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ENGLISH FOR TODAY Classes XI-XII & Alim - Unit Six: Adolescence - Vocabulary

HSC (Class 11-12) ¡ English ¡ 14 Aug 2026

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HSC (Class 11-12)ENGLISH FOR TODAY Classes XI-XII & Alim - Unit Six: Adolescence - Vocabulary

Chapter: Unit Six: Adolescence

📚 Vocabulary
ENGLISH FOR TODAY Classes XI-XII & Alim
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
adolescencepubertytransitionvulnerablepotential health risksinequalitysubordinationmarginalisationdowrymobilityempowermentcounsellingreproductive healthcontraceptionmaternal mortalityneonatal mortalitybullyingcyberbullyingharassmentintimidationperpetratorprivacyintervenecollective effort
📃 Word Formation Rules
â–ē adolescent (noun/adjective) → adolescence (noun): add the suffix -ence to form the name of the period or condition
â–ē develop (verb) → development (noun): add the suffix -ment to form an abstract noun
â–ē vulnerable (adjective) → vulnerability (noun): change -able to -ability
â–ē equal (adjective) → inequality (noun): add the negative prefix in- and the suffix -ity
â–ē empower (verb) → empowerment (noun): add the suffix -ment
â–ē marginalise (verb) → marginalisation (noun): change -ise to -isation
â–ē reproduce (verb) → reproductive (adjective): use the suffix -ive
â–ē counsel (verb/noun) → counselling (noun): add -ling to form the activity noun
â–ē bully (noun/verb) → bullying (noun): add the suffix -ing
â–ē protect (verb) → protection (noun): add the suffix -ion
â–ē obstruct (verb) → obstruction (noun): add the suffix -ion
â–ē nourish (verb) → undernourished (adjective): add the prefix under- and the past participle suffix -ed
1. Adolescence and Human Development (8 words)
infancy[/ˈÉĒnfənsi/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻļ⧈āĻļāĻŦ⧇āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻĒāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžā§Ÿ; āϜāĻ¨ā§āĻŽ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžā§Ÿ āĻĻ⧁āχ āĻŦāĻ›āϰ āĻŦ⧟āϏ
Alt: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĨāĻŽāĻŋāĻ• āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŖāϤ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Infancy is the first stage of human growth.
Syn: babyhood, early childhoodAnt: adulthood, maturity
💡 Exam tip: Remember the sequence: infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood.
adolescence[/ˌÃĻdəˈlesəns/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦ⧟āσāϏāĻ¨ā§āϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϞ; āĻļ⧈āĻļāĻŦ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻĒā§āϤāĻŦ⧟āĻ¸ā§āĻ• āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāϰ āĻŽāĻ§ā§āϝāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤ⧀ āϏāĻŽā§Ÿ
Alt: āϏāĻžāϧāĻžāϰāĻŖāϤ ā§§ā§Š āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ ā§§ā§Ž āĻŦāĻ›āϰ āĻŦ⧟āϏ⧇āϰ āĻŦāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāĻļāĻ•āĻžāϞ
Example: Adolescence is a critical period of physical and psychological development.
Syn: teenage, pubertyAnt: childhood, adulthood
💡 Exam tip: Use adolescence for the period and adolescent for a person.
puberty[/ˈpjuːbəti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦ⧟āσāϏāĻ¨ā§āϧāĻŋ; āĻļāĻžāϰ⧀āϰāĻŋāĻ• āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĒāĻ•ā§āĻŦāϤāĻž āĻ…āĻ°ā§āϜāύ⧇āϰ āϏāĻŽā§Ÿ
Alt: āĻļ⧈āĻļāĻŦ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āϝ⧌āĻŦāύ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦ⧇āĻļ⧇āϰ āϜ⧈āĻŦāĻŋāĻ• āĻĒāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžā§Ÿ
Example: Puberty marks the biological passage from childhood to adolescence.
