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Why is the cost of labour starting to fall in the U.S. but not Canada?

Video vocabulary

direction

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US / də'rekʃn /

UK / dɪˈrɛkʃən, daɪ- /

A2
  • noun
  • When someone tells people what to do
  • Describes the way you are going, e.g. North

huge

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US / hju:dʒ /

UK / hjudʒ /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Very very large

yes

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US / jes /

UK / jɛs /

A1
  • adverb
  • Way to say you agree or will do something

way

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US / weɪ /

UK / we /

A1
  • adverb
  • Used to emphasize the amount of something
  • noun
  • Particular aspect of something being thought about
  • One of various choices that could be made
  • Particular existing condition or state
  • (Often long) distance or length of time
  • How something is done
  • Route to go to a place
  • Small street
  • Usual behavior, emotions or habits of someone

gain

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US / ɡeɪn /

UK / ɡen /

A2
  • noun
  • An increase in something, such as weight
  • verb
  • To increase in something, such as weight
  • To get something wanted, needed or valued

worry

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US / ˈwʌri /

UK / ˈwɜ:ri /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that causes trouble or concern
  • verb
  • To cause concern or trouble over something

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

return

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US / rɪ'tɜ:n /

UK / rɪ'tɜ:rn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Do again; repeated
  • noun
  • Faulty or unwanted product sent back to a company
  • Enter key; the main key on the computer keyboard
  • Profit made as a result of a business activity
  • Process of going back to a previous way or state
  • verb
  • To hit something back to the other player or team
  • To come back after being away from somewhere
  • To repay someone's actions, kindness etc.
  • To put, bring, take, give, or send something back
  • To occur again

worker

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US / ˈwɜ:kə(r) /

UK / ˈwɜ:rkə(r) /

A1
  • noun
  • Person who works

bit

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US / bɪt /

UK / bɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • Small piece of something
  • verb
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught

believe

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US / bɪ'li:v /

UK / bɪˈliv /

A1
  • verb
  • To think or accept that something is true
  • To have a particular opinion about something

look

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US / lʊk /

UK / lʊk /

A1
  • noun
  • Person's beauty or physical attractiveness
  • Particular style of dress, clothes, or appearance
  • The way someone, something appears to be
  • Act of searching for or examining something
  • verb
  • To appear to be; seem

nice

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US / naɪs /

UK / naɪs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being attractive or of high quality or value
  • Good or enjoyable
  • Being kind or friendly

pay

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US / peɪ /

UK / pe /

A1
  • noun
  • Money you receive from your job, work, etc.
  • verb
  • To give money for goods or work done
  • To give (attention, respect, etc.) to
  • To be punished or suffer for something you did
  • To make (a visit) to a person or place

productivity

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US / ˌprɒdʌkˈtɪvəti /

UK / ˌprɑ:dʌkˈtɪvəti /

B1
  • noun
  • Rate at which people or machines produce

thank

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US / θæŋk /

UK / θæŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To tell someone you are grateful to them

chart

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US / tʃɑ:t /

UK / tʃɑ:rt /

B1
  • noun
  • Drawing showing information in a clear way
  • Map of the sea or stars
  • verb
  • To make a plan for future action
  • To make a map of
  • To keep a record of developments over time

risk

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US / rɪsk /

UK / rɪsk /

A1
  • noun
  • Actions that cause potential problems
  • verb
  • To do something potentially dangerous or foolish

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

globalization

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US / ˌgləʊbəlaɪˈzeɪʃn /

UK / ˌgloʊbələˈzeɪʃn /

B1
  • noun
  • International spread of something, e.g. company

both

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US / bəuθ /

UK / boθ /

A1
  • determiner
  • Used to refer to two things at the same time
  • pronoun
  • Used to refer to two things at the same time

pressure

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US / 'preʃə(r) /

UK / ˈprɛʃɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Anxiety caused by difficult problems
  • Force, weight when pressing against a thing
  • Strong persuasion to do something
  • verb
  • To apply force to something
  • To persuade or force someone to do something

deputy

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US / ˈdepjuti /

UK / ˈdɛpjəti /

B1
  • noun
  • Assistant to a leader who acts on his, her behalf

inflationary

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US / ɪnˈfleɪʃənri /

UK / ɪnˈfleʃəˌnɛri /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Tending to cause increases in prices

also

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US / 'ɔ:lsəʊ /

UK / ˈɔlso /

A1
  • adverb
  • In addition; too; in a similar way

five

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US / faɪv /

UK / faɪv /

A1
  • number
  • 5

how

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US / haʊ /

UK / haʊ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To what degree? in what amount?
  • adverb
  • (Used to explain the way to do something)
  • exclamation
  • For what purpose or reason?
  • (Used to ask someone or something's condition)

