Appendix 1: Glossary

aboriginal

First Nations, Inuit, and Metis

activism

Doing things that support change in the world

bill

A suggested law that is presented to the government

challenge

Something difficult

communist

Someone who believes the government should own everything. People and companies should not own property, like houses or cars.

compassion

A feeling of wanting to help someone in trouble

conflict

Being unable to agree

debate

A discussion where people express different viewpoints about something

declined

Became worse

despair

A feeling of no hope

discriminate

To unfairly treat a person differently from other people

editorial

An article in a newspaper or magazine that reflects the opinion of the editors

equal

The same for each person.

federal

The level of government responsible for things that affect the whole country

fondly

In a loving way

guilty

Responsible for carrying out a crime or doing something wrong

heathen

A racist word used to describe people who do not follow a Christian religion

income assistance

Money that the government gives people who are out of work, sick, disabled, or old

injustice

Unfair treatment

inspire

Affect someone in a way that leads her or him to do good things

judgment

The act of forming an opinion about someone or something that is sometimes disapproving

lawyer

A person who helps people with the law

limp

Floppy or without strength

military

The army, navy, and air force

MLA

Member of the Legislative Assembly. A person who voters choose to represent their area in the provincial government

movement

Organized actions taken by people working together to achieve something

Nazi

A member of a German political party controlled by Adolf Hitler

optimism

A feeling that good things will happen in the future

organization

A company, business, club, or group that was put together for a special purpose

premier

The leader of a province

product

Something that is sold in stores

queer

Someone whose gender or romantic relationships are outside of what is traditional

rapid

Fast

RCMP

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, also known as Mounties

reserve

A small piece of land the government forced First Nations people to live on

residential school

Schools that Aboriginal children in Canada were forced by the government to attend. The goal was to remove the children from their families and culture so that they would become more like the white settlers.

respect

Treating people in a way that shows they are important

responsibility

Having the job of taking care of something or someone

Senate

One of the groups that help make laws in Canada

socialist

Someone who believes the government should run health care, schools, and other major services

state

The government

trauma

A very difficult experience that causes someone to have mental and emotional problems for a long time

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BC Reads: Adult Literacy Fundamental English - Reader 4 Copyright © 2015 by Shantel Ivits is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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