Chapter: Unit Six: Adolescence
đ Vocabulary
ENGLISH FOR TODAY Classes XI-XII & Alim
â Most Important Exam Words
adolescencepubertytransitionvulnerablepotential health risksinequalitysubordinationmarginalisationdowrymobilityempowermentcounsellingreproductive healthcontraceptionmaternal mortalityneonatal mortalitybullyingcyberbullyingharassmentintimidationperpetratorprivacyintervenecollective effort
đ Word Formation Rules
âē adolescent (noun/adjective) â adolescence (noun): add the suffix -ence to form the name of the period or condition
âē develop (verb) â development (noun): add the suffix -ment to form an abstract noun
âē vulnerable (adjective) â vulnerability (noun): change -able to -ability
âē equal (adjective) â inequality (noun): add the negative prefix in- and the suffix -ity
âē empower (verb) â empowerment (noun): add the suffix -ment
âē marginalise (verb) â marginalisation (noun): change -ise to -isation
âē reproduce (verb) â reproductive (adjective): use the suffix -ive
âē counsel (verb/noun) â counselling (noun): add -ling to form the activity noun
âē bully (noun/verb) â bullying (noun): add the suffix -ing
âē protect (verb) â protection (noun): add the suffix -ion
âē obstruct (verb) â obstruction (noun): add the suffix -ion
âē nourish (verb) â undernourished (adjective): add the prefix under- and the past participle suffix -ed
1. Adolescence and Human Development (8 words)
infancy[/ËÉĒnfÉnsi/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻļā§āĻļāĻŦā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžā§; āĻāύā§āĻŽ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžā§ āĻĻā§āĻ āĻŦāĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϏ
Alt: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŖāϤ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Infancy is the first stage of human growth.
Syn: babyhood, early childhoodAnt: adulthood, maturity
đĄ Exam tip: Remember the sequence: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood.
adolescence[/ËÃĻdÉËlesÉns/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻāϏāύā§āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϞ; āĻļā§āĻļāĻŦ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻŦā§āϏā§āĻ āĻšāĻā§āĻžāϰ āĻŽāϧā§āϝāĻŦāϰā§āϤ⧠āϏāĻŽā§
Alt: āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ ā§§ā§Š āĻĨā§āĻā§ ā§§ā§Ž āĻŦāĻāϰ āĻŦā§āϏā§āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻļāĻāĻžāϞ
Example: Adolescence is a critical period of physical and psychological development.
Syn: teenage, pubertyAnt: childhood, adulthood
đĄ Exam tip: Use adolescence for the period and adolescent for a person.
puberty[/ËpjuËbÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻāϏāύā§āϧāĻŋ; āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĒāĻā§āĻŦāϤāĻž āĻ
āϰā§āĻāύā§āϰ āϏāĻŽā§
Alt: āĻļā§āĻļāĻŦ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āϝā§āĻŦāύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŦāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžā§
Example: Puberty marks the biological passage from childhood to adolescence.
Syn: maturity, sexual maturationAnt: childhood, immaturity
đĄ Exam tip: Puberty is a biological process, whereas adolescence is broader.
transition[/trÃĻnËzÉĒĘÉn/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύ; āĻāĻ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ
āύā§āϝ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžā§ āĻāϤā§āϤāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āϰā§āĻĒāĻžāύā§āϤāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋā§āĻž
Example: Adolescence is a transition from childhood to adulthood.
Syn: change, shiftAnt: stability, continuity
đĄ Exam tip: The common phrase is transition from one stage to another.
development[/dÉĒËvelÉpmÉnt/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻžāĻļ; āĻāύā§āύā§āύ
Alt: āϧā§āϰ⧠āϧā§āϰ⧠āĻŦā§āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāϰā§āϤāύā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āϰāĻŋā§āĻž
Example: Family support is essential for healthy adolescent development.
Syn: growth, progressAnt: decline, stagnation
đĄ Exam tip: Development may be physical, mental, social or emotional.
identity[/aÉĒËdentÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻā§; āύāĻŋāĻāϏā§āĻŦ āϏāϤā§āϤāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāϏā§āϤā§āϰ āϏā§āĻŦāϤāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝ
Example: Adolescents gradually develop their own identity.
