Test 2 - Reading - Passage 1 (1) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 18 Vocabulary List

to lift or raise an object, typically heavy or bulky, using ropes and pulleys

"Hoist the heavy sail."

"The crane was used to hoist the heavy steel beams to the top of the skyscraper under construction."

bluish-grey sandstone used for paving and building

"The altar at Stonehenge is made of bluestone."

"The bluestone used to build Stonehenge was transported over two hundred miles from Wales."

a large rock, usually one that has been shaped by natural forces such as water or ice

"A huge boulder blocked the road after the storm last night."

"A huge boulder fell onto the road during the storm and blocked traffic for several hours."

having persisted or existed for a significant amount of time

"We have a longstanding friendship."

"We have a longstanding friendship that has survived many arguments and distance over the past twenty years."

a vehicle usually pulled by horses, which people get on to slide over snow

"The sledge slides across the snow."

"The polar explorers loaded their equipment onto a wooden sledge pulled by a team of dogs."

to transport or haul something heavy or cumbersome with effort

"He lugged the heavy suitcase upstairs."

"The tired hiker had to lug his heavy backpack up the steep mountain trail for several miles."

the land close to a sea, ocean, or lake

"The coast is very beautiful."

"We enjoyed a leisurely drive along the scenic coast, stopping frequently to admire the ocean views."

as a second choice or another possibility

"Alternatively you can take the train."

"Alternatively you can take the train instead of driving if you do not want to deal with traffic and parking."

to pull an object behind a vehicle, typically using a rope or chain

"The truck tows the broken car."

"The truck had to tow the broken car to the nearest repair shop because the engine would not start at all."

related to the study or exploration of human history and prehistory through the excavation of artifacts and sites

"The site is archeological."

"The archeological dig uncovered ancient pottery and tools that provided new insights into the lives of early settlers."

an ancient megalithic monument in southern England; probably used for ritual purposes

"Stonehenge is a prehistoric monument in England."

"Stonehenge was a prehistoric monument in England whose purpose remained a mystery."

a person whose job is to study ancient societies using facts, objects, buildings, etc. remaining in excavation sites

"She is an archeologist."

"The archeologist discovered important ancient ruins during the excavation in the desert area."

find the solution to (a problem or question) or understand the meaning of

"Puzzle out the solution yourself."

"It took the detective several hours to puzzle out the meaning of the cryptic clue left at the crime scene."

to be made up of various components or parts within a whole

"The team comprises eight members."

"The delegation will comprise representatives from ten different countries who will discuss trade issues and negotiate new agreements."

widely recognized and regarded as a symbol of a particular time, place, or culture

"The building is iconic."

"The Empire State Building is an iconic landmark in New York City and millions of tourists visit it every year."

(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."

related to the latest part of the Stone Age when humans used stones as tools and weapons

"The tool is from the neolithic era."

"The neolithic tools made of polished stone were discovered in an ancient burial site dating back over five thousand years."

to create or make something by putting different parts or materials together

"He fashioned a tool from a stick."

"The skilled craftsman used a simple piece of wood to fashion a beautiful and intricate sculpture with just a few simple tools."

a large, wild animal with long legs which eats grass and can run very fast, typically the males have horns

"A deer stood near the trees."

"We saw a deer in the woods while walking quietly."

any of the pair of branched horns that grow annually on the head of an adult animal, typically a male one, from the deer family

"The deer lost an antler."

"Every autumn, male deer shed their antlers and begin growing a new set for the following year."

a long, narrow hole next to a road to keep it from getting too wet

"The water flows into the ditch beside the road."

"The workers dug a ditch alongside the road to drain rainwater away from the pavement."

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."

roughly calculated or guessed but is not exact

"The cost is estimated."

"The estimated cost of the repairs was five thousand dollars but the final bill was much higher than expected."

a large, round area of land with a ditch and a raised edge around it, usually built long ago for ceremonies, meetings, or special events

"A henge is a circular earthwork with a ditch on the inside."

"The henge was a circular earthwork enclosed by a ditch with the bank built outside the ditch."

a shape that looks like the letter U, with two ends that curve slightly inward

"The horseshoe is lucky."

"She found an old horseshoe buried in the garden, a symbol of good luck from a bygone era."

to stay in existence after other parts or elements have disappeared or been used up

"Some food will remain."

"After the initial chaos subsided, a sense of calm began to remain in the town."

having a supporting base

"The standing lamp is tall."

