Test 1 - Reading - Passage 1 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 15 Vocabulary List

a plant or tree's branches and leaves collectively

"Autumn foliage covered the hiking trail beautifully"

"The autumn foliage turned beautiful shades of red and gold."

to surround or cover something completely with a protective structure

"Ice encases the branches."

"The fragile artifact was encased in a glass box to protect it from dust and curious hands at the museum."

outer membranous covering of some fruits or seeds

"The corn husk is peeled away to reveal the kernels."

"The corn husk is peeled away to reveal the kernels and the silk is removed before cooking."

made of or resembling lace

"Her dress is lacy."

"The lacy curtains let in soft filtered light that made the room feel warm and peaceful and romantic."

fleshy and usually brightly colored cover of some seeds that develops from the ovule stalk and partially or entirely envelops the seed

"The pomegranate seed is surrounded by a juicy aril."

"The pomegranate seed is surrounded by a juicy aril which is the edible part of the fruit."

considered highly valuable or esteemed

"This is my prized possession."

"His prized possession was a baseball signed by his favorite player which he kept in a glass case."

a substance or combination of substances used to enhance or impart a specific taste to food or beverages

"The almond flavoring is artificial."

"Flavorings were concentrated preparations that imparted specific tastes to foods."

having properties or qualities suitable for treating or curing illnesses or promoting health

"The herb is medicinal."

"The medicinal herbs were used by the tribe to treat fevers and infections for hundreds of years."

someone who buys and sells goods wholesale

"The merchant sold goods."

"The merchant sold silks and spices imported from distant countries along the trade route."

(economics) an unprocessed material that can be traded in different exchanges or marketplaces

"The commodity is valuable"

"The commodity prices increased sharply due to global supply chain disruptions and demand changes"

of or relating to or characteristic of Venice or its people

"The blind is venetian."

"The venetian blinds on the window could be tilted to let in light while still providing privacy from outside."

arranged for contracted work to be done by others

"They subcontracted the electrical work."

"The general contractor decided to subcontract the electrical work to a smaller specialized company."

someone whose job is selling or buying shares, goods, or currencies

"He is a trader."

"The currency trader made a substantial profit by accurately predicting the fluctuations in the foreign exchange market."

in a quick or immediate way

"The river flows swiftly."

"The river flows swiftly after the heavy rains so it is not safe to go swimming or kayaking right now."

to resist or defend oneself against an attack or challenge, often by taking action to counter the aggression or difficulty

"Fight back against injustice."

"The victim of the attack bravely tried to fight back against his assailant despite being smaller in size."

a company or group of people that are considered as a single unit by law

"She is the CEO of a multinational corporation."

"The large multinational corporation has offices in over fifty different countries around the world."

(of a disease) transmittable from one person to another through close contact

"The flu is contagious."

"The common cold is highly contagious, spreading easily through close contact."

the ruler of a Muslim country, especially in the former Ottoman Empire

"The sultan lives in a grand palace."

"The sultan lives in a grand palace and rules his kingdom with absolute authority."

the state of being present; current existence

"Her presence in the room is reassuring."

"The presence of security cameras discouraged shoplifting in the retail store."

a person or group that enters a place by force to take control

"The invader attacks the village at dawn."

"The invader attacks the village at dawn and the villagers flee to the hills for safety."

to remove something, such as a plant or tree, by pulling it completely out of the ground

"The storm uproots many large trees."

"The strong winds uprooted several large trees in the park causing significant damage to the surrounding area."

a young plant that develops from a seed, typically in the early stages of growth after germination

"The gardener planted each seedling very carefully"

"Each seedling was transplanted into its own small pot to ensure it had enough space to grow."

a thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something

"A sliver of wood."

"Be careful not to get a sliver of wood in your finger when handling the rough lumber."

a middle state between two opposing situations that is reached by slightly changing both of them, so that they can coexist

"They reached a compromise after hours of negotiation."