Syn: maturity, sexual maturationAnt: childhood, immaturity
💡 Exam tip: Puberty is a biological process, whereas adolescence is broader.
transition[/trÃĻnˈzÉĒʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ; āĻāĻ• āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžā§Ÿ āωāĻ¤ā§āϤāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āϰ⧂āĻĒāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϤāϰ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ⧇āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻ•ā§āϰāĻŋ⧟āĻž
Example: Adolescence is a transition from childhood to adulthood.
Syn: change, shiftAnt: stability, continuity
💡 Exam tip: The common phrase is transition from one stage to another.
development[/dÉĒˈveləpmənt/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāĻļ; āωāĻ¨ā§āύ⧟āύ
Alt: āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āϧ⧀āϰ⧇ āĻŦ⧃āĻĻā§āϧāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻ°ā§āϤāύ⧇āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻ•ā§āϰāĻŋ⧟āĻž
Example: Family support is essential for healthy adolescent development.
Syn: growth, progressAnt: decline, stagnation
💡 Exam tip: Development may be physical, mental, social or emotional.
identity[/aÉĒˈdentəti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāϚ⧟; āύāĻŋāϜāĻ¸ā§āĻŦ āϏāĻ¤ā§āϤāĻž
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻ•ā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āϤ⧁āϰ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāϤāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āϰ āĻŦ⧈āĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻŸā§āϝ
Example: Adolescents gradually develop their own identity.
Syn: selfhood, individualityAnt: anonymity, obscurity
💡 Exam tip: Identity formation is an important goal of adolescence.
maturity[/məˈtʃʊərəti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻĒāĻ•ā§āĻŦāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻŦāĻļā§€āϞ āĻ“ āĻŦāĻŋāϚāĻ•ā§āώāĻŖ āĻšāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāϰ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Adolescents gradually acquire emotional maturity.
Syn: ripeness, adulthoodAnt: immaturity, childishness
💡 Exam tip: Maturity can refer to physical, mental or emotional growth.
characteristic[/ˌkÃĻrəktəˈrÉĒstÉĒk/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻŦ⧈āĻļāĻŋāĻˇā§āĻŸā§āϝ
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻŦā§āϝāĻ•ā§āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§Ÿā§‡āϰ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāϤāĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āϰ āϗ⧁āĻŖ
Example: The defining characteristic of adolescence is rapid change.
Syn: feature, qualityAnt: unlikeness, difference
💡 Exam tip: Defining characteristic means the feature that identifies something.
2. Health Risks and Vulnerability (8 words)
vulnerable[/ˈvʌlnərəbl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻ…āϰāĻ•ā§āώāĻŋāϤ; āϏāĻšāĻœā§‡ āĻ•ā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻ—ā§āϰāĻ¸ā§āϤ āĻšāϤ⧇ āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧇ āĻāĻŽāύ
Alt: āφāϘāĻžāϤ, āϰ⧋āĻ— āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāĻĻ⧇āϰ āĻā§āρāĻ•āĻŋāϤ⧇ āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻž
Example: Adolescent girls are vulnerable to early marriage and abuse.
Syn: susceptible, unprotectedAnt: invulnerable, secure
💡 Exam tip: Vulnerable is followed by to: vulnerable to disease.
potential[/pəˈtenʃəl/]adjeasy
Meaning: āϏāĻŽā§āĻ­āĻžāĻŦā§āϝ
Alt: āĻ­āĻŦāĻŋāĻˇā§āϝāϤ⧇ āϘāϟāϤ⧇ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻ•āĻļāĻŋāϤ āĻšāϤ⧇ āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧇ āĻāĻŽāύ
Example: Early pregnancy creates potential health risks.
Syn: possible, probableAnt: impossible, certain
💡 Exam tip: Potential usually describes a possible future problem or benefit.
hazard[/ˈhÃĻzəd/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāĻĒāĻĻ; āĻā§āρāĻ•āĻŋ
Alt: āĻ•ā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻ⧁āĻ°ā§āϘāϟāύāĻž āϘāϟāĻžāϤ⧇ āĻĒāĻžāϰ⧇ āĻāĻŽāύ āĻŦāĻŋāώ⧟
Example: Drug abuse is a serious health hazard for adolescents.