Syn: selfhood, individualityAnt: anonymity, obscurity
đĄ Exam tip: Identity formation is an important goal of adolescence.
maturity[/mÉËtĘĘÉrÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĒāĻā§āĻŦāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻĻāĻžā§āĻŋāϤā§āĻŦāĻļā§āϞ āĻ āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻā§āώāĻŖ āĻšāĻā§āĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Adolescents gradually acquire emotional maturity.
Syn: ripeness, adulthoodAnt: immaturity, childishness
đĄ Exam tip: Maturity can refer to physical, mental or emotional growth.
characteristic[/ËkÃĻrÉktÉËrÉĒstÉĒk/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦā§āĻļāĻŋāώā§āĻā§āϝ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāώā§ā§āϰ āϏā§āĻŦāϤāύā§āϤā§āϰ āĻā§āĻŖ
Example: The defining characteristic of adolescence is rapid change.
Syn: feature, qualityAnt: unlikeness, difference
đĄ Exam tip: Defining characteristic means the feature that identifies something.
2. Health Risks and Vulnerability (8 words)
vulnerable[/ËvĘlnÉrÉbl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻ
āϰāĻā§āώāĻŋāϤ; āϏāĻšāĻā§ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻā§āϰāϏā§āϤ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāύ
Alt: āĻāĻāĻžāϤ, āϰā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāĻĻā§āϰ āĻā§āĻāĻāĻŋāϤ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž
Example: Adolescent girls are vulnerable to early marriage and abuse.
Syn: susceptible, unprotectedAnt: invulnerable, secure
đĄ Exam tip: Vulnerable is followed by to: vulnerable to disease.
potential[/pÉËtenĘÉl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āϏāĻŽā§āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āϝ
Alt: āĻāĻŦāĻŋāώā§āϝāϤ⧠āĻāĻāϤ⧠āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻāĻļāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāύ
Example: Early pregnancy creates potential health risks.
Syn: possible, probableAnt: impossible, certain
đĄ Exam tip: Potential usually describes a possible future problem or benefit.
hazard[/ËhÃĻzÉd/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāĻĻ; āĻā§āĻāĻāĻŋ
Alt: āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āϰā§āĻāĻāύāĻž āĻāĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧠āĻāĻŽāύ āĻŦāĻŋāώā§
Example: Drug abuse is a serious health hazard for adolescents.
Syn: danger, riskAnt: safety, protection
đĄ Exam tip: Health hazard means something harmful to health.
anaemia[/ÉËniËmiÉ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϰāĻā§āϤāϏā§āĻŦāϞā§āĻĒāϤāĻž
Alt: āϰāĻā§āϤ⧠āĻšāĻŋāĻŽā§āĻā§āϞā§āĻŦāĻŋāύā§āϰ āĻāĻžāĻāϤāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āϰā§āĻ
Example: Many adolescent girls suffer from anaemia because of poor nutrition.
Syn: blood deficiencyAnt: healthy blood condition
đĄ Exam tip: In British spelling use anaemia; American spelling is anemia.
undernourished[/ËĘndÉËnĘrÉĒĘt/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻ
āĻĒā§āώā§āĻ
Alt: āĻĒāϰā§āϝāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻĒā§āώā§āĻāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻā§āĻž
Example: Undernourished adolescents may suffer from weakness and disease.
Syn: malnourished, underfedAnt: well-nourished, healthy
đĄ Exam tip: The prefix under- means insufficiently or less than necessary.
morbidities[/mÉËrËbÉĒdÉtiz/]nounhard
Meaning: āϰā§āĻāĻāύāĻŋāϤ āĻāĻāĻŋāϞāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻ
āϏā§āϏā§āĻĨāϤāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϰā§āĻā§ āĻā§āĻāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Early childbirth may cause serious maternal morbidities.
Syn: illnesses, complicationsAnt: wellness, health
đĄ Exam tip: Morbidity means illness; mortality means death.
hemorrhage[/ËhemÉrÉĒdĘ/]nounhard
Meaning: āϰāĻā§āϤāĻā§āώāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āĻ
āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āύāĻŋā§āύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŋāϤ āϰāĻā§āϤāĻĒāĻžāϤ
Example: Pregnancy at an early age may lead to dangerous hemorrhage.