simply

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US / ˈsɪmpli /

UK / ˈsɪmpli /

A1
  • adverb
  • In an easy or clear manner

year

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US / jə: /

UK / jɪr /

A1
  • noun
  • Unit of time equal to 12 months or 365 or 366 days
  • Used to refer to the age of a person

therefore

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US / ˈðeəfɔ:(r) /

UK / ˈðerfɔ:(r) /

A1
  • adverb
  • And so; for that reason

you

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US / jʊ /

UK / ju /

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

discuss

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US / dɪˈskʌs /

UK / dɪˈskʌs /

A1
  • verb
  • To talk about seriously or in great detail

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

vis

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US / ˈviː /

UK / ˈviː /

A1
  • noun

little

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US / 'lɪtl /

UK / ˈlɪtl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being short in length of time
  • Not great in size, amount, or degree; small
  • Being very young or younger than others
  • adverb
  • By an amount or degree that is not very much
  • Not often; rarely
  • noun
  • A person's name

investment

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US / ɪnˈvestmənt /

UK / ɪnˈvɛstmənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Something purchased hoping its value will increase
  • Act of giving time, energy to see a future reward

margin

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US / ˈmɑ:dʒɪn /

UK / ˈmɑ:rdʒən /

B1
  • noun
  • Edge of an area
  • Edge or border of a page on above, below
  • Profit; money left over after all costs

necessity

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US / nəˈsesəti /

UK / nəˈsɛsɪti /

B1
  • noun
  • Something that you must have or do

lead

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US / li:d /

UK / lid /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being the main part in movies or plays
  • noun
  • Wire for electricity, computer, etc.; cable
  • Information that could help to solve a crime
  • Main part in a play or movie
  • Heavy, gray metal element
  • Rope used to tie something to stop it escaping
  • Act of being at the front in a race or game
  • verb
  • To show the way or guide others
  • To be at the front of a race or game
  • To travel in front of; go in advance of others

let

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US / let /

UK / lɛt /

A1
  • verb
  • To allow someone to do something
  • Introducing a suggestion to do something together
  • To rent a house, etc. to others

might

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US / maɪt /

UK / maɪt /

A1
  • other
  • Used to politely request an action
  • Used to express that something could happen
  • Power, strength, force or influence

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

adjust

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US / əˈdʒʌst /

UK / əˈdʒʌst /

A2
  • verb
  • To change; to attain a desired state or function
  • To change so as to fit in with new conditions

bad

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US / bæd /

UK / bæd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Not good; wrong
  • Lacking in good morals; evil
  • No longer fresh; spoiled

less

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US / les /

UK / lɛs /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Smaller in amount or degree
  • adverb
  • To a smaller degree
  • noun
  • A smaller amount
  • preposition
  • With the subtraction of

make

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US / meɪk /

UK / mek /

A1
  • noun
  • Product made by a particular company; brand
  • verb
  • To arrange or prepare something e.g. dinner
  • To get to (a place) on time
  • To gain the status of (teacher, lawyer, etc.)
  • To create something by putting things together
  • To earn a certain amount of money at a job
  • To cause or force a person to do something
  • To cause something to happen or be formed

suggest

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US / səˈdʒest /

UK / səɡˈdʒɛst, səˈdʒɛst /

A1
  • verb
  • To mention something that could be done; propose

wage

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US / weɪdʒ /

UK / wedʒ /

A2
  • noun
  • Money paid to a worker for the hours they worked
  • verb
  • To start (war, etc.) to achieve a particular goal

capital

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US / 'kæpɪtl /

UK / ˈkæpɪtl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Main, or major
  • noun
  • Writing the first letter of a word in big letters
  • Official main city of a country, province or state
  • Collective name for money, shares, and assets
  • Money that is used for a business

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

one

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US / wʌn /

UK / wʌn /

A1
  • pronoun
  • You; we; people in general; someone
  • The thing or person previously referred to
  • adjecitve
  • Used to refer to people generally
  • Being a strong example of (something mentioned)
  • number
  • Number 1

relative

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US / ˈrelətɪv /

UK / ˈrɛlətɪv /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Measured or considered in comparison to another
  • (Grammar) referring to words that appear earlier
  • noun
  • Members of the family
  • Humans or animals sharing the same family history

deep

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US / di:p /

UK / dip /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Complex and important
  • Extreme or intense
  • Going far down from the surface
  • Low in pitch, as a sound
  • adverb
  • At a certain distance beneath the surface

state

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US / steɪt /

UK / stet /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning region within a country
  • noun
  • Region within a country, with its own government
  • Situation or condition something is in
  • verb
  • To say; declare as fact

border

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US / 'bɔ:də(r) /

UK / ˈbɔrdɚ /

A2
  • noun
  • Outer part or edge of something
  • Line separating one country, state from another
  • verb
  • To be right next to another country or state
  • To form the edge of something
  • To form the edge of (road, etc.)

