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UNIT 5: STUFF OF LIFE

1 READING

1. stuff /
stVf/ noun [uncount] the basic material or substance people use for making something: chất liệu
What stuff is this jacket made of? Cái áo vét này làm từ chất liệu gì?
Real life is the stuff of all good novels: Thực tế cuộc sống là nguyên liệu cho tất cả các cuốn tiểu thuyết hay.
the stuff of sth: the most necessary, important or typical part/feature of sth.

2. nickname /’
nIkneIm/ verb [transitive] to give someone a nickname: đặt biệt danh (cho ai)
They nicknamed her “the Squirrel.”
nickname noun [count] an informal name that your friends or family call you that is not your real name: biệt danh

3. trigger /’
trIgC/ noun [count] the part of a gun that you move with your finger to make the gun fire: cò súng

4. come a long way to improve a lot or make a lot of progress: có nhiều cải tiến
Computers have come a long way since the huge mainframes of the 1950s.

5. worn /
wc:n/ [adjective] something that is worn looks old and damaged because it has been used a lot: mòn
a pair of worn blue jeans

6. weather /’
weDC/ verb [intransitive or transitive] if something weathers or is weathered, its appearance changes because
of the effects of wind, rain, etc.: (làm cho cái gì) thay đổI hình dáng, màu sắc vì tác động của nắng, gió, mưa…
Wind and sun had weathered his face.

estimated adjective:
An estimated 300,000 people came to the demonstration.

10. signature /’
sIgnItSC/ noun [count] a person’s name written in a special way by that person: chữ ký

11. associate /’
CsCUsIeIt/ noun [count] someone you work with, especially in business: người cộng tác
a business associate

12. scratch /
skrAtS/ verb
1 [intransitive or transitive] to move something sharp against a hard surface and make a noise: cào xước
scratch at: I could hear the dog scratching at the back door.
scratch one’s head: suy nghĩ nát óc
2 [transitive] INFORMAL to write something very quickly and carelessly

13. fix /
fIxxks/ verb [transitive] to repair something: sửa
Jessica fixed my watch.
have/get something fixed: I have to get my car fixed.

14. right /
raIt/ [adverb]
1 exactly: ngay, thẳng
The wind was right in our faces: Gió thổi thẳng vào mặt chúng ta
2 immediately: ngay
I must answer that phone, but I’ll be right back: Tôi sẽ trả lời điện thọai nhưng tôi sẽ trở lại ngay
right away: ngay tức khắc
I want it typed right away, please.

18. backpack /‘bAkpAk/ noun [count] a large bag that you carry on your back,
especially when you are going climbing or walking: ba lô

19. manage /’
mAnIdZ/ verb [intransitive or transitive] to succeed in doing
something, especially something that needs a lot of effort or skill: giải
quyết, xoay sở
I don’t know how you manage.
I don’t think I can manage a long walk today.
manage to do something: I managed to escape by diving into the river.

20. either /’i:
DC/ or /’aIDC/ used in negative statements referring to both of two people or things.
Jackie could play the piano and sing, whereas I couldn’t do either: Jackie có thể chơi piano và ca hát, còn tôi không
biết cái nào hết.
either of: I didn’t like either of the candidates: Tôi không thích ứng viên nào hết (2 ứng viên).

21. possession /p
C‘zeSn/ noun [count usually plural] something that you own: tài sản
Their family home and possessions were destroyed in the fire.
possess /p
C‘zes/ verb [transitive] FORMAL to own a physical object: sở hữu
They were all found guilty of illegally possessing firearms.

22. hardly /‘
ha:dlI/ [adverb] used for saying that something is almost not true or almost does not happen at all, and is
often used with words like “any” and “ever” : hầu như không
It hardly ever rains here in the summer: Ở đây hầu như không mưa vào mùa hè
Note: Hardly is not related to the word “hard.”
hard /

6 LANGUAGE IN ACTION: WHAT’S IT CALLED?

26. frame /
freIm/ noun [count] a structure that forms a border for a picture or mirror and holds it in place: khung
frame verb [transitive] to put a picture or photograph in a frame: đóng khung
That’s a nice photo – you ought to have it framed.

