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Banned practice of foot binding blighting China's oldest women | ITV News

Video vocabulary

what

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US / wɒt /

UK / hwɑt, hwʌt, wɔt, wʌt,hwət, wət /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Thing or things that; the same kind as
  • Used to emphasize something you are about to say
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to a particular amount, or number
  • Used to place emphasis on a particular quality
  • adverb
  • To a certain degree
  • determiner
  • Question words used for asking for information
  • exclamation
  • Used to express excitement, shock, or surprise
  • Used to ask people to repeat something they said

that

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US / ðæt /

UK / ðæt, ðət /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • The person or thing being talked about
  • Used to identify something both the speakers know
  • adverb
  • Used to reinforce adjectives and adverbs
  • To such a degree
  • conjunction
  • Used to connect a noun clause
  • Used to introduce an adverbial clause
  • Used to introduce a noun clause
  • determiner
  • Used as a noun to refer to something
  • pronoun
  • Referring an object far away
  • Used to refer to the relative pronoun ‘which’

storey

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US / 'stɔ:rɪ /

UK / ˈstɔri, ˈstori /

B1
  • noun
  • One of many floors or levels in a building

like

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US / laɪk /

UK / laɪk /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in status or kind to something else
  • Similar; the same
  • adverb
  • For example
  • preposition
  • Used as a filler; used to ad emphasis
  • In a way similar to the way something is done
  • Such as; for example
  • verb
  • To want to
  • To find something pleasing; to prefer something

prevalent

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US / ˈprevələnt /

UK / ˈprɛvələnt /

B2
  • adjecitve
  • Being common; occurring frequently

get

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US / ɡet /

UK / ɡɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To become affected by illness or disease
  • To begin to feel or understand an emotion or idea
  • To send or bring someone or something home, etc.
  • To go somewhere to obtain something
  • To (cause to) do a particular thing
  • To obtain, receive or be given something
  • To currently have
  • To prepare for use
  • To understand something being said or read

enforce

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US / ɪnˈfɔ:s /

UK / ɪnˈfɔ:rs /

A2
  • verb
  • To force something to be done or accepted
  • To make (a rule) active or effective

province

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US / 'prɒvɪns /

UK / ˈprɑvɪns /

B1
  • noun
  • Subject that a person has a good knowledge of
  • Area a country is divided into outside the capital

each

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US / i:tʃ /

UK / itʃ /

A1
  • determiner
  • Every one of two or more things
  • pronoun
  • Per one person or thing

right

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US / raɪt /

UK / raɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Correct or true
  • The south side of you looking at the rising sun
  • adverb
  • Exactly in a place or time
  • Being appropriate for a particular event
  • In a straight or direct manner
  • noun
  • Something you are legally or morally allowed to do
  • Ideal of what is just and good
  • Political view based on conservatism
  • verb
  • To fix something previously wrong or unjust
  • To make upright, as a boat that has turned over

she

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US / ʃɪ /

UK / ʃi /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Female person or animal mentioned before
  • (Refers to female person mentioned before)

backward

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US / ˈbækwəd /

UK / ˈbækwəd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Less developed than others, as in technology
  • adverb
  • Toward the rear, what is behind or past
  • Towards a previous time
  • Towards a worse condition or a loss of progress
  • Opposite to the normal or accepted way
  • Toward what is behind you

cause

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US / kɔ:z /

UK / kɔz /

A2
  • noun
  • Belief, goal or organization that people support
  • Reason for
  • verb
  • To make something happen; create effect or result

then

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US / ðen /

UK / ðɛn /

A1
  • adverb
  • A time that is not now
  • Following another thing in time or arrangement
  • Following on reasonably from what was just stated
  • At that time, not now

practice

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US / 'præktɪs /

UK / ˈpræktɪs /

A2
  • noun
  • The office and place for legal or medical work
  • Doing something many times to become better at it
  • verb
  • To work as a doctor or lawyer
  • To live according to the teachings of a religion
  • To do something many times to improve a skill