Syn: danger, riskAnt: safety, protection
💡 Exam tip: Health hazard means something harmful to health.
anaemia[/əˈniːmiə/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϰāĻ•ā§āϤāĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻ˛ā§āĻĒāϤāĻž
Alt: āϰāĻ•ā§āϤ⧇ āĻšāĻŋāĻŽā§‹āĻ—ā§āϞ⧋āĻŦāĻŋāύ⧇āϰ āϘāĻžāϟāϤāĻŋāϰ āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āϰ⧋āĻ—
Example: Many adolescent girls suffer from anaemia because of poor nutrition.
Syn: blood deficiencyAnt: healthy blood condition
💡 Exam tip: In British spelling use anaemia; American spelling is anemia.
undernourished[/ˌʌndəˈnƌrÉĒʃt/]adjeasy
Meaning: āĻ…āĻĒ⧁āĻˇā§āϟ
Alt: āĻĒāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžāĻĒā§āϤ āĻĒ⧁āĻˇā§āϟāĻŋ āύāĻž āĻĒāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻž
Example: Undernourished adolescents may suffer from weakness and disease.
Syn: malnourished, underfedAnt: well-nourished, healthy
💡 Exam tip: The prefix under- means insufficiently or less than necessary.
morbidities[/mɔːrˈbÉĒdətiz/]nounhard
Meaning: āϰ⧋āĻ—āϜāύāĻŋāϤ āϜāϟāĻŋāϞāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻ…āϏ⧁āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāϤāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϰ⧋āϗ⧇ āĻ­ā§‹āĻ—āĻžāϰ āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻž
Example: Early childbirth may cause serious maternal morbidities.
Syn: illnesses, complicationsAnt: wellness, health
💡 Exam tip: Morbidity means illness; mortality means death.
hemorrhage[/ˈhemərÉĒdʒ/]nounhard
Meaning: āϰāĻ•ā§āϤāĻ•ā§āώāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āĻ…āϤāĻŋāϰāĻŋāĻ•ā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āύāĻŋ⧟āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āϰāĻŋāϤ āϰāĻ•ā§āϤāĻĒāĻžāϤ
Example: Pregnancy at an early age may lead to dangerous hemorrhage.
Syn: bleeding, blood lossAnt: blood clotting, hemostasis
💡 Exam tip: Hemorrhage is a serious medical complication.
obstructed[/əbˈstrƌktÉĒd/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻžāĻ—ā§āϰāĻ¸ā§āϤ
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻŦāĻžāϧāĻžāϰ āĻ•āĻžāϰāϪ⧇ āφāϟāϕ⧇ āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻž
Example: Obstructed childbirth can cause severe injury to the mother.
Syn: blocked, hinderedAnt: clear, unblocked
💡 Exam tip: Obstructed labour means childbirth made difficult by a physical blockage.
3. Social Problems and Empowerment (8 words)
inequality[/ˌÉĒnÉĒˈkwɒləti/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ…āϏāĻŽāϤāĻž
Alt: āϏāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻ…āϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āϏ⧁āϝ⧋āϗ⧇āϰ āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ
Example: Gender inequality limits the opportunities of adolescent girls.
Syn: disparity, imbalanceAnt: equality, fairness
💡 Exam tip: The prefix in- makes equality negative: inequality.
subordination[/səˌbɔːdÉĒˈneÉĒʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ…āϧ⧀āύāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ⧇āϰ āύāĻŋ⧟āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻ•āĻ°ā§āϤ⧃āĻ¤ā§āĻŦ⧇āϰ āĻ…āϧ⧀āύ⧇ āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻž
Example: Social subordination often prevents girls from making decisions.