Syn: bleeding, blood lossAnt: blood clotting, hemostasis
đĄ Exam tip: Hemorrhage is a serious medical complication.
obstructed[/ÉbËstrĘktÉĒd/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻžāĻā§āϰāϏā§āϤ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖā§ āĻāĻāĻā§ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž
Example: Obstructed childbirth can cause severe injury to the mother.
Syn: blocked, hinderedAnt: clear, unblocked
đĄ Exam tip: Obstructed labour means childbirth made difficult by a physical blockage.
3. Social Problems and Empowerment (8 words)
inequality[/ËÉĒnÉĒËkwÉlÉti/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ
āϏāĻŽāϤāĻž
Alt: āϏāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āϝā§āĻā§āϰ āĻ
āĻāĻžāĻŦ
Example: Gender inequality limits the opportunities of adolescent girls.
Syn: disparity, imbalanceAnt: equality, fairness
đĄ Exam tip: The prefix in- makes equality negative: inequality.
subordination[/sÉËbÉËdÉĒËneÉĒĘÉn/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ
āϧā§āύāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻ
āύā§āϝā§āϰ āύāĻŋā§āύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻāϰā§āϤā§āϤā§āĻŦā§āϰ āĻ
āϧā§āύ⧠āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻž
Example: Social subordination often prevents girls from making decisions.
Syn: inferiority, subjectionAnt: independence, freedom
đĄ Exam tip: Subordination is often discussed in relation to women and social power.
marginalisation[/ËmÉËdĘÉĒnÉlaÉĒËzeÉĒĘÉn/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤāĻŋāĻā§āĻāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻā§āώā§āĻ ā§āĻā§ āϏāĻŽāĻžāĻā§āϰ āĻŽā§āϞāϧāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻĻā§āϰ⧠āϏāϰāĻŋā§ā§ āϰāĻžāĻāĻž
Example: Marginalisation of girls reduces their access to education and healthcare.
Syn: exclusion, isolationAnt: inclusion, integration
đĄ Exam tip: Marginalise means to push someone to the edge of society.
dowry[/ËdaĘÉri/]nouneasy
Meaning: āϝā§āϤā§āĻ
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋā§ā§āϰ āϏāĻŽā§ āĻāύā§āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāϰā§āϤā§āĻ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻž āĻ
āϰā§āĻĨ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻĻ
Example: Dowry-related violence is a serious social problem.
Syn: marriage payment, bridal giftAnt: dowry-free marriage
đĄ Exam tip: Use dowry-related as a compound adjective.
mobility[/mÉĘËbÉĒlÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāϞāĻžāĻĢā§āϰāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϧā§āύāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻ
āύā§āϝ āϏā§āĻĨāĻžāύ⧠āϝāĻžāĻā§āĻžāϰ āĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻž
Example: Early marriage restricts the mobility of adolescent girls.
Syn: movement, freedom of movementAnt: immobility, restriction
đĄ Exam tip: Social mobility can also mean movement from one social class to another.
empowerment[/ÉĒmËpaĘÉmÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻžā§āύ
Alt: āύāĻŋāĻā§āϰ āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āĻ āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāύā§āϤ āĻā§āϰāĻšāĻŖā§āϰ āĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻž āĻ
āϰā§āĻāύ
Example: Adolescent empowerment helps girls resist harmful traditions.
Syn: enablement, strengtheningAnt: disempowerment, oppression
đĄ Exam tip: Empowerment is formed from empower plus the suffix -ment.
counselling[/ËkaĘnsÉlÉĒÅ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļāĻĻāĻžāύ
Alt: āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻž āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻĒā§āĻļāĻžāĻĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻāύā§āϤāϰāĻŋāĻ āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāϰā§āĻļ
Example: The couple received counselling about reproductive health.
Syn: guidance, adviceAnt: misguidance, neglect
đĄ Exam tip: Counselling is British spelling; counseling is American spelling.
advocate[/ËÃĻdvÉkeÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻŽāϰā§āĻĨāύ āĻāϰāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻā§āώ⧠āĻāĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞāĻž
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āύā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻĒāĻā§āώ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻļā§āϝ⧠āĻŽāϤ āĻĻā§āĻā§āĻž
Example: Many organisations advocate an end to child marriage.
Syn: support, recommendAnt: oppose, discourage
đĄ Exam tip: As a noun, advocate means a supporter or lawyer; as a verb, it means support.
