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Cambridge IELTS 16 - Academic - Test 3 - Reading - Passage 2

Here you can find the vocabulary from Test 3 - Reading - Passage 2 in the Cambridge IELTS 16 - Academic coursebook, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.

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Cambridge IELTS 16 - Academic
artifact
artifact
[noun]

a man-made object, tool, weapon, etc. that was created in the past and holds historical or cultural significance

Ex: Artifacts of early tool-making like stone knives and projectile points show the ingenuity and resourcefulness of Paleolithic humans. 
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glacier
glacier
[noun]

a large mass of ice that forms over long periods of time, especially in polar regions or high mountains

Ex: Scientists study glaciers to understand the effects of climate change on ice melt and sea-level rise. 
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tree line
tree line
[noun]

line marking the upper limit of tree growth in mountains or northern latitudes

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to shrink
to shrink
[Verb]

to decrease in size or volume

Ex: The budget for the project had to shrink due to funding cuts. 
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to vanish
to vanish
[Verb]

to completely stop existing or being found

Ex: Many forests have vanished due to deforestation. 
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trader
trader
[noun]

someone whose job is selling or buying shares, goods, or currencies

Ex: He works as a stock trader, buying and selling shares on behalf of clients. 
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insight
insight
[noun]

a penetrating and profound understanding that goes beyond surface-level observations or knowledge

Ex: Years of study and contemplation yielded profound insights into the nature of existence. 
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textile
textile
[noun]

any type of knitted, felted or woven cloth

Ex: The factory produces high-quality textiles for clothing. 
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hide
hide
[noun]

the skin of an animal, especially a large animal, either raw or treated

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relatively
relatively
[Adverb]

to a specific degree, particularly when compared to other similar things

Ex: The test was relatively easy compared to the last one. 
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microorganism

a tiny living organism that can only be seen under a microscope, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa

Ex: Scientists discovered a new microorganism in the soil that could help improve crop yields. 
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decay
decay
[noun]

the decomposition or rotting of organic matter

Ex: The fruit was soft and showed signs of decay. 
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to tend
to tend
[Verb]

to be likely to develop or occur in a certain way because that is the usual pattern

Ex: Some plants tend to thrive in direct sunlight, while others prefer shade. 
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to thaw out

to gradually become unfrozen after being taken out of the freezer

Ex: She thawed the chicken out before cooking dinner. 
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degradation

the process of something becoming worse, weaker, or damaged, especially in quality, condition, or value

Ex: Soil degradation makes it harder to grow crops. 
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swiftly
swiftly
[Adverb]

in a quick or immediate way

Ex: The gazelle moved swiftly to evade the approaching predator. 
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to [race] against (time|the clock)

to work as fast as possible to get something done within a very limited time

Ex: We are racing against the clock to finish the project before the deadline. 
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fragile
fragile
[Adjective]

easily damaged or broken

Ex: The butterfly's wings were fragile, thin and translucent in the sunlight. 
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windblown
windblown
[Adjective]

appearing untidy because of the wind

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to expose
to expose
[Verb]

to reveal, uncover, or make visible something that was hidden or covered

Ex: The archaeologists carefully excavated the site to expose ancient artifacts buried beneath the earth. 
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approach
approach
[noun]

a way of doing something or dealing with a problem

Ex: The teacher's approach to discipline focuses on positive reinforcement. 
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to survey
to survey
[Verb]

to take a closer look at something, especially thoroughly in order to investigate

Ex: The inspector will survey the building to assess its structural integrity. 
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patch
patch
[noun]

a small plot of land that is used for growing a particular type of crops or plants

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reindeer
reindeer
[noun]

a type of deer with large antlers in both sexes, mainly living in cold regions

Ex: During the Arctic winter, reindeer huddle together to conserve warmth. 
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to congregate

to come together in a group, often for a specific purpose or activity

Ex: People began to congregate in the park for the music festival. 
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to thread
to thread
[Verb]

to navigate through a complex or narrow space by avoiding obstacles

Ex: The cyclist threaded through the dense traffic. 
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pass
pass
[noun]

a natural route or gap through a mountain range, lower than the surrounding peaks, allowing easier travel

Ex: The army crossed the mountains through a narrow pass. 
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settlement

an area where a group of families or people live together, often in a newly established community

Ex: The settlement grew rapidly as more families moved in. 
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stationary
stationary
[Adjective]

not moving or changing position

Ex: He sat on a stationary bike, adjusting the settings before his workout. 
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amid
amid
[preposition]

in the middle of, surrounded by

Ex: The children played happily amid the colorful flowers in the garden. 
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weathered
weathered
[Adjective]

worn, eroded, or changed in appearance due to exposure to weather elements, such as wind, rain, or sun

Ex: His weathered face showed the marks of a life spent working outdoors. 
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frost
frost
[noun]

a weather condition during which the temperature drops below the freezing point and thin layers of ice are formed on the surfaces

Ex: The early frost caught many farmers off guard this season. 
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boulder
boulder
[noun]

a large rock, usually one that has been shaped by natural forces such as water or ice

Ex: A massive boulder sat at the edge of the cliff, weathered by centuries of wind and rain. 
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bedrock
bedrock
[noun]

solid rock beneath surface materials, forming the Earth's crust foundation

Ex: Excavation for the building's foundation revealed the presence of sturdy bedrock, ensuring stability for the structure. 
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permafrost

ground that is permanently frozen

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rewarding
rewarding
[Adjective]

(of an activity) making one feel satisfied by giving one a desirable outcome

Ex: Teaching can be a rewarding profession, as educators witness the growth of their students. 
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warfare
warfare
[noun]

involvement in war, particularly using certain methods or weapons

Ex: Modern warfare often involves advanced technology and cyber attacks, alongside traditional combat. 
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contracting

becoming infected

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to run
to run
[Verb]

to continue over a certain period of time

Ex: The class runs for an hour every day. 
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Before Common Era

a secular designation used to represent dates in the Gregorian calendar before the traditional reference point of the birth of Jesus Christ

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to associate

to make a connection between someone or something and another in the mind

Ex: Many people associate the smell of freshly baked cookies with warmth and home. 
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discarded
discarded
[Adjective]

thrown away

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to traverse

to move across or through in a specified direction

Ex: To reach the remote village, they had to traverse dense forests and cross several rivers on their expedition. 
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all-purpose
all-purpose
[Adjective]

not limited in use or function

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tack
tack
[noun]

gear for a horse

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radiocarbon dating

a method used by scientists to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the amount of carbon-14 they contain

Ex: Scientists use radiocarbon dating to estimate the age of ancient artifacts and fossils. 
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to indicate

to show, point out, or suggest the existence, presence, or nature of something

Ex: The thermometer indicates that the temperature is rising. 
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daunting
daunting
[Adjective]

intimidating, challenging, or overwhelming in a way that creates a sense of fear or unease

Ex: The idea of moving to a new country, learning a new language, and starting from scratch can be daunting for many. 
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terrain
terrain
[noun]

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

Ex: The rugged terrain of the mountainous region posed a significant challenge for the hikers, requiring careful navigation and endurance. 
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to assume
to assume
[Verb]

to think that something is true without having proof or evidence

Ex: She often assumes that everyone agrees with her perspective. 
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elevation
elevation
[noun]

the height or distance of an object or geographical feature above a specified reference point, typically measured from sea level

Ex: The mountain climber reached an elevation of 4,000 meters before encountering thin air. 
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Common Era
Common Era
[Adverb]

used with a date to refer to things happened or existed after the birth of Christ

Ex: The fall of the Western Roman Empire occurred around 476 CE. 
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to turn out

to emerge as a particular outcome

Ex: The party turned out to be more fun than we thought. 
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to venture

to undertake a risky or daring journey or course of action

Ex: It took courage for the astronauts to venture into outer space where one small error could prove fatal. 
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remarkably
remarkably
[Adverb]

in a way that is unusually impressive, effective, or surprising

Ex: She sang the aria remarkably, with both power and subtlety. 
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to suggest

to lead one to believe or consider that something exists or is true

Ex: The dark clouds and distant rumble of thunder suggested an approaching storm. 
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to supplement

to improve something by adding something to it

Ex: She supplements her diet with vitamins for better health. 
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harvest
harvest
[noun]

the amount of produce gathered from crops during one growing season

Ex: The wheat harvest this year exceeded expectations. 
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turn
turn
[noun]

an unforeseen development

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to recover

to find or get back something that was lost or stolen

Ex: The police were able to recover the stolen artwork after a lengthy investigation. 
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to date from

belong to an earlier time

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to expand
to expand
[Verb]

to become something greater in quantity, importance, or size

Ex: The company's operations expanded rapidly, opening new branches in multiple cities. 
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expansion
expansion
[noun]

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

Ex: The expansion of the business into international markets was successful. 
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export
export
[noun]

commodities, goods, or services sold and sent to another country

Ex: The country's main export is coffee. 
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booming
booming
[Adjective]

characterized by growth, expansion, or prosperity in an industry, economy, or market

Ex: The real estate market in the city is booming, with prices rising daily. 
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to fight off

to resist or defend against an attack or threat, whether physical or metaphorical

Ex: The immune system works to fight off infections and keep the body healthy. 
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antler
antler
[noun]

any of the pair of branched horns that grow annually on the head of an adult animal, typically a male one, from the deer family

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prehistory

the era in human history from which we have no written record

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remote
remote
[Adjective]

(of a place) isolated and difficult to access

Ex: They spent their vacation in a remote cabin, far from any distractions. 
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sample
sample
[noun]

a small amount of a substance taken from a larger amount used for scientific analysis or therapeutic experiment

Ex: The lab technician collected a blood sample for analysis. 
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gap
gap
[noun]

a pause or break that interrupts something from continuing smoothly

Ex: The meeting included a brief gap to allow everyone to take a coffee break. 
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to disintegrate

to break or lose structure and unity over time

Ex: Over time, the old paper began to disintegrate, turning into fragile fragments. 
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to extract

to take something out from something else, particularly when it is not easy to do

Ex: The dentist had to extract a damaged tooth to relieve the patient's pain. 
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to retreat

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

Ex: When the sun blazes, the lizards retreat into the shade. 
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expedition

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

Ex: The team set out on an expedition to the Arctic. 
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case
case
[noun]

an example of a certain kind of situation

Ex: In this case, we need to follow the company's emergency procedures. 
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primarily
primarily
[Adverb]

in the first place

Ex: The organization is primarily concerned with the conservation of marine life. 
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reach
reach
[noun]

a long, unbroken area of land or water that goes far in one direction

Ex: The hikers explored the high reaches of the mountain. 
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