Syn: inferiority, subjectionAnt: independence, freedom
💡 Exam tip: Subordination is often discussed in relation to women and social power.
marginalisation[/ˌmɑːdʒÉĒnəlaÉĒˈzeÉĒʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϤāĻŋāϕ⧀āĻ•āϰāĻŖ
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻ—ā§‹āĻˇā§āĻ ā§€āϕ⧇ āϏāĻŽāĻžāĻœā§‡āϰ āĻŽā§‚āϞāϧāĻžāϰāĻž āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āĻĻā§‚āϰ⧇ āϏāϰāĻŋā§Ÿā§‡ āϰāĻžāĻ–āĻž
Example: Marginalisation of girls reduces their access to education and healthcare.
Syn: exclusion, isolationAnt: inclusion, integration
💡 Exam tip: Marginalise means to push someone to the edge of society.
dowry[/ˈdaʊəri/]nouneasy
Meaning: āϝ⧌āϤ⧁āĻ•
Alt: āĻŦāĻŋā§Ÿā§‡āϰ āϏāĻŽā§Ÿ āĻ•āύ⧇āϰ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻ•āĻ°ā§āϤ⧃āĻ• āĻĻ⧇āĻ“ā§ŸāĻž āĻ…āĻ°ā§āĻĨ āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻĻ
Example: Dowry-related violence is a serious social problem.
Syn: marriage payment, bridal giftAnt: dowry-free marriage
💡 Exam tip: Use dowry-related as a compound adjective.
mobility[/məʊˈbÉĒləti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϚāϞāĻžāĻĢ⧇āϰāĻžāϰ āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāϧ⧀āύāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻāĻ• āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāύ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāύ⧇ āϝāĻžāĻ“ā§ŸāĻžāϰ āĻ•ā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻž
Example: Early marriage restricts the mobility of adolescent girls.
Syn: movement, freedom of movementAnt: immobility, restriction
💡 Exam tip: Social mobility can also mean movement from one social class to another.
empowerment[/ÉĒmˈpaʊəmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ•ā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻžā§Ÿāύ
Alt: āύāĻŋāĻœā§‡āϰ āĻ…āϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ āĻ“ āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϤ āĻ—ā§āϰāĻšāϪ⧇āϰ āĻ•ā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻž āĻ…āĻ°ā§āϜāύ
Example: Adolescent empowerment helps girls resist harmful traditions.
Syn: enablement, strengtheningAnt: disempowerment, oppression
💡 Exam tip: Empowerment is formed from empower plus the suffix -ment.
counselling[/ˈkaƊnsəlÉĒŋ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻ°ā§āĻļāĻĻāĻžāύ
Alt: āϏāĻŽāĻ¸ā§āϝāĻž āϏāĻŽāĻžāϧāĻžāύ⧇āϰ āϜāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻĒ⧇āĻļāĻžāĻĻāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻž āφāĻ¨ā§āϤāϰāĻŋāĻ• āĻĒāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻ°ā§āĻļ
Example: The couple received counselling about reproductive health.
Syn: guidance, adviceAnt: misguidance, neglect
💡 Exam tip: Counselling is British spelling; counseling is American spelling.
advocate[/ˈÃĻdvəkeÉĒt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻŽāĻ°ā§āĻĨāύ āĻ•āϰāĻž āĻŦāĻž āĻĒāĻ•ā§āώ⧇ āĻ•āĻĨāĻž āĻŦāϞāĻž
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āύ⧀āϤāĻŋ āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧇āϰ āĻĒāĻ•ā§āώ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻ•āĻžāĻļā§āϝ⧇ āĻŽāϤ āĻĻ⧇āĻ“ā§ŸāĻž
Example: Many organisations advocate an end to child marriage.
Syn: support, recommendAnt: oppose, discourage
💡 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[/ˈplezənt/]adjeasy
Meaning: āφāύāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ•
Alt: āφāϰāĻžāĻŽāĻĻāĻžā§ŸāĻ• āĻŦāĻž āϏ⧁āĻ–āĻ•āϰ
Example: A pleasant classroom encourages students to learn.
