syndrome
[noun]
a group of medical signs that indicate a person is suffering from a particular disease or condition
Ex:
Cambridge IELTS 15 - Academic - Test 2 - Reading - Passage 2
Here you can find the vocabulary from Test 2 - Reading - Passage 2 in the Cambridge IELTS 15 - Academic coursebook, to help you prepare for your IELTS exam.
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to threaten
[verb]
to indicate a potential danger or risk to someone or something
Ex:
The
predator
's
presence
in
the
area
threatened
the
smaller
animals
.
notorious
[adjective]
widely known for something negative or unfavorable
Ex:
That
street
is
notorious
for
being
dangerous
at
night
.
contagious
[adjective]
(of a disease) transmittable from one person to another through close contact
Ex:
to pop up
[verb]
to appear or happen unexpectedly
Ex:
I
had
n't
seen
him
for
years
,
then
he
just
popped up
at
the
reunion
.
to subject
[verb]
to make someone experience something unpleasant
Ex:
The
economic
downturn
subjected
many
small
businesses
to
financial
challenges
and
closures
.
millennium
[noun]
a period of one thousand years, usually calculated from the year of the birth of Jesus Christ
Ex:
The
medieval
cathedral
took
nearly
a
millennium
to
complete
,
showcasing
exquisite
craftsmanship
.
to reverse
[verb]
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
.
institute
[noun]
an organization focused on a specific field of study or training, offering programs and services related to science, technology, medicine, business, or the arts
identical
[adjective]
similar in every detail and totally alike
Ex:
The
test
results
for
the
two
samples
were
identical
,
confirming
their
purity
.
practical
[adjective]
(of a method, idea, or plan) likely to be successful or effective
Ex:
The
team
developed
a
practical
plan
to
improve
productivity
.
hybrid
[noun]
an animal or plant with parents that belong to different breeds or varieties
Ex:
The
gardener
planted
a
hybrid
in
her
vegetable patch
,
knowing
it
would
yield
more
fruit
and
be
less
susceptible
to
disease
than
purebred
varieties
.
questionable
[adjective]
doubtful or uncertain in terms of quality, reliability, or legitimacy
Ex:
The
credibility
of
the
witness
's
testimony
was
questionable
,
as
it
contradicted
earlier
statements
.
replacement
[noun]
an thing that takes the place of another when it is broken, lost, or no longer available
Ex:
The
store
sent
a
replacement
for
the
broken
vase
.
breeding
[noun]
the process of mating animals, plants, or microorganisms with desirable characteristics to produce offspring with those same traits
to scatter
[verb]
to disperse or break up as a group, with individuals moving away in various directions
Ex:
The
protesters
scattered
as
the
police
advanced
,
attempting
to
avoid
confrontation
.
hectare
[noun]
a land measurement unit that equals 10000 square meters or 2471 acres
Ex:
Parks
and
nature reserves
are
often
measured
in
hectares
to
assess
their
size
and
conservation
impact
.
disturbance
[noun]
an event or situation that interrupts or disrupts the normal state or functioning of something
Ex:
The
disturbance
in
the
classroom
disrupted
the
lesson
.
to wreck
[verb]
to damage or destroy something severely
Ex:
Vandals
attempted
to
wreck
the
playground
equipment
in
the
park
.
unwelcoming
[adjective]
not hospitable or inviting, often creating a sense of discomfort or unease
Ex:
The
town
seemed
unwelcoming
to
outsiders
.
to evolve
[verb]
(biology) to change gradually and over generations into forms that are better adapted to the environment and fitter to survive
Ex:
Bacteria
exposed
to
antibiotics
have
evolved
through
genetic mutations
.
to hybridize
[verb]
to breed two different plants or animals to create a new variety or species with mixed traits
Ex:
They
hybridized
different
apple
varieties
to
improve
flavor
.
to thrive
[verb]
(of an animal, child, or plant) to grow with strength, health, or energy
Ex:
The
young
lion
thrived
in
the
wild
,
becoming
strong
and
majestic
.
candidate
[noun]
a person being considered for a specific position, role, or opportunity
Ex:
He
’s
a
top
candidate
for
the
award
.
revival
[noun]
the act of bringing something back into active use, attention, or importance after a period of decline or obscurity
Ex:
The
company
's
new
marketing
strategy
resulted in
a
revival
of
its
brand
visibility
.
resistance
[noun]
the ability of a person, organism or microorganism to withstand or defend against diseases, drugs, toxins, or environmental stress
Ex:
The
crop
shows
strong
resistance
to
drought
and
pests
.
to pinpoint
[verb]
to precisely locate or identify something or someone
Ex:
Can
you
please
pinpoint
the
exact
time
of
the
incident
?
tundra
[noun]
the expansive flat Arctic regions, of North America, Asia, and Europe, in which no trees grow and the soil is always frozen
Ex:
range
[noun]
an area in which something acts, operates, or has influence or control
Ex:
The
missile
has
a
range
of
300
kilometers
.
adaptation
[noun]
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 insulate
[verb]
to protect or shield from cold, heat, sound, or electricity by surrounding with a material that prevents the transfer of energy
Ex:
The
electrician
advised
insulating
the
wires
to
prevent
heat
loss
and
ensure
safety
.
boreal
[adjective]
related to regions or climates located in the northern latitudes of the Earth, characterized by cold temperatures and typically dominated by coniferous forests
Ex:
Boreal
climates
experience
long
,
snowy
winters
and
short
,
cool
summers
,
influencing
the
types
of
plants
and
animals
that
thrive
there
.
carbon emission
[noun]
the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, primarily from burning fossil fuels, industrial processes, and etc.
