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

an explanation based on limited facts and evidence that is not yet proved to be true

"Test the hypothesis now."

"The scientist formulated a testable hypothesis to explain the observed phenomenon."

larger or more significant than the standard or typical size

"The meal is supersized."

"The supersized meal came with a huge portion of fries and a giant soda that contained over five hundred calories."

a type of rolling-element bearing that uses balls to maintain the separation between the bearing races, reducing friction and enabling smooth rotation

"A ball bearing helps the wheel spin smoothly with very little friction."

"A ball bearing is a rolling-element bearing using smooth metal balls to separate two moving rings"

having one or more long, narrow, and usually parallel channels, furrows, or ridges

"The record is grooved."

"The grooved surface of the record allows the needle to read the music and the old turntable still works perfectly."

a long, flat, and rectangular piece of wood or other materials, typically used in construction, flooring, or as a structural element in various applications

"The plank spans across the joists."

"The plank is a long flat piece of sawn timber thicker than a board."

a bull used on farms to carry heavy loads, which its sex organs are partly removed

"The ox pulls the heavy cart through the mud."

"The ox pulled the heavy cart slowly through the muddy field all morning long."

a scientist who studies the Earth's structure, composition, processes, and history, including rocks, minerals, fossils, and geological phenomena

"Geologist studies Earth."

"The experienced geologist spent many weeks studying the rock layers to understand the history of the mountain."

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."

be born or come into existence

"The universe came into being billions of years ago."

"The organization came into being in response to the growing need for food banks in the city."

hard-working and productive

"She is industrious."

"The industrious bee works all day collecting nectar and it returns to the hive to make honey for the colony."

a large mass of ice that forms over long periods of time, especially in polar regions or high mountains

"The glacier slowly moves down the mountain."

"Scientists measured how fast the glacier is melting due to rising global temperatures."

having doubts about something's truth, validity, or reliability

"She is skeptical now."

"Many people remained skeptical about the new policy's effectiveness despite the government's assurances."

required or necessary for a specific purpose

"Help is needed."

"The needed supplies finally arrived at the disaster zone and the relief workers distributed food and water to the survivors."

latest part of the Stone Age beginning about 10,000 BC in the Middle East (but later elsewhere)

"The new stone age is also called the Neolithic period."

"The new stone age began when humans started farming and using polished stone tools."

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."

to occur at a specific time or location

"The event will take place tomorrow."

"The annual conference will take place in London next month, attracting experts from around the world."

a thick and flat piece of hard material, such as a stone, metal, wood, etc. that is usually in the shape of a square or rectangle

"Heavy concrete slab."

"Workers carefully lifted the heavy concrete slab to create the foundation of the new house."

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."

a method used by scientists to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 they contain

"Radiocarbon dating determines the age of old bones."

"Radiocarbon dating is a scientific method used by archaeologists to determine the age of ancient organic materials."

used to specify or emphasize a particular aspect or detail within a broader context

"I like all fruit in particular apples."

"I like all kinds of fruit in particular apples and oranges because they are sweet and refreshing."

place into another position

"Reposition the chair now."

"The team had to reposition their strategy to adapt to the unexpected challenges that arose during the project."

a pre-Christian priest among the Celts of ancient Gaul and Britain and Ireland

"The druid performs a ceremony at the solstice."

"The druid performed a ceremony at the solstice with robed followers in a stone circle."

belonging or appropriate for a court, a judge, or the administration of justice

"The system is judicial."

"The judicial system in the country is independent and judges make decisions based only on the law and the evidence presented."

relating to or characteristic of the Celts

"The music is celtic."

"The Celtic music festival attracts musicians from Ireland Scotland and Wales who perform traditional folk songs on harps and fiddles."

to make something widely known and accepted by the general public, often by adjusting it to fit popular preferences or trends

"The show popularized the dance style."

"The television show helped to popularize the sport of competitive dancing among a much wider audience."

an expert or collector of antiquities

"The antiquarian collects ancient books and maps."

