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4 signs a democracy could be slipping into an authoritarian regime | USA TODAY

Video vocabulary

come

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US / kʌm /

UK / kʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To arrive at a place
  • (Of mail) to be delivered
  • To move toward someone; go with someone
  • To reach a certain point or state

call

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US / kɔ:l /

UK / kɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • A order or request for action
  • The sound an animal makes, often when in danger
  • A correct prediction, e.g. a decision in a game
  • A short visit to a place or person
  • A decision by a referee or umpire in a game
  • verb
  • To make a request or order for action
  • (Animal) to make sounds to warn of danger
  • To announce the date of an election
  • To make a judgment about something
  • To give someone or something a name
  • To guess in advance the result or outcome
  • To visit a place or person for a short time
  • To phone someone
  • To speak, announce or shout in a loud voice

sometimes

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US / ˈsʌmtaɪmz /

UK / ˈsʌmˌtaɪmz /

A1
  • adverb
  • Only at certain times; occasionally

real

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US / rɪəl /

UK / ˈriəl, ril /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Actually existing or happening, not imagined
  • Being important or special

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

culture

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US / 'kʌltʃə(r) /

UK / ˈkʌltʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Beliefs and customs of a particular group

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

secret

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US / 'si:krət /

UK / 'si:krət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • That you don't want others to know; private
  • noun
  • Information you do not want others to know

anything

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US / ˈeniθɪŋ /

UK / ˈɛniˌθɪŋ /

A1
  • pronoun
  • A thing of any kind

exclude

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US / ɪk'sklu:d /

UK / ɪk'sklu:d /

A2
  • verb
  • To prevent someone from taking part in something

major

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US / 'meɪdʒə(r) /

UK / ˈmedʒɚ /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Main league; esp. referring to American baseball
  • Important, serious, or large in scope, size
  • noun
  • High-ranking officer in the army
  • Main subject you study at university
  • verb
  • To study a particular subject at university

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

dehumanize

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US / ˌdi:ˈhju:mənaɪz /

UK / diˈhjuməˌnaɪz /

C1
  • verb
  • To make people less human by exposing them to evil
  • To treat people badly, so they don't seem human

participate

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US / pɑ:ˈtɪsɪpeɪt /

UK / pɑ:rˈtɪsɪpeɪt /

B1
  • verb
  • To take part with others in doing something

always

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US / 'ɔ:lweɪz /

UK / ˈɔlwez,-wɪz,-wiz /

A1
  • adverb
  • For a very long time
  • At all times; in every situation
  • For ever

once

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US / wʌns /

UK / wʌns /

A1
  • adverb
  • One time; one instance
  • At a time in the past
  • conjunction
  • When; as soon as

sort

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US / sɔ:t /

UK / sɔrt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group or class of similar things or people
  • verb
  • To organize things by putting them into groups
  • To deal with things in an organized way

censorship

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US / ˈsensəʃɪp /

UK / ˈsensərʃɪp /

B2
  • noun
  • Removing inappropriate material from books, films

compliant

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US / kəmˈplaɪənt /

UK / kəmˈplaɪənt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Willing to obey, follow the wishes of others

tax

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US / tæks /

UK / tæks /

A2
  • noun
  • Money taken by a government from its people
  • verb
  • To require a lot of physical or mental effort
  • (Government) to take money from a country's people

healthy

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US / ˈhelθi /

UK / ˈhɛlθi /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In good condition physically, or financially; well

deploy

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US / dɪˈplɔɪ /

UK / dɪˈplɔɪ /

B1
  • verb
  • To put into position (often a military operation)

reason

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US / 'ri:zn /

UK / ˈrizən /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to think about facts and form a judgment
  • Explanation for why something occurred or was done
  • verb
  • To think and make conclusions in a logical manner

population

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US / ˌpɒpjuˈleɪʃn /

UK / ˌpɑpjəˈleʃən /

A2
  • noun
  • Number of people who live in a country, area etc.

use

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US / ju:s /

UK / ju:s /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to employ something
  • Need to enable it to work
  • Permission to do something with something
  • Act of spending money
  • Operation of a machine for its function
  • verb
  • To have; to eat, drink, consume etc.
  • To need to operate or work
  • To operate a machine, e.g. a computer
  • To treat a person badly
  • To do something with, for a task or purpose

authoritarian

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US / ɔ:ˌθɒrɪˈteəriən /

UK / əˌθɔ:rəˈteriən /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Expecting complete obedience to your rules
  • noun
  • Person expecting complete obedience

change

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US / tʃeɪndʒ /

UK / tʃendʒ /

A1
  • noun
  • Exchange of one set of clothes for another
  • Money in the form of coins instead of paper
  • Money returned after giving too much
  • Act of making or becoming something else
  • verb
  • To exchange one set of clothes for another
  • To exchange one kind of money for another
  • To replace something with another thing
  • To make or become something else
  • To go from one train, bus, etc. and go to another

