Cambridge IELTS 15 - Academic - Test 2 - Reading - Passage 1

Here you can find the vocabulary from Test 2 - Reading - Passage 1 in the Cambridge IELTS 15 - Academic coursebook, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.

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Cambridge IELTS 15 - Academic
urban [adjective]

addressing the structures, functions, or issues of cities and their populations

Ex: Urban sociology explores how people interact within city environments .
sustainable [adjective]

using natural resources in a way that causes no harm to the environment

to represent a specific amount or portion of a whole

Ex: The elderly population accounts for a growing percentage of healthcare expenditures .

the act of using up something, such as resources, energy, or materials

Ex: Excessive consumption of resources leads to environmental damage .
developed [adjective]

(of a country, society, region, etc.) having advanced economically and socially, characterized by a strong industrial base and higher standards of living

Ex: Many people from developing countries aspire to move to a developed nation in search of better job opportunities and quality of life .
nation [noun]

a country considered as a group of people that share the same history, language, etc., and are ruled by the same government

Ex: Taiwan is officially known as the Republic of China , a nation with its own government and institutions .
mobility [noun]

the ability to move easily or be freely moved from one place, job, etc. to another

Ex: The city 's mobility infrastructure includes well-connected public transportation options .

an idea or belief that one thinks is true without having a proof

Ex: She made the assumption that he would handle the project alone .
emphasis [noun]

special importance given to something over other items or considerations

Ex: In their marketing campaign , the company aimed to put emphasis on their new product 's innovative features to distinguish it from competitors .
solely [adverb]

with no one or nothing else involved

Ex: They focused solely on customer satisfaction during the redesign .

the ability to act or function with minimum effort, time, and resources

Ex: Home renovations took less time with the contractor 's efficiency in planning and order of tasks .
quantitative [adjective]

related to or involving numbers or amounts, not quality

Ex: The quantitative research method involved surveys with numerical data to measure customer satisfaction .
data [noun]

information or facts collected to be used for various purposes

Ex: Weather forecasters rely on data from satellites and weather stations to predict future conditions .
radical [adjective]

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

Ex: His radical ideas about education sparked a lot of debate .

a person who creates and designs dance movements and routines, typically for performances, shows, or productions

Ex: The choreographer worked closely with the dancers to perfect every move .

to encourage or provoke a response, reaction, or activity

Ex: The new advertising campaign was crafted to stimulate consumer interest and boost sales .

a person who studies human society, social behavior, and how people interact with each other in groups

Ex: A sociologist examines how societies evolve over time .

a detailed technical or architectural plan showing dimensions, materials, and specifications for construction or production

Ex: The factory layout was illustrated on a large blueprint .
medieval [adjective]

belonging or related to the Middle Ages, the period in European history from roughly the 5th to the 15th century

Ex: Historians often refer to the time between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance as the medieval period .

to create or make something using whatever materials or resources are available

Ex: During the storm , they improvised a shelter with the materials they had .
to adapt [verb]

to change something in a way that suits a new purpose or situation better

Ex: To accommodate new technologies , the software developer will adapt the application .
intimate [adjective]

knowing someone or something very well through close study or personal experience

Ex: As a historian , she was intimate with the events leading up to the war .
site [noun]

an area of land on which something is, was, or will be constructed

Ex:

to produce a plan, idea, etc. in one's mind

Ex: The artist conceived a unique painting that expressed deep emotions and symbolism .

to remove or separate something

Ex: He carefully detached the sticker from the book cover .
drawback [noun]

a disadvantage or the feature of a situation that makes it unacceptable

Ex: While the plan has many benefits , the drawback is its high cost .

to explain or show the meaning of something using examples, pictures, etc.

Ex: He illustrated the process by showing step-by-step pictures in the manual .
approach [noun]

a way of doing something or dealing with a problem

Ex: His cautious approach to investing saved him from major losses .
prevalent [adjective]

widespread or commonly occurring at a particular time or in a particular place

Ex: Gender inequality remains prevalent in many workplaces despite efforts to promote diversity .
grid [noun]

a framework of spaced lines, horizontal and vertical, used as a reference for plotting points

to plan or create something with a particular purpose or future use in mind

Ex: The restaurant was intended to attract food lovers who appreciate fine dining .

a person who is on foot and not in or on a vehicle

Ex: Pedestrians should always use the sidewalk and avoid walking on the road .
friendly [adjective]

inclined to help or support; not antagonistic or hostile

to devote a lot of effort, time, etc. to something from which one expects to achieve a good result

Ex: He invested months of hard work into his fitness routine and saw amazing results .
faith [noun]

complete confidence in a person or plan etc

aided [adjective]

having help; often used as a combining form

protective [adjective]

(of a thing or type of behavior) appropriate for or intended to defend one against damage or harm

Ex: The protective gear worn by the workers shielded them from potential hazards in the workplace .
awning [noun]

a canopy made of canvas to shelter people or things from rain or sun

unwelcoming [adjective]

not hospitable or inviting, often creating a sense of discomfort or unease

Ex: The town seemed unwelcoming to outsiders .

to cause a person to dislike someone or something

Ex:

to convert or transform something from one state, format, or medium into another

Ex: The scientist aimed to translate complex scientific concepts into simple , understandable illustrations for the public .
to shape [verb]

to exert a significant influence on the development, nature, or outcome of something

Ex: The cultural background of an individual often shapes their worldview and perceptions of the world .
counterintuitive [adjective]

contradictory to the expectations that are formed on common sense or intuition

Ex:

a barrier along the edge of a road or bridge to stop cars from going off the road

Ex: The guardrail saved the car from plunging into the ravine .

to give a higher level of importance or urgency to a particular task, goal, or objective compared to others

Ex: He prioritized saving money for his future over spending on luxuries .
flow [noun]

the state of moving constantly and steadily

Ex: The lava flow from the volcano created new land formations on the island .

to organize or set objects or events in a way that avoids overlapping

Ex: The traffic lights were programmed to stagger the intervals between red and green phases .
point [noun]

a basic element of design that refers to a small, clearly defined location or mark on a surface

Ex: She marked a point on the map to indicate the location of the treasure .

one of the two sides of a motorway where traffic travels in one direction only usually in two or three lanes

barrier [noun]

an obstacle that separates people or hinders any progress or communication

Ex: Lack of funding is a major barrier to scientific research .
mobile [adjective]

capable of changing quickly from one state or condition to another

an action that causes a delay or interruption in the ongoing continuity of an activity or process

Ex: The sudden illness of the lead actor caused a disruption in the play 's performance .
waste [noun]

materials that have no use and are unwanted

Ex:
fundamental [adjective]

related to the core and most important or basic parts of something

Ex: Good communication skills are fundamental to success in any profession .
rich [adjective]

possessing or providing an abundance of resources or qualities

Ex: The soil in this area is rich in nutrients , perfect for growing crops .

to try to deal with a difficult problem or situation in a determined manner

Ex: Teachers collaborate to find effective strategies to tackle students ' learning challenges .
art form [noun]

an artistic expression delivered by different means of art like music or painting

aesthetic [adjective]

relating to the enjoyment or appreciation of beauty or art, especially visual art

Ex: Their aesthetic priorities influenced the use of neutral palettes and organic materials in the redesign .

a possible consequence that something can bring about

Ex: The report highlighted the implications of climate change for future generations .
cognitive [adjective]

referring to mental processes involved in understanding, thinking, and remembering

Ex: The cognitive abilities of children develop rapidly during early childhood .

to fake or act as if experiencing a particular emotion

Ex: The actor simulated joy during the scene , even though he felt nervous .
purely [adverb]

with no other reason or purpose involved

Ex: His interest in astronomy was purely scientific , driven by a curiosity about the cosmos and not by any commercial aspirations .
abstract [adjective]

approaching a subject in a theoretical way, without concern for practical application or real-world examples

Ex: The lecture 's abstract nature left the audience with questions , not answers .

high level of skill, knowledge, or proficiency in a particular field or subject matter

Ex: The mechanic 's expertise in automotive repair allowed him to quickly diagnose and fix complex engine issues .
scale [noun]

the size, amount, or degree of one thing compared with another

Ex: The scale of the forest fire was beyond anything the firefighters had ever encountered .
functional [adjective]

made for practical use, not for looks

Ex: The watch is simple and functional , ideal for everyday wear .
appealing [adjective]

pleasing and likely to arouse interest or desire

Ex:
contrast [noun]

a conceptual distinction between ideas or categories

Ex: He noted the contrast between intention and outcome .

a goal that one wants to achieve

Ex: The company set an ambitious objective to increase sales by 20 % this quarter .
unforeseen [adjective]

not expected or anticipated, often leading to surprise or disruption

Ex: The company had to adapt quickly to the unforeseen changes in market trends .
to arise [verb]

to begin to exist or become noticeable

Ex: Tensions began to arise among team members due to differing opinions on the project 's direction .
measure [noun]

any action or maneuver taken as part of a plan or strategy to achieve a specific goal or progress toward an objective

Ex: He took several measures to ensure the success of his startup business .

to change something such as a process, situation, etc. to be the opposite of what it was before

Ex: The school board voted to reverse the decision to eliminate art and music programs .