English for Agriculture unit 3 UPLAND FARMING vocabulary

    

KEY VOCABULARY

allow (v) - let something happen, permit something to happen
Examples:

1. Will you allow me to do this?
2. We should allow enough time so that we can finish this work.

ash (n) - material produced when something is burned
burn (v) - to damage by fire or heat
Examples:

1. Take the rubbish out to the field and burn it.
2. Burning of forests for agricultural land is now a serious problem.

clear (v) - to make clean, to remove everything
Examples:

1. Please clear the table. (same as Please take everything off the table.)
2. After they burned the trees, the land was completely cleared.

emphasis (n) - the important part, the part made to stand out
emphasize (v) - to make something look important, to make one part stand out
Examples:

1. I must emphasize that this is very important.
2. He does not think this is important. He wants a different emphasis.

especially (adv.) -  very, in particular
Examples:

1. Many people, especially those in Asia, depend on rice.
2. My son likes all food, but he especially likes pizza.

exhausted (adj.) - very tired, no energy left, used up
exhaust (v) - to use up completely
exhaustion (n)
Examples:

1. After the 10 km race, all the runners were exhausted.
2. We have tried everything  (same as We have exhausted all the possibilities.)

common (adj.) - found in many places, not rare, easy to find
commonly (adv.)
Examples:

1. These plants are very common in my country.
2. These varieties are commonly found all over Asia.

fertilizer (n) - material used to improve soil fertility
forest (n) - large area of trees
indigenous (adj.) - from a particular country or region
Examples:

1. These plants are indigenous to this region.
2. The "Aka" people are indigenous to northern Thailand.

local (adj.) - in a particular place, similar to 'indigenous'
locality (n) - place
localized (adj. - made local
Examples:

1. The local people are very friendly. (i.e. the people from that area).
2. Most farmers in the north use local varieties. (i.e. varieties from the north).

majority (n) - most
Examples:

1. In most countries, the majority of people can read and write (i.e. most people).
2. We have completed the majority of the work. (i.e. most of the work).

recover (v) - to improve after some problem, e.g. disease, accidents, etc.
recovery (n)
Examples:

1. After the accident, he spent 6 weeks recovering in hospital.
2. I am sorry to say that your friend is very sick. I don't think he will recover.

release (v) - let go, send out, make free
Examples:

1. After 5 years, the prisoner was released from jail.
2. I'm sorry, but I cannot give you that information. I cannot release it to anybody.

several (adj.) - many
Examples:

1. In some countries, a man can have several wives.
2. I have written to him several times, but he never replies.

store (v) - to keep in one place
store (n) - place where things are kept
Examples:

1. You can store your things in the small room next to the bedroom.
2. Our rice store can hold 400 sacks of rice.

structure (n) - building, the way something is built
Examples:

1. The bridge fell down because the structure was not strong enough.
2. Scientists study the structure of plants.

threaten (v) - make dangerous for the future
threat (n) - a future danger
Examples:

1. Look at the black sky over there! I think it is threatening to rain.
2. There are many threats to world peace.

tropical (adj.) - of hot, wet regions located in the tropics
tropics (n) - region between 23^o 27’ north and 23^o 27’ south
Examples:

1. These plants grow well in tropical climates.
2. These plants grow well in the tropics.

vegetation (n) - plants, leaves, flowers, trees, bushes, etc.

TECHNICAL VOCABULARY

characteristic (n) - a feature of a plant or animal transmitted from generation to generation. Sometimes also called 'character'.
characteristic (adj.) 
Example:

1. This variety has many good characteristics.

fallow (adj.) - land which is not used, usually for a season, during which it is often plowed to kill weeds.
Example:

1. We will not use that land next season. We will leave it fallow.

upland farming (n) - farming in high areas. In rice cultivation, often used to mean slash-and-burn cultivation, or growing rice in fields with no bunds.
nutrient (n) - substance providing nourishment, especially for plants or animals
Example:

1. That soil is rich in nutrients.