Test 1 - Reading - Passage 3 (2) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 17 Vocabulary List

(of a book, movie, etc.) having a fast-developing plot

"The novel is pacy."

"The pacy novel had short chapters and a fast moving plot that kept readers turning pages late into the night."

spoken or written language in its usual form, in contrast to poetry

"She prefers prose."

"While the play contained some poetic passages, the majority of the dialogue was written in clear prose."

to stay away from someone or something unpleasant, particularly one that is dangerous or troublesome

"Steer clear of that dog, he bites."

"I try to steer clear of my ex boyfriend whenever I see him at parties or events."

in a manner that is quick, precise, and skillful, especially with physical movements

"He moved deftly."

"The surgeon deftly navigated the delicate tissues, performing the complex operation with remarkable precision and speed."

in a tasteful, refined, or graceful manner

"She danced very elegantly."

"The diplomat spoke elegantly, choosing his words with care and precision."

a true or imaginary story, particularly one that is full of exciting events

"The tale was interesting."

"She told a tale about a brave child and a hidden treasure."

fair in judgment or treatment

"The judge was evenhanded."

"The judge was evenhanded and treated both sides fairly during the trial."

arousing desire or expectation for something unattainable or mockingly out of reach

"The aroma is tantalizing."

"The tantalizing aroma of freshly baked cookies wafted from the kitchen, making everyone's mouth water."

the ability to think quickly and cleverly

"His wit makes everyone laugh at the party."

"His wit makes everyone laugh at the party and he is known for his clever one liners."

the use of deceit or scheme to cheat or take advantage of someone

"The fox uses trickery to steal the cheese."

"The fox uses trickery to steal the cheese and escapes before the farmer can catch him."

the use of deceptive methods or devices to achieve something

"He obtained the documents by subterfuge."

"The spy gained access to the secure facility through clever subterfuge rather than using force or weapons."

to succeed in achieving the desired result

"Your idea really hit the mark."

"The marketing campaign hit the mark perfectly and attracted thousands of new customers within the first week."

a person who has the power to rule over a kingdom or empire, especially someone who inherits this power

"The monarch signed the law."

"The monarch visited the capital."

to treat or represent a person or thing in a way that is accurate and fair

"This does not do justice."

"The documentary failed to do justice to the complex historical events it attempted to portray."

the quality of being intricate and compounded

"The complexity of the problem baffles the engineers."

"The complexity of the problem baffles the engineers and they need more time to find a solution."

(of an event, situation, or outcome) waiting to happen in the future, typically expected or anticipated

"Surprises are in store."

"The surprise that was in store for the birthday girl made her eyes light up when she saw all her friends gathered together."

characterized by active hostility

"They have opposing views."

"The two opposing armies prepared for battle, their soldiers filled with a sense of dread."

to escape danger or from a place

"People flee from war zones."

"Many families were forced to flee their homes when the violent conflict suddenly escalated in the region."

a discussion about a particular issue between two opposing sides, mainly held publicly

"The debate was intense."

"They held a debate about the new policy."

existing or spreading among many people, groups, or communities through communication, influence, or awareness

"The disease is widespread."

"The widespread use of smartphones has changed the way people communicate and access information in their daily lives."

to be without or to not have enough of something that is needed or desirable

"He lacks confidence in his abilities."

"The report lacks sufficient evidence to support its claims about the effectiveness of the new drug."

having enough of something to meet a particular need or requirement

"We have sufficient food."

"The company needs to demonstrate sufficient progress before it can secure the next round of funding."

the act of including

"The inclusion of students with disabilities requires planning."

"The inclusion of students with disabilities requires planning and special accommodations in the classroom."

someone who writes reviews and analysis of books, movies, etc.

"The reviewer gives the film five stars."

"The book reviewer praised the novel's originality but criticized its uneven pacing and weak ending."

the conditions or factors that surround and influence a particular situation

"The circumstance forced us to change plans."

"She showed great strength in a very difficult circumstance last year."

to fail to understand something or someone correctly

"Please do not misunderstand my words."

"I think you misunderstand what I meant because I was not trying to criticize you at all."

a reason or purpose behind someone's actions or behavior

"The detective searches for a motive."

"The detective tried to determine the killer's motive by interviewing family members and friends."

a system of government or a country or state that is ruled by a king or queen

"The monarchy has a queen."

"An absolute monarchy is a form of government where a single ruler"

not having favoritism or prejudice toward any particular side or viewpoint

"The report is unbiased."

"The unbiased reporter presented all of the facts without favoring any political party and viewers trusted her journalism."

the specific theme or topic that a work of art, speech, etc. contains

"The subject matter is serious."

"The subject matter of the book is family life and change."

widespread or commonly occurring at a particular time or in a particular place

"This disease is prevalent."

"The common cold is more prevalent during the winter months because people spend more time indoors in close contact with each other."

to leave out or exclude something or someone, usually intentionally, from a list, text, or action

"Please omit this part."