Syn: enjoyable, agreeableAnt: unpleasant, difficult
💡 Exam tip: Pleasant describes something that gives pleasure or comfort.
supportive[/səˈpɔːtÉĒv/]adjeasy
Meaning: āϏāĻšāĻžā§ŸāĻ•
Alt: āĻ‰ā§ŽāϏāĻžāĻš āĻ“ āϏāĻžāĻšāĻžāĻ¯ā§āϝ āĻĒā§āϰāĻĻāĻžāύāĻ•āĻžāϰ⧀
Example: Supportive teachers help students overcome learning difficulties.
Syn: helpful, encouragingAnt: unsupportive, discouraging
💡 Exam tip: Supportive is commonly used before teacher, family or environment.
disability[/ˌdÉĒsəˈbÉĒləti/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāĻŦāĻ¨ā§āϧāĻ•āϤāĻž
Alt: āĻļāĻžāϰ⧀āϰāĻŋāĻ• āĻŦāĻž āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ• āϏāĻ•ā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻžāϰ āϏ⧀āĻŽāĻžāĻŦāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻž
Example: Children with learning disabilities need special care.
Syn: impairment, limitationAnt: ability, capacity
💡 Exam tip: Learning disability refers to difficulty in acquiring academic skills.
cage[/keÉĒdʒ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ–āĻžāρāϚāĻž
Alt: āĻŦāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻŋāĻ¤ā§āĻŦ āĻŦāĻž āĻ¸ā§āĻŦāĻžāϧ⧀āύāϤāĻžāϰ āĻ…āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇āϰ āĻĒā§āϰāϤ⧀āĻ•
Example: The poet compares a rigid classroom to a cage.
Syn: prison, enclosureAnt: freedom, open space
💡 Exam tip: In the poem, cage is a metaphor for a restrictive school environment.
dismay[/dÉĒsˈmeÉĒ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻšāϤāĻžāĻļāĻž āĻ“ āφāϤāĻ™ā§āĻ•
Alt: āϭ⧟ āĻŦāĻž āĻĻ⧁āσāĻ–āϜāύāĻŋāϤ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ• āĻ…āĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻŋāϰāϤāĻž
Example: The harsh teacher filled the child with dismay.
Syn: distress, consternationAnt: confidence, delight
💡 Exam tip: Dismay is a strong feeling of fear, sadness or disappointment.
dreary[/ˈdrÉĒəri/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻŦāĻŋāώāĻŖā§āĻŖ āĻ“ āĻāĻ•āĻ˜ā§‡ā§Ÿā§‡
Alt: āφāύāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻšā§€āύ āĻŦāĻž āĻ•ā§āϞāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ•āϰ
Example: The boy cannot enjoy the dreary lessons at school.
Syn: gloomy, dullAnt: cheerful, lively
💡 Exam tip: Dreary is useful for describing dull weather, places or experiences.
drudgery[/ˈdrʌdʒəri/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ•āĻ āĻŋāύ āĻ“ āĻāĻ•āĻ˜ā§‡ā§Ÿā§‡ āĻ•āĻžāϜ
Alt: āφāύāĻ¨ā§āĻĻāĻšā§€āύ āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻļā§āϰāĻŽ
Example: The child wants to escape from the drudgery of school.
Syn: toil, hard labourAnt: pleasure, enjoyment
💡 Exam tip: Drudgery often refers to repetitive work that causes boredom.
metaphor[/ˈmetəfɔːr/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϰ⧂āĻĒāĻ•
Alt: like āĻŦāĻž as āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āύāĻž āĻ•āϰ⧇ āĻāĻ• āϜāĻŋāύāĻŋāϏāϕ⧇ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ āϜāĻŋāύāĻŋāϏ⧇āϰ āϏāĻ™ā§āϗ⧇ āϤ⧁āϞāύāĻž
Example: The word cage is a metaphor for an oppressive school.
