Unit 2.1
“A multicultural, multicivilizational world”
Active vocabulary
Engage (v.): 1. To employ smb. E.g.: I have engaged a secretary to deal with all my
paperwork.
SYN.: to hire
2. To get someone interested in smth. E.g.: The debate about food safety has
engaged the whole nation.
SYN.: to involve, to attract
engage in smth. – E.g.: Despite recommendations to halt bombing as an incentive for Hanoi to seriously engage
in substantive peace talks, Johnson refused.
with smb./smth. – E.g.: “We will continue to engage with whoever remains in place”, said a Trump
representative.
→ engagement
Competition (n.): 1. An organized event in which people try to win a prize by being the best, fastest, etc. E.g.:
They are destroying the true meaning of athletic competition and do nothing but set a bad
example, in particular to our young people.
SYN.: contest, tournament
2. A situation in which people or businesses are trying to be more
successful, for example, for the purpose of ousting rivals from the market.
E.g.: Traditional banks face competition from internet-based finance
companies.
SYN.: rivalry, combat, contention
rom competition – E.g.: For family reasons, this athlete withdrew from competition for the rest of the season.
petition with smb. – E.g.: The gas companies have to lay off staff as they are going into competition with oil.
→ to compete
→ competitive
→ competitiveness
→ competitor
Occur (v.): 1. To come to existence. E.g.: The partition of India occurred in 1948.
SYN.: to happen
2. To be found or met with. E.g.: This plant occurs naturally throughout South
America. SYN.: to appear
to occur to smb. – E.g.: It never even occurred to us that he hadn't been invited.
nlikely to occur – E.g.: The conservative majority means Brexit is likely to occur quickly, but the Brexit
uncertainty is unlikely to abate for more than a few months.
→ occurrence
Collapse (n.): 1. A sudden failure. E.g.: Constitutional crisis can lead to eventual collapse of the
government, the loss of political legitimacy, or to civil war.
2. A sudden loss of force, value, or effect. E.g.: A poor economy has caused the
collapse of thousands of small businesses.
erge of collapse – E.g.: Negotiations between the two countries are on the brink/verge of collapse (= are very
soon going to fail).
se of confidence – E.g.: The trouble is that a collapse of confidence internationally is not controllable.
nancial collapse – E.g.: The real impact of state pension schemes was undermined by the system's financial
collapse.
breakdown, failure
(v.): 1. To suddenly fail. E.g.: He thought his whole world had collapsed when his wife
died.
2. To suddenly fall to a much lower value. E.g.: Lots of people lost their jobs
when the property market collapsed.
SYN.: to break down, to fail
Reference (n.): 1. A mention of or allusion to smth. E.g.: She spoke in very vague terms and there were no
direct references to specific situations.
SYN.: mention, allusion
2. A letter from someone who knows you, to describe you and say if you are
suitable for a job, etc. E.g.: They have taken up my references, so they must
be interested in me.
SYN.: recommendation
in/with reference to – E.g.: I am writing in reference to your recent letter.
by reference to – E.g.: The information listed in paragraph 1 must be interpreted by reference to other
provisions of this chapter.
→ refer
Principal (adj.): First in order of importance. E.g.: Iraq’s principal export is oil.
SYN.: chief, main, primary
(n.): The most important or senior person in an organisation (mostly school, college,
etc.). E.g.: The college principal made a speech congratulating all the students
who were graduating in that year.
SYN.: director
→ principally
Civilization (n.): 1. Human society, including social organization, government, laws, and art.
E.g.: Some people think that nuclear war would mean the end of civilization.
2. The culture characteristic of a particular time or place. E.g.: We spent a week
visiting the wonders of Ancient Greek civilization.
vilization to smb. – E.g.: Colonial government officials saw their goal in bringing civilization to primitive people,
often with barbaric force.
ave a civilization – E.g.: Music has power to create a universe or to destroy a civilization.
YN.: culture
→ civil
→ to civilize
→ civilian
Violence (n.): 1. The use of physical force so as to harm someone, to damage or destroy property. E.g.: These
countries need to learn how to settle their arguments without resorting to violence.
2. Furious and often destructive action or force. E.g.: The recent violence of Storm
Urd has proved to be a beneficial thing for Sweden’s energy economy and for
its people in general.
act of violence – E.g.: Pope Francis called a deadly attack on a synagogue in the United States ‘an inhuman act
of violence’.
nce against smb. – E.g.: Such violence is typically committed against women or girls specifically because they
are female.
iolence of smth. – E.g.: We were all surprised at the violence of his anger.
utbreak of violence – E.g.: The recent outbreak of racial violence in the area is very troubling.
ce to smb./smth. – E.g.: These inhuman and blind acts attack the very underpinnings of the democratic system
and do violence to international peace.
