Test 3 - Reading - Passage 2 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 16 Vocabulary List

a man-made object, tool, weapon, etc. that was created in the past and holds historical or cultural significance

"The museum displays a 2000-year-old artifact."

"Archaeologists discovered an ancient artifact that provided insight into the daily lives of early humans."

a large mass of ice that forms over long periods of time, especially in polar regions or high mountains

"The glacier slowly moves down the mountain."

"Scientists measured how fast the glacier is melting due to rising global temperatures."

line marking the upper limit of tree growth in mountains or northern latitudes

"The cabin is built just below the tree line."

"The cabin is built just below the tree line and is surrounded by pine trees on all sides."

someone whose job is selling or buying shares, goods, or currencies

"He is a trader."

"The currency trader made a substantial profit by accurately predicting the fluctuations in the foreign exchange market."

the skin of an animal, especially a large animal, either raw or treated

"The cow hide is thick."

"Tanning animal hide transforms raw skin into durable leather for making shoes and bags."

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 tiny living organism that can only be seen under a microscope, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa

"The microscope reveals tiny microorganisms in the water."

"The microscope reveals tiny microorganisms in the water and they are invisible to the naked eye."

the decomposition or rotting of organic matter

"The tooth decay causes a cavity."

"The tooth decay causes a cavity and the dentist must fill the hole to prevent further damage."

to gradually become unfrozen after being taken out of the freezer

"Thaw out the frozen chicken."

"You need to thaw out the frozen chicken completely before cooking it to ensure that it cooks evenly."

the process of something becoming worse, weaker, or damaged, especially in quality, condition, or value

"The degradation of the environment concerns scientists."

"The degradation of the environment was evident in the polluted rivers and dying forests."

in a quick or immediate way

"The river flows swiftly."

"The river flows swiftly after the heavy rains so it is not safe to go swimming or kayaking right now."

to work as fast as possible to get something done within a very limited time

"We are racing against the clock."

"The doctors raced against the clock to save the patient's life after he arrived at the hospital."

easily damaged or broken

"The glass is fragile."

"The fragile glass vase was wrapped in bubble wrap and the movers handled it with extreme care during the relocation."

appearing untidy because of the wind

"Her hair is windblown."

"The windblown hair of the sailor looked wild and tangled after his long voyage and he needed a haircut and a hot shower."

a type of deer with large antlers in both sexes, mainly living in cold regions

"The reindeer pulled the sled."

"Reindeer live in cold regions and travel together."

to come together in a group, often for a specific purpose or activity

"Fans congregate outside the stadium."

"The fans began to congregate outside the stadium hours before the gates were scheduled to open."

not moving or changing position

"The bike is stationary."

"The stationary car sat in the driveway for weeks because the owner could not afford to repair the broken engine."

worn, eroded, or changed in appearance due to exposure to weather elements, such as wind, rain, or sun

"The weathered wood looked old."

"The weathered facade of the old lighthouse stood as a testament to years of exposure to harsh coastal storms."

a weather condition during which the temperature drops below the freezing point and thin layers of ice are formed on the surfaces

"There was frost today."

"A delicate layer of frost covered the car windshields on this unusually cold autumn morning."

a large rock, usually one that has been shaped by natural forces such as water or ice

"A huge boulder blocked the road after the storm last night."

"A huge boulder fell onto the road during the storm and blocked traffic for several hours."

solid rock beneath surface materials, forming the Earth's crust foundation

"Bedrock is solid rock."

"Construction workers must dig through soil to reach the solid bedrock below."

ground that is permanently frozen

"The permafrost thaws as the climate warms."

"The permafrost thaws as the climate warms and causes the ground to become unstable and sink."

(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."

becoming infected

"The patient is contracting illness."

"The patient is contracting a rare illness that requires immediate medical attention and specialized treatment."

a secular designation used to represent dates in the Gregorian calendar before the traditional reference point of the birth of Jesus Christ

"This happened before Common Era."