fire

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US / 'faɪə(r) /

UK / faɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Heat and the flame produced when burning
  • Intense energy for or about something
  • verb
  • To apply heat to something to make it hard
  • To make a person leave their job; dismiss
  • To shoot a gun or weapon
  • To launch something into the sky, e.g. a rocket
  • To start working on something e.g. a project

freedom

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US / 'fri:dəm /

UK / ˈfridəm /

B1
  • noun
  • State of being free, not being controlled

tightly

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US / ˈtaɪtli /

UK / ˈtaɪtlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a manner that doesn't allow movement

widespread

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US / ˈwaɪdspred /

UK / ˈwaɪdˈsprɛd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Happening or existing in many places

break

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US / breɪk /

UK / brek /

A1
  • noun
  • Time you stop an activity before continuing
  • End of a relationship
  • An escape from a place such as a jail
  • (Lucky) advantage or benefit from something
  • Find a solution or answer to a problem or crime
  • Change in the weather
  • verb
  • To create a new record e.g. running the 100m dash
  • To form a crack in something
  • To burst or become damaged
  • To end a relationship
  • To escape from a place such as a jail
  • To train a wild animal e.g. a horse
  • To separate into pieces by force, or by dropping
  • To act against a law, rule, or promise
  • To become known suddenly, as in the news
  • To not do what you promised e.g. not keep promises
  • To solve a crime, or answer a problem
  • To stop functioning properly
  • To suddenly start, open or commence
  • To change in pitch suddenly, as in a voice
  • To fall on the shore, as in waves
  • To begin or change suddenly; the dawn or weather
  • To defeat by causing the person to lose their will

young

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US / jʌŋ /

UK / jʌŋ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • At an early stage of existence; not mature
  • Being recently created or started
  • noun
  • Babies in a group or family of animals

upper

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US / ˈʌpə(r) /

UK / ˈʌpɚ /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Located above others of the same kind
  • Being the northern part of a region
  • Being closer to the source of a river
  • noun
  • Drug that improves mood or increases energy
  • Something happy or encouraging
  • Top part of a shoe, other than the flat bottom

know

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US / nəʊ /

UK / noʊ /

A1
  • verb
  • To be familiar with a person or place, thing
  • To feel sure or be convinced about something
  • To discover or be aware of something
  • To be able to distinguish
  • To have knowledge of things

foot

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US / fʊt /

UK / fʊt /

A1
  • noun
  • Base of something such as a mountain or vase
  • Length of 12 inches or about 25 cm
  • Lowest part of the leg we use to stand on

enjoy

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US / ɪnˈdʒɔɪ /

UK / ɛnˈdʒɔɪ /

A1
  • verb
  • To take pleasure in something

see

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US / si: /

UK / si /

A1
  • verb
  • To go on a date with someone
  • To predict whether something is, or will be true
  • To understand what someone says
  • To use your eyes to look at something
  • To visit a place often for sightseeing or pleasure
  • To visit or meet with someone
  • To find out by waiting or looking
  • To watch (a game, movie or TV show)

deform

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US / dɪˈfɔ:m /

UK / dɪˈfɔ:rm /

C1
  • verb
  • To change the normal form of something

with

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US / wɪð /

UK / wɪð, wɪθ /

A1
  • preposition
  • As an employee of a certain company
  • Against something or someone
  • By using something as a means
  • Due to; because of
  • Including
  • Possessing as a feature
  • Related to
  • (Of the manner/attitude by which you do something)
  • Used to express that people or things are together

process

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US / prə'ses /

UK / ˈprɑsˌɛs, ˈproˌsɛs /

A2
  • noun
  • Dealing with official forms in the way required
  • Set of changes that occur slowly and naturally
  • verb
  • To organize and use data in a computer
  • To deal with official forms in the way required
  • To prepare by treating something in a certain way
  • To adopt a set of actions that produce a result
  • To convert by putting something through a machine

