Cambridge IELTS 17 - Academic - Test 1 - Reading - Passage 1

a system or network of tracks with the trains, organization, and people needed to operate them

causing great surprise or amazement due to being impressive, unexpected, or remarkable

the relative speed of progress or change

an individual who displays their disagreement with something or someone

to provide reasons when saying something is the case, particularly to persuade others that one is right

(of a place) filled with many people, vehicles, or objects, leading to difficulties in movement

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

to be constructed from or made up of certain things or people

(of a space or area) filled with too many people or things, causing discomfort or lack of space

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

pulled or powered by a horse or horses

a vehicle with usually four wheels, pulled by one or more horses

indicating a large number of something

an elaborate and systematic plan of action

to formally suggest or introduce a motion, idea, or action for consideration and discussion by a legislature

to find a way to solve a disagreement or issue

giving opinions loudly or freely

someone who actively supports, promotes, or defends a particular cause or viewpoint, often through public speaking, writing, or activism

(in the UK) a lawyer who is entitled to give legal advice, prepare legal documents for contracts and defend people in lower courts of law

to move to a new place or position

an area close to the center of a city that usually suffers from economic problems

to build a house, bridge, machine, etc.

to obtain or achieve something that is needed or desired

to formally present something, such as a proposal or document, to someone in authority for review or decision

to occur at the same time as something else

a recommended plan that is proposed for a business

to combine and create one whole

relating to a large city or urban area

to assemble money or resources, particularly in order to achieve or create something

the financial resources that are provided to make a particular project or initiative possible

(of actions, ideas, etc.) very new and different from the norm

noting or highlighting mistakes or imperfections

(of a construction) to fall down suddenly, particularly due to being damaged or weak

to have a harmful or destructive effect on someone or something

a substance that is emitted or released

to continue a course of action with determination, even when faced with challenges or discouragement

to reduce something to the lowest possible degree or amount, particularly something unpleasant

to completely destroy or to knock down a building or another structure

to set a specific time to do something or make an event happen

a long, narrow excavation or ditch dug into the ground, typically for military purposes, drainage, or archaeological exploration

a post made of wood

a long bar of iron or metal that supports the weight of a building

a curved symmetrical structure that supports the weight above it, used in bridges or buildings

the state of being in effect or being operative

an addition that extends a main building

to officially give permission for a specific action, process, etc.

a locomotive powered by a steam engine

brick made of fire clay; used for lining e.g. furnaces and chimneys

a closed vessel in which water is heated to create steam or hot water, used for heating buildings, producing electricity, or powering machines

a large, typically metallic container designed for storing gases or liquids

to cause a substance to change from a gas or vapor to a liquid state

smoke or gas that has a sharp smell or is harmful if inhaled

a shaft in a building; serves as an air passage for ventilation

act of expanding in scope; making more widely available

a journey or route all the way around a particular place or area

a state of being overcrowded or blocked, particularly in a street or road

to stretch out or expand over a distance

any of the available possibilities that one can choose from

restricted or limited in space, area, or movement

able to be trusted to perform consistently well and meet expectations

a way, system, object, etc. through which one can achieve a goal or accomplish a task

a machine that produces electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy

the track or route along which a train travels

a railcar where passengers ride

a railway that operates underground, typically in a city

buildings in which people live, including their condition, prices, or types

at the starting point of a process or situation

to demolish a structure or building, typically by pulling it apart or taking it down piece by piece

an official group created by a government to deeply study a serious issue and give advice or suggestions for solving it