NHCUE SPE CYT

WEEK 12

        1.      Acquire [əˈkwaɪr] (v.)

According to the writer Malcolm Gladwell, many of the world’s most successful people became great because they spent 10.000 hours or more acquiring and developing their skills.

-- to get (something) : to come to own (something) : to come to have (something)

-- Perhaps we did acquire a somewhat fuddy-duddy image in the later years.

2.      Admiration [ˌædməˈreʃən] (n.)

At thirteen, he was giving concerts in Beijing’s main concert hall, earning the admiration of millions.

-- a feeling of great respect and approval

-- She is full of admiration for the head and teachers.

3.      Confirm [kənˈfɜ:rm] (v.)

However, many experts now confirm that this type of intelligence test only tells one side of the story.

-- to state or show that (something) is true or correct

-- His new role could confirm him as one of our leading actors.

4.      Exceptional [ɪkˈsɛpʃənəl] (adj.)

Exceptional talent appears in a very small number of children at an early age.

-- not usual : unusual or uncommon

-- Capital punishment is allowable only under exceptional circumstances.

5.      Exhibit [ɪgˈzɪbɪt] (v.)

Frequently these prodigies exhibit talent in music and math.

-- to make (a painting, sculpture, etc.) available for people to see

-- Two cats or more in one house will also exhibit territorial behaviour.

6.      Hardly [ˈhɑ:rdli] (adv.)

Lang Lang began playing the piano in his native China at the age of three, an age when most children are hardly able to hold a spoon.

-- almost not at all

-- The ward was busy and Amy hardly had time to talk.

7.      Access [ 'ækses ]  (n.)

And in the second case, the children have access to information and resources that are not available to the average person.

-- a way of getting near, at, or to something or someone

-- How does a private pilot get access to the airways?

8.      Minimize [ˈmɪnəˌmaɪz] (v.)

Gladwell does not minimize the importance of natural talent to the success of the Beatles and Bill Gates of the world.

-- to make (something bad or not wanted) as small as possible

-- Concerned people want to minimize the risk of developing cancer.

9.      Obsessively [əbˈsɛsɪvlɪ] (adv.)

However, he argues that the kids who will one day become superstars are almost always individuals with natural gifts who are also willing to work exceptionally, even obsessively, hard.

-- thinking about something or someone too much or in a way that is not normal : having an obsession : showing or relating to an obsession

-- He works obsessively from 7.15 am to 9 or 10 at night.

10.   Strive [straɪv] (v.)

He performed his first operation at age seven and is now striving to find a cure for cancer.

-- to try very hard to do or achieve something

-- We encourage all members to strive for the highest standards.

11.   Toddler [ˈtɑ:dlə(r)] (n.)

Akrit Jaswal of India became interested in medicine while still a toddler.

-- a young child who is just learning to walk

-- A toddler requires close supervision and firm control at all times.

12.   Accelerate [ækˈsɛləˌret] (v.)

From that moment on Ping Lian’s progress in drawing and painting accelerated at an amazing pace.

-- to move faster : to gain speed

-- We need to accelerate the pace of change in our backward country.

13.   Adopt [əˈdɒpt] (v.)

She also adopted some of the techniques for teaching autistic children, such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

-- to take a child of other parents legally as your own child

-- Britain is free to adopt policies to bolster its economy.

14.   Affection [əˈfɛkʃən] (n.)

But what worried Sarah more was the fact that he showed no affection for people around him.

-- a feeling of liking and caring for someone or something

-- Normally, such an outward display of affection is reserved for his mother.

15.   Curriculum [kəˈrɪkjələm] (n.)

In order to strengthen and develop his fine motor skills, his curriculum included tracing and coloring activities.

-- the courses that are taught by a school, college, etc.

-- All the schools have music and dancing as part of the curriculum

16.   Disorder [ dis'ɔ:də ] (v.)

Autism is a brain development disorder, which results in three distinctive behaviors.

-- a disturbance of the peace or of public order

-- The disorder in military policy had its origins in Truman's first term.

17.   Extraordinary [ɪkˈstrɔ:rdəneri] (adj.)

“Ping Lian’s work does show extraordinary artistic talent in and of itself.

-- very unusual : very different from what is normal or ordinary

-- They testify to the extraordinary potency of his personality.

18.   Hyperactive [͵haɪpɚˈæktɪv] (adj.)

He was also hyperactive and did not need much sleep.

-- extremely active or too active

-- His research was used in planning treatments for hyperactive children.

19.   Livelihood [ˈlaɪvliˌhʊd] (n.)

Sarah sent him to art classes in 2003 and started planning art as a livelihood for him.

-- a way of earning money in order to live

-- Communities on the island depended on whaling for their livelihood.

20.   Pace [ peis ] (n.)

From that moment on Ping Lian’s progress in drawing and painting accelerated at an amazing pace.

-- the speed at which someone or something moves

-- Interest rates would come down as the recovery gathered pace

21.   Repetitive [rɪˈpɛtɪtɪv] (adj.)

Autistic children have difficulties with social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors or obsessive interests.

-- happening again and again : repeated many times

-- Suddenly music that seemed dull and repetitive comes alive.

22.   Scenery [ 'si:nəri ] (n.)

The only times when Ping Lian would “lose” his hyperactivity scenery or when he stopped to admire beautiful scenery or when he was looking through magazines such ass Home & Architectural Trends, she added.

-- a view of natural features (such as mountains, hills, valleys, etc.) that is pleasing to look at

-- The higher we climbed, the more awe-inspiring the scenery became.

23.   Strain [ strein ] (n.), (v.)

Ping Lian’s hyperactive behavior and sleeplessness put a strain on everyone.

-- to injure (a body part or muscle) by too much tension, use, or effort

-- The whole ship shuddered and trembled at the sudden strain

24.   Trace [tres] (v.)

In order to strengthen and develop his fine motor skills, his curriculum included tracing and coloring activities.

--to copy a drawing by putting a piece of a piece of paper over it and drawing the lines you see through the paper

-- The psychiatrist successfully traced some of her problems to severe childhood traumas.

25.   Adversity [ədˈvɜ:rsəti] (n.)

Psychologist and researcher Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi says that many world-class thinkers and artists grew up with either great adversity or great grew privilege.

-- a difficult situation or condition : misfortune or tragedy

-- He showed courage in adversity.