constant

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US / 'kɒnstənt /

UK / ˈkɑnstənt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Happening frequently or without pause
  • noun
  • Thing that happens always or at a regular rate

few

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US / fju: /

UK / fju /

A1
  • pronoun
  • Not many, a small number

fact

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US / fækt /

UK / fækt /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is known or proved to be true

individual

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US / ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl /

UK / ˌɪndəˈvɪdʒuəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Made for use by one single person
  • Having a distinct manner different from others
  • noun
  • Single person, looked at separately from others

labor

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US / 'leɪbə(r) /

UK / ˈlebɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • The people with work in a community
  • All of the workers in a country, specific company
  • verb
  • To struggle to do something because it's difficult
  • To work hard (often physically) for many hours

much

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US / mʌtʃ /

UK / mʌtʃ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Very; to a high level or degree
  • adverb
  • A lot; large amount; a high degree of
  • Nearly; basically
  • On many occasions; often
  • noun
  • A large amount; a great quantity

strong

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US / strɒŋ /

UK / strɔŋ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • (Of tea or beer) dark or thick
  • Having big muscles; physically powerful

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

start

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US / stɑ:t /

UK / stɑrt /

A1
  • noun
  • First time or place that a thing exists; beginning
  • First opportunity to achieve something, e.g. a job
  • Sudden action or movement because you are scared
  • other
  • Beginning of something in place or time
  • verb
  • To do, be or happen for the first time; begin
  • To turn something on

well

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US / wel /

UK / wɛl /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being in a fortunate, good condition or state
  • Healthy and in good condition
  • adverb
  • In an acceptable, proper, or successful manner
  • In a complete, total, or full manner
  • A great and considerable degree
  • In a successful way, in a good or satisfactory way
  • exclamation
  • Used to begin or continue a particular statement
  • Used to show you want to start saying something
  • Used to express that you are waiting for a reply
  • You say this to change the topic of a conversation
  • Used to indicate you are making a final remark
  • noun
  • Long deep hole in the ground to get water
  • verb
  • To cause your eyes to fill with tears

improvement

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US / ɪmˈpru:vmənt /

UK / ɪmˈpruvmənt /

A2
  • noun
  • Addition or change that makes something better

job

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US / dʒɒb /

UK / dʒɑ:b /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that must be done
  • Regular work at which you earn money

per

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US / pə(r) /

UK / pɚ /

A2
  • preposition
  • In the manner directed or suggested
  • For each; during each

determine

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US / dɪ'tɜ:mɪn /

UK / dɪˈtɚmɪn /

A2
  • verb
  • To control exactly how something will be or act
  • To establish the facts about; discover

replace

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US / rɪ'pleɪs /

UK / rɪˈples /

A2
  • verb
  • To use instead of something else
  • To return an item to its original location

quality

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US / 'kwɒlətɪ /

UK / ˈkwɑlɪti /

A2
  • noun
  • Feature associated with someone or something
  • High level of worth or excellence

for

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US / fə(r) /

UK / fɔr,fə /

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

why

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US / waɪ /

UK / hwaɪ, waɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Question word to ask for a reason
  • exclamation
  • (Used to express surprise or approval)

face

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US / feɪs /

UK / fes /

A1
  • noun
  • Side or outer surface of something
  • An expression using mouth, nose, eyes etc.
  • Front part of the head where eyes, mouth etc. are
  • Characteristics you show in public
  • verb
  • To cover a surface with something like paint
  • To deal with a problem or responsibilities
  • To look toward; point in a certain direction

cycle

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US / ˈsaɪkl /

UK / ˈsaɪkəl /

A2
  • noun
  • Series of regular and repeated actions
  • Bicycle, bike
  • verb
  • To go through a series of events repeatedly
  • To ride on a bicycle

just

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US / dʒʌst /

UK / dʒʌst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Proper or appropriate; as is deserved
  • Doing or being what is right or fair
  • Legally correct; having enough evidence
  • adverb
  • Almost; nearly
  • Exactly at the time of
  • Exactly (the same as, like)

line

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US / laɪn /

UK / laɪn /

A1
  • noun
  • Border that divides two places or regions
  • Long crease in the skin, often from age
  • Mark that is long, straight and very thin
  • Row of words, letters or numbers that are written
  • Telephone connection
  • People waiting one behind the other; queue
  • Long thin wire, e.g. for electrical signal
  • verb
  • To put material along the inside of something

graph

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US / græf /

UK / ɡræf /

A2
  • noun
  • Image expressing numerical data in lines or shapes
  • verb
  • To show data using images

situation

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US / ˌsɪtʃuˈeɪʃn /

UK / ˌsɪtʃuˈeʃən /

A1
  • noun
  • Place, position or area that something is in
  • Circumstance or condition surrounding an event
  • An unexpected problem or difficulty

