Test 4 - Reading - Passage 1 · Cambridge IELTS Academic 15 Vocabulary List

(of land or a climate) very dry because of not having enough or any rain

"The desert is arid."

"The arid desert receives less than ten inches of rain per year so only specially adapted plants and animals can survive there."

a long, narrow piece of land

"A strip of land."

"We walked along the narrow strip of land between the forest and the sea."

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."

a community of living organisms together with their physical environment, interacting as a system

"The forest is an ecosystem."

"A healthy ecosystem depends on the balance between living organisms and their environment."

in a manner that almost does not occur or happen

"He hardly ever eats junk food."

"He hardly ever eats junk food because he is very health conscious and prefers to cook fresh meals at home."

happening the whole year

"The pool is open year-round."

"The ski resort is open year round because they offer hiking and mountain biking in the summer months as well."

fitting for a specific purpose, situation, or person

"He is suited for the job."

"The quiet library was well suited for studying and the students appreciated the peaceful atmosphere without distractions."

to draw liquid or moisture into something by creating a vacuum or suction

"Suck up the water."

"The special absorbent material is designed to quickly suck up any spilled liquids from the surface of the table."

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."

(botany) a living organism lacking the power of locomotion

"The plant life in the desert is surprisingly diverse."

"The plant life in the desert is surprisingly diverse and many species store water in their thick stems."

a scientist who studies ancient plant remains from archaeological sites to learn about past human-plant interactions and environments

"The archaeobotanist studies seeds from ancient settlements."

"The archaeobotanist studies seeds from ancient settlements and learns what people ate thousands of years ago."

to resist or endure the force, pressure, or challenges imposed upon oneself

"The building can withstand strong earthquakes."

"The building is designed to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude eight on the Richter scale without collapsing."

a long period of time when there is not much raining

"The drought killed all the crops."

"A drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall"

land that is filled with many trees

"Deer thrive in the protected woodland area."

"A spring woodland floor is a carpet of vibrant green and color from bluebells"

the process by which soil and rock are gradually destroyed and removed by natural forces such as wind, water, and ice

"Water causes erosion of rocks."

"Erosion slowly wears away mountains and cliffs over millions of years through wind and water."

(of a place) close to another

"We visited neighboring towns."

"The neighboring countries signed a trade agreement that allows goods to cross the border without taxes or delays."

relating to or made from herbs, which are plants valued for their medicinal, aromatic, or culinary properties

"The tea is herbal."

"The herbal tea was made from chamomile and lavender and helped her relax before going to sleep at night."

a treatment or medicine for a disease or to reduce pain that is not severe

"This remedy helps my cold."

"Drinking warm tea with honey is a popular home remedy for soothing a sore throat."

a piece of land under 50 acres that is sold or let to someone for cultivation

"The family lives on a smallholding with a few sheep."

"The family lives on a smallholding with a few sheep and grows vegetables for their own consumption."

a student of or specialist in the scientific study of plants, their structure, genetics, classification, etc.

"The botanist studied plants."

"The botanist discovered a new plant species."

a scientist who studies the relationship between people and plants, focusing on how different cultures use plants for medicine, food, rituals, and other purposes

"The ethnobotanist learns about medicinal plants from local healers."

"The ethnobotanist learns about medicinal plants from local healers and documents their traditional uses."

characterized by being at the forefront of new developments or leading the way in innovation and exploration

"Her research is pioneering."

"The pioneering research of the scientist led to the development of the first vaccine for the deadly virus that killed millions."

the place or area in which certain animals, birds, or plants naturally exist, lives, and grows

"The forest is their habitat."

"The rainforest provides a natural habitat for thousands of unique species that cannot survive anywhere else."

an unreasonable opinion or judgment based on dislike felt for a person, group, etc., particularly because of their race, sex, etc.

"Education can reduce social prejudice effectively"

"Prejudice based on race or religion leads to discrimination and social injustice in society."

relating to goals or ideals that inspire ambition or desire for achievement

"The brand is aspirational."

"The brand is aspirational and people buy their products to feel successful and wealthy."

the act of recovering someone to a state of consciousness or life

"They performed resuscitation."

