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

(of humans) liable to make mistakes or to be imperfect, unlike divine beings

"Humans are fallible."

"The scientist admitted that her research might contain errors because humans are fallible and she welcomed peer review from other experts."

because of caring about someone or something and wanting to make a situation better for them

"He worked hard for the sake of his family."

"For the sake of your health you should stop smoking and start exercising regularly."

in a manner that is morally right or good

"He acted ethically."

"The doctor acted ethically when she refused to perform the unnecessary surgery and she explained to the patient why it was not needed."

with regard to thinking processes, learning, or understanding, particularly focusing on mental activities and acquiring knowledge

"She is cognitively impaired."

"The elderly patient is cognitively impaired and she needs assistance with daily tasks because she cannot remember things well."

a claim that one has moral superiority over others

"The charity has the moral high ground."

"The politician tried to take the moral high ground but everyone knew about his past scandals and lies."

having enough of something to meet a particular need or requirement

"We have sufficient food."

"The company needs to demonstrate sufficient progress before it can secure the next round of funding."

the quality of being easily understood or recognized

"The clarity of his speech."

"The clarity of the water was remarkable and we could see fish swimming ten feet below."

associated with a social group of people who share common ancestry, language, and traditions, and often reside in a specific geographic area

"The dance is tribal."

"The dance is tribal and has been performed by the same group of people for hundreds of years."

experiencing contradictory feelings, thoughts, or emotions, often resulting from having to make a difficult choice

"She feels conflicted."

"The conflicted teenager did not know whether to follow her parents' advice or listen to her friends who urged her to rebel."

used to mean that one has control, responsibility, or authority over something

"Your future is in your own hands."

"The future of the project is in your hands now so please make good decisions for everyone."

a temporary failure or gap in judgment, memory, or concentration

"A memory lapse occurred."

"There was a brief lapse in concentration, causing him to miss the crucial instruction during the presentation."

at the moment or present time

"She is presently living in London."

"She is presently living in London but she plans to move to Paris next year for work."

to not appreciate a person or thing because one thinks one will never lose them

"Don't take love granted."

"Many people take their health for granted until they become seriously ill and realize how precious it truly is."

to unfairly treat a person or group of people based on their sex, race, etc.

"It is illegal to discriminate unfairly."

"It is illegal for employers to discriminate against job applicants based on their race religion gender or age."

a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors

"Silicon is used to make computer chips."

"Silicon is used to make computer chips and is found in abundance in sand and quartz."

not probable and difficult to believe

"His story is far-fetched."

"The far fetched story about being kidnapped by aliens made the police doubt the witness and they did not believe his testimony."

with minimum waste of resources or energy

"She efficiently organized the files."

"She efficiently organized the files so that anyone could find what they needed quickly without wasting any time searching."

with consideration for the benefit, well-being, or advantage of someone or something

"Do it in my interest."

"The committee decided to postpone the decision in the interest of gathering more comprehensive data for review."

someone who pays taxes

"The taxpayer funds public schools through their taxes."

"The taxpayer funds public schools through their taxes and expects good education for children."

to take away or deny someone or something the possession or enjoyment of a particular thing

"Do not deprive yourself of sleep."

"The new law should not deprive citizens of their fundamental right to privacy and freedom of speech."

to continue doing something even though there are some hardships

"Stick to your original plan."

"You need to stick to your budget if you want to save enough money for your vacation."

a way or method that leads to a certain goal or result

"This is the right route."

"The shortest route to success often requires perseverance and strategic planning."

to guide, influence, or direct the course of action

"Steer the boat carefully."

"The experienced diplomat will steer the negotiations towards a peaceful and mutually beneficial resolution."

a general course along which something has a tendency to develop

"What direction is north?"

"There is a clear direction of increasing globalization impacting international trade agreements."

unrealistic or impossible to fully achieve in the real world

"It is utopian thinking."

"While a society free from all conflict may be utopian, it remains a worthy ideal to strive for."

a mental image of what one wants or hopes to achieve in the future

"She has a vision."

"The entrepreneur shared her ambitious vision for revolutionizing the sustainable energy industry."

the ultimate goal for which something is done

"Reach your destination."

"The ultimate destination of this journey is not merely a place, but a profound personal transformation."

used to indicate that something is provided or accepted as a basis for a particular situation or argument

"Given the circumstances he did well."

"Given his age he is surprisingly fit and healthy and still runs every morning."

the state of experiencing discomfort, distress, or hardship

"The war caused much suffering."

"The refugees endured immense suffering during their long journey to find safety and a better life."

to be one of the causes or reasons that helps something happen

"He will contribute money."

"His insightful comments will contribute significantly to our final decision-making process."

to focus or direct something towards a specific target

"Point the gun."

"The speaker will point out the key areas that require immediate attention from the committee."

a person who leads or advises others on the way to go

"He is a guide."

"Our experienced guide will lead us through the intricate maze of ancient ruins."

to give up something of value for the sake of something else

"We must sacrifice for peace."

"Parents often sacrifice their own desires and comfort to ensure a better future for their children."

the capacity to act independently and make decisions without undue influence

"She has autonomy."

"The region was granted greater autonomy to manage its own internal affairs and resources."

to prevent or persuade someone from taking a particular action or pursuing a specific course of action

"Failure should not discourage you."

"Failure should not discourage you from trying again because every mistake teaches you something valuable."

used to show support for something

"He voted in favor of the law."

"He voted in favor of the new law because he believed it would help the poor."

to restrain oneself from having something

"Deny yourself pleasure."

"During the fast, the monks would deny themselves food and comfort to focus on spiritual matters."

sticking to principles of right and wrong conduct and moral standards

"His decision is ethical."

"The ethical dilemma forced the doctor to choose between saving one patient or five others and she struggled to make the right decision."

to become aware of something through seeing, hearing, or feeling it

"Did you notice it?"

"She didn't notice the subtle change in his demeanor until he spoke directly to her."

the information or events that stimulate action or response

"Your input is needed."

"The consultant's valuable input was crucial in shaping the company's new marketing strategy."

(usually plural) means such as equipment, money, manpower, etc. that a person or organization can benefit from

"We need resources."

"The non-profit organization struggled to secure adequate resources to fund its vital community programs."

a set of actions and responsibilities that are assigned to a person or group within a specific context

"What is your role?"

"Her role as the project manager was crucial to the successful completion of the complex assignment."

to do something for a special reason

"He will act now."

"The politician decided to act decisively to address the growing public concern."

having a higher status or rank than someone else within an organization, profession, or hierarchy

"She is the senior manager."

"The senior partner in the law firm has over thirty years of experience and a respected reputation."

to deal with or behave toward someone or something in a particular way

"Treat people kindly."

"It is fundamentally important to treat all individuals with respect, regardless of their background or beliefs."

in a fair and even manner, without favoring one over the other

"Share it equally."

"The inheritance was divided equally among all the eligible heirs according to the will."

to clearly define or state specific details, characteristics, or requirements

"Please specify your preferred delivery date."

"The contract specifies that all payments must be made within thirty days of the invoice date."

a period or point when activity, success, or satisfaction is at its lowest level

"The economy is in a trough."

"The company experienced a significant trough in sales during the last quarter due to unforeseen market fluctuations."

someone who controls access to something

"He is the gatekeeper."

"The influential editor acts as a gatekeeper, deciding which manuscripts are worthy of publication."