Test 4 - Listening - Part 4 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 15 Vocabulary List

in a short amount of time

"Before long spring will arrive."

"Before long spring will arrive and the flowers will start to bloom in the garden again."

extremely difficult or impossible to conceive or visualize

"The pain is unimaginable."

"The unimaginable pain of losing a child is something no parent should ever have to experience in their lifetime."

not unusual or different in any way

"It was an ordinary day."

"The ordinary day became extraordinary when she received a phone call offering her the job she had always wanted."

the idea or belief that personal well-being and happiness depend on the purchase of material goods

"Consumerism drives economy."

"Excessive consumerism leads to environmental damage because people buy things they do not really need."

the amount of something or the whole number of things in a group

"A large quantity of books."

"We need to determine the exact quantity of supplies required for the upcoming expedition into the wilderness."

something that serves to show, suggest, or point to a fact, condition, or situation

"It is an indication."

"The dark clouds were a clear indication that a severe thunderstorm would arrive within the next hour."

the process of making or producing goods, especially in large quantities, typically using machinery or labor

"The manufacturing of cars is complex."

"The manufacturing process required precise quality control at every stage of production."

a machine that uses steam made from boiling water to produce power and make parts move

"The steam engine powers the old locomotive."

"The old steam engine chugged along, powering the factory's machinery with its generated steam."

to the smallest amount or degree

"I do not like him at all."

"I do not like him at all because he is rude and arrogant and never listens to anyone else opinions."

a mill powered by a water wheel

"The old water mill grinds grain into flour."

"The old water mill grinds grain into flour and the wheel is turned by the flowing river."

a large, tall building with long blades, called sails, that uses wind power to make flour out of grain or pump water

"The windmill turned slowly."

"The old windmill stopped turning after its wooden blades rotted but it remained standing as a historic landmark from the nineteenth century."

a delicate cotton or silky cloth made by weaving or knitting threads in an open web-like pattern

"The wedding dress had beautiful lace."

"The bride wore a beautiful dress made of white silk and delicate French lace."

a thin band of fabric tied in a bowknot around something as an ornament

"She ties a blue ribbon."

"She tied a blue velvet ribbon in her hair to match the dress she was wearing to the party."

pulled or powered by a horse or horses

"The carriage is horse-drawn."

"The horse drawn carriage carried tourists through the historic district and the clip clop of hooves echoed off the old buildings."

a large, horse-drawn carriage used to carry passengers over long distances, often between towns

"The stagecoach carried passengers and mail across long distances."

"The stagecoach carried passengers and mail across long distances and was drawn by four or six horses."

indicating a large number of something

"He has numerous friends."

"There are numerous reasons to exercise regularly including better health more energy and improved mood."

in small amounts over a long period of time

"The sun gradually rose over the mountains."

"The sun gradually rose over the mountains and the sky turned from dark blue to soft pink and orange."

no longer done, followed, or needed by people, often because something is old, broken, or replaced by something better

"That style is out of use."

"The old railway line has fallen out of use and is now overgrown with weeds and grass."

having a lot of information or expertise in a particular subject or field

"She is knowledgeable."

"The knowledgeable tour guide answered every question about the history of the castle with detailed and accurate information."

the activities involved in selling commodities directly to consumers

"The company focuses on online retailing."

"The company focuses on online retailing and has closed most of its physical stores."

to gather in a group

"People flock to the park."

"Thousands of excited fans flock to the stadium hours before the concert to secure the best viewing spots."

a large store, divided into several parts, each selling different types of goods

"The department store has a restaurant on the top floor."

"The department store has a restaurant on the top floor and sells everything from clothes to furniture."

a person who starts a business, especially one who takes financial risks

"The entrepreneur is ambitious."

"The entrepreneur started a company and built it from a small idea."

to interest and draw someone or something toward oneself through specific features or qualities

"Sweet smells attract bees and wasps."

"The bright colorful flowers are designed to attract bees and other important pollinating insects to the garden."

a thick high quality sheet of glass used for windows of shops or doors

"The plate glass window is ten feet tall."

"Plate glass is high quality flat glass made by floating on molten tin for uniform thickness."

the objects such as spoons, forks, and knives that are used for serving or eating food

"Cutlery includes forks and knives."

"The cutlery tray in the drawer sorted knives forks and spoons into separate compartments."

a device or control that is very useful for a particular job

"Use this convenience."

"The new smart home system offers unparalleled convenience with its voice-activated controls."

a thing that is essential or required for basic living or functioning

"Water is a necessity."

"Access to clean drinking water is a fundamental necessity for human survival and public health."

a scheduled period of teaching, instruction, or learning activities conducted within a defined timeframe

"The morning session ends at noon."

"The morning session ends at noon and the afternoon session begins after a one hour lunch break."

to a degree that is higher than usual

"I particularly enjoy Italian food."

"I particularly enjoy Italian food especially pasta dishes like spaghetti and lasagna with rich tomato sauce."

to consider or evaluate something from a particular perspective or point of view

"Let's look at this."