"The paramedics started immediate resuscitation."

to restore someone or something to a previous state or position, especially after a temporary suspension or removal

"They will reinstate him."

"After reviewing the evidence, the committee voted to reinstate the professor to his former academic position."

related to the connection between animals, plants, and humans and their environment

"The damage is ecological."

"The ecological damage caused by the oil spill will take decades to repair and many species of fish and birds have been affected."

a child who attends classes at a school

"The schoolchild walks to the bus stop."

"The schoolchild walks to the bus stop and carries a heavy backpack full of books."

any substance that can be used for consumption as food

"The basic foodstuffs are flour"

"Foodstuff was a general term for any substance used as food."

a thick sweet liquid made with sugar that is often used as a sauce

"Pour syrup on pancakes."

"Maple syrup is made by boiling the sap from maple trees until it thickens into a sweet liquid."

a thick, dark syrup with a strong and distinctive flavor, produced during the process of refining sugar

"Molasses gives gingerbread its dark color and deep flavor."

"Molasses was a thick dark byproduct of sugar refining with a robust bittersweet flavor."

having the flavor, smell, or qualities characteristic of chocolate

"The cake is chocolaty."

"The chocolaty cake was rich and moist and everyone asked for a second slice at the birthday party."

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."

to start loving someone deeply

"They fell in love quickly."

"Many people believe that when you fall in love, the whole world suddenly looks brighter and more beautiful."

travel across or pass over

"Cut across the field to save time."

"The hiking trail cuts across the middle of the dense forest and leads to a beautiful hidden waterfall."

a class of animals to which humans, cows, lions, etc. belong, have warm blood, fur or hair and typically produce milk to feed their young

"A dog is a mammal."

"A whale is a marine mammal, not a fish, because it breathes air and feeds milk to its young."

tiny grains produced by flowers that carry male reproductive cells

"The pollen count is high during spring."

"The pollen count is high during spring and people with hay fever suffer from sneezing and itchy eyes."

to act against something in order to reduce its effect

"This medicine will counteract the poison."

"The doctor prescribed a medication to counteract the negative side effects of the primary treatment the patient was receiving."

the process of becoming a vapor

"Evaporation leaves salt behind in the sea."

"Evaporation leaves salt behind in the sea and is part of the natural water cycle."

the existence of a range of different plants and animals in a natural environment

"The Coral Triangle is a global center of marine biodiversity."

"Biodiversity refers to the incredible variety of life on Earth at all levels"

a vast, open area or surface

"The expanse of the ocean is breathtaking."

"The expanse of the ocean is breathtaking and the horizon seems to stretch forever."

to officially introduce or launch a new product, service, or system

"The company rolled out new software."

"The company plans to roll out its new software update to all users next month."

a person or animal that resides in a particular place

"The island's only inhabitant is a hermit."

"The local inhabitant knew all the hidden beautiful places in the small town."

to respond positively or with joy to an event, development, or change

"Welcome the guests."

"We should welcome the opportunity to learn from their extensive experience and expertise."

to apply pressure to fit or pass something into or through a tight space

"Squeeze the lemon."

"He had to carefully squeeze the large suitcase into the overhead compartment."

the underground part of a plant that absorbs water and minerals, sending it to other parts

"The root is deep."

"The root holds the tree firmly in the ground."

a plant that is grown for food over large areas of land

"The crop is healthy."

"Farmers rotate their crops each season to prevent soil depletion and reduce the buildup of pests that target specific plants."

to lose strength or quality over time, becoming less effective or reliable

"The old car will fail."

"Without regular maintenance, even the most advanced technology can eventually fail."

to put someone or something new instead of someone or something else

"He replaces the old battery soon."

"It is time to replace the old worn out tires on your car."

to cause something to fall by delivering a forceful blow, typically with the intent of bringing it to the ground

"Cut down the tree."

"The lumberjacks were hired to cut down the diseased trees endangering the surrounding forest."

to change and become something else

"A caterpillar turns into a butterfly."

"The tiny caterpillar will eventually turn into a beautiful butterfly after several weeks inside the chrysalis."

absolutely necessary and of great importance

"Water is vital."