government

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US / ˈgʌvənmənt /

UK / ˈɡʌvənmənt /

A1
  • noun
  • Group of people and system that rule a nation

debbie

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US / ˈdraʊzi /

UK / ˈdraʊzi /

A1

deem

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US / di:m /

UK / dim /

B2
  • verb
  • To judge something to be a certain thing, way

desirable

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US / dɪˈzaɪərəbl /

UK / dɪˈzaɪrəbəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being wanted; worth try to get
  • (Sexually) pleasing; attractive

scar

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US / skɑ:(r) /

UK / skɑr /

B1
  • noun
  • Long lasting emotional pain from a bad experience
  • A mark on something made by scratching it
  • verb
  • To cause long lasting emotional pain
  • To leave a mark on something by scratching it

have

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US / həv /

UK / hæv /

A1
  • verb
  • To drink, smoke, eat or use something
  • To experience the effects of something
  • To organize an event, or join in an activity
  • To own, possess, or hold something
  • To cause to happen or produce a particular effect

initially

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US / ɪˈnɪʃəli /

UK / ɪˈnɪʃəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • At first; originally

century

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US / 'sentʃərɪ /

UK / ˈsɛntʃəri /

A1
  • noun
  • Period of 100 years

almost

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US / 'ɔ:lməʊst /

UK / ˈɔlˌmost, ɔlˈmost /

A1
  • adverb
  • Only a little less than, nearly, not quite

alive

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US / ə'laɪv /

UK / əˈlaɪv /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Living; not dead

become

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US / bɪ'kʌm /

UK / bɪˈkʌm /

A1
  • verb
  • To begin to be; grow to be; develop into
  • To be suitable for a particular job or role

regime

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US / reɪˈʒi:m /

UK / reˈʒim, rɪ- /

B1
  • noun
  • A system of management; a form of government

would

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US / wʊd /

UK / wʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Used to indicate something imagined
  • Used to ask or request something politely
  • Verb used to indicate possibility, request etc.
  • Used to indicate a preference
  • Used to indicate a reaction
  • Indicates something that occurred repeatedly
  • Used to indicate willingness or ability to do

bone

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US / bəʊn /

UK / bon /

A1
  • noun
  • Hard piece of your body that holds your muscles
  • verb
  • To remove bones from meat or fish

single

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US / 'sɪŋɡl /

UK / ˈsɪŋɡəl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being one only, without others
  • Only; merely
  • Not married or in a relationship
  • noun
  • One run in cricket or a hit baseball
  • An individual song from a CD or album
  • Person who is not married or in a relationship

now

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US / naʊ /

UK / naʊ /

A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
  • Right away or in the next possible moment
  • Used to refer to something that just happened
  • Time between the present and a moment in the past
  • conjunction
  • Resulting from or because of something

law

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US / lɔ: /

UK / lɔ /

A1
  • noun
  • Field of study that relates to the legal profession
  • A rule made and enforced by a government
  • System or rules made by the government

not

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US / nɒt /

UK / nɑt /

A1
  • adverb
  • Word indicating the negative
  • (Used to form the negative of verbs)

mother

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US / ˈmʌðə(r) /

UK / ˈmʌðɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Female who has a child or children; female parent
  • verb
  • To take care of someone as if they were your child

through

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US / θru: /

UK / θru /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • having finished using or doing something
  • adverb
  • From the beginning of something until the end
  • preposition
  • Over, in, across an entire thing or place
  • Allowing you to pass between, or to
  • By a particular way or process; by the use of

