Test 2 - Reading - Passage 3 (1) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 19 Vocabulary List

having a natural talent, intelligence, or ability in a particular area or skill

"She is a gifted artist."

"The young musician was incredibly gifted, mastering complex pieces with apparent ease."

related to or used in mathematics

"The problem is mathematical."

"The mathematical equation was so complex that only a few students in the class could solve it correctly without any help."

an annual award for outstanding contributions to chemistry or physics or physiology and medicine or literature or economics or peace

"Marie Curie won the Nobel prize twice."

"Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize twice for her discoveries in physics and chemistry."

the study of numbers and shapes that involves calculation and description

"Mathematics is difficult."

"Mathematics is not just about numbers it teaches logical thinking and problem solving skills that are useful in many everyday situations beyond the classroom."

to succeed in obtaining something

"I need to lay my hands on a good book."

"I would love to get my hands on a copy of that rare book but it is very expensive."

to capture someone's interest or curiosity

"Space exploration fascinates young children."

"The documentary about space exploration fascinated the young boy who dreamed of becoming an astronaut."

showing determination or a strong will in pursuing a goal or decision

"He is resolute."

"The resolute climber refused to turn back even when the storm approached and she reached the summit just before dark."

despite a challenging or difficult situation

"He smiled in the face of danger."

"She remained calm in the face of danger and helped everyone escape safely."

a problem that gets in the way of a process or makes it worse

"Major setback delayed project."

"The injury was a major setback for the athlete who had trained for years for the Olympics."

(of an activity) making one feel satisfied by giving one a desirable outcome

"Teaching is rewarding."

"Teaching can be a rewarding career because you have the opportunity to make a positive difference in young people's lives."

a path or track that has been roughly marked or cleared, often found in wild or hilly terrain

"The trail is marked with blue blazes."

"The trail was marked with blue blazes painted on the trees every hundred feet."

the scientific study of matter and energy and the relationships between them, including the study of natural forces such as light, heat, and movement

"I study physics at school."

"She decided to study physics at university because she was fascinated by how the universe works."

at the starting point of a process or situation

"Initially I did not like him."

"Initially I did not like him but after getting to know him better I realized that he is actually a very kind person."

to keep working hard, even when faced with difficulties or challenges

"Keep plugging away at your studies."

"If you keep plugging away at your studies every day you will eventually see improvement in your test scores."

after or at the end of a series of events or an extended period

"He eventually found his lost keys."

"He eventually found his lost keys under the sofa after searching the entire house for over an hour."

to change something to suit a new or different purpose

"Rewrite the essay for clarity."

"The author decided to rewrite the final chapter of his novel because he was not satisfied with the original ending."

the branch of physics that deals with the study of motion and the behavior of physical systems under the action of forces

"The mechanics of the engine are complex."

"The mechanics of the internal combustion engine involved the four strokes of intake compression power and exhaust."

large in quantity, extent, or degree

"The damage is considerable."

"The project required a considerable amount of time and money but the results were worth the investment."

the ability to correctly utilize thought and reason, learn from experience, or to successfully adapt to the environment

"Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly."

"Emotional intelligence was the ability to recognize understand and manage one's own emotions and those of others."

used to convey that something seems to be true based on the available evidence or information

"Apparently he did not receive my message."

"Apparently he did not receive my message because his phone was turned off all day yesterday."

lacking distinct or remarkable qualities

"The performance was unexceptional."

"The unexceptional performance of the team disappointed their fans who had expected them to win the championship easily."

a school or institution that offers vocational courses

"He studies engineering at the polytechnic."

"The polytechnic university focused on engineering technology and applied sciences rather than theoretical research."

regarding neurons, which are the basic building blocks of the nervous system

"The neural network is complex."

"Scientists are studying the neural pathways involved in memory formation and retrieval."

a bundle of myelinated nerve fibers following a path through the brain

"The neural pathway is clear."

"Damage to this specific neural pathway can significantly impair motor control and coordination."

a measure of a person's reasoning ability and cognitive skills, derived from standardized tests designed to assess human intelligence

"His intelligence quotient was high."

"The psychologist administered a test to determine the child's intelligence quotient and cognitive abilities."

‌used to express that no decision is made or no opinion is formed about something due to uncertainty

"We do not know the result yet — the jury is still out."

"The jury is still out on whether artificial intelligence will ultimately benefit or harm the global workforce."

a very important international award given every four years to a small number of mathematicians under the age of 40, to honor their excellent work and contributions to mathematics

"The Fields Medal is a prize for mathematicians under 40."

"The Fields Medal was awarded every four years to outstanding mathematicians under the age of forty."

relating to the ideas, rules, or discoveries of Isaac Newton, especially about motion, gravity, and how physical objects behave in the world

"The physics is Newtonian."