4. School, Learning and Well-being (8 words)
pleasant[/ËplezÉnt/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻāύāύā§āĻĻāĻĻāĻžā§āĻ
Alt: āĻāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻĻāĻžā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻāĻāϰ
Example: A pleasant classroom encourages students to learn.
Syn: enjoyable, agreeableAnt: unpleasant, difficult
đĄ Exam tip: Pleasant describes something that gives pleasure or comfort.
supportive[/sÉËpÉËtÉĒv/]adjeasy
Meaning: āϏāĻšāĻžā§āĻ
Alt: āĻā§āϏāĻžāĻš āĻ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāϝā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύāĻāĻžāϰā§
Example: Supportive teachers help students overcome learning difficulties.
Syn: helpful, encouragingAnt: unsupportive, discouraging
đĄ Exam tip: Supportive is commonly used before teacher, family or environment.
disability[/ËdÉĒsÉËbÉĒlÉti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻŦāύā§āϧāĻāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ āϏāĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻžāϰ āϏā§āĻŽāĻžāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻž
Example: Children with learning disabilities need special care.
Syn: impairment, limitationAnt: ability, capacity
đĄ Exam tip: Learning disability refers to difficulty in acquiring academic skills.
cage[/keÉĒdĘ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻāĻžāĻāĻāĻž
Alt: āĻŦāύā§āĻĻāĻŋāϤā§āĻŦ āĻŦāĻž āϏā§āĻŦāĻžāϧā§āύāϤāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻāĻžāĻŦā§āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤā§āĻ
Example: The poet compares a rigid classroom to a cage.
Syn: prison, enclosureAnt: freedom, open space
đĄ Exam tip: In the poem, cage is a metaphor for a restrictive school environment.
dismay[/dÉĒsËmeÉĒ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻšāϤāĻžāĻļāĻž āĻ āĻāϤāĻā§āĻ
Alt: āĻā§ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻā§āĻāĻāĻāύāĻŋāϤ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ āĻ
āϏā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰāϤāĻž
Example: The harsh teacher filled the child with dismay.
Syn: distress, consternationAnt: confidence, delight
đĄ Exam tip: Dismay is a strong feeling of fear, sadness or disappointment.
dreary[/ËdrÉĒÉri/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāώāĻŖā§āĻŖ āĻ āĻāĻāĻā§ā§ā§
Alt: āĻāύāύā§āĻĻāĻšā§āύ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āϞāĻžāύā§āϤāĻŋāĻāϰ
Example: The boy cannot enjoy the dreary lessons at school.
Syn: gloomy, dullAnt: cheerful, lively
đĄ Exam tip: Dreary is useful for describing dull weather, places or experiences.
drudgery[/ËdrĘdĘÉri/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻāĻ āĻŋāύ āĻ āĻāĻāĻā§ā§ā§ āĻāĻžāĻ
Alt: āĻāύāύā§āĻĻāĻšā§āύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļā§āϰāĻŽ
Example: The child wants to escape from the drudgery of school.
Syn: toil, hard labourAnt: pleasure, enjoyment
đĄ Exam tip: Drudgery often refers to repetitive work that causes boredom.
metaphor[/ËmetÉfÉËr/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϰā§āĻĒāĻ
Alt: like āĻŦāĻž as āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āύāĻž āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻ āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϏāĻā§ āĻ
āύā§āϝ āĻāĻŋāύāĻŋāϏā§āϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āϤā§āϞāύāĻž
Example: The word cage is a metaphor for an oppressive school.
Syn: figure of speech, symbolAnt: literal statement
đĄ Exam tip: Identify the hidden comparison in metaphor-based questions.
5. Bullying and Cyber Safety (8 words)
bullying[/ËbĘliÉĒÅ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āύāĻŋāϰā§āϝāĻžāϤāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§
Alt: āĻā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻžāϰ āĻ
āĻĒāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰ⧠āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻāĻā§ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ, āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻļāĻžāϰā§āϰāĻŋāĻāĻāĻžāĻŦā§ āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Bullying can seriously affect a student's mental health.