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

A1
  • preposition
  • Used to show the purpose, or need of something

such

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US / sʌtʃ /

UK / sʌtʃ /

A1
  • determiner
  • Being similar to
  • (Thing) as previously stated or referred to
  • adverb
  • (Used to emphasize the quality of an adjective)

pair

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US / peə(r) /

UK / per /

A2
  • noun
  • Two of the same thing, e.g. socks
  • Two people viewed together for some reason; couple
  • verb
  • To put two things or people together

begin

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US / bɪ'ɡɪn /

UK / ˈbeɡɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To do the first part of an action; to start

consequence

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US / ˈkɔnsikwəns /

UK / ˈkɑnsɪˌkwɛns,-kwəns /

A2
  • noun
  • Importance of a person or thing
  • Outcome of an event; result

lotus

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US / 'ləʊtəs /

UK / ˈlotəs /

B2
  • other
  • Any aquatic plant of the water lily family

talk

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US / tɔ:k /

UK / tɔk /

A1
  • noun
  • Style of speaking
  • Discussion between two countries
  • Giving information in front of people; lecture
  • Saying things or ideas to someone with words
  • verb
  • To make a formal speech about something
  • To say things or ideas to someone with words

xie

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US / /

UK / /

A1

news

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US / nju:z /

UK / nu:z /

A1
  • noun
  • Broadcast on radio or TV about recent events
  • Information about recent events

under

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US / ˈʌndə(r) /

UK / ˈʌndɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In the same place as another thing, but lower
  • adverb
  • In a lower quantity or price than expected
  • preposition
  • According to the terms of an agreement or law
  • Managed or controlled by the authority of
  • Being of a lesser quality or amount than expected
  • Influenced or affected by something or someone
  • Less or lower in age, amount, size or number

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

beautify

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US / ˈbju:tɪfaɪ /

UK / ˈbjutəˌfaɪ /

A2
  • verb
  • To cause someone or something to become beautiful

although

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US / ɔ:lˈðəu /

UK / ɔlˈðo /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Despite the fact that; however

badly

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US / ˈbædli /

UK / ˈbædli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Not in a good way; not as wanted or liked
  • To a severe degree; very much
  • In an unkind or unfavorable manner

the

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US / ðə /

UK / ðə /

A1
  • article
  • Used to refer to something already mentioned
  • Used to show there is only one of something
  • determiner
  • Used to describe all of a family

big

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US / bɪɡ /

UK / bɪɡ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Popular
  • Serious
  • Large

into

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US / 'ɪntə /

UK / ˈɪntu /

A1
  • preposition
  • Moving or going inside something
  • In the same direction as; in the direction of
  • So as to become; taking the state of

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Person someone is speaking or writing to
  • Person or people in general

woman

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US / ˈwʊmən /

UK / ˈwʊmən /

A1
  • noun
  • Adult female human being

this

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US / ðɪs /

UK / ðɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Used to indicate something already been discussed
  • Used to indicate something happening around now
  • adverb
  • An indication by a physical motion or gesture
  • A specific amount of
  • determiner
  • Person, thing, or idea near you
  • pronoun
  • Person, thing that has already been discussed

very

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US / 'verɪ /

UK / ˈvɛri /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning a large degree or amount
  • adverb
  • A lot; much; many
  • Used to stress or emphasize a noun

they

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US / ðeɪ /

UK / ðe /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Two or more people, animals, or things

all

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US / ɔ:l /

UK / ɔl /

A1
  • adverb
  • Completely; totally
  • determiner
  • Being every one of something
  • pronoun
  • 100% of something; the complete amount

rural

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US / ˈruərəl /

UK / ˈrʊrəl /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the country as opposed to the city

daughter

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US / ˈdɔ:tə(r) /

UK / ˈdɔtɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of a company) being a subsidiary of another firm
  • noun
  • A female child of someone

countryside

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US / ˈkʌntrisaɪd /

UK / ˈkʌntriˌsaɪd /

B1
  • noun
  • Natural open land away from towns

their

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US / ðɛː /

UK / ðer /

A1
  • determiner
  • Belonging to them

china

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US / ˈtʃaɪnə /

UK / ˈtʃaɪnə /

A1
  • noun
  • A communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the wo
  • other
  • High quality porcelain originally made only in China

old

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US / əʊld /

UK / old /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having existed for a long time, not young or new
  • Age of a person since birth

share

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US / ʃeə(r) /

UK / ʃɛr /

A2
  • noun
  • Part-ownership in a property, business or company
  • Part of a company you own, shown by a certificate
  • verb
  • To divide something between two or more people
  • To allow others to use your things equally
  • To give information, etc. to someone