Syn: figure of speech, symbolAnt: literal statement
💡 Exam tip: Identify the hidden comparison in metaphor-based questions.
5. Bullying and Cyber Safety (8 words)
bullying[/ˈbƊliÉĒŋ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžāϤāύ āĻŦāĻž āϭ⧟ āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧋
Alt: āĻ•ā§āώāĻŽāϤāĻžāϰ āĻ…āĻĒāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻ•āϰ⧇ āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻ•āĻžāωāϕ⧇ āĻŽāĻžāύāϏāĻŋāĻ•, āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāϜāĻŋāĻ• āĻŦāĻž āĻļāĻžāϰ⧀āϰāĻŋāĻ•āĻ­āĻžāĻŦ⧇ āĻ•ā§āώāϤāĻŋ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Bullying can seriously affect a student's mental health.
Syn: harassment, intimidationAnt: kindness, protection
💡 Exam tip: Bullying may be verbal, social, physical or cyber-based.
teasing[/ˈtiːzÉĒŋ/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ āĻžāĻŸā§āϟāĻž āĻŦāĻž āωāĻ¤ā§āϝāĻ•ā§āϤ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: āĻ•āĻžāωāϕ⧇ āĻŦāĻŋāϰāĻ•ā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻŋāĻŦā§āϰāϤ āĻ•āϰāĻžāϰ āϜāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻŽāϜāĻž āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Repeated teasing may become a form of verbal bullying.
Syn: mocking, tauntingAnt: praise, encouragement
💡 Exam tip: Teasing becomes bullying when it is repeated and harmful.
harassment[/ˈhÃĻrəsmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻšā§ŸāϰāĻžāύāĻŋ
Alt: āĻŦāĻžāϰāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻŦāĻŋāϰāĻ•ā§āϤ, āĻ…āĻĒāĻŽāĻžāύ āĻŦāĻž āϭ⧟ āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧋āϰ āφāϚāϰāĻŖ
Example: Online harassment should be reported to the appropriate authority.
Syn: persecution, annoyanceAnt: respect, consideration
💡 Exam tip: Harassment can occur in person or through electronic communication.
intimidation[/ÉĒnˌtÉĒmÉĒˈdeÉĒʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϭ⧟ āĻĻ⧇āĻ–āĻžāύ⧋
Alt: āϭ⧟ āϏ⧃āĻˇā§āϟāĻŋ āĻ•āϰ⧇ āĻ•āĻžāωāϕ⧇ āύāĻŋ⧟āĻ¨ā§āĻ¤ā§āϰāĻŖ āĻŦāĻž āĻŦāĻžāĻ§ā§āϝ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Threatening messages are a form of intimidation.
Syn: threat, bullyingAnt: encouragement, reassurance
💡 Exam tip: Criminal intimidation involves threats to a person's safety, reputation or property.
rumour[/ˈruːmə/]nouneasy
Meaning: āϗ⧁āϜāĻŦ
Alt: āĻ…āϝāĻžāϚāĻžāχāĻ•ā§ƒāϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻ…āύāĻŋāĻļā§āϚāĻŋāϤ āϏāĻ‚āĻŦāĻžāĻĻ
Example: Spreading rumours can damage a person's reputation.
Syn: gossip, hearsayAnt: fact, truth
💡 Exam tip: British spelling is rumour; American spelling is rumor.
cyberbullying[/ˈsaÉĒbəˌbƊliÉĒŋ/]nounmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻžāχāĻŦāĻžāϰ āĻšā§ŸāϰāĻžāύāĻŋ
Alt: āχāϞ⧇āĻ•āĻŸā§āϰāύāĻŋāĻ• āϝ⧋āĻ—āĻžāϝ⧋āĻ— āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻžāĻŽāĻžāϜāĻŋāĻ• āĻŽāĻžāĻ§ā§āϝāĻŽā§‡ āĻ•āĻžāωāϕ⧇ āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āϝāĻžāϤāύ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Cyberbullying includes posting humiliating pictures online.