elite

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US / iˈliːt /

UK / iˈliːt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Belonging to the richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society
  • noun
  • The richest, most powerful, best-educated, or best-trained group in a society

feature

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US / 'fi:tʃə(r) /

UK / ˈfitʃɚ /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Main; important
  • noun
  • Special report in a magazine or paper
  • Distinctive or important point of something
  • verb
  • To highlight or give special importance to

who

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US / hu: /

UK / hu /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Which person
  • Used to introduce information about people

police

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US / pəˈli:s /

UK / pəˈlis /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the police and its business
  • noun
  • People, often in uniforms, who solve crimes
  • verb
  • To control an area, or group with a police force

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

technique

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US / tekˈni:k /

UK / tɛkˈnik /

A2
  • noun
  • Way of doing by using special knowledge or skill

civic

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US / ˈsɪvɪk /

UK / ˈsɪvɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Of a town or city; of rights or duties of citizens

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

election

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US / ɪ'lekʃn /

UK / ɪˈlɛkʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Process of choosing someone by voting

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

example

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US / ɪgˈzɑ:mpl /

UK / ɪɡˈzæmpəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Thing, person which represents a category

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

patriotism

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US / ˈpeɪtriətɪzəm /

UK / ˈpetriəˌtɪzəm /

C2
  • noun
  • Love of your country and willingness to defend it

political

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US / pəˈlɪtɪkl /

UK / pəˈlɪtɪkəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being active or interested in government matters
  • Diplomatic
  • Of the system of elections and government
  • Concerning government or public affairs
  • Involved in getting of power/influence in a group

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

opponent

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US / əˈpəʊnənt /

UK / əˈponənt /

B1
  • noun
  • Person who opposes an idea or plan; enemy
  • Person that you are competing against in a game

different

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US / ˈdɪfrənt /

UK / ˈdɪfrənt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not of the same kind; unlike other things

down

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US / daʊn /

UK / daʊn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being sad, sick, or unhappy
  • Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
  • adverb
  • In a sitting or lying position
  • Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
  • Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
  • noun
  • A period of play in American Football
  • The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
  • preposition
  • Along something's path, course, or direction
  • Going from a higher position to a lower position
  • verb
  • To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping

propaganda

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US / ˌprɒpə'ɡændə /

UK / ˌprɑ:pə'ɡændə /

B1
  • noun
  • (Use of) message that you want people to accept

patriotic

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US / ˌpeɪtriˈɒtɪk /

UK / ˌpeɪtriˈɑ:tɪk /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Having a great love for your country

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

find

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US / faɪnd /

UK / faɪnd /

A1
  • noun
  • Object discovered by chance
  • Things that have been discovered from searching
  • verb
  • To become aware of something that is happening
  • To discover or meet by chance
  • To decide if someone is guilty of a crime, or not
  • To learn through study, research, or effort
  • To discover something by looking for it

force

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US / fɔ:s /

UK / fɔrs, fors /

A1
  • noun
  • Group of persons trained for military action; army
  • Pressure; attraction
  • The use of physical strength/violence to persuade
  • verb
  • To use physical strength or violence to persuade

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

persuasive

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US / pəˈsweɪsɪv /

UK / pɚˈswesɪv, -zɪv /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Able to convince others to do or believe something

disinformation

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US / ˌdɪsˌɪnfəˈmeɪʃn /

UK / ˌdɪsˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃn /

B1
  • noun
  • Information intended to confuse others

security

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US / sɪ'kjʊərətɪ /

UK / sɪˈkjʊrɪtisə'kjurətɪ /

A2
  • noun
  • Department in a company in charge of protection
  • Financial document, like stocks, bonds and notes
  • Person paid to protect property and people
  • Things done to protect people, buildings etc.
  • Condition of being safe from danger or harm

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

equal

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US / 'i:kwəl /

UK / ˈikwəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Same in shape, size, or number
  • verb
  • To add up or be the same as

leader

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US / ˈli:də(r) /

UK / ˈlidɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Person who is in charge of a group or task
  • Person or group who is currently winning

really

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US / ˈri:əli /

UK / ˈriəˌli, ˈrili /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to stress something that is said; definitely
  • In a true or accurate manner
  • Very

regime

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US / reɪˈʒi:m /

UK / reˈʒim, rɪ- /

B1
  • noun
  • A system of management; a form of government

whether

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US / ˈweðə(r) /

UK / ˈhwɛðɚ, ˈwɛð- /

A1
  • conjunction
  • If something will happen or not

coercive

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US / kəʊˈɜ:sɪv /

UK / koʊˈɜ:rsɪv /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Serving, intended to force others to do your will

structure

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US / ˈstrʌk.tʃə /

UK / ˈstrʌk.tʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • The way in which the parts of a system or object are arranged or organized, or a system arranged in
  • verb
  • To plan, organize, or arrange the parts of something

