use of computers in transport regulation

Develop /development: It is not easy to predict how this technology is going to develop

Progress: The 21st century has already seen considerable progress in computer technology

Revolution /revolutionary/ revolutionise: It is undeniable that computers have

revolutionised our lives

Breakthrough: One of the greatest technological breakthroughs ever made was the

microchip

(Progress is an uncountable word, while advance is countable So you say that “digital technology is an advance” but you cannot say that “digital technology is a progress”)

2 Impact of technology

Another common topic is to talk about what effect computer technology has had on our lives

Change: It goes without saying that the computer revolution has changed all our lives

Affect/effect: Generally speaking , most technology has had a beneficial effect on our lives

Influence/ influential: Few inventions have had a greater influence on mankind than the computer

Impact: It remains to be seen what the long-term impact of this technology will be

3 Technology and computer words

It is very easy to keep on repeating the same word without knowing it One way not to do this is to change the form of the word or to use it in a different phrase

Technology: One of the disadvantages of consumers of modern technology is that it rapidly becomes obsolete

Technological: Simple as it is, I believe that cell phone is the most significant technological

innovation

Technophobe: There are a monority of people who remain technophobes and do not have mobile phones or even know how to text

Technophile: Other, of course, and technophiles and will buy the latest gadget whether they need it or not

Computer technology/ICT: Nowadays, one of the core subjects on any school’s curriculum

is ICT and it is essential for school leavers to be computer literate

Information technology/IT: While computers have many possible applications, their

greatest use is to allow us to exchange information- hence the name information

technology.

Digital native: Young people have an advantage by being digital natives and having grown

up with laptops and mobile phones

Computer literate: It is now almost impossible to work in an office, if you are not

computer literate.

The computer age: In fact, we could now be said to live in the computer age.

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4 Adjective and Technology

Cutting- edge: One such cutting-edge innovation is the concept of the cloud.

State-of-the-art: It is not always, however, necessary to have the latest state-of the-art

technology

Labour-saving: Perhaps the most influential inventions are relatively simple labour-saving devices such as the vacuum cleaner.

Advanced: More advanced technology is not always the best.

High: An example of this is how some high tech solutions are less reliable than the

technology they replaced.

Outdated: The pace of change in the computer industry means that hardware can become

outdated or even obsolete.

“obsolete” is similar in meaning to “outdated”, but is a stronger word to show that the technology is so old that it cannot be used any longer It is normal to write “high tech” rather than “high technology”.

5 Technological Device

Device: We now have more leisure time because of labour-saving devices in the home such

as the dishwasher

Equipment: A computer is no longer a luxury, but has become an essential piece of

equipment for any student or employee.

Gadget: We should not forget that many technological gadgets not only make out lives easier but are also fun to use

Appliance: Almost all modern kitchens have several electrical appliances that save our time

(A “device” is often something fairly small that allows you to complete a task There is a strong collocation (very common phrase): “labour-saving device”

“Equipment” is an uncountable word so you need to say “a piece of equipment” It is a very general use word that can be used to describe almost anything mechanical

“Gadget” is a word often used to describe objects that are either small or have a less serious purpose

“Appliance” is typically used in the phrase “electrical appliances” (eg irons and kettles) that are less advanced technology.)

FAMILY

1 Types of family

Close-knit family: We’re a pretty close-knit family, we tend to talk to each other

every day

Immediate/extended family: While my immediate family is quite small, my more extended family is huge – I think I have over 15(first) cousins

Cousins/ relates: I get on especially well with my (first) cousin We re only a year apart in age and have grown up together

Only/middle child: I’m an only child and I think because of that I have a closer relationship

with my mother than some other children do

Separated/divorced: In fact, my parents are divorced and I was brought up by my mother

Step-brother/half-brother: I guess I’m closest to my step-mother just because