Alliance:
a close relationship with another person or group who shares the same
goals. In this case, Chavez has
been criticized for his close relationship with ex-Cuban leader Fidel
Castro.
Example: Each army alone was weak and
insignificant, but when they formed an alliance, they were very powerful.
FARC: A
left-wing rebel group in Columbia. (Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Columbia.) Many countries consider
them to be a terrorist group and they are infamous for taking hostages.
Legitimacy:
the legal right. In this
case, Chavez had claimed that the FARC had, under international law, a legal
right to exist and fight.
Example:
Because it could not be proved that
he had royal blood, his legitimacy as king was questioned.
Domestic:
describes something that has to do with activities inside a country’s
borders (as opposed to international).
In this case, the law was only relevant to
Venezuela.
Example: If take a domestic flight, you do not
have to bring your passport.
Controversial:
describes something, of which people have opposing opinions about. In this case, there were many in
Venezuela who opposed the intelligence law.
Example: We try not to speak about politics at
the dinner table because it is such a controversial topic.
Consolidate:
to merge something into one central unit. In this case, Chavez wanted to merge a
lot of state power with himself.
Example: Because the enemy was attacking by sea,
they decided to consolidate their defenses there.
Ambitious:
describes someone who is power hungry or eager to advance in rank. In this case, many of Chavez’ policies
over the past 10 year have been geared to increasing his power.
Example: In order to become CEO of a company, you
have to work hard and be very ambitious.
Ratified:
to formally approve of something.
In this case, the parliaments of these 14 countries voted on the treaty
in order to approve of it.
Example:
Even though the senate ratified the trade deal, the president rejected it with a
veto.
Streamline:
to make a process simpler.
In this case, the treaty hoped to make decisions in the expanded EU
easier to make (for example, some vetos would be
eliminated).
Example:
It used to take three weeks to process a visa, but after they’ve streamlined the
process, it takes only one.
Plan B: a
second option. In this case, the EU
has nothing that can take the place of the treaty.
Example: If I couldn’t find the CD at the record
store, plan B was to order it online.
Facilitate:
to
make something simpler to do. In this case, they want to make travel between
China and Taiwan easier (e.g. fewer visa restrictions).
Example: E-Tickets
help facilitate air travel.
Taiwan Strait:
the body of water between China and Taiwan.
Adamant:
firm in its position, unwilling to compromise. In this case China’s position is
that Taiwan is part of China, and that opinion will not
change.
Example: He hates skiing. That’s why he was so adamant about
taking vacation in summer instead to winter.
Censure:
to formally criticize someone or something. In this case, the prime minister was
formally criticized (in a written legal document) in the upper house of
parliament.
postwar era: the time since the end of the Second World War (1945).
motion of
confidence: a formal proposal of support. In this case, the lower house voted on
this in order to show support for the prime minister.
Coincidental:
describes something that does not happen due to a plan, rather by
chance. In this case, it is
probably not chance that Michael will play his final concert in Wembly, but
rather he wants to copy what he did with Wham! 22 years
ago.
Example:
Although I knew that he live in London, our meeting in the Tube was purely
coincidental.
Spin-off:
a television show that originates from the plot of
another.
Childhood
sweetheart: a girlfriend or boyfriend from youth. Rooney met her and started dating her
when they were teenagers.
Vows: a
solemn promise. In this case it is
the formal promise that husband and wife make to each other when they get
married.