ESL Pathways Frontiers, Lesson 8

Mrs. N (United States of America)
19 words 0 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. gangster
    a criminal who is a member of an association of criminals
    • What do gangsters do?
  2. informative
    serving to instruct or enlighten
    If you are interested in learning more about the mafia, movies such as The Godfather, GoodFellas, and The Untouchables are entertaining and informative.
  3. organized
    methodical and efficient in arrangement or function
    What is organized crime?
  4. organization
    a methodical and orderly manner or approach
    Organized crime is crime carried out by formal criminal organizations.
  5. motivated
    strongly driven to succeed or achieve something
    Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are politically motivated.
  6. extortion
    unjust exaction, as by the misuse of authority
    Many organized crime operations have legitimate businesses, such as gambling, trash hauling or dock loading which provide "cover" for drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, protection and extortion.
  7. blackmail
    extortion of money by threats to divulge harmful information
    It is often necessary to corrupt some of society’s respected members through bribery, blackmail, and relationships with legitimate businesses.
  8. immigrant
    a person who comes to a country in order to settle there
    The mafia spread to America when Italian immigrants came to American cities.
  9. bribe
    payment made to corrupt a person in a position of trust
    It is often necessary to corrupt some of society’s respected members through bribery, blackmail, and relationships with legitimate businesses.
  10. launder
    transfer funds to hide the source of money gotten illegally
    Many organized crime operations have legitimate businesses, such as gambling, trash hauling or dock loading which provide "cover" for drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, protection and extortion.
  11. legitimate
    in accordance with accepted standards or principles
    Many organized crime operations have legitimate businesses, such as gambling, trash hauling or dock loading which provide "cover" for drug trafficking, money laundering, prostitution, protection and extortion.
  12. protection
    the activity of shielding someone or something
    The Sicilians formed their own protection societies which developed into the mafia.
  13. originate
    come into existence; take on form or shape
    The mafia originated hundreds of years ago in Sicily, Italy.
  14. disguise
    any attire that conceals the wearer's identity
    They are quick to take over newly-opened markets and quick to rebuild themselves under any disguise when caught by the police.
  15. arise
    move upward
    Criminal organizations sometimes arise in closely-knit immigrant groups who do not trust the local police or the local government.
  16. corrupt
    dishonest or immoral or evasive
    It is often necessary to corrupt some of society’s respected members through bribery, blackmail, and relationships with legitimate businesses.
  17. occasionally
    now and then or here and there
    People in the government, police forces, businesses, and the legislature are occasionally targeted for control by organized crime through bribes, threats, or both.
  18. rely
    have confidence or faith in
    Many Italians felt that they could not rely on the local police force to help them so they turned to the mafia for protection.
  19. profit
    the advantageous quality of being beneficial
    Mafias are criminal organizations whose main goal is financial profit.
Created on Sat Apr 18 18:36:45 EDT 2020 (updated Sat Apr 18 18:37:52 EDT 2020)

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