"The Newtonian laws of physics describe how objects move but they do not apply to very small particles or very fast speeds."

a scientific idea made by Einstein that describes how time, space, and gravity are connected, especially when objects move very fast or are near very large masses like stars or planets

"Einstein created the theory of relativity."

"Einstein's theory of relativity changed the way scientists understand time space and gravity forever."

a natural and unusual ability to learn, understand, or perform certain tasks much better and faster than most people

"Her giftedness is clear."

"The school recognized her exceptional giftedness and provided her with advanced academic challenges."

the process of seeking information or knowledge through investigation, exploration, or analysis

"Inquiry is important."

"The scientific method is fundamentally based on systematic inquiry and empirical evidence to gain knowledge."

someone who is very smart or is very skilled in a specific activity

"Einstein was a genius in physics."

"Einstein was a genius whose theories of relativity revolutionized our understanding of physics."

a person or thing equal to another in value or measure or force or effect or significance etc

"This word has no direct equivalent in English."

"The French word bonjour was the equivalent of saying good morning or hello in English."

remarkable or very unusual, often in a positive way

"She has extraordinary talent."

"The extraordinary courage of the firefighters saved many lives and the mayor awarded them medals for their bravery."

a particular aspect or branch of activity or life

"It's a large sphere."

"Environmental policy is an increasingly important sphere of concern for international governments."

to become apparent after a period of development, transformation, or investigation

"Truths emerge slowly."

"After months of investigation, the truth began to emerge from the shadows."

very careful or meticulous in choosing only the best or most suitable options

"She is selective."

"As a selective reader, she only chooses books that promise intellectual stimulation and depth."

something that attracts enjoyment, attention, or curiosity

"That is an interest."

"Learning about ancient civilizations has always been a primary interest of mine since childhood."

to a somewhat notable, considerable, or surprising degree

"She is rather tired today."

"She is rather tired after the long journey so she is going to rest for a while before dinner."

a small, unspecified number of things or people, usually two or a few

"A couple of birds flew."

"We only need a couple of volunteers to help with the event setup."

addicted or extremely enthusiastic about something

"He is hooked on games."

"After trying the new virtual reality game, he was completely hooked and spent hours playing it."

to briefly state the most important parts or facts of something

"Let's sum up."

"To sum up, the report highlights the urgent need for systemic changes to address the ongoing environmental crisis."

a long walk often in the countryside for pleasure or as an exercise

"The family goes for a hike in the national park."

"The weekend hike through the national park covered fifteen miles and included steep elevation gain."

the range or extent within which something can be seen

"What is the sight?"

"From the mountaintop, the vast sight extended all the way to the distant ocean horizon."

the most advanced stage of something, achieved after a period of growth or effort

"This is the height."

"The athlete reached the height of her career after winning the championship title."

(a work created by an author, artist, or composer) entirely new and not based on existing works or sources

"This is original art."

"This is the original copy of the painting not a cheap print or reproduction."

the result of an exam that is shown by a letter or number

"What is the score?"

"The student received an excellent score on the rigorous examination, demonstrating a strong grasp of the subject matter."

to put a great deal of effort to overcome difficulties or achieve a goal

"Many students struggle with math."

"Many students struggle with time management during their first year of university because they have more freedom."

a scientific principle or rule that describes something scientific or natural always being the same or occurring in the same way, given specific conditions are met

"Gravity is a law."

"The fundamental law of thermodynamics dictates the conservation of energy within a closed system."

the action or process of carrying out or accomplishing a task, duty, or function, often measured against predetermined standards, goals, or expectations

"The performance was good."

"The employee's outstanding performance exceeded all expectations, earning them a significant promotion."

to lead one to believe or consider that something exists or is true

"It suggest a problem."

"The subtle changes in the patient's behavior suggest a deeper, underlying medical condition that needs investigation."

used to emphasize the amount or intensity of something

"That is way too expensive for me."

"That is way too expensive for me so I will have to look for a cheaper alternative instead."

the details about someone's family, experience, education, etc.

"What is your background?"

"Understanding her diverse professional background helps explain her innovative approach to problem-solving."

denoting the inclusion of something extra alongside existing tasks, responsibilities, or obligations

"Work on top of chores."

"She had to complete the urgent project on top of her already demanding workload and family responsibilities."

capable of adjusting easily to different situations, circumstances, or needs

"My schedule is flexible."

"The flexible work schedule allows employees to choose their own hours as long as they complete their tasks each week."

(of a number) having a fixed and unchanging value

"The price is fixed."

"The interest rate on this savings account is fixed for the entire duration of the term."

used to indicate a position in front of or in advance of someone or something else

"He finished ahead of the others."

"He finished the race ahead of all the other runners and won the gold medal."

someone who belongs to the same generation as another

"He is my contemporary."

"Contemporary art was often difficult to understand because it challenged traditional ideas of beauty."