"Dinosaurs lived during the Before Common Era period millions of years before humans appeared on Earth."

thrown away

"The item is discarded."

"The discarded bottle lay on the beach and would take hundreds of years to decompose naturally."

to move across or through in a specified direction

"The hikers traversed the mountain range."

"The hikers needed three full days to traverse the mountain range from one side to the other."

not limited in use or function

"The flour is all-purpose."

"This all purpose cleaner works on windows floors counters and even removes stubborn stains from carpets."

a method used by scientists to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 they contain

"Radiocarbon dating determines the age of old bones."

"Radiocarbon dating is a scientific method used by archaeologists to determine the age of ancient organic materials."

intimidating, challenging, or overwhelming in a way that creates a sense of fear or unease

"The task is daunting."

"The daunting task of cleaning the entire house seemed impossible but they started with one room at a time."

an area of land, particularly in reference to its physical or natural features

"The rocky terrain was difficult to cross."

"Terrain refers to the physical features and surface characteristics of a tract of land"

used with a date to refer to things happened or existed after the birth of Christ

"This event is Common Era."

"The Common Era calendar is used worldwide today and it counts years starting from the birth of Jesus."

to improve something by adding something to it

"She supplements her income with freelance work."

"She works part time as a tutor to supplement her income from her main job as a teacher."

belong to an earlier time

"The church dates from the fifteenth century."

"The beautiful old church dates from the fifteenth century and is a popular tourist attraction."

an increase in the amount, size, importance, or degree of something

"The city plans an expansion."

"The expansion of the company into international markets required significant investment and careful planning over several years."

commodities, goods, or services sold and sent to another country

"The country's main export is coffee."

"The country's main export is coffee and most of the beans are shipped to Europe and the United States."

any of the pair of branched horns that grow annually on the head of an adult animal, typically a male one, from the deer family

"The deer lost an antler."

"Every autumn, male deer shed their antlers and begin growing a new set for the following year."

the era in human history from which we have no written record

"Prehistory is the era before the invention of writing systems."

"Prehistory is not a static field; a new discovery of cave art can completely alter our understanding of an ancient hominid's cognitive world."

to decrease in size or volume

"Wool sweaters shrink in hot water."

"The fabric is known to shrink considerably after the first wash in a machine."

to completely stop existing or being found

"The ghost will vanish."

"The magician made the rabbit vanish from the hat, astonishing the audience."

a penetrating and profound understanding that goes beyond surface-level observations or knowledge

"The book provides a fascinating insight into rural life."

"Her research offers valuable insight into how children learn languages."

any type of knitted, felted or woven cloth

"The factory produces cotton textile for making shirts and other clothes."

"The textile industry in this region employs thousands of skilled workers every year."

to be likely to develop or occur in a certain way because that is the usual pattern

"She tends to arrive late daily."

"Young children tend to imitate the behavior of their parents and other adults around them."

to reveal, uncover, or make visible something that was hidden or covered

"The article exposes government corruption."

"The investigative journalist risked her career to expose government corruption and hold powerful officials accountable."

a way of doing something or dealing with a problem

"This approach works very well."

"The new approach to teaching mathematics has helped students understand complex problems more easily than before."

to take a closer look at something, especially thoroughly in order to investigate

"We survey the room."

"The detective will survey the crime scene meticulously for any overlooked clues."

a small plot of land that is used for growing a particular type of crops or plants

"A small vegetable patch."

"The garden had a small patch of mint that grew so vigorously that it threatened to take over the entire vegetable plot."

to navigate through a complex or narrow space by avoiding obstacles

"Thread the needle."

"The spy had to thread his way through the heavily guarded compound undetected."

a natural route or gap through a mountain range, lower than the surrounding peaks, allowing easier travel

"We crossed the pass."

"The climbers navigated the treacherous mountain pass, seeking a safer route down the other side."

an area where a group of families or people live together, often in a newly established community

"This is a settlement."