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

foot

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US / fʊt /

UK / fʊt /

A1
  • noun
  • Base of something such as a mountain or vase
  • Length of 12 inches or about 25 cm
  • Lowest part of the leg we use to stand on

ruler

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US / ˈru:lə(r) /

UK / ˈrulɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Someone who has control over a country or area
  • Straight instrument used for measuring things

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

history

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US / 'hɪstrɪ /

UK / ˈhɪstəri /

A2
  • noun
  • Established pattern or record
  • Study of past events as an academic subject

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

arrest

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US / əˈrest /

UK / əˈrɛst /

A1
  • noun
  • Act of catching people who committed crimes
  • verb
  • To attract someone's attention and hold interest
  • (Police) to catch and keep criminals
  • To stop or slow something that is happening

erode

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US / ɪ'rəʊd /

UK / ɪˈrod /

B1
  • verb
  • To destroy something gradually; be destroyed thus
  • To wear away gradually by water, ice or wind

traitor

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US / ˈtreɪtə(r) /

UK / ˈtretɚ /

B2
  • noun
  • Person who betrays your country or someone's trust

those

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US / ðəʊz /

UK / ðoz /

A1
  • determiner
  • The people or things we are talking about
  • pronoun
  • The objects far from the speaker

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

opposition

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US / ˌɒpəˈzɪʃn /

UK / ˌɑ:pəˈzɪʃn /

B1
  • noun
  • Act of disagreeing or trying to stop something
  • Group that you are fighting or competing against

question

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US / 'kwestʃən /

UK / ˈkwɛstʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Issue or problems you are dealing with
  • What you ask about; issue
  • verb
  • To ask for or try to get information
  • To have or express concerns or uncertainty

control

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US / kən'trəʊl /

UK / kənˈtrol /

A1
  • noun
  • A device designed to operate a machine
  • Participant in experiment that is left untouched
  • Act to dominate or command; make manageable
  • A law limiting the growth or spread of something
  • A place which overseas or manages e.g. a factory
  • verb
  • To direct or influence the behavior of something

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

depend

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US / dɪˈpend /

UK / dɪˈpend /

B1
  • verb
  • Be controlled or determined by (someone/something)

evasion

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US / ɪˈveɪʒn /

UK / ɪˈveʒən /

C1
  • noun
  • Act of evading; trying to escape from something

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

diminish

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US / dɪˈmɪnɪʃ /

UK / dɪˈmɪnɪʃ /

B1
  • verb
  • To make something smaller or less important
  • To imply someone's reputation is less good
  • To become or cause to become less in size, value

kind

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US / kaɪnd /

UK / kaɪnd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In a caring and helpful manner
  • friendly and considerate
  • noun
  • One type of thing

other

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US / 'ʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈʌðər /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A thing different from that mentioned
  • determiner
  • (Something) else; not the first (one)
  • pronoun
  • Being the one and only thing of that category

run

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US / rʌn /

UK / rʌn /

A1
  • noun
  • Journey between two places made by ship or car
  • Series of similar things or successes and failures
  • Act of running; exercise of running
  • verb
  • To depart or travel according to a schedule
  • To cause an animal to move in a certain direction
  • (Of an engine) to be operating
  • To start or use a computer program
  • To flow in a certain direction, like a liquid
  • To manage or operate a business
  • To operate or drive something
  • (Of a road) to go from one place to another
  • To move your legs faster than walking

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

misinformation

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US / ˌmɪsɪnfə'meɪʃn /

UK / ˌmɪsɪnfə'meɪʃn /

B1
  • noun
  • Information that is incorrect

bad

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US / bæd /

UK / bæd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not good; wrong
  • Lacking in good morals; evil
  • No longer fresh; spoiled
  • Subtitles section
  • If we learn anything from history, it's that political structures change.
  • They also use propaganda and persuasive techniques, sometimes misinformation, disinformation, and censorship to control what people know and think.
  • So it's a non-coercive way to make the population compliant.
  • It Means that real opposition leaders, real opposition parties, are not allowed to run.
  • The ruling elite finds all sorts of reasons to exclude them from participating on an equal footing in the election.
  • So the use of force has always been a major feature of authoritarian regimes, whether it's deploying the secret police, the security services, and so on.
  • And we see authoritarian rulers using coercive force in other ways, like, for example, coming up with a reason to arrest a political opponent on tax evasion.
  • Once we diminish those who have different views from us, and we dehumanize them, and we call them traitors and not patriotic, we question their patriotism, that's just going down a really bad road.
  • And that erodes the kind of healthy civic culture that a democracy so depends on.