1500 BASIC VOCABULARY

n. (noun) - a name word

v. (verb) - an action word

ad. (adjective/adverb) - a describing word 

pre. (preposition) - a word used to show a relation 

pro. (pronoun) - a word used in place of a noun 

conj. (conjunction) - a joining word 

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A

able - v. having the power to do something 

about - ad. almost ("about half"); of or having a relation to ("We talk about the weather.") 

above - ad. at a higher place 

accept - v. to agree to receive 

accident - n. something that happens by chance or mistake; an unplanned event 

accuse - v. to say a person is responsible for an act or crime; to make a statement against someone

across - ad. from side to side; to the other side 

act - v. to do something 

activist - n. one who seeks change through action 

actor - n. someone acting in a play or show 

add - v. to put (something) with another to make it larger; to say more 

administration - n. the executive part of a government, usually headed by a president or prime minister 

admit - v. to accept ("admitted to the United Nations"); to express one's guilt or responsibility ("He admitted that what he did was wrong.") 

adult - n. a grown person 

advise - v. to help with information, knowledge or ideas in making a decision

affect - v. to produce an effect on; to influence ("A lack of sleep affected the singer's performance.") 

afraid - ad. feeling fear 

after - ad. later; behind 

again - ad. another time; as before

against - ad. opposed to; not agreeing with something 

age - n. how old a person or thing is 

agency - n. an organization that is part of a larger group ("an agency of the United Nations") 

aggression - n. an attack against a person or country; the violation of a country's borders 

ago - ad. of time past; before now 

agree - v. to have the same belief as someone; to be willing to do something 

agriculture - n. farming 

aid - v. to help; to support; n. help, assistance 

aim - v. to point a gun at; n. a goal or purpose

air - n. the mixture of gases around the earth, mostly nitrogen and oxygen, that we breathe

air force - n. a military organization using airplanes 

airplane - n. a vehicle with wings that flies 

airport - n. a place where airplanes take off and land 

album - n. a collection of recorded music 

alcohol - n. a strong, colorless liquid, usually made from grain, used as a drug or in industrial products 

alive - ad. having life; not dead 

all - ad. everything; everyone; the complete amount 

ally - n. a nation or person joined with another for a special purpose 

almost - ad. a little less than completely 

alone - ad. separated from others 

along - ad. near or on ("along the road") 

already - ad. before now; even now 

also - ad. added to; too 

although - conj. even if it is true that 

always - ad. at all times; every time 

ambassador - n. a nation's highest diplomatic representative (to another government)

amend - v. to add to or to change (a proposal or law) 

ammunition - n. the bullets or shells fired from guns 

among - ad. in or part of (a group) 

amount - n. the number, size or weight of anything 

anarchy - n. a lack of order; lawlessness 

ancestor - n. a family member from the past 

ancient - ad. very old; long ago 

and - conj. also; in addition to; with 

anger - n. a strong emotion against someone or something

animal - n. a living creature that moves, such as a dog or cat 

anniversary - n. a yearly celebration or observance of an event that happened in the past 

announce - v. to make known publicly; to declare officially

another - ad. one more; a different one 

answer - n. a statement produced by a question; v. to make a statement after being asked a question 

any - ad. one or more of no special kind 

apologize - v. to express regret for a mistake or accident for which one accepts responsibility 

appeal - v. to take to a higher court, person or group for a decision; to call on somebody for help 

appear - v. to show oneself; to come into sight; to seem 

appoint - v. to name; to choose ("appoint a judge") 

approve - v. to agree with; to agree to support 

archeology - n. the scientific study of past human life and activities 

area - n. any place or part of it 

argue - v. to offer reasons for or against something; to dispute; to disagree

arms - n. military equipment; weapons 

army - n. military ground forces

around - ad. on every side (of) 

arrest - v. to seize a person for legal action; to take as a prisoner 

arrive - v. to come to a place, especially at the end of a trip 

art - n. expressions or creations by humans, such as paintings, music, writing or statues

artillery - n. big guns

as - conj. equally ("as fast as"); when; while

ash - n. the part left after something burns 

ask - v. to question; to say something is wanted ("We ask the teacher questions every day.") 