"The editor decided to omit the controversial chapter from the book to avoid potential backlash."

a tendency toward dishonesty, falseness, or misleading behavior

"The politician's deceit is exposed by the press."

"The politician's deceit is exposed by the press and he resigns from office in disgrace."

in a manner that shows great willingness, interest, or excitement

"She enthusiastically agreed to help."

"She enthusiastically agreed to help us with the project and worked very hard every single day."

a large group or unit of people, vehicles, or things

"The fighter squadron flies over the base."

"A squadron of police cars responded quickly to the emergency call in the city."

a minor issue, often involving a small complaint or irritation about something that is not very significant

"A small niggle remains."

"Despite the successful outcome, a small niggle of concern about the long-term consequences persisted."

a supportive or favorable attitude towards an opinion, goal, or viewpoint, indicating agreement or understanding

"I have sympathy for you."

"He expressed his sympathy for their plight and offered his full support for their endeavors."

very strong or intense

"The lion is fierce."

"The fierce competition between the two companies led to lower prices for consumers and better products for everyone."

related to a political ideology or party that typically supports limited government, free-market principles, and conservative social values

"He is a republican voter."

"The republican party platform generally advocates for lower taxes and reduced government spending."

a system of governing that is authoritarian and usually not selected in a fair election

"The regime was harsh."

"The oppressive regime maintained power through strict censorship and the suppression of all dissent."

the details about someone's family, experience, education, etc.

"What is your background?"

"Understanding her diverse professional background helps explain her innovative approach to problem-solving."

to dress oneself in or place something on the body

"She will assume the role."

"He chose to assume a disguise to infiltrate the heavily guarded facility."

a quality or trait that attracts others and creates a positive impression

"His charm wins everyone over."

"His natural charm made everyone feel comfortable even in the most awkward social situations imaginable."

extremely challenging to deal with

"The situation is tight."

"With only a week left until the deadline, the project found itself in a tight spot."

a predicament from which a skillful or graceful escape is impossible

"It is a corner."

"He found himself in a financial corner, with no easy way to repay the loan."

a graphic or vivid verbal description

"The painting's depiction of the battle is realistic."

"The painting's depiction of the battle is realistic and shows the chaos and violence of war."

(of a person) lacking the skill, competence, or ability to produce the desired outcome or perform successfully

"The plan was ineffective."

"Despite his best efforts, the new employee proved ineffective in managing the team."

an occurrence that causes special pleasure or delight

"This is a treat."

"A surprise visit from her best friend was a delightful treat after a long week."

having the characteristics of a saint or angel, such as kindness or innocence

"Her voice was angelic."

"The child had an angelic innocence that charmed everyone she met."

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."

measured or judged in comparison to something else

"It is a relative success."

"The success of the project was relative to the limited resources available at the time."

a belief or opinion that is very strong

"She has strong conviction."

"His strong conviction about justice motivated him to fight for the oppressed."

a formal agreement or treaty establishing cooperation between nations or groups for shared objectives

"They formed an alliance."

"The two nations formed a strategic alliance to defend their borders against common threats."

a secret plan by a group to commit an unlawful, harmful, or treacherous act

"The conspiracy was hard to believe."

"Conspiracy of silence is a secret agreement between people to keep quiet about a crime or a shameful event for their own mutual protection and benefit."

leaving no uncertainty or room for debate

"Her vote was decisive."

"The decisive vote of the committee chair broke the tie and the proposal was approved by a narrow margin."

to mention or express something in few words

"It may indicate a problem."

"The sudden drop in temperature may indicate a change in the weather patterns."

a detailed record or narrative description of events that have occurred

"Give me an account."

"The detective requested a detailed account of the events that transpired on the night of the incident."

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."

a personal belief or judgment that is not based on proof or certainty

"My view is simple."

"From my personal view, the proposed changes would significantly impact the community's well-being."

to explain or show the meaning of something using examples, pictures, etc.

"These examples illustrate the problem well."

"The graph illustrates the relationship between population growth and the increasing demand for natural resources."

to provide reasons when saying something is the case, particularly to persuade others that one is right

"I argue my point."

"He will argue that the new policy is essential for economic growth and stability."

loyalty or allegiance to a cause or a person

"Show your faith."

"Her unwavering faith in her team's abilities inspired everyone to perform better."

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 not notice or see something

"I overlook the error."

"Please do not overlook the crucial instructions provided at the beginning of the document."

to carry out or apply a particular method or activity, especially as a regular or established routine

"Practise your skills often."

"To become a skilled musician, you must practise your instrument diligently every single day."

to think about a problem or an issue and start to deal with it

"We must address this."

"The government needs to address the housing crisis by building more affordable homes for young families."

to assign someone to do a task, such as creating an artistic or literary piece

"The museum commissioned a new sculpture."

"The wealthy patron decided to commission a famous artist to paint a portrait of his entire family."

to successfully achieve or accomplish something

"He pulled off a difficult stunt."

"The magician managed to pull off an incredible trick that left the entire audience amazed and confused."