Vocabulary

• in the world: Used to emphasize a question expressing surprise, confusion, or disbelief.
• in the past: During a former period of time; previously.
• in fact: Used to emphasize the truth of a statement, especially one that contrasts with or contradicts something else.
• at risk: In danger; likely to be harmed
• often seen: Frequently observed; commonly encountered.
• cap on: An upper limit or restriction on something, such as spending or quantity.
• with the exception of: Excluding; not including.
• such as: For example; like
• on paper: In theory or as a plan, but not necessarily in reality.
• public outrage: A strong feeling of anger and shock felt by many people about something considered bad or unfair.
• in red: Marked or written using the colour red.
• crack down: To act forcefully in order to reduce crime, etc.
• used to: Did regularly before, but don't do now
• pecking order: A hierarchy where individuals know their place and relative power.
• go after: To chase or pursue something
• have to: Must do
• approach: To get close to reaching something or somewhere
• stretch: To make your arm, leg muscles long to ease them
• crisis: Unstable situation of extreme danger or difficulty
• amount: Quantity of something
• financial: Involving money
• fuel: To give power to (a mob, anger, etc.); incite
• collapse: To fold (e.g. a stroller) down to make it smaller
• state: Region within a country, with its own government
• prospect: Opportunity or chance for success
• emerge: To rise or appear out of some background
• region: Part of a country, of the world, area, etc.
• stock: Animals such as cattle kept for breeding
• deficit: Amount less than what is needed or required
• budget: Amount of money planned to be spent
• risk: To do something potentially dangerous or foolish
• lead: Wire for electricity, computer, etc.; cable
• invest: To use resources to build for the future
• corruption: State of being damaged or spoiled
• yield: To bend or break because of a strong force
• economy: Using money, resources in a careful, effective way
• palm: Inner area of a person's hand
• wealth: Amount of money or possessions you own, e.g. large
• foreign: Being of a different place or country
• lot: What happens to a person in life from chance; fate
• inequality: Situation where things are not equal, fair
• limit: Point beyond which it is not possible to go
• policy: Document stating terms of an insurance agreement
• hit: To have a negative impact on a person/place/thing
• tight: Showing anxiety or anger; tense
• confusion: Not knowing what to do; state of disorder
• manage: To survive hardships and difficulties; to cope
• welfare: Program to help poor/unemployed people with money
• ripple: Small gentle low wave on the surface of water, etc.
• public: Owned by the government
• government: Group of people and system that rule a nation
• program: To make someone act or think in a certain way
• middle: Place that is halfway between two things
• own: To have something as your property
• rise: To wake up and get out of bed after sleeping
• float: To sell the shares of a company publicly
• grow: To get bigger and more mature; make plants do this
• minimum: Smallest degree or level that is acceptable
• wary: Concerned about danger; cautious; circumspect
• usher: One who leads you to your seat, as in a theater
• frontier: Border crossing between countries
• regain: To get something back that had been lost
• barometer: Any instrument that measures atmospheric pressure
• broadly: In a general (not detailed) manner
• materialize: To become real or actual
• costly: Being very expensive, often wasteful
• wane: To become smaller, weaker or less
• nickel: American coin worth 5 cents
• peck: To strike sharply at something with the beak
• southeast: Location in the southeastern part of an area
• spook: To scare; frighten