Cambridge IELTS 17 - Academic - Test 3 - Reading - Passage 1

Here you can find the vocabulary from Test 3 - Reading - Passage 1 in the Cambridge IELTS 17 - Academic coursebook, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.

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Cambridge IELTS 17 - Academic
extinct [adjective]

(of an animal, plant, etc.) not having any living members, either due to natural causes, environmental changes, or human activity

Ex: The passenger pigeon was once one of the most abundant bird species in North America but became extinct in the early 20th century .

any of the order of mammals that carry their young babies in a pouch, such as kangaroos, found either in Australia or Americas

to share similarities in appearance, characteristics, or qualities

Ex: The newly discovered species bears a resemblance to a previously known but extinct animal .
superficial [adjective]

appearing to have a certain quality, yet lacking it in reality

Ex: She found his compliments to be superficial and insincere .
terrain [noun]

an area of land, particularly in reference to its physical or natural features

Ex: Urban planners took into account the natural terrain features when designing the city 's infrastructure , incorporating green spaces and waterways into their plans .
prime [adjective]

particularly suitable or ideal for a specific purpose

Ex: He was the prime choice for the leadership role , given his years of experience and strong track record .
habitat [noun]

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

Ex: Urban expansion is destroying the habitat of many wild animals .
exclusively [adverb]

in a manner that is only available to a particular person, group, or thing

Ex: The boutique sells high-end , designer clothing exclusively .
carnivorous [adjective]

(of plants or animals) feeding on the meat or flesh of other animals

Ex: Wolves are carnivorous mammals that hunt in packs for larger prey like deer and elk .
muscular [adjective]

having a robust body-build characterized by well-developed muscles, bones, and connective tissue derived from the embryonic mesoderm

Ex: A muscular child may display early physical coordination .

to expand, swell, or stretch beyond the normal or usual size

Ex: The frog 's throat distended as it prepared to emit its distinctive croak .

the process by which organisms evolve traits that improve their chances of survival and reproduction in a particular environment

Ex: Adaptation to drought enables certain plants to thrive in deserts .

to offset or make amends for something undesirable by applying an opposing force or effect

Ex: The government implemented tax breaks to compensate for rising inflation rates .
scarce [adjective]

present in very limited amounts or number and not commonly found or encountered

Ex: This butterfly species is so scarce that it is seldom seen by even the most dedicated entomologists .

to cause a person to become extremely tired

Ex: The demanding schedule of back-to-back meetings and tight deadlines started to exhaust the employees .
pursuit [noun]

the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

scent [noun]

the smell that something releases, which can be detected by the nose

to become visible after coming out of somewhere

Ex: As the fog lifted , the silhouette of the old castle started to emerge .

to move back or withdraw to a safer or more comfortable place, especially to avoid something unpleasant

Ex: Birds often retreat to their nests during heavy rain .
despite [preposition]

used to show that something happened or is true, even though there was a difficulty or obstacle that might have prevented it

Ex:

a person's or animal's natural or inherent characteristics, influencing their behavior, mood, and emotional responses

Ex: The teacher 's patient temperament helped her manage her classroom effectively .
nocturnal [adjective]

(of animals or organisms) primarily active during the night

Ex: Bats are nocturnal creatures , sleeping during the day and becoming active after sunset .
to sight [verb]

to see or observe with the eyes

Ex: The scientist sighted a new celestial phenomenon through the telescope .

to store information in a way that can be used in the future

Ex: He has recorded all the important details in his research journal .
to bask [verb]

to lie or rest in a pleasant warmth, such as sunlight

Ex: After a cold swim , they bask on the warm rocks by the lake .
extended [adjective]

lasting longer than usual or anticipated

Ex: They had an extended stay at the beach due to the storm .

something that serves to show, suggest, or point to a fact, condition, or situation

Ex: The footprints were an indication that someone had passed by .
to crawl [verb]

to move slowly with the body near the ground or on the hands and knees

Ex: In the dense underbrush , the jungle explorer needed to crawl to avoid entangling vines and thick foliage .
pouch [noun]

a pocket-like structure that female marsupials, such as kangaroos, use to carry their young with them

teat [noun]

the part of the body of a female mammal from which the young suck milk

lair [noun]

a place where a wild animal lives, hides, or takes refuge

widespread [adjective]

existing or spreading among many people, groups, or communities through communication, influence, or awareness

Ex: The artist ’s work gained widespread recognition after being featured in an international exhibition .
mainland [noun]

the main part of a continent or country that is connected to a larger landmass, excluding surrounding islands or territories

Ex: The mainland has a different climate than the surrounding islands .
fossil [noun]

the preserved remains or traces of ancient plants, animals, or other organisms found in rock

Ex: The museum displayed a fossil of a giant fern .

a situation in which a particular animal or plant no longer exists

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 .
predator [noun]

any animal that lives by hunting and eating other animals

Ex: Tigers , as solitary predators , stalk their prey silently through the dense forests of Asia .

to nurse or feed by drawing milk from the breast or teat, typically done by babies or young animals

dramatic [adjective]

surprising or exciting in appearance or effect

Ex: Her sudden weight loss was dramatic , leaving friends and family astonished .

to assign the cause or ownership of something to a specific person, thing, or factor

Ex:
relentless [adjective]

continuing with the same level of intensity without becoming weaker or less forceful

Ex: The soldiers faced relentless attacks from the enemy , with no time to rest .

a hunter who kills predatory wild animals in order to collect a bounty

shotgun [noun]

a long gun that can shoot multiple small bullets at one time, suitable for hunting animals such as birds

determined [adjective]

having or displaying a strong will to achieve a goal despite the challenges or obstacles

Ex: The team was determined to win the championship , training rigorously .
campaign [noun]

a series of organized activities that are intended to achieve a particular goal

Ex: The environmental group launched a campaign to reduce plastic waste in oceans .
undoubtedly [adverb]

used to say that there is no doubt something is true or is the case

Ex: Undoubtedly , the concert was the highlight of the festival , attracting a huge crowd .
to play [verb]

to actively influence or impact a situation, event, or outcome

Ex: Individuals can play their part by practicing sustainable habits such as recycling and conserving energy .

to be one of the causes or reasons that helps something happen

Ex: Volunteer efforts significantly contribute to the charity 's growth .
eventual [adjective]

happening at the end of a process or a particular period of time

Ex: The eventual outcome of the negotiations was a mutually beneficial agreement for all parties involved .
settler [noun]

someone who along with others moves to a new place to live there and make a community

prey [noun]

an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal

Ex: The spider spun a web to catch its prey .
species [noun]

a group that animals, plants, etc. of the same type which are capable of producing healthy offspring with each other are divided into

Ex: The red wolf is a species of wolf that is native to the southeastern United States .

a contagious viral disease affecting animals, especially dogs, causing respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms

Ex: Puppies are more susceptible to distemper , so early vaccination is crucial .

to cause illness or medical conditions in an individual

Ex: Certain lifestyle choices , like smoking , can significantly affect one 's health .
to breed [verb]

to make animals produce offspring in a way that is suitable for human beings

Ex: Professional horse breeders carefully pair stallions and mares to breed championship racehorses .

the state of being confined, imprisoned, or held against one's will

demise [noun]

the end or failure of something, such as an organization, system, or life

Ex: Many argue that the demise of traditional industries is inevitable in the digital age .

to decrease in degree, size, etc.

Ex: Confidence in the project was diminishing as delays continued .

the act of completely destroying or eliminating something, especially a population or group

Ex: The policy aimed at the extermination of poverty through economic reforms .
sway [noun]

the influence or control over someone or something

Ex: His expert opinion carries a lot of sway in the scientific community .
notable [adjective]

deserving attention because of being remarkable or important

Ex: The notable absence of traffic made the commute unusually smooth .

a person or thing that does not follow a general rule or is excluded from a class or group

Ex: The rule states that all employees must clock in by 9 AM , but she is an exception due to her flexible work hours .

to a degree or extent that is enough

Ex: He did n't arrive sufficiently early to catch the beginning of the lecture .
scarcity [noun]

the state of not having enough or being in demand of something

edge [noun]

a line determining the limits of an area

motion [noun]

a formal proposal presented for discussion and voting in a deliberative assembly

Ex:
captive [adjective]

confined or held prisoner, unable to escape

Ex: The prisoner stared out of the window , yearning for a glimpse of the world beyond his captive existence .

a journey carefully organized for a specific purpose, such as exploration or research

Ex: Equipment was loaded for the scientific expedition .
definitive [adjective]

settling an issue authoritatively and leaving no room for further doubt or debate

Ex: Witness testimony and forensic evidence provided the conclusive facts needed for a definitive judgment in the trial .
declared [adjective]

declared as fact; explicitly stated

onward [adverb]

from a specific point forward in time, degree, or progress

Ex: From the 20th century onward , technology rapidly transformed society .
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 home [verb]

to give a person or animal a place to live or settle in

Ex: They had homed the stray dogs before winter came .
impractical [adjective]

not practical or feasible

Ex: Using a manual typewriter in a modern office setting is highly impractical .

a formal rule or collection of rules enacted by a governing authority

Ex: The legislation on data privacy has changed how companies handle user information .
to pass [verb]

to make or accept a law by voting or by decree

Ex: The first Transport Act was passed in 1907 .

to find out how old something is by measuring the amount of a certain type of carbon it has left

Ex: