Master the Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 1 vocabulary with our flashcard exercise.
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Cambridge IELTS 12 Academic Reading Test 3 Passage 1
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reintroduction
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(n) /ˌriːɪntrəˈdʌkʃən/
the act of bringing an animal back to its natural environment after it has been in captivity
Example: The reintroduction of the tortoises helped save their population.
conservationist
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(n) /ˌkɒn.sərˈveɪ.ʃən.ɪst/
a person who works to protect the environment and wildlife
Example: The conservationist organized a campaign to save the turtles.
endangered
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(adj) /ɪnˈdeɪndʒərd/
in danger of becoming extinct
Example: Many animals are endangered because of habitat loss.
uneven
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(adj) /ʌnˈivən/
not smooth or equal; having an irregular surface
Example: The road was uneven and difficult to drive on.
lava
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(n) /ˈlɑː.və/
hot melted rock from a volcano
Example: The lava flowed down the side of the volcano.
distinct
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(adj) /dɪsˈtɪŋkt/
clearly different or unique
Example: The island has five distinct volcanoes.
resemble
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(v) /rɪˈzɛmbəl/
to look like or be similar to someone or something
Example: The island resembles a lunar landscape.
lunar
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(adj) /ˈluːnər/
related to the moon
Example: The astronaut studied the lunar rocks.
vegetation
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(n) /ˌvɛdʒɪˈteɪʃən/
plants in a particular area
Example: The animals live in the thick vegetation of the forest.
respite
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(n) /ˈrɛspɪt/
a break from something difficult or unpleasant
Example: The vacation gave her a much-needed respite from work.
barren
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(adj) /ˈbær.ən/
having little or no life or vegetation
Example: The desert is barren and dry.
terrain
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(n) /təˈreɪn/
the physical features of a particular area of land
Example: The hikers explored the rocky terrain of the mountain.
inhospitable
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(adj) /ɪnˈhɒspɪtəbl/
difficult to live in or unsuitable for life
Example: The desert is inhospitable for most animals.
colonise
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(v) /ˈkɒləˌnaɪz/
to settle and control an area by a group of people
Example: People wanted to colonise new lands for farming.
ancestral
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(adj) /ænˈsɛstriːl/
related to someone's family members from past generations
Example: She learned about her ancestral roots and heritage.
adapt
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(v) /əˈdæpt/
to change in order to fit a new situation or use
Example: Animals can adapt to different environments.
predator
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(n) /ˈprɛdətər/
an animal that hunts and eats other animals
Example: A lion is a predator in the wild.
archipelago
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(n) /ˌɑːr.kɪˈpɛl.ə.ɡoʊ/
a group of islands
Example: The archipelago is known for its unique wildlife.
exploit
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(v) /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/
to use something or someone in a way that helps you unfairly
Example: Some companies exploit their workers by paying low wages.
exponentially
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(adv) /ɪkˌspoʊ.nenˈʃiː.ə.li/
at a very fast rate
Example: The technology is growing exponentially in our daily lives.
immobile
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(adj) /ɪˈmoʊ.bɪl/
not able to move
Example: The tortoise was immobile because it was very old.
exacerbate
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(v) /ɪɡˈzæsərbeɪt/
to make a problem worse
Example: The arrival of new animals can exacerbate the existing issues in the ecosystem.
alien
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(n) /ˈeɪ.li.ən/
a creature from another planet or country
Example: The movie features an alien from outer space.
prey
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(n) /prɛɪ/
an animal that is hunted and eaten by another animal
Example: The lion chased its prey across the grass.
subspecies
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(n) /sʌbˈspiːʃaɪz/
a group of living things that are different from others of the same kind
Example: The scientists studied the different subspecies of turtles.
dedicate
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(v) /ˈdɛdɪˌkeɪt/
to give time, effort, or resources to something
Example: She will dedicate her life to helping others.
captive-breeding
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(n) /ˈkæptɪv ˈbridɪŋ/
the practice of breeding animals in controlled environments, usually to help protect them
Example: The zoo has a captive-breeding program for endangered species.
overpopulation
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(n) /ˌoʊvərˈpɑp.jʊˌleɪ.ʃən/
the condition of having too many people in a place
Example: Overpopulation can lead to many problems in a city.
pressing
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(adj) /ˈprɛs.ɪŋ/
urgent or requiring immediate attention
Example: The problem was also a pressing one.
reintroduce
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(v) /ˌriːɪntrəˈdjuːs/
to bring something back to a place or area where it used to be
Example: They want to reintroduce the animals into the wild.
harden
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(v) /ˈhɑrdən/
to make or become hard
Example: The sun can harden the clay.
repatriation
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(n) /ˌriːpeɪtriˈeɪʃən/
the act of returning someone to their own country
Example: The repatriation of the tortoises to their natural habitat was very important.
treacherous
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(adj) /ˈtrɛtʃərəs/
dangerous especially because of presenting hidden or unpredictable dangers
Example: The hikers faced many treacherous paths on their journey.
liaison
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(n) /liˈeɪ.zɒn/
a person who helps two groups to work together
Example: The liaison between the schools helped students connect with each other.
ambitious
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(adj) /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire to be successful or to achieve something
Example: He is very ambitious and wants to be a doctor.
unprecedented
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(adj) /ʌnˈprɛsɪdɛntɪd/
never done or known before
Example: The project was an unprecedented success.
logistical
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(adj) /ləˈdʒɪs.tɪ.kəl/
related to the organization of complex operations
Example: The team needed logistical help for their big event.
payload
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(n) /ˈpeɪloʊd/
the total weight of cargo that a vehicle can carry
Example: The truck can carry a heavy payload of goods.
warden
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(n) /ˈwɔrdən/
a person in charge of something, such as a prison or park
Example: The warden checked the area for safety.
juvenile
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(adj) /ˈdʒuːvənaɪl/
young or childish
Example: The juvenile tortoises quickly spread out over their ancestral territory.
ancestral
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(adj) /ænˈsɛstrəl/
relating to past family or species
Example: The tortoises returned to their ancestral territory.
lumbering
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(v) /ˈlʌm.bər.ɪŋ/
to move in a slow, heavy way
Example: The elephant was lumbering through the forest.
regeneration
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(n) /ˌriːdʒəˈneɪʃən/
the process of growing or being replaced
Example: The forest showed signs of regeneration after the fire.
exploitation
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(n) /ˌɛkˌsplɔɪˈteɪʃən/
the act of using someone or something unfairly for your own advantage
Example: The exploitation of the tortoises led to a big decline in their population.
significant
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(adj) /sɪɡˈnɪfɪkənt/
important or having a meaning
Example: The research made a significant impact on the field.
airborne
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(adj) /ˈɛrˌbɔrn/
carried or transported by the air
Example: The airborne seeds spread across the field.
inhabit
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(v) /ɪnˈhæbɪt/
to live in a particular place
Example: Many animals inhabit the forest.
colonise
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(v) /ˈkɒləˌnaɪz/
to establish a colony in a place
Example: The explorers wanted to colonise the new land.
extinct
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(adj) /ɪkˈstɪŋkt/
no longer in existence
Example: The woolly mammoth is extinct.
habitat
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(n) /ˈhæbɪtæt/
the natural home or environment of an animal, plant, or organism
Example: The turtle returned to its natural habitat.
invasive
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(adj) /ɪnˈveɪsɪv/
tending to spread or invade an area
Example: Some plants can be invasive and take over gardens.