YN.: aggression, outrage, assault
→ violent
→ violently
Escalation (n.): A situation in which smth. becomes greater or more serious. E.g.: A border dispute is
successfully managed if it is resolved, mitigated, or at least prevented from escalation.
escalation in/of – E.g.: It is difficult to explain the recent escalation in violent crime.
SYN.: increase, growth, acceleration
→ to escalate
Kin (n., pl.): A person’s family and relations collectively. E.g.: Religion and art spring from the same root
and are close kin.
SYN.: clan, kinfolk, kindred, kinship (arch.)
next of kin – E.g.: Now that the body has been identified we’ll have to notify his next of kin of his death.
kin to – E.g.: This is a place where we know we are all close kin to the wild nature..
(adj.): Close as in blood. E.g.: The theory of kin selection has been highly successful in
explaining many features of animal behaviour.
SYN.: related, allied, cognate
eparate (v.): 1. To divide into parts. E.g.: The north and south of the country are separated by a mountain range.
2. To make people move apart or into different places. E.g.: They have been
separated for only three months.
3. To consider two things as different or not related. E.g.: The legislative,
executive, and judiciary powers should be explicitly separated.
o separate smth. from smth. – E.g.: They oppose the idea of Scotland separating from Britain.
to separate smth. and smth. – E.g.: I find it difficult to separate home and business.
SYN.: to sever, to part, to divide
(adj.): Existing or happening independently or in a different physical space. E.g.: It seems
to me that there are two separate issues here.
SYN.: individual, autonomous
→ separately
→ (in)separable
Root (n.): 1. The part of a plant that grows down into the earth to get water and food and holds the plant
firm in the ground. E.g.: He took hold of the plant’s root and pulled.
2. The cause or origin of smth. bad. E.g.: The love of money is the root of all evil.
SYN.: basis, foundation, source
to take root – E.g.: It was years before democratic ideals took root in that part of the world.
the root of smth. – E.g.: The immediate anti-terrorist response has to be accompanied by a clear long-term
strategy that strikes at the root of the problem.
(v.): 1. To cause a plant to grow roots. E.g.: You should keep the ground wet until the plant has
rooted.
2. To establish deeply and firmly. E.g.: The idea of tolerance has rooted in our culture.
come settled
Assert (v.): 1. To state or declare positively, and often forcefully or aggressively. E.g.: The companies have
asserted that everything they did was appropriate.
2. To demand acceptance or recognition of smth. (such as one’s authority). E.g.:
Several members of Congress called upon the president to assert leadership.
to assert oneself – E.g.: But he was principally motivated by a desire to assert himself as an investor to profit
from his insights.
SYN.: to affirm, to argue, to declare
→ assertion
→ assertive
→ assertiveness
Confront (v.): 1. To face; stand, or meet face to face. E.g.: But then it helps you to understand all this darkness
and negativity, and you begin to confront and deal with it.
2. To oppose boldly, defiantly, or antagonistically. E.g.: It’s best to confront this
and deal with the problems rather than let things drift.
3. To bring face to face (with). E.g.: When I confront him with evidence to the
contrary, he readily admits his misrepresentation and fabricates another
explanation.
smb. about smth. – E.g.: She would get angry and aggressive if you try to confront her about her problems.
smb. with smth. – E.g.: I feel I must confront her with her incredible inconsistencies multiplied by every new
utterance.
SYN.: to beard; to oppose
→ confrontation
Interaction (n.): A situation where two or more people, things, or forces communicate with or react to one
another. E.g.: Informal interaction among employees is seen as part of the ongoing training
process.
n smb. and smb. – E.g.: The economic forum encourages interaction between the managers and experts in
different fields.
smth. and smth. – E.g.: A great advertising campaign comes from the successful interaction of strategic
planning and creative skills.
action with smb. – E.g.: We select employees who will be good at face-to-face interaction with customers.
SYN.: interplay
→ to interact
→ interactive
Idioms
To collapse in a heap – to fall down heavily and lie on the ground without moving.
Kith and kin – all your family, relatives, and close friends.
To separate the sheep from the goats (= to sort (out) the sheep from the goats) – to make
clear which people in a particular group are of a higher ability than the others.
To put down roots – to feel that you belong in a place.
Root and branch – completely, entirely, utterly.