Syn: harassment, intimidationAnt: kindness, protection
đĄ Exam tip: Bullying may be verbal, social, physical or cyber-based.
teasing[/ËtiËzÉĒÅ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ āĻžāĻā§āĻāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻāϤā§āϝāĻā§āϤ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻžāĻāĻā§ āĻŦāĻŋāϰāĻā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āϰāϤ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŽāĻāĻž āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Repeated teasing may become a form of verbal bullying.
Syn: mocking, tauntingAnt: praise, encouragement
đĄ Exam tip: Teasing becomes bullying when it is repeated and harmful.
harassment[/ËhÃĻrÉsmÉnt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻšā§āϰāĻžāύāĻŋ
Alt: āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāϰāĻā§āϤ, āĻ
āĻĒāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§āϰ āĻāĻāϰāĻŖ
Example: Online harassment should be reported to the appropriate authority.
Syn: persecution, annoyanceAnt: respect, consideration
đĄ Exam tip: Harassment can occur in person or through electronic communication.
intimidation[/ÉĒnËtÉĒmÉĒËdeÉĒĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻā§ āĻĻā§āĻāĻžāύā§
Alt: āĻā§ āϏā§āώā§āĻāĻŋ āĻāϰ⧠āĻāĻžāĻāĻā§ āύāĻŋā§āύā§āϤā§āϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžāϧā§āϝ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Threatening messages are a form of intimidation.
Syn: threat, bullyingAnt: encouragement, reassurance
đĄ Exam tip: Criminal intimidation involves threats to a person's safety, reputation or property.
rumour[/ËruËmÉ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻāĻŦ
Alt: āĻ
āϝāĻžāĻāĻžāĻāĻā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ
āύāĻŋāĻļā§āĻāĻŋāϤ āϏāĻāĻŦāĻžāĻĻ
Example: Spreading rumours can damage a person's reputation.
Syn: gossip, hearsayAnt: fact, truth
đĄ Exam tip: British spelling is rumour; American spelling is rumor.
cyberbullying[/ËsaÉĒbÉËbĘliÉĒÅ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻžāĻāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻšā§āϰāĻžāύāĻŋ
Alt: āĻāϞā§āĻāĻā§āϰāύāĻŋāĻ āϝā§āĻāĻžāϝā§āĻ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāĻāĻŋāĻ āĻŽāĻžāϧā§āϝāĻŽā§ āĻāĻžāĻāĻā§ āύāĻŋāϰā§āϝāĻžāϤāύ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Cyberbullying includes posting humiliating pictures online.
Syn: online harassment, digital bullyingAnt: online support, digital kindness
đĄ Exam tip: Mention social media, messages, fake profiles and private images as examples.
perpetrator[/ËpÉËrpÉtreÉĒtÉ/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻžāϧā§
Alt: āϝ⧠āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋ āĻā§āύ⧠āĻ
āĻĒāϰāĻžāϧ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ āĻāϰā§
Example: The perpetrator may face legal punishment for cybercrime.
Syn: offender, wrongdoerAnt: victim, law-abiding person
đĄ Exam tip: Do not confuse perpetrator with victim; the perpetrator causes the harm.
privacy[/ËprÉĒvÉsi/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻā§āĻĒāύā§ā§āϤāĻž
Alt: āĻŦā§āϝāĻā§āϤāĻŋāĻāϤ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āĻŦāύ⧠āĻ
āύā§āϝā§āϰ āĻ
āύāϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻĨā§āĻā§ āĻŽā§āĻā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻāĻžāϰ āĻ
āϧāĻŋāĻāĻžāϰ
Example: Protecting privacy is essential for online safety.
Syn: secrecy, confidentialityAnt: exposure, publicity
đĄ Exam tip: Privacy settings help prevent unwanted access to online accounts.
6. Action, Responsibility and Social Change (8 words)
determinant[/dÉĒËtÉËmÉĒnÉnt/]nounhard
Meaning: āύāĻŋāϰā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻ āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āϝ⧠āĻāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻā§āύ⧠āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāύā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ āĻāĻāĻžā§
Example: Education is an important determinant of the age of marriage.
Syn: factor, causeAnt: result, effect
đĄ Exam tip: Determinant means a cause, while consequence means an effect.
consequence[/ËkÉnsÉĒkwens/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŖāϤāĻŋ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻžāĻ āĻŦāĻž āĻāĻāύāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ
Example: Early marriage has serious consequences for adolescent girls.