27. turn /
tE:n/ verb
1 [intransitive or transitive] to change the position of your body or head so that you are facing in a different
direction: quay (người)
She turned and smiled at me.
He turned his head and looked around the room.
2 [transitive] to make something move in a circle: xoay
Turning this wheel will start the machine.
turn on phrasal verb [transitive] to start using a piece of equipment by pressing a button or moving a switch:
SWITCH ON: mở
Is your computer turned on?
turn off phrasal verb[transitive] to stop using a piece of equipment by pressing a button or moving a switch:
SWITCH OFF: tắt
Will you turn the television off, please?
turn up phrasal verb [transitive] to increase the amount of sound, heat, or light produced by a piece of equipment
by pressing a button or moving a switch: vặn lớn hơn (âm thanh, sức nóng, ánh sáng…)
Add the mussels, turn up the heat, and leave them to steam until all are fully open.
— opposite TURN DOWN 3

28. screwdriver /’

substitute something for something: You can substitute chicken for beef if you don’t like red meat.
substitution /,
sVbstI’tju:Sn/ noun [count or uncount] the action of replacing someone or something with
someone or something else: sự thay thế
The substitution was made just minutes before the end of the game. 8 LISTENING

34. toaster oven /’
tCUstC ’VvCn/ noun [count] a piece of electrical equipment used for making toast: lò nướng

35. drive someone crazy INFORMAL to annoy someone by doing something: làm ai phát điên lên
Will you stop that humming, you’re driving me crazy!

36. figure out phrasal verb [transitive] to be able to understand something or solve a problem: hiểu được hoặc nhìn ra vấn đề
We had to figure out the connection between the two events.

37. that /
DAt/ (adv) [usually in negatives or questions] MAINLY SPOKEN to a very great degree: tới mức đó, như thế, đến
thế
Three years? I can’t wait that long.

38. ignore /
Ig’nc:r/ verb [transitive] to not consider something or not let it influence you: lờ đi
We had ignored the fact that it was getting darker.

39. heat /
hi:t/ verb
1 [transitive] or heat up to make something hot: làm cái gì nóng lên

43. invent /In’vent/ verb [transitive] to design or create something such as a machine or process that did not exist
before: phát minh
He invented the technique that allows scientists to examine DNA.
invention /
In’venSCn / noun [uncount] the act of inventing something: hành động phát minh, sáng tạo
invention of: Global communication was transformed by the invention of the Internet.
inventor /
In’ventC / noun [count] someone who has invented something or whose job is to invent things:
người phát minh

44. slipper /’
slIpC/ noun [count] a soft comfortable shoe that you wear in your house:
dép đi
trong nhà

45. itch /
ItS/ noun [singular] an unpleasant feeling on your skin that makes you want
to
SCRATCH it (=rub it with your nails): sự ngứa ngáy
itch verb [intransitive] if your skin itches, you have an unpleasant feeling that makes you want to SCRATCH it (=rub
your skin with your nails): bị hoặc gây ra ngứa

46. grid /
grId/ noun [count] a pattern of straight lines that cross each other to form squares: mạng ô vuông
streets laid out on a grid pattern

47. locate /
lCU’keIt/ verb [transitive] to find out the exact place where someone or something is: xác định vị trí
Locate a town on a map.
location /

typically (adv)

52. process / ‘
prCUses/ noun [count] a series of actions that have a particular result: tiến trình, quá trình
Learning a language is a slow process.
process of: the complex process of legally changing your name
in the process: trong khi đang làm
I started moving the china ornaments but I dropped a vase in the process: Tôi bắt đầu dọn các đồ trang trí bằng sứ
nhưng đang làm thì đánh rơi cái bình.

53. materialism /
mC‘tICrIClIsm/ noun [uncount] the belief that money and possessions are the most important
aspects of human existence: sự quá thiên về vật chất, chủ nghĩa vật chất

54. evolve / ‘
IvOlv/ verb [intransitive] to gradually change and develop over a period of time: tiến triển, phát triển
evolve into: They’re hoping the trade talks might evolve into a political dialogue.
evolution noun [uncount] the way in which something gradually changes and develops: sự tiến triển
evolution of: the evolution of language
evolutionary (adj)

55. philosophy /
fI‘lOsCfI/ [noun, uncount] the study of theories about the meaning of things such as life, knowledge,
and beliefs: triết học
He studied politics and philosophy.

56. humor /‘
hju:mC/ noun [uncount] the quality that makes something funny: tính chất vui nhộn, buồn cười
a novel full of humor
humorous (adj) funny: vui nhộn

It will be an awful lot of bother going by bus.

61. think up /
TINk Vp/phrasal verb [transitive] to invent or imagine something, especially an excuse: nghĩ ra, sáng tạo
She’d have to think up a good reason for being late.