VOA-C

cabinet

[a group of ministers that helps lead a government]

The President meets every week with his cabinet.

 

calm

[(1) quiet; (2) peaceful; (3) opposite of tense]

The calm crowd waited for the president to speak.

The city was calm after two days of rioting.

Can you remain calm in a tense situation? (3)

 

camp

[a place with temporary housing]

The refugee camp provides temporary shelter, food and medical care.

 

campaign

[(1) a competition by opposing political candidates seeking support from voters; (2) a connected series of military actions during a war]

Presidential campaigns are much too long and cost too much. (1)

The Allied campaigns won the war in Europe and Asia. (2)

 

cancer

[a disease in which dangerous cells grow quickly and destroy parts of the body]

Scientists continue to find better ways to treat many kinds of cancer.

 

candidate

[a person who seeks or is nominated for an office or an honor]

Each political party has nominated a candidate for president.

 

capitalism

[an economic system in which the production of most goods and services is owned and operated for profit by private citizens or companies]

In the United States, capitalism has produced the world's strongest economy.

 

ceasefire

[a halt in fighting, usually by agreement]

The ceasefire stopped the fighting.

 

celebrate

[to honor a person or event with special activities]

I think we should have a party to celebrate your birthday.

 

ceremony

[an act or series of acts done in a special way established by tradition]

The new president took the oath of office at the inaugural ceremony in front of the capitol.

 

champion

[(1) the best; (2) the winner]

John is a champion swimmer. (1)

The New York Yankees were the champions of professional baseball in the first year of the new century. (2)

 

chase

[to run or go after someone or something]

The dog chased the cat around the house.

 

chemicals

[(1) elements found in nature or made by people; (2) substances used in the science of chemistry]

Oxygen and hydrogen are the chemicals that form water. (1)

Do you read the list of chemicals listed in the foods you eat? (2)

 

citizen

[a person who is a member of a country by birth or by law]

Every citizen is expected to vote.

 

civilian

[not military]

Many civilians were killed in the attack on the town.

 

civil rights

[the political, economic and social rights given equally to all people of a nation]

The law protects the civil rights of all citizens.

 

claim

[to say something as a fact]

He claimed that his opponent lied about his activities as a student leader.

 

clash

[(1) a battle; (2) to fight or oppose]

Ten protesters were injured in the clash with police. (1)

Angry farmers blocked roads and clashed with soldiers. (2)

 

clergy

[a body of officials within a religious organization]

Many in the clergy supported the reforms proposed by the rebels.

 

climate

[the normal weather conditions of a place]

Many retired people like to spend the winter in the warm climate of Florida.

 

cloud

[a mass of fog high in the sky]

Clouds like those usually mean rain will come soon.

 

coal

[a solid black substance used as fuel]

Much of our electricity is produced by plants that burn coal as fuel.

 

coalition

[forces, groups or nations joined together]

The country is led by a coalition government of three parties.

 

coast

[land on the edge of the ocean]

The storm caused high waves and flooding along much of the Atlantic coast.

 

colony

[land controlled by another country or government]

Hong Kong is no longer a British colony.

 

comment

[(1) to say something about; (2) to express an opinion about something]

Mr. President, please comment about the increased number of terrorist attacks. (1)

He commented about the writers who criticized his new book. (2)

 

committee

[a group of people given special work]

The committee met three times to decide who should get the special award.

 

community

[a group of people living together in one place or area]

Our community includes people from many other countries.

 

compete

[to try to do as well as, or better than, another or others]

The Internet lets companies compete almost anywhere in the world.

 

compromise

[the settlement of an argument where each side agrees to accept less than first demanded]

Compromise may not be possible in that dispute.

 

condemn

[to say a person or action is wrong or bad]

The senators condemned the man for refusing to answer their questions.

 

conflict

[(1) a fight; (2) a battle, especially a long one] 

We had a conflict about politics. (1)

The long conflict finally ended with a ceasefire, not a peace treaty. (2)

 

Congress

[(1) the organization of people elected to make the laws of the United States (the House of Representatives and the Senate); (2) a similar organization in other countries]

The President's party did not win control of either house of Congress. (1)

Five members of Mexico's Congress are in Washington to discuss trade issues. (2)

 

conservative

[one who usually supports tradition and opposes great change]

William is a conservative about social issues.

 

constitution

[the written general laws and ideas that form a nation's system of government]

How do the laws provide for making changes in the constitution?

 

continent

[any of the seven great land areas of the world]

Did you know that long ago all the continents were joined together?

 

convention

[a large meeting for a special purpose]

Political parties hold conventions to choose presidential and vice presidential candidates.

 

corn

[a food grain]

Scientists are worried because genetically-changed corn got into food supplies for people.

 

cotton

[a material made from a plant of the same name]

Most clothes are made of cotton.

 

crash

[(1) to fall violently; (2) to hit with great force]

The airplane crashed into the mountain. (1)

The two cars crashed into each other. (2)

 

creature

[(1) any living being; (2) any animal or human]

A microscope can show a great many living creatures in a drop of water. (1)

People are learning how to live peacefully with other creatures. (2)

 

credit

[an agreement that payments will be made at a later time]

With this card I can use credit to buy things today and pay for them next month.

 

crew

[a group of people working together]

Ten members of the ship's crew were injured by the explosion.

 

crime

[an act that violates a law]

Telling a lie to the court is a crime.

 

criminal

[a person who is responsible for a crime]

The organization tries to find jobs for criminals released from prison.

 

crisis

[(1) an extremely important time when something may become much better or worse; (2) a dangerous situation]

During a middle age crisis, people often make changes in their life. (1)

The Cuban missile crisis in the 1960s almost caused a nuclear war. (2)

 

criticize

[(1) to say what is wrong with something or someone; (2) to condemn; (3) to judge]

His teacher criticized him for not completing his report. (1)

The judge criticized the man for his evil acts and sentenced him to spend twenty years in prison. (2)

Her editor asked her to criticize a new book about ancient Egypt. (3)

 

crops

[plants that are grown and gathered for food, such as grains, fruits and vegetables]

The major crops in this area are corn and soybeans.

 

crush

[(1) to damage or destroy by great weight; (2)to defeat completely]

The falling tree crushed the house. (1)

The T.C. Williams High School football team crushed every team it played that year. (2)

 

cure

[(1) to improve health; (2) to make well; (3) something that makes a sick person well]

Living more simply and eating plain food cured most of her health problems. (1)

The doctor can cure the disease. (2) 　

Antibiotics are a cure for infection. (3)

 

curfew

[an order to people to stay off the streets or to close their businesses]

The streets were empty every night after the ten o'clock curfew.

 

customs

[taxes on imports]

I like to buy items in the custom-free store because there are no taxes to pay on the purchase.