Syn: result, outcomeAnt: cause, origin
đĄ Exam tip: The phrase as a consequence of means as a result of.
intervene[/ËÉĒntÉËviËn/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻšāϏā§āϤāĻā§āώā§āĻĒ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āϏāĻŽāϏā§āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻāĻāĻžāϤ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦ āĻŦāĻŋāϏā§āϤāĻžāϰā§āϰ āĻāύā§āϝ āĻŽāĻžāĻāĻāĻžāύ⧠āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦā§āĻļ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Teachers should intervene when bullying occurs at school.
Syn: interfere, step inAnt: ignore, withdraw
đĄ Exam tip: Intervene is followed by in or to: intervene in a dispute.
exert[/ÉĒÉĄËzÉËt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰā§ā§āĻ āĻāϰāĻž
Alt: āĻļāĻā§āϤāĻŋ, āĻĒā§āϰāĻāĻžāĻŦ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻā§āώā§āĻāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻāϰāĻž
Example: Parents exert great influence on adolescent development.
Syn: apply, useAnt: withhold, restrain
đĄ Exam tip: Common combinations: exert effort, exert influence, exert pressure.
acquisition[/ËÃĻkwÉĒËzÉĒĘÉn/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ
āϰā§āĻāύ
Alt: āĻā§āύ⧠āĻāĻŋāĻā§ āĻ
āϰā§āĻāύ āĻŦāĻž āϞāĻžāĻ āĻāϰāĻžāϰ āĻāĻžāĻ
Example: Adolescence is important for the acquisition of useful skills.
Syn: attainment, gainingAnt: loss, disposal
đĄ Exam tip: Acquisition often refers to acquiring knowledge, skills or possessions.
reproductive[/ËriËprÉËdĘktÉĒv/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻāύāύāϏāĻāĻā§āϰāĻžāύā§āϤ
Alt: āϏāύā§āϤāĻžāύ āĻā§āĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻāύāύāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāϏā§āĻĨāĻžāϰ āϏāĻā§āĻā§ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāϰā§āĻāĻŋāϤ
Example: Adolescents need accurate reproductive health information.
Syn: fertility-related, generativeAnt: non-reproductive
đĄ Exam tip: Reproductive health is a key phrase in this unit.
contraception[/ËkÉntrÉËsepĘÉn/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻāϰā§āĻāύāĻŋāϰā§āϧ
Alt: āĻāϰā§āĻāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰā§āϧā§āϰ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ
Example: Knowledge of contraception can prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Syn: birth control, family planningAnt: conception, fertilisation
đĄ Exam tip: Contraception is associated with reproductive health and family planning.
collective[/kÉËlektÉĒv/]adjmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻŽā§āĻŽāĻŋāϞāĻŋāϤ
Alt: āĻāĻāĻāĻŋ āĻĻāϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻā§āώā§āĻ ā§āϰ āϝā§āĻĨ
Example: The development of adolescents requires collective efforts.
Syn: joint, å
ąåAnt: individual, separate
đĄ Exam tip: Collective effort means effort made by several people together.
đĄ Exam Tips
âĸ Distinguish between adolescence, adolescent and puberty: adolescence is a period, adolescent is a young person or adjective, and puberty is a biological process.
âĸ For matching exercises, identify whether the definition describes a person, action, cause, result, condition or period.
âĸ Remember the cause-effect pairs: higher education leads to later marriage, school dropout leads to household labour, and lack of reproductive knowledge increases childbirth risks.
âĸ Use vulnerable to, responsible for, access to, pressure on and involved in correctly in sentences.
âĸ In paragraph writing, organise ideas into introduction, major problems, causes, solutions and conclusion.
âĸ For bullying questions, classify examples as verbal, social, physical or cyberbullying.
âĸ In graph descriptions, use comparison words such as higher than, lower than, respectively, in contrast, whereas and overall.
âĸ Do not confuse mortality with morbidity: mortality means death, while morbidity means illness or disease.
âĸ For cyberbullying solutions, mention saving evidence, blocking the bully, protecting passwords, reporting the content and informing a trusted adult.
âĸ Use appropriate linking words in answers: because, since, as, therefore, consequently, moreover and however.
âĸ When answering opinion questions, give a clear position, at least two reasons and a practical recommendation.
âĸ Remember that adolescence is a vulnerable but important period requiring support from family, school, health services and the community.