Vocabulary tasks
1. Match terms to their definitions
1. principal
a.
human society, including social organization, government,
laws, and art
2.
reference
b. a situation in which people or businesses are trying to be more
successful, for example for the purpose of ousting rivals from
the market
3.
civilization
c. to state or declare positively, and often forcefully or
aggressively
4.
collapse
d. to oppose boldly, defiantly, or antagonistically
5.
violence
e. the use of physical force so as to harm someone, to damage or
destroy property
6.
competition
f. a letter from someone who knows you, to describe you and say
if you are suitable for a job, etc. purpose of ousting rivals from
the market
7.
escalation
g. a situation where two or more people, things, or forces
communicate with or react to one another
8.
occur
h. the cause or origin of smth.
9.
kith and kin
i. to get someone interested in smth.
10.
interaction j. a situation in which smth. becomes greater or more serious
11.
separate
k. a sudden loss of force, value, or effect
12.
confront
l. all your family, relatives, and close friends
13.
engage
m. to consider two things as different or not related
14.
root
n. to come to existence
15.
assert
o. first in order of importance
2.
Match the words to their synonyms
1. to happen
a.
violence
2.
culture
b. to assert
3.
to declare
c. to engage
4.
recommendation
d. collapse
5.
to divide
e. principal
6.
to involve
f. civilization
7.
increase
g. reference
8.
aggression
h. to separate
9.
failure
i. escalation
10.
main
j. to occur
3.
Drag the words to complete the sentences
Opportunities for learning … spontaneously every day.
The risks of … in crisis and war are more diverse today than during the Cold War.
Tories warn of the government … if Boris Johnson pursues no-deal Brexit.
Many in Cornwall today continue to … a distinct identity … from or in addition to
English or British identities.
5. The two governments have agreed to … in a comprehensive dialogue to resolve the
problem.
6. … can only be concealed by a lie, and the lie can only be maintained by …. .
7. As governor, I promise to work with you and do whatever it takes to move our state
forward, and to …. the challenges that face us.
8. In many countries women are required to perceive themselves as weak and subordinate
to their male … .
9. The forecast for this coming week has lower than normal confidence due to the
complex … now taking place in the atmosphere.
10. Racism must be eliminated, … and branch.
1.
2.
3.
4.
[1] – separate
[2] – confront
[3] – occur
[4] – collapse
[5] – kin
[6] – escalation
[7] – violence
[8] – root
[9] – assert
[10] – interactions
[11] – engage
4.
Translate the sentences from English into Russian
1. At the end of the race his legs gave out and he collapsed in a heap.
2. Violence against women cannot be tolerated, in any form, in any context, in any
circumstance, by any political leader or by any government.
3. Language is seen as a fundamental and integral part of culture and society and not
something that can be neatly separated from its context.
4. Anytime you find someone more successful than you are, especially when you're both
engaged in the same business - you know they're doing something that you aren't.
5. The exams at the end of the first year typically separate the sheep from the goats.
6. The ultimate victory in competition is derived from the inner satisfaction of knowing
that you have done your best.
7. Nonviolence doesn't always work -- but violence never does.
8. Some people simply want a place where they can put down roots. Others prefer a life
of packing and short stops.
9. The transition process in all of these countries was marked by a sharp escalation in the
conflicts between regimes and their opponents.
10. This has spurred the archaeological studies to uncover the history of this remarkable
ancient civilization.
11. I am writing to you with reference to the job advertised in yesterday’s newspaper.
12. Violence is not merely killing another. It is violence when we use a sharp word, when
we make a gesture to brush away a person, when we obey because there is fear.
13. To engage with art, we have to be willing to be wrong, venture outside our psychic
comfort zones, and remember that art explores and alters consciousness
simultaneously.
14. Traditional histories assert that the Romans never attempted to conquer Ireland,
although it may have been considered.
15. Distance doesn’t separate people; silence does.
Home assignment
I.
Learn the vocabulary of the unit.
II.
Read the text “A multipolar, multicivilizational world” and be ready to translate it
in class. Mark sentences with the active vocabulary.
Watch the video “Bosnian War – Genocide: History, Key Dates” and say whether the
following statements are true or false.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae_cTGvxYGI
1. The Bosnian war included the longest siege in modern history.
2. Before the war started, the population of Bosnia was mostly formed by five ethnic groups.
3. Orthodox Christian Serbs amounted to just over 30% of the population.
4. Almost half of the population were Muslim Bosnians.
5. Serb nationalists in Bosnia welcomed the idea of seceding from Yugoslavia.
6. Serbs wanted to ethnically cleanse the population of Muslims.
7. Practically no one was killed or disappeared during the 4-year Serbian siege.
8. NATO decided against helping Bosnian government forces by air strikes.
9. Dayton peace agreement marked the end of the war.
10. The peace accord caused Bosnia-Herzegovina split into three independent states: Serb,
Bosniak, and Croat.