10 words
- inflationnoun/in-FLAY-shun/
a general rise in prices over time
High inflation means that wages buy less each year.
Collocation: rising inflation · Similar: price rises, rising costs
- recessionnoun/rih-SESH-un/
a period when a country's economy shrinks and trade falls
Thousands of businesses closed during the recession of 2008.
Collocation: an economic recession · Similar: downturn, slump
- consumerismnoun/kun-SYOO-muh-riz-um/
a culture focused on buying more and more goods
Critics argue that consumerism encourages people to buy things they don't need.
Collocation: the rise of consumerism · Similar: materialism, commercialism
- disposable incomephrase/dih-SPOH-zuh-bul IN-kum/
money left to spend after paying taxes and essential bills
Young professionals often spend their disposable income on travel and eating out.
Collocation: a rise in disposable income · Similar: spending money, spare cash
- lucrativeadjective/LOO-kruh-tiv/
producing a lot of money or profit
Software engineering has become a highly lucrative career.
Collocation: a lucrative career · Similar: profitable, well-paid
- affluentadjective/AF-loo-unt/
having a lot of money and a high standard of living
House prices are highest in the most affluent parts of town.
Collocation: affluent neighbourhoods · Similar: wealthy, prosperous, well-off
- subsidiseverb/SUB-sih-dyz/
to pay part of the cost so something becomes cheaper
Many governments subsidise public transport to keep fares low.
Collocation: heavily subsidise · Similar: fund, finance, support financially
- frugaladjective/FROO-gul/
careful to spend very little and avoid waste
My grandparents lived a frugal life and never wasted food.
Collocation: a frugal lifestyle · Similar: thrifty, economical
- revenuenoun/REV-uh-nyoo/
money a business or government receives, especially from sales or taxes
Tourism generates huge revenue for small island nations.
Collocation: generate revenue · Similar: income, earnings, proceeds
- bankruptadjective/BANK-rupt/
legally unable to pay what you owe
The airline went bankrupt after years of heavy losses.
Collocation: go bankrupt · Similar: insolvent, broke
Grammar check
Choose the right option, then open the answer.
1. If only I ___ more money when I was younger!
saved · had saved · have saved · would save
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had saved: 'If only' about a past regret takes the past perfect: 'had saved'.
2. ___ prices continue to rise, many families will struggle.
Should · Were · Had · Would
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Should: 'Should' at the start replaces 'If' in a formal first conditional.
3. Online shopping ___ to have overtaken high-street sales last year.
reports · is reporting · is reported · has reported
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is reported: Passive reporting: 'is reported to have' + past participle describes a reported past event.
4. The company, ___ profits doubled last year, plans to hire more staff.
which · whose · that · whom
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whose: 'Whose' shows possession: the profits belong to the company.
5. You ___ bought such an expensive phone; it was a waste of money.
mustn't have · can't have · would have · shouldn't have
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shouldn't have: 'Shouldn't have' + past participle criticises a past action that was a mistake.
Use the words: speaking questions
- Do you think people today are under too much pressure to buy the latest products?
- Should schools teach young people how to manage their money?
- What are the advantages and disadvantages of a cashless society?
Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.