"The archaeological team uncovered evidence of an ancient settlement near the riverbank."

in the middle of, surrounded by

"Amid the chaos he stayed calm."

"Amid the chaos of the fire the firefighters remained calm and rescued everyone safely."

involvement in war, particularly using certain methods or weapons

"Modern warfare depends heavily on advanced technology"

"Modern warfare increasingly relies on drones and cyber attacks rather than ground troops."

to continue over a certain period of time

"The play will run."

"The negotiations between the two countries are expected to run for several more weeks."

to make a connection between someone or something and another in the mind

"People associate dark clouds with rain."

"Most people associate the color red with love and passion but it can also symbolize danger and anger."

gear for a horse

"The horse needed new tack."

"The rider carefully inspected the horse's tack before the long journey."

to show, point out, or suggest the existence, presence, or nature of something

"The sign indicates the correct direction."

"The arrows on the floor indicate the direction of the emergency exit in case of a fire."

to think that something is true without having proof or evidence

"Assume he is wrong."

"Do not assume that everyone shares your opinions because people come from different backgrounds and have various perspectives."

the height or distance of an object or geographical feature above a specified reference point, typically measured from sea level

"High elevation causes problem."

"People who live at high elevation sometimes feel tired because of lower oxygen levels in the air."

to emerge as a particular outcome

"The cake turned out perfectly."

"The party turned out to be much more fun than I had expected it would be."

to undertake a risky or daring journey or course of action

"They venture out."

"The explorers decided to venture into the uncharted territory despite the dangers."

in a way that is unusually impressive, effective, or surprising

"She is remarkably talented for her age."

"She is remarkably talented for her age and can play three different musical instruments very well indeed."

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."

the amount of produce gathered from crops during one growing season

"Good harvest season."

"Farmers celebrated the good harvest season after many months of hard work in the fields this year."

an unforeseen development

"It was a sudden turn."

"The unexpected turn of events led to a complete restructuring of the company."

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."

to become something greater in quantity, importance, or size

"The business will expand."

"The company plans to expand its operations into international markets next year."

characterized by growth, expansion, or prosperity in an industry, economy, or market

"The booming economy grew."

"The booming tech industry has created numerous job opportunities and significant economic growth in the region."

to resist or defend against an attack or threat, whether physical or metaphorical

"Fight off the infection naturally."

"The body's immune system works hard to fight off infections caused by harmful bacteria and viruses."

(of a place) isolated and difficult to access

"The village was remote."

"They lived in a remote mountain cabin, far from any major civilization."

a small amount of a substance taken from a larger amount used for scientific analysis or therapeutic experiment

"Take a sample."

"The laboratory technician collected a blood sample for comprehensive testing to diagnose the patient's condition accurately."

a pause or break that interrupts something from continuing smoothly

"There was a gap."

"A brief gap in the conversation allowed him to formulate his next question."

to break or lose structure and unity over time

"The paper disintegrated in water."

"The old piece of paper disintegrated into tiny fragments when I tried to pick it up because it was so old and brittle."

to take something out from something else, particularly when it is not easy to do

"Extract the juice now."

"The chef carefully used a special tool to extract the fresh juice from the ripe fruit for the delicious smoothie."

to move back or withdraw to a safer or more comfortable place, especially to avoid something unpleasant

"They retreat now."

"The hikers had to retreat down the mountain due to the sudden and severe thunderstorm."

a journey carefully organized for a specific purpose, such as exploration or research

"The expedition to the South Pole was extremely dangerous and very cold."

"An expedition is a long and carefully organized journey undertaken for a specific purpose"

an example of a certain kind of situation

"This is a common case."

"In this particular case, the evidence strongly suggests innocence."

in the first place

"This is primarily it."

"The course is primarily designed for beginners who have no previous experience in the subject."

a long, unbroken area of land or water that goes far in one direction

"The desert reach was long."

"The vast reach of the savanna stretched out before them, seemingly endless."