assist - v. to help 

astronaut - n. a person who travels in space

astronomy - n. the scientific study of stars and the universe 

asylum - n. political protection given by a government to a person from another country 

at - prep. in or near ("at the edge"); where ("look at"); when ("at noon")

atmosphere - n. the gases surrounding any star or planet 

attach - v. to tie together; to connect 

attack - n. a violent attempt to damage, injure or kill; v. to start a fight

attempt - v. to work toward something; to try; to make an effort 

attend - v. to be present at

automobile - n. a vehicle with wheels used to carry people; a car 

autumn - n. the time of the year between summer and winter 

average - n. something (a number) representing the middle; ad. common; normal 

avoid - v. to stay away from 

awake - ad. not sleeping 

award - n. an honor or prize for an act or service 

away - ad. not near

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B

back - n. the part behind the front; ad. the other way from forward 

bad - ad. wrong; acting against the law; not good 

balance - v. to make two sides or forces equal 

ball - n. something round 

balloon - n. a device of strong, light material that rises when filled with gas lighter than air 

ballot - n. a piece of paper used for voting 

ban - v. to not permit; to stop; n. an official restriction

bank - n. an organization that keeps and lends money 

bar - v. to prevent or block 

barrier - n. anything that blocks or makes an action difficult 

base - n. a military center; v. to establish as a fact ("Her research was based on experiments.") 

battle - n. a fight between opposing armed forces 

be - v. to live; to happen; to exist 

beat - v. to hit again and again 

beauty - ad. that which pleases the eye, ear or spirit 

because - prep. for the reason that ("He left because he was sick.")

become - v. to come to be

bed - n. a sleeping place

before - prep. earlier 

begin - v. to do the first part of an action; to start 

behind - ad. at the back of; in back of

believe - v. to think; to feel sure of; to accept as true; to trust

bell - n. an instrument that makes a musical sound ("a church bell")

belong - v. to be owned by; to be a member of 

below - ad. lower than

best - ad. the most good 

betray - v. to turn against; to be false to 

better - ad. more good than 

between - ad. in the space or time that separates; from one to the other ("talks between two nations") 

big - ad. of great size; not small 

bill - n. a legislative proposal 

biology - n. the scientific study of life or living things in all their forms 

bird - n. a creature that flies 

bite - v. to cut with the teeth 

black - ad. dark; having the color like that of the night sky

blame - v. to accuse; to hold responsible

blanket - n. a cloth cover used to keep warm

bleed - v. to lose blood 

blind - ad. not able to see

block - v. to stop something from being done; to prevent movement 

blood - n. red fluid in the body 

blow - v. to move with force, as in air ("The wind blows.") 

blue - ad. having the color like that of a clear sky 

boat - n. something built to travel on water that carries people or goods 

body - n. all of a person or animal; the remains of a person or animal 

boil - v. to heat a liquid until it becomes very hot 

bomb - n. a device that explodes with great force; v. to attack or destroy with bombs 

bone - n. the hard material in the body 

book - n. a long written work for reading 

border - n. a dividing line between nations

born - v. to come to life; to come into existence

borrow - v. to take as a loan 

both - ad. not just one of two, but the two together 

bottle - n. a container, usually made of glass, to hold liquid 

bottom - ad. the lowest part of something 

box - n. something to put things into; a container, usually made of paper or wood 

boy - n. a young male person 

boycott - v. to refuse to take part in or deal with

brain - n. the control center of thought, emotions and body activity of all creatures

brave - ad. having no fear 

bread - n. a food made from grain 

break - v. to divide into parts by force; to destroy

breathe - v. to take air into the body and let it out again 

bridge - n. a structure built over a waterway, valley or road so people and vehicles can cross from one side to the other 

brief - ad. short; not long 

bright - ad. giving much light; strong and clear in color

bring - v. to come with something 

broadcast - v. to send information, stories or music by radio or television; n. a radio or television program

brother - n. a male with the same father or mother as another person

brown - ad. having the color like that of coffee

budget - n. a spending plan 

build - v. to join materials together to make something 

building - n. anything built for use as a house, factory, office, school, store or place of entertainment 

bullet - n. a small piece of metal shot from a gun

burn - v. to be on fire; to destroy or damage by fire 

burst - v. to break open suddenly 

bury - v. to put into the ground and cover with earth

bus - n. a public vehicle to carry people 

business - n. one's work; buying and selling to earn money; trade 

busy - ad. doing something; very active 

but - conj. however; other than; yet 

buy - v. to get by paying something, usually money 

by - conj. near; at; next to ("by the road"); from ("a play by William Shakespeare"); not later than ("by midnight")

