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

to help or support others in doing something

"Medication aids in reducing pain quickly."

"The doctor's quick actions helped to aid the patient's recovery from the serious injury."

a process in the body in which food is broken into small substances to be absorbed

"Good digestion important."

"Good digestion is very important for absorbing nutrients from the food we eat every single day."

to fully remove or get rid of something

"Eliminate unnecessary words from your essay."

"The new software update should eliminate many of the bugs that users have been complaining about recently."

a poisonous substance, especially one produced by living organisms, that can cause harm or illness when introduced into a living organism

"The factory released a deadly toxin."

"A toxin is a naturally occurring poisonous substance produced within living cells or organisms that can cause disease or tissue damage when introduced to body tissues."

the condition of having such a high amount of body fat that it becomes very dangerous for one's health

"Obesity increases the risk of heart disease."

"Obesity is a serious health problem that increases the risk of heart disease diabetes and high blood pressure."

a strong and uncontrollable interest or attachment to something or someone, causing constant thoughts, intense emotions, and repetitive behaviors

"Her obsession with cleanliness made her wash her hands constantly."

"His obsession with collecting vintage watches eventually consumed all of his savings and free time."

a standard or expectation that guides behavior within a group or society

"This behavior is outside the social norm."

"Working from home became the norm for many office employees during the pandemic lockdowns."

beyond what is considered normal or socially acceptable

"The spending is excessive."

"The excessive use of plastic bottles harms the environment and many cities have banned single use containers to reduce waste."

a cleaning substance that is designed to remove dirt, stains, and other impurities from surfaces or fabrics

"The laundry detergent removes tough stains."

"The laundry detergent removes tough stains and leaves clothes smelling fresh and clean."

related to substances or agents that have the ability to inhibit the growth and reproduction of bacteria

"The soap is antibacterial."

"The soap is antibacterial and kills germs and bacteria on your skin."

showing a variety of distinct types or qualities

"The group is diverse."

"The diverse student body represents many different cultures and backgrounds and everyone learns from each other."

in a way that is certain and beyond any doubt

"He is decidedly wrong."

"The room was decidedly too small for fifty people so we had to find a larger venue for the conference."

not challenging; dull and lacking excitement

"The job is unglamorous."

"The unglamorous job of cleaning the toilets was not popular but someone had to do it and the janitor took pride in his work."

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."

a recorded analysis of a person, group, event or situation over a length of time

"We read interesting case study."

"The case study showed how the method worked in real life."

a plant-like organism that often grows on organic matter and has no flowers or leaves, such as moulds and mushrooms

"A mushroom is a type of fungus."

"A persistent fungus infection may require a long course of antifungal medication."

emitting light not caused by heat

"The watch is luminescent."

"The luminescent watch face glowed in the dark and the soldier could read the time without turning on a light."

any animal that lives by hunting and eating other animals

"The lion is a powerful predator."

"A predator is an animal that hunts"

a feeling of dislike toward something or someone

"She looked at the food with distaste."

"She felt strong distaste toward the idea of eating insects as food."

a feeling of great excitement and passion

"Her enthusiasm for the project was contagious."

"Her enthusiasm for the new project was contagious and motivated the entire team to work harder."

to transmit a disease to a person, animal, or plant

"A single mosquito can infect many people."

"The virus infected thousands of people within a few weeks causing a serious public health emergency in the region."

related to the period immediately after birth and the medical care and conditions concerning newborn infants

"The baby is in neonatal care."

"The baby is in neonatal care because he was born premature and needs special medical attention."

to describe something better, larger, worse, etc. than it truly is

"Do not exaggerate the problem."

"My younger brother tends to exaggerate everything that happens to him so I never know if his stories are actually true or not."

available in large quantity

"The food is plentiful."

"The plentiful rainfall this spring has filled the reservoirs and there will be enough water for the crops all summer."

to a great degree or extent

"The two products are vastly different."

"The two products are vastly different in terms of quality and price so compare them carefully before buying."

to a specific degree, particularly when compared to other similar things

"The house is relatively cheap."

"The house is relatively cheap compared to others in the same neighborhood because it needs some repairs and renovations."

intended to give a wrong idea or make one believe something that is untrue

"The sign was misleading."

"The misleading advertisement promised amazing results but the product did not work as described at all."

to develop something using certain facts, ideas, situations, etc.

"Base your decision on evidence."

"The movie is based on a true story about a soldier who saved many lives during the war."

a deadly substance that can kill or seriously harm if it enters the body

"This chemical poison is very dangerous."

