UNIT 1: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

1. Bump into /bʌmp ˈɪntuː/

o Meaning (English): To meet someone unexpectedly or by chance.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Tình cờ gặp ai đó.

o Word Family:

 Verb: Bump (into)

 Noun: Bump

 Adjective: Bumpy

 Adverb: Bumpily

2. Aggregate /ˈæɡ.rɪ.ɡət/ (noun), /ˈæɡ.rɪ.ɡeɪt/ (verb)

o Meaning (English): A total amount or sum made up of smaller parts.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Tổng hợp, tổng số, tập hợp.

o Word Family:

 Verb: Aggregate

 Noun: Aggregate / Aggregation

 Adjective: Aggregate

 Adverb: Aggregately

3. Dilemma /daɪˈlem.ə/ or /dɪˈlem.ə/

o Meaning (English): A difficult situation where a choice must be made between

two or more equally undesirable options.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Tình huống tiến thoái lưỡng nan, khó xử.

o Word Family:

 Noun: Dilemma

 Adjective: Dilemmatic (rare)

4. Manipulative /məˈnɪp.jə.lə.tɪv/

o Meaning (English): Skillful at controlling or influencing people or situations in a

clever or sometimes unethical way.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Thao túng, lôi kéo một cách khéo léo hoặc có ý đồ.
 o Word Family:

 Verb: Manipulate

 Noun: Manipulation / Manipulator

 Adjective: Manipulative

 Adverb: Manipulatively

5. Generate /ˈdʒen.ə.reɪt/

o Meaning (English): To produce or create something.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Tạo ra, sinh ra.

o Word Family:

 Verb: Generate

 Noun: Generation / Generator

 Adjective: Generative

6. Apropos of nothing /ˌæp.rəˈpoʊ ʌv ˈnʌθ.ɪŋ/ (idiom, no word family)

o Meaning (English): Not related to anything that was said before; suddenly
bringing up an unrelated topic.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Không liên quan đến điều đã nói trước đó, tự dưng nhắc
đến một chuyện không liên quan.

7. Strategist /ˈstræt.ə.dʒɪst/

o Meaning (English): A person skilled in planning and directing strategies.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Chiến lược gia, người lập kế hoạch chiến lược.

o Word Family:

 Noun: Strategist / Strategy

 Verb: Strategize

 Adjective: Strategic

 Adverb: Strategically

8. Networker /ˈnet.wɜːr.kɚ/

o Meaning (English): Someone who builds and maintains professional or social

relationships.
 o Meaning (Vietnamese): Người xây dựng và duy trì các mối quan hệ xã hội hoặc
chuyên môn.

o Word Family:

 Noun: Networker / Network

 Verb: Network

9. Referral /rɪˈfɜː.rəl/

o Meaning (English): The act of directing someone to another person, organization,

or service for help or information.

o Meaning (Vietnamese): Giới thiệu, sự chuyển hướng đến một cá nhân hoặc tổ
chức khác để được giúp đỡ hoặc tư vấn.

o Word Family:

 Verb: Refer

 Noun: Referral

10. Accelerate /əkˈsel.ə.reɪt/

 Meaning (English): To speed up or make something happen faster.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Tăng tốc, đẩy nhanh quá trình.

 Word Family:

o Verb: Accelerate

o Noun: Acceleration

o Adjective: Accelerated

11. Selfless /ˈself.ləs/

 Meaning (English): Showing concern for others more than for oneself; unselfish.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Vị tha, không ích kỷ.

 Word Family:

o Noun: Selflessness

o Adjective: Selfless

o Adverb: Selflessly

12. Altruistic /ˌæl.truˈɪs.tɪk/

 Meaning (English): Concerned with the well-being of others, often at a personal cost.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Vị tha, quan tâm đến người khác mà không vụ lợi.

 Word Family:

o Noun: Altruism / Altruist

o Adjective: Altruistic

o Adverb: Altruistically

13. Sexism /ˈsɛk.sɪ.zəm/

 Meaning (English): Discrimination or prejudice based on a person’s gender, often

against women.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Phân biệt giới tính, kỳ thị giới tính.

 Word Family:

o Noun: Sexism

o Adjective: Sexist

14. Racist /ˈreɪ.sɪst/

 Meaning (English): A person who believes that some races are superior to others or
discriminates against people based on race.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Phân biệt chủng tộc, người có tư tưởng kỳ thị chủng tộc.

