openMind

level 1 WORD LIST

UNIT ELEVEN
Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence
achievement noun [count] /əˈtʃivmənt/ an important thing that Winning the gold medal was
someone has done in their life an amazing achievement.
alive adjective /əˈlaɪv/ living and not dead My father died last year but my
mother is still alive.
assembly line noun [count] /ˌəˈsembliˌlaɪn/ a system for making products The cars were made on an
in a factory in which each assembly line.
worker or machine is
responsible for adding, or
checking, a particular part
automobile noun [count] /ˈɔtəməˌbil the production of cars in The automobile industry
industry ˌɪndəstri/ factories started in the 1860s.
bacteria noun [plural] /bækˈtɪəriə/ microorganisms (=very small This disease was caused by
living things) that consist of bacteria.
a single cell. Some types of
bacteria cause diseases, and
others cause things to decay
be born collocations with be /ˌbiˈbɔrn/ when a baby is born, it comes The twins were born on August
out of its mother’s body and 29, 1962.
starts its life
brainstorm verb /ˈbreɪnˌstɔrm/ to talk about ideas in a Let’s brainstorm some ideas.
brainstorming discussion
built verb [simple past] /bɪlt/ the past tense of build They built this house in 1878.
company noun [count] /ˈkʌmp(ə)ni/ an organization that sells Max works for a large oil
services or goods company.
composed verb [simple past] /kəmˈpoʊzd/ the past tense of compose They composed a song
especially for the wedding.
cosmetics noun [plural] /kɑzˈmetɪks/ substances that you use on Cosmetics have been used for
your skin to make yourself look thousands of years.
more attractive
dead adjective /ded/ no longer alive The shootings left 14 people
dead.
die verb /daɪ/ to stop being alive My grandfather died at the
age of 86.
discover verb /dɪˈskʌvər/ to find a place, fact, or Who discovered penicillin?
substance that no one knew
about before
efficient adjective /ɪˈfɪʃ(ə)nt/ something that is efficient, The assembly line system is
works well, and produces good fast and efficient.
results by using the available
time, money, supplies, etc. in
the most effective way
explored verb [simple past] /ɪkˈsplɔrd/ the past tense of explore We explored the city on foot.
farm noun [count] /fɑrm/ an area of land used for They have many cows on their
growing crops or keeping farm.
animals
fought verb [simple past] /fɔt/ the past tense of fight They fought for their freedom.

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

gasoline noun [noncount] /ˈɡæsəlin/ a liquid used as fuel for cars Early cars had gasoline
and other vehicles engines.
get a job collocations with get /ˌɡetəˈdʒɑb/ to find work that you do I want to get a job as a teacher
regularly to earn money when I finish college.
get married collocations with get /ˌɡetˈmerid/ when two people have a We’re getting married next
wedding and become husband summer.
and wife
graduate verb /ˈɡrædʒueɪt/ to complete your studies at a She graduates in June.
university or college, usually by
getting a degree
graduated verb [simple past] /ˈɡrædʒuˌeɪtəd/ the past tense of graduate He graduated from Oxford
University in 1936.
grew up phrasal verb [simple /ˌɡruˈʌp/ the past tense of grow up I grew up in Mexico, but now I
past] live in the U.S.A
grow up phrasal verb /ˌɡroʊˈʌp/ to change from being a child I would like my children to
to being an adult grow up in the U.S.A
have children collocations with /ˌhævˈtʃɪldrən/ to be or become a parent We want to travel around the
have world before we have children.
icon noun [count] /ˈaɪˌkɑn/ someone who is very famous, Henry Ford is an American
and who people think icon.
represents a particular idea
independence noun [noncount] /ˌɪndɪˈpendəns/ freedom from control Many countries gained
by another country or independence in the twentieth
organization Century.
internal noun [count] /ɪnˈtɜrn(ə)l a type of engine used in most Ford experimented with
combustion kəmˈbʌstʃ(ə)n cars internal combustion engines.
engine ˌendʒɪn/
invented verb [simple past] /ɪnˈventɪd/ the past tense of invent Who invented the telephone?
machinist noun [count] /məˈʃinɪst/ someone whose job is to use a Ford worked as a machinist in
machine Detroit.
mechanical adjective /mɪˈkænɪk(ə)l/ relating to engines and Many inventors are interested
machines and the way that in mechanical things.
they work
move verb /muv/ to begin to live in a different I moved to Boston to go to
house or area college.
move around verb /ˌmuv əˈraʊnd/ to go from one place to In many factories, the workers
another don’t move around.
operate verb /ˈɑpəˌreɪt/ to use and control a piece of Farm workers often operate
equipment farm machinery.
plant noun [count] /plænt/ a factory that makes cars, Ford opened an automobile
machines, equipment, etc. plant in Michigan.
politics noun [noncount] /ˈpɑlətɪks/ the ideas and activities I’m not really interested in
involved in getting power in politics.
a country, or over a particular
area of the world
pop culture noun [noncount] /pɑpˌkʌltʃər/ the types of entertainment that Pop culture is very influential
most people in a society enjoy, on teenagers.
for example, movies, TV shows,
and popular music
profession noun [count] /prəˈfeʃ(ə)n/ a job that you need special What is your father’s
skills and qualifications to do, profession?
especially one with high social
status
repair verb /rɪˈper/ to fix something that is broken Jim repairs old cars.
or damaged

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Word / Phrase Part of Speech Phonetic Spelling Definition Sample Sentence

retire verb /rɪˈtaɪr/ to stop working permanently, Mrs. Kenny retired as the
especially when you are old principal in July.
return verb /rɪˈtɜrn/ to go back to a place where I will return to Mexico when
you were earlier or to come I finish college.
back from a place where you
have just been
steam engine noun [count] /ˈstimˌendʒɪn/ an engine that gets its power Trains used to be pulled by
from steam, especially a steam engines.
railway engine
the arts noun [plural] /ˌðiˈɑrts/ activities such as art, music, The arts aren’t as popular with
movies, theater, and dance, teenagers as pop culture.
considered together
theater noun [count] /ˈθiətər/ a building, room, or outside The Apollo is a famous theater
area used for performing plays in New York.
vehicle noun [count] /ˈviɪk(ə)l/ a machine that you travel in A vehicle called a quadricycle
or on, especially one with an was invented before the car.
engine that travels on roads,
for example a car, bus, van,
truck, or motorcycle
won verb [simple past] /wʌn/ the past tense of win Usain Bolt won the 100m at
the Beijing Olympics®.
wrote verb [simple past] /roʊt/ the past tense of write William Shakespeare wrote
many plays.

Useful Expressions
Useful Expressions Topic / Category
When I was little/young, … Talking about past experiences
I can’t remember. Asking for and giving information
Let me think. Asking for and giving information
Just a second. Asking for and giving information
Do you know a lot about him/her? Talking about historical figures and
events
What are/were his/her achievements? Talking about historical figures and
events
I prefer … because … Talking about historical figures and
events
Sample Sentence
When I was little, I used to play soccer
every weekend.
A: When was Christopher Colombus
born?
B: I can’t remember.
A: How many poems did Pablo Neruda
write?
B: Let me think.
A: When is Angelina Jolie’s birthday?
B: Just a second. I’ll look it up on the
internet.
A: Do you know a lot about him?
B: Yes, I studied him at school.
A: What were his achievements?
B: He was the first person to walk on the
moon.
I prefer Beyoncé because she is a better
singer.

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