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

A1
  • preposition
  • Starting at a particular place, time or level

wrapping

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US / 'ræpɪŋ /

UK / ˈræpɪŋ /

B1
  • noun
  • Paper covering for e.g. chocolate bars
  • verb
  • To be or move around something
  • To cover something with paper or a cloth e.g. gift

keep

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US / ki:p /

UK / kip /

A1
  • noun
  • Large, strong tower in the middle of a castle
  • Money spent on you so you can live in a place
  • verb
  • To continue doing something; not to stop
  • To stop balls going in a goal in sports
  • To not give back or return something
  • (Of food) to not spoil or not rot
  • To take possession of something to own, e.g. a pet
  • To have and continue to hold something
  • To do something that you have promised or agreed
  • To stay in a certain place or condition
  • To maintain the rules

two

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • number
  • 2

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

A1
  • adverb
  • Very; extremely
  • Greatest possible degree
  • pronoun
  • Nearly all of something

ban

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US / bæn /

UK / bæn /

B1
  • noun
  • Official action preventing something happening
  • verb
  • To make something illegal or not allowed

toe

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US / təʊ /

UK / toʊ /

B1
  • noun
  • One of the five parts at the end of your foot
  • Front part of a sock or shoe

where

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US / hwɛə /

UK / hwɛr, wɛr /

A1
  • conjunction
  • At or in the place which
  • In whatever place
  • pronoun
  • Word you use to ask the location of something

until

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US / ənˈtɪl /

UK / ʌnˈtɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Up to; to a time when something happens
  • preposition
  • Before (a specific time)

pain

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US / peɪn /

UK / pen /

A1
  • noun
  • Strong feeling of hurt or discomfort
  • Something or someone that bothers or upsets you
  • verb
  • To cause someone to feel upset or worry

and

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US / ənd /

UK / ənd, ən,ænd /

A1
  • conjunction
  • Used to refer to two or more things
  • Plus; in addition; on top of that
  • Used to introduce an action that follows another

pleased

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US / pliːzd /

UK / pliːzd /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being happy and satisfied
  • verb
  • To entertain someone, by dancing, singing etc.
  • To make someone happy by doing something

hurt

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US / hɜ:t /

UK / hɚt /

A1
  • noun
  • Mental, emotional, or physical pain
  • verb
  • To cause pain, damage or injury

continue

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US / kən'tɪnju: /

UK / kənˈtɪnju /

A1
  • verb
  • To do something without stopping, or after pausing
  • To start doing again after a break, pause, or stop

village

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US / 'vɪlɪdʒ /

UK / ˈvɪlɪdʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • Small town in the country

too

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition, also; with emphasis
  • Say that something is more than you want

memory

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US / 'memərɪ /

UK / ˈmɛməri /

A2
  • noun
  • Ability of the mind to call back past things
  • Space for the storage of information on a computer
  • Something that has been remembered

bride

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US / braɪd /

UK / braɪd /

B1
  • noun
  • Woman who is, or who will get married soon

actually

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US / ˈæktʃuəli /

UK / ˈæktʃuəli /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to add new (often different) information

burn

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US / bɜ:n /

UK / bɚn /

A1
  • noun
  • Damage from fire or heat
  • verb
  • To destroy with fire
  • To feel pain and heat
  • To use as fuel for a fire to make light or heat
  • To overcook food with too much heat it goes black

will

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US / wɪl /

UK / wɪl /

A1
  • noun
  • Desire or choice of someone
  • Document saying who gets your money when you die
  • Strong desire to do something; determination
  • Desire to do something; strong wish to do
  • other
  • Used with verbs to express the future
  • verb
  • To leave property to someone after your death
  • To use mental effort to make something happen
  • Am (is, are) likely to do
  • To influence someone to do something
  • To make something happen by strongly wanting it