"The warning label on the cleaning product said poison indicating that swallowing even a small amount could cause severe injury or death."

wanted intensely

"The result is desired."

"The desired outcome of the negotiations was a peace treaty and both sides worked hard to reach an agreement."

to make something clear or understandable

"The detective will unravel the mystery."

"The detective worked tirelessly to unravel the mystery and finally discovered who had committed the crime."

to control the amount or degree of something to meet specific standards or requirements

"We must regulate it."

"The central bank will regulate the flow of currency to maintain economic stability."

to prevent something harmful from happening or becoming worse

"They combat the disease."

"The team worked tirelessly to combat the spread of misinformation online."

practices that promote cleanliness and health, involving personal care, sanitation, and the maintenance of a clean environment

"Good hygiene is important."

"Maintaining proper hygiene is crucial for preventing the transmission of infectious diseases."

a medicine that kills or stops the growth of bacteria

"The doctor prescribed an antibiotic for the nasty throat infection."

"A broad-spectrum antibiotic works against many different types of bacteria"

a type of carbohydrate that cannot be broken down by the body and instead helps regulate bowel movements and maintain a healthy digestive system

"Eating enough fiber helps your digestion and keeps your stomach healthy."

"Dietary fiber is the indigestible portion of plant foods that aids the passage of waste through the digestive system and promotes a healthy gut microbiome."

to stop the normal flow of something, often temporarily

"The storm disrupts air travel for days."

"The loud construction noise outside the window disrupted my concentration and I could not finish my work on time."

ascending to a level markedly higher than the usual

"The eagle is soaring."

"The soaring temperatures broke all previous records and the city opened cooling centers for residents without air conditioning."

the number of times something changes or happens during a specific period of time

"The crime rate has fallen significantly."

"An exchange rate is the value of one currency against another"

the state of being vulnerable or exposed

"They fear exposure."

"The investigation led to the exposure of a widespread corruption scandal."

to cause the death of a significant portion of a population

"The disease did wipe out many."

"The devastating plague threatened to wipe out the entire population of the medieval city."

to stop or bring an activity, process, or operation to an end

"The officer halted the suspicious vehicle."

"The security guard shouted at the intruder to halt immediately but the man ignored the command and continued running toward the emergency exit door."

the act or process of gathering evidence or facts of a matter in a scientific and systematic way

"The police launched an investigation."

"A thorough investigation into the incident uncovered multiple procedural failures."

a state of curiosity or desire to understand something

"The child looked with wonder."

"The child's eyes were wide with wonder at the magical performance unfolding before them."

containing a large amount

"The bag is loaded."

"The bag was loaded with heavy books, making it difficult to carry any further."

to skillfully control or work with information, a system, tool, etc.

"He can manipulate data."

"The politician was accused of attempting to manipulate public opinion through misleading statistics."

to build a house, bridge, machine, etc.

"The workers construct the new bridge."

"The workers need to construct a solid foundation before they can begin building the walls of the new house."

a separate area in a hospital for patients with similar conditions

"The ward was quiet."

"She recovered in the hospital ward."

to put a substance over the surface of something, often as a covering

"She coats the chicken with breadcrumbs."

"You should coat the chicken pieces with flour before frying them to make the skin extra crispy and golden brown."

to adjust oneself to fit into a new environment or situation

"Animals adapt to their environment."

"Animals must adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions if they want to survive in the wild."

a state of being confused and not having a clear understanding of an action, behavior, etc.

"The announcement caused confusion among the passengers."

"The instructions were written so poorly that they caused nothing but confusion among the new employees who had no idea what they were supposed to do."

to disturb or interrupt the normal function or order of something

"Do not upset the cat."

"The unexpected announcement threatened to upset the delicate balance of power within the organization."

a formal arrangement where two or more individuals, organizations, etc. come together as partners to achieve a goal, typically in business

"The partnership was successful."

"The business partnership between the two companies led to increased sales and helped both firms enter new international markets successfully."

a rule made by the government, an authority, etc. to control or govern something within a particular area

"The new regulation affects all drivers."

"The new safety regulations require all construction workers to wear hard hats and protective boots."

food that is essential to one's growth and health

"Eat good nutrition."

"A balanced diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals is crucial for optimal nutrition."

a mix of different substances or conditions that together cause a strong, often harmful or unpleasant effect

"A cocktail of problems arose."

"The patient's condition was a dangerous cocktail of symptoms that baffled the medical team."