Study · Academic vocabularyModule 08
Society and Culture
Level B1–B2
Learning goals
- This module introduces academic terms for discussing how societies are organised and how cultures change. You will practise distinguishing related concepts and using them in common academic contexts.
Step 1 — Read and discover
Read the passage and notice how the bold words are used.
Why do societies change?
Societies are shaped by shared values, institutions, and patterns of behaviour. Culture is not fixed: it changes as people move, communicate, and respond to new conditions. Migration, for example, can bring different traditions into contact and influence language, work, and public life. These changes may encourage integration, in which people from different backgrounds participate in common institutions while maintaining parts of their own identities.
However, participation is not always equal. Some groups have less access to education, housing, or political influence. This can contribute to inequality, which refers to differences in resources, opportunities, or treatment. Researchers may examine whether these differences are linked to income, location, or other social factors. They may also study disparity between regions and consider whether it reflects wider patterns of marginalisation.
Culture can shape a person's identity: the way people understand themselves and their connection to groups or communities. Identity may be influenced by language, family, nationality, and personal experience. In diverse societies, people may share some identities while disagreeing about others. Pluralism describes a society in which different groups, ideas, or traditions can coexist. This can support social cohesion, although cooperation may be affected by prejudice or stereotypes.
Social change often involves adaptation. Communities may adjust traditions or institutions when circumstances change, while still preserving practices they consider important. Researchers examine continuity as well as change, and they may consider how heritage shapes present-day choices. Changes in population size and structure, known as demographic change, can also affect schools, housing, and public services.
Academic accounts of society must avoid treating a whole community as if every member thinks or behaves in the same way. Researchers may investigate social mobility, the ways people move between economic or social positions, and how cultural norms influence behaviour. They should distinguish evidence from assumptions and avoid reinforcing a stereotype. Some policies favour assimilation, in which minority groups become more like a dominant group, while others emphasise integration without requiring people to abandon their cultural backgrounds.
Check your understanding
1. What may migration influence?Try again
1. What may migration influence?
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2. What does pluralism describe?Try again
2. What does pluralism describe?
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3. What should academic accounts of society avoid?Try again
3. What should academic accounts of society avoid?
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Step 2 — Explore the vocabulary
Use the word cards to review each word's meaning, example, word family, and common collocations.
migration
nounB1–B2The movement of people from one place to another, often to live or work.
“Migration from rural areas has changed the population of many cities.”
- patterns of migration
- migration flows
- rural-to-urban migration
Word family: migrate, migrant, migratory
integration
nounB1–B2The process of becoming part of a group, community, or system.
“Language support can help the integration of new residents.”
- social integration
- economic integration
- integration into society
Word family: integrate, integrated, integrative
inequality
nounB1–B2Differences in resources, opportunities, rights, or treatment between people or groups.
“The report examined inequality in access to healthcare.”
- social inequality
- economic inequality
- reduce inequality
Word family: equal, equality, unequal, equally
identity
nounB1–B2A person’s understanding of who they are and the groups or communities they belong to.
“Language can be an important part of cultural identity.”
- cultural identity
- social identity
- sense of identity
Word family: identify, identification, identifiable
adaptation
nounB1–B2A change made to suit new conditions or circumstances.
“The adaptation of local services helped meet the needs of a growing population.”
- social adaptation
- adaptation to change
- cultural adaptation
Word family: adapt, adaptable, adaptability
diversity
nounB1–B2The presence of different groups, characteristics, or types within a place or system.
“Cultural diversity can influence public debate and everyday life.”
- cultural diversity
- social diversity
- promote diversity
Word family: diverse, diversify, diversely
demographic
adjectiveB1–B2Related to the structure of a population, such as its age, size, or composition.
“Demographic changes can affect demand for schools and housing.”
- demographic change
- demographic trends
- demographic profile
Word family: demographics, demographically
attitude
nounB1–B2A way of thinking or feeling about a person, situation, or issue.
“The survey measured attitudes towards public transport.”
- public attitudes
- attitude towards
- change an attitude
Word family: attitudinal
institution
nounB1–B2An established organisation or system with an important role in society.
“Educational institutions can influence social mobility.”
- public institution
- social institution
- institutional change
Word family: institutional, institutionalise, institutionally
continuity
nounB1–B2The state of continuing without a major break or change.
“The research explored continuity in family traditions across generations.”
- cultural continuity
- continuity over time
- ensure continuity
Word family: continue, continuous, continuously
assimilation
nounB1–B2The process by which a person or group becomes more similar to another group, sometimes by adopting its customs.
