Test 2 - Reading - Passage 1 (1) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 16 Vocabulary List

a small item made of metal or plastic with words or a logo on it that a person carries to show their membership in an organization

"The badge is shiny."

"The security guard wore a shiny badge on his uniform that identified him as an employee of the private security company."

the period that began about 1100 BC when people used iron tools for the first time

"The Iron Age started three thousand years ago."

"The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division"

causing a lot of strong public disagreement or discussion

"A controversial decision."

"The controversial decision to build the factory near the school angered many parents and teachers in the community."

difficult to understand or interpret

"Her smile is enigmatic."

"The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa has puzzled art historians for centuries and nobody knows exactly what the artist intended to convey."

someone who studies or records historical events

"A historian studies and interprets the past."

"A revisionist historian challenges the established"

relating or belonging to the time before history was recorded

"The cave is prehistoric."

"The prehistoric cave paintings were created thousands of years ago and they show animals that no longer live in that region."

a member of a male religious group that lives in a monastery

"The monk prayed daily."

"The solitary monk dedicated his life to spiritual contemplation and the study of ancient texts."

a place of residence for a community of nuns or monks that is smaller or less important compared to an abbey

"The priory was old."

"The ancient priory, with its quiet cloisters and weathered stone, offered a peaceful sanctuary for contemplation and prayer."

placed on or over something else

"The rock is overlying."

"The overlying rock layer was much younger than the fossils found beneath it and the geologists used this to date the remains."

shining or reflecting light in a bright way

"The metal is gleaming."

"After polishing, the antique silverware was gleaming and looked as good as new, reflecting the room's light."

to remove items or obstacles, often to create a clear or open space

"Clear away the dirty plates."

"The waiter began to clear away the dirty plates after the guests had finished their main course."

a period of one thousand years, usually calculated from the year of the birth of Jesus Christ

"A new millennium began."

"The ancient civilization flourished for nearly a millennium before its eventual decline."

using artistic forms and conventions to create effects; not natural or spontaneous

"The drawing is stylized."

"The stylized drawings of the artist used bold lines and bright colors rather than realistic details."

having or resembling a beak

"The bird is beaked."

"The beaked whale has a long snout like a dolphin and it dives deep into the ocean to hunt for squid."

having a refined and graceful appearance or style

"Her dress is elegant."

"The elegant ballroom was decorated with crystal chandeliers and fresh flowers and the guests danced until the early morning hours."

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."

the period when iron was not discovered and people used bronze to make tools

"They studied the Bronze Age."

"Archaeologists discovered artifacts that provided valuable insights into daily life during the Bronze Age."

used typically before a date to show that it is not exact

"It happened circa 1900."

"The painting was created circa 1850 but the artist is unknown to this day."

a secular designation used to represent dates in the Gregorian calendar before the traditional reference point of the birth of Jesus Christ

"This happened before Common Era."

"Dinosaurs lived during the Before Common Era period millions of years before humans appeared on Earth."

a sloping surface or area of land that forms the side of a hill or mountain

"The goats graze on the steep hillside."

"The goats graze on the steep hillside and navigate the rocky terrain with ease and agility."

happening at irregular intervals or spread far apart over various locations

"The papers are scattered."

"The papers were scattered all over the floor after the wind blew them off the desk and she had to pick them up one by one."

belonging to or concerning a regiment

"The regimental band marched."

"The soldiers marched in perfect step, their regimental banners held high as they paraded through the town square."

a large design or drawing made on the ground, usually by arranging stones, removing soil, or shaping the land, so it can be seen clearly from above

"The Nazca geoglyph is best seen from the air."

"The Nazca geoglyph is best seen from the air and depicts a giant hummingbird or monkey."

an area of open hills with chalk soil, usually covered in grass and found in southern England

"The downland is covered in chalk grassland."

"The downland is covered in chalk grassland and is home to rare butterflies and wildflowers."

to determine or figure out when something happened or was created

"We can date this."

"Scientists are attempting to date the ancient manuscript using advanced carbon-14 analysis techniques."

to categorize or organize something into specific groups or classifications

"Assign students to groups."

"The manager decided to assign the tasks based on each team member's specialized skills."

to make something visible

"Please reveal the gift."

"The magician's final trick was to reveal a dove that had seemingly vanished into thin air."

to clean something thoroughly by scrubbing it hard with a rough or tough material

"Scour the dirty pan."

"He had to scour the old cast iron skillet until it gleamed despite its previous state of neglect."

more than average, but not too much

"The test was fairly easy."

"The test was fairly easy and most students finished it well before the time was up."

to make a connection between someone or something and another in the mind

"People associate dark clouds with rain."

"Most people associate the color red with love and passion but it can also symbolize danger and anger."

to put effort and energy into doing something

"Don't bother him now."

"He decided not to bother calling them back since it was late."

to reveal, uncover, or make visible something that was hidden or covered

"The article exposes government corruption."

"The investigative journalist risked her career to expose government corruption and hold powerful officials accountable."

the visible edge or contour that marks the limits of an object

"The outline of the tree."

"The artist sketched a rough outline of the landscape before adding details."

strong evidence or proof that supports something, emphasizing its validity or significance

"This is a testament to hard work."

"The enduring success of the company stands as a testament to its innovative strategies and dedicated workforce."

the state of happening or existing over a period of time without change or interruption

"We need continuity."

"The project requires continuity in leadership to ensure its successful completion."

to cover a significant distance or expanse

"The road will stretch."

"The vast desert landscape seemed to stretch endlessly towards the distant horizon."

a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering of someone or something

"A good representation."

"The artist's detailed representation of the historical event was both accurate and moving."

streamlined in shape or design, reducing resistance and allowing for smooth, efficient movement or appearance

"A sleek design."

"The new smartphone boasts a sleek, minimalist design that feels comfortable in the hand."

physically detached, especially where two parts are normally connected

"The broken toy was disjointed."

"The surgeon reattached the disjointed limb, restoring its original function and form."

to flow or move freely in the wind, like hair or fabric

"Her hair did stream."

"The long silk scarf began to stream elegantly behind her as she ran."

to become less intense and gradually diminish

"The anger began to melt."

"As the situation de-escalated, his initial hostility began to melt away."

an area of scenery visible in a single view

"The landscape looked beautiful in spring."

"We admired the landscape from the top of the hill."

(of a surface) having a sharp slope or angle, making it difficult to climb or walk up

"The mountain is steep."

"The hikers found the steep ascent of the mountain extremely challenging but ultimately rewarding."

a raised landform, hill, or incline

"The hill has a slope."

"The gentle slope of the meadow made it an ideal location for a leisurely picnic."

a diagram or illustration that is used to show or explain something, such as a chart, graph, or drawing

"See the figure on page 5."

"The accompanying figure clearly illustrates the complex relationship between the two variables."

very great in amount or number

"The desert is vast."

"The vast desert stretched as far as the eye could see and the travelers carried plenty of water for the long journey."

(United Kingdom) a political division that has its own local government

"He lived in the county."

"The newly elected council will oversee the development of the entire county."

a creature that is unusually large in size

"It was a giant."

"The ancient oak tree stood like a giant, its branches reaching towards the sky."

a mark or an object formed by two short lines or pieces crossing each other

"Draw a cross."

"The ancient map had a prominent red cross marking the spot where the treasure was buried."

a group of soft, white rock layers made mainly from the remains of tiny sea animals, often found in hills, cliffs, or underground

"The cliff was chalk."

"The white cliffs, composed of chalk, have long served as a distinctive landmark."