shoe

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US / ʃu: /

UK / ʃu /

A2
  • noun
  • Outer covering for the foot, often made of leather
  • Piece of metal nailed under a horse's foot
  • verb
  • To put a metal ring on a horse's foot

point

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US / pɔɪnt /

UK / pɔɪnt /

A1
  • noun
  • An item to be discussed
  • Small spot or dot
  • Fact or detail
  • Feature of something
  • The size of the text on a page or screen
  • A certain time or stage in a process
  • Certain position in time or space
  • Idea or fact you try to convince people about
  • Measurement of scores in a game, sport
  • Sharp end of something, e.g. a pen or pin
  • verb
  • To face a certain direction, e.g. north
  • To indicate something with your finger to others

eradicate

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US / ɪˈrædɪkeɪt /

UK / ɪˈrædɪˌket /

B2
  • verb
  • To remove or destroy something completely

day

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US / deɪ /

UK / de /

A1
  • noun
  • A period of 24 hours beginning at midnight
  • The period of time when it is light outside
  • Person's name
  • Introduction to Video Content
  • Banned practice of foot binding blighting China’s oldest women | ITV NewsFoot binding, a practice that deformed the feet of women in China, is a cruel and painful tradition that has affected the lives of many women, especially the oldest ones. The video interviews Liu Su, a 94-year-old woman who shares her experience of foot binding. She recalls crying all day when she had her feet bound and kept two pairs of shoes that were too big for her. Her feet are now badly deformed, causing her a lifetime of pain.The binding process involved breaking each toe apart from the big toe and tightly wrapping them under the sole of the foot to create a single point. This practice was widespread among women in China, with almost all women having their feet bound by the beginning of the 19th century. While initially popular among the upper classes, foot binding became most prevalent in rural villages, continuing until the 1950s.It wasn’t until the 1950s that the Chinese government enacted a law to ban foot binding as a backward practice. Pi Xie, a woman from a rural village, expresses her satisfaction with the eradication of foot binding and her envy for the freedom enjoyed by young women today. However, there are now very few women alive who can share their stories of this tradition and its scarring consequences.Debbie Edward reports from Henan Province, highlighting the significance of the banned practice of foot binding and its lasting impact on China’s oldest women. Despite the ban, the memories and physical deformities caused by foot binding continue to haunt many women, reminding us of the pain and suffering they endured in the name of tradition.
  • Subtitles section
  • It's like this, it's like this.
  • If you don't break the bone, it won't hurt.
  • If you break the bone, it's like this, it's like this.
  • Old, old, old, it's like fire.
  • If you burn the bone, it won't hurt.
  • If you break it, it hurts.
  • If it hurts, it won't hurt.
  • If you burn the bone, it will hurt.
  • And the most desirable of brides would possess a three-inch foot known as a golden lotus.
  • Liu Su says she cried all day when she got it done and the memory is still upsetting.
  • She has kept two pairs of shoes.
  • These were actually too big for her.
  • The 94-year-old's feet are badly deformed.
  • Her daughter talked us through the binding process of breaking each toe apart from the big toe and wrapping them tightly under the sole of the foot to create a single point.
  • It has caused her mother a lifetime of pain.
  • By the beginning of the 19th century, almost all women in China had their feet bound.
  • And although it was initially most prevalent in the upper classes, it is in the countryside where it became most widespread.
  • In rural villages like this, foot binding continued right up into the 1950s.
  • It wasn't until that point that the government enforced a law banning what it then deemed was a backward practice.
  • Pi Xie was pleased to see the practice eradicated and is envious of the freedom enjoyed by young women today.
  • There are now very few women still alive to share their stories of a beautifying regime with such scarring consequences.
  • Debbie Edward, News at 10, Henan Province.