 Word Family:

o Noun: Racist (a person) / Racism (the concept)

o Adjective: Racist

15. Butt in /bʌt ɪn/

 Meaning (English): To interrupt a conversation or activity in an impolite or unwelcome

way.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Chen ngang, xen vào cuộc trò chuyện một cách bất lịch sự.

 Word Family:

o Verb: Butt in

16. Encounter /ɪnˈkaʊn.tɚ/

 Meaning (English): To meet someone unexpectedly or to experience something, often a

problem or difficulty.
 Meaning (Vietnamese): Gặp gỡ, chạm trán, đối mặt.

 Word Family:

o Verb: Encounter

o Noun: Encounter

17. Rate /reɪt/

 Meaning (English): A measurement or level of something; to evaluate or assess.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Tỷ lệ, mức độ; đánh giá.

 Word Family:

o Verb: Rate

o Noun: Rate / Rating

o Adjective: Rated / Unrated

18. Hygiene /ˈhaɪ.dʒiːn/

 Meaning (English): Practices that maintain cleanliness and health.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Vệ sinh, giữ gìn sạch sẽ.

 Word Family:

o Noun: Hygiene

o Adjective: Hygienic

o Adverb: Hygienically

19. Turn down /tɜrn daʊn/

 Meaning (English): To reject or refuse something, such as an offer or request.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Từ chối, bác bỏ.

 Word Family:

o Verb: Turn down

o Related noun: Rejection (not directly from "turn down" but a synonymous
concept)

20. Values /ˈvæl.juːz/

 Meaning (English): Principles or standards that guide behavior and beliefs.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Giá trị, nguyên tắc đạo đức, chuẩn mực.
 Word Family:

o Noun: Value / Values / Valuation

o Verb: Value / Devalue / Revalue

o Adjective: Valuable / Invaluable / Valueless

o Adverb: Valuably

21. On the line /ɒn ðə laɪn/ (idiom, no full word family)

 Meaning (English): At risk or in danger of being lost or harmed.

 Meaning (Vietnamese): Đang bị đe dọa, có nguy cơ mất đi.

 Word Family: (As this is an idiom, related words are provided instead)

o Related noun: Risk / Danger

o Related verb: Endanger / Risk

o Related adjective: Risky / Dangerous

o Related adverb: Riskily

1. Understanding the Expression

"It’s not what you know, but who you know that counts."

Meaning:
This expression suggests that success is often determined more by personal connections and
social networks than by knowledge or skills alone. In many situations, having the right contacts
can open doors to job opportunities, business deals, or career advancements that might
not be accessible purely through expertise.

Examples:

 A highly skilled person may struggle to get a job if they have no professional network.

 On the other hand, someone with good connections but less experience may secure
opportunities because they know the right people.

 In business, partnerships often arise not just from qualifications but from trusted
relationships between people.

Do you agree with this statement?

 If yes, explain how networking plays a crucial role in career advancement.

 If no, argue that skills and knowledge are ultimately more important for long-term
success.

2. Is Networking More Important in Some Professions Than Others?

Yes, networking is more critical in some professions than in others. Below is a comparison:

Professions Where Networking is Extremely Important:

1. Business & Entrepreneurship – Success often depends on finding investors,

clients, and partners through strong relationships.

2. Politics – Advancing in politics requires connections with influential figures, party

leaders, and donors.

3. Sales & Marketing – Building trust with clients and industry contacts is key to selling
products or services.

4. Entertainment & Media – Actors, musicians, and journalists rely on industry

connections to get opportunities.
 5. Real Estate – Knowing the right buyers, sellers, and investors gives an agent a
competitive advantage.

Professions Where Networking is Less Critical:

1. Medicine – Doctors rely more on skills, education, and expertise than personal
connections.

2. Engineering & Science – While networking helps, technical expertise and research
achievements are the most important factors.

3. IT & Software Development – Programmers and developers can succeed through

technical skills and experience rather than networking.

Conclusion:

 Some professions (e.g., sales, politics, and business) depend heavily on

networking.

 Others (e.g., medicine, engineering) rely more on expertise but can still benefit
from connections for job placements, collaborations, or funding.

 Networking always helps, but in some careers, it is essential.