Test 1 - Reading - Passage 2 (1) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 17 Vocabulary List

relating to or used in sports

"This is sporting equipment."

"Despite the odds, the underdog team had a sporting chance of winning the championship match."

the largest and most important church of a specific area, which is controlled by a bishop

"Notre Dame is the famous cathedral in the heart of Paris."

"The cathedral in our city was built in the thirteenth century and attracts many tourists."

the state of something that has been unused and neglected

"The old factory falls into disuse."

"The old factory falls into disuse and becomes a popular spot for urban explorers and photographers."

a damaged or broken state of a building or other structure, because it has not been taken care of

"The old barn fell into disrepair."

"The old house fell into disrepair after the owner moved away and no one maintained the property."

made for practical use, not for looks

"The design is functional."

"The furniture is simple and functional with no unnecessary decorations but it serves its purpose well and is very comfortable."

a building for indoor sports

"The sports arena hosts basketball games and concerts."

"The sports arena hosts basketball games and concerts and seats twenty thousand spectators."

serving as a visible symbol for something abstract

"The flag is emblematic."

"The bald eagle is emblematic of American freedom and it appears on the country's official seal and currency."

a person who watches sport competitions closely

"Each spectator cheered for their team."

"The excited spectator cheered loudly for his favorite team during the football match."

a structure or town that has been designed for military defense against enemy attacks

"The fortress is strong."

"Soldiers defended the fortress at the top of the mountain."

the production of a drama on the stage

"The staging of the play was excellent."

"The elaborate staging of the Shakespearean play greatly enhanced the audience's immersive experience."

a public entertainment, particularly in Spain, in which someone fights a bull and usually kills it

"Traditional bullfight is controversial in modern Spain."

"Bullfighting is a controversial tradition in Spain that many animal rights activists want to ban."

a location where an event or action takes place, such as a meeting or performance

"The stadium is the venue for the final."

"The stadium was chosen as the venue for the championship final because of its large capacity."

a thing or person that is striking or impressive to see, often because it is unusual or remarkable

"The parade was a spectacle."

"The fireworks created a colorful and amazing spectacle in the night sky above the city."

impressive or grand in appearance, size, presence that inspires respect, admiration, or awe

"The building is imposing."

"The imposing statue of the general stood in the town square and the inscription praised his heroic leadership during the war."

a large amphitheater in Rome whose construction was begun by Vespasian about AD 75 or 80

"The Colosseum in Rome once held gladiator fights."

"The Colosseum in Rome once held gladiator fights and could seat over fifty thousand spectators."

in a manner that advances or develops gradually over time

"The disease progressively worsened over time."

"The disease progressively worsened over time and the patient needed more and more help with daily activities."

in different ways

"The word is variously defined."

"The word is variously defined in different dictionaries and students should check multiple sources to understand its full meaning."

to go back to a previous state, condition, or behavior

"He reverted to his old habits."

"After the crisis was resolved the company reverted to its normal operating procedures and daily business activities resumed as usual."

(plural) the remains of something such as a building after it has been seriously damaged or destroyed

"The ruin was ancient."

"The ancient ruin attracts thousands of tourists every year who marvel at its crumbling stone walls."

a place where someone lives, typically their home

"My residence is small."

"The ambassador's official residence is located in the heart of the capital city."

a composite material that consists of concrete and embedded reinforcement, typically steel bars or mesh

"Reinforced concrete contains steel bars."

"Reinforced concrete combines concrete's compressive strength with steel rods resisting tension."

one of two or more layers one atop another

"The wedding cake has three tiers."

"The wedding cake has three tiers and each layer is decorated with buttercream frosting and flowers."

to place something in a particular position or setting

"The house is situated near the lake."

"The architect decided to situate the large windows on the south side to capture the maximum amount of sunlight."

characteristic of or relating to a residential area outside a city or town

"They live in a suburban town."

"The suburban house has a large yard and a two car garage and is located near good schools and parks."

someone who supports or follows the ideas of Romanticism, which focus on strong emotions, imagination, nature, and individual freedom, especially in art, literature, or philosophy

"The romanticist paints dramatic landscapes."