"The antiquarian collected ancient Roman coins and displayed them in glass cases at home."

to define oneself as belonging to a particular category, group, or label

"They identify as non-binary now."

"The survey asked participants to identify as male female or non binary for demographic data collection purposes."

either of the two times of the year when the sun reaches its farthest or closest distance from the equator

"The summer solstice arrived."

"The solstice signaled the longest or shortest day of the year."

a member of a European people who once occupied Britain and Spain and Gaul prior to Roman times

"The Celt spoke a language related to modern Irish."

"The celt spoke a language related to modern Irish and lived in Europe long ago."

a large, hard stone or boulder, often found standing alone or used in ancient stone circles and structures

"Sarsen stones are a type of sandstone found in southern England."

"Sarsen stones are a type of sandstone used to build Stonehenge and other ancient monuments."

a structure made of two large vertical stones supporting a horizontal stone across the top, forming a kind of doorway

"Stonehenge has several trilithons consisting of two uprights and a lintel."

"The trilithon at Stonehenge consists of two upright stones with a horizontal lintel on top."

a unified whole created by joining or mixing two or more distinct elements or parts together

"A good combination."

"The chef's signature dish is a delicious combination of sweet and savory flavors."

slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork

"The basket is wicker."

"She preferred the natural aesthetic of the wicker furniture for her patio."

a specific opinion on something

"Give your voice now."

"It is important for citizens to voice their concerns about public policy."

the general impression a person, organization, or product presents to the public

"Improve the image."

"The company worked hard to improve its public image after the recent scandal."

to move or convey a heavy object with effort

"They carted the goods to market."

"The farmer used a tractor to cart the heavy bales of hay from the field to the barn."

to make something move by turning it over and over or from side to side repeatedly

"Roll the ball away."

"The children love to roll down the grassy hill on a sunny afternoon."

to want to know about something particular

"She wonders about the future often."

"I often wonder what my life would be like if I had chosen a different career path."

to bring and give a letter, package, etc. to a specific person or place

"The postman delivers mail every morning."

"The postal service usually delivers packages before noon but sometimes they arrive later in the afternoon."

a distinct period or stage in a sequence of events or development

"This is a new phase."

"The project entered its final phase, focusing on implementation and testing."

a specific, identifiable instant in time, often marking a significant moment or event

"At that point, we left."

"At that critical point in the negotiation, a compromise was finally reached by both sides."

a curved shape with narrow points at the ends that appears wider in the middle, like the shape of the moon in its first and last quarters

"The crescent was curved."

"A crescent is a curved shape resembling a thin segment of a ring"

to make something by putting separate parts of something together

"Assemble the furniture using the instructions."

"It took him nearly two hours to assemble the new bookshelf because the instructions were very confusing and poorly written."

anything that is built from several parts, such as a house, bridge, etc.

"Look at the structure."

"The ancient Roman aqueduct is a remarkable structure that has stood for centuries."

(of a building) to remain upright and structurally sound

"The house will stand."

"Despite the fierce storm, the old lighthouse continued to stand tall against the crashing waves."

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

"Visit the site."

"The construction site is very busy."

to have or hold something within or include something as a part of a larger entity or space

"This box contains old photographs."

"The old wooden box contained many valuable treasures that had been hidden for centuries."

to make information that was previously unknown or kept in secrecy publicly known

"The report will reveal the truth."

"The investigation revealed shocking evidence that completely changed the direction of the criminal case."

a statement about the truth of something without offering any verification or proof

"That's just a claim."

"His lofty claim of expertise lacked any substantiating evidence or demonstrable qualifications."

to dig the ground and discover something

"They unearthed an ancient artifact."

"Archaeologists worked diligently to unearth the buried city and uncover its historical secrets."

a hole made in the ground for burying a dead body in

"They dug a grave."

"The funeral procession slowly approached the freshly dug grave in the quiet cemetery."

to reside in a specific place

"Birds inhabit the trees."

"These remote islands are home to a unique species of bird that exclusively inhabits the dense, tropical rainforests found there."