Test 1 - Reading - Passage 1 (2) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 19 Vocabulary List

to increase something to the highest possible level

"We need to maximize our profits."

"The company restructured its operations to maximize profits and reduce unnecessary expenses across all departments."

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."

(of a tennis racket) having strings arranged in a loose, irregular pattern, often creating an exaggerated and springy effect

"The racket is spaghetti-strung."

"The old, spaghetti-strung tennis racket gave the ball an unpredictable bounce, making it challenging to play."

the arrangement of strings in a racket that forms the surface which makes contact with the ball or shuttlecock

"The stringbed feels responsive and solid."

"The stringbed of the racquet felt too loose so she increased the tension for better control."

a stroke in racket sports such as tennis or table tennis where the player hits the ball with forward spin

"Topspin makes it curve."

"The tennis player used heavy topspin to make the ball kick high after bouncing."

to officially forbid a particular action, item, or practice

"The city will ban plastic bags."

"The city council voted to ban single use plastic bags in an effort to reduce environmental pollution."

used to indicate a small number or amount of something

"One or two items."

"We still have a day or two before the deadline, so there's no need to rush through everything right now."

the quality of being consistent, steady, or predictable in occurrence or pattern

"The train arrives with perfect regularity."

"The doctor recommended exercise regularity of at least thirty minutes daily for heart health."

the state of being important or worthy of attention

"The discovery has great scientific significance."

"The significance of the discovery was not immediately recognized by the scientific community."

a group of items that share a common feature

"Which category does this item belong to?"

"The novel won awards in both the science fiction and fantasy categories that year."

used to point out that something or someone is part of a set or group

"Everyone passed including me."

"The price of the meal includes drinks including coffee tea and soft drinks."

a long, continuous tube in the body through which the food coming from the stomach moves and is passed

"The intestine absorbs nutrients from digested food."

"The small intestine is about twenty feet long and is the part of the digestive system where most nutrients are absorbed into the blood."

a tough synthetic fiber that is light and elastic, used in textile industry

"Her tights are made of durable nylon."

"Nylon is a generic designation for a family of synthetic polymers"

a strong, lightweight material made from synthetic fibers, often used in protective gear such as bulletproof vests, helmets, and tires because of its high resistance to impact

"Kevlar vests protect against bullets."

"Kevlar fibers were used in bulletproof vests because of their incredible tensile strength."

a type of plastic made by combining two or more different chemical compounds to enhance strength, flexibility, and durability

"The bottle is made from copolyester plastic."

"Copolyester was a durable plastic material used for reusable water bottles and food containers."

a synthetic fiber that is quick to dry and is widely used in textile industry

"My shirt is made of polyester."

"She prefers wearing polyester shirts because they dry quickly after washing and require very little ironing."

the arrangement or organization of equipment, tools, or elements in a specific way, typically designed to achieve a particular function or performance

"The camera setup takes only a minute."

"The initial setup of the new computer took about an hour including software installation."

to a significant or notable degree beyond all others

"She is by far the best student in class."

"She is by far the best student in the class and her grades are consistently higher than everyone else."

to compete, argue, or fight until a decision, winner, or resolution is reached

"The teams battled out the championship."

"The two rival teams will battle out the championship final on Saturday night at the?? stadium."

the rotation applied to a tennis ball, which affects its flight path and bounce

"The tennis ball has heavy topspin."

"The tennis player put heavy spin on the ball causing it to bounce low and curve away."

from a certain perspective or interpretation, though not in every way

"In a sense you are correct."

"In a sense you are correct but there is another way to look at the problem as well."

to change something in a significant or fundamental way

"The internet revolutionized global communication."

"The invention of the smartphone revolutionized the way people communicate and access information all around the entire world."

the act of making something suitable or adapting to specific circumstances by making necessary changes or modifications

"The chair needs a small adjustment to be comfortable."

"The therapist made a small adjustment to her posture which relieved the back pain immediately."

the act of putting the ball into play by hitting or throwing it to start a point in sports like tennis, volleyball, or table tennis

"The serving was good."

"Her powerful serving made it very difficult for the opponent to return the ball effectively during the match."

a tendency or predisposition to favor something over other options

"Her preference was clear."

"Her preference for spicy food became obvious when she added hot sauce to every dish."

used to highlight differences or similarities when comparing two or more things or people

"In comparison, this is better."

"By comparison, the new model of the car is much more fuel-efficient than the older version we used to drive."

the action of putting the ball or puck into play to start a point or match

"His serve was fast."

"The tennis player's aggressive serve was a key factor in her winning the first set of the championship match."

referring to a situation in which teams, players, etc. are trying to defeat their rivals

"He is very competitive."

"The two rival teams engaged in a highly competitive match, each determined to secure victory."

a condition that causes a person or thing to be more successful compared to others

"This is an advantage."

"Being bilingual is a huge advantage when applying for jobs in international companies or government agencies."

most often or in most cases

"The team is mainly composed of young players."

"The team is mainly composed of young players who are eager to prove themselves in the league."

done for recreation, not as an occupation

"The photo is amateur."

"The amateur photographer took stunning pictures of the wildlife even though she had never taken a formal class."

referring to a name commonly used for something

"The so-called expert is wrong."