vice

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US / ˌvaɪs /

UK / ˌvaɪ.sə /

B2
  • adverb
  • used to say that what you have just said is also true in the opposite order

lack

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US / læk /

UK / læk /

A2
  • noun
  • The state of not having or not having enough of
  • A shortage of something
  • verb
  • To not have, or not have enough, of something

profit

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US / 'prɒfɪt /

UK / 'prɑ:fɪt /

A2
  • noun
  • Benefit from doing something
  • Money earned from sales, after costs are deducted
  • verb
  • To be a benefit to someone
  • To earn money from something

down

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US / daʊn /

UK / daʊn /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being sad, sick, or unhappy
  • Not operating, working, or functioning as expected
  • adverb
  • In a sitting or lying position
  • Towards or on the ground, floor, or bottom
  • Written or copied onto a piece of paper or book
  • noun
  • A period of play in American Football
  • The soft, smooth hairs that cover a bird's body
  • preposition
  • Along something's path, course, or direction
  • Going from a higher position to a lower position
  • verb
  • To eat or drink very quickly and without stopping

during

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US / ˈdjʊərɪŋ /

UK / ˈdʊrɪŋ, ˈdjʊr- /

A1
  • preposition
  • At some point in the course of an event or thing

must

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US / məst /

UK / mʌst /

A1
  • noun
  • Something that is necessary or required
  • other
  • (Used to state that something ought to be true)
  • Used to say something is required or necessary

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

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

pool

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US / pu:l /

UK / pul /

A2
  • noun
  • Amount collected, e.g. money, for some purpose
  • Small body of still water
  • Game of hitting balls on a table with long sticks
  • Small area of water for swimming bound by walls
  • verb
  • (Of a liquid) to collect into a small area
  • To make a collection of (resources, money etc.)

case

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US / keɪs /

UK / kes /

A1
  • noun
  • Container used to carry things, e.g. clothes
  • Set of facts about a crime
  • Set of facts about an event
  • Example or instance of something
  • verb
  • To find out about a place, as in planning to steal

mean

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US / mi:n /

UK / min /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being good at
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value

about

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US / ə'baʊt /

UK / əˈbaʊt /

A1
  • adverb
  • To be ready to; going to
  • Nearly; approximately; roughly
  • Near; next to; close to
  • In every direction; in the area of
  • preposition
  • Concerning or of (a topic)

even

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US / 'i:vn /

UK / ˈivən /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Being equal in influence, power, possibility etc.
  • Being divided equally or fairly
  • (Of teams/contest) with similar chances of success
  • Smooth, level, or regular
  • Can be divided by 2; ending in 2, 4, 6, 8, or 0
  • At a regular, equally steady manner
  • Remaining steady and unchanging
  • adverb
  • (When this is surprising) as well; too
  • (Used to compare two things/stress the difference)
  • verb
  • To make something level; to flatten
  • To make something equal

eventually

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US / ɪˈventʃuəli /

UK / ɪˈvɛntʃuəli /

A2
  • adverb
  • After a long time; after many attempts; in the end

impact

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US / 'ɪmpækt /

UK / ˈɪmˌpækt /

A2
  • noun
  • A striking effect or result to hit with force
  • Very strong influence
  • Act or force of one thing hitting something else
  • verb
  • To hit or strike someone or something with force

people

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US / 'pi:pl /

UK / ˈpipəl /

A1
  • noun
  • Persons sharing culture, country, background, etc.
  • Men, Women, Children

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’

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

closely

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US / 'kləʊslɪ /

UK / ˈkloslɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a careful manner
  • Nearby; just next to

happen

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US / 'hæpən /

UK / ˈhæpən /

A1
  • verb
  • To take place or occur

hire

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US / ˈhaɪə(r) /

UK / haɪr /

A2
  • noun
  • Short term rental of something e.g. car, phone
  • verb
  • To give a job to someone in exchange for pay
  • To give the use of something in exchange for money

typical

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US / ˈtɪpɪkl /

UK / ˈtɪpɪkəl /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Normal; usual; expected

yeah

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US / jeə /

UK / ˈjɛə, ˈjæə, jɛ- /

A1
  • exclamation
  • Another way of saying 'yes'

excite

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US / ɪk'saɪt /

UK / ɪkˈsaɪt /

A2
  • verb
  • To make something or someone become more active
  • To make someone feel happy, interested or eager

growth

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US / grəʊθ /

UK / groʊθ /

A2
  • noun
  • Improvement, development in a skill over time
  • A mass on the skin or body part related to illness
  • Act of growing

normalize

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US / ˈnɔ:məlaɪz /

UK / ˈnɔ:rməlaɪz /

B2
  • verb
  • To make something normal or regular

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

thirty

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US / 'θɜ:tɪ /

UK / ˈθə:ti /

A1
  • number
  • 30

tell

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US / tel /

UK / tɛl /

A1
  • verb
  • To (strongly) advise a person to do something
  • To be able to guess
  • To say or communicate information to someone
  • To inform, but without speaking; indicate
  • To have a negative effect on someone
  • To order someone to do something; command
  • To recognize something based on certain signs
  • To report something to an authority
  • To explain something or teach someone something

datum

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US / ˈdeɪtəm /

UK / ˈdetəm, ˈdætəm, ˈdɑtəm /

B1
  • noun
  • Item of factual information

percent

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US / pə'sent /

UK / pɚˈsɛnt /

A2
  • adverb
  • One one-hundredth of a whole; the symbol %

recently

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US / ˈri:sntli /

UK / 'risṇtlɪ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Just a while ago; not long ago

