EOI B1&B2 Module 5 Resources

🏘️ Social Problems & Inequality Vocabulary

Focus: Basic financial struggles, community help, and general social descriptions.

Live on: To have a certain amount of money to pay for things you need.
- Example: It is very difficult to live on a small pension these days.
Get by: To have just enough money or resources to survive.
- Example: My salary isn't high, but I manage to get by.
Take care of: To provide for the needs of someone (like the elderly or poor).
- Example: The government should take care of people who cannot work.
Cut off: To stop the supply of something (like water or electricity).
- Example: If you don't pay the bill, they will cut off your gas.

Short of money: Not having enough money.
- Example: I’m a bit short of money this month, so I can’t go out for dinner.
A helping hand: Help or support given to someone.
- Example: Local charities provide a helping hand to homeless people.
The rich and the poor: A simple way to describe social classes.
- Example: The gap between the rich and the poor is growing in many cities.

Poverty: The state of being extremely poor.
- Example: Many children in the world still live in poverty.
Unemployment: The state of not having a job.
- Example: High unemployment is a big problem for young people.
Shelter: A place to live or stay, especially for protection.
- Example: The city opened a new shelter for people living on the streets.
Support: Help or assistance.
- Example: Families need more support from the government to pay for housing.

Poor: Having little money or few possessions.
- Example: They come from a poor neighborhood, but they are very happy.
Wealthy: Rich; having a lot of money.
- Example: Some wealthy individuals donate a lot of money to charity.
Fair: Treating everyone equally and according to the rules.
- Example: It isn't fair that some people have so much while others have nothing.
Crowded: Full of people (often used for poor housing).
- Example: Many families have to live in small, crowded apartments.

Focus: Systematic issues, economic gaps, and social policy.

Fall through: To fail to happen (often used for plans or funding).
- Example: The project for the new community center fell through due to lack of money.
Take on: To accept a difficult responsibility or task.
- Example: The NGO has taken on the challenge of fighting child hunger.
Face up to: To accept that a difficult situation exists.
- Example: The government must face up to the growing housing crisis.
Phase out: To gradually stop using or doing something.
- Example: The city is trying to phase out old, inefficient heating systems in social housing.

On the breadline: Having very little money; struggling to buy food.
- Example: With rising prices, many working families are now on the breadline.
A vicious cycle: A problem that causes another problem, which then makes the first one worse.
- Example: Debt creates a vicious cycle that is very hard to break.
A drop in the bucket: A very small amount that does not really help a big problem.
- Example: The new donation is great, but it’s just a drop in the bucket compared to what we need.

Inequality: When some groups in society have more money or opportunities than others.
- Example: Income inequality is one of the biggest challenges of this century.
Disparity: A large and noticeable difference between two things.
- Example: There is a huge disparity between the facilities in different schools.
Stigma: A feeling of shame that people have about a particular situation (like being unemployed).
- Example: We need to remove the social stigma of asking for mental health support.
Benefit: Money given by the government to people who are poor or ill.
- Example: He is currently living on unemployment benefits.

Underprivileged: Having less money and fewer opportunities than most people.
- Example: The charity works with children from underprivileged backgrounds.
Inadequate: Not good enough or not enough in quantity.
- Example: The medical facilities in the area are completely inadequate.
Systemic: Affecting the whole of a system (like a whole country's economy).
- Example: Low wages are a systemic problem that affects the entire nation.
Rampant: Existing or spreading everywhere in a way that cannot be controlled.
- Example: Inflation is rampant, making basic goods very expensive.

Subsidize: To pay part of the cost of something to keep the price low.
- Example: The council subsidizes public transport for students and the elderly.
Deteriorate: To become worse over time.
- Example: Living conditions in the slums continue to deteriorate.
Exploit: To treat someone unfairly in order to earn money or get an advantage.
- Example: Some companies exploit workers by paying them very low wages.
Mobilize: To organize a group of people to take action.
- Example: They are trying to mobilize the community to protest against the new tax.