Test 3 - Reading - Passage 2 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 15 Vocabulary List

related to the beginning of a series or process

"The initial plan was simple."

"The initial plan was to finish the project by Friday, but unforeseen circumstances caused a significant delay."

related to the sun

"This is a solar panel."

"The solar panels on the roof generate enough electricity to power the entire house every day."

utility to warm a building

"The heating system works."

"The heating system fails during the coldest week and the family uses space heaters to stay warm."

a specific, targeted segment of the market focused on a particular product or service for a specific group of people

"The company found a niche market for organic pet food."

"The company found a niche market for organic pet food and has very little competition."

water that comes out of a faucet or a tap, usually treated to be safe for drinking and cooking

"Is the tap water safe to drink here?"

"Is the tap water safe to drink here or should I buy bottled water from the store?"

a business activity that is mostly very risky

"The venture succeeded well"

"The venture succeeded well after months of careful planning and strategic business partnerships"

easily carried or moved from one place to another

"My computer is portable."

"The portable speaker fits in your backpack and the battery lasts for twelve hours of continuous music playback."

to clean and improve the quality of a substance by removing impurities and increasing its concentration

"Purify the water before drinking."

"The new water filtration system is designed to purify contaminated water and make it safe for drinking."

the removal of salt (especially from sea water)

"The desalination plant provides fresh water from the sea."

"The desalination plant provides fresh water from the sea and supplies millions of people with drinking water."

a country that is seeking industrial development and is moving away from an economic system that is based mainly on agriculture

"The developing country invests in infrastructure."

"The developing country received aid from international organizations to build schools and hospitals."

a nation with a high level of industrialization, a strong economy, and a high standard of living for its people

"The developed country has excellent infrastructure."

"The developed country has excellent infrastructure and a high standard of living for its citizens."

involving a significant numbers of people or a vast area

"The project is large-scale."

"The large scale construction project employed hundreds of workers and it took five years to complete the new highway."

the amount of carbon dioxide that an organization or person releases into the atmosphere

"Driving less reduces your carbon footprint."

"Driving a gas powered car every day can significantly increase your personal carbon footprint over time."

water that is safe to drink or use for food preparation, meeting government health standards for potability

"This is drinking water."

"Clean water safe for human consumption is essential for health and daily activities."

a characteristic of something that is up for sale that makes it attractive to potential customers

"The car's fuel efficiency is its main selling point."

"The car's fuel efficiency is its main selling point and attracts buyers who want to save money on gas."

a piece of equipment, usually placed on a roof, that absorbs the energy of sun and uses it to produce electricity or heat

"The solar panel works."

"Installing a solar panel on your roof can significantly reduce your household's electricity bills."

water that has been boiled, collected as vapor, and then condensed back into a liquid to remove impurities and dissolved substances

"Use distilled water."

"Distilled water is essential for certain laboratory experiments where impurities must be absent."

a type of fuel made from crude oil, used in diesel engines found in trucks, buses, trains, and some cars

"The truck runs on diesel fuel."

"The truck runs on diesel fuel and gets better mileage than gasoline powered trucks of the same size."

a person who owns and usually resides in a house or property

"The homeowner files an insurance claim after the storm."

"The homeowner files an insurance claim after the storm and the adjuster visits to assess the damage."

capable of providing everything that one needs, particularly food, without any help from others

"He is self-sufficient now."

"The farm is self sufficient and grows all the food needed to feed the family."

to picture something in one's mind

"She envisions a successful career ahead."

"She can easily envision herself living in a small house by the sea after she retires from work."

showing concern for the well-being of people and acting to improve human welfare

"The work is humanitarian."

"The humanitarian organization sent food water and medical supplies to the disaster zone and their workers saved thousands of lives."

the natural light coming from the sun

"Sunlight warmed the room."

"The bright sunlight streamed through the window and woke him up early even though he had set his alarm for a later hour."

any of the available possibilities that one can choose from

"We need to find an alternative route."

"Since the main road was closed due to construction, we had to find an alternative route through the countryside to reach the village on time."

a flat, thin sheet made of metal, wood, glass, or plastic, often used for structural, decorative, or functional purposes

"The plate was thin."

"A decorative metal plate was affixed to the monument to commemorate the historic event."

to link or connect someone or something to another device or system

"Hook up the computer."

"We need to hook up the new printer to the main network before anyone can use it."

to become accessible

"New features come in."

"More affordable models will soon come in, offering greater accessibility to a wider range of consumers."

relating to or belonging to the home, household, or family life

"This is a domestic task."

"She preferred to focus on domestic matters rather than career advancements."

not fixed and able to move or be moved easily or quickly

"The library is mobile."

"The mobile library travels to remote villages every week and residents can borrow books without having to drive to the city."

something kept back or saved for future use or a special purpose

"Keep it in reserve."

"She kept a small reserve of cash for unexpected emergencies."

able to continue for a long period of time

"This plan is sustainable."

"The company adopted sustainable practices to ensure long-term environmental viability."

to provide the necessary nourishment or resources needed for survival or well-being

"Sustain your life."

"Adequate rainfall and sunlight are essential to sustain the diverse ecosystem of the rainforest."

a closed vessel in which water is heated to create steam or hot water, used for heating buildings, producing electricity, or powering machines

"The boiler heats the building."

"The old boiler in the basement finally broke down, so they had to install a new one before winter."

to stop or hold something in place, preventing it from moving

"The net will trap him."

"The ingenious device was designed to trap the escaping gas and prevent further contamination."

(physics) any of the smallest units that energy or matter consists of, such as electrons, atoms, molecules, etc.

"A tiny particle floated."

"Scientists study the behavior of subatomic particles in accelerators."

double in size, amount, or degree

"The goal is twofold."

"The company's strategy was twofold: to increase market share and to improve customer satisfaction significantly."

in a total and complete manner

"He refused outright to help us."

"He refused outright to help us and did not even offer an explanation for his rude behavior."

to allow someone to use or occupy property for a specified period of time in exchange for payment, as defined by a contract

"We will lease the car."

"The landlord decided to lease his apartment to a reliable tenant for a period of one year."

the act of utilizing something effectively for a specific purpose or task

"This application is useful."

"The successful application of this new technology has led to significant improvements in manufacturing efficiency."

to provide or supply something with the necessary material, resources, or energy to function

"Feed the dog food."

"The solar panels will feed energy directly into the national grid throughout the day."