Test 2 - Reading - Passage 1 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 15 Vocabulary List

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."

the ability to move easily or be freely moved from one place, job, etc. to another

"The knee injury limits his mobility."

"The knee injury limits his mobility and he cannot run or jump until it heals completely."

an idea or belief that one thinks is true without having a proof

"That is a false assumption."

"She made a wrong assumption about his intentions and later regretted it deeply."

special importance given to something over other items or considerations

"Emphasis draws viewer attention."

"Emphasis draws the viewer's attention to the most important part of a design or artwork."

with no one or nothing else involved

"This is solely mine."

"The success of the project was solely due to the hard work and dedication of the team."

the ability to act or function with minimum effort, time, and resources

"The new hybrid engine offers a ten percent increase in fuel efficiency."

"Implementing new software dramatically improved the team's efficiency, allowing them to complete tasks much faster."

related to or involving numbers or amounts, not quality

"The data is quantitative."

"The quantitative analysis involved measuring the exact amount of pollution in the water sample and comparing it to safety standards."

a person who creates and designs dance movements and routines, typically for performances, shows, or productions

"The choreographer creates the dance sequences."

"The choreographer creates the dance sequences and decides how the dancers will move across the stage."

a person who studies human society, social behavior, and how people interact with each other in groups

"The sociologist analyzed urban poverty."

"The famous sociologist wrote many books about modern social problems and changes."

a disadvantage or the feature of a situation that makes it unacceptable

"The main drawback is the high cost."

"The main drawback of living in a big city is the high cost and heavy traffic every single day."

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."

having help; often used as a combining form

"The search is computer aided."

"The aided hiker used a walking stick to help him climb the steep mountain trail without falling."

to consider something when trying to make a judgment or decision

"Take the weather into account before you pack."

"When planning the trip we need to take the weather into account because it might rain heavily."

a canopy made of canvas to shelter people or things from rain or sun

"The sun is blocked by a striped awning."

"The sun is blocked by a striped awning and the patio stays cool even on hot afternoons."

not hospitable or inviting, often creating a sense of discomfort or unease

"The town is unwelcoming."

"The unwelcoming receptionist did not smile or say hello when the guests arrived at the hotel lobby."

contradictory to the expectations that are formed on common sense or intuition

"The result is counterintuitive."

"The counterintuitive result surprised the scientists because it contradicted everything they expected to find."

a barrier along the edge of a road or bridge to stop cars from going off the road

"The guardrail prevents cars from going over the cliff."

"The guardrail prevented cars from plunging down the steep embankment after the curve."

to give a higher level of importance or urgency to a particular task, goal, or objective compared to others

"Prioritize your tasks now."

"When faced with multiple demands, it's crucial to prioritize your tasks based on their importance."

one of the two sides of a motorway where traffic travels in one direction only usually in two or three lanes

"The carriageway is closed for repairs."

"The carriageway is closed for repairs and traffic is diverted through the side streets."

an action that causes a delay or interruption in the ongoing continuity of an activity or process

"The storm causes a major disruption in travel."

"The disruption caused by the storm delayed flights and closed highways for two days."

related to the core and most important or basic parts of something

"The change is fundamental."

"The fundamental principles of mathematics are taught in elementary school and students build upon them throughout their education."

an artistic expression delivered by different means of art like music or painting

"Painting is an art form."

"Dance is an art form that combines movement and expression."

a possible consequence that something can bring about

"The implication was clear."

"The implication of the new policy is that many employees will lose their jobs."

referring to mental processes involved in understanding, thinking, and remembering

"She has cognitive abilities."

"Cognitive abilities such as memory and problem solving can be improved with regular mental exercise and challenging puzzles."

with no other reason or purpose involved

"This was purely an accident."

"This was purely an accident not intentional so please do not be angry with me for it."

high level of skill, knowledge, or proficiency in a particular field or subject matter

"Her expertise was great."

"A center of expertise is a dedicated team within an organization that provides deep"

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."

pleasing and likely to arouse interest or desire

"The job offer is appealing."

"The idea of a tropical vacation proved incredibly appealing to the weary office workers."

not expected or anticipated, often leading to surprise or disruption

"The problem was unforeseen."

"The unforeseen delay caused by the storm meant that we missed our connecting flight and had to stay overnight."

addressing the structures, functions, or issues of cities and their populations

"I prefer urban life."

"The urban neighborhood was crowded with apartment buildings and busy streets and there was always something happening like festivals concerts or food trucks."

using natural resources in a way that causes no harm to the environment

"The project is sustainable."

"The sustainable farming practices protect the soil and water for future generations to use."

to represent a specific amount or portion of a whole

"This accounts for it."

"Online sales now account for a substantial portion of the company's total revenue."

the act of using up something, such as resources, energy, or materials

"Water consumption is very high."

"The consumption of plastic has increased dramatically over the past few decades, causing serious environmental problems worldwide."

(of a country, society, region, etc.) having advanced economically and socially, characterized by a strong industrial base and higher standards of living

"It is a developed country."

"The developed nation boasts a robust economy, advanced infrastructure, and a high quality of life for its citizens."

information or facts collected to be used for various purposes

"The survey collected a lot of data."

"Analyzing big data requires sophisticated algorithms and powerful computational resources."

(of actions, ideas, etc.) very new and different from the norm

"His idea is radical."

"The radical change in the company's strategy surprised investors but the new approach proved to be very successful in the long run."

to encourage or provoke a response, reaction, or activity

"Caffeine stimulates the nervous system temporarily."