Syn: online harassment, digital bullyingAnt: online support, digital kindness
💡 Exam tip: Mention social media, messages, fake profiles and private images as examples.
perpetrator[/ˈpɜːrpətreÉĒtə/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ…āĻĒāϰāĻžāϧ⧀
Alt: āϝ⧇ āĻŦā§āϝāĻ•ā§āϤāĻŋ āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻ…āĻĒāϰāĻžāϧ āĻŦāĻž āĻ•ā§āώāϤāĻŋāĻ•āϰ āĻ•āĻžāϜ āĻ•āϰ⧇
Example: The perpetrator may face legal punishment for cybercrime.
Syn: offender, wrongdoerAnt: victim, law-abiding person
💡 Exam tip: Do not confuse perpetrator with victim; the perpetrator causes the harm.
privacy[/ˈprÉĒvəsi/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻ—ā§‹āĻĒāĻ¨ā§€ā§ŸāϤāĻž
Alt: āĻŦā§āϝāĻ•ā§āϤāĻŋāĻ—āϤ āϤāĻĨā§āϝ āĻŦāĻž āĻœā§€āĻŦāύ⧇ āĻ…āĻ¨ā§āϝ⧇āϰ āĻ…āύāϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦ⧇āĻļ āĻĨ⧇āϕ⧇ āĻŽā§āĻ•ā§āϤ āĻĨāĻžāĻ•āĻžāϰ āĻ…āϧāĻŋāĻ•āĻžāϰ
Example: Protecting privacy is essential for online safety.
Syn: secrecy, confidentialityAnt: exposure, publicity
💡 Exam tip: Privacy settings help prevent unwanted access to online accounts.
6. Action, Responsibility and Social Change (8 words)
determinant[/dÉĒˈtɜːmÉĒnənt/]nounhard
Meaning: āύāĻŋāĻ°ā§āϧāĻžāϰāĻ• āĻ•āĻžāϰāĻŖ
Alt: āϝ⧇ āĻ•āĻžāϰāĻŖ āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āϏāĻŋāĻĻā§āϧāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϤ āĻŦāĻž āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ āϘāϟāĻžā§Ÿ
Example: Education is an important determinant of the age of marriage.
Syn: factor, causeAnt: result, effect
💡 Exam tip: Determinant means a cause, while consequence means an effect.
consequence[/ˈkɒnsÉĒkwens/]nouneasy
Meaning: āĻĒāϰāĻŋāĻŖāϤāĻŋ
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻ•āĻžāϜ āĻŦāĻž āϘāϟāύāĻžāϰ āĻĢāϞāĻžāĻĢāϞ
Example: Early marriage has serious consequences for adolescent girls.
Syn: result, outcomeAnt: cause, origin
💡 Exam tip: The phrase as a consequence of means as a result of.
intervene[/ˌÉĒntəˈviːn/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻšāĻ¸ā§āϤāĻ•ā§āώ⧇āĻĒ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: āϏāĻŽāĻ¸ā§āϝāĻž āĻŦāĻž āϏāĻ‚āϘāĻžāϤ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ āĻŦāĻŋāĻ¸ā§āϤāĻžāϰ⧇āϰ āϜāĻ¨ā§āϝ āĻŽāĻžāĻāĻ–āĻžāύ⧇ āĻĒā§āϰāĻŦ⧇āĻļ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Teachers should intervene when bullying occurs at school.
Syn: interfere, step inAnt: ignore, withdraw
💡 Exam tip: Intervene is followed by in or to: intervene in a dispute.
exert[/ÉĒɥˈzɜːt/]verbmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āĻ°ā§Ÿā§‹āĻ— āĻ•āϰāĻž
Alt: āĻļāĻ•ā§āϤāĻŋ, āĻĒā§āϰāĻ­āĻžāĻŦ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāĻšā§‡āĻˇā§āϟāĻž āĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻšāĻžāϰ āĻ•āϰāĻž
Example: Parents exert great influence on adolescent development.