"The two political parties had to reach a compromise to pass the new law through parliament."

an official agreement between two or more governments or states

"The two countries signed a treaty."

"The peace treaty ended decades of conflict and brought hope for a more stable future."

having a strong resolve or determination to achieve a particular goal or outcome

"She was intent."

"She is intent on winning and will do whatever it takes to come in first place."

influence or control over something or someone

"She has a hold."

"The politician exerted a strong hold over his constituents through his charismatic speeches and promises."

in a sequential manner, referring to actions or events occurring in a specific order

"He helped me and I in turn helped him."

"He helped me and I in turn helped him so we both benefited from our cooperation and teamwork."

to move goods or people illegally and secretly into or out of a country

"He tried to smuggle drugs across the border."

"The criminal tried to smuggle illegal drugs across the border by hiding them inside a secret compartment in his car."

the sudden release of lava, gases, and ash from a volcano

"The volcanic eruption was dangerous."

"The volcanic eruption sent ash into the sky and forced people to leave the area."

a small group of trees planted closely together, often cultivated for their ornamental value or fruit production

"An orange grove."

"The orange grove produced fruit for many years."

a unit of weight equivalent to 1000 kilograms

"The truck carries twenty tonnes of gravel."

"The truck carries twenty tonnes of gravel and the weight is clearly marked on the side."

a country considered as a group of people that share the same history, language, etc., and are ruled by the same government

"The nation voted."

"The nation celebrated after the long holiday weekend."

to spend as much money as needed to get the best result without trying to save money

"Her parents spared no expense for the wedding."

"The parents spared no expense for their daughter's wedding because they wanted it to be perfect."

(of a plant or shrub) retaining leaves all year round

"The tree is evergreen."

"The evergreen tree stays green all year round and does not lose its needles during the cold winter months."

to grow or extend new branches from the main trunk or stem of a tree or plant

"The tree will branch."

"As the sapling matures, it will begin to branch out, creating a more robust and full canopy."

(of plant or fruit tissue) soft, juicy, and succulent, often with a high water content

"The fruit was very fleshy."

"The extremely fleshy texture of the mango made it a delightful tropical treat."

to separate or divide something along a straight line

"Please split the log."

"Carefully split the wooden plank along the marked line to create two equal halves for the project."

any long raised border or margin of a bone or tooth or membrane

"I see a bone ridge."

"The prominent ridge along the mountain's spine offered a challenging but rewarding ascent for the hikers."

a deep and vivid red color

"The sunset was crimson."

"The artist used a rich crimson pigment to capture the intense blush on the subject's cheeks."

a method or style of cooking that is specific to a country or region

"I like French cuisine."

"Exploring the local cuisine is one of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling to new countries."

having the quality or effect of protecting something from decay, damage, or loss

"The additive is preservative."

"The preservative in the bread keeps it fresh for weeks but some people worry about eating too many chemicals."

a substance that exerts some force or effect

"Water is an agent."

"This particular chemical acts as a powerful cleaning agent, effectively removing even the most stubborn stains."

to make information that was previously unknown or kept in secrecy publicly known

"The report will reveal the truth."

"The investigation revealed shocking evidence that completely changed the direction of the criminal case."

the state of having superiority over another party in terms of power, knowledge, influence, etc.

"The cat showed dominance."

"His undeniable dominance in the debate gave him a significant advantage over his opponents."

to utilize or take full advantage of something, often resources, opportunities, or skills

"The company exploited cheap labor ruthlessly."

"The large corporation was accused of trying to exploit cheap labor in developing countries by paying very low wages for long hours of work."

to be present or available in large amounts

"Money will flow."

"In the bustling marketplace, goods and services flow freely, catering to the diverse needs of the community."

related to the purchasing and selling of different goods and services

"It is a commercial."

"The commercial building downtown is for sale at a reasonable price."

a group of aircraft belonging to and operated by the same company or organization

"The fleet flies today."