"Please look at the graph carefully and tell me what conclusions you can draw from the data presented."

to be the setting or time of an event

"I did see the accident."

"Next Tuesday will see the grand opening of the much-anticipated new museum."

an observable fact, event, or situation, often unusual or not yet fully explained

"A strange phenomenon occurred."

"The aurora borealis is a beautiful natural phenomenon visible in polar regions."

items made or produced for sale

"These goods are cheap."

"The store received a new shipment of high-quality goods from its international suppliers this morning."

the grade, level, or standard of something's excellence measured against other things

"The quality is excellent."

"The quality of the product was disappointing because the plastic parts felt cheap and the electronic components stopped working after only a few days."

(usually plural) anything that a person has or owns at a specific time

"The possession was valuable."

"His most valuable possession was an old wristwatch that had belonged to his grandfather because it held sentimental value far beyond its monetary worth."

the action or process of making something better

"This is an improvement."

"The recent improvement in sales figures indicates a positive trend for the business."

to cause something to happen

"The loud noise triggers his anxiety."

"The loud noise could trigger a panic attack in people who suffer from severe anxiety disorders."

to change the appearance, character, or nature of a person or object

"A caterpillar transforms into a butterfly."

"The caterpillar will transform into a beautiful butterfly after spending several weeks inside its chrysalis."

to serve as a distinguishing quality or characteristic of someone or something

"This will mark the event."

"His innovative approach to problem-solving will undoubtedly mark him as a leader in the field."

to be more numerous, powerful, or significant than everything else around it

"The big trees dominate."

"In that ecosystem, the apex predator tends to dominate all other species."

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."

cloth that is made by weaving cotton yarn, silk, etc., which is used in making clothes

"The fabric is smooth."

"She chose a fabric that felt soft and looked elegant."

a building or room in which particular goods are made or fixed by different means

"The workshop is ready."

"She attended a weekend workshop on creative writing where participants shared their stories and received constructive feedback from an experienced published author."

extremely large in physical dimensions

"The mountain is enormous."

"An enormous whale swam right next to our small boat yesterday morning."

the size, amount, or degree of one thing compared with another

"The map has a scale of one inch to a mile."

"The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale used to quantify the size of earthquakes based on the amplitude of seismic waves recorded by seismographs."

to make someone behave a certain way or do a particular action, even if they do not want to

"Do not force him to go."

"The heavy rain forced the cancellation of the outdoor concert which disappointed thousands of ticket holders."

to move from a country or region in search of a better job or living conditions

"Birds migrate south for winter."

"Birds migrate south every winter to escape the freezing temperatures and find food in warmer climates."

a system or method for carrying people or goods from a place to another by trains, cars, etc.

"This is public transport."

"The city is investing heavily in improving its public transport system for commuters."

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

"The plant showed rapid growth."

"The rapid growth of the city has led to many new housing developments."

a simple, two-wheeled vehicle typically drawn by a horse or other animal, used for transporting goods and people

"The cart held hay."

"The farmer loaded his produce onto the sturdy cart, ready to take it to the market for sale."

a long and artificial passage built and filled with water for ships to travel along or used to transfer water to other places

"Canal brings water to dry farms."

"The Panama Canal allows ships to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans without sailing around the southern tip of South America saving thousands of kilometers."

to apply asphalt, concrete, gravel, or another material to the top of a road, path, or other ground area

"Surface the road."

"They decided to surface the unpaved driveway to improve its durability and appearance."

a track with rails along which trains run

"The train used the railway."

"Construction of the new high-speed railway is expected to significantly reduce travel times."

to a noticeable or considerable extent

"The temperature dropped significantly overnight."

"The temperature dropped significantly overnight and we had to turn on the heater to stay warm."

the process of supplying shops and other businesses with products to be sold

"The distribution of goods increased."

"Efficient distribution channels are crucial for ensuring that products reach consumers in a timely and cost-effective manner."

(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."

to experience and be affected by something bad or unpleasant

"Many people suffer from allergies."

"Many people suffer from allergies during spring because of the high pollen levels in the air."

to provide with a supply of something, such as goods or inventory, for use or sale

"The store stocks fresh produce daily."

"The grocery store needs to stock enough fresh produce to meet the high demand from customers during the busy holiday season."

the use of various equipment and techniques to illuminate the subjects and environment in a way that enhances the mood, atmosphere, and visual style of the photo or film

"Lighting illuminates the subject."

"Good lighting can transform an ordinary photograph by highlighting texture creating mood and directing the viewer's attention."

the ability of providing a clear, unobstructed view

"Good visibility today."

"The clear weather provided excellent visibility for the pilots approaching the airport."

to encourage the public to buy a product or use a service

"They promote new products."

"The advertising campaign aims to promote the benefits of their latest software to a wider audience."

a rapid, unexpected, and considerable rise in something

"An explosion of growth."

"The sudden explosion of online retail has fundamentally changed the way people shop."