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

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

corporate

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US / ˈkɔ:pərət /

UK / ˈkɔrpərɪt, ˈkɔrprɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning (usually large) companies

economist

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US / ɪˈkɒnəmɪst /

UK / ɪˈkɑ:nəmɪst /

A2
  • noun
  • A person who studies economics

before

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US / bɪˈfɔ:(r) /

UK / bɪˈfɔr,-ˈfor /

A1
  • adverb
  • At a time earlier than the present; previously
  • conjunction
  • In advance of something happening
  • preposition
  • In front of someone or something

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

last

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US / lɑ:st /

UK / læst /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Most recent; the latest
  • The one before
  • adverb
  • Final; with nothing following; after all others
  • Most recent; the latest
  • determiner
  • The one at the end
  • verb
  • To remain or continue for a certain period of time

six

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US / sɪks /

UK / sɪks /

A1
  • number
  • 6

part

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US / pɑ:t /

UK / pɑ:rt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • To some degree; half; not fully
  • noun
  • Division of a book
  • Ratio of something, e.g. 3 of gin, 1 of tonic
  • A line in a person's hair, made with a comb
  • Character an actor plays on stage, movie, or TV
  • Some, but not all of a specific thing
  • Role in causing something to happen
  • verb
  • To make a line in a person's hair, by using a comb
  • To move two things apart creating a space
  • To leave someone, or to break off a relationship

increase

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US / ɪn'kri:s /

UK / ɪnˈkris /

A1
  • noun
  • Fact of increasing; amount something grows by
  • verb
  • To make or become larger in size or amount

month

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US / mʌnθ /

UK / mʌnθ /

A1
  • noun
  • One of 12 28-31 day periods in the year

namely

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US / ˈneɪmli /

UK / ˈnemli /

A2
  • adverb
  • That is to say, specifically

rapidly

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US / 'ræpɪdlɪ /

UK / ˈræpɪdlɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • With great speed; quickly

protect

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US / prə'tekt /

UK / prəˈtɛkt /

A1
  • verb
  • To defend someone or something from harm or danger

unit

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US / ˈju:nɪt /

UK / ˈjunɪt /

B2
  • noun
  • One apartment in a building
  • Group of people, e.g. soldiers, that work together
  • A chapter of a textbook
  • A standard of measurement of something
  • Single item made by a company

world

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US / wɜ:ld /

UK / wɜrld /

A1
  • noun
  • All the humans, events, activities on the earth
  • Political division due to some kind of similarity

next

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US / nekst /

UK / nɛkst /

A1
  • adverb
  • The one that follows another in time or order
  • At a time or place directly after the present one
  • noun
  • The one that follows after
  • adjecitve
  • Immediately after the previous one
  • First occurrence after the present one

problem

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US / ˈprɒbləm /

UK / ˈprɑbləm /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Causing trouble
  • noun
  • Something difficult to deal with or causes trouble
  • Question to show understanding of a math concept

fall

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US / fɔ:l /

UK / fɔl /

A1
  • noun
  • Season after summer and before winter; Autumn
  • A drop in amount; decrease
  • Dropping from a standing position to the ground
  • verb
  • To drop in amount; to decrease
  • To come down from a higher position suddenly
  • To go from standing to the ground, by accident

end

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US / end /

UK / ɛnd /

A1
  • noun
  • The point where a process or activity stops
  • A point that marks the limit of something; finish
  • Goal or desired result
  • The tip, edge or limit of something
  • verb
  • To be the last part of something

remember

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US / rɪ'membə(r) /

UK / rɪˈmɛmbɚ /

A1
  • verb
  • To give someone a gift, e.g. birthday, wedding
  • To hold a thought in your mind to not forget it
  • To bring a previous image or idea to your mind

could

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US / kəd /

UK / kʊd /

A1
  • other
  • Past form of 'can' to mean have ability
  • Used to ask for something politely, or to offer

canada

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US / 'kænədə /

UK / ˈkænədə /

A1
  • proper noun
  • A country in northern North America, the second largest country in the world; population 35,900,000

