Test 2 - Reading - Passage 3 (1) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 17 Vocabulary List

(biology) the slow and gradual development of living things throughout the history of the earth

"Evolution explains how animals change."

"The theory of evolution suggests that all living species have gradually developed from simpler organisms over millions of years."

in a way that is widely favored or recognized by a large number of people

"He is popularly known."

"The actor is popularly known for his role in the action movie franchise and fans recognize him on the street wherever he goes."

emphasizing the intensity or pureness of a particular quality or emotion

"It is sheer luck."

"The sheer size of the mountain was overwhelming and we realized that climbing to the top would take much longer than we had planned."

a scientist who studies the natural world, including plants, animals, and ecosystems

"The naturalist studied birds in the forest."

"The famous naturalist studied birds and animals in the forest for many years."

an individual who is trained in physics

"The physicist works on quantum mechanics."

"The physicist works on quantum mechanics and tries to understand the behavior of subatomic particles."

someone or something's role in achieving a specific result, particularly a positive one

"Her contribution helped the team."

"Her significant contribution was instrumental in achieving the project's successful completion ahead of schedule."

to intentionally ignore or act without concern for something or someone that deserves consideration

"Do not disregard safety warnings."

"Drivers who disregard traffic laws put themselves and others at serious risk of injury or death."

someone who held a position, office, or role before another person

"His predecessor was good."

"The current CEO has implemented many changes that were not possible during the tenure of her predecessor."

in an unplanned or impulsive manner

"They laughed spontaneously."

"The crowd spontaneously began to sing the national anthem after the team won the championship for the first time."

to briefly visit a place, often without prior planning or notice

"Pop into my office."

"I need to pop into the pharmacy quickly to pick up my prescription before it closes."

made for practical use, not for looks

"The design is functional."

"The furniture is simple and functional with no unnecessary decorations but it serves its purpose well and is very comfortable."

in a proper or expected manner

"It was duly noted."

"The document was duly signed and notarized so it is now legally binding and valid."

the process of testing a method, an idea, etc. in several ways to achieve the desired outcome

"We learned this by trial and error."

"Learning a new skill often requires trial and error before you finally get it right."

related to evolution or the slow and gradual development of something

"The change is evolutionary."

"The evolutionary theory explains how species change over time through natural selection and adaptation to their environments."

to gradually decrease the effectiveness, confidence, or power of something or someone

"His words undermine trust."

"His constant criticism began to undermine her confidence and made her doubt her own abilities."

a general concept or belief

"The notion of time travel fascinates him."

"The notion that success required sacrificing happiness was a belief she strongly rejected."

increasing gradually as more and more is added

"The effect is cumulative."

"The cumulative effect of years of smoking damaged his lungs beyond repair."

without warning or announcement

"The change was unheralded."

"The unheralded singer became an overnight sensation after her video went viral and she received millions of views in just one day."

to suggest or assume the existence or truth of something as a basis for reasoning, discussion, or belief

"The theory postulates the existence of dark matter."

"The scientist postulated that there might be other intelligent life forms in the universe but he admitted that he had no direct evidence to prove it."

a tabular arrangement of chemical elements organized based on their atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring chemical properties

"The periodic table organizes chemical elements."

"The periodic table organizes all known chemical elements into rows and columns based on their atomic number and similar chemical properties."

deserving of attention due to importance, excellence, or notable qualities

"Her achievement is noteworthy."

"The noteworthy achievement of the young scientist earned her an award and recognition from the international research community."

coming from the imagination rather than facts

"The story is fanciful."

"The fanciful story about a dragon who loved to knit was too silly for adults but the children found it delightful."

the creation of theories or opinions about something with no fact or proof

"Wild speculation about the future."

"There was widespread speculation about the cause of the fire but investigators had not yet determined whether it was an accident or arson."

relating to the science that explores living organisms and their functions

"It is a biological study."

"The professor's research focused on the complex biological processes that allow deep-sea creatures to survive extreme pressures."

a living thing such as a plant, animal, etc., especially a very small one that lives on its own

"Every living organism needs water and food."

"Every single living organism on Earth needs water to survive and thrive."

(genetics) any event that changes genetic structure; any alteration in the inherited nucleic acid sequence of the genotype of an organism

"The genetic mutation causes the plant to have white flowers."

"The genetic mutation causes the plant to have white flowers instead of the usual purple ones."

not based on reason but on chance or personal impulse, which is often unfair

"The decision is arbitrary."

"The teacher's grading seemed arbitrary because students with similar answers received very different scores and nobody understood the system."

to create a situation in which it is easier for one to do something or for something to happen

"This discovery paved the way for new medicine."

"His research paved the way for future scientists to make even more important discoveries."

having a positive effect or helpful result

"Exercise is beneficial."

"Regular exercise is beneficial for both physical health and mental well being."

support consisting of metal loops into which rider's feet go

"Put foot in stirrup."

"He adjusted the stirrup to ensure a comfortable position for the ride."

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."

a person who rides horses in races

"The jockey weighs less than 120 pounds."

"The jockey urged his horse forward with gentle taps of the whip in the final stretch."

done in a careful, systematic, and organized manner

"A methodical approach."

"She is a methodical worker who follows a checklist and never forgets any important steps."

having or showing good judgement, especially in business or politics

"He is a shrewd businessman."

"The shrewd investor sold his shares just before the market crashed and he saved himself from losing a fortune."

to move at a greater speed than someone or something

"The car can outrun us."

