Test 4 - Reading - Passage 3 (2) · Cambridge IELTS Academic 19 Vocabulary List

a noticeable and often significant difference or inequality between two or more things

"The disparity in wealth is a problem."

"The disparity between the rich and the poor grew larger as wages for workers stayed flat while executive salaries increased dramatically each year."

to give something to a person and receive something else in return

"Let us swap seats for a better view."

"The two friends decided to swap their lunch boxes because each preferred what the other had brought to school."

a type of weapon consisting of a metal or wooden bar with a sharp head and feathers at the end

"The arrow flew fast."

"The archer shot an arrow at the target."

admiration for achievements, often in art, performance, leadership, or innovation

"Her performance receives critical acclaim."

"The movie received critical acclaim for its screenplay acting and direction at film festivals."

showing a tendency to have control over others without taking their emotions into account

"He is domineering."

"The domineering boss controlled every aspect of his employees' work and they felt like they had no autonomy or freedom."

to exclude someone from a community or group as a form of punishment or social rejection

"The group ostracized the new student."

"The other students decided to ostracize the new girl and refused to sit with her at lunch because she seemed different."

to force someone to live away from their native country, usually due to political reasons or as a punishment

"The king exiled his political enemies."

"The king decided to exile his political opponents to a remote island so that they could not cause any more trouble for him."

a person who commits a crime

"The offender confessed."

"The offender was apprehended by the authorities shortly after the robbery."

to gain something good from something or someone

"Reading benefits your mind."

"Learning a new language can greatly benefit your career prospects and personal growth."

to have as a foundation or to be based on a particular idea, concept, principle, or condition

"The theory rests on flawed assumptions."

"The entire case rests on the testimony of a single witness so we need to make sure she is credible."

in a way that is spread out thinly, with few people or things in an area

"The trees grew sparsely."

"The desert landscape was sparsely populated, with only a few hardy plants managing to survive the harsh conditions."

(of individuals or communities) to be present in a particular area

"Settlers populated the new land."

"The new housing development will populate the previously empty area with thousands of new residents over the next few years."

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."

the desire to win or succeed in a contest or rivalry with others

"His competitiveness makes him a poor loser."

"The competitiveness of the job market required graduates to have internships and strong portfolios."

a general concept or belief

"The notion of time travel fascinates him."

"The notion that success required sacrificing happiness was a belief she strongly rejected."

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."

to express one's opinion through a statement

"He remarks on it."

"The teacher remarked that the student's essay was one of the best she had ever read in her career."

very high in intensity or degree

"The weather is extreme."

"The extreme weather conditions forced the organizers to cancel the outdoor concert for the safety of the performers and the audience."

the belief in and advocacy for the equal rights, opportunities, and treatment of all individuals, regardless of their gender, race, social class, or other distinguishing characteristics

"Egalitarianism is the belief that all people should be treated as equals."

"The movement championed egalitarianism, striving for equal opportunities for everyone in society."

(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."

sticking to principles of right and wrong conduct and moral standards

"His decision is ethical."

"The ethical dilemma forced the doctor to choose between saving one patient or five others and she struggled to make the right decision."

an action that one must perform because they are legally or morally forced to do so

"He has an obligation."

"Parents have an obligation to care for children."

someone or something's professional or social position relative to that of others

"What is your current employment status?"

"Social status is very important in some traditional societies."

to begin to exist or become noticeable

"Problems arise when people are careless."

"Problems may arise during the project, but the team is prepared to handle any unexpected challenges."

the activity of pursuing and killing wild animals or birds for money, food, or fun

"Hunting is controversial."

"Hunting deer is regulated by strict seasons and bag limits to prevent overpopulation and maintain a healthy balance in the ecosystem."

to be owned by a particular person or group

"It belongs to me."

"This historic artifact belongs to the museum, having been donated by a prominent collector."

to tell someone what to do or not to do, in an authoritative way

"The manager dictated a letter to his secretary."

"The boss tends to dictate every single task to his assistant without any explanation or reason."

the belief that certain races are superior to others

"Racism is bad."

"The pervasive influence of racism continues to plague societies worldwide, demanding constant vigilance."

a struggle or competition between opposing groups or ideas

"This is modern warfare."

"Cyber warfare represents a new and complex form of conflict between nations and organizations."

feeling or showing deep sadness mixed with hopelessness and emotional pain

"She felt desperate."

"He was desperate after losing his job and facing mounting debts."

the number of people who live in a particular city or country

"City population grows bigger yearly."

"The population of Tokyo is over thirteen million people making it one of the most densely populated cities on Earth."

to pursue wild animals in order to kill or catch them, for sport or food

"They hunt deer."

"The lion hunts for food at night when the temperatures are cooler and prey is active."

the spatial property of having elements packed closely together, typically expressed as the number of units per given area or volume

"The density is high."

"The incredible density of stars in the galaxy is a breathtaking astronomical phenomenon."

difficult to consider as plausible or believable

"It is unlikely."

"Given the circumstances, it seems highly unlikely that the proposed plan will achieve its intended objectives."

important or great enough to be noticed or have an impact

"The change is significant."

"The significant increase in temperature over the past century is a clear sign of climate change caused by human activity."

to confirm, support, or provide evidence that something is legitimate or true

"I back you up."

"The overwhelming evidence presented will undoubtedly back the defendant's claims of innocence."

belonging to the current era

"The museum has contemporary art."

"The contemporary art museum features works by living artists from around the world."

to be a typical feature or quality of someone or something

"It will characterize the region."

"His relentless optimism seemed to characterize his entire approach to life's challenges."

to make a written or spoken remark

"She will observe that it is late."

"The scientist will observe that the experiment did not yield the expected results."

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."

a building or the piece of land surrounding it, owned by individuals, businesses, or entities

"The property is expensive."

"They bought property near the river."