"Clean drinking water is vital for human survival and access to it should be considered a basic human right."

to cause a plant to develop and give fruit or flowers

"I will grow tomatoes."

"This year, we plan to grow a variety of vegetables in our new garden."

a long and narrow casing filled with seeds that grows on some specific plants, such as beans and peas

"The pea pod is green."

"He carefully shelled the peas, extracting the plump green seeds from their long, fibrous pod."

a usually green part of a plant in which the photosynthesis takes place

"The leaf is green."

"A leaf fell from the tree."

the hard outer covering of a tree

"The bark is rough."

"The tree bark was rough and peeling indicating that the oak was very old."

a part of a tree divided into some other parts on which the leaves grow

"The branch broke."

"Birds sat on the branch."

a hard black substance consisting of an amorphous form of carbon which is made by slowly burning wood and is used as fuel or for drawing

"Use charcoal fire."

"We use charcoal to make fire for barbecue during summer weekends with friends and family."

the main wooden body of a tree

"The tree trunk is big."

"The ancient oak's trunk was so wide that three people could not encircle it."

to no longer be able be found or located, often leading to frustration

"My keys disappear often."

"The missing hiker seemed to completely disappear, leaving behind no trace whatsoever."

no longer present or available

"The food is gone."

"The milk is gone because someone drank the last of it and did not buy more at the store."

to bring something back into existence or operation, especially after a period of inactivity or decline

"We will restore the house."

"The city council voted to restore the historic theatre to its former glory after decades of neglect."

in agreement with or supportive of a plan, decision, or idea

"Are you on board?"

"After a lengthy discussion, most of the committee members were on board with the proposed changes."

a sense of self-respect, dignity, or personal worth

"She has pride."

"He accepted the award with humble pride, acknowledging the contributions of his colleagues."

the customs, traditions, rituals, and behaviors that are inherited and preserved within a community or society over time

"Their heritage is rich."

"The festival celebrates the vibrant cultural heritage passed down through generations of the community."

the act of repairing something such as an artwork, building, etc. to be in its original state

"The restoration is done."

"The careful restoration of the Renaissance fresco brought its vibrant colors and intricate details back to life."

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 apply heat until food or a liquid starts to boil or cook

"Boil up the soup."

"Anger began to boil up inside him as he listened to the unfair accusations being made against his character."

any of various seeds or fruits that are beans or resemble beans

"Eat the bean."

"The recipe calls for a variety of colorful beans to add texture and flavor."

having a heavy consistency that resists flowing easily

"The soup is thick."

"The artist used a thick impasto technique to create a rich, textured surface on the canvas."

to crush something into small particles by rubbing or pressing it against a hard surface

"Grind the coffee beans into powder."

"You should grind the coffee beans just before brewing to get the freshest and most flavorful cup of coffee."

to cook something, especially meat, over a fire or in an oven for an extended period

"Roast the vegetables in the oven."

"The chef will roast the chicken slowly in the oven until the skin becomes golden brown and crispy."

a solid and natural substance that is not produced in the body of living beings but its intake is necessary to remain healthy

"Minerals are good for you."

"A balanced diet should include a variety of essential minerals for optimal health."

holding appropriate documentation and officially on record as qualified to perform a specified function or practice a specified skill

"He is certified."

"She is a certified public accountant with over ten years of experience in auditing."

to have the amount of money needed to buy necessities

"They live on little."

"Many elderly people struggle to live on their small pensions alone."

to cause something to be separated into pieces

"Break up the glass."

"The strong impact caused the fragile vase to break up into dozens of small pieces."

a narrow area of land that connects two larger places or follows along something like a road or river

"A corridor of trees."

"The narrow corridor of land served as a vital link between the two coastal towns."

to reduce something in degree, amount, quality, or strength

"Please lower your voice slightly."

"The company decided to lower its prices temporarily to attract more customers during the slow season."

a safe or secure place, often emphasizing security or sanctuary

"This is a safe refuge."

"The ancient temple provided a much-needed refuge for the travelers during the stormy weather."

to utilize or take full advantage of something, often resources, opportunities, or skills

"The company exploited cheap labor ruthlessly."

"The large corporation was accused of trying to exploit cheap labor in developing countries by paying very low wages for long hours of work."