UNIT 11: DOWN TO EARTH

3 LISTENING

1. garden /’
go:(r)dn/ noun [count] an area of land next to or near a house that is used for growing flowers or vegetables:
vườn
garden verb [intransitive] to take care of a garden and its plants: làm vườn
She spends most weekends gardening.

2. research /
rI’sE:tS/ noun [uncount] the detailed study of something in order to discover new facts, especially in a
university or scientific institution: sự nghiên cứu
research into: research into the causes of schizophrenia
research on: There is clearly a need for further research on this topic.
research /
rI’sE:tS/ verb [transitive] to make a detailed study of something in order to discover new facts:
nghiên cứu
They have been researching the effects of the drug on mice.

3. contact /’
kOntAkt/ noun [count or uncount] communication between people, countries, or organizations either by
talking or writing: giao tiếp, liên lạc
contact between: There has been no direct contact between the two sides in the dispute.
contact with: Jury members must avoid contact with the defendants and their families.
lose contact: mất liên lạc: I have lost contact with most of my college friends.
get/keep/stay in contact: giữ liên lạc: Do you and Jo still keep in contact?
contact /’
kOntAkt/ verb [transitive] to write to someone or talk to them on the telephone: liên lạc, tiếp xúc
You can always contact me at my home number.


In’stINktIv/ (adj) done without thinking, because of a natural tendency or ability: theo bản năng
His reaction was purely instinctive.
instinctively adverb
instinct /’
InstINkt/ noun [count or uncount] a natural tendency to behave in a particular way that people and
animals are born with and that they obey without knowing why: bản năng
the instinct of ducklings to follow their mother

7. solid /’
sOlId/ (adj) that you can rely on, having a strong basis: có thể tin cậy được, có cơ sở
Would the evidence be solid enough to convince a jury?
solidly adverb
solidity /
sC’lIdCtI/ noun [uncount] the quality of being reliable: sự vững chắc, đáng tin

8. effect /
I’fekt/ noun [count or uncount] a change that is produced in one person or thing by another: tác động, ảnh
hưởng
effect on/upon: Scientists are studying the chemical’s effect on the environment.
effect /
I’fekt/ verb [transitive] FORMAL to make something happen: CARRY OUT: thực hiện
If correctly administered, such drugs can effect radical cures.

9. mention /’
mentSn/ verb [transitive] to say something during a conversation, but not discuss it much or give many
details: nói đến, đề cập đến
mention something to someone: I’ll mention it to her when I see her tomorrow.
mention that: Did I mention that I’ve got a new job?
mention /’
mentSn/ noun [singular or uncount] the act of referring to someone or something in speech or writing:

complaint about: Customers lodged a formal complaint about the way they were treated.
complaint that: The county has received complaints that the building is not safe.

5 READING

14. oceanographer /
,CUSC’nOgrCfC(r)/ noun [count] someone who does the scientific study of the oceans: nhà hải
dương học
oceanography /
,CUSC’nOgrCfI/ noun [uncount] the scientific study of the oceans: hải dương học
oceanographic /
,CUSCnC’grAfIk/ adj

15. athletic /
AT’letIk/ (adj) relating to ATHLETES or ATHLETICS: (thuộc) điền kinh, (thuộc) thể thao
athlete /
AT’li:t/ noun [count] someone who is good at sports, and takes part in sports competitions: vận động
viên (điền kinh, thể dục thể thao)

16. bathtub /’
bATtVb/ noun [count] a long deep container that you fill with water and wash yourself in. British usually
bath: bồn tắm

17. beachcomber /’
bi:tS,kCUmC(r)/ noun [count] someone who searches a beach looking for shells and valuable or
interesting things: người không có nghề thường xuyên, sinh sống bằng cách bán bất cứ thứ gì kiếm được trên bờ
biền

18. current /’
kVrCnt/ noun [count] the movement of water in the sea or a river; the movement of air in a particular


23. random /’
rAndCm/ (adj) chosen or happening without any particular method, pattern, or purpose: ngẫu nhiên, tùy tiện
The computer will generate apparently random numbers.
at random: open a book at random: mở đại ra một trang sách
randomly adverb
randomly selected
randomness noun [uncount]

24. junk /
dXZVNk/ noun [uncount] old or broken things: đồ tạp nhạp bỏ đi
You should get rid of all that junk in your garage.

25. wash up phrasal verb [intransitive or transitive] if the ocean washes something up somewhere, it carries it and leaves it
there: cuốn, đưa vào bờ, dạt vào bờ
Some of the oil has washed up on a neighboring island.

26. swap /
swOp/ verb [intransitive or transitive] to give something to someone in exchange for something else: TRADE:
trao đổi, đổi chác
swap something for something: She has a job she wouldn’t want to swap for a million dollars.
swap /
swOp/ noun [singular] INFORMAL the process of giving one thing in exchange for another: sự trao đổi, sự
đổi chác
The hostages were released as part of a swap for two spies.
swap meet noun [count] AMERICAN INFORMAL an informal event at which people can exchange or sell things: họp
chợ
There’s a swap meet in the parking lot downtown every Saturday afternoon.

