I Am Malala — Vocabulary
Malala Yousafzai
(Edited)
| Book sample | Uses | ACT/SAT |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | ||
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militant
The government had agreed to impose sharia law throughout Swat and in return the militants would stop fighting.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)The Taliban militant said he was fighting for his religion and way of life.more
Show general definitionusing extreme or violent methods to achieve a political goal; or someone who uses such methods |
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| 1 | top 1000 | |
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interpret
Then he asked if he could talk to me and began asking questions using Irfan as an interpreter.
Show general definition for interpret (as in: interpret Spanish to English)to translate someone’s words into spoken words of another language while they are speaking |
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| 5 | top 10 | |
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interpret#2
He introduced himself as an Islamic reformer and an interpreter of the Quran.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)I don't know how to interpret her smile.more
Show general definition for interpret (as in: her interpretation of the data)to understand or explain something in a particular way -- often the meaning or significance of something |
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| 12 | top 500 | |
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resolve
Cases such as land disputes, common in our area, which used to be resolved quickly now took ten years to come to court.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Three of the five issues have already been resolved.more
Show general definition for resolve (as in: How was the problem resolved?)to solve a problem, settle a disagreement, or for a situation to change |
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| 14 | top 2000 | |
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refugee
They opened the doors of their homes, schools and mosques to the refugees.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)We're asking for humanitarian aid to assist and resettle the refugees.more
Show general definitionsomeone who has fled their homeland to getaway from a dangerous or difficult situation; or related to such people |
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| 13 | ||
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feud
They had been locked in a feud for so long no one even seemed to remember how it had started—probably some small slight, as we are a hot-headed people.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Perhaps the most famous American family feud was between the Hatfields and McCoys.more
Show general definitionbitter hostile argument between two parties -- typically long-standing between families or tribes with occasional incidents of violenceShow editor's word notesSometimes the term blood feud is used to reference a feud between families. |
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| 8 | top 500 | |
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dispute
Cases such as land disputes, common in our area, which used to be resolved quickly now took ten years to come to court.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)The area has long been a source of dispute between India and Pakistan.more
Show general definition for dispute (as in: their border dispute)disagreement, argument, or conflict |
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| 9 | top 2000 | |
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influential
I dream that one day I will be an influential politician in Pakistan.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)The magazine has a special issue identifying the 100 most influential people in the world.more
Show general definitionhaving influence (the ability to affect people or events) -- especially due to respect or admiration |
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| 8 | ||
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illiterate
In our valley we received most of our information from the radio because so many had no TV or were illiterate.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)She is functionally illiterate, so she will need help filling out the employment application.more
Show general definitionunable to read or write (not literate)or: uninformed in a particular field or general subject area Show editor's word notesNote that "functional illiteracy" means that although one may be able to read or write a little, their ability is inadequate for normal requirements in their society. |
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| 8 | ||
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9/11
The brothers were famed for their fiery sermons and attracted thousands of worshippers, particularly after 9/11.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Both 110-story buildings of the World Trade Center collapsed from the 9/11 attacks.more
Show general definitionthe terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001, when hijacked passenger planes were flown into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, killing nearly 3,000 peopleShow editor's word notesOn September 11, 2001, 19 terrorists from the group al-Qaeda hijacked four U.S. passenger airplanes. Two were crashed into the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, causing both towers to collapse. A third plane hit the Pentagon. The fourth plane, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. Almost 3,000 people were killed, most of them civilians and first responders. The attacks led to major changes in U.S. security policies and to long wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. |
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| 7 | top 2000 | |
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exile
But when you are exiled from your homeland, where your fathers and forefathers were born and where you have centuries of history, it's very painful.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)She fled Tibet and is living in exile in India.more
Show general definitionto force someone to live outside of their homeland; or living in such a conditionor more rarely: voluntary absence from a place someone would rather be |
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| 6 | top 2000 | |
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martyr
O Allah, please make war between Muslims and infidels so I can die in your service and be a martyr.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Many believe that all the Apostles were martyred except John; however, the Bible reports only on the martyrdom of James.more
Show general definitionsomeone who is killed or made to suffer greatly for their beliefs, often unjustly; or someone who acts as if they suffer a lot; or to make someone into such a person |
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| 2 | top 10 | |
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illustrate
My father often spoke of the kindness of Akbar Khan and Nasir Pacha to illustrate that if you help someone in need you might also receive unexpected aid.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Pictures of flooding help to illustrate the problem of global warming.more
Show general definition for illustrate (as in: as illustrated by this example)to help make clear -- typically by example |
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| 1 | top 10 | |
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contrast
The MQM is a very organized movement, and the mohajir community sticks together. By contrast we Pashtuns are very divided,
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Contrast winter in Panama with winter in Alaska.more
Show general definition for contrast (as in: contrast their writing styles)point to differences between; or compare to show differences |
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| 268 | top 2000 | |
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Taliban
I don't want to be thought of as the "girl who was shot by the Taliban" but the "girl who fought for education."
Show exemplary sample (not from book)The Taliban enforce a strict Muslim code of behavior.more
Show general definitiona fundamentalist Islamic political faction that rules Afghanistan(A fundamentalist is someone who strongly believes in old, traditional forms of a religion.) |
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| 192 | top 2000 | |
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Pakistan
The director of the CIA said Pakistan was "either involved or incompetent."
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Pakistan was created as a country when India was partitioned in 1947 to create separate Muslim-majority and Hindu-majority nations.more
Show general definitiona south Asian Muslim republic that is the fifth most populous countryShow editor's word notesPakistan borders India, Afghanistan, Iran, & China.When Great Britain granted independence to British India, two countries were created based on religious identity. India was primarily Hindu and Pakistan was predominantly Muslim. Millions of people moved in the months after the partitioning in order to live with their religious majority. Hundreds of thousands were killed. Pakistan was divided by India with those living to the west separated by 1,000 miles of India from those living in the east. The two Pakistani areas were called West Pakistan and East Bengal which was later called East Pakistan. In 1971 East Pakistan won its independence from West Pakistan and changed its name to Bangladesh. |
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| 68 | top 2000 | |
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Islam
We have many strands of Islam in Pakistan.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)Islam is predominant in northern Africa, the Middle East, Pakistan, and Indonesia.more
Show general definitionthe monotheistic religious system of Muslims founded in Arabia in the 7th century and based on the teachings of Muhammad as laid down in the Koran; the world's second most practiced religion |
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| 11 | top 2000 | |
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Allah
We believe Allah listens more closely to the white-haired.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)The word Allah has been used by Arabic people since pre-Islamic times.more
Show general definitionIslamic way of referencing GodShow editor's word notes"Allah" literally means "the God" who is said by Islamics to have 99 names such as "The Merciful" and "The Compassionate". Allah is a contraction of the words "al" (the) and "ilah" (God). |
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| 8 | ||
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infidel
O Allah, please make war between Muslims and infidels so I can die in your service and be a martyr.
Show exemplary sample (not from book)He described the Iraqi police as a tool in the hands of crusaders and infidels.more
Show general definitiona negative term describing someone as not believing in the "right" religion or god |
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| 7 | top 100 | |
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accompany
While boys and men could roam freely about town, my mother and I could not go out without a male relative to accompany us, even if it was a five-year-old boy!
Show exemplary sample (not from book)The nurse accompanies the old woman everywhere.more
Show general definition for accompany (as in: accompany on the journey)to travel along with |
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