“The article compared integration with assimilation.”
- cultural assimilation
- process of assimilation
- assimilation into a group
Word family: assimilate, assimilated, assimilationist
marginalisation
nounB1–B2The process of treating a person or group as less important or preventing full participation in society.
“The study explored the marginalisation of minority communities.”
- social marginalisation
- marginalisation of groups
- risk of marginalisation
Word family: marginalise, marginalised, marginal
mobility
nounB1–B2The ability to move between places or social and economic positions.
“Access to education can influence social mobility.”
- social mobility
- upward mobility
- geographic mobility
Word family: mobile, mobilise, mobilisation
disparity
nounB1–B2A noticeable difference between groups or things, especially when it is unfair or unexpected.
“The study found a disparity in school funding between regions.”
- income disparity
- regional disparity
- disparity between groups
Word family: disparate, disparately
cohesion
nounB1–B2The state of being united or forming a connected whole.
“Shared public spaces may support social cohesion.”
- social cohesion
- community cohesion
- promote cohesion
Word family: cohere, cohesive, cohesively
norm
nounB1–B2A usual or accepted standard of behaviour in a group or society.
“Social norms can influence how people communicate in public.”
- social norm
- cultural norms
- challenge a norm
Word family: normal, normally, normalise
stereotype
noun/verbB1–B2A fixed and oversimplified idea about a group of people.
“The author warned that stereotypes can distort social research.”
- cultural stereotype
- challenge a stereotype
- reinforce stereotypes
Word family: stereotypical, stereotypically, stereotyping
heritage
nounB1–B2Traditions, buildings, objects, or knowledge passed down from earlier generations.
“Local heritage can influence a community’s sense of identity.”
- cultural heritage
- historical heritage
- preserve heritage
Word family: heritage-related
pluralism
nounB1–B2A system or belief that allows different groups, ideas, or cultures to exist together in society.
“The article discussed pluralism as a feature of diverse democracies.”
- cultural pluralism
- political pluralism
- support pluralism
Word family: plural, pluralistic
assimilationist
adjectiveB1–B2Supporting the idea that minority groups should adopt the customs of a dominant group.
“The author criticised an assimilationist approach to cultural policy.”
- assimilationist policy
- assimilationist approach
- assimilationist view
Word family: assimilation, assimilate
Step 3 — Meaning in context
Choose the best answer, then check your choices.
1. The study examined migration from rural areas to large cities.Try again
1. The study examined migration from rural areas to large cities.
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2. The programme supports the integration of new residents into local institutions.Try again
2. The programme supports the integration of new residents into local institutions.
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3. Researchers found significant inequality in access to public services.Try again
3. Researchers found significant inequality in access to public services.
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4. Language can play an important role in cultural identity.Try again
4. Language can play an important role in cultural identity.
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5. The community showed adaptation by changing its plans in response to new conditions.Try again
5. The community showed adaptation by changing its plans in response to new conditions.
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Step 4 — Complete the sentences
Type the missing word or phrase. Legitimate spelling variants and harmless capitalisation differences are accepted.
1.The study explored from smaller towns to major cities.Try again✓
2.The policy aims to improve the of different groups into public life.Try again✓
3.The report identified economic between regions.Try again✓
4.Language and shared history can influence cultural .Try again✓
5.Communities often show when their circumstances change.Try again✓
6.Researchers examined social between different economic positions.Try again✓
7.Changes in population size and structure are described as change.Try again✓
8.A fixed and oversimplified belief about a group is a .Try again✓
Step 5 — Word families
Choose the correct form of the word in brackets.
1. The report examines the __________ of people from rural areas. (MIGRATE)Try again
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2. The programme supports the social __________ of newcomers. (INTEGRATE)Try again
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3. The study investigates regional __________ in access to education. (EQUAL)Try again
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4. The community has become more __________ over the last decade. (DIVERSITY)Try again
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5. Researchers analysed how people __________ to changes in family life. (ADAPTATION)Try again
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Step 6 — Collocations
Match each beginning with the most natural ending.
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2. ✓
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Step 7 — Quick review
Choose the best answer for each question.
1. Which term refers to the movement of people from one area to another to live?Try again
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2. Which word means the presence of different groups or traditions within a society?Try again
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3. A person's sense of who they are is their __________.Try again
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4. Which term describes movement between social or economic positions?Try again
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5. A fixed and oversimplified belief about a group is a __________.Try again
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