NHCUE SPE CYT

      1. appeal [əˈpiːl] (n.)

Chou’s appeal to mainland Chinese is undeniable.

--a quality that something has that makes people like it or want it

--Middle English appel, from Anglo-French apel, from apeler

    --First Known Use: 13th century

     2. celebrity [səˈlebrəti] (n.)

And does the pre-Hollywood success of superstar celebrities like Jay Chou mean that Hollywood has already missed the boat?

-- a famous person, especially in entertainment or sport

-- She found herself something of a celebrity .

3. distraction [dɪˈstrækʃ(ə)n] (n.)

Movies are a source of inspiration, not distraction, for me.

-- something that makes it difficult to think or pay attention

-- It was hard to work with so many distractions.

4. implication [ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n] (n.)

What are the implications of Hollywood’s decision to cast Chou?

-- a possible effect or result

-- I'm offended by his implication that women can't be good at mathematics.

5. Influence[ˈɪnfluəns] (n.)

He specializes in R&B (rhythm and blues)and rap, with influences from rock and country and western music as well.

-- the power to change or affect someone or something : the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen

-- First Known Use: 14th century

      --Recent years have seen a decline in the company'sinfluence within the industry.

6. Inspire[ɪnˈspaɪə(r)] (v.)

His songs inspire listeners with lyrics that touch on serious issues such as the environment, domestic violence, and war.

-- to give someone the enthusiasm to do or create something

-- He inspired generations of future scientists.

 -- First Known Use: 14th century

     7. Legend [ˈledʒ(ə)nd] (n.)

He is a legend all over Asia, where he is called the “King” of Chinese music.

-- someone who very many people know about and admire

-- He has become a baseball legend.

--First Known Use: 14th century

     8. Promote [prəˈməʊt] (v.)

We caught up with the influential Chou, who was in town promoting his latest Chinese film, The Treasure Hunter.

-- to support or encourage something

-- The Government is committed to promoting the development and useof public transport.

-- Middle English, from Latin promotus, past participle ofpromovēre, literally, to move forward, from pro- forward +movēre to move

9. Role [rəʊl] (n.)

Chou recently reprised Lee’s role of Kato in The Green Hornet, starring opposite Cameron Diaz.

-- the purpose or influence of someone or something in a particularsituation

-- It's not my role to tell the politicians what to do.

-- French rôle, literally, roll, from Old French rolle

10. Slim [slɪm] (adj.)

And, you know, the chances of shooting a flim are slim, so when those good production teams invited me to join, I just jumped at the chance.

-- very small

-- The chances of success are very slim.

Origin: Dutch, bad, inferior, from Middle Dutch slimp crooked, bad; akin to Middle High German slimp awry

11. Undeniable [ˌʌndɪˈnaɪəb(ə)l] (adj.)

Chou’s appeal to mainland Chinese is undeniable.

-- certainly correct or true

-- His integrity is undeniable.

12. Unique [juːˈniːk] (adj.)

This legendary singer and songwriter has a unique sound.

-- very special, unusual, or good

-- You will be given the unique opportunity to study with one of Europe'stop chefs.

-- French, from Latin unicus, from unus one

13. Mediocre [ˌmiːdiˈəʊkə(r)] (n.)

The Treasure Hunter has had a pretty mediocre box office reception.

-- of moderate or low quality, value, ability, or performance

-- The dinner was delicious, but the dessert was mediocre.

-- Middle French, from Latin mediocris, from medius middle + Old Latin ocris stony mountain; akin to Latin acer sharp

14. Contemporary [kənˈtemp(ə)r(ə)ri] (adj.)

Today, Brazilian street artists are producing some of the most exciting contemporary art in the world.

-- modern, or relating to the present time

-- A magazine devoted to contemporary fashions.

15. Explosion [ɪkˈspləʊʒ(ə)n] (n.)

There has been an explosion of creativity in Brazil in recent years.

--  an occasion when something bursts with a lot offorce and a loud noise, often causing damage

--  An explosion of methane gas demolished a pensioner'shouse on Saturday.

-- Latin explosion-, explosio act of driving off by clapping, from explodere

     16. Luxury [ˈlʌkʃəri] (n.)

However, most Chinese cannot afford the luxury of expensive game consoles such as PlayStation and Wii.

--  something expensive that you enjoy but do not really need

-- She likes to have a few luxuries like fresh flowers.

-- Middle English luxurie, from Anglo-French luxorie, from Latin luxuria rankness, luxury, excess; akin to Latin luxusluxury, excess

     17. Resources [rɪˈzɔː(r)s] (n.)

But MMORPGs are not just for people without the resources to buy console-based games.

--  the qualities and skills that someone has and canuse for dealing with problems

-- He needed all his resources to escape alive.

-- French ressource, from Old French ressourse relief, resource, from resourdre to relieve, literally, to rise again, from Latin resurgere 

     18. Significant [sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt] (adj.)

In this newsletter, we use our experience in global marketing to identify the most significant trends in the BRICs today.

-- very important

-- There's been some significant progress.

     19. Vivid [ˈvɪvɪd] (adj.)

You can see it in home designs inspired by the vivid colors so popular in India.

-- a vivid color is strong and bright

-- Marine fish have beautiful vivid colors.

-- Latin vividus, from vivere to live 

     20. Economy [ɪˈkɒnəmi] (n.)

India has one if the fastest growing economies in the world.

-- the system by which a country's trade, industry, andmoney are organized

-- The war altered the country's economy.

-- Middle French yconomie, from Medieval Latin oeconomia,from Greek oikonomia, from oikonomos household manager, from oikos house + nemein to manage

    21. Feign [feɪn] (v.)

I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon;

--  to pretend to feel or be affected by (something)

-- I would never feign illness just to get out of a test.

-- Middle English, from Anglo-French feign-, stem of feindre,from Latin fingere to shape, feign 

     22. Levit [ˈlevəti] (n.)

I have feigned sleep, preoccupation, or a hostile levity when I realized by some unmistakable sign that an intimate revelation was quivering on the horizon;

-- a way of speaking or behaving that shows you do not think somethingis very serious

-- They managed to find some levity in the situation.

     23. Boast [bəʊst] (v.)

And, after boasting this way of my tolerance, I come to the admission that it has a limit.

-- to have something good, often anattractive feature that other people admire

-- The island boasts the highest number of tourists in the area.

-- Middle English boost

     24. Pathfinder [ˈpɑːθˌfaɪndə(r)] (n.)

I was a guide, a pathfinder, an original settler.

-- someone who discovers and tries new ways of doing things

-- Both the math pathfinders bathed in the bathtub

25.  Conviction (n.)

I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.

-- the feeling or appearance of being confident or verycertain about something

-- 'Everything will be fine,' she said, though without much conviction.

The team's recent performances have lacked conviction.