B1 Video: How Did The World Get So Ugly?

Accent: Received Pronunciation - England. That one that sounds a bit posh.

Subtitles: Yes.

Vocabulary Guide

03:37 – Charming (adjective)

Meaning: Very pleasant or enjoyable.

Example: The old streets of the city are really charming.

05:45 – Crammed (adjective)

Meaning: Full of people or things, packed tightly.

Example: The train was crammed with commuters.

06:20 – Cesspit (noun)

Meaning: A deep hole that collects waste or sewage; can also mean a dirty or unpleasant place.

Example: The river used to be a cesspit before it was cleaned.

06:20 – Spill (verb)

Meaning: When liquid accidentally flows out of a container.

Example: She spilled coffee on her shirt.

06:23 – Stench (noun)

Meaning: A very strong and unpleasant smell.

Example: The stench from the rubbish was awful.

07:37 – Stank/Stink/Stunk (verb)

Meaning: Different forms of “stink,” meaning to smell very bad.

Example: The fish stank after being left out all night.

08:41 – Step in (phrasal verb)

Meaning: To become involved in a situation to help or stop something bad.

Example: The teacher stepped in to stop the argument.

09:32 – Embankment (noun)

Meaning: A wall or raised area built to prevent water from flooding.

Example: People were walking along the river embankment.

09:36 – Swamp (noun)

Meaning: A wet area of land covered with water and soft ground.

Example: Alligators live in the swamp.

10:31 – Eel (noun)

Meaning: A long, thin fish that looks like a snake.

Example: They ate jellied eels in London.

11:16 – Claim to fame (noun phrase)

Meaning: The thing that makes someone or something famous.

Example: His main claim to fame is inventing the light bulb.

12:20 – Promenade (noun)

Meaning: A public walkway, usually beside a river or the sea.

Example: Families enjoy walking on the promenade in summer.

12:20 – Line (verb)

Meaning: To form a row along something or to cover the sides.

Example: Trees line the main road to the park.

13:05 – Take pride in (phrasal verb)

Meaning: To feel proud or satisfied with something you do well.

Example: She takes pride in her cooking.

13:36 – Light up (phrasal verb)

Meaning: To become bright with lights.

Example: The streets light up at night.

14:39 – Quaint (adjective)

Meaning: Old-fashioned but charming or attractive.

Example: We stayed in a quaint little cottage.

15:29 – Cutting edge (adjective)

Meaning: Very modern and advanced.

Example: The lab uses cutting-edge technology.

15:55 – Startling (adjective)

Meaning: Very surprising or shocking.

Example: It was startling to see how much the city had changed.

16:12 – Time-honoured (adjective (UK spelling))

Meaning: Respected or used for a long time.

Example: They followed a time-honoured tradition.

16:34 – Brand new (adjective)

Meaning: Completely new.

Example: He bought a brand new phone yesterday.

16:58 – Obsolete/Outdated (adjective)

Meaning: No longer useful because something newer exists.

Example: Those old computers are now obsolete.

17:10 – Timeless (adjective)

Meaning: Never goes out of style; always beautiful.

Example: Her music has a timeless quality.

17:55 – Received pronunciation (noun)

Meaning: The accent most associated with British English, often used in southern England or on TV.

Example: The newsreader speaks with received pronunciation.

19:53 – Infrastructure (noun)

Meaning: The basic systems a country or city needs, such as roads or electricity.

Example: Good infrastructure is essential for business.

20:06 – Exuberance (noun)

Meaning: A feeling of lively energy or excitement.

Example: The design was full of colour and exuberance.

21:00 – Worthwhile (adjective)

Meaning: Important or valuable enough to spend time on.

Example: It’s a worthwhile project that helps the community.

21:54 – Pumping station (noun)

Meaning: A place where liquids like water or sewage are moved using pumps.

Example: The old pumping station is now a museum.

22:52 – Decommissioned (adjective)

Meaning: No longer in use or officially closed.

Example: The power plant was decommissioned last year.

23:22 – Convenient (adjective)

Meaning: Easy to use; helpful or practical.

Example: Online shopping is very convenient.

23:39 – Air conditioning unit (noun)

Meaning: A machine that cools the air inside a building.

Example: The air conditioning unit keeps the office cool.

24:27 – Stick (verb)

Meaning: To put or place something somewhere (informal).

Example: We stuck the posters on the wall.

24:27 – Hence (adverb)

Meaning: For this reason; therefore (formal).

Example: It was raining, hence we stayed inside.

26:18 – Have to (verb phrase)

Meaning: Used for obligation; pronounced /haftu/

Example: I have to finish my homework tonight.

27:07 – An awful lot (noun phrase)

Meaning: A very large amount.

Example: He spends an awful lot of time watching TV.

27:56 – Clash (verb)

Meaning: To disagree or not match; also for colours or ideas.

Example: The bright colours clash with each other.

29:20 – Mass-produced (adjective)

Meaning: Made in large quantities in a factory.

Example: These are mass-produced souvenirs.

30:06 – Unimaginative (adjective)

Meaning: Lacking new or creative ideas.

Example: The design was simple but a bit unimaginative.

22:14 – Pump (verb)

Meaning: To move liquid or gas by pressure using a machine.

Example: The system pumps water through the pipes.

31:20 – Handiwork (noun)

Meaning: Something made by a person’s hands or skill.

Example: The sculpture is his own handiwork.

31:24 – Artifact (noun)

Meaning: An old object made by humans, often kept in museums.

Example: The museum displays ancient artifacts.

33:35 – Fancy (verb)

Meaning: In British English, to want or feel like doing something.

Example: Do you fancy going out for dinner?