邱冠霖的部落格

if a company subcontracts work, they pay other people to do part of their work for them

The electrical work has been subcontracted to Smith Ltd.

Synonyms: hire, engage, employ 

to expect that something will happen and be ready for it

It is impossible to anticipate when it will happen.

Synonyms: expect, await, foresee, hope for

sudden changes in something such as the price, amount, or level of something

fluctuations in policy

to reduce or prevent the bad effect of something, by doing something that has the opposite effect

This drug will counteract the effects of poison.

Synonyms: offset, balance, neutralize  

the act of guessing without knowing all the facts about something, or the guesses that you make

There has been a great deal of speculation about the Prime Minister's resignation.

Synonyms: thinking, thought, reflection, meditation, contemplation

7. capacity  (n.)  KK[kəˋpæsətɪ]

the amount of space a container, room etc has to hold things or people

The theater has a seating capacity of 800.

Synonyms: size, volume, content

the ability to change or be changed easily to suit a different situation

We appreciate your flexibility in dealing with this matter.

9. norm  (n.)  KK[nɔrm]

the usual or normal situation, way of doing something etc

10. endowment  (n.)  KK[ɪnˋdaʊmənt]

a sum of money that is given to a place such as a college or hospital to give it an income, or the giving of this money

That university has numerous endowments.

11. amendment  (n.)   KK[əˈmend•mənt] 

a change or addition to the US constitution

the First/Fifth/Fourteenth amendment

12. legislative (adj.)  KK[ˈledʒ•əsˌleɪ•t̬ɪv]

relating to the making of laws

Congress is the legislative branch of government.

13. executive  (n.)  KK[ɪgˈzek•jə•t̬ɪv] 

someone in a high position, esp. in business, who makes decisions and acts according to them

a chief executive

Synonyms: directing, managing, administrative

14. judiciary  (n.)  KK[dʒʊˈdɪʃ•iˌer•i]

the part of a country’s government that is responsible for its legal system and that consists of all the judges in its courts of law

15. ratify  (v.)  KK[ˈræt̬•əˌfɑɪ] 

to agree in writing to a set of rules, or to officially approve a decision or plan

Four countries have now ratified the agreement.

16. veto  (n.)  KK[ˈvi•t̬oʊ]

the power to refuse to allow something to be done, or such a refusal

The president has promised a veto if Congress passes that bill.

17. eminent  (adj.)  KK[ˈem•ə•nənt] 

famous and important

The commission consisted of fifteen eminent political figures.

18. laissez-faire  (n.)  KK[ˌles•eɪˈfeər] 

an economic theory or plan in which a government does not have many laws or rules to control the buying and selling of goods and services

19. boycott   (v.)  KK[ˈbɔɪ•kɑt] 

to refuse to buy a product or take part in an activity as a way of expressing strong disapproval

The union called on its members to boycott the meeting.

(in a legislature) a way of preventing a law from being passed by using the rules or making long speeches to delay voting on it

a member of a senate, esp. of the US Senate

Write to your senator about your concerns.

causing or likely to cause disagreement

a controversial theory/movie

to formally accuse a public official of a serious crime in connection with their job

The federal judge faces impeachment. 

of or connected with the central government of some countries

Federal law regulates trade with other countries.

an amount of money kept separate to use for a particular purpose, esp. by a government

The city council approved an appropriation of $10,000 to plant trees.