"The cheetah is known for its incredible speed, allowing it to easily outrun most of its prey on the savanna."

to know or predict something before it happens

"He could not foresee the outcome."

"The economist failed to foresee the financial crisis that caused millions of people to lose their homes and jobs."

the act of making small changes in something, usually for an enhancement

"We made a slight modification to the design."

"The modification to the engine increased horsepower but reduced fuel efficiency significantly."

improved in value, quality, or performance

"The image is enhanced."

"The enhanced image showed details that were invisible in the original photograph and the forensic experts used it as evidence."

existing or spreading among many people, groups, or communities through communication, influence, or awareness

"The disease is widespread."

"The widespread use of smartphones has changed the way people communicate and access information in their daily lives."

to carefully collect small amounts of information, facts, or knowledge over time from different sources

"We glean information."

"From the scattered clues, the detective managed to glean the truth."

the sport of racing thoroughbred horses

"Thoroughbred racing is a popular sport in Kentucky."

"Thoroughbred racing is a popular sport in Kentucky and the Kentucky Derby is the most famous race."

the intuitive understanding or perception of the inner nature or truth of something

"I have an insight."

"Her deep insight into human nature allowed her to understand complex motivations."

(of a person) producing creative and original ideas, equipment, methods, etc.

"The design is innovative."

"The innovative design of the new smartphone includes features that no other company has ever offered to customers."

developed or primarily guided by the intellect rather than relying on emotions or personal experience

"He is an intellectual person."

"Her intellectual curiosity led her to pursue advanced studies in philosophy and theoretical physics."

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

"She is a star."

"As a true star in the culinary world, his innovative dishes consistently earned critical acclaim."

concerned with understanding and explaining phenomena rather than directly applying them to real-world situations

"It is a theoretical idea."

"While the concept is intriguing, its practical application remains purely theoretical at this stage."

the quality of being knowledgeable, experienced, and able to make good decisions and judgments

"Wisdom comes from experience"

"Ancient wisdom teaches us valuable lessons about life and how to live happily every day."

an important discovery or development that helps improve a situation or answer a problem

"The breakthrough changed science"

"The scientific breakthrough changed science by introducing a completely new approach to disease treatment"

to portray imperfectly or incorrectly without deceitful intent

"Don't misrepresent the data."

"It's easy to misrepresent your intentions when you're not careful with your words."

an area of knowledge, interest, or activity that you study, work in, or talk about

"This is my realm."

"The professor's research focused on the complex realm of quantum physics."

a planned effort or project that often involves courage, skill, or determination

"A noble endeavor."

"The scientist's endeavor leads to a new cure and saves thousands of lives around the world."

to ignore something temporarily in favor of more important matters

"Set aside your worries."

"We must set aside minor disagreements to focus on the critical issues facing the committee."

having exceptional importance or significant impact

"The achievement is monumental."

"The discovery of penicillin was a monumental breakthrough in the history of medicine."

to find or get back something that was lost or stolen

"I will recover my keys."

"The police are working diligently to recover the stolen artwork before it disappears forever."

during a particular situation or condition

"He worked amid chaos."

"Despite the widespread economic uncertainty, the company managed to thrive amid the challenging market conditions."

lacking a basis in reason or fact and not supported by evidence or logic

"That idea is wild."

"His wild claims about alien encounters lacked any credible evidence or logical foundation."

to put forward a suggestion, plan, or idea for consideration

"He will propose a new plan."

"The committee proposed several changes to the existing policy in order to make it more effective and fair."

new and unlike anything else

"This is a novel idea."

"The scientist proposed a novel method for purifying water that had never been tried before in this region."

a person who holds a significant or distinguished position within an organization

"He is the father of the company."

"The esteemed professor is considered the father of modern astrophysics due to his seminal contributions."

to start something with a rapid and successful beginning

"The team will jump off."

"The startup is poised to jump off into the market with an innovative product and aggressive marketing strategy."

to produce a plan, idea, etc. in one's mind

"She conceived a brilliant idea suddenly."

"It is very difficult for most people to conceive what life was like before the invention of the internet and smartphones existed."

to come to a personal determination or belief after considering information or experiences

"I conclude this is best."

"After reviewing all the evidence, the jury will conclude that the defendant is guilty."

involving, done, or shared by all members of a group

"We made a collective decision."

"We made a collective decision as a team so everyone shares responsibility for the outcome."

a notable feature or quality that defines or describes something

"Kindness is a characteristic."

"A calm voice is one of her most noticeable characteristics."

to grow and develop exceptionally well

"These plants thrive in humid environments."

"The plants thrive in the warm humid climate of the greenhouse where they are protected from frost and cold winds."

to create a copy of something

"Reproduce the picture."

"The artist was asked to reproduce the famous painting for the museum's exhibition."

the scope or range of knowledge, interest, or expertise in a particular field

"This is her domain."

"Her extensive domain of expertise includes quantum physics and theoretical cosmology."

to give an official degree, title, right, etc. to someone

"They confer degrees."

"The university will confer honorary degrees upon distinguished alumni at the ceremony."

to direct or participate in the management, organization, or execution of something

"They conduct the meeting."

"The orchestra conductor will conduct the symphony with precision and passion."

significantly great in quantity

"She has extensive knowledge."

"The library boasts an extensive collection of rare manuscripts dating back centuries."

to occur at the same time as something else

"The holiday coincides with her birthday this year."

"The date of the wedding coincided with the anniversary of when the couple first met five years ago."

the action of starting to use a certain plan, name, method, or idea

"The adoption of the plan."

"The company's successful adoption of the new software improved overall efficiency."