Summary of English Vocabulary for Technology and School

## Introduction This unit focuses on vocabulary related to crime and personal interactions. It helps you understand common words and phrases used when talking about ambitions, appeals, arrests, asking someone, and describing personalities. The material is organized into clear sections with examples and practice suggestions. ## Key Vocabulary and Definitions > **ambition (n):** a strong desire to achieve something, such as personal success or a particular goal. > **ambitious (adj):** having or showing a strong desire and determination to succeed. > **appeal to somebody (phr v):** to be attractive or interesting to someone; to make a formal request to someone, often a court or the public. > **arrest somebody (phr v):** to take someone into legal custody, usually because they are suspected of committing a crime. > **ask somebody (phr v):** to request information, help, permission, or an action from another person. > **call somebody cheerful (adj):** to describe someone as happy, positive, and showing cheerfulness. ### Notes on word types - Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas (e.g., **ambition**). - Adjectives describe nouns (e.g., **ambitious**, **cheerful**). - Phrasal verbs combine verbs with prepositions or adverbs and often have idiomatic meanings (e.g., **appeal to**, **arrest**, **ask**). ## Usage and Examples ### Ambition / Ambitious - Example: "Her **ambition** is to become a detective." - Example: "He is very **ambitious**; he studies every evening." - Real-world use: Job interviews often ask about your ambitions and long-term goals. ### Appeal to somebody - Meaning A (attract): "The community program **appeals to** young people because it offers free training." - Meaning B (make a request): "The lawyer will **appeal to** the court for a lighter sentence." - Table comparing meanings: | Meaning | Example | Notes | | --- | --- | --- | | Attract | The movie **appeals to** teenagers. | Focus on interest or liking | | Request (legal or formal) | They will **appeal to** the judge. | Formal process, often legal | ### Arrest somebody - Example: "Police **arrested** the suspect last night." - Practical application: Understand news reports or police procedures—what an arrest means legally and what rights a person has when arrested. ### Ask somebody - Example: "She **asked** me for directions." - Variations: ask for, ask about, ask someone to do something. - Quick guide: - ask for + noun (ask for help) - ask about + topic (ask about the meeting) - ask somebody to + verb (ask someone to wait) ### Call somebody cheerful - Example: "He is always smiling; I would **call him cheerful**." - Use: Describe personality in conversations, letters of recommendation, or character descriptions. ## Common Confusions and Tips - Ambition (noun) vs ambitious (adjective): Use the noun when naming the goal, and the adjective when describing a person. - Appeal to (attract) vs appeal to (legal): Context tells you which meaning applies—social contexts usually mean ‘attract’; courts and formal announcements usually mean ‘request’. - Phrasal verbs can change meaning; learn common objects that follow them (ask for, appeal to, call someone + adjective). Fun fact: Crime-related vocabulary often appears in headlines because short phrases like "police arrest suspect" quickly convey the main event. ## Practice Activities 1. Fill-in-the-blank sentences: - Her main ______ is to become an artist. (ambition) - The new campaign really ______ to older voters. (appeals) - Officers ______ two people after the incident. (arrested) - Can you ______ me a favor? (ask) - I would ______ him cheerful because he always smiles. (call) 2. Make sentences using each vocabulary item in your daily life (work, family, news). 3. Role play: One student plays a police officer explaining an arrest; the other asks questions using ask somebody. ## Quick Reference Table | Word/Phrase | Type | Short meaning | Common collo