railway
[noun]
a system or network of tracks with the trains, organization, and people needed to operate them
Cambridge IELTS 17 - Academic - Test 1 - Reading - Passage 1
Here you can find the vocabulary from Test 1 - Reading - Passage 1 in the Cambridge IELTS 17 - Academic coursebook, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.
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astonishing
[adjective]
causing great surprise or amazement due to being impressive, unexpected, or remarkable
Ex:
The
view
from
the
top
of
the
mountain
was
truly
astonishing
.
rate
[noun]
the relative speed or pace of progress, growth, or decline
Ex:
Companies
monitor
the
rate
of
employee turnover
.
to argue
[verb]
to provide reasons when saying something is the case, particularly to persuade others that one is right
Ex:
The
environmentalist
argued
for
the
preservation
of
the
rainforest
to
protect
biodiversity
.
congested
[adjective]
(of a place) filled with many people, vehicles, or objects, leading to difficulties in movement
Ex:
She
avoided
the
congested
shopping mall
on
weekends
to
avoid
the
crowds
.
expansion
[noun]
an increase in the amount, size, importance, or degree of something
Ex:
The
organization
announced
plans
for
the
expansion
of
its
services
to
underserved
communities
.
overcrowded
[adjective]
(of a space or area) filled with too many people or things, causing discomfort or lack of space
Ex:
The
city
's
public transportation
system
is
often
overcrowded
during
rush hour
.
slum
[noun]
(often plural) a very poor and overpopulated area of a city or town in which the houses are not in good condition
Ex:
He
visited
the
slum
to
understand
the
struggles
of
its
residents
.
horse-drawn
[adjective]
pulled or powered by a horse or horses
Ex:
The
parade
featured
a
beautifully
decorated
horse-drawn
float
.
carriage
[noun]
a vehicle with usually four wheels, pulled by one or more horses
Ex:
The
carriage
driver
skillfully
navigated
through
the
crowded
marketplace
.
numerous
[adjective]
indicating a large number of something
Ex:
The
garden
is
filled
with
numerous
flowers
of
different
colors
.
to propose
[verb]
to formally suggest or introduce a motion, idea, or action for consideration and discussion by a legislature
Ex:
The
representative
proposed
a
law
aimed
at
improving
healthcare
access
.
to resolve
[verb]
to find a way to solve a disagreement or issue
Ex:
Communities
hold
meetings
to
resolve
issues
and
enhance
local
living
conditions
.
vocal
[adjective]
giving opinions loudly or freely
Ex:
He
became
increasingly
vocal
about
the
need
for
better
healthcare
policies
as
the
election
approached
.
advocate
[noun]
someone who actively supports, promotes, or defends a particular cause or viewpoint, often through public speaking, writing, or activism
Ex:
He
became
an
advocate
for
mental health
awareness
after
his
own
struggles
.
solicitor
[noun]
(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
Ex:
In
the
UK
,
solicitors
handle
most
client
interactions
.
to relocate
[verb]
to move to a new place or position
Ex:
The
multinational
corporation
decided
to
relocate
some
of
its
staff
to
overseas
branches
.
inner city
[noun]
an area close to the center of a city that usually suffers from economic problems
Ex:
Urban
gardens
and
green
spaces
are
helping
to
beautify
the
inner city
and
provide
residents
with
access
to
fresh
produce
.
to construct
[verb]
to build a house, bridge, machine, etc.
Ex:
Skilled
carpenters
were
hired
to
construct
custom-made
furniture
for
the
luxury hotel
.
to gain
[verb]
to obtain or achieve something that is needed or desired
Ex:
They
gained
access
to
the
exclusive
event
with
VIP
passes
.
to submit
[verb]
to formally present something, such as a proposal or document, to someone in authority for review or decision
Ex:
She
decided
to
submit
her
manuscript
to
the
publisher
.
to coincide
[verb]
to occur at the same time as something else
Ex:
The
meeting
coincides
with
his
vacation
,
so
he
wo
n't
be
able
to
attend
.
proposal
[noun]
something suggested or put forward for consideration, such as an idea, plan, or assumption
Ex:
A
new
proposal
for
the
office
layout
was
submitted
.
to merge
[verb]
to combine and create one whole
Ex:
The
traffic
from
multiple
lanes
gradually
merged
on
the
highway
.
to raise
[verb]
to assemble money or resources, particularly in order to achieve or create something
Ex:
The
event
raised
over
£
30
000
for
cancer
research
.
funding
[noun]
the financial resources that are provided to make a particular project or initiative possible
Ex:
The
initiative
depends on
community
funding
for
its
success
.
