| assumption |
something that is supposed or believed without questioning. For example, if you ask someone whether she is allowed to watch TV during dinner, you have made an assumption that there is a TV in her house. Assumptions are ideas people have that are not based on proven facts. An assumption can be correct or incorrect. |
| bleak |
bare, cold, or not protected from the weather. |
| conceive |
to give shape to in the mind. |
| depression |
a state of deep sadness or hopelessness that can persist for months or years and is not necessarily triggered by any particular external events. |
| doctrine |
a belief or set of beliefs held by a religion, government, or other group. |
| ghetto |
a part of a town or city in which people of a particular race or religion are forced by law to live. |
| mortgage |
a written agreement by which a bank or other institution agrees to lend money so that one can buy a property. The bank holds a claim to this property until the money is paid back. |
| mutilate |
to destroy by cutting or tearing off a necessary part. |
| overhaul |
to go over carefully, taking apart as necessary and making all needed repairs. |
| parasite |
a plant, animal, or fungus that lives on or in another living thing, called the host. A parasite gets its food and energy from the host organism. |
| prescribe |
to order or suggest as a medicine. |
| refund |
to return or pay back. |
| sector |
an identifiable segment or part of a landscape, area, society, political system, or the like. |
| strenuous |
marked by great effort or energy; vigorous or zealous. |
| tenant |
a person or group that occupies or uses another's house, office, building, or land, especially in exchange for rent. |