University of Social Sciences and Humanities

Reading B2
Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature

Unit 8: PSYCHOLOGY
Child Prodigies

 Vocabulary
1. challenge (n)
a. a new or difficult task that tests sb’s ability and skill
an exciting/interesting challenge
face a challenge
meet the challenge of
b. an invitation or a suggestion to sb that they should enter a competition,
fight, etc.
accept/ take up a challenge
mount a challenge
c. a statement or an action that shows that sb refuses to accept sth and
questions whether it is right, legal, etc.
challenge (v)
a. to test sb’s ability and skills, especially in an interesting way
challenge sb
b. to invite sb to enter a competition, fight, etc; to suggest strongly that sb
should do sth
challenge sb (to sth)
challenge sb to do sth
c. to question whether a statement or an action is right, legal, etc; to
(1)_________ to accept sth
challenge sth
dispute (synonym)
challenging (adj)
a. difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability
challenging work/questions/problems
a challenging and rewarding career
b. done in a way that invites people to disagree or argue with you, or shows
that you disagree with them
a challenging look
Ex: She is always willing to take on new challenges with the task.

2. concentrate (v)
a. to give all your attention to sth and not think about anything else
concentrate on sth
concentrate on doing sth
concentrate sth
concentrate sth (on sth/on doing sth)
b. to (2)_________ sth together in one place
concentrate sth + adv/prep
concentrated (adj) showing (3)_________ to do sth
concentration (n)

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University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Reading B2
Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature

a. the ability to direct all your effort and attention on one thing, without
thinking of other things
b. a lot of sth in one place
a concentration of sth
Ex: She spoke very little because she had to concentrate on her driving.

3. considerable (adj) (rather formal) great in amount, size, (4)_________, etc.

significant (synonym)
considerably (adv) (formal) much; a lot
significantly (synonym)
Ex: The renovation required a considerable amount of time and money.

4. enormous (adj) extremely large

huge, (5)_________ (synonym)
enormous amount of time/money
enormous interest
enormously (adv) very; very much
enormously rich/powerful/grateful
vary enormously
Ex: An enormous amount of money has been spent on the local annual celebrations.

5. environment (n)
a. the conditions affecting the behavior and development of sb/sth; the
physical conditions that sb/sth exists in
a working/learning/home/controlled environment
b. (the environment) the world where people, animals and plants live
environmental (adj) (usually before noun)
environmental issues/problems/damage
an environmental group/movement
environmental influences/impacts
environmentally (adv)
environmentalist (n) a person who is concerned about the natural environment and
wants to improve and protect it
environmentalism (n) concern about the natural environment and how to improve and
protect it
environmentally friendly (adj) (also (6)_________ friendly) (of products) not harming
the environment
Ex: -The productivity can be enhanced with a more comfortable working environment.
- They have created an environment in which productivity should flourish.

6. expert (n) a person with special knowledge, skill or training in sth

expert at/in/on sth
expert at/in/on doing sth
expert (adj) done with, having or involving great knowledge or skill
to seek expert advice
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University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Reading B2
Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature

an expert opinion
expert help
an expert driver
expert at/in sth
expert at/in doing sth
expertly (adv) in a way that shows or involves great knowledge or skill
(7)_________ (n) expert knowledge or skill in a particular subject, activity or job
professional/scientific/technical expertise
expertise in sth/ in doing sth
Ex: Health experts are predicting a dramatic rise in mental illnesses.

7. factor (n) one of several things that cause or influence sth

single most important factor
key/crucial/deciding factor
factor (v) factor sth in/into; factor in/into sth: to include a particular fact or
situation when you are thinking about or planning sth
Ex: Finance always proves to be the deciding factor to start a business.

8. focus (v) to give attention, effort, etc. to one particular subject, situation or person
focus on/upon sb/sth
focus sth (on/upon sb/sth)
focus (n) the thing or person that people are most interested in; the act of paying
special attention to sth and making people interested in it
focus of attention
focus for sth
focus on sth
bring sth into sharp focus
(8)_________ (adj) with your attention directed to what you want to do; with very clear
aims
Ex: It seemed that he inevitably focused on his new intentions of studying abroad.

9. intelligence (n)
a. the ability to learn, understand and think in a logical way about things; the
ability to do this well
high/average/low intelligence
b. secret (9)_________ that is collected, for example about a foreign country,
especially one that is an enemy; the people that collect this information
intelligent (adj) (10)_________ (antonym)
intelligently (adv)
Ex: A panel of experts focused on leadership and emotional intelligence.

10. normal (adj) typical, usual or ordinary; what you would expect
quite/perfectly normal
It’s normal to …
in/under normal circumstances
lead a normal life
In the normal course of events…
It is normal practice to …
(11)_________ (antonym)
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University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Reading B2
Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature

normal (n) the usual or average state, level or standard

above/below normal
return to normal
normally (adv)
a. usually; in normal circumstances
b. in the usual or ordinary way
normality (n) (also (12)_________) a situation where everything is normal or as
you would expect it to be
normalize (v) (formal) to fit or make sth fit a normal pattern or condition
normalization (n)
Ex: It is normal practice to ask permission for all major expenditure.

11. pursue (v) (formal)

a. to do sth or try to achieve sth over a period of time
pursue sth
pursue a goal/an aim/an objective
b. to (13)_________ to discuss, find out about or be involved in sth
pursue sth
c. to follow or chase sb/sth
pursue sb/sth
pursuit (n)
a. the act of looking for or trying to find sth
pursuit of sth
pursuit of happiness/knowledge/profit
in pursuit ofs
b. something that you give your time and energy to, that you do as a hobby
synonym: hobby, (14)_________
outdoor/leisure/artistic pursuits
c. the act of following or chasing sb
in hot pursuit
pursuer (n) a person who is following or chasing sb
Ex: He has tried his best to pursue his aims effectively.

12. resource (n)

a. a supply of sth that a country, an organization or a person has and can use
b. something that can be used to help achieve an aim, especially a book,
equipment, etc. that provides information for teachers and students
resourceful (adj) (approving) good at finding ways of doing things and solving problems
(15)_________ (synonym)
resourcefully (adv)
(16)_________ (n) the quality of being good at finding ways of doing things and
solving problems
Ex: The company must make the most efficient use of the available human resources
to carry out the project successfully.

13. reveal (v)

a. to make sth known to sb
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University of Social Sciences and Humanities
Reading B2
Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature

reveal sth to sb
reveal that …
It is revealed that …
reveal how, what, etc…
reveal sb/sth to be/have sth
b. to show sth that previously could not be seen
display (synonym)
reveal sth
(17)_________ (adj)
a. giving you interesting information that you did not know before
b. (of clothes) allowing more of sb’s body to be seen than usual
revealingly (adv)
Ex: She refused to reveal any more details of the coming product.

14. technology (n)

a. scientific knowledge used in practical ways in industry, for example in
designing new machines
b. machinery or equipment design using technology
technological (adj) connected with technology
technological advances
technological change
technologically (adv)
technologist (n) an (18)_________ in technology
Ex: The young should exploit existing technologies more thoroughly.

15. utilize (v) (formal) to (19)_________ sth, especially for a particular purpose
utilize sth (as sth)
synonym: make use of
utilization (n)
Ex: The potential of this innovation in technology has not been completely utilized.