radical
[adjective]
(of actions, ideas, etc.) very new and different from the norm
Ex:
His
radical
ideas
about
education
sparked
a lot of
debate
.
critical
[adjective]
noting or highlighting mistakes or imperfections
Ex:
He
was
always
critical
of
his
own
work
,
striving
for
perfection
.
to collapse
[verb]
(of a construction) to fall down suddenly, particularly due to being damaged or weak
Ex:
The
roof
collapsed
during
the
storm
due to
the
heavy
snow
accumulation
.
to poison
[verb]
to have a harmful or destructive effect on someone or something
Ex:
The
lies
she
spread
poisoned
their
friendship
beyond
repair
.
to persist
[verb]
to continue a course of action with determination, even when faced with challenges or discouragement
Ex:
to minimize
[verb]
to reduce something to the lowest possible degree or amount, particularly something unpleasant
Ex:
The
changes
made
to
the
process
have
minimized
delays
in
production
.
to demolish
[verb]
to completely destroy or to knock down a building or another structure
Ex:
The
earthquake
had
the
power
to
demolish
poorly
constructed
houses
.
to schedule
[verb]
to set a specific time to do something or make an event happen
Ex:
We
scheduled
the
conference call
for
this
afternoon
.
trench
[noun]
any long, narrow excavation or ditch in the ground, regardless of purpose
Ex:
Engineers
inspected
the
trench
along
the
construction
site
.
timber
[noun]
a vertical wooden post or stake, often used for fencing, support, or markers
Ex:
They
lined
the
path
with
timber
posts
.
beam
[noun]
a long bar of iron or metal that supports the weight of a building
Ex:
Engineers
inspected
the
support
beams
of
the
bridge
,
ensuring
they
could
withstand
heavy
loads
and
extreme
weather conditions
.
arch
[noun]
a curved symmetrical structure that supports the weight above it, used in bridges or buildings
Ex:
The
ancient
Roman
aqueducts
featured
stone
arches
that
allowed
water
to
flow
smoothly
across
long distances
.
extension
[noun]
an addition that increases the size of a building
Ex:
The
school
's
extension
added
new
classrooms
.
to authorize
[verb]
to officially give permission for a specific action, process, etc.
Ex:
The
city council
authorized
the
construction
of
a
new
public
park
in
the
downtown
area
.
boiler
[noun]
a closed vessel in which water is heated to create steam or hot water, used for heating buildings, producing electricity, or powering machines
Ex:
A
broken
boiler
in
the
middle
of
winter
can
be
a
serious
problem
.
to condense
[verb]
to cause a substance to change from a gas or vapor to a liquid state
Ex:
During
the
distillation
process
,
the
vaporized
alcohol
is
condensed
and
collected
as
liquid
in
a
separate
container
.
extension
[noun]
the act of expanding in scope, range, or availability
Ex:
They
approved
the
extension
of
library
services
to
the
community
.
congestion
[noun]
a state of being overcrowded or blocked, particularly in a street or road
Ex:
The
road
was
completely
blocked
due to
congestion
from
an
accident
.
to extend
[verb]
to stretch out or expand over a distance
Ex:
The
beach
extends
along
the
coastline
,
offering
miles
of
sandy
shoreline
for
visitors
to
enjoy
.
alternative
[noun]
any of the available possibilities that one can choose from
Ex:
You
can
either
take
the
train
or
the
bus
,
but
there
’s
no
third
alternative
.
reliable
[adjective]
able to be trusted to perform consistently well and meet expectations
Ex:
Despite
challenges
,
the
reliable
employee
consistently
meets
deadlines
and
exceeds
expectations
.
means
[noun]
a way, system, object, etc. through which one can achieve a goal or accomplish a task
Ex:
Public transportation
provides
a
means
for
many
people
to
commute
to
work
.
generator
[noun]
a machine that produces electricity by converting mechanical energy into electrical energy
Ex:
Diesel
generators
are
commonly
used
as
backup
power
sources
in case of
electrical
grid
failures
.
line
[noun]
the track or route along which a train travels
Ex:
Freight
runs on
a
separate
industrial
line
at
night
.
housing
[noun]
buildings in which people live, including their condition, prices, or types
Ex:
Many
families
struggle
to
find
suitable
housing
.
initially
[adverb]
at the starting point of a process or situation
Ex:
I
initially
hated
sushi
,
but
now
it
's
my
favorite
food
.
to pull down
[verb]
to demolish a structure or building, typically by pulling it apart or taking it down piece by piece
Ex:
Over
the
next
month
,
the
workers
will
pull down
the
unsafe
structures
in
the
area
.
royal commission
[noun]
an official group created by a government to deeply study a serious issue and give advice or suggestions for solving it
Ex: