10 words
- multinationaladjective/mul-tee-NASH-uh-nul/
operating in many different countries
She works for a multinational company with offices in forty countries.
Collocation: a multinational corporation · Similar: global, international
- outsourceverb/OWT-sors/
to pay another company, often abroad, to do work
Many firms outsource their customer service to call centres overseas.
Collocation: outsource production · Similar: contract out, subcontract
- homogenisationnoun/huh-moj-uh-ny-ZAY-shun/
the process of things becoming more and more alike
Some fear the homogenisation of culture as global brands spread.
Collocation: cultural homogenisation · Similar: standardisation, uniformity
- interconnectedadjective/in-tuh-kuh-NEK-tid/
closely linked so that each part affects the others
Today's economies are so interconnected that one crisis spreads quickly.
Collocation: an interconnected world · Similar: interlinked, interdependent
- cultural identityphrase/KUL-chuh-rul eye-DEN-tih-tee/
a sense of belonging to a group's traditions, language and values
Learning their grandparents' language helps children keep their cultural identity.
Collocation: preserve cultural identity · Similar: sense of belonging, roots
- emigrateverb/EM-ih-grayt/
to leave your own country to live permanently in another
Many young graduates emigrate in search of better-paid jobs.
Collocation: emigrate to another country · Similar: move abroad, relocate
- tariffnoun/TAR-if/
a tax paid on goods coming into a country
The government placed a tariff on imported steel.
Collocation: impose a tariff · Similar: import duty, customs tax
- cross-culturaladjective/kros-KUL-chuh-rul/
involving people or ideas from different cultures
Good cross-cultural communication is essential in international teams.
Collocation: cross-cultural understanding · Similar: intercultural, multicultural
- exploitationnoun/ek-sploy-TAY-shun/
unfair treatment of people, such as paying them very little
Campaigners highlighted the exploitation of factory workers in the supply chain.
Collocation: the exploitation of workers · Similar: abuse, mistreatment
- influxnoun/IN-fluks/
a large number of people or things arriving at once
The town struggled to cope with a sudden influx of tourists.
Collocation: a sudden influx · Similar: inflow, flood, rush
Grammar check
Choose the right option, then open the answer.
1. If our town hadn't attracted foreign investment, it ___ much poorer today.
would be · would have been · will be · had been
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would be: Mixed conditional: an unreal past cause with a present result ('today'), so 'would be'.
2. It was the internet ___ really made global trade possible for small firms.
what · that · which it · who
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that: An 'It was ... that' cleft sentence puts emphasis on 'the internet'.
3. Rarely ___ a single product been sold in so many countries.
has · did · is · does
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has: After 'Rarely' at the start we invert. 'Been sold' needs the present perfect: 'has'.
4. Products ___ in one country are often assembled in another.
designing · designed · are designed · having designed
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designed: A reduced relative clause with passive meaning: products that are designed, so 'designed'.
5. Many workers wish their factories ___ been moved overseas.
didn't · wouldn't · haven't · hadn't
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hadn't: 'Wish' about a past event takes the past perfect: 'hadn't been moved'.
Use the words: speaking questions
- Is globalisation making cultures around the world too similar?
- Who benefits most from international trade, richer countries or poorer ones?
- How has the internet changed the way people from different countries interact?
Answer them out loud with Dodo in the app for a band and better versions of your answers.