Master the Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 4 Passage 3 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
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Cambridge IELTS 10 Academic Reading Test 4 Passage 3
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atavism
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(n) /ˈætəˌvɪzəm/
a return to a previous condition or trait from an ancestor
Example: The baby bird showed an atavism by having a tail like its ancestors.
throwback
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(n) /ˈθroʊbæk/
something from the past that is similar to something from the present
Example: The old car is a throwback to the 1960s.
controversial
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(adj) /ˌkɒn.trəˈvɜːr.ʃəl/
causing a lot of disagreement or discussion
Example: The movie's ending was very controversial.
reluctant
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(adj) /rɪˈlʌktənt/
not willing to do something
Example: She was reluctant to speak in front of the class.
mindful
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(adj) /ˈmaɪndfəl/
being aware of and paying attention to something
Example: She is mindful of her surroundings while walking.
rewrite
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(v) /ˌriːˈraɪt/
to write something again in a different way
Example: I need to rewrite my essay to make it better.
connotation
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(n) /ˌkɑːnəˈteɪʃən/
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal meaning
Example: The word has negative connotations.
palaeontologist
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(n) /ˌpeɪliɒnˈtɒlədʒɪst/
a scientist who studies fossils to understand past life
Example: The palaeontologist found a new dinosaur bone.
fossil
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(n) /ˈfɑːsəl/
the remains or impression of a plant or animal from a long time ago
Example: The scientist studied the fossil of a dinosaur.
irreversible
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(adj) /ˌɪrɪˈvɜrsɪbəl/
something that cannot be changed back to what it was before
Example: The changes to the planet's climate seem to be irreversible.
organism
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(n) /ˈɔrɡənɪzəm/
a living thing that can grow and reproduce
Example: An organism can be a plant, animal, or even a tiny germ.
ancestor
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(n) /ˈæn.sɛs.tɚ/
a person from whom another person is descended, typically more distant than a grandparent
Example: My ancestor came from Ireland.
biologist
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(n) /baɪˈɒlədʒɪst/
a scientist who studies living things
Example: A biologist studies plants and animals.
qualify
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(v) /ˈkwɑː.lɪ.faɪ/
to meet the requirements or standards
Example: You need to qualify for the competition.
probability
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(n) /ˌprɒbəˈbɪlɪti/
the chance that something will happen
Example: The probability of rain today is high.
stick
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(v) /stɪk/
to attach or become fixed in a place
Example: I want to stick the note on the fridge.
appendage
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(n) /əˈpɛndɪdʒ/
a part that is attached to something larger
Example: The fish had a small appendage that looked like a fin.
explorer
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(n) /ɪkˈsplɔːrər/
a person who travels to new places to learn about them
Example: The explorer found new lands and made important discoveries.
pose
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(v) /poʊz/
to give a particular position or attitude
Example: She likes to pose for pictures.
puzzle
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(n) /ˈpʌz.əl/
a game or situation that tests your ability to think and find answers
Example: The question in class was a puzzle for many students.
characteristic
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(n) /ˌkɛr.ɪk.təˈrɪs.tɪk/
a quality or feature that belongs to a person, thing, or group
Example: Every person has their own unique characteristic.
disappear
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(v) /ˌdɪsəˈpɪr/
to stop being visible or to be lost
Example: The magician made the rabbit disappear.
reappear
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(v) /ˌriːəˈpɪr/
to appear again after being gone
Example: The old movie character may reappear in the sequel.
colleague
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(n) /ˈkɔliɡ/
a person who works with you
Example: My colleague helped me finish the report.
genetics
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(n) /dʒəˈnɛtɪks/
the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics
Example: Genetics helps us understand how traits are passed from parents to children.
reason
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(n) /ˈriː.zən/
an explanation or justification for something
Example: The teacher asked for a reason for arriving late.
involve
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(v) /ɪnˈvɔlv/
to include someone or something in a process or activity
Example: We need to involve everyone in the project.
trait
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(n) /treɪt/
a characteristic or quality that belongs to a person or thing
Example: Honesty is a good trait in a friend.
accumulate
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(v) /əˈkjumjəˌleɪt/
to gather or collect over time
Example: The students accumulate knowledge throughout the school year.
