Unit 99
Words 1961–1980 · plain, volunteer, rural, calm, abandon, examination
plain
#1961adjective, noun
Simple and ordinary, without decoration; a large, flat area of land.
She wore a plain white shirt to work today.
I prefer plain yogurt with fresh fruit for breakfast.
Please use plain English in your presentation.
The doctor asked whether the pain was plain or severe.
The train crossed the wide plain before sunset.
volunteer
#1962noun, verb
A person who freely offers to help, or to offer to help without being paid.
Many volunteers help serve food at the community center.
She volunteered to clean the classroom after school.
He works as a volunteer at the local hospital.
We need a volunteer to carry these boxes upstairs.
My friend volunteered for the school music show.
rural
#1963adjective
Relating to the countryside, away from towns and cities.
She grew up in a rural village surrounded by green fields.
Many rural families keep chickens and grow vegetables at home.
The doctor visits rural communities once a week.
Our school trip took us to a rural farm.
They moved to a rural area for a quieter life.
calm
#1964adjective, noun, verb
Peaceful and relaxed, without worry, noise, or strong feelings.
Please stay calm; the doctor will be here soon.
The sea was calm, so our boat trip was comfortable.
She spoke in a calm voice during the meeting.
A warm cup of tea helped calm me after work.
The teacher calmed the students before the test began.
abandon
#1965verb, noun
to leave someone or something behind, especially when you should stay and help
The family had to abandon their car during the flood.
Please do not abandon your shopping basket in the middle of the store.
The student almost abandoned the project after several difficult mistakes.
The hikers abandoned their plan when the weather became dangerous.
The mother refused to abandon her sick child at the hospital.
examination
#1966noun
a careful test of someone’s knowledge, skills, or health
I have an important examination at school tomorrow morning.
The doctor gave me a medical examination after the accident.
Everyone must pass the final examination to complete the course.
The examination of the machine found a small problem.
She felt nervous before her driving examination at the test center.
silence
#1967noun, verb
A quiet state with no sound, or the act of making something quiet.
The room fell into silence after the teacher entered.
Please keep silence while the baby is sleeping.
After the argument, Mark broke the silence with a joke.
The doctor asked for silence during the hearing test.
The manager silenced his phone before the meeting started.
rapidly
#1968adverb
Very quickly, or in a short time
The little plant grew rapidly after we watered it.
The train rapidly gained speed after leaving the station.
Her health improved rapidly after she started the new medicine.
The company is rapidly expanding and hiring more workers.
Prices rose rapidly when the shop announced the shortage.
efficient
#1969adjective
Working well without wasting time, energy, or money.
This washing machine is very efficient and saves a lot of water.
She found an efficient way to finish her homework before dinner.
Our new manager is efficient at organizing meetings and tasks.
The train is an efficient way to travel across the city.
Eating healthy meals helps your body use energy efficiently.
revolution
#1970noun
A complete change in the way people live, work, or govern a country.
The revolution changed the country’s government and daily life.
The industrial revolution brought machines into factories and homes.
The internet caused a revolution in the way we communicate.
The chef started a revolution in school lunches with fresh vegetables.
The Earth completes one revolution around the Sun each year.
delight
#1971noun, verb
great happiness or pleasure; to make someone very happy
The children shouted with delight when the puppy arrived.
Her kind message was a delight to read after work.
The fresh fruit delighted everyone at the picnic.
The hotel staff delighted us with a free breakfast.
He delights in teaching his little sister new games.
spell
#1972verb, noun
To write or say the letters of a word in the correct order; a short period of time.
Can you spell your name for me, please?
I always spell difficult words incorrectly.
She spelled the word correctly in class.
We enjoyed a warm spell during our winter holiday.
He had a bad spell of stomach pain yesterday.
premise
#1973noun
An idea or situation that forms the basis for a story, argument, or plan.
The movie has a simple premise about two friends opening a bakery.
Our plan is based on the premise that everyone will arrive early.
The teacher asked us to explain the premise of the novel.
The restaurant works on the premise that fresh food tastes better.
The whole premise of the trip was to relax by the sea.
lean
#1974verb, adjective
To bend or rest at an angle, or have little fat.
Please lean against the wall while I tie your shoe.
She leaned forward to hear the teacher more clearly.
We bought lean chicken for dinner.
You can lean on me when life feels difficult.
The old tree leans toward the river.
dramatic
#1975adjective
very exciting, surprising, or noticeable, often because something changes suddenly
The movie had a dramatic ending that made everyone cry.
There was a dramatic change in the weather this afternoon.
She made a dramatic entrance at the party.
The doctor saw a dramatic improvement in his health.
The team made a dramatic comeback and won the game.
differ
#1976verb
to be different from something or someone
People differ in their opinions about the best school uniform.
The two recipes differ slightly in the amount of sugar they use.
My brother and I differ on which restaurant to choose.
Prices differ from one shop to another in this town.
Symptoms can differ between people with the same illness.
grateful
#1977adjective
Feeling thankful for something kind that someone has done.
I am grateful for your help with my homework.
We were grateful to find a warm hotel after the long journey.
She felt grateful for the doctor’s quick advice.
The grateful customer thanked the shop assistant for finding her size.
He is grateful that his friends brought food while he was sick.
protein
#1978noun
A substance in food that helps your body grow and stay healthy.
Eggs, fish, and beans are good sources of protein.
I eat more protein after exercising at the gym.
This yogurt has ten grams of protein per serving.
The doctor said I need enough protein in my diet.
We bought a protein shake for the long train journey.
bike
#1979noun, verb
a bicycle, or to travel somewhere on a bicycle
I ride my bike to work when the weather is nice.
She left her bike outside the school and went inside.
We rented bikes near the beach for the afternoon.
The bike shop repaired my flat tire in an hour.
He bikes to the market every Saturday morning.
distribute
#1980verb
to give things to several people or places
Volunteers distribute food to families after the storm.
The teacher distributed worksheets to the students.
We distributed the invitations among our friends.
The company distributes its products to shops nationwide.
Please distribute the cake equally among the children.