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

ninety

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US / 'naɪntɪ /

UK / ˈnaɪnti /

A1
  • number
  • 90

low

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US / ləʊ /

UK / lo /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Having a small quantity, supply, or amount
  • Being unhappy or unpleasant in attitude
  • Not high; being near the ground, or bottom
  • (Of a voice, sound) being soft; quiet
  • noun
  • Situation of not having a lot of something

negative

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US / 'neɡətɪv /

UK / ˈnɛɡətɪv /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Being harmful, unwanted or unhelpful
  • In mathematics, being less than zero
  • Focusing on the bad aspects; pessimistic
  • noun
  • The opposite to a positive electrical charge
  • In grammar, containing words such as 'no' or 'not'
  • Reply to a question or statement that means 'no'
  • Image on camera film used to make a photo

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)

profitability

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US / ˌprɒfɪtə'bɪlətɪ /

UK / ˌprɑfɪtəˈbɪlətɪ /

B1
  • noun
  • Degree to which money can be made in business

relatively

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US / ˈrelətɪvli /

UK / ˈrɛlətɪvlɪ /

A2
  • adverb
  • In a manner comparing something to something else

dramatically

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US / drə'mætɪklɪ /

UK / drəˈmætɪkl:ɪ /

B1
  • adverb
  • In a sudden or extreme manner

explain

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US / ɪk'spleɪn /

UK / ɪkˈsplen /

A1
  • verb
  • To make clear or easy to understand by describing

chief

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US / tʃi:f /

UK / tʃif /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • The one highest in authority or importance
  • noun
  • Leader of a race or group of people
  • The one highest in authority or importance

either

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US / ˈaɪðə(r) /

UK / ˈiðɚ, ˈaɪðɚ /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • One of two (used when there is a choice of two)
  • adverb
  • (After negative statements) likewise, in addition
  • conjunction
  • Used as the first of two connected things
  • determiner
  • Used as the first of two connected things
  • pronoun
  • The one or the other

here

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US / hɪə(r) /

UK / hɪr /

A1
  • adverb
  • In this place; at this location, position or time

upward

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US / ˈʌpwəd /

UK / ˈʌpwərd /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Toward some higher point or position

concern

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US / kənˈsɜ:n /

UK / kənˈsɚn /

A2
  • noun
  • Company, firm or business
  • Feeling of worry or anxiety
  • verb
  • To be about a particular topic
  • To have a direct impact on someone
  • To be responsible or mixed up in; to be involved
  • To feel worry or anxiety

inflation

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US / ɪn'fleɪʃn /

UK / ɪnˈfleʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Act of filling something with air or gas
  • Continual rise in the prices of products

market

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US / ˈmɑ:kɪt /

UK / ˈmɑ:rkɪt /

A1
  • noun
  • Need or demand for a particular product or service
  • Area or region where a certain product is sold
  • Public event where people sell goods on tables
  • Institution where stocks are bought and sold
  • verb
  • To publicize products to get you to buy; advertise

past

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US / pɑ:st /

UK / pæst /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • No longer current or new
  • adverb
  • So as to go beyond, or further than something
  • noun
  • Time that existed before now, e.g. long ago
  • preposition
  • After a particular time
  • At a later point in distance; beyond

side

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US / saɪd /

UK / saɪd /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • In addition to the central or most important thing
  • Next to, or very close to, the right or left of
  • noun
  • Position or opinion that is opposite to another
  • Right or left part of a person's body
  • Feature of someone's personality
  • Straight edge of an object
  • One of two or more groups fighting each other
  • verb
  • To decide to agree with one point, not the other

reason

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US / 'ri:zn /

UK / ˈrizən /

A1
  • noun
  • Ability to think about facts and form a judgment
  • Explanation for why something occurred or was done
  • verb
  • To think and make conclusions in a logical manner

too

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US / tu: /

UK / tu /

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

actually

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US / ˈæktʃuəli /

UK / ˈæktʃuəli /

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

sudden

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US / ˈsʌdn /

UK / ˈsʌdn /

B1
  • adjecitve
  • Happening or done quickly or unexpectedly

shift

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US / ʃɪft /

UK / ʃɪft /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • (Of work) starting at a certain time, as at night
  • noun
  • A change in a persons plans, opinions or beliefs
  • Period of work starting at a certain time
  • verb
  • To change in position or direction
  • To move something from one place to another

white

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US / waɪt /

UK / hwaɪt, waɪt /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • Belonging to a race of people with light skin
  • Of the color of fresh snow and milk
  • noun
  • Person's name
  • Lightest color; The color of fresh snow.