Syn: apply, useAnt: withhold, restrain
💡 Exam tip: Common combinations: exert effort, exert influence, exert pressure.
acquisition[/ˌÃĻkwÉĒˈzÉĒʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: āĻ…āĻ°ā§āϜāύ
Alt: āϕ⧋āύ⧋ āĻ•āĻŋāϛ⧁ āĻ…āĻ°ā§āϜāύ āĻŦāĻž āϞāĻžāĻ­ āĻ•āϰāĻžāϰ āĻ•āĻžāϜ
Example: Adolescence is important for the acquisition of useful skills.
Syn: attainment, gainingAnt: loss, disposal
💡 Exam tip: Acquisition often refers to acquiring knowledge, skills or possessions.
reproductive[/ˌriːprəˈdƌktÉĒv/]adjmedium
Meaning: āĻĒā§āϰāϜāύāύāϏāĻ‚āĻ•ā§āϰāĻžāĻ¨ā§āϤ
Alt: āϏāĻ¨ā§āϤāĻžāύ āĻ‰ā§ŽāĻĒāĻžāĻĻāύ āĻŦāĻž āĻĒā§āϰāϜāύāύāĻŦā§āϝāĻŦāĻ¸ā§āĻĨāĻžāϰ āϏāĻ™ā§āϗ⧇ āϏāĻŽā§āĻĒāĻ°ā§āĻ•āĻŋāϤ
Example: Adolescents need accurate reproductive health information.
Syn: fertility-related, generativeAnt: non-reproductive
💡 Exam tip: Reproductive health is a key phrase in this unit.
contraception[/ˌkɒntrəˈsepʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: āĻ—āĻ°ā§āĻ­āύāĻŋāϰ⧋āϧ
Alt: āĻ—āĻ°ā§āĻ­āϧāĻžāϰāĻŖ āĻĒā§āϰāϤāĻŋāϰ⧋āϧ⧇āϰ āĻĒāĻĻā§āϧāϤāĻŋ
Example: Knowledge of contraception can prevent unplanned pregnancy.
Syn: birth control, family planningAnt: conception, fertilisation
💡 Exam tip: Contraception is associated with reproductive health and family planning.
collective[/kəˈlektÉĒv/]adjmedium
Meaning: āϏāĻŽā§āĻŽāĻŋāϞāĻŋāϤ
Alt: āĻāĻ•āϟāĻŋ āĻĻāϞ āĻŦāĻž āĻ—ā§‹āĻˇā§āĻ ā§€āϰ āϝ⧌āĻĨ
Example: The development of adolescents requires collective efforts.
Syn: joint, å…ąåŒAnt: individual, separate
💡 Exam tip: Collective effort means effort made by several people together.
💡 Exam Tips
â€ĸ Distinguish between adolescence, adolescent and puberty: adolescence is a period, adolescent is a young person or adjective, and puberty is a biological process.
â€ĸ For matching exercises, identify whether the definition describes a person, action, cause, result, condition or period.
â€ĸ 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.
â€ĸ Use vulnerable to, responsible for, access to, pressure on and involved in correctly in sentences.
â€ĸ In paragraph writing, organise ideas into introduction, major problems, causes, solutions and conclusion.
â€ĸ For bullying questions, classify examples as verbal, social, physical or cyberbullying.
â€ĸ In graph descriptions, use comparison words such as higher than, lower than, respectively, in contrast, whereas and overall.
â€ĸ Do not confuse mortality with morbidity: mortality means death, while morbidity means illness or disease.
â€ĸ For cyberbullying solutions, mention saving evidence, blocking the bully, protecting passwords, reporting the content and informing a trusted adult.
â€ĸ Use appropriate linking words in answers: because, since, as, therefore, consequently, moreover and however.
â€ĸ When answering opinion questions, give a clear position, at least two reasons and a practical recommendation.
â€ĸ Remember that adolescence is a vulnerable but important period requiring support from family, school, health services and the community.

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