Master the Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 1 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
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Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 1 Passage 1
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remarkable
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(adj) /rɪˈmɑːrkəbl/
very unusual or surprising
Example: Her performance was remarkable and impressed everyone.
buoyant
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(adj) /ˈbɔɪənt/
able to float in a liquid
Example: The boat is buoyant and can stay on the water.
elastic
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(adj) /ɪˈlæstɪk/
able to stretch and then come back to its original shape
Example: The band is elastic and can fit different sizes.
millennia
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(n) /mɪˈlɛn.i.ə/
a period of a thousand years
Example: People have used cork for millennia.
sarcophagi
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(n) /sɑːrˈkɒfəɡaɪ/
stone coffins used in ancient times for burying people
Example: The museum has many ancient sarcophagi on display.
extraordinary
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(adj) /ɪkˈstrɔːrdənˌɛri/
very unusual or remarkable
Example: The tree has an extraordinary size.
insulate
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(v) /ˈɪnsəˌleɪt/
to protect something by covering it so that heat, cold, or sound cannot pass through
Example: You should insulate your house to keep it warm in winter.
cellular
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(adj) /ˈsɛljələr/
relating to the smallest unit of life in plants and animals
Example: The cork has a particular cellular structure.
replicate
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(v) /ˈrɛplɪˌkeɪt/
to make a copy of something or to do something again
Example: Scientists try to replicate the experiment to see if they get the same results.
elasticity
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(n) /ɪˌlæsˈtɪs.ɪ.ti/
the ability to return to an original shape after being bent or stretched
Example: Rubber has great elasticity, so it can stretch and return to its shape.
squash
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(v) /skwɑːʃ/
to press something with force so that it breaks or becomes flat
Example: You can squash the paper into a ball.
flourish
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(v) /ˈflʌrɪʃ/
to grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way
Example: The flowers flourish in the garden.
thrive
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(v) /θraɪv/
to grow or develop well or vigorously
Example: The plants thrive in the sunshine.
nutrient
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(n) /ˈnjuːtriənt/
a substance that provides nourishment essential for growth and the maintenance of life
Example: Plants need nutrients to grow strong.
roughly
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(adv) /ˈrʌfli/
approximately or not exactly
Example: The meeting will last roughly an hour.
sapling
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(n) /ˈsæplɪŋ/
a young tree
Example: The gardener planted a sapling in the backyard.
harvest
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(v) /ˈhɑːrvɪst/
to gather a crop or remove from a field
Example: They will harvest the grapes in the fall.
approximately
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(adv) /əˈprɑːk.sɪ.mət.li/
about or nearly; not exactly
Example: The meeting will start approximately at 10 AM.
decade
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(n) /ˈdɛkeɪd/
a period of ten years
Example: She has lived in the city for a decade.
strip
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(v) /strɪp/
to remove something from a surface
Example: They need to strip the old paint from the door.
lever
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(n) /ˈlɛvər/
a bar or handle that you move to lift something heavy
Example: He used a lever to lift the heavy rock.
prise
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(v) /praɪz/
to force something open or apart
Example: He tried to prise open the lid of the box.
husk
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(n) /hʌsk/
the outer covering of some seeds or fruits
Example: The farmer removed the husk from the corn before cooking it.
acoustic
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(adj) /əˈkuːstɪk/
related to sound or hearing
Example: They installed acoustic panels in the room.
granule
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(n) /ˈɡrænjuːl/
a small piece or particle of something
Example: The recipe calls for a granule of salt.
manufacture
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(v) /ˈmæn.jə.fæk.tʃɚ/
to make things in large amounts using machines
Example: They plan to manufacture toys in the new factory.
monopoly
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(n) /məˈnɑːpəli/
a situation where one company or group has complete control over a product or service
Example: The company has a monopoly on the market for electric cars.
compound
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(n) /ˈkɒmpaʊnd/
a substance made from two or more elements or parts
Example: Water is a compound made of hydrogen and oxygen.