"The teacher used colorful pictures and videos to stimulate the students interest in the history lesson about ancient Egypt."

a detailed technical or architectural plan showing dimensions, materials, and specifications for construction or production

"See the blueprint."

"The architect presented a detailed blueprint for the new skyscraper, outlining every structural element."

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 create or make something using whatever materials or resources are available

"We must improvise a plan."

"With limited resources and time, the team had to improvise a creative solution to the problem."

to change something in a way that suits a new purpose or situation better

"We adapt quickly."

"Organisms must adapt to changing environmental conditions to survive and thrive in their habitats."

knowing someone or something very well through close study or personal experience

"They are intimate friends."

"The professor had an intimate knowledge of ancient Roman history after decades of dedicated study."

an area of land on which something is, was, or will be constructed

"Visit the site."

"The construction site is very busy."

to produce a plan, idea, etc. in one's mind

"She conceived a brilliant idea suddenly."

"It is very difficult for most people to conceive what life was like before the invention of the internet and smartphones existed."

to remove or separate something

"Detach the trailer from the car."

"The mechanic will detach the damaged exhaust system from the underside of the vehicle for inspection."

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."

a way of doing something or dealing with a problem

"This approach works very well."

"The new approach to teaching mathematics has helped students understand complex problems more easily than before."

a framework of spaced lines, horizontal and vertical, used as a reference for plotting points

"Plot it on the grid."

"The cartographer used a grid system on the map to precisely locate geographical features and landmarks."

to plan or create something with a particular purpose or future use in mind

"I intend to finish this."

"The architect intended the building to be a sustainable landmark for future generations."

a person who is on foot and not in or on a vehicle

"The pedestrian crossed safely."

"The pedestrian waited for the light before stepping into the street."

inclined to help or support; not antagonistic or hostile

"The staff is friendly."

"The friendly neighbors welcomed the new family with a homemade pie and an offer to help them unpack their boxes."

to devote a lot of effort, time, etc. to something from which one expects to achieve a good result

"We must invest."

"To achieve her career goals, she decided to invest significant effort into her professional development."

complete confidence in a person or plan etc

"Have faith in them."

"Despite numerous setbacks, she maintained her faith in the project's ultimate success."

to function in a specific way

"The machine will operate soon."

"This new software is designed to operate efficiently across multiple platforms."

(of a thing or type of behavior) appropriate for or intended to defend one against damage or harm

"It is protective."

"The thick helmet offered protective cushioning against potential head injuries."

to cause a person to dislike someone or something

"It will put him off."

"His arrogant attitude tends to put off potential clients and collaborators."

to convert or transform something from one state, format, or medium into another

"Can you translate this?"

"The skilled linguist can translate complex technical documents from one language into another with accuracy."

to exert a significant influence on the development, nature, or outcome of something

"Shape the future."

"His early experiences profoundly shaped his perspective on life."

the state of moving constantly and steadily

"The flow is smooth."

"The flow of traffic was slow because of construction work on the main highway."

to organize or set objects or events in a way that avoids overlapping

"We stagger the meetings."

"The museum decided to stagger the opening hours to avoid overcrowding."

a basic element of design that refers to a small, clearly defined location or mark on a surface

"Draw a point here."

"A single point can serve as the foundational element from which more complex shapes and lines emerge."

an obstacle that separates people or hinders any progress or communication

"Language barrier exists."

"The language barrier made communication difficult between the tourists and local people in the foreign country."

capable of changing quickly from one state or condition to another

"The situation is mobile."

"Her mobile nature allowed her to adapt quickly to the changing demands of the job."

materials that have no use and are unwanted

"We must reduce waste daily."

"It is important to separate your waste into recyclables and non-recyclables to help protect the environment and reduce pollution."

possessing or providing an abundance of resources or qualities

"The soil is rich."

"The philanthropist's rich legacy continues to support numerous educational initiatives."

to try to deal with a difficult problem or situation in a determined manner

"We must tackle climate change now."

"The government needs to tackle the problem of unemployment by creating more jobs for young people."

relating to the enjoyment or appreciation of beauty or art, especially visual art

"The painting has aesthetic value."

"The architect focused on creating a harmonious and pleasing aesthetic for the new public library."

to fake or act as if experiencing a particular emotion

"He will simulate pain."

"The actor managed to simulate genuine distress, convincing everyone in the audience."

approaching a subject in a theoretical way, without concern for practical application or real-world examples

"It is abstract art."

"The philosopher's arguments were purely abstract, lacking any connection to practical reality."

the size, amount, or degree of one thing compared with another

"The map has a scale of one inch to a mile."

"The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale used to quantify the size of earthquakes based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs."

a conceptual distinction between ideas or categories

"See the contrast."

"The stark contrast between the vibrant city life and the desolate countryside was immediately apparent."

a goal that one wants to achieve

"The main objective is to reduce costs."

"The main objective is to reduce costs by twenty percent while maintaining the same quality level."

to begin to exist or become noticeable

"Problems arise when people are careless."

"Problems may arise during the project, but the team is prepared to handle any unexpected challenges."

any action or maneuver taken as part of a plan or strategy to achieve a specific goal or progress toward an objective

"This is a good measure."

"The government implemented a new measure to combat rising inflation and stabilize the economy."

to change something such as a process, situation, etc. to be the opposite of what it was before

"Can you reverse the car into the garage?"

"The driver had to reverse the car out of the narrow driveway because there was no space to turn around."