"The romanticist paints dramatic landscapes and his work features stormy skies and rugged mountains."

extremely great in extent, size, or area

"The desert is vast."

"The vast desert stretched as far as the eye could see without any sign of water anywhere."

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."

to be more numerous, powerful, or significant than everything else around it

"The big trees dominate."

"In that ecosystem, the apex predator tends to dominate all other species."

the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet

"The skyline is filled with skyscrapers."

"The skyline is filled with skyscrapers and the tallest building dominates the view from the river."

a period of history marked by particular features or events

"The invention of the printing press began a new era."

"The digital era has completely transformed the way people communicate around the world."

to think about someone or something in a specified way

"I regard it highly."

"Many people regard him as the best doctor in the city because he has saved so many lives."

a doubting or questioning attitude towards ideas, beliefs, or claims that are generally accepted

"He shows skepticism always."

"A healthy dose of skepticism is essential when evaluating unverified claims and conspiracy theories."

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."

in a way that is significant

"The weather was notably colder today."

"The weather was notably colder than usual for this time of year so we wore extra layers."

a particular situation defined by specific circumstances

"It is a difficult case."

"In this specific case, the evidence clearly points to the defendant's guilt."

to be the influencing factor that causes something to make progress

"Ambition will drive him."

"Her strong desire for success will drive her to work tirelessly towards achieving her goals."

to adjust oneself to fit into a new environment or situation

"Animals adapt to their environment."

"Animals must adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions if they want to survive in the wild."

an open building that is round or oval in shape and has a space in the middle surrounded by several seats, originated in ancient Roman and Greek architecture used for public entertainments such as sports or drama

"The amphitheater was large."

"Thousands gathered in the magnificent amphitheater to witness the spectacular gladiatorial contests and theatrical performances."

(of things) able to be used or applied in multiple ways or for various purposes

"This tool is versatile."

"The versatile actor can play both dramatic and comedic roles and he has won awards for his performances in each genre."

the protection, maintenance, and restoration of objects, buildings, or works of artistic or historical significance

"Art conservation is important."

"The conservation of ancient manuscripts requires careful handling and controlled environmental conditions."

to change the form, purpose, character, etc. of something

"Convert the currency before traveling."

"The company plans to convert the old warehouse into modern loft apartments for young professionals seeking affordable housing in the city."

to remain in existence or functional over a long period of time

"This old car will endure."

"The ancient monument was designed to endure the ravages of time and weather."

first in importance or rank

"This is a prime location."

"The prime objective of the mission was to secure the valuable artifact before enemy forces arrived."

a musical play sung and performed by singers

"We saw a magnificent opera at the Sydney Opera House."

"She has been watching the same opera for over twenty years."

superior to others in terms of excellence

"His work is outstanding."

"The outstanding performance of the young actress earned her an Academy Award nomination for best supporting role."

the qualities of a space that influence how sound is heard within it, including clarity, loudness, and resonance

"The hall's acoustic was perfect."

"The architect carefully considered the room's acoustic properties to ensure optimal sound quality for lectures."

to take something in and integrate it into a larger system or whole

"Plants absorb water."

"The sponge can absorb a surprising amount of liquid due to its porous structure."

a location in which goods or products are stored

"The depot stores supplies."

"This central depot serves as a major distribution point for goods across the region."

to firmly and deeply fix something in something else

"The nail embeds in wood."

"The archaeologist carefully worked to embed the delicate artifact in protective plaster for transport."

(of a place) able to be reached, entered, etc.

"The building is accessible."

"The building is accessible to wheelchair users because there is a ramp at the entrance and wide doorways inside."

to be one of the causes or reasons that helps something happen

"He will contribute money."

"His insightful comments will contribute significantly to our final decision-making process."

(of a person) producing creative and original ideas, equipment, methods, etc.

"The design is innovative."

"The innovative design of the new smartphone includes features that no other company has ever offered to customers."

the basic structure or system that forms the foundation of something

"The fabric of society matters."

"The underlying fabric of the agreement was based on mutual trust and shared objectives."

the opportunity or capacity to do or achieve something

"What is the scope?"

"The international conference provided a broad scope for discussing global economic challenges and solutions."