trichloroanisole
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(n) /ˌtrɪk.lɔːr.oʊˈæn.ɪ.soʊl/
a chemical compound that can spoil the taste of wine or other products
Example: Some wines can have a bad flavor because of trichloroanisole.
phenol
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(n) /ˈfiː.nɒl/
a colorless liquid that is used in chemistry and as a disinfectant
Example: In the lab, scientists often work with phenol.
chlorine
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(n) /klɔːˈriːn/
a chemical element that is a greenish gas with a strong smell, used in cleaning and swimming pools
Example: Chlorine helps keep the pool water clean.
mould
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(n) /moʊld/
a type of fungus that grows in damp conditions
Example: I found mould on the bread in the cupboard.
concentration
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(n) /ˌkɒn.sɛnˈtreɪ.ʃən/
the action of focusing your mind on something
Example: Her concentration helped her finish the test quickly.
trillion
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(n) /ˈtrɪljən/
the number 1,000,000,000,000
Example: She won a trillion dollars in the lottery.
spoil
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(v) /spɔɪl/
to make something bad or not good
Example: The milk can spoil if it is left out too long.
gradual
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(adj) /ˈɡrædʒ.u.əl/
happening slowly over a period of time
Example: There was a gradual change in the weather.
steady
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(adj) /ˈstɛdi/
not moving or changing; constant
Example: The car maintained a steady speed on the highway.
substitute
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(n) /ˈsʌbstɪtjuːt/
something that can be used instead of another thing
Example: You can use a pencil as a substitute for a pen.
convenient
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(adj) /kənˈviːniənt/
easy to use or get to; helpful
Example: The new app is very convenient for ordering food.
sustainable
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(adj) /səˈsteɪ.nə.bəl/
able to be used without causing harm to the environment
Example: Using sustainable materials helps protect the planet.
recycle
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(v) /rɪˈsaɪ.kəl/
to process used materials so they can be used again
Example: We should recycle plastic and paper to help the environment.
biodiversity
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(n) /ˌbaɪ.oʊ.dɪˈvɜr.sɪ.ti/
the variety of different types of plants and animals in a particular place
Example: Cork forests support local biodiversity.
desertification
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(n) /ˌdezərtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/
the process where fertile land becomes desert
Example: Desertification affects many parts of the world.
promising
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(adj) /ˈprɑː.mɪ.sɪŋ/
likely to be successful or to happen
Example: The new project looks promising for the community.
cellular
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(adj) /ˈsɛljʊlər/
related to or consisting of cells
Example: The plant has a cellular structure that helps it grow.
cubic
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(adj) /ˈkjuːbɪk/
having the shape of a cube
Example: The dice are cubic and easy to roll.
centimetre
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(n) /ˈsɛntɪˌmiːtər/
a unit of length equal to one hundredth of a meter
Example: The book is 30 centimetres tall.
moisture
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(n) /ˈmɔɪs.tʃər/
a small amount of liquid in the air or on a surface
Example: The plant needs moisture to grow.
requirement
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(n) /rɪˈkwaɪərmənt/
something that is needed or demanded
Example: There is a requirement for a new teacher at the school.
specialise
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(v) /ˈspɛʃəˌlaɪz/
to focus on a specific area of work or study
Example: He decided to specialise in marine biology.
mechanical
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(adj) /məˈkænɪkəl/
related to machines or tools
Example: The workers use mechanical tools to cut the cork.
semicircular
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(adj) /ˌsɛmɪˈsɜːrkjələr/
having the shape of half a circle
Example: The table had a semicircular edge.
remainder
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(n) /rɪˈmeɪndər/
what is left after part has been taken away
Example: The project cost a lot, and the remainder was donated to charity.
thermal
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(adj) /ˈθɜrməl/
related to heat
Example: The thermal blanket keeps me warm at night.
insulation
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(n) /ˌɪn.səˈleɪ.ʃən/
a material that prevents heat, sound, or electricity from passing through
Example: The house has good insulation to keep out the cold.
concrete
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(n) /kənˈkriːt/
a hard material made from a mixture of cement, sand, and water
Example: The sidewalk is made of concrete.
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