#Vocabulary #KeyWords

🛍 10 Useful Phrases & Expressions from Today’s Reading 🌱

Fresh from The New York Times — save these for your next IELTS essay!

1️⃣ At first glance – When something seems a certain way initially, but might change after a closer look.
📝 Example: At first glance, paper bags seem like the greener option.

2️⃣ After all – Used to emphasize a reason or add supporting information.
📝 Example: Plastic bags are harmful — after all, they’re made from fossil fuels.

3️⃣ Pun intended – A fun way to point out a deliberate play on words.
📝 Example: It’s hard to make apples-to-apples comparisons (pun intended).

4️⃣ Environmental footprint – The total impact something has on the environment.
📝 Example: Reusing your tote helps reduce your environmental footprint.

5️⃣ Wind up in a landfill – End up as trash buried underground.
📝 Example: Most paper and plastic bags eventually wind up in a landfill.

6️⃣ Defeats the purpose – Stops something from achieving its original goal.
📝 Example: Hoarding dozens of tote bags defeats the purpose of reducing waste.

7️⃣ The takeaway – The main point or lesson learned.
📝 Example: The takeaway? Reuse whatever bag you have as many times as possible.

8️⃣ Best bet – The smartest or most reliable choice.
📝 Example: A sturdy tote made from recycled materials is your best bet.

9️⃣ The bottom line – The most important fact or conclusion.
📝 Example: The bottom line — reusing bags matters more than what they’re made of.

🔟 The math is simple – A way to emphasize that the logic is clear and easy to understand.
📝 Example: Reuse your cotton bag 100 times — the math is simple.

Any predictions for today’s crucial game against Iran?

Here are my thoughts about these three games (with useful language highlighted)

I think the Kyrgyz Republic might be able to hold their own against Qatar, but the UAE will likely beat North Korea by a landslide. As for our team, we might manage a draw since Iran only needs a single point to qualify. But if they play for a win, there’s a chance we could lose—though probably by a narrow margin.

The game between North Korea and the UAE ended with a last minute stunner from the UAE.

We held our own against Iran despite a few defensive lapses. However, the draw means Iran has officially qualified for the 2026 WC with two rounds to spare.

As for our team, we are now closer than ever to securing our first-ever World Cup qualification. All we need is a draw against the UAE, a realistic goal given our recent form.

I just discovered “you have two cows” memes on the internet. At the start, it was educational, explaining the difference between socialism, communism and capitalism. And it got funnier and funnier. Look it up and enjoy. Maybe you can even share some in the comments section too.

Alhamdulillah. I got into Harvard. This is a dream come true after years of hard work, challenges, and perseverance.

🧐 Vocabulary Quiz
The word "goods" is normally used to describe things, not people.

But there’s one exception.
❓ Can you think of a situation where “goods” might actually refer to a person?

Hint: it has nothing to do with slavery!

I’m so happy to have come up with a question even chatGPT cannot answer right away :)

Some people finally got it right!

The expression I had in mind was “damaged goods.”

Look it up—it’s one of the very few times (if not the only time) the word “goods” is used in modern English to refer to people—and in a negative way.

By now, you’ve probably heard about the revival of the dire wolf, a species that went extinct 10,000 years ago. I’m sharing this fascinating article in case you’d like to learn more.

https://time.com/7274542/colossal-dire-wolf/#