Key Words- Studying Culture
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Vocabulary
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Meaning
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Example
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Associate
(verb) |
to compare or relate something to another thing
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I always associate the surname Ronaldo with football.
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Assumption
(noun) |
a decision about something before all the facts are known
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His assumption that customers preferred to buy the product online was wrong.
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Custom
(noun) |
an action that is a tradition of the culture
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It is a custom in international business to shake hands before you start a meeting.
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Desire
(verb/noun) |
to want something / feeling of wanting something
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He only desired a quiet life.
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Fairness
(noun) |
without favour or discrimination / impartial
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Children have an inbuilt sense of fairness,
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Ideology
(noun) |
political belief
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Communism was a popular ideology in the 20th Century.
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Influence
(verb/noun) |
to have an effect on something
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Elvis was influenced by the black R&B performers of the early 1950s.
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Innovation
(noun) |
a new idea or technology
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The 19th Century in Britain was an age of innovation.
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Layer
(noun) |
part of something, typically one of several, surrounding or laying on top of something
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The wedding cake had four layers.
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Maintain
(verb) |
keep something in good condition or keep something going
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He maintained good relationships with all his customers.
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Metaphor
(noun) |
a word, phrase or thought that poetically compares one thing to another
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People dream in metaphors.
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Morality
(noun) |
the principle of what is right/wrong or good/bad
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The morality of gun ownership is an important debate in America.
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Motivation
(noun) |
the reason for doing something
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His motivation for selling the business was solely for the money.
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Negotiate
(verb) |
to try and find a solution through discussion
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She managed to negotiate a salary increase for everybody in the team.
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Perpetuate
(verb) |
to make something continue
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The political system perpetuates inequality.
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Practices
(noun) |
The things people usually do / that are normal to do
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Two hundred years ago, in Britain, it was a common practice for children to work in factories.
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Priority
(noun) |
a thing that is given more importance
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The safety of the staff is the top priority.
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Reinforce
(verb) |
to make something stronger or give it support
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We need to reinforce the wall before it falls down.
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Role
(noun) |
the part of an actor / the responsibilities and functions performed by a person
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The village doctor must take on a leadership role.
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Superstition
(noun) |
unjustified or excessive belief
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Belief in witches was a common superstition in medieval Europe.
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Surface
(noun) |
The outer or uppermost part of something.
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The surface of the water was very calm.
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Values
(noun) |
The things that are considered as important (closely linked with desire)
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An important Western value is individuality.
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