economy

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US / ɪ'kɒnəmɪ /

UK / ɪˈkɑnəmi /

A1
  • noun
  • Using money, resources in a careful, effective way
  • Total of all goods, services and wages in an area

motivation

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US / ˌməʊtɪ'veɪʃn /

UK / ˌmotəˈveʃən /

B1
  • noun
  • Reason behind why someone did something

while

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US / waɪl /

UK / hwaɪl, waɪl /

A1
  • conjunction
  • In spite of the fact that; although
  • During the time that; at the same time
  • noun
  • Short amount of time

after

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US / 'ɑ:ftə(r) /

UK / ˈæftɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Later than another time, or behind something
  • conjunction
  • Following something before
  • preposition
  • When an event happened or time has passed

already

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US / ɔ:lˈredi /

UK / ɔlˈrɛdi /

A1
  • adverb
  • Having happened or been done before this time

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

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

labour

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US / 'leɪbə(r) /

UK / ˈlebɚ /

A1
  • noun
  • Physical process by which a baby is born
  • The people with work in a community
  • A left-wing political party in some countries
  • (Physically challenging) work
  • All of the workers in a country, specific company
  • verb
  • To struggle to do something because it's difficult
  • To work hard (often physically) for many hours

until

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US / ənˈtɪl /

UK / ʌnˈtɪl /

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

afternoon

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US / ˌɑ:ftəˈnu:n /

UK / ˌæftərˈnu:n /

A1
  • noun
  • Time after 12:00 and before the evening meal

issue

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US / 'ɪʃu: /

UK / ˈɪʃu /

A2
  • noun
  • Important topic discussed, debated or argued over
  • Single edition of a magazine
  • verb
  • To make something available to be used or sold
  • To deliver a statement, etc. in an official manner

company

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US / 'kʌmpənɪ /

UK / ˈkʌmpəni /

A1
  • noun
  • Good feeling from being with someone else
  • A business that sells things or provides services
  • Guests, especially in your home
  • Being with another person rather than alone

wave

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US / weɪv /

UK / wev /

A2
  • noun
  • Movement of sound, air or energy
  • Deep and strong emotion that is suddenly felt
  • Slightly curved shape in hair
  • Frequency of movement of objects together
  • Up and down movement of water in a lake or sea
  • Signal with your hand to say hello or goodbye
  • verb
  • To cause to move side to side or back and forth
  • To swing back and forth as a result of the wind
  • To move your hand or arm to say hello or goodbye

think

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US / θɪŋk /

UK / θɪŋk /

A1
  • verb
  • To have an idea about something without certainty
  • To have an idea, opinion or belief about something

something

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US / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

UK / ˈsʌmθɪŋ /

A1
  • adverb
  • In some degree or measure
  • noun
  • a person or thing of some value or consequence
  • pronoun
  • Thing that is not yet known or named
  • Approximately

from

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US / frəm /

UK / frʌm, frɑm,frəm /

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

over

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US / 'əʊvə(r) /

UK / ˈovɚ /

A1
  • adverb
  • Finished; no longer happening
  • Towards the ground/away from a standing position
  • noun
  • A set of six consecutive balls bowled in cricket
  • other
  • Finished
  • preposition
  • Showing the relation when a thing is above another
  • On or covering something
  • Above or across something
  • More than you need
  • From one side to the other
  • In the direction of; toward

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

employment

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US / ɪmˈplɔɪmənt /

UK / ɛmˈplɔɪmənt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Concerning the number of people who are in work
  • noun
  • The state of being in work or having a job

join

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US / dʒɔɪn /

UK / dʒɔɪn /

A1
  • verb
  • To bring something close to another, to become one
  • To become a member of
  • To participate in an activity with others

put

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US / pʊt /

UK / pʊt /

A1
  • phrasal verb
  • to make a light stop shining by pressing or moving a switch
  • verb
  • To move or place a thing in a particular position
  • To rate something in importance or value
  • To write or say something in a certain manner

ten

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US / ten /

UK / tɛn /

A1
  • number
  • 10

most

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US / məʊst /

UK / most /

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

versa

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US / 'vɜ:sə /

UK / 'vɜ:sə /

C1
  • adverb
  • used to say that what you have just said is also true in the opposite order

far

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US / fɑ:(r) /

UK / fɑr /

A1
  • adjecitve
  • A long way away
  • Being a long way away
  • adverb
  • To a large degree or extent

leave

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US / li:v /

UK / liv /

A1
  • noun
  • Permission to do something
  • Vacation time; time off work
  • verb
  • To go away from; depart
  • To gift property to someone after you die
  • To allow something to continue happening
  • To let something remain unused or available
  • To let something or someone remain somewhere

tight

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US / taɪt /

UK / taɪt /

A2
  • adjecitve
  • Showing anxiety or anger; tense
  • Positioned physically close together
  • Managed or controlled in a strict and careful way
  • (Of road, bend) curving sharply
  • Drunk
  • Being equally matched in ability or score
  • Lacking extra space
  • Having limited time available
  • Being very limited in supply
  • Not generous; mean with money; stingy
  • (Rope or tie) pulled strongly
  • Being in a good solid relationship
  • adverb
  • Firmly; so it can't move

where

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US / hwɛə /

UK / hwɛr, wɛr /

A1
  • conjunction
  • At or in the place which
  • In whatever place
  • pronoun
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wonderful

