People use the phrase “Middle Ages” to describe Europe between the fall of Rome in 476 CE and the beginning of the Renaissance in the 14th century.

Starting around the 14th century, European thinkers, writers and artists began to look back and celebrate the art and culture of ancient Greece and Rome. Accordingly, they dismissed the period after the fall of Rome as a “Middle” or even “Dark” age in which no scientific accomplishments had been made, no great art produced, no great leaders born. The people of the Middle Ages had squandered the advancements of their predecessors, this argument went, and mired themselves instead in what 18th-century English historian Edward Gibbon called “barbarism and religion.”

dismiss - отклонять
scientific accomplishments - научные достижения
squandered - растраченный впустую
predecessors - предшественники
mire - увязнуть
barbarism - варварство



#advanced

The Great Depression was the worst economic downturn in the history of the industrialized world, lasting from 1929 to 1939. It began after the stock market crash of October 1929, which sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. Over the next several years, consumer spending and investment dropped, causing steep declines in industrial output and employment as failing companies laid off workers. By 1933, when the Great Depression reached its lowest point, some 15 million Americans were unemployed and nearly half the country’s banks had failed.

downturn - спад
industrialized - индустриализированный
stock market crash - обвал фондового рынка
wiped out - уничтожены
steep declines - крутые спады
laid off - увольнять



#intermediate

Taste, also known as gustation, is the ability to detect chemicals in food, minerals and dangerous substances such as poisons. This detection is performed by sensory organs on the tongue called taste buds. There are five basic tastes that these organs relay to the brain: sweet, bitter, salty, sour and umami. Receptors for each of our five basic tastes are located in distinct cells and these cells are found in all areas of the tongue. Using these tastes, the body can distinguish harmful substances, usually bitter, from nutritious ones. People often mistake the flavor of food for the taste. The flavor of a particular food is actually a combination of the taste and smell as well as the texture and temperature.

gustation - дегустация
detect chemicals - обнаружение химических веществ
substances - вещества
taste buds - вкусовые рецепторы
umami - умами
distinct cells - отдельные клетки
distinguish - различать
flavor - вкусовые качества



#intermediate

Unlike augmented reality, virtual reality is a fully digital experience that can either simulate or differ completely from the real world. The term virtual reality refers to a computer-generated, three-dimensional environment. In order to experience and interact with virtual reality, you’ll need the proper equipment, like a pair of VR glasses or a headset.
Virtual reality technology is used to create immersive experiences that can help educate and even entertain consumers. Outside of its popular gaming use case, virtual reality is applied in a variety of industries, such as medicine, architecture, military, and others.

augmented reality - дополненная реальность
virtual reality - виртуальная реальность
simulate - имитировать
three-dimensional - трехмерный
equipment - оборудование
immersive - иммерсивный
industries - отрасли
military - военный


#intermediate

While all organisms in the ecosystem are essential, the role played by insects is particularly vital. Often under-appreciated and viewed by some as a nuisance, insects are “lever pullers of the world”. According to National Geographic, there are about 1.4 billion insects for every human on Earth, and all of them play a crucial role in the ecosystem. 
Insects are responsible for the pollination of about 80% of trees and bushes on the entire planet. Plants invest significant amounts of energy in the formation of attractive blooms full of nectar.

essential - необходимый
vital - жизненно важный
nuisance - неприятность
crucial - ключевой
pollination - опыление
formation - образование


#advanced

The family is considered as the core of the society because it is the place where its members are most personally affected. This is the easiest place to instill values and create change. When families believe they can achieve and help others and lift each other up to prosper and reach greater heights, the society can do great things. On the other hand, if the families are held down in an abject state of poverty and despair, the society will not prosper. The impact of family on society is small when you speak of only one family. However, it is huge when you speak of families collectively. And because we all influence each other in our connected communities, we can all make a positive difference. The role of family in society is creating the foundational building blocks that shape the future of our society.

core of the society - ядро общества
instill values - прививать ценности
prosper - процветать
abject state - жалкое состояние
despair - отчаяние
collectively - коллективно


#advanced

Shoes are arguably the most important accessory in your closet. You need them every day, they enhance or distract from every outfit, and your entire mood can be affected by how they feel. 
Shoes are used for both practical and aesthetic purposes. Practical shoes are typically those that are used for employment or athletics. For example, steel-toed boots are commonly used in industrial or construction environments. Those who spend much of their workday on their feet, like nurses, may have shoes that offer extra support and padding.

arguably - пожалуй
accessory - аксессуар
closet - гардероб
enhance - улучшать
enhance - отвлекать
aesthetic - эстетический
for employment - для работы
steel-toed boots - ботинки со стальным носком
industrial - промышленный
padding - мягкость


#elementary

The dark web is the part of the deep web that’s only accessible through a special browser.
Also called the “darknet,” this collection of sites refers to the unregulated part of the internet. No organization, business, or government is in charge of the dark web or is able to enforce rules. This is exactly the reason why the dark web is commonly associated with illegal activities.
Some people refer to this part of the internet as the “deep web,” but this isn’t the right term. It’s true that the dark web is part of the deep web, but it’s a different section of the internet altogether.

accessible - доступный
unregulated part - нерегулируемая часть
in charge of - ответственный за
enforce rules - обеспечивать соблюдение правил
illegal - незаконный
part of the deep web - часть глубокой паутины



#elementary

There are few animals on Earth who work as well together as meerkats (suricats). These squirrel-size members of the mongoose family live in groups of different sizes, from as little as three to as big as 50 members. Everyone in the mob participates in gathering food, keeping a look out for predators and taking care of the babies.
Suricates live in the deserts and grasslands of the southern tip of Africa. They are super cute, with bushy, brown-striped fur, a small, pointed face and large eyes surrounded by dark patches. These extremely social animals live together in burrows, which they dig with their long, sharp claws. Living underground keeps mob members safe from predators and out of the harsh African heat. These burrows can be 5 metres long and contain multiple entrances, tunnels, and rooms.

squirrel-size - размером с белку
mongoose family - семейство мангустов
mob - толпа
predators - хищники
grasslands - луга
patches - патчи
burrows - норы



#intermediate

Disability is part of being human. Almost everyone will temporarily or permanently experience disability at some point in their life. Over 1 billion people – about 15% of the global population – currently experience disability, and this number is increasing due in part to population ageing and an increase in the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases. 
Disability results from the interaction between individuals with a health condition, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome and depression, with personal and environmental factors including negative attitudes, inaccessible transportation and public buildings, and limited social support.

disability - инвалидность
temporarily or permanently - временно или постоянно
population ageing - старение населения
prevalence - распространенность
noncommunicable diseases - неинфекционные заболевания
cerebral palsy - церебральный паралич



#advanced

If you asked a bunch of people what geography is, I'm guessing you'd get answers like the study of maps or the study of where things are. Although this is true, defining geography so narrowly is like saying fast food restaurants only serve fries.
For starters, geography is the study of Earth's landscapes, peoples, places, and environments. Since it's pretty safe to say that humans have always been curious about the world, many think geography is the oldest of all the sciences.
As one of the broadest of all the sciences, geography takes on almost everything that concerns our world. For example, it takes a look at what our communities look like, how people's choices affect nature, Earth's physical changes, human development, and so much more!

a bunch of people - куча людей
defining - определение, определять
for starters - для начинающих
environment - среда обитания
concerns our world - касается нашего мира
affect - влиять



#intermediate