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

a modern building that is very tall, often built in a city

"The skyscraper is tall."

"The skyscraper dominates the city skyline."

a field of science that studies the structure of the earth and its history

"Geology is about rocks and earth."

"After studying geology for four years, he finally got a job exploring natural resources in remote areas."

used to refer to the second of two individuals or things mentioned in a preceding statement

"I like both, but the latter."

"He offered me a choice between a book and a movie; I preferred the latter."

a scholarly document presenting findings from an investigation or study on a particular topic

"The research paper has a literature review section."

"The research paper has a literature review section and must include citations from peer reviewed journals."

situated, occurring, or existing beneath the surface of the earth

"The river is subterranean."

"The subterranean river flows through caves deep underground and explorers have mapped only a small part of its path."

the layer of soil between the topsoil and bedrock

"The subsoil is hard clay."

"The subsoil is hard clay and the construction crew must dig deep to reach solid bedrock."

a place where someone lives, typically their home

"My residence is small."

"The ambassador's official residence is located in the heart of the capital city."

an executive officer whose rank is just below the rank of the president of a country and who can act in place of the president in certain cases to fulfill presidential duties

"The vice president led the nation."

"The company vice president made an important announcement during the meeting yesterday."

a war that is between people who are in the same country

"A civil war is very sad."

"The civil war caused widespread destruction across the entire region."

to do something that makes it possible or easier for something else to occur

"This sets the stage well."

"The new government policies set the stage for significant economic reforms that would transform the country's financial system over the next decade."

providing useful or valuable information

"The documentary was informative."

"The documentary was very informative and taught me a lot about ocean life."

to provide more details, information, or a more comprehensive explanation about a particular topic or idea

"Please expand on your main argument."

"The professor asked the student to expand on his answer because the first response was too short and vague."

a house or building divided into separate residences, often large and associated with urban, lower-income housing

"They lived in a tenement."

"Many families lived in crowded tenements in the old city."

(often plural) a very poor and overpopulated area of a city or town in which the houses are not in good condition

"People live in slum."

"Many families live in the slum with limited services."

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."

a number obtained by dividing one integer or rational number by another, typically written in the form a/b

"One fraction is 1/2."

"An improper fraction is one where the numerator exceeds the denominator"

after an initial impression, which later proves incorrect

"At first glance it looks easy."

"At first glance it looks easy but when you try it you will see it is actually quite difficult."

a specific part of a city or country surrounded by another territory, often one with a different background, culture, religion, nationality, etc.

"The wealthy enclave is gated and guarded."

"The wealthy enclave is gated and guarded and outsiders cannot enter without permission from a resident."

referring to or considering a specific aspect or factor

"In terms of price this is better."

"In terms of quality this product is much better than the cheaper alternative on the market."

features, services, or other things that provide convenience, comfort, and enjoyment

"The hotel has amenities like a pool and spa."

"The hotel has amenities like a pool and spa and guests can enjoy complimentary breakfast every morning."

the area of a city (such as a harbor or dockyard) alongside a body of water

"The restaurant overlooks the waterfront."

"The restaurant overlooks the waterfront and diners can watch boats pass while eating their meal."

the outline of objects seen against the sky

"See the skyline."

"From the mountaintop, the city's glittering skyline was a breathtaking sight at dusk."

to share personal opinions about a book, movie, or media to inform and provide insights into its strengths and weaknesses

"I will review the movie."

"The critic will review the latest theatre production, offering a nuanced perspective on its artistic merit."

a business or company, particularly one owned by two or more partners

"She works for a law firm in the city."

"She works for a law firm in the city and specializes in corporate mergers and acquisitions."

easily noticeable or perceived by senses

"The sound is distinct."

"The distinct aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the air, easily noticeable by everyone."

with a focus on the main aspects of a thing, situation, or person

"The course is primarily for beginners."

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

to think about a problem or an issue and start to deal with it

"We must address this."

"The government needs to address the housing crisis by building more affordable homes for young families."

the process of making a new place as permanent residence by people

"They made a settlement."

"The early pioneers established a permanent settlement near the river, cultivating the land for agriculture."

something such as a book, record, etc. that consists of different pieces taken from several sources

"This is a compilation album."

"The compilation features a diverse collection of songs from various independent artists."

to explain or annotate something

"Comment on the text."

"The professor asked students to comment on the historical significance of the document."

the quality or character of speech, writing, or behavior that reflects the speaker's or writer's attitude

"His tone was angry."

"The author's sarcastic tone made the humorous story even more enjoyable for readers."

to include something as part of a larger whole or system

"Incorporate these changes into the document."

"The architect plans to incorporate many eco friendly features into the design of the new office building."

a general description of an idea, a theory, or an event

"Give an account."

"The historian provided a detailed account of the major events leading to the revolution."

an area of scenery visible in a single view

"The landscape looked beautiful in spring."

"We admired the landscape from the top of the hill."

to mention or express something in few words

"It may indicate a problem."

"The sudden drop in temperature may indicate a change in the weather patterns."

to be transmitted or received clearly

"The signal will come through."

"Despite the interference, the radio signal managed to come through loud and clear."

an old story that is sometimes considered historical although it is not usually proved to be true

"Ancient legend says."

"The ancient legend says that a brave hero saved his people from great danger long ago."

the act of accomplishing some aim or executing some order

"The implementation of the plan."

"The successful implementation of the new software system required extensive training for all employees."

a system of high tension cables by which electrical power is distributed throughout a region

"The power grid is down."

"The city's electrical grid is designed to withstand extreme weather conditions and ensure continuous power."

the act of clearing away obstacles or unwanted materials to make an area open or usable

"We need clearance for the road."

"The construction crew performed a thorough clearance of the debris before starting the building project."

a person or company that prepares a piece of land for residential or commercial use

"The developer built houses."

"The property developer plans to transform the abandoned industrial site into a vibrant mixed-use residential area."

a hard layer of cement, stone, etc. that serves as the underground support of a building

"The foundation is strong."

"A solid concrete foundation is essential for the stability of any large building."

the state in which a space, building, or property is currently being used or inhabited by people

"The hotel has a high occupancy rate during the summer."

"The hotel has a high occupancy rate during the summer and rooms must be booked weeks in advance."

(of a place or building) in a very poor condition, often due to negligence

"The house looks rundown."

"The once-grand mansion was now a rundown structure, neglected and on the verge of collapse."

to be able to say who or what someone or something is

"Can you identify the suspect?"

"The witness was asked to identify the robber from a lineup of several suspects at the police station this morning."

to form a boundary around something

"Border the garden."

"The picturesque hills border the tranquil valley, creating a stunning natural landscape."

to recognize and mentally separate two things, people, etc.

"It is hard to distinguish identical twins."

"It can be very difficult for young children to distinguish between right and wrong without proper guidance from their parents or teachers."

(of a system or machine) achieving maximum productivity without wasting much time, effort, or money

"This method is efficient."

"The efficient new washing machine uses less water and electricity than the old model which saves money on utility bills."

the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property

"What is the return?"

"The property investment promised a significant return within five years."

a grouping or concentration of data points in a specific region, often used in statistics and data analysis to describe a set of values that are close to each other

"A cluster of data points appeared."

"The statistical analysis revealed a distinct cluster of similar customer behaviors within the dataset."