Vocabulary:
The outback (singular) BrE / ˈaʊtbæk /
the area of Australia
harsh BrE / hɑːʃ /
(of weather or livivng conditions) very difficult and umpleasant to live in
a harsh winter/wind/climate
the harsh conditions of poverty which existed for most people at that time
scratch BrE / skrætʃ /
rub with your nails
1 [ transitive , intransitive ] to rub your skin with your nails, usually because it isitching
~ sth/yourself John yawned and scratched his chin.
The dog scratched itself behind the ear.
dump BrE / dʌmp /
get rid of
1 ~ sth to get rid of sth you do not want, especially in a place which is not suitable
Too much toxic waste is being dumped at sea.
The dead body was just dumped by the roadside.
2 ~ sb/sth (on sb) ( informal ) to get rid of sb/sth or leave them for sb else to deal with
He's got no right to keep dumping his problems on me.
claim Verb/noun BrE / kleɪm /
Verb:say sth is true
1 [ transitive ] to say that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it
~ (that)… He claims (that) he was not given a fair hearing.
~ (sb/sth) to be/do sth I don't claim to be an expert.
~ sth Scientists are claiming a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer.
it is claimed that… It was claimed that some doctors were working 80 hours a week.
saying sth is true
1 [ countable ] ~ (that…) a statement that sth is true although it has not been proved and other people may not agree with or believe it
The singer has denied the magazine's claim that she is leaving the band.
a report examining claims of corrupt links between politicians
uninhabited / ˌʌnɪnˈhæbɪtɪd /
with no people living there; not inhabited
an uninhabited island
