Skill Practice: Noticing Definitions
When reading at university, you need to pay attention to keywords and technical vocabulary. Professors often want you to learn these important words, and while they may be new to you, they are usually defined in the reading. Look at the example from “Reading 1” below. How does the passage define “franchise”?
- “Domino’s Pizza has more than 14,000 stores worldwide. These are franchises where individuals pay Domino’s in order to use their brand, advertising, and recipes.”
The word where introduces the definition. In this case, the definition is specific to the Domino’s Pizza example, but we can infer that a franchise is a business that pays a larger company to use their brand, advertising, and products/recipes.
Look for the following clues that show a keyword is being defined:
| Definition Clues | Example Sentences | |
| Visual Clues | italicized words | A licensing agreement is a legal agreement giving an individual the rights to use or do something. |
| bold words | Entrepreneurs are people who take risks and start new businesses. | |
| commas , , | Domino’s, a take-away pizza restaurant, is popular around the world. | |
| dashes – – | LLCs – limited liability corporations – are common in the United States. | |
| Verbs | be | Globalization is the process of companies or organizations becoming more active around the world. |
| be defined as | An LLC is defined as a limited liability corporation. | |
| be called | Company presidents and top-ranking business people are called executives. | |
| be known as | The owner of a franchised business is known as a franchisee. | |
| refers to | Infrastructure refers to the basic structures, like roads and roads, that cities or countries need in order to function. | |
| Relative Clauses | which | Regulatory issues, which are problems involving government laws and regulations, are difficult to overcome. |
| who | Master franchisees are individuals or entities who control all franchise operations within a specific country. |
Practice
Look at this example below from “Reading 2.” Circle the word that is being defined. Double underline the signal for the definition. Underline the definition.
The phrase global business has assumed a new meaning, referring to a boundless mobility and competition in social, business, and intellectual arenas.
Pre-Reading
The following words will be defined in the reading. Do you know any of these words?
- goods
- trade surplus
- exchange rates
- imports
- exports
- trade deficit
Pre-Reading Activity
Discuss the following questions with a partner.
- What benefits do people get from global trade?
- What are some of the most important countries involved in global trade?
- Do you think the U.S. imports or exports more items? What are its main exports?
- What factors make trade difficult between countries?
- How is trade measured?
Reading 2: Global Trade in the U.S.[1]
Today, global revolutions are happening in many areas of our lives: management, politi