Test 1 - Listening - Part 2 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 15 Vocabulary List

with very little time to prepare or respond to something

"He can leave at a moment's notice."

"The emergency team must be ready to leave at a moment's notice whenever a disaster occurs."

a person, entity, or organization that possesses, controls, or has legal rights to something

"The dog waits for its owner to return."

"The owner of the small bookstore knew every regular customer by their first name."

to use something as a basis for further development

"We can build on this success."

"The young athlete hopes to build on her recent success at the national championships and qualify for the Olympic team next year."

extremely interesting or captivating

"The story is fascinating."

"The fascinating documentary about space exploration made her want to become an astronaut and study the universe."

a boat or ship used to transport passengers and sometimes vehicles, usually across a body of water

"The ferry carried cars across the bay."

"The ferry transported cars and passengers across the bay every thirty minutes throughout the day."

prior to a particular time or event

"Thank you in advance for your help."

"Thank you in advance for your help and I promise to return the favor when you need something from me."

related to the management and organization of tasks, processes, or resources within an organization or system

"Her job is administrative."

"The administrative assistant was responsible for scheduling meetings answering phones and organizing files for the entire department."

the money that is paid to a professional or an organization for their services

"The membership fee is fifty dollars."

"The university charges a high tuition fee each semester plus additional fees for laboratory courses."

to be formed from particular parts or things

"The team consists of five members."

"The committee will consist of ten members who will be elected by the board next week."

a sheltered area of water along the coast where ships, boats, and other vessels can anchor safely, typically protected from rough seas by natural or artificial barriers

"The harbor is busy."

"The fishing boats returned to the harbor at sunset unloading their catch of cod and haddock onto the docks where buyers were already waiting."

operating or working as intended

"The computer is functioning."

"The functioning computer was donated to a school in a poor village where children had never seen one before."

to have origins or existence that extends to a specific earlier time

"The ruins date back centuries."

"The ancient ruins date back to the time of the Roman Empire over two thousand years ago."

still in existence

"The survivors are surviving."

"The surviving members of the crew were rescued by a passing ship after three days."

pulled or powered by a horse or horses

"The carriage is horse-drawn."

"The horse drawn carriage carried tourists through the historic district and the clip clop of hooves echoed off the old buildings."

a vehicle that is powered by electricity and moves on rails in a street, used for transporting passengers

"Tram runs on tracks."

"The tram runs along tracks embedded in the street and stops frequently to pick up passengers."

extremely impressive and beautiful, often evoking awe or excitement

"The view is spectacular."

"The spectacular view from the top of the mountain made the difficult climb worthwhile for the tired hikers."

a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)

"The lighthouse stands on the headland."

"The lighthouse stands on the rocky headland and warns ships away from the dangerous coast."

a large and strong building that is protected against attacks, in which the royal family lives

"The castle is large."

"We visited the castle on the hill."

a small detail or action that makes something feel more friendly or thoughtful because it shows care or attention from a person

"Adds a nice personal touch."

"The handwritten note adds a nice personal touch, showing genuine care for the recipient."

in regard to what someone has said or written

"According to the teacher we have homework."

"According to the weather forecast it will rain tomorrow so bring an umbrella."

a person, organization, country, etc. that engages in commercial competition with others

"He is a competitor."

"The new entrepreneur quickly became a formidable competitor in the tech industry."

to make sure that something will occur

"The store guarantees customer satisfaction fully."

"The store cannot guarantee that the product will be in stock next week because they are selling very quickly."

referring to the previous state or condition of an object, organization, or place, which has since changed

"The former president visited."

"The former glory of the empire was evident in its magnificent ruins."

to create or establish an organization or place, especially by providing the finances

"He founds a company."

"The university was founded in eighteen eighty five by a group of wealthy philanthropists and educators."

to establish a fresh entity, such as a company, system, or organization

"Set up the tent carefully."

"They plan to set up a small charity to help homeless people find shelter and food."

to try to persuade someone to do, eat, or buy something specific

"I interest him in pizza."

"The salesperson tried to interest the customer in the latest model of the car."

to try to achieve a better result compared to that of other people or things

"They compete fiercely."

"Several companies will compete for the lucrative government contract next year."

a system of tracks for trains

"The train is on the rail."

"The new high-speed rail system significantly reduced travel times between major cities."

the place where someone or something is headed

"Our destination is Paris."

"They arrived at their destination late at night after a long drive."

(of a sum of money) to be adequate to pay for a particular cost or expense

"This money will cover it."

"The insurance payout should fully cover the costs associated with the unexpected repairs."

arranged in a structured and efficient manner, particularly on a larger scale

"The room was very organized."

"The entire event was meticulously organized, with every detail accounted for."

used to introduce a different or unrelated topic

"Incidentally, what time?"

"Incidentally, I happened to overhear a conversation that might be relevant to your investigation."

to reserve a specific thing such as a seat, ticket, hotel room, etc.

"Book your flight tickets early online."

"We need to book our flights early to get the best prices because tickets become more expensive as the travel date approaches."

a separate section, usually in the form of a colored magazine, sold with a newspaper

"Read the weekend supplement."

"The weekend supplement includes culture and lifestyle articles."

available as an option for something else

"We need an alternative route."

"We need an alternative route because the main road is closed for construction."

without being late or delayed

"We arrived in time for dinner."

"We arrived in time for dinner so we did not miss the main course or the dessert."

a bus with comfortable seats that carries many passengers, used for long journeys

"The coach will arrive soon."

"We decided to take the coach for our long-distance journey across the country."

to say that something is the case without providing proof for it

"He claims he is innocent."

"The politician made a bold claim about economic growth without providing any supporting evidence."

a mention or citation of something, often to provide context or support for an idea

"This is a reference to the book."

"The author made a direct reference to a previous study to support her argument."

carried out in a relaxed and unhurried manner

"He took a leisurely walk."

"We took a leisurely walk through the park enjoying the beautiful weather and the colorful flowers that were blooming everywhere."

a public area set aside as a pedestrian walk

"We walked on the promenade."

"The seaside promenade offered a picturesque view of the ocean and passing ships."

a system or network of tracks with the trains, organization, and people needed to operate them

"The railway connects the port to the city."

"The railway connected the inland coal mines to the coastal ports for export."

a document or authorization that allows a person to enter, cross, or move through a restricted area

"Show your pass."

"Visitors must present their security pass before entering the restricted facility."

requiring little effort or concentration

"This is light work."

"The quiz was designed to be a light introduction to the complex subject matter."

the most outstanding, enjoyable or exciting part of something

"That was the highlight."

"The highlight of our vacation was definitely the sunset cruise along the coast of the beautiful island."

energy or power produced by the pressure of boiling water vapor

"The train used steam."

"The industrial revolution was powered by the immense steam generated from burning coal."

(of a building) to have a view of something, particularly from above

"The window overlooks the garden."

"The hotel room's balcony seemed to overlook the entire bustling city center."

belonging or related to the Middle Ages, the period in European history from roughly the 5th to the 15th century

"The castle is medieval."

"The medieval castle had thick stone walls and a moat to protect the king from invading armies during times of war."

the customs, traditions, rituals, and behaviors that are inherited and preserved within a community or society over time

"Their heritage is rich."

"The festival celebrates the vibrant cultural heritage passed down through generations of the community."