"The tall, standing lamp provided ample light for reading in the cozy corner of the living room."

the specific location or area occupied by something in space

"What is the position?"

"The satellite's precise position in orbit was critical for its uninterrupted communication."

to research or follow the history or development of something

"Can you trace the route?"

"Historians will trace the ancient trade routes to understand the economic development of the region."

(of a system, device, or technique) intricately developed to a high level of complexity

"Her style is sophisticated."

"The sophisticated security system uses facial recognition technology to allow only authorized people to enter the building."

the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry

"He studies engineering."

"The company hired a team of skilled engineers to design and build the new bridge."

to pull something or someone along the ground, usually with difficulty

"He hauled the heavy box upstairs."

"The workers had to haul the heavy boxes up three flights of stairs because the building did not have a working elevator."

to have a specific weight

"The bag weighs ten pounds."

"The baby weighed only two kilograms at birth because she was born prematurely."

indicating that the quantity or count mentioned does not exceed a specified value

"You can choose up to three items."

"You can invite up to ten guests to the wedding so please send me the list soon."

a cylinder that revolves

"The roller spins fast."

"The industrial roller is used to flatten and shape the metal sheets during manufacturing."

the main wooden body of a tree

"The tree trunk is big."

"The ancient oak's trunk was so wide that three people could not encircle it."

to make a person or thing move from a place, situation, or person to another

"She transfers money to her savings account."

"The student decided to transfer to a different university because she was unhappy with her current program of study."

a board that is consisted of long pieces of a wood, reed, etc. tied together, which people use to sail or float on water

"They built raft."

"The survivors built a simple wooden raft to cross the wide and dangerous river."

to release or place something on a liquid surface, allowing it to move freely

"I will float the boat."

"She decided to float a small paper boat on the surface of the pond after the rain."

a group of aircraft belonging to and operated by the same company or organization

"The fleet flies today."

"The airline's entire fleet of aircraft was grounded due to unexpected mechanical issues."

any vehicle designed for travel across or through water

"Large cargo vessel arrived."

"The cargo vessel carried thousands of shipping containers across the Pacific Ocean to Los Angeles."

something that is hard to explain or understand, often involving a puzzling event or situation with an unknown explanation

"It is a mystery."

"The disappearance of the valuable artifact remains an unsolved mystery, baffling investigators for years."

a place or building that is historically important

"The monument is old."

"A monument is a lasting structure created to commemorate a person or event of great historical significance for future generations to remember and reflect upon."

to build or assemble a structure or object in an upright position

"They erect a new statue in the park."

"The construction crew managed to erect the steel frame of the building in less than two weeks."

a vast area of flat land

"The plain was very wide."

"We drove across the plain for many hours without seeing a single tree or building."

without being exact

"Roughly half of the students passed."

"Roughly half of the students passed the exam while the other half failed and will have to retake it."

in an upward or vertical position

"Sit upright in your chair."

"Sit upright in your chair to avoid back pain and maintain good posture throughout the day."

to lay or put something somewhere

"She places the vase on the table."

"Please place the vase on the table carefully because it is very fragile and could break easily."

having a shape like a circle

"The table is circular."

"The circular table in the center of the room was covered with a white cloth."

the specific way by which a building, book page, garden, etc. is arranged

"The open-plan layout of the office encourages communication."

"A responsive layout in web design automatically adapts the size and arrangement of elements to look good on any screen"

an inhabitant of southern Britain prior to the Anglo-Saxon invasions

"He is a Briton."

"The Roman historian recorded the customs and traditions of the ancient Briton tribes."

basic and simple, lacking modern features or advancements

"This is a primitive tool."

"The indigenous tribe still uses primitive methods for hunting and survival."

a long, raised mass of earth, sand, snow, or other material

"The bank is high."

"The river overflowed its bank after the heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding."

a large hole in the ground where stones, minerals, or other materials are removed

"They dug a pit."

"The mining operation extracted valuable minerals from the deep pit created over decades."

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."

a vertical wooden post or stake, often used for fencing, support, or markers

"Use this timber."

"The sturdy timber posts were essential for constructing the fence around the property."

a sturdy pole made of metal or timber that is dug into the ground to be used as a marker or support something

"The post is strong."

"A sturdy wooden post was hammered into the ground to support the newly planted sapling."

someone who has a lot of knowledge about a particular subject, especially in the humanities

"The scholar published many books on ancient history."

"The respected scholar spent years researching ancient manuscripts to write his definitive book on Roman history."