mutation
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(n) /mjuːˈteɪʃən/
a change in a gene that can cause differences in an organism
Example: The scientist studied a mutation in the plant's DNA.
render
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(v) /ˈrɛndər/
to cause to be in a particular state or condition
Example: The artist will render the painting in bright colors.
useless
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(adj) /ˈjuːsləs/
having no use or purpose
Example: The old machine is useless now.
survive
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(v) /sərˈvaɪv/
to continue to live or exist, especially after a difficult situation
Example: Some plants can survive in extreme conditions.
individual
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(n) /ˌɪndɪˈvɪdʒuəl/
a single person or thing
Example: Each individual has unique traits.
population
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(n) /ˌpɒp.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən/
the total number of people or animals in a certain area
Example: The population of the city has grown quickly.
relatively
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(adv) /ˈrɛlətɪvli/
to a certain degree, but not completely
Example: The book was relatively easy to understand.
salamander
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(n) /səˈlæm.ən.dɚ/
a type of small animal that lives both on land and in water, with a soft body and usually moist skin
Example: The salamander can be found by the pond.
amphibian
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(n) /æmˈfɪbiən/
a type of animal that can live both in water and on land
Example: A frog is an amphibian that starts life in water.
juvenile
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(adj) /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl/
related to young people or animals
Example: The juvenile animal was playing in the grass.
metamorphose
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(v) /ˌmɛtəˈmɔrfəʊz/
to change into a different form
Example: The caterpillar will metamorphose into a butterfly.
axolotl
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(n) /ˌæksəˈlɑːtəl/
a type of salamander that does not fully develop and stays in a juvenile form
Example: The axolotl is often kept as a pet.
lineage
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(n) /ˈlɪn.i.ɪdʒ/
the line of ancestors or descendants of a person or group
Example: Her family lineage goes back many generations.
retain
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(v) /rɪˈteɪn/
to keep or hold onto something
Example: I want to retain my memories of childhood.
analysis
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(n) /əˈnæləsɪs/
a careful examination of something
Example: The scientist did an analysis of the data.
ancestor
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(n) /ˈæn.ses.tɚ/
a family member from a past generation
Example: My ancestor came from a different country.
metamorphosis
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(n) /ˌmɛtəˈmɔrfəsɪs/
a change in form or structure of an animal or plant
Example: The caterpillar goes through a metamorphosis to become a butterfly.
fit
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(v) /fɪt/
to be suitable or appropriate for something
Example: The shoes fit perfectly on my feet.
minuscule
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(adj) /ˈmɪnəˌskjul/
very small or tiny
Example: The minuscule details made the painting look beautiful.
sport
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(n) /spɔrt/
an activity involving physical effort and skill
Example: He plays a sport every weekend.
hind
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(adj) /haɪnd/
relating to the back part of an animal's body
Example: The dog injured its hind leg while playing.
digit
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(n) /ˈdɪdʒɪt/
a single number from 0 to 9
Example: The number 5 is a digit.
occur
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(v) /əˈkɜr/
to happen or take place
Example: Many interesting events occur in nature.
intriguing
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(adj) /ɪnˈtruːɡɪŋ/
very interesting or exciting
Example: The story was so intriguing that I couldn't stop reading.
reactivate
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(v) /ˌriːˈæktɪˌveɪt/
to make something active again
Example: They decided to reactivate the old software on their computers.
degrade
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(v) /dɪˈɡreɪd/
to make something worse or of lower quality
Example: Pollution can degrade the environment.
timescale
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(n) /ˈtaɪmˌskeɪl/
a period of time used for measuring or planning
Example: We need to set a timescale for the project.
womb
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(n) /wuːm/
the place where a baby grows before it is born
Example: The baby is developing in the womb.
embryo
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(n) /ˈɛm.brioʊ/
a very young form of a living thing that is not fully developed
Example: The scientist studied the embryo in the lab.
sprout
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(v) /sprɑʊt/
to begin to grow or develop
Example: Flowers begin to sprout in the spring.
bud
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(n) /bʌd/
a small part of a plant that can grow into a leaf, flower, or branch
Example: In spring, the trees begin to grow buds.
developmental
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(adj) /dɪˌvɛl.əpˈmɛn.təl/
related to the growth or progress of something
Example: The doctor studied the child's developmental milestones.
Nice.
paleontologist is correct