Master the Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 2 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
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Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 2
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captivate
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(v) /ˈkæp.tɪ.veɪt/
to attract and hold someone's attention
Example: The story will captivate the audience from start to finish.
magnificent
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(adj) /mæɡˈnɪfɪsənt/
very beautiful and impressive
Example: The sunset was magnificent and took my breath away.
puzzle
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(v) /ˈpʌzl/
to make someone confused or unable to understand something
Example: The difficult math problem began to puzzle the students.
chlorophyll
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(n) /ˈklɔːrəfɪl/
a green pigment in plants that helps them make food from sunlight
Example: Chlorophyll makes leaves green.
hemisphere
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(n) /ˈhɛmɪˌsfɪr/
half of the earth, usually divided into northern and southern parts
Example: The northern hemisphere experiences winter when the southern hemisphere has summer.
decline
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(v) /dɪˈklaɪn/
to become less or smaller in amount
Example: The amount of sunlight declines in autumn.
considerably
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(adv) /kənˈsɪd.ər.ə.bli/
to a large degree; very much
Example: The temperature dropped considerably in the evening.
evergreen
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(adj) /ˈɛvərˌɡriːn/
having leaves that stay green all year
Example: Evergreen trees do not lose their leaves in winter.
conifer
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(n) /ˈkɒnɪfər/
a type of tree that has needles and cones instead of leaves
Example: The conifer is tall and green all year.
photosynthesis
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(n) /ˌfoʊ.təˈsɪn.θə.sɪs/
the process by which plants make food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide
Example: Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis.
redundant
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(adj) /rɪˈdʌndənt/
not needed or unnecessary
Example: The instructions were redundant and confused everyone.
discard
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(v) /dɪsˈkɑrd/
to throw something away or get rid of it
Example: You should discard the old papers.
dismantle
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(v) /dɪsˈmæntəl/
to take something apart
Example: They will dismantle the old machine to fix it.
deplete
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(v) /dɪˈpliːt/
to use most or all of something so that there is not much left
Example: The tree will deplete its resources before winter.
reveal
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(v) /rɪˈviːl/
to make something known that was not known before
Example: The teacher will reveal the answers tomorrow.
unmask
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(v) /ʌnˈmæsk/
to reveal something that was hidden
Example: The tree's colors unmask the beauty of autumn.
brilliant
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(adj) /ˈbrɪl.jənt/
very bright or very smart
Example: The sun was brilliant in the sky.
maple
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(n) /ˈmeɪpəl/
a type of tree known for its strong wood and colorful leaves in the fall
Example: The maple tree in the yard is turning bright red.
sumac
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(n) /ˈsuː.mæk/
a type of plant with red berries often used in cooking.
Example: The chef added sumac to the dish for extra flavor.
anthocyanin
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(n) /ˌæn.θoʊˈsaɪ.ə.nɪn/
a pigment that makes some plants red or purple
Example: The flowers get their color from anthocyanin.
pigment
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(n) /ˈpɪɡ.mənt/
a substance that gives color to something
Example: The artist uses different pigment to make her paintings bright.
spectrum
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(n) /ˈspek.trəm/
a range of different things, especially colors
Example: The artist used a spectrum of colors in her painting.
flavonoid
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(n) /ˈflævəˌnɔɪd/
a type of chemical found in plants that often gives them color
Example: Flavonoids can be found in many fruits and vegetables.
mint
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(v) /mɪnt/
to create or make something new, especially money
Example: The government will mint new coins next year.
scramble
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(v) /ˈskræm.bəl/
to mix things together quickly or without care
Example: I like to scramble the eggs before cooking.
preserve
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(v) /prɪˈzɜrv/
to keep something in its original state or in good condition
Example: We need to preserve the environment for future generations.
fungus
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(n) /ˈfʌŋɡəs/
a type of organism that includes mushrooms and molds, which often decompose material
Example: The fungus grew on the old bread.
tolerance
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(n) /ˈtɑːlərəns/
the ability to accept or tolerate someone or something
Example: We should show tolerance towards different opinions.
outweigh
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(v) /ˌaʊtˈweɪ/
to be greater in weight, value, or importance than something else
Example: The benefits of the program outweigh the costs.
herbivorous
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(adj) /ˌhɜːrbɪˈvɔːrəs/
eating only plants
Example: The cow is herbivorous and eats grass.
robust
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(adj) /roʊˈbʌst/
strong and healthy
Example: The plant looks robust and ready to grow.
mount
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(v) /maʊnt/
to prepare to deal with something difficult
Example: The trees need to mount a defense against the cold.
infestation
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(n) /ˌɪn.fesˈteɪ.ʃən/
the presence of a large number of pests or insects in a place
Example: The house had an infestation of ants.
ascertain
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(v) /ˌæs.ɜːrˈteɪn/
to find out something for certain
Example: The scientist tried to ascertain the cause of the leaf's color change.
plausible
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(adj) /ˈplɔː.zə.bəl/
able to be believed or accepted; reasonable
Example: Her explanation was plausible and everyone agreed.
paradoxical
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(adj) /ˌpær.əˈdɒk.sɪ.kəl/
seemingly contradictory but may be true
Example: It is paradoxical that a tree makes new colors while getting ready to lose its leaves.
hypothesis
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(n) /haɪˈpɒθɪsɪs/
an idea that can be tested to see if it is true
Example: She proposed a hypothesis to explain the experiment's results.
salvage
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(v) /ˈsæl.vɪdʒ/
to save or recover something from loss
Example: The team worked hard to salvage the important documents.
exquisite
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(adj) /ɪkˈskwɪz.ɪt/
very beautiful or delicately made
Example: The painting was exquisite and caught everyone's attention.
evolve
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(v) /ɪˈvɒlv/
to change or develop slowly over time
Example: Animals evolve to survive in their environment.
overwhelm
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(v) /ˌoʊ.vərˈwɛlm/
to have a strong effect on someone, making them feel confused or unable to react
Example: The amount of homework can overwhelm the students.
drought
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(n) /draʊt/
a long period of time with little or no rain
Example: The farmer worried about the drought affecting his crops.
deficiency
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(n) /dɪˈfɪʃənsi/
a lack of something that is needed
Example: The plant showed signs of nutrient deficiency.
acute
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(adj) /əˈkjuːt/
very serious or severe
Example: The problem of oversensitivity to light is even more acute in the fall.
channel
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(v) /ˈtʃæn.əl/
to direct or guide something along a specific path or route
Example: The team will channel their energy into a new project.
intact
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(adj) /ɪnˈtækt/
not damaged or changed
Example: The box was intact after the delivery.
vulnerable
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(adj) /ˈvʌlnərəbl/
easily harmed or attacked
Example: The leaves become vulnerable to the cold.
destructive
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(adj) /dɪˈstrʌktɪv/
causing harm or damage
Example: The storm had destructive winds that broke many trees.
straightforward
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(adj) /ˌstreɪtˈfɔːrwərd/
simple and easy to understand
Example: The instructions are straightforward for everyone.
subtle
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(adj) /ˈsʌtəl/
not obvious or easy to notice
Example: The artist used subtle colors in the painting.