Ex:
Transportation
is
a
major
source
of
carbon emissions
worldwide
.
to encourage
[verb]
to make something more likely to exist, happen, or develop
Ex:
The
government
has
taken
steps
to
encourage
sustainable
farming
practices
.
to mitigate
[verb]
to lessen something's seriousness, severity, or painfulness
Ex:
Timely
intervention
has
mitigated
the
consequences
of
the
economic
downturn
.
prospect
[noun]
the likelihood or possibility of something becoming successful in the future
Ex:
The
startup
had
a
promising
prospect
for
becoming
a
leader
in
renewable energy
.
mass
[adjective]
involving or impacting a large number of things or people collectively
Ex:
The
internet
allows for
mass
distribution
of
information
to
global
audiences
.
modification
[noun]
the act of making small changes in something, usually for an enhancement
Ex:
The
software
received
a
modification
that
fixed
several
bugs
.
moral
[adjective]
concerned with right and wrong behavior
Ex:
He
faced
a
moral
dilemma
when
asked
to
cover up
unethical
practices
.
hazard
[noun]
something that poses a risk or danger
Ex:
Construction
sites
often
have
signs
to
warn
of
potential
hazards
like
falling
debris
.
nota bene
[noun]
a Latin phrase (or its abbreviation) used to indicate that special attention should be paid to something
to enable
[verb]
to give someone or something the means or ability to do something
Ex:
Financial assistance
can
enable
students
to
pursue
higher education
.
vegetation
[noun]
trees and plants in general, particularly those of a specific habitat or area
Ex:
In
the
spring
,
the
hillsides
are
covered
in
vibrant
green
vegetation
as
wildflowers
bloom
,
creating
a
picturesque
landscape
.
insufficient
[adjective]
not enough in degree or amount
Ex:
The
committee
concluded
that
the
current
funding
was
insufficient
for
the
project
's
needs
.
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
.
legendary
[adjective]
very well-known and admired
Ex:
The
chef
's
legendary
culinary
skills
earned
him
a
Michelin
star
and
international
acclaim
.
flock
[noun]
a group of birds of the same type, flying and feeding together
Ex:
With
a
whoosh
of
feathers
,
the
flock
of
pigeons
took
flight
,
scattering
in all
directions
as
a
car
passed by
.
spectacle
[noun]
a thing or person that is striking or impressive to see, often because it is unusual or remarkable
Ex:
The
grand
opening
ceremony
was
a
lavish
spectacle
with
fireworks
and
music
.
specimen
[noun]
a representative or characteristic sample that is examined or analyzed to gain insights or understanding of a particular group or category
Ex:
A
blood
specimen
was
taken for
testing
at
the
clinic
.
geneticist
[noun]
a specialist in or student of the branch of biology that deals with how individual features and different characteristics are passed through genes
Ex:
The
geneticist
used
advanced
technology
to
map
the
human genome
and
identify
specific
genes
linked
to
cancer
.
ambitious
[adjective]
requiring great effort or full use of one's abilities or resources in order to succeed
Ex:
Her
ambitious
plan
to
create
a
sustainable
urban
garden
network
required
extensive
research
and
community
support
.
premise
[noun]
a theory or statement that acts as the foundation of an argument
Ex:
The
film
's
plot
relies on
the
premise
that
time
travel
is
possible
and
can
alter
past
events
.
cloning
[noun]
the scientific process of creating an identical or near-identical copy of a living organism, cell, or DNA sequence through asexual reproduction or genetic engineering techniques
Ex:
Ethical
debates
often
arise
regarding
human
cloning
.
to fertilize
[verb]
to introduce male reproductive cells into the female reproductive system for reproduction
Ex:
Scientists
have
been
researching
ways
to
fertilize
eggs
in
a
lab
setting
.
embryo
[noun]
an unhatched or unborn offspring in the process of development, especially a human offspring roughly from the second to the eighth week after fertilization
Ex:
Researchers
study
embryos
to
better
understand
the
early
stages
of
human
development
and
congenital disorders
.
pioneering
[adjective]
characterized by being at the forefront of new developments or leading the way in innovation and exploration
cutting-edge
[adjective]
having the latest and most advanced features or design
Ex:
The
cutting-edge
virtual reality
headset
offers
immersive
gaming
experiences
and
realistic
simulations
.
to strive
[verb]
to try as hard as possible to achieve a goal
Ex:
Students
strive
to
achieve
their
career
goals
through
continuous
learning
.
carnivore
[noun]
an animal that feeds on the flesh of other animals
Ex:
Domestic cats
are
obligate
carnivores
,
needing
meat
to
thrive
.
niche
[noun]
the specific role or function of an organism or species within an ecosystem
Ex:
The
sea otter
fills
a
unique
niche
in
the
kelp
forest
ecosystem
by
preying on
sea urchins
,
allowing
kelp
to
thrive
.
to point out
[verb]
to show or mention something to someone and give them enough information to take notice
Ex:
As
they
reviewed
the
blueprint
,
the
architect
pointed out
the
design
changes
.
tumor
[noun]
an abnormal mass of diseased cells that serves no function in the body and usually causes medical problems
to trial
[verb]
to test something in real conditions for a limited time to check if it works well or is effective
Ex:
to [beg] the question
[phrase]
to make it necessary to ask a clear question that has not been answered, usually because something important or unclear has been said or done
Ex: