Test 4 - Reading - Passage 3 (1) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 19 Vocabulary List

showing concern for the needs and happiness of others over one's own interests or benefits

"Her act was unselfish."

"The unselfish act of donating her kidney to a stranger saved a woman's life and inspired others to become organ donors."

focused on oneself and one's own needs, often disregarding the needs or feelings of others

"He is self-centred."

"The self centred actor only talked about himself during interviews and never asked the reporters any questions about their lives."

an idea or belief that one thinks is true without having a proof

"That is a false assumption."

"She made a wrong assumption about his intentions and later regretted it deeply."

used to convey that something seems to be true based on the available evidence or information

"Apparently he did not receive my message."

"Apparently he did not receive my message because his phone was turned off all day yesterday."

showing no mercy or compassion towards others in pursuit of one's goals

"The dictator is ruthless."

"The ruthless dictator imprisoned anyone who criticized his government and the people lived in constant fear of being arrested."

a sudden strong urge or desire to do something, often without thinking or planning beforehand

"He bought the shoes on impulse."

"She bought the expensive dress on a sudden impulse without thinking about the price."

used to refer to the reciprocal relationship or action between multiple people or things

"They helped one another."

"Team members must support one another and share knowledge to foster a collaborative work environment."

existing beyond what is readily apparent or visible, often intentionally hidden or concealed

"He has an ulterior motive."

"The politician had an ulterior motive for supporting the bill because his brother owned a company that would benefit from the new law."

a reason or purpose behind someone's actions or behavior

"The detective searches for a motive."

"The detective tried to determine the killer's motive by interviewing family members and friends."

to go beyond a particular limit, quality, or standard, often in an exceptional way

"Music can transcend language barriers."

"Great art has the power to transcend cultural boundaries and speak to people from all around the entire world."

(of a quality or skill) gained from the moment that one was born

"She has innate talent."

"Her innate talent for music was evident from a young age and she could play the piano without any formal lessons."

the trait of extreme cruelty

"The brutality of the regime shocks the world."

"The brutality of the regime was documented by journalists who risked their lives to report the truth."

the shared psychological attributes of humankind that are assumed to be shared by all human beings

"Altruism is part of human nature."

"Altruism and selfishness were both part of human nature and could appear in different situations."

to provide a valid reason or explanation for an action, decision, or belief, usually something that others consider wrong

"He can't justify it."

"The young man tried to justify his rude behavior by saying that he was very tired and stressed from work."

the fundamental values and beliefs that influence and guide the behavior and attitudes of a person, group, or organization

"The company ethos emphasizes customer service."

"The company's ethos emphasized customer satisfaction over short term profits and revenue growth."

marked by or expressing individuality

"Her style is individualistic."

"The individualistic culture values personal freedom and independence more than group harmony and collective decision making."

widespread or commonly occurring at a particular time or in a particular place

"This disease is prevalent."

"The common cold is more prevalent during the winter months because people spend more time indoors in close contact with each other."

used to indicate that something is being mentioned or discussed in relation to a particular subject, source, or context

"With reference to your email I have replied."

"With reference to your email I would like to schedule a meeting for next week."

related to evolution or the slow and gradual development of something

"The change is evolutionary."

"The evolutionary theory explains how species change over time through natural selection and adaptation to their environments."

existing or occurring in the current period

"Present-day technology is advanced."

"The present day technology is far more advanced than what was available just ten years ago and it continues to improve rapidly."

a distinguishing quality or characteristic, especially one that forms part of someone's personality or identity

"Honesty is a good trait."

"Kindness is an important personality trait that makes people like her very much."

relating or belonging to the time before history was recorded

"The cave is prehistoric."

"The prehistoric cave paintings were created thousands of years ago and they show animals that no longer live in that region."

to describe something using a specific word or phrase

"The agreement terms the payment schedule clearly."

"This condition is termed seasonal affective disorder which is a type of depression related to changes in seasons."

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."

mercilessness characterized by a lack of pity

"The general is known for his ruthlessness in battle."

"The general's ruthlessness in battle earned him victories but also made him feared by his own troops."

a person or entity competing against another for the same objective or superiority in a field

"The two companies are bitter rivals."

"The two rival companies competed fiercely for market share in the smartphone industry."

(genetics) a basic unit of heredity and a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that is located on a chromosome in a cell and controls a particular quality

"A specific gene is linked to the disease."

"A recessive gene will only express its trait if inherited from both parents."

the ability or quality of being able to adjust or change to fit different situations or environments

"The species' adaptedness helps it survive in harsh climates."

"The adaptedness of the cactus to desert conditions included thick stems and reduced leaves."

to try to achieve a better result compared to that of other people or things

"They compete fiercely."

"Several companies will compete for the lucrative government contract next year."

to collect an increasing amount of something over time

"Dust can accumulate on surfaces."

"Dust can accumulate quickly on electronic devices so you should clean them regularly to prevent overheating problems."

the ability to control or have an effect on things or people

"He has great power."

"The new leader demonstrated considerable power over the political landscape."

(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."

(of situations) not giving any or much hope or encouragement

"The future looks bleak."

"The future looks bleak for the company because sales have been falling for five consecutive quarters."

in an affectionate or emotionally intimate way

"They hugged closely."

"The estranged siblings embraced closely, finally reconciling after years of separation."

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."

an area of activity or a subject of study

"The children played in the field."

"Her groundbreaking research in the field of neuroscience earned international recognition."

to formulate a hypothesis to explain something, often as a starting point for further investigation or study

"I theorize it will rain."

"Scientists theorize that the universe began with a massive cosmic explosion billions of years ago."

a distinct period of history or culture, or a specific moment or duration of time

"These are hard times."

"During those difficult times, people relied on each other for support and shared what little they had."

to regard someone or something in a specific way

"I see it differently."

"Many people see the new policy as a positive step forward."

very extreme or great

"The heat is intense."

"The intense heat from the fire made it impossible for the firefighters to approach the burning building from the front entrance door."

the act of trying to achieve a goal by doing better than others who are also aiming for the same goal

"The competition was hard."

"The annual spelling bee competition requires participants to demonstrate exceptional linguistic proficiency."

unpleasant or harsh in a way that is difficult to endure

"It was brutal."

"The long and brutal winter made survival incredibly challenging for the isolated village."

a disposition to behave aggressively

"He showed aggression."

"His inherent aggression often led him to confrontational situations, despite attempts at diplomacy."

likely to happen or sure to experience something

"He is bound to fail."

"With his current attitude, he is bound to face significant challenges in his career."

an open clash or struggle between opposing groups or individuals

"There was a conflict."

"The ongoing conflict in the region has displaced thousands of innocent civilians."