PREFACE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
Home > Chapter 2: Academic Vocabulary
Chapter 2: Academic Vocabulary
2b: Subject-specific Words and Technical Terms
Subject-specific words and technical terms are words related to content knowledge and key concepts of different subjects. Here are some examples:
| Personal, Social & Humanities Education Subjects | Renaissance, totalitarianism, universal suffrage, plebiscite, Gini coefficient, expansionary monetary policy, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
| Science Education Subjects | photosynthesis, electromagnetism, genetic polymorphism, thermodynamics |
Words commonly used in everyday life may have very different and specific meanings in the contexts of other subjects. Here are some examples:
| Words | General English Meanings | Subject-specific & Technical Meanings |
|---|---|---|
| appreciation | (n.) recognition of the good qualities of someone or something | In Economics: (n.) an increase in value (as in currency appreciation) |
| mean | (v.) to express an idea (adj.) not kind |
In Mathematics: (n.) the average |
| class | (n.) a group of students who are taught together at school | In History and Economics: (n.) a group of people in a society who have the same social and/or economic position In Biology: (n.) a group of plants or animals with similar biological characteristics |
Answers
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a pleasant musical sound made by different notes being played or sung together
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responsive to changes in other economic factors
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malware programmes that are able to replicate themselves and spread to other computers
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a particular area of study
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a group of similar organisms and species living in a particular area
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the elevation and shape of land
Activity 3
Decide which of the two meanings should be adopted for the underlined words in the following sentences.
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The modern generation of composers discarded traditional ideas of melody and harmony.
a pleasant musical sound made by different notes being played or sung together
a situation in which people are peaceful and agree with each other
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Luxury goods tend to have a more elastic demand and are more sensitive to price changes.
capable of returning to original size and shape after being stretched or compressed
responsive to changes in other economic factors
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Worms are often transmitted through vulnerabilities in software. They can also be sent through instant messages or spam emails.
creeping limbless animals with a tube-like body
malware programmes that are able to replicate themselves and spread to other computers
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Biomedical engineering is a new discipline which is closely related to science, engineering, medicine and biology.
a particular area of study
the ability to control yourself or other people, even in difficult situations
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The current decrease in Africa’s elephant population is due to illegal poaching and the increasing demand for ivory products.
all the people living in a particular area
a group of similar organisms and species living in a particular area
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Climate and relief impact on the soil formation and vegetation growth of a place.
a feeling of comfort or ease
the elevation and shape of land