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A2
  • adjecitve
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definition

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US / ˌdefɪˈnɪʃn /

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  • noun
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  • The sharpness of an image on a screen
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now

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US / naʊ /

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A1
  • adverb
  • At the present time or moment
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our

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B1
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would

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benjamin

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can

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canadian

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want

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  • Subtitles section
  • Well, as high inflation has pushed up wages, the cost of labour has risen in Canada and around the world.
  • But the latest data suggests that while the per unit cost of labour in the United States is starting to fall, that isn't the case in Canada.
  • And that is impacting productivity on both sides of the border.
  • And it could be making Canadian inflation even worse.
  • To explain what it all means, I'm joined by Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist at CIBC.
  • Benjamin, thanks so much for joining us this afternoon.
  • Thank you.
  • It's a pleasure.
  • So before we get too deep into the unit cost for labor, tell us what it is that that even means.
  • Yes, you know what, it's basically telling you how much it costs you as an employer to employ somebody.
  • It's not just the wage, but it's a wage relative to productivity.
  • Because if I pay you ten percent more and you're ten percent more productive, that's not inflationary as far as I'm concerned, because I get the return from you vis a vis productivity.
  • So unit labor cost is basically the cost of unit after you adjust the pay to the increase in productivity.
  • So when it goes down, it means that actually it's a good thing because it's costing the company less because the workers are more productive relative to the wage and vice versa.
  • And we see in the U.S.
  • it's actually slowing down dramatically, while in Canada it's rising rapidly, suggesting that something is wrong here.
  • It's either wages or productivity, and of course the situation in Canada is productivity.
  • Our productivity is negative, in the U.S.
  • the productivity is relatively strong, and that's why unit labor cost is going down.
  • Yeah, we've got a graph of yours.
  • It's looking at the U.S.
  • and it's comparing productivity with job quality.
  • So can you tell us a little bit about what we're looking at here?
  • The job quality line for us is the blue line and it's going down at the end there and the white line is productivity.
  • Yes, so one of the reasons why productivity can go up is because of the fact that there is an improvement in the quality of employment.
  • Namely, you have a higher share of high quality employees and therefore productivity as a whole is going up.
  • That was the case until recently.
  • As you can see from the chart, over the past few months, quarters,
  • the quality of employment in the U.S.
  • is starting to go down.
  • Namely, the people that are being hired at the margin are low wage, low quality, and therefore low productivity.
  • And if you look very closely at this chart, you can see that quality of employment is leading productivity.
  • This means that if I'm right, over the next six months, productivity in the U.S.
  • will start slowing down.
  • And that's something that will put some upward pressure or upward risk on inflation because inflation is protected by productivity.
  • Productivity is the best protector of inflation.
  • And if you don't have productivity rising, inflation is a problem.
  • So why do you think that shift is happening in the U.S.
  • now?
  • This is a typical behavior at the last stage of the cycle, namely when the employment started to slow down, you will see the quality of employment going down.
  • And that's something that led to the decline in productivity, or will lead to the decline in productivity.
  • You see, we have to remember that during COVID,
  • all of the sudden productivity in the Canadian economy and the U.S.
  • went up, as you can see from the chart.
  • But it wasn't because we were more productive.
  • It's simply because of the fact that most of the people that were let go were low quality, low wage individuals.
  • So the pool that left was actually high quality, high productivity, and then it went down when the market normalized.
  • That's part of the normalization process of the market.
  • So if Canada is also at this stage of the cycle where the gains might be more of the low quality jobs, does that mean that the productivity issue that we've already been facing for quarters and quarters now, Benjamin, could get worse in Canada?
  • I really don't want to think this way, but yes, that worries me, because at this stage of the cycle, the quality of employment will determine the direction of productivity growth, and I think it will be south.
  • Now, we have to remember, as we discussed in the past, eventually, this lack of productivity must lead to something.
  • Profitability in US and Canada is starting to go down.
  • Profit margins are starting to go down.
  • Companies will have to do something about it.
  • This something will be to replace labor with capital, which is the very definition of increased productivity.
  • And that's why I'm actually excited about the fact that over the next five, six years, I believe that we are going to see a wave of investment in corporate Canada that will lead to improved productivity as we have seen in the nineties.
  • Well, that would be huge.
  • That would be wonderful.
  • We need that.
  • You see, profit has been relatively easy for the past twenty to thirty years.
  • So there was no motivation to invest and increase productivity because profit was easy.
  • Profit now is not easy.
  • De globalization, just in case inventories, a tight labor market means that profit margins will be under constant pressure.
  • You need to do something, and this something will be investment.
  • So in the past it was just nice to have.
  • Now it's a necessity.