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

to make one's time enjoyable by doing something that is interesting and does not make one bored

"The clown amused the children."

"The clever clown used a variety of tricks and jokes to amuse the young children at the birthday party."

(of an idea or plan) to develop or become more defined

"The plan will take form."

"After months of brainstorming, the new project finally began to take form, and the team could see a clear direction."

along a route towards a specific destination

"I am on the way to your house."

"I stopped to buy some bread on the way home from work so we have food for dinner."

functioning as a warning

"He told a cautionary tale."

"He told a cautionary tale about the dangers of investing all your money in one risky stock."

a scientist who studies human beings, especially their societies, cultures, languages, and physical development, both past and present

"The anthropologist studied ancient tools."

"The anthropologist studied human societies and cultures around the world."

a type of folktale that typically features mythical creatures, magical events, and enchanted settings, often with a moral lesson or a happy ending

"The fairy tale was magical."

"The children loved hearing the fairy tale about the princess who kissed a frog and broke a wicked witch's curse."

of or relating to the evolutionary development of organisms

"A phylogenetic tree."

"The phylogenetic tree shows how different species are related to each other through common ancestors over millions of years."

a group that animals, plants, etc. of the same type which are capable of producing healthy offspring with each other are divided into

"The panda is a critically endangered species."

"This particular species of orchid is extremely rare and can only be found in a small region of the Amazon rainforest."

to eventually reach or find oneself in a particular place, situation, or condition, often unexpectedly or as a result of circumstances

"They end up lost."

"If you keep taking wrong turns, you will inevitably end up in the wrong part of town."

as time passes or progresses

"Over time his health improved."

"Over time his health improved dramatically and he was able to return to work after several months."

a member of a society that survives by hunting animals, fishing, and gathering wild plants rather than practicing agriculture

"The hunter-gatherer tribe moves with the seasons."

"The hunter gatherer tribe moved seasonally following animal migrations and ripening wild plants."

having little or no importance

"The problem is trivial."

"Do not waste your time arguing about trivial matters because there are much more important issues that need your attention."

causing extreme fear, shock, or disgust

"The scene is gruesome."

"The gruesome crime scene photos were too disturbing for the jury to look at without feeling sick to their stomachs."

(of a movie, story, or other media) containing a great deal of violence or brutality

"The movie was bloodthirsty."

"The bloodthirsty dictator executed anyone who spoke out against his regime without any trial or legal process."

kept intact or in a particular condition

"The body is preserved."

"The preserved body of the ancient king was found in a tomb deep beneath the pyramid after thousands of years."

someone who recounts a story, whether fictional or factual

"He is a good teller."

"The old man was a captivating teller of tales, weaving intricate stories of his adventures from his youth."

to cause food, drink, or another substance to pass from the mouth down into the stomach, using the muscles of the throat

"Swallow the medicine with water."

"The pill was too large to swallow comfortably so she asked the pharmacist for a smaller alternative."

to use a sharp object like scissors or a knife on something to remove a section from it

"Cut out the unhealthy snacks."

"You should cut out sugary drinks from your diet if you want to lose weight."

exciting and intriguing in a way that attracts one's attention

"The movie is gripping."

"The gripping thriller novel kept me on the edge of my seat until the very last page of the book."

having doubts about the validity or credibility of something

"I am unconvinced."

"I am unconvinced by his argument because he did not provide any evidence to support his claims."

a person who has been harmed, injured, or killed due to a crime, accident, etc.

"The victim called the police."

"The victim of the robbery described the suspect to the police in great detail."

look for a specific person or thing

"Seek out the truth always."

"The curious journalist traveled to the remote village to seek out the truth behind the mysterious legend."

in many different countries and regions of Earth

"She traveled around the world."

"The singer has fans all around the world who follow her music and attend her concerts."

completely different or opposed in basic qualities or usual behaviors

"His opinion is contrary."

"Contrary to popular belief not all spiders are dangerous and many of them help control insect populations in gardens and homes."

to compare two people or things so that their differences are noticeable

"Her dark hair contrasts with fair skin."

"The designer chose to contrast the bright yellow walls with dark wooden furniture."

to place too much importance or attention on something, exaggerating its significance beyond what is necessary or appropriate

"Don't overemphasize small things."

"It's easy to overemphasize minor details and lose sight of the main objective of the project."

causing intense fear, shock, or disgust

"The scene is horrific."

"The horrific accident on the highway closed the road for six hours and emergency workers struggled to free the trapped passengers."

the practical world as opposed to the academic world

"Classroom theory is different from the real world."

"Classroom theory is different from the real world and students need practical experience to succeed."

referring to something that remains popular or successful over a long period

"The song is enduring."

"Her enduring popularity is a testament to her timeless music and captivating stage presence."

to throw away something, often in a responsible manner

"Dispose of the waste."

"It is important to dispose of electronic waste responsibly to prevent environmental contamination."

a difference, particularly an unwanted one, causing separation between two people, situations, or opinions

"There is a gap."

"There was a significant gap between their opinions on the new policy."

a member of the university faculty engaged in teaching or research

"The academic publishes research in journals."

"The academic publishes research in journals and presents findings at scholarly conferences."

to find a solution to a problem

"Let's work out this."

"The detectives are working out the complex financial motives behind the elaborate corporate fraud."

to develop from a simple form to a more complex or sophisticated one over an extended period

"Species evolve over long periods."

"The company's business model has evolved significantly over the past decade to keep up with changing market demands and new technologies."

something a little different from others of the same type

"This is a variant of the original virus."

"This is a variant of the original virus and spreads more easily between people."

to change without becoming totally different

"We can alter the dress."

"The tailor will alter the suit slightly to ensure a perfect and comfortable fit."

very important and necessary

"The hotel is central."

"The central location of the hotel made it easy for tourists to visit all the major attractions without needing to rent a car."

a story or an account of something especially one that is told in a movie, novel, etc.

"Narrative tells a story."

"The narrative followed a linear path from the protagonist's childhood to his eventual redemption in old age."

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 intentionally keep, maintain, or preserve something in its current state, resisting removal, elimination, or alteration

"Please retain the receipt."

"It is advisable to retain all original documentation for future reference and verification purposes."

spoken rather than written

"It was an oral exam."

"The students were required to give an oral presentation summarizing their research findings."

happening repeatedly

"Problems are perennial."

"Despite numerous attempts at reform, the issue of bureaucratic inefficiency remained a perennial challenge."

to present and emphasize reasons against a particular idea or suggestion

"Point out the flaws."

"The critic was quick to point out the numerous logical inconsistencies in the author's argument."

a piece of information discovered as a result of a research

"The finding surprised all scientists."

"The finding of the research showed that children who read more books tend to perform better in school."

the lesson, principle, or significance conveyed by a story, event, or experience

"The story has a clear moral about honesty."

"The story has a clear moral about honesty and teaches children that lying has consequences."

to make something more powerful, intense, or larger in quantity

"We will build up strength."

"The politician tried to build up public support through a series of well-placed speeches."

the ability of a person, organism or microorganism to withstand or defend against diseases, drugs, toxins, or environmental stress

"The bacteria show resistance."

"The increasing resistance of pathogens to antibiotics poses a significant threat to global public health."

to discover or become aware of a piece of information or a fact

"Find out the truth."

"She was determined to find out the real reason behind his sudden departure."

to suggest without explicitly stating

"His silence seemed to imply guilt."

"Her silence seemed to imply that she disagreed with the decision but did not want to say so openly."