27. investigate /


30. track /træk/ verb [transitive] to follow or find someone or something by looking for evidence that shows where they have
gone: theo vết, theo dõi
I tracked him as far as the factory.
track noun
1 [count] a path or road with a rough surface: đường đi
I walked along a track to the mountain hotel.
2 [count usually plural] a mark that a person, animal, or vehicle leaves on the ground: dấu vết
a bear track

31. pattern /’
pAtCn/ noun [count] a series of actions or events that together show how things normally happen or are
done: kiểu, kiểu mẫu
pattern of: Patterns of employment in urban areas are different from those in the countryside.

32. converge /
kCn’vE:dZ/ verb [intransitive] to come from different directions to reach the same point: cùng đổ về, cùng
kéo về (một nơi)
converge on: Top diplomats were converging on Washington from all over the world.

33. information /
,InfC’meISn/ noun [uncount] knowledge or facts about someone or something: thông tin
information that: The police have information that he may now be living in Spain.
information about/on/regarding: We’re not allowed to give you any information about our client’s medical
records.
informative /
In’fc:mCtIv/ (adj) giving a great deal of information in a helpful way: cung cấp nhiều tin tức
an entertaining and informative documentary
inform /In’fc:(r)m/ verb [transitive] to officially tell someone something or give them information about
something: thông báo

Toxic waste is shipped from Western Europe to other countries.
shipment /’SIpmCnt/ noun
1 [count] an amount of goods carried on a ship, airplane, train, or truck: hàng gửi
shipment of: The spider was found in a shipment of bananas.
2 [uncount] the process of taking goods from one place to another: việc gửi hàng
Some of the equipment was lost during shipment.

38. accurate /’
AkjUrCt/ (adj) correct or true in every detail: chính xác
We need to get some more accurate information.
accurately adverb
accuracy /’
AkjUrCsI/ noun [uncount] the quality of being accurate: sự chính xác
The accuracy of the reports cannot be checked.

39. result /
rI’zVlt/ noun [count or uncount] something that is caused directly by something else that has happened
previously: kết quả
result of: He said the incident was the result of a misunderstanding.
as a result (of something) = because of something: Colby died as the result of a heart attack.
result /
rI’zVlt/ verb
result from [intransitive]: to be caused directly by something that has happened previously: xảy ra bởi
The arrests resulted from an anonymous telephone call.
result in [transitive] to cause or produce something: gây ra
A sudden change in temperature will inevitably result in rain.

40. amount /
C’maUnt/ noun [count] a quantity of something: số lượng
amount of: A computer can store a vast amount of information.

There’s a very sharp turn at the end of the road.

46. hike /
haIk/ verb [intransitive] to go for a long walk in the countryside: đi bộ đường dài
Soldiers had to hike nearly 20 miles through the swamps.
hike noun [count] a long walk in the countryside: cuộc đi bộ đường dài
take a hike: Let’s take a hike tomorrow.
hiker noun

47. come up (to…) (from…) to come from one place to another, especially from the south of a country to the north or from
a smaller place to a larger one: đi đến
Why don’t you come up to Scotland for a few days?

8 LISTENING

48. chimpanzee /
,tSImpAn’zi:/ noun [count] an African animal with black or brown fur that lives and hunts in
groups. It belongs to the ape family, which is the most similar to humans: con tinh tinh

49. parrot /’
pArCt/ noun [count] a brightly colored tropical bird that is often kept as a pet and can be taught to say a few
words: con vẹt

50. veterinarian /
,vetCrI’nArICn/ noun [count] AMERICAN a doctor for animals: VET: bác sĩ thú y
veterinary /’
vetCrInerI/ (adj) relating to the care of sick or injured animals: (thuộc) thú y
a veterinary school/hospital/practice

51. rescue /’

In’strVkt/ verb [transitive] FORMAL to tell someone to do something, especially officially or as their
employer: chỉ dẫn
He instructed his men to collect information about troop movements.
instruction /
In’strVkSn/ noun [count usually plural] a statement or explanation of something that must be
done, often given by someone in authority: chỉ dẫn
A detailed list of instructions was issued on what to do in an emergency.
instructional /
In’strVkSnCl/ (adj) intended or used for teaching people about something: có tính chỉ dẫn
instructional videos/programs

13 SPEAKING

56. adult /’
AdVlt/ noun [count]
1 someone who is no longer a child and is legally responsible for their actions: người lớn, người đã trưởng thành
Tickets are $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for children.
2 a fully grown animal: con vật đã lớn
adult (adj): fully grown or developed: trưởng thành
preparing young people for adult life
adult monkeys

57. kitten /’
kItCn/ noun [count] a young cat: mèo con
Our cats had a litter of six kittens.