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C

call - v. to give a name to ("I call myself Jo

2．表示好处
1）It has the following advantages．
2）It does us a lot of good．
3）It benefits us quite a lot．
4）It is beneficial to us．
5）It is of great benefit to us．
例如：
Books are like friends．They can help us know the world better，and they can open our minds and widen our horizons．Therefore，reading extensively is of great benefit to us．

3．表示坏处
1）It has more disadvantages than advantages．
2）It does us much harm．
3）It is harmful to us．
例如：
However，everything divides into two．Television can also be harmful to us．It can do harm to our health and make us lazy if we spend too much time watching television．

4．表示重要、必要、困难、方便、可能
1）It is important（necessary，difficult，convenient， possible）for sb．to do sth．
2）We think it necessary to do sth．
3）It plays an important role in our life．
例如：
Computers are now being used everywhere，whether in the government，in schools or in business．Soon， computers will be found in every home，too．We have good reason to say that computers are playing an increasingly important role in our life and we have stepped into the Computer Age．

5．表示措施
1）We should take some effective measures．
2）We should try our best to overcome（conquer）the difficulties．
3）We should do our utmost in doing sth．
4）We should solve the problems that we are confronted（faced）with．
例如：
The housing problem that we are confronted with is becoming more and more serious．Therefore，we must take some effective measures to solve it．

6．表示变化
1）Some changes have taken place in the past five years．
2）A great change will certainly be produced in the world’s communications．
3）The computer has brought about many changes in education．
例如：
Some changes have taken place in people’s diet in the past five years．The major reasons for these changes are not far to seek．Nowadays，more and more people are switching from grain to meat for protein，and from fruit and vegetable to milk for vitamins．

7．表示事实、现状
1）We cannot ignore the fact that．．．
2）No one can deny the fact that．．．
3）There is no denying the fact that．．．
4）This is a phenomenon that many people are interested in．
5）However，that’s not the case．
例如：
We cannot ignore the fact that industrialization brings with it the problems of pollution．To solve these problems， we can start by educating the public about the hazards of pollution．The government on its part should also design stricter laws to promote a cleaner environment．

8．表示比较
1）Compared with A，B．．．
2）I prefer to read rather than watch TV．
3）There is a striking contrast between them．
例如：
Compared with cars，bicycles have several advantages besides being affordable．Firstly，they do not consume natural resources of petroleum．Secondly，they do not cause the pollution problem．Last but not least，they contribute to people’s health by giving them due physical exercise．

9．表示数量
1）It has increased（decreased）from．．．to．．．
2）The population in this city has now increased （decreased）to 800，000．
3）The output of July in this factory increased by 15％ compared with that of January．
例如：
With the improvement of the living standard，the proportion of people’s income spent on food has decreased while that spent on education has increased．
再如：
From the graph listed above，it can be seen that student use of computers has increased from an average of less than two hours per week in 1990 to 20 hours in 2000．

10．表示看法
1）People have（take，adopt，assume）different attitudes towards sth．
2）People have different opinions on this problem．
3）People take different views of（on）the question．
4）Some people believe that．．．Others argue that．．．
例如：
People have different attitudes towards failure．Some believe that failure leads to success．
Every failure they experience translates into a greater chance of success at their renewed endeavor．However， others are easily discouraged by failures and put themselves into the category of losers．
再如：
Do “lucky numbersreally bring good luck？Different people have different views on it．
注：一个段落有时很适宜以问句开始，考生应掌握这一写作方法。

11．表示结论
1）In short，it can be said that ．．．
2）It may be briefly summed up as follows．
3）From what has been mentioned above，we can come to the conclusion that ．．．
例如：
From what has been mentioned above，we can come to the conclusion that examination is necessary，however， its method should be improved．
注：例句1可用于任何一个段落的结论句；例句3则多用文章结论段的第一句。

12．套语
1）It’s well known to us that ．．．
2）As is known to us，．．．
3）This is a topic that is being widely talked about．
4）From the graph（table，chart）listed above，it can be seen that ．．．
5）As a proverb says，“Where there is a will，there is a way．
例如：
As is well known to us，it is important for the students to know the world outside campus．
The reason for this is obvious．Nowadays，the society is changing and developing rapidly，and the campus is no longer an “ivory tower．As college students，we must get in touch with the world outside the campus．Only in this way can we adapt ourselves to the society quickly after we graduate．
再如：
Does it pay to be honest？This is a topic that is being widely talked about and different people have different opinions on it．