"The so-called miracle cure was eventually exposed as a fraudulent deception."

to cause or give rise to something

"Generate more power."

"The new technology is designed to generate clean energy from renewable sources."

the union of organizations, regions, countries, etc. to form a larger organization or government

"Strong federation works."

"The strong federation of states works together for common goals and mutual benefit."

a defining or distinctive feature of something

"The most interesting aspect is the historical context."

"One important aspect of the job was the ability to work well under pressure."

food that is essential to one's growth and health

"Eat good nutrition."

"A balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals is crucial for optimal nutrition."

referring to the first of two things mentioned

"The former is better."

"She preferred the former option because it offered more flexibility and fewer immediate risks."

to a large degree

"It is far better now."

"The station is not far from here so you can easily walk there in less than ten minutes."

referring to the second of two things mentioned

"The latter option is better."

"He discussed both the advantages and disadvantages, but focused more on the latter."

(physics) the state of being under pressure as a result of getting stretched

"Rope tension is high."

"Surface tension allows small insects to walk on water without sinking."

to set a piece of equipment in place and make it ready for use

"We install the new TV."

"The technicians will install the advanced security system by tomorrow morning."

in a way that happens repeatedly, often annoyingly

"The phone rings continually in the office."

"The phone rings continually in the office and the receptionist can barely keep up with all the calls."

several and of different types or kinds

"We have various options."

"There are various ways to cook eggs including boiling frying scrambling and poaching each with a different texture and flavor."

an area where people can play basketball, tennis, etc.

"The court is empty."

"The basketball court was newly resurfaced with a glossy wooden floor that reflected the bright lights hanging from the ceiling of the gymnasium."

a type of string or cord made from the natural fibers found in the intestines of animals, often used in sports equipment like tennis rackets or musical instruments

"The gut string is strong."

"Natural gut strings are highly prized by professional players for their superior feel and elasticity."

able to resist wear, damage, or decay

"The bag is durable."

"The durable hiking boots lasted for over five years of regular use and they never leaked or fell apart."

not flexible and therefore hard to bend or change shape

"The door is stiff."

"The old wooden door was so stiff that it took considerable effort to push it open wide enough to enter."

(of different elements) to come together in order to shape a single unit or a group

"They combine."

"The two companies decided to combine their resources to create a stronger market presence."

a substance that is added in small quantities to something else to improve or preserve its quality, appearance, or effectiveness

"This food has no artificial additives"

"This food additive helps preserve the freshness and quality of the product for a longer shelf life."

combining two or more different elements, often from different sources or types

"The car is hybrid."

"The hybrid car uses both gasoline and electricity to achieve better fuel efficiency than traditional vehicles."

something that is well-suited or ideal for a particular purpose, style, or situation

"This is a good fit."

"The new design is a perfect fit for the company's evolving brand identity."

to be likely to develop or occur in a certain way because that is the usual pattern

"She tends to arrive late daily."

"Young children tend to imitate the behavior of their parents and other adults around them."

the barrier in the middle of a court over which players hit the ball, used in sports such as tennis

"The tennis net is high."

"The fish was caught in the net near the shore."

to show, point out, or suggest the existence, presence, or nature of something

"The sign indicates the correct direction."

"The arrows on the floor indicate the direction of the emergency exit in case of a fire."

outside the limits of something in distance, reach, or capacity

"The school is beyond the hill."

"The school is beyond the bridge and then you turn left at the gas station."

to relate or assign a feature or quality to something or someone

"Attribute this to luck."

"Scientists often attribute the remarkable success of the experiment to a combination of careful planning and serendipity."

a heavy soft metal, used in making bullets, in plumbing and roofing, especially in the past

"The pipe was made of lead."

"Historically, lead was widely used in plumbing systems due to its malleability and durability."

a part of an object designed to be held for use, control, or movement

"Hold the handle tightly."

"The suitcase had a broken handle, making it difficult to carry."

to adjust or shape something closely to the contours or structure of another object

"Mold the clay."

"The artist was able to mold the soft metal into an intricate and beautiful sculpture."

the part of a tool, handle, or equipment, such as a racket, that is held with the hand, often covered with a special tape or material to make holding easier and more secure

"Hold the grip tightly."

"The ergonomic grip of the new tool is designed for maximum comfort during prolonged use."

to cause something to reach a particular level, amount, or condition

"Push the button."

"The government's new policies are intended to push the economy towards sustainable growth."

to expect or predict that something will happen

"We anticipate high attendance at the concert."

"We did not anticipate such a large crowd at the event so we ran out of food quickly."

at or to a more advanced point or stage

"Let's discuss further."

"We need to investigate this matter further to understand all the contributing factors involved in the incident."

(of pieces of evidence, facts, statements, etc.) to be opposite or very different in a way that it is impossible for all to be true at the same time

"His story contradicts the witness testimony entirely."

"The witness's testimony seemed to contradict the physical evidence found at the crime scene by the police investigators."

a series of matches played by a particular sports teams in various locations

"They went on a tour."

"The baseball team embarked on an extensive tour of Asia, playing exhibition games in several different countries."