"The airline's entire fleet of aircraft was grounded due to unexpected mechanical issues."

to exclude someone or something from participation or access

"They lock us out."

"Due to the ongoing dispute, the company decided to lock out all striking employees until further notice."

to increase rapidly to a high level

"Prices will soar quickly."

"The eagle spread its wide wings and began to soar high above the valley looking for prey below."

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."

a business especially one run on a large scale

"It is a big operation."

"The successful launch of the new product line represented a significant and complex operation for the entire company."

a dangerous disease spread by rats that causes fever and swellings, often kills if infected

"The plague killed millions in medieval Europe."

"The bubonic plague killed millions of people in Europe during the fourteenth century pandemic."

(of people) behaving dangerously or aggressively due to the circumstances

"He is desperate now."

"The trapped hikers became desperate and took extreme risks to find their way out."

lacking a sufficient amount of something in general

"We are short of time."

"The company was short on staff during the holiday season, leading to longer customer wait times."

to make something stay in the same state or condition

"Maintain the car's condition."

"It is important to maintain a positive attitude even when facing significant challenges."

not favoring either side in a conflict, competition, debate, etc.

"Stay neutral in this."

"As a mediator, it is essential to remain neutral and avoid taking sides in the dispute."

armed forces or soldiers, especially by large numbers

"A troop marched past."

"Reinforcing troops arrived overnight, bolstering the defenses of the besieged city."

to gain control or possession of something through force, effort, or strategy

"They will take over."

"The ambitious startup plans to take over the market with its innovative new technology."

something purchased with the expectation that it will become more valuable or useful over time

"This is an investment."

"Buying stocks in established companies is often considered a wise investment for long-term financial growth."

to bring people or things together in one place

"Let's concentrate here."

"The committee decided to concentrate all of their resources on developing a sustainable energy solution."

a large piece of land used for growing sugar cane, coffee, tea, etc., particularly in a hot country

"The plantation was large."

"The old plantation has been converted into a museum that explains the region's agricultural history."

a specific area with unique characteristics

"The no-parking zone is strictly enforced."

"The coastal zone was vulnerable to flooding during hurricanes and tropical storms."

official permission, sanction, or approval

"He has authority."

"The building inspector's authority allows him to condemn unsafe structures without further delay."

a white or gray powder made by heating certain types of rocks and is commonly used in building materials, making soil less acidic, or treating water

"We need some lime."

"Adding lime to the soil helps to neutralize its acidity, promoting healthier plant growth."

(of an animal, person, or plant) able to produce offspring, fruit, or seed

"The fertile plant produced seeds."

"This region is known for its fertile land, which supports a wide variety of crops."

an official agreement that puts an end to a dispute

"The settlement was fair"

"The settlement was fair and resolved the long-standing dispute between the two companies"

to reach or gain a particular thing, typically requiring significant amount of effort

"He secures the prize."

"The company worked hard to secure a large contract with a major international client last month."

a situation in which one organization or entity exclusively controls the production, distribution, or trade of a product or service, making other rivals unable to compete

"The company has a monopoly."

"The tech giant's market monopoly allowed them to dictate prices without fear of competition."

(of an animal, child, or plant) to grow with strength, health, or energy

"The plant will thrive."

"In the nutrient-rich soil and ample sunlight, the small sapling began to thrive and grow vigorously."

to completely remove or destroy something so that it no longer exists

"Wipe out the enemy."

"The devastating wildfire threatened to wipe out the entire forest and its inhabitants."

to suddenly and forcibly take hold of something

"The army seized control of the city."

"The army moved quickly to seize control of the airport before the enemy could arrive and defend it."

to remove a plant from its original place and replant it somewhere else

"Transplant the flower."

"We decided to transplant the young tomato seedlings into larger pots for better development."

to grow plants or crops, especially for farming or commercial purposes

"They cultivate corn."

"Farmers must skillfully cultivate the land to maximize their crop yields."