Improving Vocabulary Improving Vocabulary SkillsSkills

Unit 2, Chapter 9Unit 2, Chapter 9

hypotheticalhypothetical

This is a story of a hypothetical student, This is a story of a hypothetical student, Gabriela, of Argentina. She doesn’t Gabriela, of Argentina. She doesn’t

really exist, but she’s typical of many really exist, but she’s typical of many students entering college today.students entering college today.

DefinitionDefinition

Theoretical, imaginary, supposed for Theoretical, imaginary, supposed for the sake of argument or the sake of argument or examination.examination.

constituteconstitute

She’s just one of the 572,509 She’s just one of the 572,509 students studying in the United students studying in the United

States that constitute the foreign States that constitute the foreign or international student body.or international student body.

DefinitionDefinition

To be the parts of; to make upTo be the parts of; to make up

predominantpredominant

Of course, China and India are the Of course, China and India are the predominant countries of origin of predominant countries of origin of

international students. international students.

DefinitionDefinition

Most common or most noticeableMost common or most noticeable

defaultdefault

However, when Argentina However, when Argentina defaulted on its loans to the IMF, defaulted on its loans to the IMF, many students left Argentina to many students left Argentina to

study in the US. study in the US.

DefinitionDefinition

To fail to do something requiredTo fail to do something required

recessionrecession

A recession in the economy soon A recession in the economy soon resulted. Many would say it was resulted. Many would say it was

worse than that and call it a worse than that and call it a depression. depression.

DefinitionDefinition

A temporary decline in businessA temporary decline in business

confiscateconfiscate

When families couldn’t pay their When families couldn’t pay their bills they had their homes bills they had their homes confiscated and became confiscated and became

homeless.homeless.

DefinitionDefinition

To take away; seizeTo take away; seize

prerequisiteprerequisite

Once Gabriela arrived in the US she had Once Gabriela arrived in the US she had to take the prerequisite courses her first to take the prerequisite courses her first and second year of college before she and second year of college before she could delve into the courses she really could delve into the courses she really

cared about: economics.cared about: economics.

DefinitionDefinition

Something required beforehandSomething required beforehand

nominalnominal

Before the economic problems Before the economic problems occurred in Argentina, she had occurred in Argentina, she had

only a nominal interest in only a nominal interest in economics.economics.

DefinitionDefinition

Slight; very small compared with Slight; very small compared with what might be expected. what might be expected.

decipherdecipher

She couldn’t decipher the financial She couldn’t decipher the financial pages of the newspaper. Now she pages of the newspaper. Now she wanted to know what all of those wanted to know what all of those

terms meant.terms meant.

DefinitionDefinition

Figure out; to interpret or read Figure out; to interpret or read (something confusing or hard to (something confusing or hard to make out)make out)

concurrentconcurrent

Her interest in economics grew Her interest in economics grew concurrently with her ambition. concurrently with her ambition. As she was learning more and As she was learning more and

more about economics she made more about economics she made plans to become the finance plans to become the finance

minister of Argentina one day.minister of Argentina one day.

DefinitionDefinition

Happening or existing at the same Happening or existing at the same time; simultaneoustime; simultaneous